Returning Player shocked about Imbuing..

[UOKaiser]

That is just self-defeatest gobbledygook and you know it.

You. Must. Adapt. Or. Die.

UO has pleanty of things to do. I've played for 13 years and still haven't done everything, and that probably holds true for most players.

Imbuing isn't going away because you can't evolve with the times and learn where your niche can be. Don't blame Imbuing for the sheer amount of craftspeople, blame yourselves for sitting in your homes waiting for customers.

Go to Luna and hock your wares. Provide something that can't be gotten from a vendor.

Put your big-boy pants on and adapt.

I played for 13 years and I have done everything. Im a power gamer not casual player. Was in beta testing of SA and made my 120 imbuer in 2 days after it came out. Maxed out all my suits within the week. Stop pvm as there isn't really a point outside of SA except for leather. Made relic fragments out the yin yang within the month.Im still around cause am dedicated till I see the signs of the end. Im just stating fact. Owned multiple luna venders across many shards including siege. Have extreme community oriented ties. Stay away form kiddies and the I owned you crowed. I just put some facts. Thats all no need to get irritated i am not. I have adapted and continue to adap doesn't make anything I said less true. It's just how it is. Thats all I can't lie to people who know the truth. Some people don't want to hear it. Thats fine. But thats just how it is. The proof is out there.

 

[UOKaiser]

Agreed.... too much whining not enough playing.

I role-play .... therefore I'm always going to have something to do.... even after I build up all the skills I want on all 50 + of my characters ....

even after I build at least one good mage and melee on every other shard...

Even after i have acquired all the artifacts and even after so many of you quit because there is nothing left for you to complain and bellyache about...

I'm so sick and tired of hearing about how this and that ruined your gameplay.... and how this or that was so dangged fabulous.....

The game is what you make it.... lurking about forums and crying about what is gone or what you can or can't do isn't going to help a thing... it won't improve your game or your gameplay and it's not going to change anything or anyone.

If you hate things sooo much then don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out. Pack your crap and move on... find something you do like because obviously UO isn't it. Though I'm willing to go out on a limb here and say that you won't find any satisfaction in much .... since I think your problem is within.

When you find a real problem to complain about... such as the fact that some monsters seem to remain standing and still have a bar and you can't loot them in the EC after you kill them...... now THAT is something to complain about.

And I've said this more times than I care to count or remember but for the love of god..... would you offer suggestions and solutions rather than just complaints.

Put up or shut up. Offer a solution and or suggestion or just go get some happy pills and call it a day.

This overcritical lifestyle must be wearing to you.

No wine here just posting the obvious. And hoping people can see beyond there little piece of UO. Hoping decoraters.role players,pvp,pvm,crafters,merchants,etc can see the effect each one has on each other and the difference in views among each then hope people look at it at as a accounting point of view then calculate subscriptions amounts. Just so there mind can broaden a bit. My opinions haven't changed on this untill I see some hard evidence to disprove the data I have collected. As some of us that have a little resources within the company itself are very worried about our little obssession. Nothing can be changed talking in these forums but sometimes we like to let out some thoughts and steam. Either way i think the OP got all the varies opinions by now and I have heard everyones counter opinion as well and take that into consideration for my own ideas. Thank you.

 

[Tanivar]

Hello everybody,

I get straight to the point:

Why on earth is the community NOT in complete uproar about imbuing and it's negative effects on the crafting community.

The only ones it's bad for are the people who were selling runic made or artifact items for 10's of millions of gold and laughing all the way to the bank.

Imbuing lets the rest of us make nearly as good gear, that let's us fight with the big bad monsters and be more than critter-snacks.

Undeniably it's a horribly expensive skill to train, I was able to do it because of the gold I made selling orange petals & green thorns, but it lets me hunt the serious monsters and be the one to limp away.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

I played for 13 years and I have done everything. Im a power gamer not casual player. Was in beta testing of SA and made my 120 imbuer in 2 days after it came out. Maxed out all my suits within the week. Stop pvm as there isn't really a point outside of SA except for leather. Made relic fragments out the yin yang within the month.Im still around cause am dedicated till I see the signs of the end. Im just stating fact. Owned multiple luna venders across many shards including siege. Have extreme community oriented ties. Stay away form kiddies and the I owned you crowed. I just put some facts. Thats all no need to get irritated i am not. I have adapted and continue to adap doesn't make anything I said less true. It's just how it is. Thats all I can't lie to people who know the truth. Some people don't want to hear it. Thats fine. But thats just how it is. The proof is out there.

Truth is highly subjective, and yours is only true for you.

 

[Stupid Miner]

Your crafter should never be a hunter. Thats the problem. Crafters are crafters most of the time in the game.

You seem to be confusing the fact that since most crafters aren't hunters then that's the way it's *supposed* to be. I can assure you this reasoning isn't based on any sort of logic that I'm aware of. (is-ought fallacy in case you were curious)
You'll have to justify your position.

 

[soco]

I don't like arguments towards imbuing saying it brings back "balance". That's flim-flam. If you want real balance SCREW all those items and revert the system to what it was before AoS. THEN you will know what real balance is!

The way I see it a new skill has been implemented which gives players the opportunity to craft high end gear with a lot less effort than before. Which is fine in a way, you all brought up valid arguments (speed up the time to get geared up for new players and so on).

The main problem is: The "old" system (with runics, arties, etc..) has been left untouched!

In my opinion the "old" system needs a revamp.

Would it hurt anybody if the players had the option to choose the mods on weapons and armor when using runics? The result would be items superior to imbued items. But the gap would not be as huge, maybe like 15%? Don't know, has to be looked into.

Just make the old system worthwhile again!!

Something has to be done about Arties as well. Give them a buff. AND buff Loot.

That way players would have the OPTION on how to aquire items. The Loot-Hunter would get it's share, the classic crafters would have a reason to go on and the imbuers would continue like before (of course they would get a little less of the share, but hey they like had it ALL before).

 

[Lord Urza]

I wish there was only a little tweaking needed. But what can they actualy do to random generated items on corpses to be wanted enough to farm for that can even compete and surpass imbuing. I think they were trying this with those new artiacts. But the problem is we know which monsters drops them and they always have the same stats plus the same name. It's just not the same the heart of the hunt is missing.

This is hard to say really,a slight increase to the max weight of props that can be imbued on looted items? you have to pof crafted items to full durability, how about all looted items have 255 dur to start with? thus making them more affordable to imbue if u can find a blank slate, or an items with only the properties you were going to imbue. just an idea.

 

[Stupid Miner]

I don't like arguments towards imbuing saying it brings back "balance". That's flim-flam. If you want real balance SCREW all those items and revert the system to what it was before AoS. THEN you will know what real balance is!

Old system wasn't balanced, it was simple. Like a speck of dust: simple, and really boring.

Besides, a more complex system is more self-balancing than a simplistic system. And when something is unbalanced in a complex system, fixing the issue affects fewer people than in a simplistic system.
If the system has 10 pieces, and everyone uses those 10 pieces for PvP, PvM, and whatever, if you have to change some of the pieces to balance one aspect of PvP, it will have a much larger effect on PvM than if the system had 1,000 pieces.

In my opinion the "old" system needs a revamp.

It does, but since they don't have infinite resources and time, there are more pressing issues.

 

[UOKaiser]

You seem to be confusing the fact that since most crafters aren't hunters then that's the way it's *supposed* to be. I can assure you this reasoning isn't based on any sort of logic that I'm aware of. (is-ought fallacy in case you were curious)
You'll have to justify your position.

I'll explain it in more detail. Everyone who plays UO has a specific template that they like to play with more. Yes there is many character slots Well in siege you only allowed to have 1 per account. But over all there is a way of the game they like more. If I pvp here and there am not a true pvper unless most of the time in game I spend PVP. If decorate homes most of my time and pvm now and then am not a true pvm as I am a true decorater. The wims do change and people play something else more than what they did. True roleplayers role play most of there UO time. It doesn't matter if a person plays every day or once a month as long as they prefer there game time in doing something over the other. This is what ?I meant. It does sound a bit confusing.

Now this in reference to Imbuers. Imbuers are in a stange class. I can't consider imbuing players as crafters unless they spent more of there time imbuing than anything else. Smith the same way. Anybody can have a legendary smith to craft armor for themselves but if hes just there to equip your characters and friends when asked then the player is not a true crafter as he will only take him out when need to and not most of the time.

The players with imbuing and combat skill in that template which I have also and it's the norm is a very strange mix of pvm/crafter.

Anyway all this confusing babble that is coming out of my mouth equate to this. A crafter needed to play a crafter more than anything else to get the best it could offer before imbuing. After imbuing you can get the best out of all crafting skills by dedicating a very little of your UO time not making them true crafters but fly by night gods. They made god like skill of imbuing easier than all the crafting/resource skills in the game to get the most u can get out of it!!!

 

[Freelsy]

Imbuing killed my playstyle. Which is why I cancelled two of my accounts. I loved hunting peerless monsters with my bud. We would do Lady Mels with an archer and a tamer and max luck. Loved the thrill of getting an item that was super nice and super rare. Go to the bank; show it off then sell it for high bucks.! Anymore there is no point to do any high end monster unless you're looking for specific item drops. Not even worth going into a fight looking for relics as they can be crafted in bulk in about half the time.

Imbuing brought a lot of casual players out but also ruined hardcore grinders like myself. I hate crafting but imbuing is here and it's not going anywhere. I would like to see the items made much much harder to get and max out but that's just me dreaming

 

[soco]

It does, but since they don't have infinite resources and time, there are more pressing issues.

Like what? The Sea Booster? rolleyes:

 

[Stupid Miner]

I'll explain it in more detail. Everyone who plays UO has a specific template that they like to play with more. Yes there is many character slots Well in siege you only allowed to have 1 per account. But over all there is a way of the game they like more. If I pvp here and there am not a true pvper unless most of the time in game I spend PVP. If decorate homes most of my time and pvm now and then am not a true pvm as I am a true decorater. The wims do change and people play something else more than what they did. True roleplayers role play most of there UO time. It doesn't matter if a person plays every day or once a month as long as they prefer there game time in doing something over the other. This is what ?I meant. It does sound a bit confusing.

... You're making up these definitions. Why does PvMing for a greater percentage of the time make you a "true" PvMer? It's a rather arbitrary standard. If I spend 51% of my time PvMing one day and 51% of my time Decorating another day does that mean im a "true PvMer" the first day, but no longer the second? And any longer time interval: week, year, month, is still equally arbitrary.

It makes just as much sense, though still being rather arbitrary, to classify "true" classes based on the competency that you play said class with.
Or wouldn't it be just as meaningful to classify a "true" player as the class which they enjoy most? What if they enjoy several classes? Play one, get tired of it for a while and cycle to another, and then another in a loop?

The players with imbuing and combat skill in that template which I have also and it's the norm is a very strange mix of pvm/crafter.

So...? to be a "true" member of a class, do you have to have a plain, generic, uninteresting template? I guess then creative template designers aren't true members of any class.

Anyway all this confusing babble that is coming out of my mouth equate to this. A crafter needed to play a crafter more than anything else to get the best it could offer before imbuing. After imbuing you can get the best out of all crafting skills by dedicating a very little of your UO time not making them true crafters but fly by night gods. They made god like skill of imbuing easier than all the crafting/resource skills in the game to get the most u can get out of it!!!

So in order to be a true crafter... you have to spend your time with several ineffective skills first?

Call me crazy, but I define a crafter as "someone who crafts stuff."

Not sure why "true" crafting should mean "someone who crafts stuff by less effective, but older methods."

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

The players with imbuing and combat skill in that template which I have also and it's the norm is a very strange mix of pvm/crafter.

So...? to be a "true" member of a class, do you have to have a plain, generic, uninteresting template? I guess then creative template designers aren't true members of any class.

Imbuing augments the Mysticism skill (as does focus). This gives imbuers the ability, or opportunity rather, to gather their own materials.

Oh the humanity.

 

[longshanks]

Imbuing killed my playstyle. Which is why I cancelled two of my accounts. I loved hunting peerless monsters with my bud. We would do Lady Mels with an archer and a tamer and max luck. Loved the thrill of getting an item that was super nice and super rare. Go to the bank; show it off then sell it for high bucks.! Anymore there is no point to do any high end monster unless you're looking for specific item drops. Not even worth going into a fight looking for relics as they can be crafted in bulk in about half the time.

Imbuing brought a lot of casual players out but also ruined hardcore grinders like myself. I hate crafting but imbuing is here and it's not going anywhere. I would like to see the items made much much harder to get and max out but that's just me dreaming

that super nice super rare non imbued item will still sell for big bucks. even more now.

 

[Theo_GL]

Yes Imbuing pretty much destroyed the crafting playstyle. Now anyone with an imbuer can create pretty much whatever they want with very little effort.

The reason you didn't see a huge uproar is because most people who play this game seem to want it to be like Halo - grab some armor and go shoot things. They did not like paying a decent amount of gold to a crafter that spent lots of time gathering resoruces, doing bods, getting runics, burning ruinics to make good weapons/armor.

Now pretty much all loot is junk unless its low end rings/braces with mods that take special ingredients (IE FC 1 and FCR 3 rings and braces with no other mods).

Low level runics for unraveling for ingredients or again to make 'starter' pieces with MR2 etc.

The rest of loot is smelt only and only the highest end runic items have a chance of being useful. Everything gold hammer and down can be imbued with no need to burn a runic.

The Dev team has not listed to the playerbase in years and you can see from the population numbers. It doesn't matter if we complain - it goes into production anyways.

Yes some changes to crafting was needed - but not the level of imbuing. It caused everyone to be able to make uber armor at will. Remember it used to be tough to match pieces together to get all 70's? Not anymore. Everyone runs all 70's. Result? You might as well ignore armor altogether and just give us all 70's resist. It ruined the value.

I'm sure 50 PvPers will come on saying 'Good, I need cheap armor that is just as good as player xyz so the field is level'.

That might be good from the PvPer perpective but not from the crafter perspective.

I used to enjoy having my name on armor and items because it took EFFORT to make them. Now people wear suits from hundreds of differnt crafter names because EVERYONE can make the same armor with little effort.

It did destroy a big reason I enjoyed the game. I rarely play anymore.

 

[Theo_GL]

Imbuing doesn't stop the challenges, now does it? I have yet to find someone imbue the bow that I currently "got" from the crafting system:

Composite Bow
Balanced
44% Hit Lightning
46% Hit Lower Defense
35% Swing Speed Increase
44% Damage Increase


Granted, I stole it.....but hey, you can't get that from imbuing. There are still elite items that can be "crafted" but the majority goes for imbuing because it is easier.

True you cannot make that bow exactly because the property weights are over 500.

However you can make the following bow (I used fireball b/c it didn't require relic frags and has same propery weighting as Lightning).

It is unehanced so if you enhance and succeed with ash it goes to 35% SSI. At that point its missing some DI which you can EASILY replace with jewels to get your cap anyways.

Or you could drop a couple points of HLD and HL and (to like 42 and 42) and you could then bump DI to like 30%.

Pretty good for something I crafted in like 10 min compared to how long it would take you to get the runic to craft your bow and then how lucky you would have to be to get those rolls.

Imbuing made anyone a crafter and killed the true 'crafter'.

It does make me laugh though as all these people who don't understand crafting, weights, properties etc try to craft and create stuff. The general chat is fairly hilarious.

 

[UOKaiser]

Imbuing augments the Mysticism skill (as does focus). This gives imbuers the ability, or opportunity rather, to gather their own materials.

Oh the humanity.

So does mining and blacksmith, lumberjacking and fletching,carpentry. etc. Though for years we crafters petition that needed resources not to be included in PVM. It seems they ignored us and went completely the opposite.

 

[UOKaiser]

... You're making up these definitions. Why does PvMing for a greater percentage of the time make you a "true" PvMer? It's a rather arbitrary standard. If I spend 51% of my time PvMing one day and 51% of my time Decorating another day does that mean im a "true PvMer" the first day, but no longer the second? And any longer time interval: week, year, month, is still equally arbitrary.

It makes just as much sense, though still being rather arbitrary, to classify "true" classes based on the competency that you play said class with.
Or wouldn't it be just as meaningful to classify a "true" player as the class which they enjoy most? What if they enjoy several classes? Play one, get tired of it for a while and cycle to another, and then another in a loop?



So...? to be a "true" member of a class, do you have to have a plain, generic, uninteresting template? I guess then creative template designers aren't true members of any class.


So in order to be a true crafter... you have to spend your time with several ineffective skills first?

Call me crazy, but I define a crafter as "someone who crafts stuff."

Not sure why "true" crafting should mean "someone who crafts stuff by less effective, but older methods."

Crafter means they spend most of there time crafting. There Uo world and enjoyment is in crafting. Not 10 minutes crafting and pvp for the rest of the time. Or pvm most of the time and spend 10 min crafting. Everything revolves around imbuing. They might as well get rid of the crafting skills that has being used all these years as they really are not needed and just place those items on npc venders.

Also you might spend 51% of your time doing different things per day But in overall concept this is not true. There will always be something you like to do more than the other. Most of my time before imbuing or many years I spent crafting and crafting related activities. PVP I stoped really after AOS and pvm here and there. But crafting,growing plants making potions,gathering and providing these services to other players with my smith name on them and being thanked from people I never met was what I enjoyed really in UO. It was fulfilling that my hard work effected others and was appreciated.
Even PVM is empty no exciting at the possibilities of different items and the creativety in joining these items for something better and even making a profit of things I don't need. These days everything not the same since imbuing or even close. The true crafter is dead. We are closer to a FPS/strategy game like all the rest than ever before.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Imbuing augments the Mysticism skill (as does focus). This gives imbuers the ability, or opportunity rather, to gather their own materials.

Oh the humanity.

So does mining and blacksmith, lumberjacking and fletching,carpentry. etc. Though for years we crafters petition that needed resources not to be included in PVM. It seems they ignored us and went completely the opposite.

Uhm.

Huh?

Only one skill you mentioned, lumberjacking, augments a fighting skill like Imbuing augments Mysticism.

If you're wanting resources to be obtainable in some other manner then PvM, several are. But, seriously, this is a game where most activities require combat of some kind. Even a miner or a lumberjack has to protect themselves from random spawn, or are you expecting a pass on that too?

Gathering ML and imbuing resources requires a bit of combat, or that you purchase them from someone else. Thats the bit of economy we do have.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Crafter means they spend most of there time crafting. There Uo world and enjoyment is in crafting. Not 10 minutes crafting and pvp for the rest of the time. Or pvm most of the time and spend 10 min crafting. Everything revolves around imbuing. They might as well get rid of the crafting skills that has being used all these years as they really are not needed and just place those items on npc venders.

Seriously, if you are this unhappy with the game, please, find another. Thats a serious glass-half-empty mentality that gets even me down...

Crafted armor/weapons/jewlery still trump 99% of looted items when it comes to imbuing. People want to maximize the number of item properties, durability and weighting that simply can't be done on most looted items.

Also you might spend 51% of your time doing different things per day But in overall concept this is not true. There will always be something you like to do more than the other. Most of my time before imbuing or many years I spent crafting and crafting related activities. PVP I stoped really after AOS and pvm here and there. But crafting,growing plants making potions,gathering and providing these services to other players with my smith name on them and being thanked from people I never met was what I enjoyed really in UO. It was fulfilling that my hard work effected others and was appreciated.

Unless I've missed a massive update, Imbuing doesn't touch the vast majority of crafting activities. Can you imbue a stool, a bed or a fancy shirt? Are plants suddenly imbuable? Potions? Statues?

There is still a need for ctafters and there always will be.

Even PVM is empty no exciting at the possibilities of different items and the creativety in joining these items for something better and even making a profit of things I don't need. These days everything not the same since imbuing or even close. The true crafter is dead. We are closer to a FPS/strategy game like all the rest than ever before.

Uhm. Wow. Just. Wow.

You need a break from UO.

 

[soco]

Seriously, if you are this unhappy with the game, please, find another.

You need a break from UO.

These statements really disqualify you and beyond that do NOT contribute to the subject.

If someone's play experience is severely affected you have to admit that.

 

[UOKaiser]

Uhm.

Huh?

Only one skill you mentioned, lumberjacking, augments a fighting skill like Imbuing augments Mysticism.

If you're wanting resources to be obtainable in some other manner then PvM, several are. But, seriously, this is a game where most activities require combat of some kind. Even a miner or a lumberjack has to protect themselves from random spawn, or are you expecting a pass on that too?

Gathering ML and imbuing resources requires a bit of combat, or that you purchase them from someone else. Thats the bit of economy we do have.

Just pointing out this is what we crafters were being asking for befoe the revamp. Search the forums and you see many crafters were always complaining about it. As peerless ingrediants didn't work well because the price of the peerless ingredient usully was more than the item crafted from it destroying the economic value of it. A miner doesn't need combat. My miner and lumberjack has no combat abilities and does fine but the focus of resource collection is not pvm combat. The choice is there to pvm with ore elementals but thats just another method and more difficult plus longer one. Doesn't really matter though anymore. All you really need is Iron and base materials which is easily obtained not much effort into that. Sure you can use other materials but with imbuing it's better to just enhance it till it works.

Just like bods, forget our multiyear collections too many people found it hard because they had no idea how to do it right so the best reward is a low level POF the rest is a waste of time now which once again anybody with out effort can do. With everybody and there mother selling low level hammers because the harder rewards are not even worth the effort it's a waste of time to put 500 dull hammers at 5k each as there is 500 hammers next door it's like a permanent dupe.

Many were affected and you can see it all around. When was the last time you bought a non imbued/artifact item from a crafter? Is it not true you can do it yourself? How long does it take you to make a 70's suit and cap out one of your characters after you already calculated your stats? Do you craft for other people and sell those items you craft at least most of your time with everything else you do in UO coming in second to that? Or do you craft only when someone shows up once in a blue and ask only for them to bring you the materials and you make it for them? Matter of fact can you remmeber before imbuing the crafter name that made that wonderful item that you bought from? Do you remmemeber any imbuers names that make truly unique items? Doubt it as all imbued items are pretty much the same add to that everyone with a extra slot has a proffesional imbuer well there goes any meaning.

Theres a big change after Draconi left towards PVP and making everything easy for the casual player. Not to mention making everyone like everyone else where hard work or effort does not matter. It's like they were sitting down with popps everyday for ideas. They are getting casual players back but they won't stay. They are of the come and go variety. They were before and they still are.

Im currently barely logging on anymore. Am spending more time on these forums than the game. This is sad as I was a everyday player.
But like I said it's empty. Goals are completed. Everything that I worked to obtained either doesn't matter or was able to easily achieve since the changes. Can't even hunt for better items I have them all. Just looking for the next event to now just keep me interested. And even that is fading.

 

[canary]

Many were affected and you can see it all around. When was the last time you bought a non imbued/artifact item from a crafter?

Actually, most of my characters use/ carry non imbued stuff except for usually a single ring or bracelet. I like having stuff I know will not end up being destroyed, personally. Call me OCD about it.

You can craft things over 500 intensity. My archer uses a non imbued weapon that insures for 675 gold as well as leather gloves that insure for 599. My mage has non imbued arms insured at 658 and a chest piece insured at 672. She carries a mage weapon dagger that insures at 650.

Granted, you can't create EXACTLY what you want like imbuing, but with some time and perseverance, you can put together some amazing stuff that beats imbued items hands down. And the best part is that it will never, ever need to be recreated.

 

[UOKaiser]

Actually, most of my characters use/ carry non imbued stuff except for usually a single ring or bracelet. I like having stuff I know will not end up being destroyed, personally. Call me OCD about it.

You can craft things over 500 intensity. My archer uses a non imbued weapon that insures for 675 gold as well as leather gloves that insure for 599. My mage has non imbued arms insured at 658 and a chest piece insured at 672. She carries a mage weapon dagger that insures at 650.

Granted, you can't create EXACTLY what you want like imbuing, but with some time and perseverance, you can put together some amazing stuff that beats imbued items hands down. And the best part is that it will never, ever need to be recreated.

I have items like that. From many years of crafting. They sure mean something don't they? When you look at them it sure means something. I sure still feel that when I look at my items.
Though any crafted item with less than 500 intensity means squat now. And any crafted item above the intensity but with random mods especially non useful ones get sent to relic fragment hell.

 

[canary]

I have items like that. From many years of crafting. They sure mean something don't they? When you look at them it sure means something.
Though any crafted item with less than 500 intensity means squat now. And any crafted item above the intensity but with random mods especially non useful ones get sent to relic fragment hell.

Well, on the plus side you can sell the fragments or use them if you so choose. So at least the stuff isn't utterly useless.

 

[Sir_Bolo]

The down-side though, as I see it, is that other crafting skills have become little more than supporting roles to Imbuing. For example, there's no value to GM or even Legendary smithed or tailored items, apart from being a component of something to imbue.

So what?
Before SA, the crafting skills were worth even less - they were little more than a requirement to buy a ticket in the BOD/runic lottery. 'Crafters' weren't actually 'crafting' any products for their customers, they were just mass-producing junk to fill BODs, and burning runic charges to put items on a vendor for a nameless shopper.

In my opinion, there's more 'crafting' involved in selecting the right property combination with Imbuing to satisfy a request than in playing against the RNG with the hope of eventually getting a good item from a runic.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Just pointing out this is what we crafters were being asking for befoe the revamp. Search the forums and you see many crafters were always complaining about it. As peerless ingrediants didn't work well because the price of the peerless ingredient usully was more than the item crafted from it destroying the economic value of it. A miner doesn't need combat. My miner and lumberjack has no combat abilities and does fine but the focus of resource collection is not pvm combat. The choice is there to pvm with ore elementals but thats just another method and more difficult plus longer one. Doesn't really matter though anymore. All you really need is Iron and base materials which is easily obtained not much effort into that. Sure you can use other materials but with imbuing it's better to just enhance it till it works.

Sigh.

Resource gathering will always be needed in UO. Your insistence that crafters shouldn't need any combat skills is absurd on its face.

UO is a 'dangerous' game. Monsters can appear anywhere at any time to wreak havoc on any template. Having no way to defend yourself in a situation you may not be able to run away or recall from leaves you at a severe disadvantage. Think of it as virtual natural selection.

I've had a crafter since '97. Only 'combat' skill being magery, and that was only added to allow the crafting of pentagrams and abbitiors. Do I take my crafter out into the wilds to gather resources? Hell no. Other characters gather the materials in dangerous places and bring them to my crafting house.

Learn to adapt. You may say you have, but seriously, if your this upset about it you aren't coping well.

Many were affected and you can see it all around. When was the last time you bought a non imbued/artifact item from a crafter? Is it not true you can do it yourself? How long does it take you to make a 70's suit and cap out one of your characters after you already calculated your stats?

Yes, I can make my own suits. It generally takes froma few hours to a few days, depending on what I need and how much I can play. So?

Do you craft for other people and sell those items you craft at least most of your time with everything else you do in UO coming in second to that? Or do you craft only when someone shows up once in a blue and ask only for them to bring you the materials and you make it for them?

I craft for people yes... And yes, they bring the special materials and I put together what they want in a matter of minutes at that point. I don't even bother to charge them for my 'time' because they are friends. SO?

Matter of fact can you remmeber before imbuing the crafter name that made that wonderful item that you bought from? Do you remmemeber any imbuers names that make truly unique items? Doubt it as all imbued items are pretty much the same add to that everyone with a extra slot has a proffesional imbuer well there goes any meaning.

I remember several other smith and tailor names from throughout the years. I knew most of them because we were a community. Hell I still know the ones that are still playing.

Yes, Imbuing means that anyone can craft an almost exact duplicate of any item - sans the maker's mark. SO WHAT? 90% of the UO playerbase isn't as hardcore as you seem to be. People play casually, so the supply of goods needs to be relatively casual as well.

PvPers demand extremely tweaked out suits to match their twinked out template du jour. Many of them are loathe to collect the materials themselves since they don't like PvM.

As I've said before, find your niche.

Theres a big change after Draconi left towards PVP and making everything easy for the casual player. Not to mention making everyone like everyone else where hard work or effort does not matter. It's like they were sitting down with popps everyday for ideas. They are getting casual players back but they won't stay. They are of the come and go variety. They were before and they still are.

The PvP shift is from Calvin, and that started well before Draconi was lost. The shift isn't doing to well either, its been rejected by most of the playerbase. Cal severely underestimated the 'carebears' when he deigned to insult them.

Collecting materials still takes time and effort. Collecting 50-100 boura pelts is boura-ing, essence drops are rather random, and you'd have to farm the Cavern of the Discarded for a week to get large ammounts of ingreedients.

If the Dev Team really did look to popps for ideas, UO is dooooooooomed.

Im currently barely logging on anymore. Am spending more time on these forums than the game. This is sad as I was a everyday player.
But like I said it's empty. Goals are completed. Everything that I worked to obtained either doesn't matter or was able to easily achieve since the changes. Can't even hunt for better items I have them all. Just looking for the next event to now just keep me interested. And even that is fading.

And this is why I suggested you take a break or find another game that does make you happy. After 13 years and having done 'everything there is to do' you've reached the MMO endgame. Either find something you haven't done, join an RP community, or stew in your anger over changes that the rest of the playerbase appears to be enjoying. The stewing option isn't a healthy choice, BTW.