Factions!
I realize these suggestions will not bring hordes of people back into factions, but just a few suggestions to improve this very outdated system! Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to any/all feedback negative or positive! I think a faction point reset needs to be in store, I recently x-fered to Great Lakes, and need a couple billion points to wear any gear, sure, one or two kills would get me that, but not when I can't wear anything for armor, and I didn't bring anything with me except soulstones.
Faction Bases
Faction Bases are fine, except for a few minor bugs inside the bases. Although, I would like to see the Minax base brought back to it's original spot in Papua.
Whether there's new factions or not though, I do not want to see two faction monoliths in the bases to defend.
Faction Crafting
One of the best factions ideas, but way outdated! Any feedback again will be welcomed! These are the ideas that I came up with, but before we get started, I just want people to be clear of what the factions colors are and what they look like worn.
Council Of Mages
Followers Of Minax
Shadow Lords
True Britannians
At this point in time faction items only last two weeks (I believe) before they "expire" and return to it's normal state/hue. I don't see why they can't stay factionized forever? I think this would defiantly help bring back a dead system. I have tried imbuing a blank factioned item, with no success and got the "Blessed item's cannot be imbued" message. Which is good and bad.
Good because, I believe if faction items stay blessed, people would actually go out and buy runics again for a chance of a leet blessed weapon, thus being a new gold sink. Bad because people might not care and stay with there godly imbued armor.
I'd also like the faction level requrement taken off of faction items. I don't know the exact number, but the CL can wear a total of 9 items, while level one can wear 3 (Again, I don't know the exact number, been way to long lol!). If we keep it the same way it is now, It'd just be a good excuse for the non-pvpers who only do factions for the items to horde even more points.
It'd like to also see faction items be worn by that faction only (Armor made by TB, wearable by TB only, Minax by Minax only etc.). With a faction cost of silver to convert it from TB to Minax? In case someone decides Minax would be more suited for them (When converted it changes color to Minax's Primary faction color). Being able to convert faction armor to regular armor, but once converted out of factions, it can't be converted back, while having non-crafted faction armor converted in (EXCLUDING imbued armor), and once reconverted out can't be reconverted back in, if that makes sense.
Anyone think it'd be worth trying?! I believe I'm going to lose some of you guys here though....
Faction Armor right now is dyeable with neon etc... This is factions, you should represent it by wearing your faction colors.... Make this crafting system not dyeable (Excluding the Primary/Secondary faction colors). As a new reward have Faction dyes available via silver only that only works on your factions armor. Don't let TB's dyes work on Shadow Lords armor etc. Let the dyes be the factions Primary and Secondary color, in case someone crafted a Red Mempo for example, and decided they wanted to switch it to Minax's secondary color.
Factions at the moment is all about reward, when it started it was all about fun. I believe this would spark a little interest and bring back faction crafting! Any other suggestions/ideas? Comments?
Faction Guards
I am not to big on getting these "Enhanced" like mentioned in the faction thread. These are annoying enough. What does need to be changed I think though is faction guards not curing themselves... They'll heal themselves but once poisoned and low on health, they'll continually cast GH without any success.
I'd also like the see Faction guards being made "Unharmed" to blues as well as players in the same faction (Regina that runs around at TB base entrance for example). I have seen it many times going into a fel town to see blues on there tamers whacking away at faction guards, or even players in the same faction killing there own guards. Sure, all you have to do now is call guards, this faction guard killing mostly took place during the time there weren't regular guards inside of towns. While guards in town zone are back, there isn't someone always there to call guards on these people.
Faction PvP Changes
I know this has been stated many times, and disagreed with by the majority, but I am 100% support of allowing faction pvp outside of Felucca. Why? Point Hoarders.
Faction Rewards
I really loved the Veteran Reward Banners for Order/Chaos, they've brought back lots of memories and good decorations.
I'd like to see the faction sell there own banner as a reward for silver. TB sell a TB banner, minax sells minax etc. Have the banners mark there "Stamp" on them. CoM banner the spellbook, Minax that crow, TB the cross, SL I want to say upside down bat face? (LOL) better pictures here ;p http://town.uo.com/factions/
Faction War Horses
War horses are one of my favorite rewards of factions! I'm just curious as to why each faction has a primary and secondary faction "color" and we're only allowed the primary? Except for the Shadow Lords. I'd like to see a choice between both of the faction colors for all the factions.
I don't think many people would like this part of my idea though, but also expanding the choices beyond a War "Horse" maybe a War Llama, Unicorn, Ki-rin etc. with war horse stats/skills and not capable of the faction versions to use magery/etc. Basically different look, same idea.
New Factions
Factions are in for a major revamp, personally, I'd like for them to stay the way they are... Maybe keeping the classic four (Followers Of Minax, Council Of Mages, Shadow Lords, and True Britannians) and add the three new ones as well? People will argue that adding more will bring on less "Epic" faction fights like in the old days. Truth of the matter is, I don't think there's one shard that their entire faction co-operate with each other "like in the old days" I believe this way will cause less grieving. Would I like factions to co-operate and aim for the same goal? Of course, but Ultima Online's pvp community isn't quite the same anymore.
I believe that's all I have for factions for now! One other thing I'd like to see changed though are wands being able to be recharged. With the ability to imbue weapons, wands are one of my favorites, but when the charges run out, it becomes pretty useless. While there's Planeswords with 50 Hitspell due to a bug, and double hit spell bows, I think wand mages deserve this at the very least? Please!
I realize these suggestions will not bring hordes of people back into factions, but just a few suggestions to improve this very outdated system! Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to any/all feedback negative or positive! I think a faction point reset needs to be in store, I recently x-fered to Great Lakes, and need a couple billion points to wear any gear, sure, one or two kills would get me that, but not when I can't wear anything for armor, and I didn't bring anything with me except soulstones.
Faction Bases
Faction Bases are fine, except for a few minor bugs inside the bases. Although, I would like to see the Minax base brought back to it's original spot in Papua.
Whether there's new factions or not though, I do not want to see two faction monoliths in the bases to defend.
Faction Crafting
One of the best factions ideas, but way outdated! Any feedback again will be welcomed! These are the ideas that I came up with, but before we get started, I just want people to be clear of what the factions colors are and what they look like worn.
Council Of Mages
Followers Of Minax
Shadow Lords
True Britannians
At this point in time faction items only last two weeks (I believe) before they "expire" and return to it's normal state/hue. I don't see why they can't stay factionized forever? I think this would defiantly help bring back a dead system. I have tried imbuing a blank factioned item, with no success and got the "Blessed item's cannot be imbued" message. Which is good and bad.
Good because, I believe if faction items stay blessed, people would actually go out and buy runics again for a chance of a leet blessed weapon, thus being a new gold sink. Bad because people might not care and stay with there godly imbued armor.
I'd also like the faction level requrement taken off of faction items. I don't know the exact number, but the CL can wear a total of 9 items, while level one can wear 3 (Again, I don't know the exact number, been way to long lol!). If we keep it the same way it is now, It'd just be a good excuse for the non-pvpers who only do factions for the items to horde even more points.
It'd like to also see faction items be worn by that faction only (Armor made by TB, wearable by TB only, Minax by Minax only etc.). With a faction cost of silver to convert it from TB to Minax? In case someone decides Minax would be more suited for them (When converted it changes color to Minax's Primary faction color). Being able to convert faction armor to regular armor, but once converted out of factions, it can't be converted back, while having non-crafted faction armor converted in (EXCLUDING imbued armor), and once reconverted out can't be reconverted back in, if that makes sense.
Anyone think it'd be worth trying?! I believe I'm going to lose some of you guys here though....
Faction Armor right now is dyeable with neon etc... This is factions, you should represent it by wearing your faction colors.... Make this crafting system not dyeable (Excluding the Primary/Secondary faction colors). As a new reward have Faction dyes available via silver only that only works on your factions armor. Don't let TB's dyes work on Shadow Lords armor etc. Let the dyes be the factions Primary and Secondary color, in case someone crafted a Red Mempo for example, and decided they wanted to switch it to Minax's secondary color.
Factions at the moment is all about reward, when it started it was all about fun. I believe this would spark a little interest and bring back faction crafting! Any other suggestions/ideas? Comments?
Faction Guards
I am not to big on getting these "Enhanced" like mentioned in the faction thread. These are annoying enough. What does need to be changed I think though is faction guards not curing themselves... They'll heal themselves but once poisoned and low on health, they'll continually cast GH without any success.
I'd also like the see Faction guards being made "Unharmed" to blues as well as players in the same faction (Regina that runs around at TB base entrance for example). I have seen it many times going into a fel town to see blues on there tamers whacking away at faction guards, or even players in the same faction killing there own guards. Sure, all you have to do now is call guards, this faction guard killing mostly took place during the time there weren't regular guards inside of towns. While guards in town zone are back, there isn't someone always there to call guards on these people.
Faction PvP Changes
I know this has been stated many times, and disagreed with by the majority, but I am 100% support of allowing faction pvp outside of Felucca. Why? Point Hoarders.
Faction Rewards
I really loved the Veteran Reward Banners for Order/Chaos, they've brought back lots of memories and good decorations.
I'd like to see the faction sell there own banner as a reward for silver. TB sell a TB banner, minax sells minax etc. Have the banners mark there "Stamp" on them. CoM banner the spellbook, Minax that crow, TB the cross, SL I want to say upside down bat face? (LOL) better pictures here ;p http://town.uo.com/factions/
Faction War Horses
War horses are one of my favorite rewards of factions! I'm just curious as to why each faction has a primary and secondary faction "color" and we're only allowed the primary? Except for the Shadow Lords. I'd like to see a choice between both of the faction colors for all the factions.
I don't think many people would like this part of my idea though, but also expanding the choices beyond a War "Horse" maybe a War Llama, Unicorn, Ki-rin etc. with war horse stats/skills and not capable of the faction versions to use magery/etc. Basically different look, same idea.
New Factions
Factions are in for a major revamp, personally, I'd like for them to stay the way they are... Maybe keeping the classic four (Followers Of Minax, Council Of Mages, Shadow Lords, and True Britannians) and add the three new ones as well? People will argue that adding more will bring on less "Epic" faction fights like in the old days. Truth of the matter is, I don't think there's one shard that their entire faction co-operate with each other "like in the old days" I believe this way will cause less grieving. Would I like factions to co-operate and aim for the same goal? Of course, but Ultima Online's pvp community isn't quite the same anymore.
I believe that's all I have for factions for now! One other thing I'd like to see changed though are wands being able to be recharged. With the ability to imbue weapons, wands are one of my favorites, but when the charges run out, it becomes pretty useless. While there's Planeswords with 50 Hitspell due to a bug, and double hit spell bows, I think wand mages deserve this at the very least? Please!