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Sonoma the first shard to go...

THP

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Yesterday I was cleaning up my houses on Sonoma, granted I had not been able to get on shard except for a few minutes of mining or trips to get bods. I was off in my little corner of UO playing happily on my own...

I hit on a friends house rune to drop off some things I knew she collected, her house was gone. Not only that the whole area was devoid of houses! This was a major player Town!!

I made the rounds of running all over the place to get the big picture of what was up.... I was shocked. I counted over 100 water troths up in the air... a sure sign a house fell....

It was sad to see, I had loved to log in sonoma and visit with friends and work a little on my very old homes. I decided to let it go perhaps like other shards it was a victom of the migration gone ary. I got on my tamer and was in need of a set of the new imbued jewelry so I got in chat and asked for the location of a good jewerly shop... Luna shopping was bad.. almost all vendors were ether gone or empty.

What I got in answer was the shocker. A player who I will not name for his/her safety.. answered my inquiry. But it was not what you or I would expect in answer.
I was told make a imbuer like the rest of them did and make it my self. ??? was my reply back to this player. "... didnt you want my gold?" the reply I recieved was: " NO, GET THE HELL OFF OUR PVP SHARD. "

In the insuing banter I was told by this character they has successfully pushed all "crafters" off the shard and it was now "their pvp shard" and I was not a pvp'r and to get off the shard. Pack up my things and transfer off or they would drive me off. Like they had done to others.

Sonoma was one of the most friendlyest shards I knew of. I had met players there that were so nice but this was beyond rude. A helpfull tamer gave me a set, I offered to pay but he refused the gold and said sorry for the jerks. I have had homes on Sonoma sence it opened way back in the early days of UO. I even still have an old Smithy house deed from back then.

I'm sad that such a wonderfull shard has gone to ruin.
there back to school now...new term...the 6 weeks hoilday as gone
 

Viper09

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Storm dont take it to heart people are just kidding around most of the time. Xalen and Viper are you mad cuz you cannot pvp on sonoma? Maybe get some skill perhaps? just a thought
What you you talking about? I sound mad? Sounds like you're taking people more seriously than you suggest that Storm is. Way too seriously, lmao.

Sounds like we know who Storm was talking to though. Nice of you to come forward and enlighten everyone on the ego-centric personalities of the shard, lol
 

Lady Storm

Grand Inquisitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Canary must love me ... he is always pancakes at me like a husband!

1 it was not the first time for this to happen on Sonoma, in the last 2 weeks I have been on shard with many different characters cleaning up gathering points. This player was not the first and I must assume not the last one who will jump down another's throat to drive them off shard. This was just the most strongest push for evacuating a once lovely shard filled with good kind players for the unknown new person to show up.

It was very disheartening.

With this Petra, if your on lock this up please they are picking on each other too much and Cal cant defend himself from the unwarrented attacks.
 

GalenKnighthawke

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Global Chat is a great example of a good idea implemented well at first then "improved" into being implemented poorly. (At least along this particular vector.)

When Global Chat was being tested, there was a "General-Trammel" and a "General-Felucca." The Trammel channel was the default, and when Fel smack talking began in the Trammel channel, one could point out that there was a default Fel channel. While one can never make someone leave a chat channel, of course, pointing out they were in a Trammel channel. Doing this usually appeared to result in them shutting up; presumably they had gone to the Fel channel, which only makes sense.

As implemented in actual fact, however, there's one "General" channel. As such, everything goes on there, including chat that's genuinely of general interest and smack talking which is only of interest to a small number of people. But to make a "General-Felucca" channel now requires player action and that doesn't have anywhere near as much force as does there being a channel like that made by the manufacturer. Just by definition the "General" channel is, well, general, and it unfortunately it can't be reasonably construed as to exclude smack talk.

The smack talking is off-putting, which let's face it is part of its intent, and as such chat of a truly general interest tends to die down or go away.

This is quite unfortunate. And is analogous to certain shard forums here at Stratics, where I've seen the same dynamics play out. Unmonderated smack talk makes other talk go away, until smack talk is all that's left, and then when that is finally moderated, there is almost nothing, because everything else has left long ago.

Hopefully the UO team will learn the lesson and restore the separate "General" channels for Trammel and Felucca, before something similar occurs.

As to Sonoma, I doubt it's really been taken over by PvPers. I've heard nothing about it being the new PvP centre.

So more than likely your shard is about as fine as a shard that was always on the smaller side can be in a game that's diminished in size considerably from its peak can be, and you were on when some guild had just gotten its ass kicked.

-Galen's player
 

Orgional Farimir

Lore Keeper
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Sadly the guild Asha is in has ruined the shard. Many years ago Sonoma was producing the top PvPers (98-2000ish), even though it was one of the smallest shards. Now "owning Fel" on Sonoma is like cheating to beat your 6 year old at checkers. No one cares at all that you won, and it really just makes you look like an idiot for bragging about it. I transfered off the shard about a year ago, not because of Waka "ruling Fel" and their "great PvP (in reality they are horrible and the guild I was in killed them many many times), but because of the constant rambling in GC but people like Storm mentioned, and the constant greiving. For example, when the Bane dragons came out Solid Snake would go down on his stealth archer (because that is all he plays) and spend hours down there making it so people couldn't tame a bane dragon (Why he would do this instead of play and enjoy the game I don't know, but it couldn't of been to fun).

Oh well I guess WAKA can go back to pwning fel and selling all their 120 scrolls and champ drops to well eachother since their actions have made Sonoma an even smaller shard.
 

Manticore

Crazed Zealot
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You know what they need is a PvP shard with fel rules but one can insure their items. I think part of the reason why Siege hasn't been too attractive is that you can't insure your items so people can't wear their favorite gear and also you can't transfer in and out.

However, if there is a new shard that allows one to transfer in and out but only a felucia facet and allows you to insure your items then all these self proclaimed bad-ass guilds from each shard can really have some fun.
 

Ahuaeyjnkxs

stranger diamond
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
There are basic facts about online gaming you guys seem to not grasp at all, or simply avoid for fear of raising even more questions...

I have myself been a target for intimidation when I first joined and went very public about the people I hanged with, some pretty strange people showed up and "joined" our group only to add drama, manipulation and zizany.

This was especially evident as everytime I would crush their "game" a new one would show up with one more layer of lies to try and get to the heart of our passion.

People will show up on here and on your shards, hired. I am not making an accusation or even hinting at the fact there might be a shadow management in UO. I am just saying there is enough political and "money interest" in this game still for people to jump in for these reasons.

It baffles me the degree of naivety which I witnessed and how people seem to equal community with BLIND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE which is certainly appropriate in a social setting where shame is a pleasure destroyer.

How unlikely, but the community is so broken that people take this attitude (opening themselves to very obnoxious manipulation) just because they feel everyone is quitting and they need to make it look attractive for people to stay.

I have first hand witnessed guildS being broken up by undercover agent orange ; to see right after most of the members being absorbed in new guilds (once again no names or accusations) which bore nazi names or very facist ideals which seemed to become bigger in 2 weeks than the guild who was there for 10 years.

Then you see them giving 1 million gold checks at random in new haven... here take this FREE gold !!!

ITS FREE !!! Even FD would tell you all that nothing is free in life... putting these clowns hand in hand with the gold selling maggots who putrefy our will from behind the curtain...
 
B

Bc-

Guest
One thing to keep in mind though, is that a lot of the more level headed players stay out of general chat. That chat room is not an accurate representation of the entire player base, it is a small sample size.

I honestly think that chat was one of the worst things they did to UO. It used to be a game about socializing. Going here because you knew someone lived there like you said, or a certain town where you could find a guild. Now it is just 4chan.
 

Tina Small

Stratics Legend
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
On Siege, the general chat channel reminds me very much of the old-time telephone party lines. It's great and I always enjoy listening to it and participating in it. It's very rare for someone to be so obnoxious or crude/vulgar that you just want to tell them to shut up.
 

Ahuaeyjnkxs

stranger diamond
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
People even asked to get some IM ICQ type add on right inside the client... just like WoW...

a friends list... :cursing:

Definately, siege is the best experience I had in the "new UO" its great, easy to get help to get started, and makes sense a little bit more than other shards.
 

Zosimus

Grand Inquisitor
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
What you all expect when the "community" asked for it for years?

It's pretty common knowledge that any EA game, general chat is bad and not monitored very much.
 

Zosimus

Grand Inquisitor
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
The language and the so called verbal abuse that goes on. ALL general chats have their idiots lol that rant and yell behind a computer.

Players from UO asked for it for years to have a general chat. It was pretty well known how GC in other games were before they put it in UO. You kind of have to live with it in any game lol
 

Widow Maker

Slightly Crazed
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I transfered off the shard about a year ago, not because of Waka "ruling Fel" and their "great PvP (in reality they are horrible and the guild I was in killed them many many times).
Faramir... You can push your point better if you tell the truth..the above, from your quote, is VERY far from the truth.

You left the shard because you and your guild were completely clueless on how to PvP. No teamwork, no skills. You got boot stomped, and rarely..extremely rare... ever killed any of your enemies.

You came to Sonoma loudly stating you would "own" the shard. How did that work out for you? Oh yeah.....:next: Please..take a moment and show the folks what happened. Now you see folks..note the excellent curvature of the tail and it's placement between the legs? THAT is how you tuck tail and run. Absolute perfection..nice job there Faramir.

The person who berated Storm was not from WAKA..nor would it ever be. They were COP, who are very bitter about being banished to Trammel and TC.
 

Ahuaeyjnkxs

stranger diamond
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
It's kind of interesting to see that not many of the real "tough guys" are on Siege...
 

Aran

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You know what they need is a PvP shard with fel rules but one can insure their items. I think part of the reason why Siege hasn't been too attractive is that you can't insure your items so people can't wear their favorite gear and also you can't transfer in and out.
That and Siege isn't and never has been a PvP shard.
 

MalagAste

Belaern d'Zhaunil
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Campaign Supporter
Actually I'll say this about the post...

Seems to me that a great many shards have experienced a massive decline in decent players.

Go to any EM event and it seems to bring out the most foul mouthed babies on the planet.

Seems most of them are a bunch of selfish selfcentered, selfserving, losers. And most can't fathom the idea that EM's do NOT = DEV's. They have nothing to do with severs, the new publishes coming out, why you can't recall to your boat or how things work in FEL. They are actual players just like us who work for EA/DEV's to provide us with entertainment and adventures... When that is done they return to their own shard and play just like we do.


Had a meet and greet on GL last night ... and most of the questions were questions that well EM's can't answer.

I remember back when DEV's actually DID come to shards and do a meet and greet and answered players questions...

More and more often I find good people are driven out of game by the childish mentality of a few bad apples.... but it would seem that the number of bad apples in the bushel are getting higher and higher because most the good apples have left the game. Driven off by the lack of good leadership on the part of the DEV's the lack of resources given UO on the part of EA.... the lack of Customer Service provided by EA... and the rampant cheating, scamming and foul attitude of other players... which has gone unchecked for years.

Get into any shards General Chat and try to get help or ask questions... On cycling through shards to trade dyes I noticed many shards have poor attitudes or absolutely NO ONE in Gen Chat..... or help chat for that matter.

There were a few shards where I found very helpful people and I did meet a few extremely nice folk.... but I also met a number of scammers and a greater number of snot nosed bullies who had the mentality of pre-pubessant little brats... who had any number of nasty vulgar things to say...

Now on my own shard I monitor General Chat most all the time and if I see or hear someone getting out of line I'll give them a warning or two but then I'll page a GM on them... this has seemed to cut out most of the abuse of that system... but I really wish there was a "Fel Trash talk" channel so that most that talk can just stay where it belongs.... with the other trash talkers in Fel... I keep telling them that "No one in Trammel cares about your chest puffing so go back to fel Gorrillas".... To me it's like a bunch of Gorrilla's stick out their chest and beatting their fists against it..... Ooo look at me I can post smack talk in General Chat... Ooo I'm sooo bad... *rolls eyes*....

As far as losing the shard to the antics of the liddle kiddies... sadly that's happening everywhere from what I can tell.

I love the community of UO and it's what keeps me here after all these years but I'm finding that community to be dwindling ... There are good decent folk out there still..... but they are fewer and further between now... WAY fewer.

Is it the fault of Cal.... I doubt it. Things were headed downhill in a vicious spiral LONG before he got in the hotseat.

Did he help it to either plummet more or improve... can't really say. I know I love and look forward to each and every EM event... despite having to put up with the children who attend...

Most of the blame for how the community is .... can be placed on the players and EA... not the DEV's...
 
V

Vyal

Guest
Do you remember how many polls the Stratics community would come up with...
& no matter how many times one of those polls would be 1000 to 1 for yes please do this or that, you would never see it done would you?
That is what turned people away. As far as shards go now, alot of PvPers have expected things to come for years on end and have been told good things are coming for years & those things never came. The faction changes that never came was a big one, the duel pits, some type of anti speeder program, I mean the list goes on and on and on. So many just gave up and quit or found a free shard to meet their play style (I hate to even bring that up btw) leaving so many shards without those great PvPers, so the rest xfer off and go to shards with more players to fight just making some shards even more empty. A good example is Sonoma.

I know all you people who say to hell with PvP tram is good for me bla bla bla, there is way more people that play in tram then fel anyways.
Your dead wrong...
 
Z

Zyon Rockler

Guest
I think some of the problem is that it's basically allowed. Like if you take the word crap and then somebody says it in General Chat, everyone sees the word crap, so they want to try to say it and then the next thing you know, Chat is filled with it.

If they converted the word crap into beautiful, then the person saying crap would really not want to use that word.

For example: If I told someone they should go blank themself, once you hit enter it could be converted into, You really look nice today or I would really love to date you!

So basically, the computer looks for those key words and then presents itself with a nice phrase depending on which key word.

So, you could just imagine this guy getting really upset and just wanting to grab this other guy and beat the heck out of him. So, he types something into Chat and he ends up telling the guy that he really thinks he's the greatest.

Also, the spam needs to stop. The system should be able to identify if someone is repeating something. For example: If I say, Hail and then try to type Hail again, then nothing will be typed the 2nd time. The word would have to change in some type of way. This would stop people from saying the same thing over and over.

But anyway, the point is, as long as you allow for these things, people will think it's normal behavior. Normal behavoir is acceptable, so, as long as people can curse at each other, they will.
 

MalagAste

Belaern d'Zhaunil
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Campaign Supporter
Do you remember how many polls the Stratics community would come up with...
& no matter how many times one of those polls would be 1000 to 1 for yes please do this or that, you would never see it done would you?
That is what turned people away. As far as shards go now, alot of PvPers have expected things to come for years on end and have been told good things are coming for years & those things never came. The faction changes that never came was a big one, the duel pits, some type of anti speeder program, I mean the list goes on and on and on. So many just gave up and quit or found a free shard to meet their play style (I hate to even bring that up btw) leaving so many shards without those great PvPers, so the rest xfer off and go to shards with more players to fight just making some shards even more empty. A good example is Sonoma.

I know all you people who say to hell with PvP tram is good for me bla bla bla, there is way more people that play in tram then fel anyways.
Your dead wrong...
You are right that too is another BIG reason people have left.
 

Ahuaeyjnkxs

stranger diamond
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
We are led down a very dark road and forced to ponder if it's possible EA was willing to sacrifice our community to be able to put UO on "auto-pilot" with less sophisticated players who only care about supperficial issues.

I'm not going to fall into allegations but I'm sure someone did the math up there, when you go on the EA website and browse to find the game and for example buy SA with my EA master account UO is not even listed you have to manually type the name to find it, and theres no options to do anything with it... it says its in the category RPG but when you go back and browse there UO is not on the list.

I hope the account migration will serve something else than having prevented me from playing for a whole month... there should be a button I can press to buy SA (I've never been able to, Cal even said he would help me about 2 weeks after its release but he never did, although he helped many others that I know, I was ignored and still don't have it ! *and I use the same CC to pay the game and it works*
 
D

DenAlton036

Guest
Lady Storm,
As someone who plays Sonoma it sounds like you ran into one of the many childish PVPrs that spend all there time chatting and not playing. My wife and I left GL which we felt was generally rude and went to Sonoma where we met some wonderful folks in the KHV guild. Its been over a year and we have never regretted it. Sonoma still has the nicest people. I have however definatley noticed an "everyman for himself" attitude in UO, again thats why we left GL, but it has spread to all shards... for sure.
 

Aran

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Do you remember how many polls the Stratics community would come up with...
& no matter how many times one of those polls would be 1000 to 1 for yes please do this or that, you would never see it done would you?
Stratics represents a very small, but very vocal, minority of the player base. On top of that, the posters on Stratics come up with some REALLY BAD ideas very often.
 
L

Lindae

Guest
Stratics represents a very small, but very vocal, minority of the player base. On top of that, the posters on Stratics come up with some REALLY BAD ideas very often.
Imagine if they were to implement every single player suggestion at once!

What a night that would be.
 
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