The currently ongoing event is pretty much the lamest ever.

[Meatbread]

From the general lameness of running around picking up trash, to the decay of town loyalty, to the pointless rewards, to the bizzare restrictions on placing banners, to the raiders with too many HP, to the fact that it just seems to drag on forever with no real change until everyone quits caring, this is literally the crappiest UO event that I am personally aware of. And while I don't go back to the very beginning of UO, I go all the way back to the old Trinsic invasion of 2000.

I mean if someone wants to tell me an event that sucked more than this, I'd love to hear it.

Remember the Ophidian invasion back in like 05 or thereabouts? Remember how the players could actually push them back through the city and permanently defeat them? Man wasn't that kind of cool, being able to actually triumph at a time that wasn't even pre-determined by the developers?

Remember the Bane invasion last year? Remember how you could pick a good side or an evil side, and you knew what the sides meant, and each side had items that someone might actually want? I fought for the bad guys and had a good time, and made a bunch of money selling spell focusing sashes I took from the forces of good.

Remember the destruction of Magincia? Man that was crazy, but come on. Real-time destructible buildings? In UO? Admit it, you wouldn't have even thought that was possible until you heard about it.

Remember years ago when they would just spawn some trolls in Minoc or whatever and call it an event? Remember how it was pretty weak, but at least you didn't have to grind the trolls everyday to keep some loyalty meter from going down and locking you out of the rest of the event? Yeah, even that was better than this event we have now.

WORST. EVENT. EVER.

 

[MalagAste]

Actually it's not the worst... at least I can kill the robbers without needing 40 people around to help me.

Yes the town loyalty BS is a clickfest.... that's a given... Yes it stinks that you can't kill the robbers without killing yourself unless you use lame tactics like the RC... But.. I've done worse things for events.

But Yes the clickfest is infact lame.... however it's not the worst ever.

How many times have we all endlessly fought back invaders to have ZERO effect on the outcome???? Dozens perhaps?

IF it's so lame then why don't all the complainers instead of wasting DEV time reading dribble come up with ideas for events that aren't "lame". Something EVERYONE can enjoy not just PvPers in Fel, or PvMers in Tram.... but EVERYONE.

 

[G.v.P]

IF it's so lame then why don't all the complainers instead of wasting DEV time reading dribble come up with ideas for events that aren't "lame"

That's kind of trolling what you presume to be a troll. OP offers past events that were considered fun compared to the current event and explains why he doesn't like the current event and what he feels made past events fun. I really wouldn't consider the thread a troll, even if the thread is anchored by a Simpsons meme that pokes fun at trolling in general.

Anyway, throwing pies at the Virtue Bane guy and the Queen Dawn kill-off was pretty silly...I don't know who said okay to the idea of everyone throwing pies to instill the virtue of being humble but I don't know, just seemed too juvenile. Three Stooges Online. At least we aren't throwing pies at raiders.

As for past events that worked, one thing the OP doesn't mention specifically that I enjoyed was how the Ophidian waypoint war worked, how you'd battle the opposing side in a simultaneous conflict like a mini MOBA. Per that aspect, I like how the rioters start fires by throwing molotovs, but it's annoying how the fires can't do damage due to guardzone issues which would arise.

There's always something new to enjoy even if the big picture isn't quite there. For example, Changling AI is great--but guess what? None of the new monsters in Shame were given Changling AI. Nor Dark Wisp shielding AI. I don't know, I wasn't too impressed by anti-sampire traits other than the functionality, and with the current event for example, Changling/Dark Wisp AI would be much more accepted, I feel, than reflect all damage type, which makes for a lame fight.

 

[O'Brien]

Yeah it's just stupid no matter how you look at it. To start, in a RPG, you should be able to choose sides, and a good character shouldn't be penalized for choosing to help more than one town.

Secondly, if there is only one side, then it shouldn't be against principles reminiscent of those embodied in the Declaration of Independence. I know I'm not the only one offended by that.

For your reading pleasure, here are all of the angry protester chants, in case you didn't see it enough from the grind:

Better to die on your feet than live on your knees
The Lords take what Peasants make!
No Virtues! No Kings!
Riot! Chaos! Blood and Fire!
Might makes right! We are right!
Death to the town guard!
Anarchy! No one is going to keep us down!
Burn the town! I want to feel the flames!
This will teach them to mess with us!
Vested interest! United ties! Landed gentry rationalize!

 

[Petra Fyde]

The event has aspects that are possible for all character types. No one is excluded from taking part. This is a complaint that was heard frequently in past events.
The character I'm using to kill grave robbers has not declared loyalty to any town. (and she's not killing herself to do it either)
The character that has loyalty to a town has not killed any grave robbers.
Everyone doesn't have to do every part.

 

[O'Brien]

My character has never even heard about grave robbers. He stumbled across rioters in Skara Brae and decided to enlist with the town's Guard Captain to help out to bring order back to this peace-loving town of spirituality.

In the following week, while making a donation at Britain Public Library, he found the beloved library engulfed in flames. If he had done anything to try to put out the flames, his reputation in Skara Brae would be hurt. But seeing that the librarian and everyone else around had apparently already succumbed to despondence, he decided to make his donation and get out out of there before being overwhelmed by the effects of smoke inhalation.

Now wouldn't a more heroic character have put out the flames, regardless of what town he is "loyal" to? Yes, but out-of-character (OOC) game mechanics penalize us for that. Why?

The event has aspects that are possible for all character types. No one is excluded from taking part. This is a complaint that was heard frequently in past events.
The character I'm using to kill grave robbers has not declared loyalty to any town. (and she's not killing herself to do it either)
The character that has loyalty to a town has not killed any grave robbers.
Everyone doesn't have to do every part.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Now wouldn't a more heroic character have put out the flames, regardless of what town he is "loyal" to? Yes, but out-of-character (OOC) game mechanics penalize us for that. Why?

Bad. Game. Design.

 

[Larisa]

Also remember this event arc is going to last ALL YEAR LONG....so just give it time...:/

I like it...still rather confused as to why I can't past Respected in Yew....I've been *grinding* for lack of a better term, in Yew on average 2 hours at a time....and I can't past Respected there. Maybe it's broken but noone else on Origin seems to care so I can't compare notes with anyone

 

[Sevin0oo0]

Since a couple now have reported positive gains have stopped, maybe it was temporarily turned off until later in the arc? Why they started it in plenty of time to get a banner - the Real prizes usually come at the end don't they?

 

[Tina Small]

Since a couple now have reported positive gains have stopped, maybe it was temporarily turned off until later in the arc? Why they started it in plenty of time to get a banner - the Real prizes usually come at the end don't they?

Perhaps with this weekend's events, that may include fighting a lot of raiders in Britain, town loyalty was turned off completely so people wouldn't hesitate to get involved killing raiders in Britain? I believe the EMs (at least some of them anyway) are telling people they won't mess up their loyalty in other towns if they kill raiders in Britain during this weekend's events.

 

[Larisa]

no I was Respected on my archer and within 30 minutes got to Adored and got my New Mag Banner....logged of her and onto my tamer and spent 2 hours in Yew and still stuck at Respected..so it's not turned off.

 

[Aibal]

Actually it's not the worst... at least I can kill the robbers without needing 40 people around to help me.

Yes the town loyalty BS is a clickfest.... that's a given... Yes it stinks that you can't kill the robbers without killing yourself unless you use lame tactics like the RC... But.. I've done worse things for events.

But Yes the clickfest is infact lame.... however it's not the worst ever.

How many times have we all endlessly fought back invaders to have ZERO effect on the outcome???? Dozens perhaps?

IF it's so lame then why don't all the complainers instead of wasting DEV time reading dribble come up with ideas for events that aren't "lame". Something EVERYONE can enjoy not just PvPers in Fel, or PvMers in Tram.... but EVERYONE.

Mal...what about the event a couple years ago around Halloween. The one where you had to get the grass then go collect the shinie's in the the dungeons that allowed you to get the blue essences for the Conjurer's garb. That storyline and gameplay, with resulting rewards, was WWWWAAAAAYYYY better than anything since then in my opinion. I honestly don't know of anyone that tired of the event, it was well designed and fun. It may have been a "grind", but it certainly didn't seem like it. Not like this arresting rioters...seriously I'd rather watch paint dry.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Aside from the essences spawning in out-of-reach places (and the Devs not bothering to fix that), Halloween 2009 seemed to be universally beloved.

While I have earned all the banners and worked Meer/Jukan loalty up to 15k three times now, I haven't done it because it was 'fun.'

 

[Aibal]

Martyna, I too have done all the banners. After that, I ended it. I will maintain one character on each shard at adored (or above), but that will be it. I have much better things to do in game. I come here to relax, not grind. I will do the EM events on GL/Atl/LA, work other skills, and have fun. Grinding, especially to MAINTAIN levels already achieved, is pointless to me. JMO.

 

[lupushor]

Well, maybe if they did this event 6 years ago it would not have been (felt) the worst of all time. But with all the past invasions behind, current event seems silly to say the least.

On the bright side, the event I enjoyed most was the crystallized essences race on halloween. But I did miss the Magincia Big Bang so I'm not the best reference.

 

[Meatbread]

While I have earned all the banners and worked Meer/Jukan loalty up to 15k three times now, I haven't done it because it was 'fun.'

Beggin' yer pardon ma'am, but that being so, WTF did you do it for?

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

LOL

I wanted all the banners for my library, same with the statues. The Meer/Jukan loyalty was gained in the somewhat vain hope that it might be meaningful in the future. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[LordDrago]

I despise grinding up skills. I do not golem them, I can't stand sitting in one place casting spell after spell after spell after spell in order to raise a skill. I gain my skills playing the game.

Not complaining mind you, it is just no fun grinding up skills via golems or training just for the sake of training. This is one reason why I have only 2 out of 7 characters zompletely trained.

This is also why I despise this event. Doing the same thing over, and over, and over again, with little variation,. I can do it for a bit, but then need to go do something else. Way too much of a grind. Give us other ways to gain loyalties to the meer/juka. Some showing of advancement like in some of the invasions, remove loyalty decay (I have obtained a couple of banners, but don't think I can place them anymore without a bunch of work to regain loyalty.

 

[Sevin0oo0]

Extreme came at the end of an arc, the one where you have to collect all the virtue armor pieces for something worth the effort
Disappointing was collecting the colored armor sets from loot in an arc for something useful later
guess the definition of Lame can vary?

Best One = the majority of 'em, thankfully. While noting the ones gone bust is necessary. dwelling on them is depressing

 

[Obsidian]

I still haven't participated in this arc at all. I'm currently dusting off my Stoneform Mystic Dexxer and going to spend some quality time with Slasher. In my opinion, even with the pitiful drop rate for a Lavaliere, that sounds like time better spent than grinding town loyalty.

-OBSIDIAN-

 

[MalagAste]

Mal...what about the event a couple years ago around Halloween. The one where you had to get the grass then go collect the shinie's in the the dungeons that allowed you to get the blue essences for the Conjurer's garb. That storyline and gameplay, with resulting rewards, was WWWWAAAAAYYYY better than anything since then in my opinion. I honestly don't know of anyone that tired of the event, it was well designed and fun. It may have been a "grind", but it certainly didn't seem like it. Not like this arresting rioters...seriously I'd rather watch paint dry.

You are right the event at Halloween 2009 was very well loved. And good... except for the supreem annoyance of the stinking things spawning in the walls and there not being diddly squat you could do about it... oh and that folk complained as I recall quite a bit about folk hiding and lying in wait for people to start dropping crystals on those folk only to have some hidden stealther sneak in drop two crystals and run away with the prize...

I think I remember folk screaming about that being lame too.

 

[Uvtha]

IF it's so lame then why don't all the complainers instead of wasting DEV time reading dribble come up with ideas for events that aren't "lame". Something EVERYONE can enjoy not just PvPers in Fel, or PvMers in Tram.... but EVERYONE.

a) I think they have. Mainly people just want more of the good events we used to have.

b) Its not the players job to come up with content. We are the customers. It shouldn't be up to us.

 

[MalagAste]

a) I think they have. Mainly people just want more of the good events we used to have.

b) Its not the players job to come up with content. We are the customers. It shouldn't be up to us.

If they don't know what we like how will they know what to give us? It IS up to us to let them know.

Secondly what events were good and why?


Personally I loved the event that gave me my Dreadwarhorses.... I also liked the Conjurers garb... I also like my books and things I've collected over the years... the ghoul statues that make spooky noises when I pass are neat.

What I don't like is things such as the Dreadwarhorse that directly effect how a player does in the game.... something like conjurers garb which then becomes soooo very popular that folk do things like dupe and hack to get them... because there is NO other way.

Dread Warhorses SHOULD be obtainable in some way.... there is all of Ter Mur and the Underdark which is just DYING to have Dreads...

As for the conjurers garb it perhaps could be added to the list of things one can get for Spring Clean... Or maybe added to the fountain... as a rare prize.

Same with the trinkets and the mage book.... I can't remember what it was called.

But maybe that's just me. Seems greedy SoB's direct quite a bit of what is and isn't in game. But it's that Greed that fuels things like duping and hacking and to me THAT ruins the game more than anything else.

 

[Meatbread]

Okay fine, Meatbread's suggestion for an event:

Treasures of Tokuno with a new set of minor and major rewards. Maybe have it take place in Ter Mur instead of Tokuno.

Blam done. Would be way more popular than this junk.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Without saying how I personally feel about this event, basically every event they have done has been called the worst event every by someone.

-Galen's player

 

[Uvtha]

If they don't know what we like how will they know what to give us? It IS up to us to let them know.

To a point, but not so much that we have should be expected to hold their hands through the process. It should be more that was good, that was bad, rather than "heres my detailed plan for how events should be conducted". And to be quite honest our current event suckiness could have been addressed by a simple chain of thought as to whether the tasks involved are fun or tedious. The answer is pretty clear to me.

Secondly what events were good and why?

Personally I loved the event that gave me my Dreadwarhorses.... I also liked the Conjurers garb... I also like my books and things I've collected over the years... the ghoul statues that make spooky noises when I pass are neat.

I like those events myself as well. They were better, I would even say MUCH better than what we have now. The past Holloween events (read 2007,08,09) and the Ophidan (et al) invasions should be good points in the fairly recent past to look back at and if not be directly imulated, then at least the spirit. I would even take a step further back and mention "Scenarios" that we had back in old olden times. That brought us all the new orc, Savages solen, bolas, beetles, bos... and all other groovy stuff. Those events were run very well I though. They told a story well, were not rushed, and there was enough content at each step for multiple levels of character development, and the rewards were a solid mix of fun and useful.

The first of the bane chosen and a few other events were alright, but as usual they were far too heavily skewed towards high powered players and grind grind grind. Far too often events are just "npc chain dialog, now here a monster than will 1 hit ko you, and has 10000000 hit points! Enjoy!". Or puzzles that, while fun and well implemented take like half an hour to do, and then there's no new content for months.
The halloween events back in 07 were a great example I think. There were zombies and ghouls for the newbs, and they could get cool items, even the very rare and desirable ghoul statues, then there was grim reaper mega monster for the developed characters with its special drop, and on top of that trick or treating which was different than monster bashing, and fun for anyone who wanted it. Very good set up.

But maybe that's just me. Seems greedy SoB's direct quite a bit of what is and isn't in game. But it's that Greed that fuels things like duping and hacking and to me THAT ruins the game more than anything else.

Well thats a different issue altogether, and something all games (that don't have some invasive anti cheating method) have to deal with.

 

[Ron Silverbeard]

Loyality Gains are not stuck and work with no problems..just finished Skara..

The Arc all in is quite a joke but than nobody forcing the people (yet) to have to be part of it..

It is very bad coordinated, some shards are way behind, the grinding is not fun..but i do it because i want the town banners so its ok for me (i dont have to..)

And for all of you "dont argue do it better" people out there - dont forget, we PAY to get ENTERTAINED for every month - i am not here to change anything in the game but i can post anytime what i think might be better here and there (f.e. Town Crier Messaging Sytem revamp) - if this game would be for FREE and open source so users ideas would be implemented and i get forced to bring my input for the love of the game you all are right, than i have to work out ideas and be a part of the community to implement the changes - but its not like that - you dont buy a game, spend a monthly fee and than beeing responsible for the input, or do you realy think that?

Not sure if serious....

 

[THP]

the last global was the worst ever..part 3 .. the nightmare blob thingy....... u needed 75 people to kill it!!!!

 

[Obsidian]

Okay fine, Meatbread's suggestion for an event:

Treasures of Tokuno with a new set of minor and major rewards. Maybe have it take place in Ter Mur instead of Tokuno.

Blam done. Would be way more popular than this junk.

I agree 100% with this idea. Treasures of Stygian Abyss (or whatever you want to call it) would have been awesome. I would be adventuring right now if that system was running. In fact, I love the concept of collecting 10 minors for an item of choice. They could upgrade Doom dramatically right now by adding a way to turn in 10 current arties for some new items. We could have a contest and come up with thousands of really cool ideas for arties that would be good additions to the game now.

 

[Meatbread]

This current event manages to have no good side or evil side, nor any interesting morally grey angle. If you're playing evil, it's a question of which city you want to save. Well, none, because eeevil. If you're playing good, it's a question of which 8 of the 9 cities you want to let burn down.

 

[O'Brien]

We can have fun with this line of thinking.

There is a "good" side in this event, but being good prevents you from qualifiying for a banner. In short, all characters with banners in their homes, are eeevil

This current event manages to have no good side or evil side, nor any interesting morally grey angle. If you're playing evil, it's a question of which city you want to save. Well, none, because eeevil. If you're playing good, it's a question of which 8 of the 9 cities you want to let burn down.

 

[Adol]

I have just 3 words to add to this discussion;

"Plague Beast Lords".

I thought the wider Yew arc was troubling handled then, but that one addition to the game made such a difference, introducing both a fun new mechanic as well as adding a literal sense of there being something "Inside" the new mobs worth paying attention to! There has already been mentioned Ophidian v Bane battles as well, another addition to gameplay which was highly thought of, and yet which has unforgivably just been completely forgotten. And the plague beast's don't work in the new client either, bah.

I have seen suggestions that the next event may involve some form of Exodus puzzle. All I can say is, if it does, don't lose the code notes this time and allow it to stay with us after the event!

 

[garillo]

Make the towns a real warzone. Let reds run rampant through both tram and fel invasion cities, and let them collect points towards how quickly the invasion will end/succeed based on how many kills they get. No one ever goes to most of these cities anyways, seeing as the convenient design and safety of luna > all.

I've never seen a safe riot.

 

[Nimuaq]

Bad. Game. Design.

I agree, but not only because of the decay, because the first act is really not fun and the decay is forcing the players to keep participating in it. Decay wouldn't matter if it was a fun event, I wouldn't care to lose loyalty points during the war between the Ophidians and the Bane, in fact I reached the cap for the Ophidian loyalty after a few days and I enjoyed every moment I've spent on the lost lands desert.

From The In-game Economics of Ultima Online by Zachary Booth Simpson, Origin Research Fellow (1999):

There is one overriding design criteria in all game design. It is the cardinal rule: players are there to have fun. (...)
[G]ame designers are therefore frequently confronted with the following dilemma:

1. All elements of the game need to be fun.
2. Much of the real world is not fun.
3. Elements which are unrealistic are often counterintuitive.
4. Counterintuitive rules are difficult to learn and not fun, at least at first.

 

[Meatbread]

Man next time they should just skip to the fun part right away, assuming a fun part is coming.

 

[Shelleybean]

Okay fine, Meatbread's suggestion for an event:

Treasures of Tokuno with a new set of minor and major rewards. Maybe have it take place in Ter Mur instead of Tokuno.

Blam done. Would be way more popular than this junk.

You've got my vote.

 

[Meatbread]

Another Meatbread alternative event:

The Britain moongate is moved to Britain bank itself permanently via patch. At the same time, Luna is invaded by the undead. Stronger spawn is near the bank and has special loot, but the spawn in the outer ring is relatively weak, enough to harrass players but not enough to really keep anyone from getting to their house. Bone knights and mages maybe. However, that weaker spawn in the outer area can reveal stealthers. Like the stealthed newbie bot characters used to gather vendor data via script.

 

[Vlaude]

It's raining new event ideas like manna meatbread from heaven in here.

They should do an event involving both Luna and Umbra though.

 

[O'Brien]

Or just switch Luna to no guards Fel ruleset

Another Meatbread alternative event:

The Britain moongate is moved to Britain bank itself permanently via patch. At the same time, Luna is invaded by the undead. Stronger spawn is near the bank and has special loot, but the spawn in the outer ring is relatively weak, enough to harrass players but not enough to really keep anyone from getting to their house. Bone knights and mages maybe. However, that weaker spawn in the outer area can reveal stealthers. Like the stealthed newbie bot characters used to gather vendor data via script.

 

[RuSini Neb]

Actually it's not the worst... at least I can kill the robbers without needing 40 people around to help me.

Yes the town loyalty BS is a clickfest.... that's a given... Yes it stinks that you can't kill the robbers without killing yourself unless you use lame tactics like the RC... But.. I've done worse things for events.

But Yes the clickfest is infact lame.... however it's not the worst ever.

How many times have we all endlessly fought back invaders to have ZERO effect on the outcome???? Dozens perhaps?

IF it's so lame then why don't all the complainers instead of wasting DEV time reading dribble come up with ideas for events that aren't "lame". Something EVERYONE can enjoy not just PvPers in Fel, or PvMers in Tram.... but EVERYONE.

because devs are paied to come up events not the player base. Fire devs that cant make good events and replace with ones that can ???

 

[RuSini Neb]

Or just switch Luna to no guards Fel ruleset

Yes because that would do so much for this game.......... /sigh

 

[O'Brien]

It would throw the PKers (I mean PvPers, lol) a bone for a few days

Yes because that would do so much for this game.......... /sigh

 

[Meatbread]

It's raining new event ideas like manna meatbread from heaven in here.

They should do an event involving both Luna and Umbra though.

Use the same system as the old Despise invasion of Britain to have undead forces marching out of Umbra, all the way down that long road through all of Malas, into Luna.

Have the foremost spawn point, the one which designates the battlefront, spawn goodguy NPCs who attempt to fight the undead themselves. Killing these goodguys would contribute toward moving the undead spawn closer to Luna. You wanna see Luna full of spawn? Get out there and make it happen.

Maybe give out sashes that work like the old Masks of Orcish Kin, so that players who want to fight the goodguys won't be killed by the undead. You know, have the sash burn up if you attack an undead target, so it can't be exploited. Would have to watch your AOE, but whatever.

All of the "battlefront" spawn drops Treasures of Tokuno Malas. Half the new items drop from the goodguys, half from the undead.

Spawn points behind the front would have only weak monsters with little loot. We're trying to show the progress of an army, not make the entire continent uninhabitable.

This idea is, not to seem arrogant, totally freakin' awesome, requires zero new art, and requires zero new gameplay systems to be developed from scratch. Every component of it is something that has already existed. But hey, you guys enjoy picking up your garbage.

 

[Meatbread]

So if we discount all the people who decided to vote that I suck rather than expressing an opinion on the event, the ratio of "worst event" to "not the worst" is a staggering 15:1 in favor of this being the worst. I gotta tell you, even I didn't expect that when I posted this. I figured that if I were really tapping a nerve and people really didn't like this, I might get... you know... a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio. Jeebus.