[UO Herald] Ask & Answer No. 8

[UO News]

From the Devs
2012 Oct 31 20:43 GMT
This week's Ask & Answer had to fight its way through wind and rain. Here are latest answers to your questions:

UOMania

Can you add the timer for the spawn of the next token to the item property display of the veteran reward Shard Transfer Shields? Right now I need to write down the date to remember when the next token will come out. (clorenz)
uo.stratics
Also the number currently held on the shield (Tazar)
Kyronix: This is something we can easily do and will add to the backlog, thanks!

Currently we can only get Bulk Order Book Covers buying the full 11th anniversary collection pack from the origin store. Can we get them in some other way, for example with a separate purchase? (Zangar)
Mesanna: This is something we can add in the future.
Can we get the ability to remove and recover powerscrolls and recipes from a character, to apply them on another character? (clorenz)
Mesanna: We as a team all feel this would not be a good system to put into UO due to the fact it cuts out the need to do champ spawns.

Can you make all items stackable? There's still a lot of stuff that requires infinite storage space and is unstackable. (clorenz)
uo.stratics
We already have clockwork assemblies and arcane gems that are stackable. Can we get the power crystals to stack as well? (sablestorm)
I can remember when clockwork assemblies weren't stackable and they were fixed at some point in time. It would be great to be able to stack power crystals too. (Trixrnt4kids)
Tasty treats - We are getting a lot of these now from the new Treasure Chests, and just wondering why they don't stack? Thank you (Old Man of UO)
Acid slug, Tasty treats and "scared fire ant goo" All 3 doens't stack. Please, fix it because there are too many items (Ivory Norwind)
Monster Stealables are barely used in game (from my experience talking to people) because they take so many lockdowns in a house to store due to the fact that they are unstackable. Please consider making them stack. Thanks (Nero Blackraven)
Kyronix: There is a number of bugs related to stackable items in the system that we will be squashing during the Publish 80 bug sprint.

I'd like an item to open my bankbox from home. Similar to the chest of sending, but when you double-click it it opens the bankbox. (clorenz)
Kyronix: This is certainly something we can discuss, maybe it’s time for a Britannian heat wave?

Can we get the ability to transfer money from a character on one shard to a character on another shard? Maybe with a "gold transfer token". (clorenz)
Mesanna: I guess I am not understanding the question, are you asking to be able to just transfer money? I guess my confusion is why not just do it via character transfer?


Red & Purple Pixies

Has the staff thought about making the seasonal change that removes the green from the trees and sets the ground in snow, something we can turn off by option? Frankly... I'm sick to death of it in real life and would rather not see that landscape in the game. Thus the option, so people can make a choice. (Lady Frany Flame)
Bleak: This is a good suggestion and one we will keep in mind for both clients going forward.


UO Auctions

I find that the game can occasionally seem a little linear as far as dress codes go for the player hoping to achieve best kit. For example everyone ends up wearing sunglasses from library donations. Have the Devs ever considered adding any artifacts to the game that are actually random in which art they drop as. Ie a helm that could compete with the goggles, but can appear as a norsehelm/closed helm/samurai helm/dragon helm and a caster hat that could appear as any of the cloth hat art. etc i feel applying this sort of idea to some new drops might aide diversity in the way players end up dressed and make use of great in game art that ends up somewhat redundant. (Treasure Seeker)
Bleak: We have considered doing this but there are several factors that need to taken into consideration for example the actual name of the artifact that may need to be changed based on the selected art or some are may need to be eliminated as a possibility due to meditation restrictions. This is something that we will keep in mind as we go forward in creating new artifacts.


UO.stratics

I know it was stated a long time ago that we would be able to un-alter items. Is this still in the works? Also, could we get the option to alter any similar item to any race? For example, rings and bracelets could be altered, but necklaces and earrings could not (unless there's a similar artifact for the opposite race) (yadiman)
Mesanna: After further research into this matter we are unable to put in the ability to un-alter items. There just isn’t a way to keep track of the original item.​

If you have something you want to know about Ultima Online and the team, post your questions on your fansite. All interesting questions will be collected and send to our team, so we can continue to answer them.

Continue reading...

 

[Tjalle]

Thanks devs.

However, I´d rather we didn´t get a banking option in our homes. It´s bad enough we got the stable option (and yes, I use that post).
Instead of bringing the towns to the players we should focus on how to bring the players to the towns...

 

[Merus]

UO.stratics

I know it was stated a long time ago that we would be able to un-alter items. Is this still in the works? Also, could we get the option to alter any similar item to any race? For example, rings and bracelets could be altered, but necklaces and earrings could not (unless there's a similar artifact for the opposite race) (yadiman)
Mesanna: After further research into this matter we are unable to put in the ability to un-alter items. There just isn’t a way to keep track of the original item.


Huh?? Isn't a tangle a tangle? Isn't a cimmy a crimmy? Aren't Mace and Shield glasses Mace and Shield glasses?

I understand that some items can't go back and forth, but turning a gargish tangle into a human tangle shouldn't be any more or less difficult than making a human one in to a gargish one.

Perhaps the team is just looking at it backwards... what we need is an Alter-Gargish function and an Alter-Human function, not an Un-Alter function.

 

[Ashlynn_L]

I wish hearts were stackable. I have almost 500 now.

 

[Tjalle]

Hearts?

 

[Ashlynn_L]

Yes, those quad-chambered organs that pump blood through your body. I have lots of them. In various forms. Normal, Icy, Throbbing, Blackened, etc. None are stackable, sadly.

Whatever am I to do!

 

[Olahorand]

Why would one transfer gold instead of character?
So on shard A 7 character slots full, on shard B as well - nobody wants to delete his full trained and scrolled character for a temporary transfer.
Also during shopping sometimes time is short to take a chance. A char transfer however takes its time.
*Salute*
Olahorand

 

[Mapper]

Thanks devs.

However, I´d rather we didn´t get a banking option in our homes. It´s bad enough we got the stable option (and yes, I use that post).
Instead of bringing the towns to the players we should focus on how to bring the players to the towns...

Agreed.

 

[mikni]

Thanks devs.

However, I´d rather we didn´t get a banking option in our homes. It´s bad enough we got the stable option (and yes, I use that post).
Instead of bringing the towns to the players we should focus on how to bring the players to the towns...

Yes, absolutely don't want this.

 

[Lady Storm]

Well.......
On the question of Character transfer to a full slot shard, I do understand alot of players have filled the 6 and 7 slots alloted. This also brings up a situation I myself have run into and I bet many of you as well. When doing a permanent move off a shard and you want to take hard worked on characters to the "new/old" shard the subject of filled slots has come up. Even if I wanted to combine a few shards down I lack the room in my character list for the desired movers. Is there a way to open up strictly for "non new" occupation?
In other words can you add a section to the character log in menu.
IE:
On shard A have 7 slots full
On shard B have 4 slots full
Closing down playing on shard B and wish to move all to shard A
Is there a way to "open room" for them?

 

[Cogniac]

I'd like an item to open my bankbox from home. Similar to the chest of sending, but when you double-click it it opens the bankbox. (clorenz)
Kyronix: This is certainly something we can discuss, maybe it’s time for a Britannian heat wave?

What the **** is that supposed to mean?

 

[kelmo]

Thanks devs.

However, I´d rather we didn´t get a banking option in our homes. It´s bad enough we got the stable option (and yes, I use that post).
Instead of bringing the towns to the players we should focus on how to bring the players to the towns...

Agreed. +1

 

[Vor]

Agreed on the bank in a house. I'd use it all the time, but it really isn't needed.

 

[Kyronix]

What the **** is that supposed to mean?

This was actually my response to a question related to the snow that usually gets turned on about this time of year. The question itself was lost somewhere in the formatting and pointed out there have been some issues with the snow in the past.

As far as a bank in your house, this is something I hope never gets implemented. Banks are one of the few reasons you must still venture to the NPC towns in order to access. Giving the ability to access it in ones home removes this need, and further isolates the populace, inhibiting even further the interaction that is keystone in an MMO.

From a completely role play perspective, the Crown would never go for this, as control of the banks is paramount to governing and no private citizen, no matter how wealthy, could possibly have enough wealth to cover the Kingdom's bustling finances.

 

[R Traveler]

After further research into this matter we are unable to put in the ability to un-alter items. There just isn’t a way to keep track of the original item.

 

[kelmo]

​

Exactly what are you trying to say here?

 

[R Traveler]

Exactly what are you trying to say here?

I do not trust their inability to remove altered tag.
At least it could be done to artifacts.

 

[kelmo]

So... You are calling a Stratics user a liar? Have you read the RoC?

 

[Lady Bleez]

Going way out on a limb and really not sure but maybe by "altering item" they were thinking of imbued,enhanced,cursed etc items? In which it would be more difficult to keep track of the original item? Otherwise, I really don't understand. If you can change something from human to elf/gargoyle, you should be able to change it back just as easily. Just remove the altered status of it?

 

[kelmo]

I will allow this discussion to continue... I do not want to see any more personal attacks though.

 

[kelmo]

Instead of calling Mesanna out as a liar... let us instead just ask for more detail. She is pretty informed as to how the current UO code works, I will take her at her word as she has always been brutally honest with me. Something I can appreciate.

 

[claudia-fjp]

​

LOL
So many things wrong with this. It's not like you're changing apples (tangle) into oranges (crimson) here. You're changing apple version 1 into apple version 2. Yet adding a way to turn apple version 2 into apple version 1 is impossible? Riiiiight.

 

[Merus]

I don't think it's about calling anyone a liar to question the answer we got back regarding the ability to un-alter an item. While I believe our team would not intentionally provide false information, they do have a history of saying things can not be done, when in fact they can be. A perfect, and recent, example is the hourglass from the anniversary bag. The question was asked if we could animate them and our team said it was not possible. However, it is actually possible and quite easy.. All you have to do is turn it with the deco tool. How hard did they research this before we were told it couldn't be done?

By my thinking, which is usually reasonable, it should be pretty easy to change a gragish tangle into a human one. Being told this has been researched and is not possible does not make any sense to me at all. I can accept that some items can not be altered to gargish and that some items that are gargish would not be able to be made human, but a flat it's not possible for all items, IMO, is not reasonable.

 

[Nimuaq]

Mesanna: After further research into this matter we are unable to put in the ability to un-alter items. There just isn’t a way to keep track of the original item.

LOL
So many things wrong with this. It's not like you're changing apples (tangle) into oranges (crimson) here. You're changing apple version 1 into apple version 2. Yet adding a way to turn apple version 2 into apple version 1 is impossible? Riiiiight.

Altering an item adds two additional item properties to the item: Altered and Gargoyles Only. If the item is not an artifact, it also changes its name to the gargish version. When you think about that, it might look straightforward: check if the item has the "altered" property and if so, remove the two item properties and return it to the base form, keeping the name if it is an artifact.

However, some multiple human/elven items are altered into the same specific gargish item. As an example, Rune Blade, No-Dachi and Halberd are altered into Gargish Talwar, and Rune Blade, No Dachi and Halberd have different weapon speeds and weapon damages. This is why she says they can't keep track of the original item. There might be a way of making this work, like un-altering it to the item with the slowest weapon speed, but this will cause various disadvantages.

 

[Petra Fyde]

Thank you Nimuaq, I think you've explained the problem perfectly.

 

[claudia-fjp]

Altering an item adds two additional item properties to the item: Altered and Gargoyles Only. If the item is not an artifact, it also changes its name to the gargish version. When you think about that, it might look straightforward: check if the item has the "altered" property and if so, remove the two item properties and return it to the base form, keeping the name if it is an artifact.

However, some multiple human/elven items are altered into the same specific gargish item. As an example, Rune Blade, No-Dachi and Halberd are altered into Gargish Talwar, and Rune Blade, No Dachi and Halberd have different weapon speeds and weapon damages. This is why she says they can't keep track of the original item. There might be a way of making this work, like un-altering it to the item with the slowest weapon speed, but this will cause various disadvantages.

Yes but artifacts have a SPECIFIC name and are changed into an item with the same name or another SPECIFIC name. There aren't Rune Blade, No-Dachi and Halberd artifacts who are all the same that turn into the same thing. It's a 1 to 1 correlation of items, and I'm pretty sure most people asking for this are refering to their Artifacts and other major fixed stat items, not random loot.

 

[Eärendil]

I really like the way they are communicating now with us - its a huge improvement!

 

[kelmo]

I really like the way they are communicating now with us - its a huge improvement!

It is quite nice 'eh?

 

[The Craftsman]

So... You are calling a Stratics user a liar? Have you read the RoC?

If it can be proven that they are in fact lying is it still against the rules? Not that im saying in this instance that it can be proved, but we know we have been lied to before by the official EA side...

 

[kelmo]

If it can be proven that they are in fact lying is it still against the rules? Not that im saying in this instance that it can be proved, but we know we have been lied to before by the official EA side...

Where is your evidence? Define "official EA side". Can you tie any of these "lies" to this Mythic team? We could do this all day... it is pointless, though.

 

[kelmo]

Let us just move on... We are going way outside of where this thread was intended to go. If you want to pursue these allegations, start a new thread. *smiles* We are done with the allegations here. Stay on topic. The question was answered.

 

[claudia-fjp]

If it can be proven that they are in fact lying is it still against the rules? Not that im saying in this instance that it can be proved, but we know we have been lied to before by the official EA side...

and why does Stratics have a Pinocchio Smiley if it's against the ROC to ever use it?

 

[kelmo]

and why does Stratics have a Pinocchio Smiley if it's against the ROC to ever use it?

OK.

 

[kelmo]

Well like any other smiley... it is what it is. Like a brick is what it is. A brick can be useful, funny and just what it is. It can also be used to harm or destroy. The user decides what is done with the tool...

 

[Lady Bleez]

Altering an item adds two additional item properties to the item: Altered and Gargoyles Only. If the item is not an artifact, it also changes its name to the gargish version. When you think about that, it might look straightforward: check if the item has the "altered" property and if so, remove the two item properties and return it to the base form, keeping the name if it is an artifact.

However, some multiple human/elven items are altered into the same specific gargish item. As an example, Rune Blade, No-Dachi and Halberd are altered into Gargish Talwar, and Rune Blade, No Dachi and Halberd have different weapon speeds and weapon damages. This is why she says they can't keep track of the original item. There might be a way of making this work, like un-altering it to the item with the slowest weapon speed, but this will cause various disadvantages.

That does explain it pretty well. But does not apply to all items. So I could see it being a "no" for those types of items but what about things like the tangle, crimmy, even the library glasses? Seems like it would be ok to do on some but not all? Maybe they just want to keep it all or nothing?

 

[Nimuaq]

Yes but artifacts have a SPECIFIC name and are changed into an item with the same name or another SPECIFIC name. There aren't Rune Blade, No-Dachi and Halberd artifacts who are all the same that turn into the same thing. It's a 1 to 1 correlation of items, and I'm pretty sure most people asking for this are refering to their Artifacts and other major fixed stat items, not random loot.

The question asks if they will allow altering all items, so I explained the answer for that. You're right about the artifacts, the system can create a new version of that artifact after copying the current durability. This still requires some coding since a tangle is nothing else than a hued and renamed half-apron for the server, so they should write a code that checks the name of the item, see if it is an artifact, see if it is altered, copy its durability and create a new one. They should also test this heavily since we wouldn't want people to exploit it and create tangles out of thin air. But if they are going to spend time on it just for the artifacts, they can expand it to all items by restricting some items from un-altering like the ones I mentioned before, which won't be fair and will increase the complexity but it is a solution nevertheless.

 

[Kyronix]

I don't think it's about calling anyone a liar to question the answer we got back regarding the ability to un-alter an item. While I believe our team would not intentionally provide false information, they do have a history of saying things can not be done, when in fact they can be. A perfect, and recent, example is the hourglass from the anniversary bag. The question was asked if we could animate them and our team said it was not possible. However, it is actually possible and quite easy.. All you have to do is turn it with the deco tool. How hard did they research this before we were told it couldn't be done?

By my thinking, which is usually reasonable, it should be pretty easy to change a gragish tangle into a human one. Being told this has been researched and is not possible does not make any sense to me at all. I can accept that some items can not be altered to gargish and that some items that are gargish would not be able to be made human, but a flat it's not possible for all items, IMO, is not reasonable.

In regards to the question regarding the hourglass, sometimes when answering these questions you go with your gut and that's where the answer comes from. In this particular case it was designed so the hourglass wouldn't rotate so you'd be able to use them as a pedestal for displaying artifacts and mementos from the year they represent. The fact that the flip-flop tool (aka the Interior Decorator) already had functionality to change the hourglass tileart to the animated type was a serendipitous side effect, one that I admittedly did not anticipate. UO can be an extraordinarily complex creature to work with, and the fact that it is over 15 years old and had countless people work on it in the past, only makes it more of a challenge -- a rewarding and exciting challenge, but a challenge none the less.

Nothing is ever "just". There is no such thing as "just a couple lines of code" and something you'd think could take a few hours actually ends up being a task spanning a few days, maybe even weeks. We all learn something new every single day. I can assure everyone nobody is lying, nobody is attempting to mislead you, what benefit would we achieve from that?

I think we can all agree that at the end of the day we all want the same thing -- for UO to be awesome, a goal the entire team is extraordinarily dedicated to achieving.

 

[Storm]

Excellent response Kryonix

 

[Merus]

In regards to the question regarding the hourglass, sometimes when answering these questions you go with your gut and that's where the answer comes from. In this particular case it was designed so the hourglass wouldn't rotate so you'd be able to use them as a pedestal for displaying artifacts and mementos from the year they represent. The fact that the flip-flop tool (aka the Interior Decorator) already had functionality to change the hourglass tileart to the animated type was a serendipitous side effect, one that I admittedly did not anticipate. UO can be an extraordinarily complex creature to work with, and the fact that it is over 15 years old and had countless people work on it in the past, only makes it more of a challenge -- a rewarding and exciting challenge, but a challenge none the less.

Nothing is ever "just". There is no such thing as "just a couple lines of code" and something you'd think could take a few hours actually ends up being a task spanning a few days, maybe even weeks. We all learn something new every single day. I can assure everyone nobody is lying, nobody is attempting to mislead you, what benefit would we achieve from that?

I think we can all agree that at the end of the day we all want the same thing -- for UO to be awesome, a goal the entire team is extraordinarily dedicated to achieving.

I realize the code is a beast. And I very much appreciate the responses we are getting from our team, particularly from you!

My example was only meant to illustrate that sometimes there are solutions to what the players have asked for even when they might not have seemed obvious. Swapping artifacts back and forth between human and gargish, when both versions exist should be achievable.

 

[claudia-fjp]

I don't think it's about calling anyone a liar to question the answer we got back regarding the ability to un-alter an item. While I believe our team would not intentionally provide false information, they do have a history of saying things can not be done, when in fact they can be.

Another recent example is in Ask & Answer #6:
Can we get an option added to crystal portals to hop over to the Heartwood Gate in Yew? It would making visiting Heartwood that much more convenient! (sablestorm)
Mesanna: Sorry this is not possible to do the fact that Heartwood is on a Dungeon Server

Heartwood itself is on a Dungeon Server but the Gate to it in Yew sure isn't and that's what was asked.

Or the question from #7 about the T-shirt and getting them in color answered by just being linked to the black and white ones instead.

So you can see the confusion some of these cause and why people question the answers.

 

[kelmo]

Another recent example is in Ask & Answer #6:
Can we get an option added to crystal portals to hop over to the Heartwood Gate in Yew? It would making visiting Heartwood that much more convenient! (sablestorm)
Mesanna: Sorry this is not possible to do the fact that Heartwood is on a Dungeon Server

Heartwood itself is on a Dungeon Server but the Gate to it in Yew sure isn't and that's what was asked.

Ya see... I can go with this sort of response. It is non confrontational, no accusations...

Although you can walk there from the Yew gate... All of you could mark a rune near there... Most of us could recall there. The rest of us could gate there.

We could all walk there. or did you want to play the whole game as instanced?

 

[claudia-fjp]

Ya see... I can go with this sort of response. It is non confrontational, no accusations...

Although you can walk there from the Yew gate... All of you could mark a rune near there... Most of us could recall there. The rest of us could gate there.

We could all walk there. or did you want to play the whole game as instanced?

If you go with that arguement though then what's the entire point of 2 VERY popular (even moreso on SP I'd imagine) Veteran Rewards?

 

[kelmo]

What rewards? The transfer shields? All we want is the art... Most would never want to transfer. The portals? Yes we use them. They are there. Teleport tiles yeah we use them too. We just roll with the changes... we do not get asked.

 

[Cetric]

From the Devs

UO.stratics

I know it was stated a long time ago that we would be able to un-alter items. Is this still in the works? Also, could we get the option to alter any similar item to any race? For example, rings and bracelets could be altered, but necklaces and earrings could not (unless there's a similar artifact for the opposite race) (yadiman)
Mesanna: After further research into this matter we are unable to put in the ability to un-alter items. There just isn’t a way to keep track of the original item.

Maybe not able to keept rack of weapons and stuff.... but you sure could alter sashes, crimson cinctures, etc back to the human form i would think... there would be no tracking involved with that and i'm sure that is the main goal of unaltering items.

 

[Basara]

Personally, I'd like to see the bank and inn moved into Yew proper.

By Ultima lore, The monks of Empath Abbey were never considered part of Yew city (part of its territory, but not part of the town), yet, there they are in UO, with their own separated guard zone and the only inn and bank of the region. What place does a truly monastic order have being the bank or inn?

A knightly order, at least, has precedent on Earth, but MONKS with all their vows against worldly things? Similarly, all those tempting beds to nod off on in vacant rooms, instead of their hard benches? They should have been getting hit by Virtue Bane for their anti-humility as hard as old Magincia.

This would solve the Escort issues, have the city crystal portal actually put you in TOWN (and close to Heartwood), and several other oddities of Yew.

 

[Basara]

Maybe not able to keept rack of weapons and stuff.... but you sure could alter sashes, crimson cinctures, etc back to the human form i would think... there would be no tracking involved with that and i'm sure that is the main goal of unaltering items.

I personally wouldn't be upset with the items just going to the default equivalent item. Human/elf weapons "a", "b", "c", and "d" might convert to a gargish "x" (as currently), but would it not be JUST as logical that gargish "x", "y" and "z" all go to human weapon "a". Remembering that a weapon was "b", "c", or "d" would be immaterial - you always get weapon "a" going G->H just like you always get "x" going the other direction.

 

[claudia-fjp]

What rewards? The transfer shields? All we want is the art... Most would never want to transfer. The portals? Yes we use them. They are there. Teleport tiles yeah we use them too. We just roll with the changes... we do not get asked.

I think you confused yourself somewhere along the way.


I quoted a question from A&A asking for the Heartwood entrance in Yew (which is the Elves city) being added to the Crystal Portal (which teleports you to cities and moongate).

I pointed out that Mesanna's answer didn't make any sense for the question asked (the city itself is on the dungeon server, the entrance is not).

You argued that why not just recall or gate.

I say that by that arguement what's the entire purpose of Crystal Portals.

Then you start talking about xfer shields and house teleporter tiles and siege's input on things? What?

 

[Endrik]

Thanks devs.

However, I´d rather we didn´t get a banking option in our homes. It´s bad enough we got the stable option (and yes, I use that post).
Instead of bringing the towns to the players we should focus on how to bring the players to the towns...

Sorry, but I disagree... Strongly. Accessing your bank box from your home SHOULD be implimented. I don't have much playtime these days, but I think this is a prime example of a common problem this (and many other games) face, so I will spend a little more time explaining why I think that ideas like this SHOULD be implemented.

I think that being able to access your bank box from your home would be a great addition. We need more ideas like this that eliminate inconvenience so that when I get on to play I do not have to spend my time doing ridiculous stuff like recalling back and forth between my bank and my house, and I can instead spend more time socializing with other players.

If you want to provide motivation to visit a town, that's one thing, but intentionally keeping something inconvenient just to force players to go somewhere is poor reasoning at best. Under that logic we should remove ALL bank access from every town except Luna, that way players are forced to congregate at one location. From my perspective there is nothing wrong with adding the ability to access your bank box from your home; it adds convenience for those that want to use the option, but does not force anybody to use it who does not want to. Perhaps this should be added as a 1st year Vet reward so that everybody can have the option, there is still a "cost" (1 vet reward pick), but it is available for those who would find it useful.

In reality, being able to access your bank box from home is no more "anti-social" thank recalling to a normally unpopulated town and using that bank. However it is much more convenient.

It is important to understand that when it comes to influencing player behavior, there is a very big difference between adding motivation and withholding convenience. Withholding this feature would in essence be an attempt to motivate through inconvenience instead of motivating through incentive.

If you want to add an incentive for me to congregate at a bank and socialize with other players, that is fine and I will happily participate. However, withholding the implementation of a good idea in an attempt to force me to congregate to a town center is going to be counterproductive; I will simply keep accessing remote bank locations when I do not want to be bothered by other players, and I will quietly grumble to myself that because a good idea was squelched I am forced to spend what little play-time I have repeating monotonous and unnecessary activities.

Which course of action do you think is really better for the population of a game; adding time-saving functions that improve the player experience by allowing them to spend the play-time they have doing what they want, or forcing repetitive and monotonous activities by withholding time-saving ideas in an attempt to force players to do something?

 

[kelmo]

We have done OK for 14 years without an ATM in our houses. I feel you are exaggerating the amount of inconvenience, but that may just be a personal opinion.

 

[Lord Lew]

I'd be for it if somehow it was a gold sink, say a fee to open your bank box. Sort of like using an ATM, every time you open it, 10k is deducted from your gold. I'd even like to see the mechanism purchased from a banker in the first place to pull more gold from the system.

For the life of me I don't understand why the portals don't do this, like chivalry does, or insurance. We need more gold sinks in this game, the economy is flooded with coin, it needs to be adjusted.