vendor bod storage - legal ?

[Chiera]

sorry if this should be a stupid question, but when I last checked (admittedly quite some time ago) it was like not really legal and not really illegal I see it's quite widely used (tbh, I'd consider it helpful as well), so it seems not to be considered a bannable offence, but has there been any final statement concerning vendor bod storage in the meantime ?

 

[Old Man of UO]

sorry if this should be a stupid question, but when I last checked (admittedly quite some time ago) it was like not really legal and not really illegal I see it's quite widely used (tbh, I'd consider it helpful as well), so it seems not to be considered a bannable offence, but has there been any final statement concerning vendor bod storage in the meantime ?

Yes it is legal and always has been legal. The Developers did comment on this more than once. So go ahead and you don't need to worry about it.

 

[Chiera]

thx a lot for the quick and all so positive answer

 

[Olahorand]

The official statement:
http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=vipf8Dpj&p_faqid=10293

 

[Warpig Inc]

Please note that BOD books may be stored on vendors unpriced.

Now does this refer to the fact that the BOD book is nothing more then a fancy container. And just like a bag can be placed not for sale. Having unpriced BODs in the book and abusive 'using the vendor as storage'.

To the money grubbers if it is ok to have unprice BODs in an unpriced BOD book then it needs to be stated as such. If this is true then I can put 14 deco vendors at my main house. Drop my BOD house and shut down another account. The bean counter for UOs money should have a clue about the mechanics of the game and how it effects the bottom line. That person would of also made a statement to the ideal of soulstones.........."What are you guys ******** or looking for a pay cut?"

 

[Harlequin]

Woot! Am I a bad person when I have been using this without even thinking if it's illegal? Hehehe

 

[Old Man of UO]

Please note that BOD books may be stored on vendors unpriced.
...
To the money grubbers if it is ok to have unprice BODs in an unpriced BOD book then it needs to be stated as such. ...

It HAS been addressed by the Developers and was said to be legal. You can search for it if you want, which you probably should have done before posting this. What's the big deal?

 

[Millie]

Specifically regarding abusing your vendors and what will occur as a result, this post made on Sept 9th, 2004 covers the Game Master policy. Based on a September 9th post made by GM Platinum, the following policy is in place:

Players who attempt to bypass the rental costs associated with vendors, or who are using vendors for extra storage in a way not originally intended by the designers, may be found in violation of the Terms of Service and Rules of Conduct.

In an effort to provide a fair and enjoyable gaming experience, any vendor confirmed by a Game Master to be in violation may be destroyed along with its contents. In addition, any accounts associated with these vendors may be actioned accordingly.

Please note that BOD books may be stored on vendors unpriced.

This is really not a very good explanation. It's to wishy washie. Why can't they put a simple yes or no. If I put my bod book in a vendor not for sale, I still have to pay the vendor for the rental every day so that I do not lose the Vendor. So I am not by passing the fee like you could with the bounce back bug years ago. So does putting a full unpriced. book on a vendor by pass the the vendor fee. The way I see it no.
It states that a Bod book can put on vendor Unpriced. It does not state that it must be empty.
There is took much interruption left unsaid here and left to the individual GM's mood of the day. If the Gm is in a good mood, he reads it one way and leaves you alone. If the Gm is in a bad mood, you lose you vendor and all your accounts.

I have read What the help says about Vendors and bod books and can find no definite yes or no.
Who actual is the rule maker of this game ? Is it Draconi or is it Platinum or neither? This is a issue that has deserved a solid answer for years that has been side steped and bypassed.
Some one needs to make up their mind on what is right or wrong and then Put in the Help Que in a way that is understandable. Example If I type in "Is it legal to put full Bod books on my vendor unpriced?" It should state yes or no.

 

[Lore Master]

A long time ago i paged a gm because of some bug i had and amazingly he came and helped me after he fixed my problem i asked him if it was legal to put Bod Books not for sale on vendors and place all my Bods in them not for sale to save storage he said yes it is legal to do so.

 

[Warpig Inc]

QUESTION
What happens if I find a way to exploit a vendor?
Answer

The correct action to take if you learn of a way to take advantage of any aspect of UO in an unintended manner is to report the issue to our QA team in a bug report.

Specifically regarding abusing your vendors and what will occur as a result, this post made on Sept 9th, 2004 covers the Game Master policy. Based on a September 9th post made by GM Platinum, the following policy is in place:

Players who attempt to bypass the rental costs associated with vendors, or who are using vendors for extra storage in a way not originally intended by the designers, may be found in violation of the Terms of Service and Rules of Conduct.

In an effort to provide a fair and enjoyable gaming experience, any vendor confirmed by a Game Master to be in violation may be destroyed along with its contents. In addition, any accounts associated with these vendors may be actioned accordingly.

Please note that BOD books may be stored on vendors unpriced.

The blue and red highlit lines do not mesh. To many times players have done things in the game that UO reacted to and only had to come back with is "to bad". Sorta the "Do what I meant and not what I said." sort of thing. If I didn't look at UOHall I would of been out a few dye charges less. Deed made with a colored ore dyed no brainer. I never thought to try it till I saw a purple swampy. Been other things in game didn't think to try till seen something in game. Doesn't take rocket science to know that sigil purple Hooded Shroud of Umbra or a vendor with 8+ burned val runics full of armor or placing a house in what will be city guard zone again to know that the BS meter is pegging out. But you can bet your bottom dollar the next FoF will answer the question of purple bunny return before anything real informative. The first online ask and answer, one of the first few questions answer was if they're going to make an arrow bolt dye tub.

There is only one answer to why Joe Snuffy places unprice BODs in a vendor book. To save lockdown space and not it looks cool. I can see laziesness and a few not priced. SO any vendor BOD book with more then 25% of the BODS unpriced goes to Pixel heaven. Thats an answer.

You all know you can go on KR and add spaces to your pets name for more unique names. In 2d plp page on you and the GM Clueless comes a running. Change all but one back to normal to aviod the confusion.

Just look at the bluae and red above and their history on handling things like this. Current players should keep gambling and new to use this freed up storage can't cry if, EA Customer Support wont read what players are discussing, before those with the red button makes a decision.

I find I'm spending more time here keeping updated on whats going on in game and what is right or wrong. If I have to gleem through hundereds of post to feel good about playing the game then someone with the final answer that gets some percentage of our fees needs to do the same. Most of the FoF the log patch window or the town crier are not used to effect.

 

[Basara]

LISTEN FOLKS:

Here's the whole point the DEVS had, and have related repeatedly, concerning unpriced BODs in BOD Books. I even confirmed this at a town hall, though after the meeting (never got a chance to ask it during the actual questions session, in favor of some other questions that I asked first when called on)

The ORIGINAL INTENT was to allow people to store unpriced BODs in Books on vendors to ENCOURAGE PLAYER TRADING (as opposed to selling), as others can see what you have to offer, then contact you (At your home, via bulletin board or locked down books) to arrange the trade.

That one can store BODs in Books this way, and not ever actually trade BODs with other players, is just a matter of player attitude. It does not break any rules. AND, if one actually DOES need one of those BODs, and can catch the homerowner at home, you can STILL make the attempt to arrange a trade with him or her - which in and of itself IS the kind of player interaction the Devs were looking for, in the first place (the worst that can happen is someone telling you to go do anatomically impossible acts with oneself, unless you're in Fel or playing on SP or Mugen).

 

[Millie]

Note: By choosing to set a price on individual BODs or on the BOD book itself, you can choose to sell either the whole book as one item, to sell only individual BODs out of that book, or to sell nothing and simply keep the book on display for others to browse

or to sell nothing and simply keep the book on display for others to browse


I stand corrected. I did not see this when i read about bod books. I contracted most of my attention on Vendor questions, since it was a vendor I was putting them on.

I think this statement should be attached to the Vendor exploit Help Que question to make it more clear to understand.

Thank you Basara for clearing this up.