Well.. I am leaving..

[Velvathos]

It's been fun, but I just don't have the devotion for UO anymore when I want to move onto bigger things.. Real life has called me up and so has other gaming communities.. It's been a good 10 years for me but now it is time to move on.

As a heavy duty Europa roleplayer and on Pacific I can honestly say there is nothing left for me.. The RP communities are as dead as they can be and I don't see anyway of the RP communities reviving to their former glory.. I am gonna close down two accounts and leave one standing but probably won't login or re-activate the others unless something drastically changes. One of my key interests in UO is interacting with others while in character, it is what has kept my playing.. It is difficult when nobody else around is doing it, there is very few RP communities left, much less, roleplaying, I am not getting very much out of it with so very few players around, so therefore, I must say goodbye.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

I rarely respond to people who leave, but it is sad to see a role-player go for the lack of role-playing. I'd also hate to see the post turned into some kind of competition among role-playing among the various shards ("COME HERE! WE'RE MORE AWESOME THAN PACIFIC OR EUROPA EVER WERE!!"). Without speaking ill of Europa or Pacific or any other shard I will say that there's some realistic cause to think Great Lakes has stabilized and is in the process of what might be a rebounding of sorts.

Role-playing in general is a peculiar and fragile activity. It at once depends upon and does not require other players.

Does not require in the sense that there's no law that says your character can't just go about his or her daily life in-game without ever interacting much. (IRL, not everyone heads to the local bar after work; some come home, sit in the chair, and read for awhile to unwind.) That to me is still very much role-playing, and way more people engage in this kind of role-playing without necessarily understanding it as such.

Depends upon in that only doing that can be dreadfully boring save for the most-casual of players. While it's entirely possible to log into UO and only do your character's job (pound out some Ilsh champ spawns, pick up a little gold from the Troglodytes, etc.) and then log out and still be role-playing in some sense as long as you were doing it in-character, assuming you want to stay logged in for awhile after the job's done, it gets harder and harder to role-play without another person there.

Role-playing is, to a degree that's rarely commented upon on Stratics, the linchpin playstyle of UO. There's only so much meaning game mechanics itself can give to what you to in-game. Sooner or later you need some kind of content that exists more-or-less in your mind and heart. EM events and scenarios are one thing, but really you need some other players to add to that kind of in-game experience.

Not sure where this is going, so I'll just stop, wish you luck in whatever you're going to do with your spare time now that you are not going to be playing UO, and remind you that, when you change your mind in a year or two, the game is quite-likely to still be here. And some of us, doubtlessly, will still be role-playing.

-Galen's player

 

[Prime.]

Can I have your stuff?

 

[Mapper]

Sad to hear a player going, especially a roleplayer. Goodluck in your future endeavours.

 

[Flutter]

Seeing a lot of these posts lately.
It makes me very sad.

 

[G.v.P]

It's been fun, but I just don't have the devotion for UO anymore when I want to move onto bigger things.. Real life has called me up and so has other gaming communities.. It's been a good 10 years for me but now it is time to move on.

When Richard Garriott began what would eventually become the Ultima series he created an interactive game program for what grew into an after high school group of 50-70 friends. They'd meet up every Friday and Saturday. If only keeping a community together like that could be so easy.

I don't get sad by any of the "I quit," posts. I've been trying to quit for probably seven years. I do get curious, though, about what leads a player to quit, such as the unlisted "other gaming communities." It's hard to find an MMO for the price point of UO, or an MMO with the same art style, let alone given how many characters you can play as and what you can accomplish.

 

[Alouenikah]

It's been fun, but I just don't have the devotion for UO anymore when I want to move onto bigger things.. Real life has called me up and so has other gaming communities.. It's been a good 10 years for me but now it is time to move on.
As a heavy duty Europa roleplayer and on Pacific I can honestly say there is nothing left for me.. The RP communities are as dead as they can be and I don't see anyway of the RP communities reviving to their former glory.. I am gonna close down two accounts and leave one standing but probably won't login or re-activate the others unless something drastically changes. One of my key interests in UO is interacting with others while in character, it is what has kept my playing.. It is difficult when nobody else around is doing it, there is very few RP communities left, much less, roleplaying, I am not getting very much out of it with so very few players around, so therefore, I must say goodbye.

I think now is the worst possible time for a roleplayer to leave. They're just kicking off a new plot! It could change the game. Besides, I hate seeing roleplayers go more than any other sort of player. Other playstyle populations can support themselves with a few people, but once all the roleplayers leave a shard, they never come back.

Have you considered Baja? I don't mean to subtract from the GL post up there at all, but every community is different and maybe you should try a few just for a couple of days before your account time runs out. There's a tavern night on Baja in Magincia every Friday; you can meet the roleplayers and see if you mesh.

If you've made up your mind, however, I'm sorry to see you go.

 

[THP]

Seeing a lot of these posts lately.
It makes me very sad.

Yes there seems to be a trend of quitters at the mo....always sad to see peeps go...i can only give advice as you close accounts ....load one accounts bankboxes with your prized stuff and commodites...obviouly u will not be able to save your house so let it drop empty...[.too be fair u can place a tower sized house or bigger on every single shard now including the so called fullest shard atlantic ...so housing is really not a issue].....Then at least u can reopen 2-3 years down the line and have a good start if u so wish.
Biggest problem is there is too may shards with not enough players...i can really see UO not just shard merging...but actually going to ONE single shard west and ONE single shard east...then u will see a lot lot lot more player interaction indeedie

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Seeing a lot of these posts lately.
It makes me very sad.

I haven't seen more than is typical, actually. I've also noticed that returning players don't post about returning as often as leaving players do about leaving, thus distorting the sample.

-Galen's player

 

[Aibal]

I haven't seen more than is typical, actually. I've also noticed that returning players don't post about returning as often as leaving players do about leaving, thus distorting the sample.

-Galen's player

This. I have actually run into between 8-10 returning players the last couple weeks on GL, just in conversations. That is MORE than usual, but I agree I rarely see a "hey I'm back" post on UHall. More often, go to the professions forums and you will see a lot of posts with "returning after a long time away, need help with template/gear" type of posts.

 

[Dan123The123Man]

I know you mentioned that other games have been calling for your attention. You know I was in the same boat a while back. I left to play Aion Online and something about it (other then the continuos lag) was missing. I didn't think the game would make it very long (i'm very pick at which games to get hooked on) and it's now free to play. TBH I think there will obviously be newer games out then UO, but imo the way the game is and how it's so "old fashioned" and not as modern as these other games is what keeps subscribers. I dont think i'm alone when I say that i'm the kind of person that prefers playing UO because it's a game that doesn't have a drastic change every few months with some ratical expansion. I like that the game doesn't change much and that it's kept the classic client. I think it takes one move for some of these companies, one change in the game that ultimately drags the game into the ground. I still visit the places from where I had my first few houses in UO from years ago, just to see if anyone has a house there. I don't know, UO has always been a "big part" of my life ever since I was like 13. I don't know where I would be without UO in my life... Nerdy and lame I know. I don't sweat it when people say they are leaving because I believe they will always come back one day or another. I quit playing in 2006 and made a return in 2008, got scammed and left. I came back in 2010, and then quit... I came back in 2011 and I think i've stayed ever since lol.

 

[WarderDragon]

If you're going to skip town, you should at least give some other shards a shot.

I recommend Baja or Atlantic. Atlantic has the population. Baja is just a little something different.

 

[Flutter]

This. I have actually run into between 8-10 returning players the last couple weeks on GL, just in conversations. That is MORE than usual, but I agree I rarely see a "hey I'm back" post on UHall. More often, go to the professions forums and you will see a lot of posts with "returning after a long time away, need help with template/gear" type of posts.

lol Was Galen arguing with me again?
I've been seeing a lot of "goodbye" posts lately. It makes me sad. Period.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

lol Was Galen arguing with me again?
I've been seeing a lot of "goodbye" posts lately. It makes me sad. Period.

One's definition of arguing would have to be quite, quite loose to see it as such.

Here's what I said:

I haven't seen more than is typical, actually. I've also noticed that returning players don't post about returning as often as leaving players do about leaving, thus distorting the sample.

-Galen's player

And someone else agreed. I guess that's "arguing" to you?

-Galen's player

 

[THP]

merge!!!!!!!!

 

[Dan123The123Man]

Merging isn't as easy as some of you seem to think it is. First, you can't combine a list of like 20 different shards when (we'll use Luna as an example) there is only a limited amount of house spots to place houses. Being able to be a home owner in UO is a very important aspect about the game and I for one would rather keep my house (regardless of its value). Theres just no easy way to do it... Most people won't want to give up there homes and I just don't see them wiping every house on the shard along with whatever items are in them. Even if Atlantic for example were selected to be the primary shard and all the others would be merged onto Atlantic. Those paying customers out there on those other shards would be forced to giving up there homes and struggle finding a house spot on Atlantic, where they would also be fighting over spots from people spread across 20 different shards. It's just unlikely tbh. Theres no easy way to do it.

 

[Flutter]

merge!!!!!!!!

I better be well compensated for my two castles, my Luna house, and my Fel Yew house if they merge.
Housing is one of the things keeping me (and many others) in this game and still paying. See my thread from last week about housing. If people didn't have their houses to hold onto they wouldn't still pay and I have a good feeling the game would end.

 

[Petra Fyde]

It has already been said that shard mergers are not an option, for the very reasons posted here.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

merge!!!!!!!!

It has been explained to you, multiple times by multiple parties, why this is neither possible, nor desirable. Its being mentioned in this context is particularly reprehensible, as it's far from clear that shard merging would help RP, which is what the original poster was leaving over. But you know that. You just don't particularly give a damn and will use any excuse to say the word merge.

-Galen's player

 

[Lady Storm]

Merger is out of the question END OF DISCUSSION ON THIS. Do not bring it up again or ill give you such a pinch!
As for the op..... I for one wish you a safe and happy life in what ever you do. I can wish you would explore options... rp was a great draw to uo in its early years and made alot of players happy. But RP is not the whole of uo gameing and as such many rp'rs still play our little game. You dont have to stop rping, I have many friends who in their own way rp every day and stay in role the whole time even with no other person in the same mode. No one said you cant rp, just explore the uo worlds and find a new niche. Just explore your options in the game on other shards before you pull the plug. Give yourself that much of a chance. Your worth it kiddo.

 

[LordDrago]

Merger is out of the question END OF DISCUSSION ON THIS. Do not bring it up again or ill give you such a pinch!
As for the op..... I for one wish you a safe and happy life in what ever you do. I can wish you would explore options... rp was a great draw to uo in its early years and made alot of players happy. But RP is not the whole of uo gameing and as such many rp'rs still play our little game. You dont have to stop rping, I have many friends who in their own way rp every day and stay in role the whole time even with no other person in the same mode. No one said you cant rp, just explore the uo worlds and find a new niche. Just explore your options in the game on other shards before you pull the plug. Give yourself that much of a chance. Your worth it kiddo.

I know merging the shards is out of the question, but what if the shards were MERGED....or....combined......or....unified?





I am so....so sorry. I could not resist.

Hey, is it getting hot in here, and who is that guy with the horns and the pitchfork?

 

[kelmo]

Hey, is it getting hot in here, and who is that guy with the horns and the pitchfork?

*stares*

 

[Woodsman]

The only truly fair way for shard mergers would be to create a handful of new shards and have everybody move to them. It will never happen because I guarantee the top 5 largest shards would go berserk. That's why the discussions are so pointless.

 

[Sevin0oo0]

and make the new shard transfer shield vet reward worth less? What's worthless is the breath used in mentioning it

 

[Shelleybean]

Sorry to see you go, please take care.

 

[THP]

Its always sad to see peeps go especialy form europa that is not exactly bursting at the seams...i have posted similar in another thread...but please read and think about it...
Biggest problem is .....UO cannot and will never attract new players....the graphics to me are good, albeit retro and after all to me UO is old school 2d .... but to new players would be not so good at all ....Then there is the complexity......wow...we need not even get started there because even 10 year olde players dont understand the game anymore...its got far to deep..... Then theres the silly ''year gift '' thing....u cant ride a ethy till 3 years....really??? u cant hop shards till your 14 years ....wtf!!!!! i hated that way back when i started and iam afraid in todays market new players want things quick and i mean quick....they will not tolerate these things...they want them tomorrow........so to get more players playing together.........SO THE BIGGY is to Merge shards or at least dungeons/play areas...jesus if people cant give there luna shop up for the sake of the game then we can keep 19 lunas...but for the good of the game i would give my luna shop and castle up tomorrow...at the end of the day...with a world cramed full of shops luna would not be the mecca it is today....

********so surely merging and sacrificing a little to gain more is the good and only answer*********

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Its always sad to see peeps go especialy form europa that is not exactly bursting at the seams...i have posted similar in another thread...but please read and think about it...
Biggest problem is .....UO cannot and will never attract new players....the graphics to me are good, albeit retro and after all to me UO is old school 2d .... but to new players would be not so good at all ....Then there is the complexity......wow...we need not even get started there because even 10 year olde players dont understand the game anymore...its got far to deep..... Then theres the silly ''year gift '' thing....u cant ride a ethy till 3 years....really??? u cant hop shards till your 14 years ....wtf!!!!! i hated that way back when i started and iam afraid in todays market new players want things quick and i mean quick....they will not tolerate these things...they want them tomorrow........so to get more players playing together.........SO THE BIGGY is to Merge shards or at least dungeons/play areas...jesus if people cant give there luna shop up for the sake of the game then we can keep 19 lunas...but for the good of the game i would give my luna shop and castle up tomorrow...at the end of the day...with a world cramed full of shops luna would not be the mecca it is today....

********so surely merging and sacrificing a little to gain more is the good and only answer*********

It has been explained to you and others, multiple times now, why this is a bad idea on the merits, impractical (at best) on the application, not for the "greater good" as you sadly and ridiculously claim, and really only of use to you and your friends, who already have the option of transferring. If they merged shards, you and your friends would likely complain about lag, lack of housing space, harassment, and the "trailer park" or "sprawl" atmosphere.

While I appreciate that replying to you and your friends may be in some sense feeding trolls, sometimes trolls must be fought even at the risk of feeding them along the way, especially in settings where those with badges on their shirts appear to refuse to do so.

-Galen's player

 

[LordDrago]

Its always sad to see peeps go especialy form europa that is not exactly bursting at the seams...i have posted similar in another thread...but please read and think about it...
Biggest problem is .....UO cannot and will never attract new players....the graphics to me are good, albeit retro and after all to me UO is old school 2d .... but to new players would be not so good at all ....Then there is the complexity......wow...we need not even get started there because even 10 year olde players dont understand the game anymore...its got far to deep..... Then theres the silly ''year gift '' thing....u cant ride a ethy till 3 years....really??? u cant hop shards till your 14 years ....wtf!!!!! i hated that way back when i started and iam afraid in todays market new players want things quick and i mean quick....they will not tolerate these things...they want them tomorrow........so to get more players playing together.........SO THE BIGGY is to Merge shards or at least dungeons/play areas...jesus if people cant give there luna shop up for the sake of the game then we can keep 19 lunas...but for the good of the game i would give my luna shop and castle up tomorrow...at the end of the day...with a world cramed full of shops luna would not be the mecca it is today....

********so surely merging and sacrificing a little to gain more is the good and only answer*********