What I think would improve UO..

[Salivern_Diago]

I had written this for this thread but it got alot bigger than I thought it would be so I've posted it in its own thread:

I think what UO needs...

1 - Server code re-write. From the top down so that bugs are eliminated, the code is documented and everyone knows whats going on. It would also allow for easier updates, increased server and player security and optimised for modern hardware. It should be possible to look at the databases and re-intergrate the data onto the new server code. Or at the very lest host new 'shards' and allow people to aquire one way transfers from the old shard to the new shard. There would have to be conditions to this obviously to make it fair and to ensure no-one looses out. Maybe adopt the Magacina housing system in prime areas and allow those with houses in those areas on the old shard 'credits'. It would also be an excellent time to offer incentives to those whom transfer over with deco or unique housing (With the new server code, this would be alot easier to design). There are alot of 'UO' emulators out there so if they can do it, why cant Bioware?

2 - Only 1 client. The EC client is a decent enough client but it does have its issues. I forsee that alot of these will be sorted within the next 12 months (The biggest issue is the artwork and that is being done now, so we're half way there nearly). there should also be an option within the EC to allow 'classic' mode. In that it operates and looks almost like the CC but with the benefit of the EC options. While I love the CC, I would happily switch over to the EC fully if it ment some major development for UO.

3 - New players. If the previous two are done right then a major advertising campaign to draw in new blood. As much as I love the Vets, there are quite few that hold UO back from what it could/should be. Maybe it would be worth (after the server re-write) hosting Pre-AOS shards (No magical items, insurance etc) for the old schoolers, while hosting the normal shards for the rest of the players.

4 - UO CSR training - UO needs Gamesmasters and CSR's who know what they are doing and how to fix stuff. The Migration is a step forward in this BUT the CSR's are hopeless, they dont have a clue what they are doing. Maybe it would be worth making it possible so that all the various EA Tech Support lines around the world could be diverted to a central UO call center that can help us poor mortals (Especially when we have an account STOLEN and there is no-one who'll do a damn thing about it).

5 - Offical UO forums that the players can directly interact with the Development Team. 3rd party sites are ok but they can be baised at times (I'm not suggesting Stratics is, but there needs of be an offical forum for UO). On this offical forum, players would be able to communicate with the Devs, Community Reps, GM's and CSR's. I'm sure a volinteer system could be ratified for Moderators and the such.

6 -With all of that there are a number of other issues that would need tinkering with. These are:

A - A massive gold dump for try to clear the excessive amount of gold in the system. This could be done by using the magacina housing system for larger housing like Keeps, Castles or simply by increasing the cost of castles and keeps to multiples of millions rather than under a million. Maybe even a return to the deeds rather than the placing tool? There could also be deco related gold dumps. These could be special titles, unqiue housing (Like the Malas castles etc),

B - Dungeons for newbie players. On Haven there is plenty of space to allow for a newbie dungeon that would allow them to explore and learn many of UO's traits. It could be quest linked and ONLY newbies allowed within it. There should be a mini champ that would drop rewards that are account linked to the player reciving it. These could be Soulstone fragments, Training statues, Newbie Arties or even special titles. The list is endless. Nothing that would make them overpowered, but help in thier training or give that character something special. As its account linked they cannot be traded so will not be farmed. Once they are no-longer newb status, they cannot enter the dungeon again.

C - Bring back Order vs Chaos. It was alot easier than the differing factions. Although that said the factions could be migrated into the Order/Chaos system. Also while we're at it, bring back the beheading of reds for rewards. The rewards could be like the collections currently, the more you hand in the higher the reward. Again these should be deco in nature. I could list up loads of ideas about this (Hanging corpses in tree's, scalps, murder'ers blood etc etc). Also make it so that stat loss is factored in with this.

D - Horse Armour. I play a paladin and eh, what paladin goes into battle with an un-armoured hourse? Also make lances a bit more useful. If your on a horse and you go charging in, you should be able to impale mobs and cause mass damage.

E - Lastly, what on earth happened to the Ultima religion? Where's the avatar? Does anyone care and if not, why not? Lunam the home of the paladins... and its got bugger all to do with religion in it! Same with Umbra, it should have undead minons walking the streets doing whatever thier masters desire. Saying that a way to dig up corpses would be fun too.. Maybe a quest or three?

 

[Merion]

Actually, I have to say, I do like all of this!

 

[Potgut]

Randomization

I think UO needs more systems of randomization, the human brain is meant to get disinterested or bored of repetitive patterns. Diablo series does a good job with this with it's maps (imagine if it used the same maps all the time).

I'm not saying UO should do it with maps, but I think UO still has potential to do this with monsters. I'd like to go to dungeons or into land not ever knowing what kinds of mobs I might run into, where it changes almost everyday. Something where no pattern could be established, where no guide on the internet can tell any of us what, where, and when something might spawn.

I would love in the middle of a routine run through Ish or a dungeon to unexpectedly run into a pack of difficult minions, or an epic monster with it's sidekicks where i'll have to run back home to grab different gear and get my friends to help me kill it.

But make the mobs change different everytime after it's dead, server up, or etc... Some days something simple, some days difficult spawns, other days rare type of spawns maybe with an epic boss; at random locations at random times scattered throughout certain land masses. It would keep exploring the same land more interesting.

Bottom line is, breaking down patterns and making systems as unpredicatable as possible keeps things more interesting. This does not just apply to video games, but also apply's to many things in life such as gambling, watching sports, good music, good movies, art, memories of rare event's in your life, etc. etc..

 

[Salivern_Diago]

I like that idea Potgut, +1 from me!

 

[Ned888]

I agree with pretty much all of this... except for the horse thing..... I don't really think that will help improve the game, unless it was something that would generate new crafting recipies for barding.... That would require that you have a paperdoll for your horse though which is a whole other can of worms....

 

[Salivern_Diago]

The horse bit was for my own benefit lol. Swampies have armour, so why cant horses? lol

 

[Lord Frodo]

1 - Server code re-write. ….. There are a lot of 'UO' emulators out there so if they can do it, why cant Bioware?
They can’t because they no longer have the original code. They lost it.

2 - Only 1 client. No problem.
Just use the CC. You go ahead and have your Dodo Bird in EC while we have a hiryu in CC. Keep your buggy client and ugly graphics.

3 - New players.
Good luck on this one.

4 - UO CSR training - UO needs Gamesmasters and CSR's who know what they are doing and how to fix stuff.
Wishful thinking, EA doesn’t care and this costs money.

5 - Official UO forums
They can’t keep UO.com updated and you want them to run a forum. You do remember the last UOForum they ran. If you got banned there you account also got banned.

6 -With all of that there are a number of other issues that would need tinkering with. These are.

A - A massive gold dump
Shut down UO right now and turn off the lights.

B - Dungeons for newbie players. They don’t need special stuff. Just make it so a new player can survive and learn the basics.

C - Bring back Order vs. Chaos.
YES

D - Horse Armor.
OK

E - Lastly, what on earth happened to the Ultima religion?
It went with the old DEVs.

 

[Woodsman]

1 - Server code re-write.

Ideally use the same engine that Star Wars is using since apparently it's pretty darn nice. But it's such a massive project that it will never happen. It would require them hiring a lot of people.

2 - Only 1 client.

Agreed

3 - New players

Agreed

4 - UO CSR training

Unfortunately it appears UO team is not in charge of them, although BioWare just got a dedicated (and expensive) CSR facility in Ireland for Star Wars.

5 - Official UO forums

Agreed, although it actually is not as difficult as you think - BioWare has a massive forums infrastructure in place for players of its games, going back to the MSDOS days. There are official Warhammer forums there that Kai Schober, the community relations guy for UO, is in charge of, and they have a volunteer moderator system already in place. They also have the Star Wars forums. The only reason they don't do forums for UO or Camelot is laziness/antipathy.

6A - Gold dumps involving housing

Yes and no. You have to be careful because screwing with housing is an easy way to **** off existing players and drive them away when your goal is to keep/retain players as well as bring new ones in. You're talking about screwing with a system that's been in place for 14 years. Having additional options like New Magincia is not a bad idea at all, and could bring some life back to some areas, but have that on top of what we already have, not in place of.

The problem with gold is how easy it is to create, and one-time gold dumps are only good for a short time. You need to address the root issue, and that's the ease in which gold is created. Gold sinks are basically bailing water out of a boat where water is coming in faster than your bailing. You need to ultimatly address how gold is created - loot, resources, NPCs, scripting, etc.

6B - Dungeons for newbie players

The new player experience needs to be redone, and supposedly that was happening, but how long has it been since we heard about it? Dark Age of Camelot just received an upgraded new player experience, and UO needs it. Dungeons could be a part of that.

6C - Bring back Order vs Chaos, beheadings, etc.

Agreed. EA has plenty of 'M' rated games.

6E - Ultima religion, etc.

In theory the virtue system is being reworked….

 

[Mirt]

I agree with all of the above for the most part. But the religon needs to be brought back for real. One there can't be an avatar in UO becuase of how the Gem was shattered, but it would be nice to see more done with. I am actually gearing up to try and do more with it on Chesy but something from the dev end would be really really nice.

 

[MikevonHammer]

For new players. Why give them a special area, special items? It's a good idea and all that, but how about a mentor program. players can hang out in Haven and mentor newbies to the ways of UOs. Heck, as an old player returning, I could use a walk through.

Maybe set it up as a quest, [like a large bulk order deed]. You help the new/old player through a set of tasks, and you turn your deed in for a "kool" item or title.

I remember when I started, back in 1998. The only reason why I stayed was because of my mentor. Heck, I still remember his name Orcus. He left a few years later to play EQ. I dunno what ever happened to him.