What made you a long term subscriber?

[Vlaude]

Please share thoughts, stories, experiences, etc. that took you from first time visitor to long time subscriber. For many of us that moment may be hard to remember because it was so long ago but maybe just share some things about the game that keep you paying the monthly subscription fee. I think this is an important question to ponder these days with the MMO industry going the way it is and hopefully the developers can gleen something from our shared experiences.

For me, it was definitely when I made my first friend Kezu. I remember discussing the importance of the resisting spells skill with him and then we sort of were in competition to see who could max it out at 100 first. He got there before I did and I actually gave up at around 65 or so but I had also taken up archery at that point and was well on my way to maxing that out instead. But just meeting that friend and having that competetive relationship with each other to see who could develop the better character kept me subscribed.

Another thing that kept me going was when they released the first expansion, T2A. Just the thought that the game could grow and that I could explore new lands with my characters kept me playing and waiting to see what would come next and how the game was going to grow.

 

[Felonious Monk]

Low standards

 

[old gypsy]

What hooked me in the beginning is the fact that UO is more of a world than it is a game. Its sandbox nature, in that there are no predetermined end goals other than what players may chose to set for themselves, is probably what I appreciate most. It drew me back after I quit (thinking that it had become too time consuming), and I am glad I returned. Again, its a unique world of its own, and whenever I enter it, the enjoyment is still there.

 

[Raptor85]

The unique and diverse RPG gameplay where you could be whatever you wanted to be, in a dangerous world of murderers, bounty hunters, and insanely powerful monsters such as the dreaded lich. The lack of any sort of level or item grind is what kept me in UO, there were planty of other MMO's at the time with better graphics, larger worlds, tons of item mods, etc... but UO was very unique in that it encouraged communities, fully allowed player interaction (could hire someone to protect you on the road from one city to another, as roads were a dangerous are of the game in those days) allowed YOU to choose how you wanted to play (you could on a fresh character hop right into fighting other newer fighters, you'd learn tactics and start to gain skill, many of us played without actively going out to fight monsters EVER)

Of course EA completely destroyed all of this over the years, in the neverending quest to turn UO into a crappy looking Everquest (at first, later WoW) clone, so now my last account is essentially on life support, paying for GTC's with gold while i mess around decorating my castle, have UOAssist fish for me while i work on my other screen, and hang out in chat. I now get my pvp and pvm fix in other games where it's actually still fun.

 

[SinDee]

The unique and diverse RPG gameplay where you could be whatever you wanted to be, in a dangerous world of murderers, bounty hunters, and insanely powerful monsters such as the dreaded lich. The lack of any sort of level or item grind is what kept me in UO, there were planty of other MMO's at the time with better graphics, larger worlds, tons of item mods, etc... but UO was very unique in that it encouraged communities, fully allowed player interaction (could hire someone to protect you on the road from one city to another, as roads were a dangerous are of the game in those days) allowed YOU to choose how you wanted to play (you could on a fresh character hop right into fighting other newer fighters, you'd learn tactics and start to gain skill, many of us played without actively going out to fight monsters EVER)

Of course EA completely destroyed all of this over the years, in the neverending quest to turn UO into a crappy looking Everquest (at first, later WoW) clone, so now my last account is essentially on life support, paying for GTC's with gold while i mess around decorating my castle, have UOAssist fish for me while i work on my other screen, and hang out in chat. I now get my pvp and pvm fix in other games where it's actually still fun.

^ This! This is one of the last great sandbox mmo's to many wow-clones

 

[silent]

One word, hope. Hope that someday UO will come back to it's great beginnings.

 

[CovenantX]

Template variety & PvP made me a long term subscriber.

One word, hope. Hope that someday UO will come back to it's great beginnings.

Mmmhmm, hoping so =]

 

[Sevin0oo0]

I was already a vet Dungeons & Dragons player, moved on using The Arduin Grimoire Trilogy as a custom base level for adventuring toons based on books read and imagination. Next was SCA events and IFGS dungeon building. UO was just the next logical step for me, and became that, at the creation of Tram. There was a very strong aura of realism to be imagined in the game, along with the new learning curve, it was addicting. Then there's the whole first love thing. Like a recovering crack head, I'm just trying to salvage what's left.

 

[yars]

its like reading national inquirer/sears catalog/an algebra textbook/and my daily newspaper.

 

[Widow Maker]

The screaming of the dead all around you. In 137 different languages!!

 

[mana hit]

i tell my wife and kid,the reason ive played this game all day and night for the past 13 years is because when i start somthing i want to finish it--couldnt tell ya how many times they have asked me if ive won or if the game was almost over-i just tell them-almost done.

 

[Picus of Napa]

i tell my wife and kid,the reason ive played this game all day and night for the past 13 years is because when i start somthing i want to finish it--couldnt tell ya how many times they have asked me if ive won or if the game was almost over-i just tell them-almost done.

Gonna try that tonight.

 

[Emil Ispep]

Well, when I started UO was the only MMO out there... Even with all of the problems of lag, connecting via 28.8 AOL 3.5, getting booted when the answering machine picked up, numerous bugs, ect ect.. I stuck with it. Have never played any other MMO that compares to Ultima, and never will. (unless the next Elder Scrolls is MMO).

Some of my memorable n00b experiences include cooking bread for hours a day, selling them at 6gp a pop to the npc chef, and eventually saving up enough to buy a small boat.. which was stolen a few days later. (by EdDennis/Ooji of Pacific).

Of course theres also the usual 'pre-AoS rabble' that people have kept re-posting for 10 years now.. but most of it is true.

the usual EA bs.. (we now have 4 chimps and 2 hampsters developing the game)

I dont actively play anymore. I log in every now and then and see whats new.. stock the vendors.. see whos left.

I recommend Skyrim.

 

[yars]

Well, when I started UO was the only MMO out there... Even with all of the problems of lag, connecting via 28.8 AOL 3.5, getting booted when the answering machine picked up, numerous bugs, ect ect.. I stuck with it. Have never played any other MMO that compares to Ultima, and never will. (unless the next Elder Scrolls is MMO).

Some of my memorable n00b experiences include cooking bread for hours a day, selling them at 6gp a pop to the npc chef, and eventually saving up enough to buy a small boat.. which was stolen a few days later. (by EdDennis/Ooji of Pacific).

Of course theres also the usual 'pre-AoS rabble' that people have kept re-posting for 10 years now.. but most of it is true.

the usual EA bs.. (we now have 4 chimps and 2 hampsters developing the game)

I dont actively play anymore. I log in every now and then and see whats new.. stock the vendors.. see whos left.

I recommend Skyrim.

This

 

[Uvtha]

Loved it to death when it first came out up till tram. Loved it pretty well for 3-4 years after that, from there it was mainly just something that was there to get into once or twice a year.
I enjoy the old style 2d presentation. No other 2d games out there strike my fancy.

 

[Peter Tarrant]

The RP.

 

[hen]

What keeps me here now is just the fact that there are no better sandbox mmos out there.

 

[Fridgster]

I'm a masochist.

 

[Shakkara]

What keeps me here now is just the fact that there are no better sandbox mmos out there.

This.

I played WoW, Guildwars, even EVE Online.

None of them come close. Even while UO is in such a sorry state as it is now. I still hope they get rid of the itemization some day.

 

[LadyNico]

What keeps me here now is just the fact that there are no better sandbox mmos out there.

This.

I'm a masochist.

And, of course, this.

 

[kleos]

Some of my memorable n00b experiences include cooking bread for hours a day, selling them at 6gp a pop to the npc chef, and eventually saving up enough to buy a small boat.. which was stolen a few days later. (by EdDennis/Ooji of Pacific).

THIS, including the theft.

I think the power of the mundane is grossly underestimated when it comes to a sense of accomplishment.

Bigger mobs and bigger guns was not what UO was about at its peak, only in its decline.

 

[nynyve]

Housing. Without it I would have quit years ago.

UO has tremendous, unrealized potential. Watching what the devs have been doing with this potential for the past decade has been frustrating.

 

[MalagAste]

Housing. Without it I would have quit years ago.

UO has tremendous, unrealized potential. Watching what the devs have been doing with this potential for the past decade has been frustrating.

This... by far that's one of the biggest things that drew me to UO and that keeps me playing UO... the housing.

After that comes the RP and Sandbox. No other game even comes close to what UO has in potential... Sadly though they fall very short when they try giving us more... often what they give us is stuff other games have... but UO isn't WoW... if I wanted WoW I'd play WoW... I want UO.

I like the RP... I like the housing... I like the PvP... I like that I don't have to be ANYTHING... Many games if you chose one Race you have limited choices... they dictate everything you do in the game.... even what you wear and when. I don't want my game dictated to me.

I want to play my game to suit me.

 

[Luvmylace]

Because it is always new and fun no matter how old it gets.

 

[PitrGri]

I was already a vet Dungeons & Dragons player, moved on using The Arduin Grimoire Trilogy as a custom base level for adventuring toons based on books read and imagination. Next was SCA events and IFGS dungeon building. UO was just the next logical step for me, and became that, at the creation of Tram. There was a very strong aura of realism to be imagined in the game, along with the new learning curve, it was addicting. Then there's the whole first love thing. Like a recovering crack head, I'm just trying to salvage what's left.

ditto... I think I have found a twin...

 

[goldenpower]

What made you a long term subscriber?

housing

 

[Irulia Darkaith]

Like so many have said, it's because you define what the game is - it's not linear. Yeah, you could powergame (sadly) and keep accumulating, but you could also just log on and enjoy decorating your virtual house, or fishing stuff up, or learning a new craft. At the end of the day you don't feel like you're losing just because you're not level 99! I originally started playing this game cause it was the only MMORPG out there (yes I have been around since this game went public - couldn't get into the beta). I had no idea what I was doing when I first logged on or what I was supposed to be doing, and neither did anyone else. So we made it up as we went along. I was a hardcore RPer and eventually created my own guild and developed my own quests using other guilds to play the parts. I know of no other game out there that gives you that kind of creativity. But yes, sadly UO is becoming a pale imitation of other games I've never wanted to play but I'll stick it out till they pull the plug for good.

Well all that, and of course my dream of one day meeting Flutter in game.

 

[Ezekiel Zane]

I started playing UO for the camaraderie and PvM with rl friends that invited me to play with them. We played together for about four years before they began moving on to other games. I stayed. My last rl friend quit playing around four years ago.

What kept me going was housing and crafting, BODs mostly. I did get into some PvP but it didn't stick. My two kids have been playing with me off and on now for about two years. I think they've moved on now too though.

 

[War Wizard]

i tell my wife and kid,the reason ive played this game all day and night for the past 13 years is because when i start somthing i want to finish it--couldnt tell ya how many times they have asked me if ive won or if the game was almost over-i just tell them-almost done.

now that is good.... can't stop laughing.... I too am going to steal this reason. can't wait for the response "YOU STARED PLAYING IN 1997!!!.... *leaves out the rest of what will be said*"

 

[Noti(Caci)]

because of the sandbox game,pvp and housing.

 

[sativa green]

FELUCCA.

 

[Victim of Siege]

Addictive personality... 35% of the reason I finally walked away about a year ago. but I still find myself unable to quit subscribing. I have one account left out of the 4 I ran constantly. I feel if i let that account go, that the world will fade and become a much darker place.

 

[Frarc]

Fun,Friends and Freedom.