I've been noticing so many threads in the last few months that seem to be focused primarily on increasing the number of castles in the game.
Why is it that this is such a big focus in UO's 15th year of existence, instead of some other topic that might actually help the game exist a few more years?
Instead of so much focus on helping a handful of people acquire the ultimate symbol of greed in UO, why aren't people building threads on how to bring in more players and getting them to stay around for a while? If I was someone who had been away from UO for a while and stopped in here and browsed threads, I'd really be turned off by so many threads that only seem to be concerned about how a player can get more "stuff."
Why aren't people screeching at the producer and the developers to add more features to UO to help run guilds and alliances and to help new and returning players become immersed in actually playing the game (instead of just throwing a pile of stuff and gold at them and immediately making them think UO is only about greed)?
A few years ago, Sarsmi kicked off a thread for rounding up some great tips for newcomers/returnees. The final, cleaned-up version of that thread resides here: http://vboards.stratics.com/uo-players-corner/136673-uo-tips.html.
Surely by now, more could be added to that thread. Also, wouldn't it be helpful to the developers to have a thread dedicated to reporting broken/glitchy quests? How about a thread talking about New Haven and what would make it a better experience for totally new players? Or a thread tossing around ideas on how to get people more interested in PvP and/or factions? Or how about a thread with ideas on how to REALLY support casual players who only want to play UO for a few hours a week and don't necessarily want to get sucked into the idea that the only way to really have fun in UO is to end up sitting on multiple castles and keeps and billions in gold and artifacts? I know I'd love to be able to play UO that way, but it just seems like anymore most anything new that is added to the game is just a grind designed to suck you into playing far more hours per day or per week than is really healthy for anyone.
Eh, I don't know why I'm even going to bother with posting this. I guess it comes down to having a hard time completely walking away from UO because of the many fascinating people I've met while playing it. YOU made it fun and I truly wish there was a way to stick around without getting so dangerously sucked into UO. I'd so love to just be able to sit down for an hour or two every other day and play, but it just doesn't seem possible anymore. I've also got old friends who used to play that feel the same way. And I would imagine that many people who have played and quit UO for a while know precisely what I'm talking about. I often think that if there was a way to play UO without getting so sucked into it and without being made to feel that you are a failure at the game because you don't care about trying to "have it all," maybe it would have more players than it does now.
Sorry for the intrusion, folks. Just had to get a few of these ideas off my chest. Have a great day.

Why is it that this is such a big focus in UO's 15th year of existence, instead of some other topic that might actually help the game exist a few more years?
Instead of so much focus on helping a handful of people acquire the ultimate symbol of greed in UO, why aren't people building threads on how to bring in more players and getting them to stay around for a while? If I was someone who had been away from UO for a while and stopped in here and browsed threads, I'd really be turned off by so many threads that only seem to be concerned about how a player can get more "stuff."
Why aren't people screeching at the producer and the developers to add more features to UO to help run guilds and alliances and to help new and returning players become immersed in actually playing the game (instead of just throwing a pile of stuff and gold at them and immediately making them think UO is only about greed)?
A few years ago, Sarsmi kicked off a thread for rounding up some great tips for newcomers/returnees. The final, cleaned-up version of that thread resides here: http://vboards.stratics.com/uo-players-corner/136673-uo-tips.html.
Surely by now, more could be added to that thread. Also, wouldn't it be helpful to the developers to have a thread dedicated to reporting broken/glitchy quests? How about a thread talking about New Haven and what would make it a better experience for totally new players? Or a thread tossing around ideas on how to get people more interested in PvP and/or factions? Or how about a thread with ideas on how to REALLY support casual players who only want to play UO for a few hours a week and don't necessarily want to get sucked into the idea that the only way to really have fun in UO is to end up sitting on multiple castles and keeps and billions in gold and artifacts? I know I'd love to be able to play UO that way, but it just seems like anymore most anything new that is added to the game is just a grind designed to suck you into playing far more hours per day or per week than is really healthy for anyone.
Eh, I don't know why I'm even going to bother with posting this. I guess it comes down to having a hard time completely walking away from UO because of the many fascinating people I've met while playing it. YOU made it fun and I truly wish there was a way to stick around without getting so dangerously sucked into UO. I'd so love to just be able to sit down for an hour or two every other day and play, but it just doesn't seem possible anymore. I've also got old friends who used to play that feel the same way. And I would imagine that many people who have played and quit UO for a while know precisely what I'm talking about. I often think that if there was a way to play UO without getting so sucked into it and without being made to feel that you are a failure at the game because you don't care about trying to "have it all," maybe it would have more players than it does now.
Sorry for the intrusion, folks. Just had to get a few of these ideas off my chest. Have a great day.