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May 2001 News:
|
^ top-And now, for my next update.
[Nieves] May 31 - 10:43 PM EDT | I guess I am in an updating mood today.
If you like Star Wars, you will appreciate this movie called Duality or the precursor to it, Duel. If you want to see more, you can go here and check out some more Star Wars movies.
Duality was the shit. Doubt me at your peril.
Hasta. |
^ top-Lady Kitiara of GL hits it on the nose.
[Nieves] May 31 - 9:47 PM EDT | Just because this is one of the greatest "end all" to the bitching and moaning arguement of PvP as it stands today and Pre-UO:R, I had to put it up for all of you to see.
First Foust copied it, so I give him credit for that...
...this just seemed appropriate. It's from another message forum, but it hits the nail right on the head.
**begin quote**
For simplicity's sake, we have developed forms for Mages and Warriors to use to complain about one another and lament the unfairness of their existence. Instead of sending lengthy emails, or making lengthy posts repeating the same endless, biased message, please simply fill out one of these forms and mail or post it to your location of choice. Thank you.
PVP ALTERATION FORM FOR MAGES
Warriors need to be nerfed because I (circle one):
a) Am too stupid to wear leather armor, let alone magical leather armor which is easily affordable.
b) Am blissfully unaware of what the Arch Protection spell does.
c) Am so eager to cause damage that I overlook the spells Protection and Reactive Armor.
d) Am upset that Resisting Spells is actually effective against my cheap mass Poison tactics.
e) Am not content with being able to kill only Swordsmen and Mace Fighters with ease; all warriors, Fencers included, should be my playthings.
f) Am not willing to develop Anatomy and Healing as a Mage myself.
g) Am of the opinion that an unprepared, unarmored Mage running around in his underwear should be capable of killing armed, prepared Fencers.
h) Am clinging to my story of a Mage taking 100 times longer than a Warrior to create..."Forward one!" *hides the Earthquake scroll*
i) Am a Mage, dammit.
j) Am not satisfied with being the undisputed best class of group combat, I must rule 1 vs 1 fights as well.
k) Am upset that a Fencer just killed me by getting lucky and hitting me 6 times in a row without missing, 2 of them paralyzing hits, and I am going to angrily make a post saying that all Fencers should all be nerfed, writing under the emotional, generalized assumption that all Fencers are overpowered because of the one lucky streak that this single Fencer happened to have against me.
l) All of the above.
PVP ALTERATION FORM FOR WARRIORS
Mages should be nerfed because I (circle one):
a) Am too lazy to balance my stats to defend against Mindblast.
b) Am too cheap to pay 30 gold for a wizard hat to defend against Mindblast.
c) Am a Mace Fighter and cannot accept that this skill sacrifices effectiveness against Mages although I believe it should still wreck Warriors' armor and stamina.
d) Am unwilling to accept a weakness in one area to grow stronger in another.
e) Am too lazy to fight the more powerful magical monsters to train my Resisting Spells.
f) Am too cheap to prepare myself properly with the needed potions and supplies to fight a Mage.
g) Am eager to be able to kill a Mage as soon as my time at the bone knight wall is completed without any further work on my part.
h) All of the above.
Kitiara
Great Lakes
The less somebody has to say, the louder they will say it.
**End quote**
And Kitiara actually wrote it. I used to talk to ol' girl back in the day. She probably doesn't remember me, but, as you can tell, she's got a good head on her shoulders.
And you just HAVE To go and talk about it in the UOPG forum. It's putting my kids through college. Really.
Hasta. |
^ top-Will you fucking quit already?
[Nieves] May 31 - 1:56 PM EDT | Lum as always has the best news. (Yes, I admit it freely, I suck, Lum rules).
He posted a tid bit about a guild being handed a 48 hour suspension for "disrupting" a planned event.
-Time out- Fucking son of a bitch. Netscape won't let me copy and paste so I can make a decent update.
Anyway, until this evening, when I can make a decent update, make comments, and just fill your head with Nieves' patented (Patent Number: Porque-Yo-Dije-0001-0001) "No juus no do dat chit!".
UPDATE: Got to love anticipation huh?
Anyway...let me start this off with this:
Clearly no one can argue against the fact that PKing is part of the game and part of Fel. However, an argument regarding the disruption of an event seems to be getting quite a bit of attention. What exactly makes something an event? In general terms, it's something that you plan in advance, right?
As Lum so eloquently put it:
If you set foot in Felucca, you are saying "I acknowledge that other players may try to kill me." That is the nature of OSI's bizarro-land PK switch. The fact that the cool stuff may be in Felucca or that it's less crowded or that you may own a house there from long ago doesn't make this any different. Felucca is where people go to die. It is part of the game.
The Title of this update was directed at all those people that bitch and moan (that includes all of you in the Stratics/OSI message boards) about something that happens to you in game when it's part of the game's mechanics. You go to Felucca, be aware that you are now in no man's land. You are now playing within it's ruleset. If you get PKed, oh well. Rage. Get angry. Swear revenge. Don't call a fucking GM. That's asinine. Deal with it and move on. It's why shit has gone crappy in some areas of UO's game play. Everybody cries to mommy instead of accepting the current ruleset (especially if it's a decent ruleset) and learning how to play within it and become better with it.
Did those guys deserve to get banned? Not for PKing. Not for thieving. Not for looting. It's part of the game. Even in Trammel. Go bones, and I got your shit. It's that simple. Wah. Until OSI deems it otherwise, I am going to play within the ruleset.
The problem, it seems, was the following:
If you check OPP News we clearly stated several times that we were planning to attack Kalidun that same day. Does this mean we have conflicting events? How exactly is that handled? Now we know...
What do I think? Before EA took over, they wouldn't have been banned. A GM probably would've replied with: "Those players are playing within the game's ruleset. You went to Felucca and thereby agreed to the PvP switch. Please do not contact us about this again." Oh how things change:
...The Trammies are always right.
In closing:
Of course they wouldn't. ToM and SC play(ed) by the rules. OPP didn't. The rules in this case weren't written down. They were implied. The implied rule in this case is - if you're going to kill someone, don't post on your website that you did it. Don't brag about ganking newbies. Just do it. For god's sake, don't be honest about your motivations. Then you can be held accountable for them, despite what the in-game rules may lead you to believe you can and cannot do. In the end, it's all up to whether or not some nameless person at OSI sees your website and approves of how you present your actions.
Don't agree with those rules? Maybe new ones need to be written. Clearer ones.
Hmmm...can you say ToS? Read it. Get educated. It might explain the banning a little better. Then again, what's clear about any of it. But I digress.
As Lum says, play within the ruleset...but don't brag about it.
I guess that means I can't brag about looting ol' Trash Talker after dieing in Trammel Deceit anymore, huh?
Thank you Lum for the great article and inspiration.
Go give him some love and check out the discussion in his message board. He needs the hits. It pays his bills.
You can go to our own forum and tell me how much I suck for not being able to cut and paste this earlier.
Hasta. |
^ top-You got to have a plan
[Nieves] May 31 - 12:30 PM EDT | I get emails from folks all the time about character building and I see questions in the forum about the same topic. I don't mind the emails, but maybe this will help some folks.
When I first got my Masta PvMa going (over 2xGM) and was at a point where I wanted to expand my game play, I had to decide what I was going to do with my last 4 character slots.
First, do your research and look for the information you need to make the right choices. I sat down looking through UOPowergamers' (before I was blessed by Redrum and was made an updater and then new owner of UOPG) templates and thought about what I would do with those slots. I had planned all my D&D characters in the past and decided this could be applied to UO.
I needed a smith. I know I wanted an alchemist because I used alot of potions. I wanted a mage and I loved treasure hunting. I wanted to have another warrior and thought a Weapons Master would be nice to have (hey, even some of the "cool" UO Community members have one of these so hush).
I printed out all the, then, current templates and got a pen and notepad and decided what templates I would use and how I would go about training those characters. Now, mind you, this was BEFORE UO:Renaissance and power hour was not around. Also, skill locks had just come in and that made the strategy of creating a character a bit easier.
I decided on the following:
Alchemist:
GM Alchemy, Inscription, Wrestling, Magery, Eval Int, Resist, Meditation.
Smith:
GM Mining, Blacksmithing, Bowying/Fletching (I used alot of bows and arrows back then), Jacking, Tailoring, Magery, 40 Arms Lore, 60 Hiding (PKs were bad).
New Warrior:
GM Fencing, Swords, Parrying, Tactics, Healing, Anatomy, Resist
(Pure Townie if you would)
Treasure Hunter:
GM Cartography, Lockpicking, Magery, Eval Int, Meditation, Wrestling, Resist.
I then wrote out how I would train those characters. The idea was to give me a focus of what my characters were going to be and follow that plan.
Then UO:R was released and everything about the game changed. Special hits were introduced, Lumberjacking became a skill that mages absolutely hated and the most powerful weapon type to this date (sorry macers, but you don't get +35% damage), and GM Poisoning and GM Magery meant Greater Poison 99% (99 out of 100 poison casts) of the time and Deadly Poison 10% (1 out of 100 poison casts) of the time. Also, at the time, Thor's Hammer (80 points of damage with a War Hammer) was around (it was fixed about 2-3 months later). That was when the idea of Hammer was born and I created my 2nd account. But I digress.
With that release my characters evolved into the following:
Alchemist/Inscriper/Poisoner:
GM Alchemy, Inscription, Poisoning, Magery, Eval Int, Resist, Meditation.
Super Mule (was the Smith):
GM Mining, Blacksmithing, Bowying/Fletching, Carpentry, Tinkering, Magery, Tailoring.
New Warrior:
GM Jacking, Swords, Parrying, Tactics, Healing, Anatomy, 80 Resist, 20 Magery (recalling is easier even with scrolls)
(If I got the special Axe hit in the first 5 seconds of the fight with the mage, I won; if not, I better hope I survived the mana dump.)
Treasure Hunter:
GM Cartography, Lockpicking, Magery, Eval Int, Meditation, Wrestling, Resist.
As you can see, my alchemist, warrior, and smith (now a true merchant mule) changed. The Treasure Hunter stayed the same as I still had alot of Felucca maps (and still manage to find a few).
With the freedom of having a 2nd account and the options UO:R gave me, I sat down and designed my next 5 characters.
Hammer
GM Macing, Parrying, Tactics, Anatomy, Healing, Archery, Resist
Fencer
GM Fencing, Parrying, Tactics, Anatomy, Healing, Archery, Resist
(At one point I toyed with this being my miner, losing archery and adding music to my mule so I could make GM instruments; but noone wants GM instruments, they want newbie ones).
Tamer
GM Magery Five plus Taming and Animal Lore
Bard
GM Magery Five plus Music and Provocation
Thief
GM Hiding, Stealth, Magery, Snooping, Stealing, Resist, Meditation
While reviewing my character creation progression sheet, I looked over my characters one day and realized the only difference between Hammer and my fencer was the melee type. And just had a hard time finishing fights with Hammer. It was frustrating. Also, stable changes were made and you needed some measure of vet to have a full 5 stable slots. Not too mention healing is cheaper and more efficient with bandaids. Then I realized I wasn't interested in a thief. In fact, I hate them more than any other character type in the game. Mainly because I don't like people peeking in my panties and taking my stuff. Don't get me wrong, thieves look fun, but only when you are playing them. It wasn't for me. Personal preferance I guess. Again, I digress.
I redid my character set for the 2nd account as follows:
Hammer
GM Macing, Parrying, Tactics, Anatomy, Healing, Fencing (DP kryss and spears are nice), 80 Resist, 20 Magery
Assassin (was my fencer)
GM Fencing, Magery, Tactics, Anatomy, Healing, Poisoning, Resist
(Absolutely solid character; has to be my favorite arch type).
Tamer
GM Magery Five minus Wrestling plus Taming and Animal Lore and Vet
Bard
GM Magery Five plus Music and Provocation
GM Fisherman
GM Fishing, Archery, Tactics, Healing, Magery, Resist, 75 Magery, 25 Cooking.
I lost a thief and gained a fisherman. I lost the wrestling and added Vet on my Tamer. I changed my fencer to make her something different and fun. I increased Hammer's kill efficiency with the addition of Fencing and the ability to use DP and spears.
My point? When you start thinking about what you are going to do with new/available character slots or on a new shard, have a goal for each character and figure out what skills will meet those goals. Make sure your plan is flexible enough so that characters can change/evolve as needed. It was a pain in the ass adding Magery to my Fencer (now Assassin) after she was near GM in all her fighting skills. But I lost her melee skills and picked them up later (much easier to GM than anatomy/healing). Don't be afraid to cut your losses and change as needed (again, I site the Fencer/Assassin example). And put it on paper. It's easier to refer to than your memory, which can be volatile at times.
If you do this well enough, you will find planning characters can apply to planning things in your life as well.
Good luck, and good planning.
Hasta. |
^ top-Speaking of looters
[Nieves] May 30 - 10:23 PM EDT | Lock them houses and put them rares away in a secure "unseen" chest or your bank. If they can see it, they can take it.
There is an exploit out to take your locked and secure stuff in your house. OSI is aware of it and is working on the problem. I hope they at least let us know when it's "fixed".
Don't email me on how it works or how to do it, you will just get a big fat "delete" from me.
Hasta. |
^ top-A new twist to a old formula
[Epyon] May 30 - 10:19 PM EDT | Hows everyone doing?
Miss me?
I figured as much.
Well, I have some news, since I no longer play UO, but am still a part of this site, I decided to contribute in a different way.
Starting now, I will be updating on all the hottest new console games coming out. I will focus mostly on PS2 and Dreamcast. But I will also explore the original PS and the N64 should the need arise.
Nieves has given me the latitude to also explore the world of anime with you once in awhile. I will give you all information on the newest , or greatest titles in Console Video Games, and Japanese Animation.
I will be rating on a scale of one to five the titles I review, and will give gaming advice or hints when they are called for.
If you have any requests feel free to drop a mail at my address, epyon@uopowergamers.com
-Fin |
^ top-Damn looters.
[Eric] May 30 - 5:32 PM EDT | Well, OSI has some new stuff in the General Testing...
Looting Rights Fixes
The following issues with looting rights have been modified:
-Getting the last hit on a monster will no longer be a determining factor for looting rights.
-Players will no longer get credit for damage done to a creature beyond the amount of hit points remaining when calculating looting rights. For example, if a creature has 5 hit points and a player casts a spell on it that does 40 hit points of damage, the player will now get credit for doing 5 points as opposed to the potential damage amount of 40 points.
It's about time they fixed this. Whenever I'm hunting dragons and deamons, there's always an asshole out there blasting spell at my near-dead monsters and then taking the damn loot. Of course, in Felucca this hardly ever matters, because even if the corpse is blue to me, I'm still taking my damn loot. I guess this fix will help the Trammelites out more. Enjoy.
Cya later. |
^ top-Tips from Troy
[Nieves] May 30 - 9:01 AM EDT | A reader wrote in and had some tips for you Powergamers out there. Most of you should know these but he sent this email twice to me so I figured I better post it before he finds me and PKs me.
I have a trick you need to add.
One thing that pisses me off is fucking idiots in dungeons who come unprepared. IN LOR PLZ!!!!!!! is a spam that I find particularly annoying.
The trick/tip/whatever is to create a character with 1 in alchemy (you can delete this guy later) so that you get a newbie mortar. It takes VERY little skill to produce a Night Sight potion, only 1 silk, and 1 bottle. The silk and the bottle can be picked up off the ground in most dungeons. Instant In-Lor.
Interesting. Think that will stop all the people yelling: "IN LOR PLEASE"? Yeah. Sure.
It might be interesting to put a section in about useful newbie items and what skill you need to get them.
These are some things I find useful:
Cloak: Hiding
Boots: Tracking
Floppy hat: Fishing (for my thief, you also get a pole with this)
scissors: Healing
hatchet: Lumberjacking
Kryss (DP it): Fencing
Musical instrument (if you are a bard): Music, provoke, or enticement.
Katana (DP it): Swordsmanship
Troy
Hasta. |
^ top-Thank you Watts
[Nieves] May 29 - 10:56 PM EDT | Just posted to the Comments from the Team section:
It's been a year since I started with the design team for Ultima
Online Live. As I sat pondering whether I should comment on any hot topics debated on our web boards, I realized that I am just one person on a large team and any changes/additions being considered could not really be commented on accurately. Those changes can be altered at any point in the development cycle and be very different at the time of release, thus any specific comment I make on upcoming changes could be misleading. I'd like to discuss instead bug fixing by the Ultima Online Live team, rather than new and upcoming changes to the game.
Want to read more? Click here for the latest from the UO Live Team, now updated three times a week!
Hasta |
^ top-3l33t MMORPG
[Eric] May 29 - 8:03 PM EDT | Yes, I know, you haven't seen much of me for quite sometime. My cable connection is officially stable (at least I hope) so I'm back "in the game."
Now, the whole reason I posted this update, is this. I'm not sure if this has been posted here previously at one time or another, but this is the first time it's come to my attention. Not only is it funny, but it's true. Again, check it out. Thanks to Iggikey for forwarding me this URL.
Don't you just love MMORPGs?
Cya later. |
^ top-I just realized something.
[Nieves] May 29 - 6:28 PM EDT | You know what's sad? I get more support for UOPG from people I don't know than from people in game that I play with. It's like: "hey, did you know about this?" Um, I posted it on UOPG last week. "Oh, sorry, I didn't see it". Well no fucking shit. If you would SUPPORT MY ASS and come read the shit, you would realize that I AM THE SUPREME NIEVES AND I KNOW MY SHIT! SO SUPPORT ME! READ MY SITE AND SHOW ME LOVE!
Um...I think I drank too many Maltas.
Hasta. |
^ top-Adam Ant on the Prowl.
[Nieves] May 29 - 5:46 PM EDT | (Please be a part of Adam’s new adventure June 2nd, 2001 at 9:00 PM in the new lands, providence of Napa valley.)
Hail dark friends,
'Tis with some sadness I report that two of the Guardian’s sacred tomes,
“The Book of the Undead” and “The Book of Enchantments” have been lost.
The “Book of the Undead” was taken from me in dungeon Shame by a group of hell-born fiends as the Guardians fought valiantly to protect me.
'Twas only a few months later when I was to move father’s treasures and the “The Book of Enchantments” to a safe location when we were
attacked again!
Well my fellow Guardians, I have decided to move father’s diary to our
J’Fer Sok retreat, least it fall into the wrong hands.
I will be transporting the book in one of Kahn’s cursed chests, which
should afford the tome some protection as I make my journey. I should arrive
at
J’Fer Sok on June 2nd, 2001 at about 9:00 PM in the new lands, providence
of
Napa valley.
Please prepare yourselves for battle fellow Guardians, for the mindless
heathens that do not understand our cause will undoubtedly be there to try
and
stop us.
***************************
The Rules:
Adam Ant’s quest rules are simple: take the book from me and redeem it
for
a fully loaded log cabin complete with rares, full potion kegs, 500 of each
reg,
etc., etc..
Oh, there is one little catch, The Guardians of Undead Lords will be there
protecting me and the book!
- This is a player vs Player event: Please leave your pets at home.
- No Murder Counts: We Guardians love putting on these events, so please
don’t count us!
- How to win: The first player to post the contents of the book on the
GUL
message board at www.game-master.net
takes the house and all it contains.
- Why is the quest called “The Gauntlet”?: 'Cause it sounds cool,
that’s why.
***************************
The Tips:
- I will be live-casting via Adam's WebCam to help you locate me and
the
book.
- The chest is cursed, so it’s going to require more than brute strength
to claim this prize.
- Um, boats are good.
And finally, do not attempt this quest if you are accustomed to the easy
life of
Trammel. These Guardians will use every means possible to insure the safety
of
Kahn’s Treasure and my life.
***************************
The Loot!:
One nice log cabin
in Felucca:
Exquisitely decorated with
rares and other goodies:
Full potion kegs, 500 of each reg, etc.:
Excelent neighborhood (don’t harm the lich though!): ***************************
Come and get it!
***************************
Sponsor:The Nobel Isabella,
Grandmaster Ranger
Thank you Isabella for this most generous donation!
--Adamodious Anthias,
Son of Kahn Anthias
-----------
'nuff said.
UPDATE: Ok, that wasn't it-
Sorry, the long version I sent out didn't have a link to the event!
Could you
please add it?
Regards,
Adam Ant
-------
No, I can't add it.
Told you ol' boy wrote to me. Gee, I feel special.
Hasta. |
^ top-Important Things in Life.
[Nieves] May 28 - 8:40 PM EDT | I was going to tell you all about Shrek. It's not as important as this. Give Jinx all the love you can.
Hasta. |
^ top-Crying Freeman
[Nieves] May 27 - 8:36 PM EDT | Some of you might remember the Anime Version of this movie. Well I got to see the Live Action version of it today. It's too bad the images weren't as clear as the images in that last link.
This live action feature has the actor from the Crow series as Yo the Crying Assassin. It's not the Matrix, but it's true to the original animated version. The movie is made mostly in English with Japanese Subtitles (I assume it was). I was disappointed that during the Japanese speaking parts they didn't have any translation (subtitle or otherwise). It was probably some of the best dialogue in the movie :(. Either way, if you can find it, rent it or buy it. It's sure to be a cult classic.
I updated the Poisoning Section of UOPG. It was WAY off. Thanks to Anonymous for pointing it out.
To Elizabeth in Canada: Too bad you didn't come to Cleveland those two times. You would've forgotten all about those "fellas" and might be happily married now. Thanks for the cards.
Hasta. |
^ top-Ok It's Official
[Ian] May 26 - 11:27 PM EDT | The so called critics have no clue what they are talking about. I should have never paid attention to any of them. I mean, this IS the same collection of pretentious salad tossers that gave Being John Malcovich rave reviews. I just got back from Pearl Harbor and let me tell you, it was a damn good movie. And before any of you jump on the flame train and say that I'm saying that just because I'm in it, consider that I appear on screen for a grand total of the time that it takes Redrum to ejaculate into his couch. In fact, I looked over to the girl I was with and said, there I was, and even though she was looking intently, her reply was, "You were?" So, that being said, I urge you all to go see it.
I must admit that I was a little sceptical about a Jerry Bruckheimer/Michael Bay movie because I haven't liked any of the others. They pulled this off though. Let me cordially extend my middle finger to all of the flaming media critics who tried picking on the movie because it attempted a love story. It's called filler. No one wants to go to a movie and watch 2 hours of constant blood and guts. Well maybe some people do, but we have places for people like them.
For those that missed my update about my experience being in the movie I think you can find that in the November archives if you want to catch up.
Here are some pictures of me and a few friends taken while filming.
I'm on the far left.
This is us after climbing up to the flight tower
This was me breaking my confidentiality agreement by taking an un-authorized picture off of said flight tower.
Go see this movie. I have yet to talk to one person that didn't like it.
I wish you all a very happy Memorial Day and remember to give some consideration to the people who currently serve and have served your country. They are responsible for your freedom and way of life. This is my thank you. Gator, Nieves, Vas, I kid you alot, make fun of you relentlessly and all that. Keep in mind though I hold you all in the highest respect for having volunteered parts of and in some cases all of your life to defending America's freedom. You are appreciated. |
^ top-Lurking Nieves
[Nieves] May 25 - 4:03 PM EDT | Since I can't view my own little forum here at UOPG from work, I went ahead and started lurking in the New Player Forums on Stratics. Someone asked the question: Would a GM Fencer with 100 Dex/100 Str/25 Int and a Poisoned Kryss be better at PvM than a GM Swordsman with 100Dex/100 Str/25 Int and a Katana?
Granted he said a bit more than that, and there were some good replies, I felt the need to add to the thread.
Here was my reply:
GM Jacking will give you a +35% damage modifier against players. I don't know what the modifier is against monsters, but the damage is insane. It's nice to kill an Ettin in 2 hits.
The author of this thread had asked why GM Jacking was so good after so many people told him to get Jacking to be an effective PvMer.
Anyway...
it all does boil down to personal preference, but want some advice? Go to Test Center and create all the templates you can get your hands on and figure out what you like best, then build that character.
Just to give you an idea of character types, I will list the ones I have, with comments, and give you a general idea of how I play the game. Bear in mind, I have 2 accounts and can afford to have different warrior templates along with merchants and mages.
Loren
GM swords
GM archery
GM tactics
93+ healing (going to GM)
GM anatomy
92 Resist (going to GM)
71.1 Magery
Rest in Hiding (sometimes the kids call and I got to take care of them; not too mention I hate thieves in Felucca).
This is my premiere PvMer. Why? Because I know how to play this character. Knowing how to play your character helps. Itwas the first character I ever created and I never macroed her. I have hunted everything short of Balrons, Ancient Wyrms, the Ancient Lich in Khaldun, and the new monsters in Ilshenar. If anyone doubts her PvM powers, go to Fire Dungeon and watch her take down 5 liches and a Lich Lord solo.
Drizzt
GM Jacking
GM Swords
GM Parrying
GM Tactics
GM Anatomy
89 Healing (going to GM)
80 Resist (locked)
20 Magery (helps with using recall scrolls and casting night sight when I run out of pots).
Rest of points in misc skills
I built this character with the idea of having a weapons master (macing, parrying, fencing and swords) and then Jacking was added to the mix. I wanted to have a jacker and had to pick a character to have Jacking and this one was it. He has a 67% win ratio versus mages. (That may not seem high, but dammit, I am still winning more than losing.) Getting that first strike in with the intelligence hit helps. Not too mention not wiffing :(.
He was to be my guy to run around and fight in different PvP situations. Since the "gank" is a tactic to watch out for, having parrying became essential to this "towny's" skillset. I love hunting Rat Magi and Water Elementals with this Character. He just does the job well enough that I have no problem. Every once in a while I take him to hunt down Liches and other various Elementals (Elemental Ban kills Blood Elementals dead; but they break too fast). He is a gold sink if I want him to be.
Max
GM Macing
GM Fencing
GM Tactics
GM Anatomy
85 Healing (going to GM)
GM Parrying
80 Resist (locked)
20 Magery (same reason as Drizzt)
This is -my- "premiere" PvP character. Spear for keeping mages from casting ("stand there for a second or 4"), War Axe for
knocking their stamina around, and Quarterstaff for raping said mages. DP Kryss for keeping other Parriers from using their shields. War Hammers for breaking said sheilds. Best overall PvP towny variant I have used to date. He is great for PvM if I use him as such, but it's not what I designed him for.
Rox
GM Fencing
GM Tactics
GM Magery
GM Anatomy
87 Healing (going to GM)
84 Poisoning (going to GM)
75 Resist (going to GM)
Can you say: "Assassin"? Cast Poison, run up, drop Greater Poison, arm Deadly Poison kryss, loot. 'Nuff said. Spear keepsmages honest. Besides, Archery, she has the potential to be a PvM powerhouse like Loren above. Well, anyone can when using DP and Silver Vanqs Spears. At GM magery+GM poisoning you can cast Greater Poison on Ogre Lords. Plus at GM poisoning, you can Deadly Poison an Ogre Lord with a blade. I have seen it done. Can you say gold sink for the cost of a single nightshade (if casting poison).
GM Magery on the Assassin is needed to support the lack of Parrying (paralyze the macer for a second maybe? <---bad tactic, but you get what I mean). I could go on and on about the benefits of GM magery over less than GM magery, but that would be hypocritical to what I have done with my own characters and is besides the point of this thread anyway.
The benefits and drawbacks of the 3 weapon types (4 if you count archery) can be discussed till we are blue in the face. Butyou just got to go with what you think is best for you.
Macing:
War Hammers-Break shields fast and mass damage. Decent PvM weapon.
War Axes-Decent damage, fastest 1 handed macing weapon, and stamina and armor killer. Great PvM weapon.
Quarter Staff-I call this the Mage Killer. If a mage can't cast, he dies. And people say: "but it doesn't take stamina like it used
too". If you take enough damage, you lose stamina anyway. And if you are dead, it doesn't matter how much stamina you have
(had). Great PvM weapon. Very fast. Faster than the War Axe. Too bad wooden weapons fall apart and aren't reapairable (I
wish Blackstaves were craftable and repairable).
Fencing
Spear-Lots of damage, and surprisingly fast. Paralyze hits on players. Mage Killer Part 2.
Short Spear-Decent Damage, and ditto as with the long spear.
Kryss-Fast. Wickidly fast. And decent damage if it's of high quality and in good repair.
War Fork-Parrier killer. Will cause more damage to cut through the shield like the Broadsword. Beware of DPed Forks.
Swords
Katana-Best Blade in game. Nuff said.
Broadsword-Parrier killer. Very hard hitting and if DPed, will wreck you if you are unprepared.
Scimitar-I only list this weapon because it's almost as fast as the kryss and can do decent damage. First PvP encounter I had I won with my +20 Scimitar of Force.
Halberd-Better when used as an opener or a finisher. If you stand there and fight toe to toe with someone/thing with this weapon, expect to die alot. I don't care how much damage you can do, I will hit you 5 times with my katana before you hit me once with your halley. 5x20=100 points of damage. And that's average for a good katana. Imagine if my Katana is DPed.
With any two handed fighting weapon, use the "run through" or "run past" method of fighting. Don't stand there and let the
creature/player beat you down. Unless a mage, stick to him/her like glue.
I hope this helps.
Someone send me some Love. I am lonely :(.
Hasta |
^ top-Spend a minute to remember.
[Nieves] May 25 - 12:25 PM EDT | Only because I served too.
Thank Lum for reminding me.
Hasta. |
^ top-Orc Masks, Scouts, and Frightened Orcs
[Nieves] May 24 - 10:50 PM EDT | Well, I decided to hunt down some of the new Orcs. I found the Orcish Scout, Frightened Orc and misc. other orcs spawning east of Cove. Other than fighting the lag and all the camped players there, it was interesting to see how these creatures fight.
I will say this, fighting the Orc Scout solo would be a serious challenge. Best way to fight them is with a mage. Reveal helps in killing them. The frightened Orc, although as tough HP wise as a beefy Orc, doesn't do anything but run around yelling at you to "YOU FIGURD! Stop THAT!" I think that one called my buddy a fuckhead.
As I was looking throughout the lands trying to find where else they spawned, I came upon my first Orc Magi since the changes to the Orc Family of monsters. He had an Orc Mask! First Orc Magi I kill and it has a mask. Sweet :) After putting it on twice, my character went from illustrious to noble. Big time Karma hits.
Anyway, go to the PvM Pages and check out the additions and corrections to the Orc Section.
Thanks to Cerien of BDA for helping me hunt tonight.
Hasta. |
^ top-Just go read it.
[Nieves] May 24 - 4:11 PM EDT | No need to comment on it, just go over to The Chosen read the Circuit City Article, and give Watts his props.
Hasta. |
^ top-Magery Changes
[Nieves] May 24 - 10:51 AM EDT | Melantus had posted some notes from the UOFaire. I read them over and thought maybe the UOPG readers would like a look see (especially if you haven't seen them yet) and maybe give your two cents to Melantus about them. Let him know you saw it via UOPG and are commenting about the Magery Notes in the subject line. I am sure that will get his attention.
I was going to start a thread in UOPG's Forum, but since Netscape doesn't do a good job of bringing up the UOPG Forum, I am asking a highly motivated individual to start one for me. It's what's on this computer so I am at Netscape's mercy (yippee!).
Gee, don't I feel special asking help from someone else to start a thread in my own forum?
Hasta |
^ top-New Orcs and Possible Faction Fighting in Trammel...
[Gator] May 24 - 7:51 AM EDT | Well as the ongoing "Orc Quest" continues, a new Orc has found it's way into Sosaria, and it seems this fella is using one of the best Monster AIs we have yet to see in UO. And I quote:
Orc scouts are to be feared by many. They use archery, healing, magic, and hiding.
Their tactics are this: They will attack you on sight. When/if they are damaged, they will begin to heal themselves. If the healing succeeds (which it almost always does) they usually end up full-health again. If you do manage to drop them to below 50% health befor they can heal, they will instantly teleport 5 tiles away in a random direction and instantly hide. They will not reveal themselves until they are full health again.
These are to be avoided by all warriors who can not reveal, since they will ALWAYS tele-hide when they reach below 50% health making them imposible to kill if you can not reveal them.
Their loot consists of arrows, apples and gold. (perhaps a rare spawns on them on ocasion like mages, which would explain the sucky loot, but I havn't found any).
Be carefull when dealing with these things! I havn't figured out what they have to do with the quest, but their outside Cove in the forest.
Sydius
UO Forums
And with them comes a brand new spanking weapon too. Though you will not get one with every kill, but Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce you to the "Orcish bow". It is darkish blue in color. And according to Calandryll:
It's better than a regular bow. It doesn't spawn on every orc scout, but it is more common than the mask.
-Jonathan "Calandryll" Hanna
Designer, Ongoing Content
The only thing I am clueless to is whether he means it's better than a regular bow, or a GM crafted one. That I have no clue on.
My thoughts on this new change? I like the idea of this new AI. I think once things get going on this quest that they ad this new AI to more of the critters in UO. This will make hunting a little more harder, and trickier. Thus eliminating the ease of gold camping in the game. Could you imagine a Lich teleporting away to hide in safety until fully healed?? That is just BADASS. My hats off to the person who wrote the code for that Orc Scout. This is a new AI that is much needed not only in this quest but on alot more creatures as well.
You can read the enitire Orc Scout thread here
In other news, Melantus, wants to know your thoughts on Faction fighting in Trammel and Ilshenar. I am ALL for it. I think they should make it just like Order/Chaos. Back when I was in Factions I got sick and tired of the punks running around in Trammel running there mouth, then when you told them to hop over to Fel to resolve the difference, they wouldnt show up, or wouldn't go at all. War is war, and there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to fight in Trammel too. So go on over there and give your thoughts, and maybe this deal can get changed.
Enough from me, I better be getting back to work. Har, Har.
Later |
^ top-In Development Updated
[Nieves] May 23 - 12:00 PM EDT | Some Factions "fixes" are being tested as we speak. The best one I found was:
Aggressors can no longer use moongates of any type while they are classified as an aggressor.
I can see it now.
"WTF! THE MOONGATE ISN'T WORKING!" Deathmoan.
Fight and die. Or get out of Factions. Damn gate jumpers.
Thank you Stratics for this bit of news.
Oh, on a personal note, my Treasure Hunter/Dungeon Chest "Hugger" got to 92.? lockpicking last night. His first level 4 chest yielded 700 gold and a studded gorget of hardening. JOY! I think I found my "niche" for gold farming. So while Mr. Tommy Tamer or Bobby the Bard is popping Liche Lords, Dragons, et al, I can take the chest loot and we both walk away happy.
My loot for an hour of doing this? ~15k, 2 studded gorgets of hardening and misc. junk armor (ingots for me). Bear in mind I was just hitting random spots.
Yes, I forgot and I suck. Part 2 of the Treasure Hunter essay will get written before the end of Summer. And I am working on Hammer and Silk Part 2B (don't ask) as we speak. I hope you enjoy it when it's done.
Hasta. |
^ top-Ciao.
[Lawyer] May 23 - 10:05 AM EDT | Well guys, its time to go.
As most of you have known for months, I dont play Ultima Online anymore. However I have continued to volunteer my time in order to help UOPowergamers expand and evolve. I think all of us here at UOPG have done a damned good job with that, and I hope you guys keep up the good work.
I am 'officially' departing UOpowergamers. Im leaving on a good note though, I have had a great time and surprisingly, learned a lot. I have two reasons for leaving, one is much more siginificant. I have nothing else to offer the UO community. I sold my account to Keldon a months ago, and I have no desire to come back to Ultima Online, nor will I ever. Ultima Online is a great game, or better yet, a great social experiment. Depending on your personal experiences, Ultima Online is either a great success or a complete failure. Both are right, Ultima Online had great potential, and it pioneered the MMORPG genre. I personally believe Ultima Online is dead, it is in a downward spiral and will soon be replaced by the upcoming games. Its natural progression, but it could have been prevented.
Ultima Online was a revolutionary game, it still is. Even today UO gives you the more freedom than any other game on the market. No other game allows you to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it. UO is not a camp-fest like Everquest, although its becoming that way. UO is not exploit ridden and it doesnt have Flavor-Of-The-Week characters like Asheron's Call. Thats the "big three", and UO is on the top when it comes to gameplay. UO has evolved by leaps and bounds, I am surprised it has become what you see today. Origin was testing the waters, and they have remained afloat. However, they could have done better. But what can you expect from a complete newbie in the business? They wont know everything, they have to learn. Verant and Turbine are the successes they are today because they learned from the mistakes of Origin, which sadly have been plentiful. Im not bashing UO, I feel its the best MMORPG out today; it just has nothing left to offer me. I sincerely hope Origin sends the game in the right direction, but I doubt they will. I have a few ideas on how they should begin.
Dynamic content is promised, and thats a great start. Asheron's Call thrives due to its monthly patches which fix a lot of bugs and introduce new content - thats the only thing I like about the game. Uniform guidelines need to be set for the GMs, so contradictory rulings will not exist. If something is a bug or illegal, it should be posted on the main site so all players are aware what they are doing is wrong - that is Origin's responsibility. There is no excuse not to have that information open for the public, it will help cut bug usage and exploiters alike, and keep the ignorant from being wrongfully banned. OSI, that should be your first priority. Ultima Online needs new content, such as new skills and customization abilities. I remember when EI, Anat, and Healing became useful, and when Stealth was added. Origin should continue to add these sort of things and make less used skills more desirable - without unbalancing the game. If Ultima Online is to survive, these steps are a great start.
On a more personal note, I am leaving for Initial Entry Training (Army Basic Training) June 5th. I will be out of contact with everyone until mid to late August. When I come back, I have no intention on resuming my position within UOpowergamers. However, my goal is to assist the Powergamers aspect in branching off to other games. I am very interested in some upcoming games, most namely SWG, DAOC, and Neocron. My goal is to make Powergaming divisions for each of these games, if they become popular successes. However if Nieves needs anything technical done for UOPG, I would be more than happy to assist. Just remember people, the best is yet to come.
I would like to thank the whole Ultima Online community for both the great and not-so-good experiences I have had. I would also like to thank everyone at UOPG for one hell of a ride. All I have ever wanted was to become a writer for Lum the Mad, but I am very happy here instead. This is a tight-knit community I hope will surivive and expand past Ultima Online, one that will become a powerful force in future MMORPGS. I have made a lot of friends, and I plan on keeping in touch. Im out of the show for Ultima Online, but when I get back I plan on helping the "Powergamer Enterprises" rise to the top of gaming sites. And with the right amount of motivated and dedicated volunteers, I believe that is very possible. I wish you all the best of luck in whatever endeavors you choose to partake. Thanks for the good time.
Elvis has left the building. |
^ top-Funny how I update more when I work eh?
[Nieves] May 23 - 9:58 AM EDT | All it means is I haven't found a job to challenge me and keep me busy. I think.
And now, the news.
We will be activating the new distributed backup system on the Great Lakes and Lake Superior shards on Thursday, May 24th following their regularly scheduled maintenance period. The system has been actively running on the AOL Legends and Atlantic shards since last month, and has reduced backup times considerably. We estimate that this change will bring shard backup times down to between 5-15 minutes per shard. As a result, the amount of time required for shard maintenance, restarts, and ‘time warps’ may be narrowed to between 5-15 minutes in most cases.
Although, no more Server Wars for you.
Please note: As this backup system decreases the amount of time required for a shard backup, it will also decrease the amount of ‘warp time’ available prior to a maintenance period. We urge that players keep this in mind when playing before a scheduled maintenance period.
Shorter backup times and shard warps=good. But does it mean longer play times? Will you be able to play beyond 3AM local server time and not have to worry about losing what you have acquired or accomplished? Of course, no more server wars=bad for the people that practice their trade. Well, there is always the Test Center. I guess.
What will OSI do next? Well, er... ::bites tongue::
Hasta. |
^ top-Ok, I am late
[Nieves] May 23 - 9:21 AM EDT | I got this a couple of days ago, but I didn't post it. I found it again this morning while reviewing email. Enjoy.
As promised, BV has released an interview with Pete “Adrick” Warner, Designer for Origin Systems. This interview includes all aspects of the Faction System. What the current plans are for several different areas of the system and information about what has changed since BV’s interview with Designer Evocare.
Topics include Election system changes, Blues in strongholds, falling sigils, kill point issues, quitting factions, point banking, joining factions and hiding in Trammel, Blue interference, bug reporting for faction issues, communication, point mules, guild changes, player interactions, reputation system, murderer reprieve, thieves in Factions, stronghold balance, faction armor, Warhorses, silver rewards for kills, Bards in factions, and more…
Running time is 46 Minutes.
To listen to the show, you must have an MP3 player or RealAudio to hear the streamed version. More information is available at http://www.battlevortex.com/bvra.php .
Enjoy the interview!
-Fear
Hasta. |
^ top-Since I have down time at work....
[Nieves] May 22 - 1:50 PM EDT | Yes, Nieves has a job again. JOY! (not) Anyway, straight from Stratics, Gromm decides to tell us about his "shooting from the hip" style of setting up our new "quests" in Ultima Online. An excerpt:
This is not a quest engine. That would be handing you a script. We're presenting you with a situation. A change that makes the world itself the stage, a more interesting place for your character to live in and react to. We want to surprise you. We want to keep you on your toes. We want you to expect the unexpected. At the same time, we want you to be able to see what's going on in the background situation and see it react to you. Improvising as you go and living in the situation makes you a part of the plot.
This falls in line with my style of Dungeon Mastering for Dungeons & Dragons. If you ask Vasilius, in most cases, it works very well (don't ask him about the time his group died in Undermountain; he still hates me for that). We will just have to wait and see how it goes.
Hasta. |
^ top-gib twibuut
[Gator] May 22 - 1:18 PM EDT | For the readers that cant stand the new "Orc Quest" I must apoligize, but the news stemming off of this can be very interesting, thus my reporting on it. The latest and greatest to hit a shard near you is the question of grief tactics by Roleplayed Orcs. Ahh yes, in a rush to go out and obtain Orc masks to be sold on Tradespot at 400-500k each, or even on eBay, where you can presently obtain one for 33 bucks if you act now. Better hurry though, our operators are standing by.
But the true question is, when does roleplaying become grief playing? I find it truly humerous when the same folks that bitched and moaned about a new land (Trammel) to prevent them from being peekayed and where they can roleplay in peace, are now the ones pointing the fingers at the Orcs and saying they are griefers. Now where in the hell is the line drawn?
Lets look at the Shadowclan for example. They set up shop in the Orc forts years ago, and have called that place their home. They have brought up their own style of rules and play to entertain that area. Numerous non-ShadowClan players have had a great time duking it out with the Orcs on a day-to-day basis. But now all of a sudden when OSI entertains a new item located primarily where these Orc Forts are, and numerous rare hunting, money grubbing, role-playing characters have shown up to cash in, the Orcs are called griefers?? WTF?
But it doesnt just stop there now does it? How about GUL? They have sworn to be protectors of the liches, and have played the part extremely well. Of course, no "proposed" grief play has ever stemmed from them, because of their location in Fel. But low and behold, when Orc masks were introduced in game, and hundreds of players flocked to Tram Orc Forts only to be found spammed with Bard Music and "All kills". Some players ventured to the locations in Fel to make their claim to Orcish/eBay fame. Unfortunately (fortunately) one thing stood in their way. Orcs, Roleplayed Orcs actually. Defending their home from the foul hummies. Protecting their kind from the foul perfumed folk that inhabited the large cities across the lands. AH-HA! Now we got a story.
So what can be done to solve this problem. NOT A DAMN THING. Keep yo punkass in Tram where it belongs. Can't take the heat stay out of the damn kitchen. And for God's sake leave a guild that has truly played the part of Orcs to the upmost alone. Quit trying to pursue a quick dime, and quit trying to dispose of another groups fun and purpose for your own personnal gain.
There is one other thing that can be done. get your friends together and go to the Fort ready to rock and roll. Be ready to bring more of a fight than what you were led to believe and take on the Orcs, but don't point your finger and cry because you can't get your way.
But on another sad note, I have heard that the Orcs have been overran upon this initall "get new loot" deal. Too many tamers and players have overran the fort, making the Orc's lives difficult, so afterall, I guess the Orc's are going to suffer for now. So when you really look at the big picture. Who is the griefers now? The Orcs? Or the other players overrunning the Roleplayed Orcs who have always played in the forts?
With Sage leaving I hear OSI is in the market for a new Lead Desinger. Whatever you do OSI, don't hire me, because a lot of folks would be left pissed off over what I would do. Or shall I say a lot of immature, selfish, no good, crying players would be left pissed off over what I would do. Yeah that sounds better.
Grief or Roleplay all you want here.
Later |
^ top-Christ I wish I could sleep till next century.....
[Anon] May 20 - 11:05 PM EDT | Hail to thee citizen of Britannia, how can I help thee?
The title says it all......it's been a crazy week and it will keep getting worst. I'm doing my MCSE, A+, CNE and CCNA courses/exams so it ain't about to get easier.....for those of you who understand what these titles are/mean, then you know why I'm in such a bad mood right now....those that don't, well, ignorance is bliss.
On to some UO related stuff now. Why is it that OSI's idea of quests and developping a more tighly knit community usually involves a new item that can be obtained a very limited number of ways and generally causes an uproar in said community? Are we, as a UO crowd, not already anti-social towards ourselves enough already that you guys need to bloody add fuel to the fricking fire??? I mean, what is up with these stupid quests and orc masks and shit? The Orc camps have turned into freaking kill stealing, bone looting, greif playing nightmare, and this is worst that the shit that happens in Deceit too!
Now we've got the non-tamers accusing the tamers of hogging the spawn(some do, some don't), the tamers telling the non-tamers that they have a right to hunt as well, and the whole general populace of UO in a freaking uproar. Well, here's a newsflash to the twink, 70/70, mare riding, ranger-armour/deamon bone wearing, ice staff holding, factions title showing, d3wD sPeAkInG Trammel Britain Bank posing tamers out there: You suck. Seriously. I shit you not. You suck. You poor bastards never get out of town unless it's to camp efreets for deamon bone, bloods for the titles and now orc spawns for the masks. I mean, I know you all have a total absence of skills, and those "The Great Lord Twink, Adept Stoic" pretty much prove it, but I mean sheesh, come on.
Do you really need 3 dragons in tow at the Yew Orc fort? Are orcs such terribly powerful creatures that you need the combined power of 3 dragons to kill them? Are you so afraid of those unwashed, smelly and foul looking orcs that once you spot one you are heard casting An Lor Xen? I have a solution for you all....tell mommy and daddy that those big bad orcs are coming to get ya, and cancel your accounts and go back to the sandbox with the other kiddies and try to tame them with your l33t SkIlLz.
And to OSI, please, I mean, would you please put more thought in your future community events? I don't mind this idea of Orc masks but how about next time you make it so that they aren't concentrated in a few inches of real estate so that all of us OTHER people who, like, pay our $10 bucks a month too could like, well, play??? My mother used to say something when I was a child...she'd say that unless I had enough Popsicles to go around that I was NOT going to get one because it would, like, cause a major PK fest and I was NOT about to let my next door neighbour loot MY bones for a lick of the Popsicle.....
Maybe there's a lesson in that for OSI? Hmmmmmmmmm.............
Fare thee well and good luck in thy travels |
^ top-Sword and Fist
[Nieves] May 20 - 7:09 PM EDT | I just spent yesterday and today reading a Dungeons & Dragons release titled Sword and Fist. This makes the old Fighter's Handbook look like a kindergardener's ABC book. It's got alot of new "Prestige" classes (character kits for the 2nd Edition Crowd), some new Feats, as well as descriptions of how some combat situations would work.
A few of the Feats I liked were Rapid Reload, Throw anything (Jackie Chan comes to mind), Eagle Claw Attack (KIAI!), Pain Touch, Power Lunge, and Remain Conscious.
Some of the Prestige Classes of mention were the Duelist, Ravager, Drunken Master (yeah baby), Cavalier (it's back!), Gladiator, Halfling Outrider, and the VERY sweet classes, Lasher and Master of Chains.
If you wish, go to Wizards of the Coast website and order the books from them and check out the other products they have for your pleasure.
If Never Winter Nights includes this new information, or a way for DM "Server Masters" to integrate these features, the game will be even beyond what's everyone is expecting it to be.
Hasta. |
^ top-I'm baaackk...
[Eric] May 19 - 10:58 PM EDT | ...well, sort of. In case you noticed, I haven't been around lately, with the main reason being that I have recently moved. If you have ever moved, you will agree that it's a bitch. Anyways, I moved on Tuesday, and it's taken until today for AT&T to hook up my damn phone lines. They (AT&T's @home cable service) have yet to install my internet cable, and I hate using 56k dial-up. Therefore, I still won't be around quite as much until my cable connection is up.
News? Well, yeah, I found this over at UO Stratics under the "Great Lakes News" section:
Dracul sent me a scroll describing his encounter with a new creature in the realm. An Orcish Avenger! It was traveling with several orc lords, a few orcs and an ettin or two. Use great care when dealing with these creatures. As they were reported to be quite strong. Much stonger than one would expect.
I am awaiting more details now. And shall forward them to the community as soon as possible.
~Barth VanDorn
I haven't read much, but I'm assuming that this goes along with the whole new orc mask addition to the game. If anyone gets further info. on this monster, you can feel free to e-mail me and I'll post anything that sounds interesting.
And right now, I should probably go refresh my houses.....that is, if they're still standing. ::prays::
Cya later. |
^ top-UO Players Will Never Be Happy
[Gator] May 18 - 1:32 PM EDT | I was reading through some forums, and I saw this. I admit, OSI has made more than their fair shake of mistakes. Ok that was a slight understatement. But why do you still play UO? Because simply there is NOTHING better!! Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch, moan moan moan moan moan moan. This same whining and crying that earned us UO:R. The same whining and crying that has probably gotten UO3D and Vet Rewards rushed into existence. OSI heres a clue, screw the whiners. Dont ever mention anything again, dont leak any more stories of possible game enhancements to the public, nothing. You give them glacial staves, special weapons, deamon bone armor, and now Orc Masks, and what happens? People start to whine and cry. Let me add this, I am not big on roleplaying or thee and thouin, I am a PowerGamer. If I can GM a mage in 7 days on a boat going slow forward, so be it, I will do it. If a player chooses to GM his Melee skills by progressing through farm animals and ridding the world of lizardman, hey thats his game not mine. BUT, the ShadowClan is probably one of the BEST roleplaying communities ever played in UO. If anybody deserved anything it's these fellas. They hang out, no scratch that. For all intensive purposes they LIVE in the Orc forts. They speak in Orc, they play it to the hilt. And they DESERVED this. Never have I seen an Orc on the UO forums, whining about anything. They may have asked for this, sure. But if you asked me they earned it. Who's next in line? Adam Ant and GUL if you ask me. Damn right OSI give GUL the opportunity to get lich masks. They are in the same boat, they play the game, they play their part and provide enjoyment for hundreds of players. Quit ruining fun for other players. Play your damn Game and quit your bitchin. And if you dont like it, dont let the Ok to Disconnect screen kick you in the ASS!!
Later |
^ top-Halloween In May?
[Gator] May 18 - 1:00 PM EDT | A new item has been introduced to the game, now whether or not this will rule out a possible Ocr invasion is beyond me, but still this will be very nice for the Roleplaying Orc Guilds out there that like to set up shop in the Orc Forts. Orc Mages have been found carrying "a mask of orcish kin". The mask is green and when worn will allow you to walk among the Orcs and not be attacked. But be warned if you attack an Orc with the mask on it Blows Up and cause damage to you. Also when you put one on it lowers your karma. From what it seems finding one is about as hard as finding Deamon Armor or Glacial Staves. So go ahead and take a wild guess that these puppies are selling for a pretty price right now. My advice? Save your money, and dont buy one. Instead go get some and sell them for alot of cash. Or you can even get one, your nightmare, two White Wyrms, Raner Armor, and a Glacial Staff and hang out at Brit bank in trammel and be l33t. Your choice. I can tell you what I am going to do. I am going to enjoy the non-camped spawn spots since all the tamers can now be found at orc forts across Sosaria. Ohh and just a reminder, you may not be attacked by Orcs, but Ettins still like hummies.
Later
***************************UPDATE***************************
Calandryll has some more intereting info on the whole orc quest. Some important things to take note of are these:
I won't give anything away, but let's just say that all fighting styles (tamers too) were thought about. Later in the scenario, I'd advise tamers to think twice before bringing their favorite pets to certain places. :)
Mages, fighters, bards, etc. will be in for some surprises too.
-Calandryll
Designer, Ongoing Content
Remember also that this is but one piece of the puzzle. There will be many more. As someone else said, there is always a huge clamor to get a new item that often dies down over time. The orc mask is hardly the only content we have in store.
-Calandryll
Designer, Ongoing Content
You can read the entire topic here.
All I can say is MUAHAHAHAHA Tamers are gonna get theres. ROFL!
Later (I swear this time) |
^ top-Lumberjacking or Poisoning...
[Galahad] May 18 - 8:49 AM EDT | There comes a point in your UO career where you realize an important fact:
You only have so many character slots and not enough money to pay Satan (OSI) 10 dollars a month for another account.
So I am in limbo now. What to do with my last character. He is :
GM Swords
GM Tactics
GM Magery (pretty close :) )
GM Anatomy
GM Healing
The other skills I am working on as we speak. Now my question you all the reader are : What is better on a character : Lumberjacking or Poisoning.
Lumberjacking has its many positives. The damage bonus, the ability to wax mages in 2 hits etc etc. Poisoning has its advantages too. To people on their toes, to make them use those G Cures etc etc. I have no idea what to do.
So I am asking for your help. Email me suggestions / ideas / experiences you have had with your characters. I need direction people. Thanks in advance.
Ill post in a few weeks after I have your input and credit those that helped me make my decision. |
^ top-After over a year of trying.
[Nieves] May 17 - 2:50 PM EDT | I finally hear from OSI.
Your best bet is through Leilo or Mel. I’m not in community anymore.
-Calandryll
Designer, Ongoing Content
Ok, I am happy. Someone, (thank you Cal) wrote back acknowledging receipt of my email and UOPG's existance.
Hasta.
|
^ top-The Orcs are Coming!! The Orcs are Coming!!
[Gator] May 17 - 8:45 AM EDT | Recently I have taking up the Bard Profession on a Shard near you and I am loving it. No essay as of yet since rounding this character off to maximum potential will take me a bit. Afterall Provocation is Hard, as it should be. In fact I believe they should make it harder, make it difficulty based for all the shards just like Siege. Why? Because right now I have GM Music, 85 Magery and 77 Provo and I am running around Destard like its cool making the Big Bucks. And the Character is ony 5 DAYS OLD!! Shadow Wyrms are evil, and don't worry, soon they will be added to our PvM section for all to enjoy. But yes make Provo difficulty based. Like you need to be GM to provo Balrons and Ancient Wyrms. These creatures are vast in intelligence (hence the high mana levels they maintain). Therefore dancing around them playing a flute wearing leotards with 65 Provo should get you laughed at by them and then eaten. Imagine that if you will.
"You see pEtEr pAn Provoking Lord of the Abyss on a mongbat."
"You see Lord of the Abyss Chuckle."
"You see Lord of the Abyss Stomping a new ass in pEtEr pAn."
pEtEr pAn: OoO Oo OOoOo (Translation: Rez me Thou?)
"You see Lord of the Abyss ROFL!!"
I won't get in on taming yet. But the levels there should be adjusted as well. Whats that Gator? Tired of Twinks? Your damn skippy.
At the rate things are going they should make everyones house spawn capable. Maybe like on the menu you can turn on a certain spawn in your house. So like every 2 minutes you get a Balron spawn or something. Because things have now reached the level of beyond crazy. Let me tell you what a true rare is... A true Rare is a Newb at Brit bank begging for gold. IT'S TOO EASY TO GET!! Better yet, just make a new house add-on. ATM Machines. Sheesh. All dungeons should be outfitted with a new NPC. I read this somewhere I think it was in our forums but why not setup a HotDog vendor at all the famous camp spawns. Hell I would love to set that vendor up, I would get rich I tell you. I did a T-Hunt for the very first time the other day as well with a good friend of mine. Damn that was fun. I just sat on the boat and provo'd away. Great fun. And I can't wait to do it again.
Let's see whats going on in the news.
Rumors are flying around that Orcs are getting ready to mount a vicious attack on Sosaria. Hey I am all about it. If anyone was around during the Trinsic Invasions last Jan/Feb that was AWESOME!! Course I would rather have the undead attacking again, but I can live with Orc's I guess. But supposedly what I can take from reading different posts is that these will not be your normal run of the mill Orc's. But we will see.
Check out the Ultima Online Merchant Alliance. They have some great topics on vendor running and things of that nature. Another excellent site for Pricing and Merchant releated topics is The Blackdagger.
New Farming Skill? No it's not for real, but check it out, I like it. Now if they could find away to incorporate that in with Cooking and Alchemy to make a true Alchemist, that would rock. But still a good idea. I for one am sick of reg shopping. It has gone past the point of being old.
Vet Rewards?
Hi folks,
I just wanted to take a moment and give everyone an update on reward testing. So far things have been going well. With all your help we have been able to identify three small issues and I’m happy to say we have eliminated them. Keep it up!
Prophet
Lead Programmer - Ultima Online
One Day... One Day...
Remember the old Fire Isle Days. You know the days when stepping out on your porch meant insta-death from the incredible large spawn that you would be overwhelmed by? We were talking Fire Eles, Earth Eles, Water Eles, Orc Lords, Orc Mages, Ogres, Trolls, and Harpies, and every other creature you dont want to run into with your newbie carpenter. Well it has been turned off for some time now, but alas its not forgotten..
No decision has been made. If you remember, the spawn was out of control. If turned back on with the faster and more efficient spawner, it would produce unpredictable results. It would not be a simple flipping of a switch, I'm afraid.
-Hanse
UO Live Designer
Will it ever be turned on? Will Vet rewards ever live up to their name? Will Orcs rule Sosaria with an iron fist? Will Gator ever shutup?
Later |
^ top-Remove Stat Loss!! Or Something...
[Gator] May 16 - 7:44 AM EDT | Ok, ok, ok, I am a known Stratics Thief. But see they got it from the Ultima Yahoogroups Email Group. So technically speaking I just borrowed what they had already borrowed or something. Well anyways this actually is one of the better articles I have read from OSI. So without furthur delay, for your reading pleasure I present to you, Sage, the Lead Designer of UO, on the issues of Stat Loss, PK's, and Virtues:
Stat loss. Those two words strike fear into the heart of every PK in the game. To understand why stat loss was put into the game, you need to analyze the past of Ultima Online in an objective manner.
Originally, the ability to kill an opponent in UO was a way for the players to police themselves. It was a survival of the fittest plan, where those people who bothered you could be killed by you. However, you could also be killed by people you weren't bothering, or kill people who weren't bothering you. The system did not try to divine intent, which is impossible for a game to do.
Those who did not wish to be killed could stay in towns, which were basically safe areas. The problem, of course, was that towns were not very interesting places. Other than buying things from the NPC vendors, the only thing to do in town was bank. Even the bank was a paranoia zone, because while murdering was outlawed in towns, sneaky thieves could steal with very little worry of being caught. Players were more wide-eyed and paranoid than a mob stool pigeon on crack in the Sopranos house. At that time, you had to yell "guards" for a thief to be caught, unless an NPC noticed it and yelled for you. Thus many people created the macro "Vendor, buy, bank, guards!" Even towns weren't safety zones, and UO was basically a PvP world.
So what did a PvP world really mean? Basically, it boiled down to might makes right. As most of you know, in UO, might is equal to time. The time you invest in your character usually means your character will become better (usually being the operative word, since some people don't spend their time on character growth). Thus those with more time to spend in the world could pretty much beat on (gank / r0xx0r) those who spent less time in the world, or those just entering the world. This, of course, created some pretty severe problems. As the game matured, you started to whittle down your playerbase because new players could not join the game without spending a majority of the time looking at a screen with more black and white than the first season of Gilligan's Island. Some new players were tenacious and willing to stick it out, but many weren't. Even older players got tired of getting beat on because they could not exact retribution.
Why could they not exact retribution? Kal Ort Por. The recall spell basically allowed any person intent on killing another to escape with less mana than it cost to begin the fight in the first place. By the time word that PKs were around reached the eyes of an anti (someone who enjoyed hunting PKs), the murderers would be gone, leaving only a pile of bodies and some "OoooO Oo Ooing" ghosts to mark that they had ever been in the area.
How bad was it really? Well, since I was a GM in the "old" days, I can tell you that one or two PKs could cause 200 calls in one night. Imagine that every call takes five minutes to answer on average. That is 16 man hours. Basically, one guy could cost you four headcount for the evening, and a lot of pissed off people. It didn't matter that killing was part of the game, and should not have necessitated a GM call; people called into the queue anyway. It didn't matter if most people were reasonable and wouldn't kill everyone in sight; it only took one dedicated sociopath to create havoc.
At the time, the dev team responded with the new reputation system. They were under constraints to use a small amount of memory when creating a system to stem the flow of murderers. The idea of innocents=blue / and murderers=red was the plan they came up with. Still, players learned to skirt this system and use the boundaries to exploit every possible loophole. Eventually the system had to be modified to plug the holes, and the complexity grew. If players did actually become Red, they could make another character, and simply use that character to bank and go to town for them. (Townie mules.) Really, being a murderer wasn't hard; it was quite easy. There were still no consequences that could not be avoided. Thus the idea of stat loss came up. Those who remember the early stages of UO may remember that stat loss was actually an original penalty for dying. Of course, realities of the internet changed the original design as people died due to lag, or at times, bugs. It was felt that loss of items and stats was too severe. However, the idea of stat loss was brought back up as a way to curb murder. People were voluntarily murdering other people, so it stood to reason that if they continued along that path, they would have to pay the penalty. What this really stopped were those people who went out and murdered, at will, any moving target. With the new system, if the PK died, they could not simply go back out and be at the top of their game. Basically, stat loss was effective at reducing the number of sociopaths from the game by costing them time. Still, even this did not really give those players who wanted nothing to do with murderers a place of reprieve. This is why Trammel was introduced. Trammel gave those people who did not like murdering a place to be safe. (Note: This is by no means a complete history and some motivations and facts have been left out in the name of brevity, which Cynthe would remind me is a good thing.)
Finally we get to the question that many have asked: why not remove stat loss on Felucca, since the introduction of Trammel allowed people to escape murderers? Right now, Felucca is still a place people can go to explore and socialize, and they can feel reasonably assured that they won't get ganked ten seconds after stepping through the Facet Gate, leaving them staring at a black and white screen. Many people still have their homes and towns in Felucca. Removing stat loss would change all of this. The same problems that existed in UO before the split exist now. If we removed stat loss, we would simply be subjecting Felucca to the old times where people were free to kill everyone in sight. That means that very few people would ever go to Felucca. Far fewer than go there now. Felucca would become a wasteland of no visitors and the space there would be wasted.
I am now going to express my personal opinion on the subject. This in no way implies that any of the things I mention are going to implemented in UO at any time. So if you quote me out of context, you suck.? The problem wasn't the game mechanics of the system, the issue is that player to player interactions are social and require social fixes, not mechanical ones. Murdering was allowed for at least these two reasons:
1. It served as a form of player justice, something Tyrant might call the punch in the nose factor. You are far less likely to be a taunting moron if someone can end your foul mouth with a sword in the head. Taunting is somewhat less annoying when it is only OOOOoooOOOO.
2. It gave people a reason to band together. When you have a threat to your existence in the form of a sociopath, the way to solve it is to group together to get rid of the sociopath.
#1 failed because the outlaws grew stronger faster than those who were devoted to justice. #2 failed because people could not band together to form a posse if outlaws could always get away. What is incumbent to be done in the future is to look at social methods for solving social problems.
What kind of social methods? For instance, if someone is bothering you, rather than killing them, you could "tag" them with an opinion. Of course, that opinion could be given in a positive light as well as a negative. People who are thought of highly would have a little bit more say in your reputation, just as those who are thought of negatively would have less say or none.
Your reputation should carry over with you across any character on that shard. Your actions impact the community, therefore you should be subject to all of your actions in that community. You can't escape your reputation. Of course, all of this would have to be tracked carefully, so a guild of griefers couldn't tag any one person they didn't like and make them suffer. And even more importantly, getting a good reputation should have rewards associated with it. Being Honorable is a really good thing.
Frankly, I feel combat should be moved into another place all together. Combat should be a badge of honor. Imagine a situation where you could only complete certain quests, gain items, etc. if you had Valor. Now imagine that Valor could only be gained if you agreed to participate in PvP. The more you win, the more Valor you receive. To gain more Valor, you would always have to take on people with greater or equal Valor. You could not take on someone with no Valor. The idea would be to encourage PvP without necessitating it, and to decouple it from one's social reputation.
Another possible solution would be to make PvP combat more similar to PvM in tactics, so when players do try out PvP, it won't be something they can't be competitive at because they don't understand undocumented tricks. An example of an undocumented trick is trapped pouches. No PvP player worth their salt leaves home without them, yet many players don't even know why they would have them. Some console games do a great job of this, educating people into tactics gradually. Of course, this means monsters would have to use the same tactics players use.
So there are some ideas as to what can be done in the future. As I said, before stat loss could ever be removed, it would be crucial to have a better system in place. Just removing stat loss would not make Felucca into the great land of yesteryear. It would turn it into a ghostland. The ideal I hold is that one day there would be no more split, per se. The Virtues would bind the people and would reward good behavior. But I'm definitely an old school virtue nut.
Let me give credit where credit is do and throw a link out to Stratics.
And then another link out to our glorious forum so you can like discuss Stat Loss among many others while drinking your morning coffee, Ale, or what have thee. Or something...
Later |
^ top-Some more math from Professor Nieves.
[Nieves] May 15 - 9:39 PM EDT | So, you pay 9.99/month, I pay 9.99 a month, everyone pays 9.99/month right?
They say they have over 250,000 subscribers right?
Let's see now: 9.99 x 250,000 = 2,497,500 a month.
Now the yearly gross is: 2,497,500 x 12 = 29,970,000.
Nice hunk of change huh? Now, will someone FUCKING tell me why OSi can't afford to have a server that doesn't go down twice a fucking week!????
::throws his keyboard at the Great Lakes server::
Update: Due to server problems, the Great Lakes Shard is currently unavailable . We are currently working to resolve this issue and expect the shard to be available in approximately 1.5 hours.
Ah, bite me.
Ok ok, maybe I am not being sympathetic. Maybe I am not being fair. Maybe I am just mad because OSI won't give me any play returning my emails. Maybe I am just mad because I hate hearing my GF bitch at me about the 300Celeron computer she plays on and how it's slow as fuck and always locks up (buy your own freaking computer dammit). Maybe I am just fed up with losing con every other day.
Maybe I just need to shut the hell up.
Update Part Duex: Well, um ::looks at his dinner in his hand with disdain then puts it in his mouth:: Great Lakes is back up again. ::goes to get the ketchup:: ::munch, chomp:: *gag*
Anyone know what goes good with shoe leather?
Hasta. |
^ top-Virus Alert.
[Lawyer] May 15 - 8:51 PM EDT | If you recieve any emails from anubis@hqgaming.com that look like fan fiction and contain an attachment, please do not open them. The hqgaming.com email server was hacked and the newbie hacker is sending out a PE_MAGISTR.DAM virus under the FOXHHELP.EXE attachment.
I see stupid people. I cant believe this wannaba is so stupid as to send the virus to my military email. Of course the server is going to detect it...
Fucking idiots. |
^ top-Nothing of Importance at it's Finest
[Ian] May 15 - 11:46 AM EDT | I guess I should, I don't know, update and stuff. Not much has been happening as of late. I'm still playing UO. More specifically, I've started a toon on Siege Perilous with the guild -S- from Chesapeake. They've been there exactly 3 weeks and have already begun to dominate. Hmm imagine that, another top guild from Chesapeake dominating a shard in what is supposed to be made up of the cream of the crop in pvp talent. I just got there last night. I'm going to bust out the old school powergaming skills and get my char to 6x in 2 weeks. Much thanks to Memnoch for all the help he's about to give me.
It sort of sucks building a character on SP. Thankfully, I have an old friend willing to help a brother out on the cashflow or it would be mucho hard going. But armed with 100k I will make my 6x mage. Like I said I started out last night, already have my character at 100 100 25 for proper skill building.
Upon completion I'm going to put up a "how to" on character building on SP for those that have been wanting to make the transition to something more challenging than what your current shard has to offer.
Ok that's it for UO, let's see what else is going on in the world. Tupac's new CD is out. I can't stand rap today, but damn, I wish he had lived a while longer. He was the epitomy of a great artist. You might not agree with his views but you couldn't deny that he was passionate about what he was talking about. People either loved or hated him. That, my friends, is an indicator of high art. I bought the CD. It's raw and full of energy, I only wish the guy could have stuck around long enough to grow and put all of that heart and soul into positive energy because he inspires thought and emotion, and that's why I did and still do like his music. You can read some more reviews of the album by clicking HERE
In other news, the movie I was in as an extra is coming out in a few weeks (May 25). It's gotten a lot of exposure and mixed reviews. The general consensus is that it has great visual and special effects but an uninvolved and uninspiring love story. (Guess Jerry should have given me Ben or Josh's role.) I'm sure he's kicking himself for that as we speak. ;o)
Need to feel better about yourself, or contemplate the horrific fact that somewhere, someone out there has nothing better to do with their time than look at what you’re about to see? *Shudders*
This caffeine induced update has been brought to you by the fine folks at Maxwell House, and paid for by my esteemed employers. Thank you to both.
|
^ top-Just because I hate seeing old stuff on the main page.
[Nieves] May 14 - 5:32 PM EDT | DeadOne emailed me about a "Gold Bridge" in the middle of nowhere. This is the location you get Telestormed too if the server you are on or trying to get too is full. At least that's what I have been told in the past. It was a explanation that fit the event at the time.
And it's annoying as hell as it drops you right smack in the middle of the front of the freaking Brit Graveyard. Nice if you are red or grey huh?
Also, Deady has a nice little link to an interview from an ex-Seer. I would link the Interview from here, but he needs to the links. So go give him Some Love.
Hasta. |
^ top-Ask Nieves first about your "banning"
[Galahad] May 11 - 9:22 PM EDT | Now to real stuff :
In the coming weeks I plan on making a guide / essay on the profession of "Player Killer". I will try to cover character creation, locations, tactics, reputation, style etc etc. For 2 months I was #1 on the Atlantic Murder Board, until I died -- because I was completely wasted in real life not because I suck.
I'd like to seriously suggest everyone start a disarm thief. I have written an essay on it and that same essay can be found in the essay section. Difficult huh? The main reason for this is profitability. Its really no cost to make / play the character yet asset inflows are amazing! 3 vanquishing weapons and 12 power weapons in two hours? Thats pretty sick.
I'll add some more after I can log onto chat.
Lates. |
^ top---Throws his keyboard against the wall--
[Nieves] May 11 - 9:01 PM EDT | 70,000 Gold.
5 Treasure Maps.
2 Silver Weapons.
Mace of Orc Thrashing.
2 Greater Heal Kegs created.
Acquired over 3k in regs to make the kegs.
That is what I did today before the shard warp.
Gee, any reason why I shouldn't be upset?
If you have a car that breaks down at least once a week, and you had a multi-million dollar budget, would you continue to drive that car? No, right? Well then, why the fuck do the Great Lakes servers continue to crash at least once weekly? Isn't someone reading the fucking server up/downtime reports? Or is someone taking the damn thing and hiding it? What the fuck is the problem over there dammit!??
Hasta. |
^ top-Pudnation
[Nieves] May 11 - 6:20 PM EDT | Some of you might remember Pudrick and his kick ass flash movies. Some of you might not even know what the freack I am talking about. Whichever group you are, go check them out. They are still funny as hell.
The Miner one is significant. Miners used to PKed all the time. You don't have to worry about that with Trammel. Isn't that special?
This Update was brought to you by MasterCard.
Hasta. |
^ top-I see stupid people.
[Nieves] May 11 - 12:26 PM EDT | They are everywhere. They don't know they are stupid. They just walk around like everyone else. You know that feeling when the hairs stand up on the back of your neck? That's them.
As you know, I listed some essay topics I was going to write about. After much deliberation, I don't think I write a few of them. Here is why.
UO Relationships.
I got to meet an in game "friend" in real life the other day (shout out to you Lady Cymoril) and she expressed her feelings on what in game relationships means to her and how upset she got when she got "played" by someone. At first I was thinking "here is the reason I don't get involved like that online or in game". As she got further into her tale, her eyes got watery and I thought she was going to lose it right there over the sushi she was having for lunch. I thought for a second and remembered something I said awhile back to some friends. Most of our life and it's "realities" is about perception. And if these people perceive these relationships to be a part of their reality, who am I to judge them?
I am not saying that I would all of a sudden agree with this type of "playstyle". I am saying is all you can do is support your friends if they play that way. If something bad happens, be their friend. If they are going to get two characters in game married (bleh), and you are invited, go with them and be happy for them. Again, I don't agree with it, but I will support my friends to the end. Hell, Watts doesn't agree with 1/2 the shit I do or say, but the idiota is there to say: "you fucked up" or, "it's cool man, don't sweat it". That's what real friends are for ::takes the 20 from Watts::
UO Greed
What is the point of even writing an essay like this? I had some recent experiences about asking for some friends to hook me up with shit or help me with some things, and know what? They showed their ass to me. But know what? I could care less because I am going to continue to be who I am. And there is nothing I could say that will change the minds of greedy people or people that feel everything is for Profit in game. Damn Ferengi motherflubbers. So, if I need some help, and you decide to charge me an arm and a leg for it, and we have been friends for awhile or guildmates, I will remember it. I might even remind that person next time they need help. Noone in game can accuse me of being a greedy bastard. Ask any of the folks that have gotten free statues, vanqs, supplies, etc. from me.
Note: What's funny, is that people I don't even know that well have helped me out more than those I know better or have known longer. Watts gave me 100k on Pacific and I didn't know his ass that well when I first started there. Another player gave me 2 near complete sets of Ranger Armor on Napa Valley (yes, I am on Napa; phear me) and some other rares on Great Lakes because I didn't have them. The 300k from the Ranger Armor helped alot buddy :) Thanks.
Some of you are wondering what the heck the quote in the beginning of this update have to do with what I just wrote? Well, people are stupid.
Case in point. Warrior is whacking the shit out of liches and was doing pretty good at it until said warrior got overconfident and a single lich ate that warrior. The warrior WAS 'Glorious Lady'. Wasn't when she got resed. The warrior was at the Lich Lords kicking the shit out of them without any problems. Even cutting through surrounding Liches like a hot knife through butter. The warrior earned her Lady title back. That warrior then hits Covetous liches this morning and popped in on 6 liches. She was doing fine until she realized there wasn't enough room to lead them around like there is in Deceit. Not too mention there are lots of other baddies floating around that dungeon. 4 Bone Knights is bad news. Deathmoan number 2 for the week. Luckily she kept her Lady title this time. I guess I can't say: "I don't die anymore". Yes, I was stupid.
I hung around and noticed a couple of bodies but no ghosts. I guess they won't be needing their stuff eh? In all, I believe there were 250 ingots worth of plate and "junk" weapons along with regs, and a treasure map. Will someone tell me why they need 500 bandages and all that other shit they carry? ::shrugs:: People are stupid.
UPDATE: I have been in the chat room and only few people showed. Lawyer informed me that the link on the page for the chat room is messed up. If you wish to go to the chat room, start up mIRC and connect to irc.stratics.com. Then go to the #uopowergamers room. I will probably schedule another chat for another day.
Hasta. |
^ top-Here's your chance to get into the mind of a counselor!
[Anon] May 11 - 11:35 AM EDT | Hail to thee fair citizen of Britannia, how can I assist thee?
Well, after thinking on how best to relate to you all my experiences in UO as a counselor, I have decided that I will use a Q&A format and simply let you all e-mail me with a question or 2 and I will simply answer them all off and post the final results sometime early next week.
So get to your mail programs, people, and send in the questions! I will not be accepting submissions after Sunday evening, May 13th. Hope to see you all ask away!
Fare thee well, and good luck in thy travels! |
^ top-UO Volunteer / Player luncheon in the works
[Anon] May 10 - 6:12 PM EDT | Hail to thee fair citizen of Britannia, how can I assist thee?
Tigger, former Training Lead Counselor has sent in this notice for a UO Volunteers and Players luncheon for sometime in August.
Hello Everyone,
With events popping up all over in UO from players that want to show their appreciation for the endless hours we have all put into the programs. A few of us felt it only fitting that we try and all get together in one common place to meet in real life.
Some details are tentative right now but we will definitely have this event in August!
UO Volunteer / Player Luncheon
Where: Virginia
Date: August 2001
How long: This will be a 3 day event starting on a Friday and ending on a Sunday night. (You don't have to attend all of the events)
Friday: Dinner
Saturday: All day Event with a common meeting place to get together at night
Sunday: Brunch and possibly other local activities for those sticking around.
Who can attend? Anyone that has ever volunteered, players of UO and their families.
Local Airports: Dulles, BWI and Reagan airports are all in the vicinity. Southwest.com has great airline specials for those in the US starting at $60.00 Round trip.
If enough people show interest we will also work out details for a day at either Kings Dominion, Water Country/Busch Gardens or a tour of Washington DC.
The date will be announced within the next two weeks, we would like to get a feel for how many people will be attending so arrangements can be made to accommodate everyone.
If you are interested in attending this event and reuniting with past and present friends email: uofriends@aol.com
Former Training Lead Tigger
Casseandra of CLOWN guild (cats, euro & drach)
Thanks for the info, Tigger! This might be a very interesting event!
Fare thee well, and good luck in thy travels! |
^ top-We Can Help Thee
[Ian] May 10 - 3:13 PM EDT | Well, with the recent termination of the volunteer program in UO there is a void that we here at UOPG think we can fill. What we have here at this website is a huge group of UO talent. I have never had a question that one of these updaters could not answer. Hell I've never had a question that Vasilias couldn't answer, or if he couldn't he would find out and have the answer within 5 minutes. What I'm saying is, who needs a counselor, when you've got UOPG?
What is currently in the works is we're designing a system to have someone in our chat feature 24 hours a day, wether that be an updater, or a volunteer from our reader base, to answer any question you might have. As always you can send any of us an email and we'll answer, but what I'm striving for here is real time help for people who need immediate answers.
At this point if you think you've got what it takes to be a UOPG counselor email Nieves and tell him why you would make a good one. In the meantime I highly recommend emailing my good friend Vasilias with any questions as he knows this game like no one else I've met.
We look upon this time as just another way we can help the UO community. |
^ top-UOPG Chat
[Nieves] May 10 - 1:01 PM EDT | Ok, as everyone knows, I am hardly EVER in the chat room we have here. I still strive to change that.
That said, I will be in the Chat Room tomorrow at noon CST time for an hour long "pow wow" with the readers of the website. Come one, come all, and have some fun with Nieves.
Hasta. |
^ top-A Counselor will be on call tonight!
[Anon] May 10 - 12:52 PM EDT | Hail to thee, citizen of Britannia
Ok, well, after deciding it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself, I and a few other Ex-Counselors have decided that the reason we did what we did (counseled) is for the players. So, regardless of EA/OSI's disbanding of the Volunteer Programs for the North American and European shards, there WILL be counseling available for players.
What I know I know because of my time playing the game, not from what OSI has given me. What I gave back to the players was an honest answer, and it made many mad, but it was the truth, and I think I served them well in doing so, and will do so again.
Starting tonight, I will be counseling on my usual counseling times and I will provide all the help players may ask....but please remember, we have no more special powrs, so we can't do crap anymore. :) But my knowledge of the game remains.
Catskills Shard, 8PM EST, Trammel Facet, Britain West Bank. Look for a character with a BLUE ROBE and hopefully a blue dyed leather helmet with the name ASRC Cavalier. Drop by and chat. Ask questions. But please, I will STILL not be giving my robe.
PS: No longer being bound by the TOS, I can now say what I feel like, so no dumb questions or swearing at me....I bite! :)
Take care and fare thee well! |
^ top-Uh oh.
[Eric] May 10 - 7:21 AM EDT |
Richard Garriott will be onhand at this year's E3 to introduce the gaming world to his newly formed Destination Games and to announce the company's first title. The announcement is planned for Thursday afternoon at an off-site location.
No word at this time about what the game will be or whether it's related to the "Game X" he hinted at over a year ago. On hand with Lord British will be Robert Garriott and Starr Long.
Article: Garriott to unveil new game at E3
I'm scared. |
^ top-Everyone's talking about UO3D
[Nieves] May 9 - 9:30 PM EDT | Even DeadOne.
Here is what he wrote me via ICQ: spent some time ranting today about how UO3D sucked major ass.. all the while UO was shitting on its Volunteers and drop kicking them out the door. I updated about that too.. it was rather ironic how the timing of my rant and that happened on the very same day...
He wrote a very good post about UO3D. I recommend you read it. If you have time, check out his Guild News as well. They got some killer screen shots there.
Hasta. |
^ top-Greetings, bittersweet though it is
[Anon] May 9 - 7:21 PM EDT | Hail to thee, fair citizens of Britannia! How can I assist thee today?
You all have no idea how many times I have said that line in 2 years of counseling. Well, I said it for the last time today.
I won't get into anything about that right now cause, well, I don't feel like it and I want to write something significant and from the heart, not dripping in DP from my Katana.
So, hello to you all, I am Ex-Counselor Anonymous, and I will be updating here at UOPG. If you have any questions related to UO, drop me a line and I'll expedite an answer ASAP.
Fare thee well and good luck in thy travels! |
^ top-Counselor Anonymous is now a part of UOPowergamers.
[Nieves] May 9 - 7:10 PM EDT | Since he got fired by OSI, I figured I would give him a job. And since he likes working for free anyway, it works out just fine for me.
Send him lots of love. I do (don't be jealous Watts).
Hasta. |
^ top-The picture speaks for itself.
[Eric] May 9 - 7:02 PM EDT | 
Screenshot courtesy of UO Stratics.
[This monument can be found just east of the North Britain Counselors Guild Hall, in both Trammel & Felucca.]
Cya later. |
^ top-Oh snap! Adam emailed me.
[Nieves] May 9 - 4:47 PM EDT | I feel so LOVED.
The Adventures of Adam Ant - episode #83
Hail dark friends,
I come to you today with another tale of adventure and conquest.
While protecting the lich that dwell deep within the caves of Wind, I spotted an unusual site. A mage, one who's use of trickery was securing him much fame and gold!
Well my friends, I too am cunning, and can deal with such an intruder.
Come and read my latest tale of adventure and learn the ways of the Guardian.
But beware, all who enter these dungeons in search of fame and fortune risk their very lives for a handful of gold.
These are not some tales of fancy, but the true Adam Ant
To get all your minds off this counseling thing, I suggest going to check out the next installment in the Adventures of Adam Ant.
Hasta. |
^ top-There You Go. All Is Fixed Now. Take Care.
[Gator] May 9 - 4:31 PM EDT | Tested the new "Help" system. Started at 60 and was answered in about 15 minutes. No Counselor showed up. I had a vendor I needed to be removed. As I was typing a message I looked at my UO screen to see the Vendor was on the front lawn with a message from the GM in the corner: "There You Go. All Is Fixed Now. Take Care."
So whats going on? I have no clue, but the service was quick. Now if only it happens during peak times. We shall see.
Later |
^ top-Well, not ALL...
[Eric] May 9 - 4:16 PM EDT | For clarification:
The Companion program may be modified as a result of these decisions, but we will continue to support as best we can the ability for players to help other players.
-Cynthe
OSI had made it sound like ALL volunteers were being flushed out, but they are actually still holding onto the Companion program. ::sighs:: I still don't get it. ;)
Cya later. |
^ top-NA NA NA NA, NA NA NA NA Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye!!
[Gator] May 9 - 1:59 PM EDT | In the coming weeks and months, Ultima Online players will begin to see changes to the UO experience that will affect and impact the game in many ways as we update systems, introduce new content, and continue to grow and expand the world of Britannia.
In addition to systems and design changes, we will address how Origin supports Volunteer programs. Effective today, May 9th, Ultima Online will no longer host Interest, Quality Assurance, and Counselor Volunteer programs in North America and Europe. Though it’s a difficult decision for us, it is based on the reassessment of our online, company-wide business structure as we address growth and changes in the online entertainment industry. As a result, volunteer programs throughout all of Electronic Arts have been affected by this reassessment. This decision does not affect the existing volunteer programs in Japan, nor does it currently affect the Companion program.
Whether answering questions, creating intriguing and amusing events, or aiding their fellow players in any number of ways, these volunteers have enriched their own Ultima Online experience and helped fulfill the Ultima Online experience for so many other members of the UO community. A permanent acknowledgement to these volunteers will be placed on both facets of each affected shard, located near the Britain Counselor Hall.
Over the last several years, players volunteering in Ultima Online have assisted their fellow players with great creativity, aptitude, and grace, and our thanks go out to all who have participated in these programs since their inception. This commitment to UO, as well as the commitment of hundreds of thousands of players worldwide, is the foundation on which we hope to grow and support the game far into the future.
Well what can I say. I have mixed emotions about this. But mainly I just cant wait for this soap opera to come on TV: "Austin" More drama than "Dynasty" could ever have.
You can Volunteer your remarks here. And I promise, we won't let you go.
Later |
^ top-So you want to "nerf" taming?
[Eric] May 7 - 10:10 PM EDT | Browsing through the OSI Discussion Board, I noticed Malantus of OSI addressed the issue of nerfing the taming skill.
Well, part of the reality of tamers and pet classes within games is that the player/character basically inherits the ability of whatever pet they are controlling. In some games, this is dealt with by actual "class" structures that limit the character's strength/power/ability. In UO, that isn't the case. You can be a grandmaster swordsman, grandmaster mage,and grandmaster tamer all in one character. Added to the character is the ability of the tamed creature. For example, lets say you tamed a dragon. In essense, you now have strength over 1000, as well as the AC and so forth. Because the player doesn't have to be weak to ofset this massive increase in power, there is a bit of imbalance in there. The player can still wear plate, still cast level 8 spells, or still have grandmaster swordsmanship while controlling one of the most powerful creatures in UO. So does that mean "nerfing" the skill? No, not exactly. What we said was that we want to see if there can be a balance reached, and to consider bit those that are affected by this skill as well as those that use the skill. What suggestions would you have to better balance taming? I'd like to hear them.
Melantus
Online Community Coordinator
Ultima Online
Melantus@uo.com
If you feel strongly about this issue and have constructive ideas or suggestions of how to balance taming better, please do e-mail him, and maybe your voice will be heard. I'm also curious as to what you think would really fix and balance taming. Post your thoughts here.
Cya later. |
^ top-HELL MOTHERFLABING YEAH!
[Nieves] May 7 - 8:54 PM EDT | I found my old Hammer Stories! WoOT! :) Kisses and love to Lawyer :)
I will be editing and reintroducing them later. Like, Christmas sometime.
Oh, and before I forget: *Watts’ note: Fuck off Jinx
::ROTFLMAO::
Hasta. |
^ top-Wah
[Nieves] May 7 - 4:25 PM EDT | First, some background. I was sent alink to a thread by our very own Mr. Gator.
A few weeks ago, I posted something I probably shouldn't have. It was a PK In Trammel Bug. I should've posted saying there is one where you can be Player Killed in Trammel, but not how to do it. That's my mistake. UOPG prides itself on being a Bug Free Site. I should've checked with Counselor Anon before posting it. My bad.
To Aledra and the rest over at those boards, this isn't UOPG's style and I apologize. I also apologize to OSI for posting something like this. I made an agreement with an OSI rep months ago NOT to post things like this and I did. I hope my apology means something, or that they are even listening. I mean, I haven't heard from this guy since the first (and last) time I talked to him and I wonder if he is even working at OSI anymore. Would this agreement even be valid anymore? Well, I stuck by part of the agreement since I gave my word on it.
I have emailed Melantus, Calyndryll (sp?) and other OSI email addresses to try and get a direct line with OSI so I can verify information. Have I heard from them? Nope.
Even though UOPG is a popular website (5k+ hits a day easy), I assume those people at OSI do not deem us important enough to develop a relationship with. Why OSI doesn't deem UOPG important enough to reply to my emails nor provide me with a contact up at their headquarters just to avoid this kind of thing in the future is beyond me. Hmmm...why should they contact me or develop a relationship? They have Stratics, right? Right.
No, I don't agree with everything OSI does. Nor should I have to. But I care about the game, and I love Ultima Online. Why do you think I took the time to find good people (Warlord, Tapion, Lawyer, et al) to make this site attractive and easier to navigate as well as continuing to make it informative.
Also, I moved UOPG to MD's Servers to reach a bigger audience. Some people think I did it for money. Well, yes and no. You see, I don't get paid for this. Nor does any of the other updaters or programmers here at UOPG. It's not that we don't want to, it's just that we don't. We do it first and foremost because we love this game and we want to share all our knowledge with as many UO players as we can.
Do I blame them for my fuck up? Hell no. I blame me. I wasn't thinking. But I sure as hell wish they would realize we care about this game and give us a resource to take care of this bullshit in the future.
With that said, I am asking anyone that has any concerns, comments, or questions about UOPowergamers to email me or any of the other updaters. I will forward them to Counselor Anonymous and see if he can get them answered for us.
Again, I apologize for posting HOW a bug works. It won't happen again.
Hasta. |
^ top-Back by Popular Demand.
[Nieves] May 7 - 1:32 PM EDT | The Treasure Hunter.
I will rewrite this thing. Part 1 is a synopsis on the Treasure Hunter Templates. Part 2 is how to build your hunter. Part 3 is playing that Treasure Hunter.
Part 1: The Treasure Hunter Templates
In our skills section, we have a Fisherman/Treasure Hunter Template that is pretty tight. I say it's "tight" because it takes care of two character types. You have the Fisherman portion to take care of getting Nets, MiBs, and level 1-3 Maps. Then you have the Treasure Hunter Portion (Lockpicking and Cartography) to dig up those maps you find fishing or acquire as you hunt in game or buy them from other players.
Let’s recap the original Fisherman/Treasure Hunter Template-
100 strength, 100 intelligence, 25 dexterity, GM cartography, GM fishing, GM evaluate intelligence, GM lockpicking, GM magery, GM meditation, and GM resist.
This particular Template uses Magery as it’s weapons. It has the firepower to take care of Net and Map spawn. That’s really all you need to fight and kill off spawn.
As you can see, everything there you need to acquire all the magic items you could get your hands on in game without having to worry about camping a spawn (fuck that).
It IS a good template. But some people don’t like Fishing or already have a different character for Fishing.
My personal Treasure Hunter substitutes Wrestling for Fishing as I like hunting throughout the lands and sometimes, getting Trapped by “bad guys” in Felucca is a bad thing. And those bad guys can be Monsters not just Grief Players/PKs. Not too mention I already have a Fisherman/Archer. I like this Treasure Hunter a lot. The resist comes in handy on higher level treasure chests and in dangerous dungeon spots where the REALLY good chests are.
Even though I have two different characters for a Fisherman and a Treasure Hunter, it’s really a waste of a character slot. I can afford to have different character types thanks to my having two accounts. Other people cannot and have to combine characters. And, there is no reason to have Wrestling on a Treasure Hunter if you are good at pre-casting the Invisible spell and using invisible items. Anyway, discussing how to manage 5 character slots is best left for a different time.
Another Treasure Hunter is the Treasure Hunter-Mage-Bard. He substitutes Wrestling and Resist for Music and Provoking. If all you want is a character to dig up chests, then this is the character to have. Yes, you need another creature to be effective in Provoking, but it’s not hard luring a monster away and then making another spawn so they can be provoked onto each other. Not too mention, the magery is there to take care of a hurt or lone creature. The draw back is the lack of resist. And all high level chests spawn monsters that cast a lot of magery (Demons, Dread Spiders, Elder Gazors, Lich Lords, Poison and Blood Elementals, etc.). So, having an invisible item helps. But I am getting ahead of myself.
These are the different character types. In Part 2, I will recap the different Character Types and how to build each one.
(Someone please tell me what else I was supposed to write about. I put up 4 different topics I was going to cover. I can’t find the damn thing in the archives. Either I am getting old and blind, or it got zapped. Gawd I feel stupid. Shut up Watts.)
Hasta. |
^ top-Thank you for showing me the greed of UO Players again.
[Nieves] May 7 - 12:43 PM EDT | At the end of day five I travelled all around Tram
(with another deed I made from mining), all except for
the islands, couldn't find a spot anywhere. Perhaps
there will be one or two small workshop spots here and
there for those who have the patience to look. Then I
went on Fel, surprise surprise, also full. In fact
there were more large buildings on Fel than on Tram,
although there were more castles on Tram. I managed to
place a small on Fel after about 2 hrs of looking, by
which time I was worn out from running around and
trying. Needless to say, after mining 300 ingots worth
per trip with long treks to do so, then making wooden
shields to sell, I've had enough of Mizuho. I hope the
insignificant little plots that I did secure turn out
to be useful trades in future, I think that they will,
both are in castle and tower areas.
Mizuho is full of housing all fucking ready!???? Sheesh. #1) All new shards should not have any housing for the first 30 days. #2) Youngs should NOT be able to place. Enough said about that shit.
Thanks to Rod for emailing me his daily reports of his time on the Mizuho shard.
Sometimes I....all fuck it.
Hasta. |
^ top-Ultimate RPG Game?
[Eric] May 7 - 6:42 AM EDT | Over at www.wired.com, it looks as if Wired Radio had an interview with UO Senior Producer, Rick Hall.
I didn't listen to all of it, but it looks at though Rick Hall discusses the basics of the game, as well as what type of connection is decent for playing. He actually doesn't even begin to talk about UO3D until roughly 17 minutes into the interview (it's a 20 minute interview). Well, I won't spoil all the fun, so go listen to it.
And if they bored you, here's something really cool! Not. But if you sit inside on your computer all day, you might be interested in what happens in the outside world.
Cya later. |
^ top-Where to hunt with what character.
[Nieves] May 6 - 6:48 PM EDT | Gator posted in the forum a synopsis of what monsters to hunt with different character types. I post it here for your information and enjoyment.
Lumberho
Shame 1,2,3 Fight Earth Eles, Air Eles, Water Eles, and Fire Eles=10-20k per hour.
Deceit Liches Level 2,3 *Bring Silver* 10k-20k per hour.
Covetous Liches Level 4 *Bring Silver* 10k-20k per hour.
Undead City in T2A, Liches, *Bring Silver* 10k-20k per hour.
Bard/Tamer
Titan Valley in T2A, 20k-30k per hour, plus magic Weps, Maps
Teth Keep in T2A, Teth Matriarchs, Teth Avengers, Teth Warriors, 20k-30k per hour, plus possible Magic Weps and Maps
Destard, Dragons, Drakes 20k-40k per hour. plus magic weps, and Maps
Covetous Level 5, Dragons, Drakes, 20k-40k per hour. plus Magic Weps and Maps
Deceit Lev 3 Lich Lords, 20k-40k Per Hour, Magic Weps and Maps(beware Silver Serps)
Despise Lev 2(3?) Ogre Lords, 20k-40k per hour, Magic Weps and Maps
Mage
Titan Valley in T2A, 20k-30k per hour, plus magic Weps, Maps
Teth Keep in T2A, Teth Matriarchs, Teth Avengers, Teth Warriors, 20k-30k per hour, plus possible Magic Weps and Maps
Destard, Dragons, Drakes 20k-40k per hour. plus magic weps, and Maps
Covetous Level 5, Dragons, Drakes, 20k-40k per hour. plus Magic Weps and Maps
Deceit Lev 3 Lich Lords, 20k-40k Per Hour, Magic Weps and Maps(beware Silver Serps)
Despise Lev 2(3?) Ogre Lords, 20k-40k per hour, Magic Weps and Maps
Hope this helps, most was off the top of my head.
Later
Hasta. |
^ top-ROFLMMFAO!
[Vasilias] May 5 - 2:20 PM EDT | Ok ok ok ok...Good ole nuggethead Ian has tossed out a task. If I receive email over this...at least 100...good round number(not flames mind you as I will delete them...) I will kindly refrain from using dweebish endnotes to my post. Til then...
HASTER LA TATERS! WITH CATSUP! IAN....WHO'S YO DADDY!
Vas |
^ top-General Irrelevance
[Ian] May 5 - 12:43 PM EDT | Being an rl friend of mine you have to understand that it is almost impossible for me not to make some comment about by my good friend Vasilias's closing comments of "haster la tater with catsup" or "Yo Ian who's yo Daddy." I am trying really hard to break it to him gently just how much of a posterboy for the Rainbow Parade marching San Francisco chapter of Hermaphrodites that makes him look like. Please send him some of your thoughts on this somewhat comical but serious situation.
In other news Vet Rewards is coming isn't that great? And isn't it great how it came juuuuuuuuuuust in time to fuck up my tournament? In case some of you haven't ventured onto Test Rewards to check it out, here's some helpful advice, don't bother. The longest it has stayed up for me is 2 minutes. So, it looks as though I will be postponing my tournament for another week, much to the delight, as I'm sure you can imagine of none of my participants. I would like to apologize on OSI's behalf that they cannot get one single thing right in this godforfuckssaking game. (oh great I blasphemed, now they're going to be responsible for me going to Hell to.) Damn OSI, that's a heavy burden.. a heavy burden indeed.
Go learn something |
^ top-A small tidbit on NWN for ya lookers! They have a contest...check it out...get yourself known!
[Vasilias] May 5 - 9:55 AM EDT | Here are a few things I picked up and thought I would toss your way people. It's a good read. Below the informative stuff is a link to their contest. Design your character and submit it. Perhaps you can be picked to have your character represent ingame as part of the program!
4.24.01
Neverwinter Nights Project Update for March and April 2001
We are well underway with our preparations for one of the most exiting events on the game industry calendar. Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), in sunny Los Angeles, gives us a first-hand look at what our colleagues in the industry have been up to. It also gives us the opportunity to show off a bit and give everyone get a peek at what we've been working on over the past year. For our fans, this means a new deluge of press coverage, screenshots, and previously unreleased info. In short, it's an exciting time and one where everyone wins.
Programming
Our programmers have been working tirelessly to add new features to the game and integrate an ever-growing number of the 3rd Edition D&D rules. When we started Neverwinter, we knew that the rules system would be a time-consuming task. Well, the task is everything we imagined and more. =) Every day, I'm amazed all over again by the sheer number of criteria that have to be taken into account to run a single round of combat. Combat requires weapons, for example, and creating one within the toolset can involve as many as 60 different effects - everything from bonuses to hit and damage, to different forms of damage immunities, to level draining and electrical damage. In short, we're committed to making Neverwinter Nights one of the most in-depth Dungeons & Dragons experiences possible on your home computer.
Art
As always, the artists on the project are hard at work creating the stuff you see in every screenshot, desktop theme, and concept sketch. The response to our release of the various desktop themes has been very positive - so much so that we plan to release a series of exciting new ones over the coming months. As for game content, the modeling, texturing, and animating of creatures have been coming along nicely. Our current target is about 175 monsters and variants for Neverwinter Nights and we are well on our way towards reaching that goal. Work on the various interfaces has also been progressing smoothly and the spell effects system has been worked out in detail.
Design
The designers have finally begun item creation in earnest and have templates and descriptions for most of the magical and non-magical weapons and armor in the game. There's plenty of them, of course, as we want each player to have the leeway to play the kind of character that they want. Significant work has also gone into designing, mapping, and scripting our E3 demo and it's been a good way to prototype some of what we want to see happening in the actual game. Various storyline refinements to the official campaign have also been taking place and after E3, we'll be beginning implementation in earnest.
Summary
Neverwinter Nights is moving along well: the rules are going in and the systems are taking shape. The team is very proud of what we have been able to accomplish so far, and we're looking forward to all of the excitement surrounding E3. As always, it is a great experience to be working with this many talented people on a project of such great potential.
Here is your contest link. Enjoy and get those creative minds a hummin!
Neverwinter Nights Designer For A Day contest: If you entered before today PLEASE READ!
**Please note: All NWN character submissions sent prior to 12am PST on May 1, 2001 will be REJECTED. If you did send your entry prior to the start date, please re-submit your entry to: NWNContest@interplaygames.com
For more details http://www.interplaygames.com/desday.asp to go to the contest Page.
Thanks,
Haster la Taters! With Catsup!
Vas
|
^ top-Now GUL has taken to Chesapeake! A few rant's saying I am still alive and kickin!
[Vasilias] May 5 - 9:47 AM EDT | Recalling to the bank after a hefty attack on the dragons in Destard one thing caught my eye...the guild abbrev GUL. Guardians of the Undead Lords. Adam Ant seems to have sprung up a lot of followers UO Wide with his tales of death and destruction in his pursuit to protect those blaspemous liches. And now Ches has it's upstart version. Kill em all! Unfortunately, the character with the title was about as unoriginal as they come having taken the identity of Zaknafein, Drizzt Do'Urden's father besieged with the plague of the undead at the hands of the witches of Menzoberranzan. Nuff about that...I will be keeping my eye out for them.
Here's a rant. Wtf is wrong with kids ( I use this term strictly hypothetical as the attitude taken was similar, either by myself or them...you choose). Hunting in Destard yesterday down in the Shadow Wyrms arena I encountered 2 individuals, names to be unmentioned ( your welcome Lord Windrunner and Ding), tell me my help is not needed and that they can handle it just fine. So I bluntly ask " And your point? " Well, of course this answer is simple just as the response was, " We were here first and don't need your help." Hello dipshits, my happy ass wasn't there to help you. Why must people consistently, and it is consistent everywhere you go, think as if they own every damn spawn area the happen to be in. Get a clue, you pay 10 a month...I pay 10 a month. I am entitled to hunt as I please as you are. That said they exercised that : chuckles : As this convo was taken place between myself and Dingleberry, a lone shadow wyrm remained as the other fell victim to the barded talentry. And low and behold...I hopelessly become paralized, cast by good ole Lord Windshit. Was a good laugh for me considering I carry myself an invis item while I am there. Some may say that is cheap, but to me it's a necessary accompanyment to avoid the OoooOooOOOoo, of which they had witness judging from the bodies lying around. But anyway, my point is this, where is the respect and congeniality of asking someone to go elsewhere in a docile manner? Had that been done I would have gladly left. I ended up leaving anyway as the character I had is by no means PvP oriented, but I did have half a mind to grab one and go back that way just to stir up trouble and take a few out if I could have.
Oh you lil PK go home! Yes I nailed one the other day. He had killed my warrior while he was harvesting hides. This to me is quite the same as the lame miner PK's. Once again I was ill equipped for battle. Some would say run, but I don't...not on my warrior. It's an ethics thing, and while some say RP isn't within the mechanics of this game...that is one small way I implement it as I play. I stand there doing the OooooOooooOOooO dance and watch this guy. He leaves my weapon and clothing and takes just the hides. So I log my happy lil ass on my mage and show up just as he gated. Ohhhh mana depletion for this lil med warrior. Exp, eb, eb, mb and he does a lil bone dance of his own. Heh, so I loot him...as I am doing so he logs on with his blue and calls me a lucky fuck and saying lag got him. Now I ask...why must lag get everyone you beat, yet when you die if you use this excuse you are just a Noob? Odd. As I calmly walked to the bank with this wonderful loot( Supremely Acc Kryss of Power and Spear of Power plus some Fort Ring and a lot full of reggies) this punk mimes attacking me. LOL, as if I was gonna take the bait. Get a grip Duar'Gar, and grow up as you give J-D a bad name. Not to mention your life as a solo PK is mainly gonna be hittin illequipped miners, hide harvesters, and the like since I dun think you quite got it to go solo against a heavy hitter. Though I am told you can play a mage well through a reliable source...thanx Ian. Perhaps you shoulda made him your PK.
Let's see, anything else goin on exciting? Not really. Just thought I would let everyone know I am alive a kickin still. Will hollar more at ya as it comes.
Haster la Taters! With Catsup even!
Vas
|
^ top-House of Commons Chat Notes 5-3-2001
[Gator] May 5 - 8:42 AM EDT | Well they kicked off a House of Commons chat the other night. For the folks out there that have no clue as to what that entails, let me explain. Basically every now and then this chat will be announced over at Stratics, and puts the players in a controlled open forum with the designers and game-masters for UO. So if you want to find out when they are going to make Cooking a lethal PvP skill, tune in!!
Kehleyr|Stratics - *Sub_Zero* QUESTION: Vet Rewards: When? I want an answer, not an estimate please.
Prophet_ - Veteran rewards is going to be on a public test center tomorrow morning.
About damn time, but let me add that I won’t be holding my breath.
Kehleyr|Stratics - *Rollergirl* Is anything in the works to fix the "moongate pvp" problem with factions? People hang around moongates in Fel, and jump to trammel in the middle of the fight even if they started it
AdrickOSI - I will be addressing alot of faction issues - that is not a bug but an issue of gameplay - I cant make any promises but I will be addressing bugs, balance issues and some gameplay issues with the factions
AdrickOSI - over the next few weeks
How about we scrap the whole thing, and start from scratch. Or here’s something even better, if you are in Factions, you are jailed to Felucca only. Plain and simple, there shouldn’t be a need for a player to go to Trammel anyways.
Kehleyr|Stratics - *mingot2* Question: Any chance at looking at the skill advancement rates for cartography, snooping, poisoning, provocation and some of the others that are extremely difficult to raise at high levels. AND any chance of looking at those that are too easy like the combat skills?
Sage - In my opinion we need to review all skill gains. Yes there are plans to do that, but that is closer to a four month task that something we could fix right away. We want to look at skill gains as soon as possible, but it won't be a part of the next two publishes.
Sage - I can't give any more specific dates than that.
Sage, Email Me. Let’s do lunch.
Kehleyr|Stratics - *Grishnak* Will you please reduce the spawn at the Yew Orc forts for the Role Playing Orc Guilds
Sage - That is one possible answer... there might be a better one. :) We are aware of the issue, and we are addressing it.
Sage - And that's all I have to say about that.
I wonder… You think they will make it where If you are in a role-playing guild such as that, that the Orcs will no longer attack you. That would be BADASS!! Actually, I feel if OSI is looking to make a good change, hook up the Reds for once. If you are Red, monsters should not target you. And we know they adjusted some targeting features in Daemons, Wisps, Ogre Lords, and Silver Serpents for Factions, so something can be done!!
Kehleyr|Stratics - *LionHeart_CrS_Sonoma* Are there any plans to change the no Recall for aggressors? Many faction members are falling victim to attacking an opposing factioneer, defeat
Sage - Nope. Don't start something you can't finish.
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn. Hey LionHeart_CrS_Sonoma, want your punk card back? Obviously Sage ripped it out of your hand, stamped it twice, licked it, and smacked it on your forehead. Ouch.
Kehleyr|Stratics - *Jeg* Speaking of item count, do you know how many less items would be in the game if you fixed the paralyze spell so that people woudlnt need all those pouches? Paralyze should be resistable and last a set amount of time (much shorter than now)
Hanse - Paralyze is currently resistable. The duration of the spell is halved when you successfully resist it.
Hanse - It is being looked at, though.
I did not know that. Write that one down in your PvP log book folks.
There were other important discussions on Statloss, Dye Tubs, New Craftables, and Boat changes. So a go check them out. After all it’s YOUR game, YOU should know what’s in store.
Later |
^ top-The Mummy Returns....and he should go back home.
[Nieves] May 4 - 3:39 PM EDT | Frankly, I was disappointed. It lacked something. It just dragged on and on and on. Oh, and The Rock's Cameo was just that, a Cameo. He got like...well, I won't ruin that for you.
Lots of fight scenes that were "eh". Some dialogue that "tried" to be funny. The special effects were pretty decent (and their after affects were even given some detail).
The plot was really neat (Scorpion King versus Imhotep), but could've had some more fleshing out.
If I were you, I would rent this one. It's not worth 5-7 bucks for.
I did get to see new trailors for Jurassic Park III and Final Fantasy. JPIII looked interesting enough. The Raptors are at it again...and there is a new T-Rex in town. I hope it's not as disappointing as JPII.
That's the problem with sequels. They are almost always not as good as the original. The only sequel I saw that actually was better than the first was Aliens. Every once in a while I will pick it up and watch it again.
Now, Final Fantasy, I think, is going to be the action movie of the summer. The action and dramatic sequences they showed in this "new" trailor kicked ass.
Anyway, I am no "certified" movie critic. But I feel, IMHO, TMR wasn't worth going to the theater for.
UPDATE: After sleeping off a killer headache (yes Vas, I still get them), I thought a bit more about The Mummy Returns. Remember the girl from the first movie that played Anuk Su Annum (sp?)? She's in this movie as Anuk Su Annum again. And dammit she's hot. Fuck, seeing Evey and Anuk going at it a few times just rocked. Shit, watching Anuk take it to Evey in the end was....oh shit, sorry, I am giving it away. What made the movie suck ass as well was the addition of a character that really didn't have much play or developed properly. I mean c'mon. It's bad enough we as a society put our kids in the back seat all the time, but did those two parents actually have to mooch all the time while forgetting about their kid? Not once did they even kiss the boy or hug him like a real son of theirs.
Bleh.
Ok, the movie was decent, but not worth 7 bucks. Hit the matinee or rent the fucker. I will save my 7 bucks for Final Fantasy.
Hasta. |
^ top-First Donkey Kong, Now Dodge Ball.
[Nieves] May 3 - 2:56 PM EDT | A few years ago, Donkey Kong was banned because it was a game where you actually had to spank a monkey that had taken your girlfriend away. We all knew it was a game where the monkey was the fears of white men everywhere. His "blonde" beauty queen was taken from him and he had to fight to get it back. What a horrid horrid thing to do to little white boys everywhere.
(If you are missing the sarcasm, then don't bother emailing me).
The game was banned all over the United States because the white majority couldn't let this pollute the minds of our white youth.
Now, we have this game. Oh me oh my. We must ban this game because we can't let our wimpy ass kids be picked on just because they can't pick up a ball and throw it back or learn how to "dodge" the fucking thing. That's right. Let's NOT parent our kids and help them get better at physical activity and let them sit in front of their computers or watch TV all fucking day.
How fucking pathetic.
Hasta. |
^ top-AOPG?
[Ian] May 3 - 11:53 AM EDT | Well, Anarchy Online is scheduled to roll out June 27th. It's going to be our first option in the lengthy list of options that will come available to all of us disenchanted UO players in the coming months. The game graphics look great, and it's sure to have a lot of people from the get go. I'll have my copy the day it's released, and of course I will report to you wether or not it's worth making the transition.
Jinx must have a special beeper that goes off each time any news concerning mmog's is put out.
How many of you will be playing?
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^ top-Selling Ingots!!
[Gator] May 3 - 8:47 AM EDT | Recently, I have gotten back to my "roots" and have been a Mining Machine. Because of this I have taken a deeper look at ingot pricing overall. As we all know the entire Market for UO has been ruined. Numerous events have attributed to market prices going through the roof. The advent of Trammel, Duping, and Power Hour have all added there special touch to the prices of items and homes. And no this isn't another Trammel rant by no means, I am just stating the hard truth facts of why the economy is ruined. There is no longer a "risk vs. reward" system. We have gone to a pure "reward" system anyway you look at it.
Back to mining. I started my UO career as a Miner back in July 98'. I bought the game over the 4th of July weekend, and immediately found mining to be a profitable way for me to get ahead in the game. Back then ingots sold for 5 gold, 6 gold at most, each. And I was extremely happy to get that. Now it's not uncommon to find ingots selling for 20 Gold Each!! So what has happened? The Smith's that buy their ingots have begun to rant and whine, and are beginning to refuse to buy ingots from miners that price that high.
Smith's. Wakeup. If my warrior can walk into Shame and make 10-20k per hour killing things. Well then jack the armor prices up to a reasonable level. I look at it several ways. A warrior can average 10-20k per hour. An Average Miner can mine 1-2k ingots per hour. *Note* I said Average. So 1-2k Ingots they can sell for 10-40k easy. Tamers can make up torwards 50k per hour. So it all evens out. If I choose to make my loot mining vs. killing, then I should be able to make just as much as the warrior in Shame. That's the way I see it.
So how can the Smith's make there money? Easy calculate your prices in accordance with your Ingot Costs'. Let's do the math. I believe an old school set of iron plate sold for 4000-4500. At 20 gold per ingot, the ingot prices have rose 300%. Therefore, a Full set of Plate would now be worth, 12-13.5k. I can hear the masses now crying out that I am crazy. But think about it, it takes "on average" 300-400 Ingots to make a set of Plate. Thats Average folks. Sometimes its worse, and then other times you get lucky. Lets take the average of 350 ingots though. At 20 gold per ingot, 7k gold is spent in making the set. Then selling will net you 5k at 12k per set. In the "old style" 1750 gold was spent making the set. And selling at 4000 made the smith 2250. If you can sell 2 sets per hour, then you are making good money as well. I'm not going to get into selling, that's not what this is about.
So what does all this mean, Smith's don't expect miners to back down on there price. If you expect that, then get your shovels ready because you won't have a market. Why would a miner want to waste his time mining ingots at 5 gold each to make 5-10k per hour, when he can just use his warrior and make more than that. So Smith's mark your prices up reasonably, and you will do fine. But don't try to fix a system that is broke in more ways than one. Mining isn't broke. The economy is. And fixing mining to your liking, will not solve the overall problem. Thats for the programmers to fix.
Post your prices here.
Later |
^ top-Updates is me...
[Nieves] May 2 - 12:39 PM EDT | I have thinking LONG and hard about certain issues that I have come across in the game. I mean, I have a shit load of material for some really nice updates.
I just kept them private because they involved some people I hang with in game. But know what? You know me. I got to talk about this shit regardless of what it's about. I will just keep the names of the situations private and maybe, just maybe, they won't curse my name.
These are 4 updates/rants you can see coming to a UOPG Front Page near you from yours truly.
They are called:
1) UO/Online Relationships
2) Gold or friends-What's more important?
3) What's Fair in Love and War or Lie to Gain, Cheat to Win.
4) UO Etiquette: What's cool, what's not. Or Calling someone, "Your a noob!" doesn't make you cooler than he is.
Oh, and I have most of Hammer & Silk Part 3 Coming for you speed readers.
Hasta. |
^ top-ToL Update
[Ian] May 1 - 7:17 PM EDT | Friday at work I will construct the tournament bracket and email the bracket and the location specifics as well as exactly what is expected of you and how this is going to be run.
Again I ask that if you've been confirmed and cannot make this tournament to PLEASE email me and let me know. Thanks
Also I have recieved about 100 emails in the past few days, a lot of that was support or critisizm (thankfully much more support)for my latest long over due rant. I appreciate the comments but I have to ask you all to hold off on emailing me this week as I'm trying to keep the tournament organized through my powergamers email. If I haven't responded it's not that I'm a dick, it's that I'm busy. If you are so inclined please use the forums as a way of contacting me if you're not in the tournament at least for the rest of the week. Thanks muchly.
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^ top-VHEMT
[Lawyer] May 1 - 4:19 PM EDT | "May we live long and die out"
Thats right folks. I found one hell of a website today. This isnt just any website. This is a website you should actually go to and read, then pass it on.
I know you hate it when people piss you off. I personally hate the ever abundant supply of complete morons present in online games. Thats right folks, UO isnt the only place you will find them. They are everywhere. Much like cockroaches, only if you hunt them down and spray insecticide on them, you get in big trouble. Do we really want this kind of person having kids? Do we want their kids going to school with our kids? Give me a big HELL NO!
What am I talking about? Im talking about those little fuckers who say some variation of newbie (newb, N00B, n00b, NEWBIE, etc.) in every sentence they manage to (mis)type. Those immature bastards who talk shit and cant back it up. Those people who would rather spam the banks, begging for gold instead of building a character in less than a day that could net them what they think is a fortune. Hell, even those people who resort to using bugs because they are unable to compete on an even playing field. Im sure you still dont get it.
Well damnit, go here. If you see one of these dredges of modern society, feel free to enlighten their troubled souls by throwing that link their way. Im sure half of these people will never get laid, but hell, lets not take any chances! I see enough idiots every day, without having to get online. Then when I get online, out of every one hundred persons that I have talked with/met/seen, there is one I actually like and get along with. Encourage them to do something with their life. Encourage them to adopt the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement's ideals. We dont like these people, the only thing they are good for is a laugh. And once you consider their maturity and intelligence, they will probably become a proud member of VHEMT, especially if someone made a sticker that said "VHEMT r0xx0rs" or "VHEMT is l33t!". Do your kids a favor, spread the joy and philosophy of VHEMT to the dumbass idiots you see so much of. You will appreciate it later. Or maybe your kids will.
http://www.vhemt.org/
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