On a serious note though... the following is a quote from the end of the the Roadmap - Part 0 topic +C started in announcement board:
I totally supported, and continue to support the concept of stability and longevity over a fancy new bells and whistles.+Colibri wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2020 6:57 amRoadmap part 0
In conclusion
I'm not concerned about what activities we'll have in November, I'm concerned whether there is steady activity and progress in let's say 2025.
I wish I could give a more precise time frame when things are going to be happening, but as it is with the 50-90 rule, and non-repetitive tasks, it's unpredictable. But anyway, there's the light at the end of the tunnel, so it's time for me to make this post.
I also understand there's a lot going on in the (real) world right now, it's all "pretty well rooted", to use an Aussie expression.
I hope that all is well in your life +C and that your young daughter is growing up into a lovely person.
That quote talks about activity and progress in say 2025, we are halfway there and it doesn't really feel like we're making progress. People have replied to the Roadmap thread, pleading for part 1 to be released. We get a small sliver of info saying "I won't unplug the server yet", and nothing more. My son (who is a gamer like his dad) is coming to the age of being able to sign up to an mmorpg. I always thought 5 years ago I would get him onto UOEX and show him how awesome old school RPGs are. I don't want to sign him up to a dying server and have him hit the wall like I have come to realise that I have already hit. This thread is going to sound like a complete whine from me, and I apologise for the offence. I have always tried my best to stay positive on the forums (when not trolling scrubs) and particularly in relation to +c's actions as we play for free on his server. But I kind of feel like the community is collapsing. The forums are almost static. Gameplay has been static for a few years now. Even the thread that promised information about where we are eventually going to go is now static. There's not even talk of any further progress, let alone any progress.
There was a lovely bout of action over the December - January period, and then this server has become dead quiet. It feels like +c presses go on the october quest and then the december quest, drops a grand auction and all us addicts hang around for another year, waiting through the other 10 months for something to happen. Even the halloween and winter quests have the same old rewards that we all have hundreds of collecting dust in boxes now.
There are cheaters harvesting resources and worse and there's very little policing, let along proactive input from our 2 staff. I recall +J's graball events in random towns, +C hosting multichamps, +V's hunger games and awesome events like the invasion of moonglow and other parts of the umbris story arc. I remember seasonal hunting events, regular auctions and team CTF events. Even the more modern, buggy, seasonal quests gave us some change. Even +A hosted a cool world boss event recently that was fun and didn't seem hard/buggy to do. Those days are long gone. I do pity the newer players who never got to play in those team events or GM led unique events.
The end of the above quote says; "there's light at the end of the tunnel", I feel like we're still well and truly still deep in the metaphorical tunnel, possibly engine failure, waiting for roadside assistance.
I understand posting this will result in a big blow to any credibility and respectability I had left here, it does sound like I am just whinging now... but I have always tried to support +c's actions and UOEX in general when these threads inevitably come up. Feel free to browse the back catalogue of "the shard is dying/dead" threads and read my posts, you'll see the evidence. But despite the cost it will have to my reputation, I feel it must be said. In 2019 I posted a thread about the stupid and archaic system that lets players that no longer even play here hog and hoard the available hues so the rest of us can only use the remaining crappy hues that are left. 3 years later and many people calling out to just remove that system (not even code a new one, just release the hues), even replying this year in 2022, and no traction or discussion. 0 progress.
I'll end with a direct question to +C:
Will you post Roadmap part 1 at some stage in 2022?
-John Warren, 12 year veteran and supporter of UOEX.