Winter event

[Silent]

Dear +C,

Since the Halloween dungeon event did not suffer any modifications and the suggested shop rework would not be possible due to time proximity, I would like to ask if we are going to see any changes for the winter event.

I believe with enough anticipation perhaps we could see some changes, at least, to the shop with the addition of new items

*Unleash the Mariah Carey in you*

[Alibaster]

I second this request. I understand that making changes to the event would be time consuming but what about changing up the rewards? Is this an easy thing to do? Different items would increase participation and make it more interesting.

[Durocius]

New rewards would be great. Banners from the past were very cool, just change the dates. Maybe a Santa Claus head wall mount.

[culichi]

Maybe a Santa Claus head wall mount.

i will stop whining ingame for three months if i have a santa head (edible) on my wall by new years day.
thank you

p.s.- santa-pig would also be acceptable.

[MagicUser]

How many graphics have we filled up +C? Did you find a way to increase the graphics capacity to more than 16^4-1? I seem to remember you saying that , with limited graphic capacity, you were worried about prematurely filling the available graphics, maybe I am misremembering? Have you had time to review the graphics that are already assigned to see if any can be freed up?

And out of curiosity, how much time does it take to create even 1 new graphic? Is it as "simple" as creating pixel art, saving the image, then assigning the image?

[Praise]

Not all players have been able to receive some of the items some of us have, like the jewel or winter, for example. I would hate to see those removed but an option for a new item or reward of some sort would be nice. Maybe a deed you can use to enhance an item you have.

[Silent]

What I was suggesting was just adding, at least to the shop, new stuff. The account bound items are good and worth the grind but once you've got them all there isn't much else to it. Yet, there is no point on changing those specific rewards (you can't even sell them. so for anyone that has collected everything well...).

But in a larger suggestion: what should the thought for seasonal events is to have a top tier reward rotation which would make items more worthy of grind and exponentially increase their value. The rotation could be in a 2y cycle or even 3. This would, of course, require a more well carefully picked list of items and an expansion of the available ones. But these events would become fully automated and somewhat grind worthy.

[Silent]

Bump

[Wil]

Necrobumped; sorry.

[Dirtybook]

I have an idea.. but I often get push back from them. BUT! Since I am currently pulling a Muolke (Meaning I am currently not playing.) I will suggest it anyhow.

Make the Winter Account Bound items tradeable/saleable. Much in the same way a relayer has a "Binds to Account" timer. The same could be done with these winter items. This way constant multi-account trade back and forth actions will be shut down. Forcing players to pay ED's to unbind a winter item for trade if they don't have the patience to wait. (Again, same existing mechanic as relayers.)

This would be a welcomed dynamic to the players that have been participating and collecting these items for years. Plus, there would be a market for this. (obviously) And it would only take a universal code string (or perhaps set of code strings) to make this change for pre-existing items, as well as future obtained ones.

Allowing players to sale items that are under the power level of relayers, will not break the game. I am familiar with some min/maxers making the argument that the Winter Necklace is the best item you can wear in the game.. It is not. 10% SDI is not a good enough replacement for all the stats you lose from even a SoP or resistance base relayer.

Anyhow. Going back to Fall activities now.

[Wil]

Make the Winter Account Bound items tradeable/saleable.

Heck, just make the expiring tokens tradeable like the halloween ones are. There's no need for them to be account bound.

[Johnny Warren]

I am familiar with some min/maxers making the argument that the Winter Necklace is the best item you can wear in the game.. It is not. 10% SDI is not a good enough replacement for all the stats you lose from even a SoP or resistance base relayer.

You're very wrong here, the Jewel of Winter (JoW) has huge stats and important stats. Keep in mind the JoW isn't just about the RPD and SDI, it has relayer-like other stats too. It has: Hit point increase 20, intelligence bonus 8, LMC 20%, mana regen 5, RPD 20%, stamina regen 7, SDI 30%, stamina increase 20, strength bonus 5, 10% energy res and 10% cold resist! When you add up the HP increase alone the JoW adds 28hp, a bone crusher relayer only adds a mere 23. A TH only adds 30, for reference. So the JoW is up their with TH HP increase and overmax RPD, SDI and LMC plus the huge stamina pools etc. It's a beast of a thing. I'd wear 5 if I could.

(10 is the max LMC you can get on a normal relayer, so if you plan well the JoW with 20 LMC is great early game too for hitting the LMC cap so you can cast heaps of spells fast)

Secondly, when your suit is all relayers the extra hp, dex, stam, regens, mana etc etc you get from relayers is all relatively unnecessary. Beyond 550hp the next 100hp is pretty worthless compared to the first 400.. what isn't unnecessary: RPD and SDI (and Enhanced Potions). The JoW takes you over cap on both, so I replaced a BC relayer necklace with the JoW as soon as I could and would never switch back.

You're right in that the first relayer, or 5, are more powerful and do more for your development than the JoW, but once you have your LRC and resistances sorted, then nah, JoW does much more for you. Newer players should get relayers first, but I wouldn't bother ever putting a relayer on the neck slot, use your jackals til you get the JoW. There's really no reason anyone should not be wearing the JoW in my opinion. As soon as you can do the quest, do it, it's a massive powerup.

I wouldn't replace my JoW even with a Titan's Hammer. The TH would give me 3 extra HP and 25 Enhance Potions (the other uncapped and semi-broken stat), but I would lose 10 SDI and 5 RPD, the rest of the stats (as I stated above) are irrelevant once you are all relayers as you have hundreds of points leftover anyway. So in that trade off I pick the extra SDI and RPD over 3 HP and 25 EP, any other lesser relayer isn't in the same stratosphere as Titan's Hammers and Jewel of Winters...

I actually tried relayering my second JoW, you can't, just in case anyone wanted to know.

Personally, I would like to be able to sell the quest rewards as I have spares and no longer bother with that quest, since I have all the rewards.

Would be nice to see the glittering ice wrap (the previous big winter quest reward that was replaced with the JoW) cycled through instead of the JoW every year.... just to give those that weren't here 10 years ago a chance to get one. It's got wonky stats, but I still wear mine.

[Dirtybook]

That has got to be probably the most boring statistical analysis I have had the displeasure of enduring a read though on John Warren. However, I am glad you wrote all that up. Considering it proves a very valid point in what I said was not wrong at all. It's not a needed item.

You have said it yourself. After a certain point, stats become redundant. It's really just a "Looky at what I got!" necklace that you don't absolutely need to play on such a "limited" server as EX. I stand firm that you don't need to have any more powerful relayers than ones that can provide 8 Str, and basic stats that are typical to relayers.

I still see BCs as a gimmick pushed to make sure there is a moving market for them. As well as the THs are a bit of a gimmick themselves. I can believe the need for them exists, only as a means to keep someone playing on a server with almost Zero content. By making it a competition to show up players who play identical to one another. Meaning that any player with less than a BC or a TH is a noob and needs to keep playing for better equipment. (The Winter Necklace with your reasoning is also a Grandstand item.)

Personally. I am in awe of you John Warren. After all this time you still believe that you are the only player that knows anything. When many people have come and gone from this server after finding out the endless tedium of gear hoping and players such as yourself, pushing a single-minded mode of play. With very little else to do.

Of course you advocate for what you do.. because crafting skills are mostly useless on this server. Deco is on a "I hope I get something at IDoC!" basis. Creativity is on the low end, from +C to everyone on the way down the social scale. So, what ends up happening? You have a server that is geared on gold earnings, and the person who does the best to fit in with the best in identical equipment with higher stats... WINS!

Thats kind of boring... I got to say....

And sure. You could bring up the "It's the community that keeps people playing here." However, that can be said "anywhere".. Anywhere can be a community driven place for various reasons that don't have to be the same as the last place.

In short. Your reasonings on why redundant stats are needed are pointless.. Much like responding to your view on stats is pointless. You think way to highly of yourself to believe somehow someone can have a different view than you. Once people notice the toxic passive aggressive nature of this server is the way it is due to forceful competition, they move on. This is why other server are filling up, and this one is not.

But whatever.. I have wasted enough time on this response. I have better things to do than argue with an Aussie. However, since I don't value your level of intelligence. I have to make sure to let you know, me referring to you as an "Aussie", is a derogatory sentiment. Considering all Aussies I have met, have what we Americans call, "A chip on your shoulder." So basically, I think you are stupid. Have a nice day.

[Alibaster]

That has got to be probably the most boring statistical analysis I have had the displeasure of enduring a read though on John Warren. However, I am glad you wrote all that up. Considering it proves a very valid point in what I said was not wrong at all. It's not a needed item.

You have said it yourself. After a certain point, stats become redundant. It's really just a "Looky at what I got!" necklace that you don't absolutely need to play on such a "limited" server as EX. I stand firm that you don't need to have any more powerful relayers than ones that can provide 8 Str, and basic stats that are typical to relayers.

I still see BCs as a gimmick pushed to make sure there is a moving market for them. As well as the THs are a bit of a gimmick themselves. I can believe the need for them exists, only as a means to keep someone playing on a server with almost Zero content. By making it a competition to show up players who play identical to one another. Meaning that any player with less than a BC or a TH is a noob and needs to keep playing for better equipment. (The Winter Necklace with your reasoning is also a Grandstand item.)

Personally. I am in awe of you John Warren. After all this time you still believe that you are the only player that knows anything. When many people have come and gone from this server after finding out the endless tedium of gear hoping and players such as yourself, pushing a single-minded mode of play. With very little else to do.

Of course you advocate for what you do.. because crafting skills are mostly useless on this server. Deco is on a "I hope I get something at IDoC!" basis. Creativity is on the low end, from +C to everyone on the way down the social scale. So, what ends up happening? You have a server that is geared on gold earnings, and the person who does the best to fit in with the best in identical equipment with higher stats... WINS!

Thats kind of boring... I got to say....

And sure. You could bring up the "It's the community that keeps people playing here." However, that can be said "anywhere".. Anywhere can be a community driven place for various reasons that don't have to be the same as the last place.

In short. Your reasonings on why redundant stats are needed are pointless.. Much like responding to your view on stats is pointless. You think way to highly of yourself to believe somehow someone can have a different view than you. Once people notice the toxic passive aggressive nature of this server is the way it is due to forceful competition, they move on. This is why other server are filling up, and this one is not.

But whatever.. I have wasted enough time on this response. I have better things to do than argue with an Aussie. However, since I don't value your level of intelligence. I have to make sure to let you know, me referring to you as an "Aussie", is a derogatory sentiment. Considering all Aussies I have met, have what we Americans call, "A chip on your shoulder." So basically, I think you are stupid. Have a nice day.

I read your reply in hopes I would find an alternative way of thinking to JW's approach. I always like to hear about a way that is opposite of the conventional wisdom. Unfortunately, the post was nothing more then criticizing the server and attacking JW on a personal level. Not a great way to propose a counter argument with a rational response. Unfortunately, in America (I live here too), civil discourse is a rare thing.

[Dirtybook]

You are correct Alibaster. It was my intent to attack JW on a personal level. But I suppose you didn't see how this guy postured and bullied me on the forums, along with a few other people relentlessly for having a different point of view on how to "enjoy" the game. My take on playing UO was for entertainment purposes and was rather open minded to possibilities of game play. He and others took it as an opportunity to punish someone who didn't play for competition. Happened for a while, until someone with a + by his name intervened... After what I can only see was a spirited chat between those two. Hostilities seemed to almost disappear completely.

However, JW can't seem to shut his mouth. Proudly pointing out how "He" was the one who really tried to advocate for my permanent dismissal from EX.. So yes. I am acting in an immature capacity with him. From his boasting and his "nose in the air" attitude. I have grown to dislike him very much. I don't care about his opinion, yet he gives it because he knows I don't appreciate it.

However, there is a very simple difference in my approach to his tactic in making sure he directly speaks to me, to get a violent reaction to boost his own reputation off of mine. I'm instead making sure he knows where I stand, and that I do not value him, or like him. To that end, I take the wind out of his sails. He as well as other players who act like him have done a wonderful job at helping destroy my reputation while I played in defiance of their conformed gaming demands. By simply trying to enjoy the game as a game. I no longer have any reason to be diplomatic. Nor do I care to try to be anymore.

As for the condition of the server? I spoke no lies. So, if you got offended by it, then you must have a bigger attachment to the server than I do. Perhaps out of familiarity and being content with how it runs. Which is not incorrect for you to feel that way. I just see it in a different way. I do challenge anyone who thinks I was hard about this server, to look at even OSI in respects to content before judging too quickly on what I said. EX is still a "livable" server, but it can get boring quick.