Re: 21 Apr 2017 Port
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 7:10 pm
Well, I may be luckier than most and it may be that some of what I've gotten since the new code went in came from expiring players and not from the % load factor but here's list of items I can remember grabbing lately:
Cloud Armbands x3 (one on Zax, one on Brienne, gave one away, ).
Denethor Talismans x3 (one on Zax, two stored for soon-to-be-made next pc)
Cloak of Major Protection x2 (gave one away)
Crimson Sash x2 (one on Prax, scrapped one while getting it. DOH!)
Diamond Belt (on Vax)
Wall of Thought (gave it away)
Holy Avenger (on Prax - pretty sure this was Valentine''s)
Lightbringer Helm (on Prax - may also have been Valentine's)
Shield of Disruption (on Prax)
Sword of the Gypsies (on Zax)
Cloak of Storms (On Trax)
Black Gypsy Boots (and some still load regularly)
Emerald Encrusted Shield x2 (one on Vax, one on Trax)
Ebony Mesh Gloves (gave away)
I also know other players have grabbed the following:
Black Dragon Plate
Cloud Armbands
Cobalt Rings
Black Mace
I've also picked up a lot of other rares to equip my and others' new PCs but I doubt they were maxxed.
As for people's habits not changing, well what works is what works. Yes, there have been adjustments to races and classes that help promote more variety in those. But the basic game and zone mechanics haven't changed so the best class combinations remain the best class combinations and the equipment that was best suited for each class back then is still the equipment that is best suited for each class today.
On the number of active players, yes it's low but each has multiple PCs. I have a Ma/Cl/Wa, a HG, a Dr/Ra, a Monk, a Ma/TH, and a Paladin. made in that order. I'm currently leveling up a Ma/Cl/Th to replace the Ma/Th and as my HG is getting old, I plan to soon repalce her with a new evil-male HG. One thing I learned early on after finding GNSMud was that with the player count so low and ppl going and coming , I'm playing alone for the vast majority of the time. So to get by, one needs a stable of PCs to cover the needed classes.
A Ma/Cl/Wa is pretty much a must have, as is a HG. Some sort of Druid and a Thief is next on my list of priorities. Paladin is a bit of a luxury but since I grabbed a Holy Avenger it's very handy to have. Monk's are also a luxury class in my opinion. On the advice of someone who knows vastly more than I do about playing this MUD, I made one in lieu of a thief to pick pocks and leveled him up. While somewhat fun I never fully figured out what to do with him so I made a Ma/Th and the Monk mostly sits in the closet. I then decided I needed another locator so I'm now leveling up a Ma/Cl/Th and transferred all the eq from my Ma/Th to him. Psis have their uses but I haven't figured them out yet so I don't have one, but others do. All this is to say that even with 5 active players there could well be 30-40 semi-active PCs, each wanting to have the best gear available to them.
Now to the suggestions. I like the idea of gear expiring in rent before the player does. But losing all one's gear at once seems harsh. Maybe have one rare item disappear every two days starting at day 20 (and starting with maxxed items) . In that case, by day 60 they will have lost all their rares. At some later point (3 mos, 6 mos, 1 yr?) you can wipe the player and the rest of his gear.
I think the quest items and services are pretty good. I've already bought some items and plan to spend more in that shop. So that's a valid gold sink for me. Maybe expand the list to include adding attributes to equipment (like +HnD to a held item or maybe TS or invis to some worn item). Or maybe even toy with the idea of "special ordering" a maxxed item for some exorbitant price. Maybe you could get it right away or maybe you pay the money and the next time one pops you get a message telling you it's ready for pick up.
I don't like having to pay rent. If rent comes back I'll probably stop playing. I like the actual rent charge mechanics just the way it is. You have to have enough money to rent for one day but you only get charged 30gp per day.
I also don't like scrapping. Or DTs for that matter. It's really just a bothersome pain in the ass and not necessary in my opinion. It's not like in the MUD's heyday where whole factions of ppl were running around competing with other factions of people to scarf up the best eq. The people playing today seem to be quite willing to share beyond what they need for their own PCs. So say, if Nikthil scrapped a DPM, I think everyone playing today would work to help him get it back. In fact, some time ago I DT'd and lost everything. With Valer's help I got everything back except a BDP. Acele had came across the BPD without knowing I DT'd. After hearing about my DT, she sought me out and gave me the BDP. So scrapping doesn't help eq change hands right now. It just annoys ppl. I'd vote for suspending scrapping altogether [and disabling all DTs as well ]
I suggested something similar to loot boxes earlier, in that equipment doesn't pop until the mob that loads it is killed. I now see that would be far more frustrating that what we have now, unless the load rates are vastly increased. It's frustrating enough to have to check a zone 10, 20, times a day to see what loaded, let alone to have to kill each mob of interest in each zone that many times to check on eq.
Not sure what you mean by an auction command. There already is an auction channel. But auction isn't really viable right now I don't think. The people currently playing seem willing enough to share out their extra stuff as needed. I've given, received, and seen given and received, many maxxed items. I don't think any current active players are hoarding extra gear other than what's on all their various morts, however infrequently they may be played.
How would insurance work?
How would luck potions work?
To sum up then, the current system is working for me but I can see how others might still be frustrated. Increasing load rates would be ok with me. I like the idea of a gradual gear-wipe followed by eventual p-wipe, I don't like paying rent, scrapping, or DTs. I think loot boxes, if I understand how they work, would be more frustrating that the current system. For the most part, everyone playing today is cooperating in obtaining and sharing equipment without need for auctioning, scrapping, or otherwise artificially forcing equipment to circulate. I like the current quest sytem and would be happy to see it expanded as noted above.
Zax
Cloud Armbands x3 (one on Zax, one on Brienne, gave one away, ).
Denethor Talismans x3 (one on Zax, two stored for soon-to-be-made next pc)
Cloak of Major Protection x2 (gave one away)
Crimson Sash x2 (one on Prax, scrapped one while getting it. DOH!)
Diamond Belt (on Vax)
Wall of Thought (gave it away)
Holy Avenger (on Prax - pretty sure this was Valentine''s)
Lightbringer Helm (on Prax - may also have been Valentine's)
Shield of Disruption (on Prax)
Sword of the Gypsies (on Zax)
Cloak of Storms (On Trax)
Black Gypsy Boots (and some still load regularly)
Emerald Encrusted Shield x2 (one on Vax, one on Trax)
Ebony Mesh Gloves (gave away)
I also know other players have grabbed the following:
Black Dragon Plate
Cloud Armbands
Cobalt Rings
Black Mace
I've also picked up a lot of other rares to equip my and others' new PCs but I doubt they were maxxed.
As for people's habits not changing, well what works is what works. Yes, there have been adjustments to races and classes that help promote more variety in those. But the basic game and zone mechanics haven't changed so the best class combinations remain the best class combinations and the equipment that was best suited for each class back then is still the equipment that is best suited for each class today.
On the number of active players, yes it's low but each has multiple PCs. I have a Ma/Cl/Wa, a HG, a Dr/Ra, a Monk, a Ma/TH, and a Paladin. made in that order. I'm currently leveling up a Ma/Cl/Th to replace the Ma/Th and as my HG is getting old, I plan to soon repalce her with a new evil-male HG. One thing I learned early on after finding GNSMud was that with the player count so low and ppl going and coming , I'm playing alone for the vast majority of the time. So to get by, one needs a stable of PCs to cover the needed classes.
A Ma/Cl/Wa is pretty much a must have, as is a HG. Some sort of Druid and a Thief is next on my list of priorities. Paladin is a bit of a luxury but since I grabbed a Holy Avenger it's very handy to have. Monk's are also a luxury class in my opinion. On the advice of someone who knows vastly more than I do about playing this MUD, I made one in lieu of a thief to pick pocks and leveled him up. While somewhat fun I never fully figured out what to do with him so I made a Ma/Th and the Monk mostly sits in the closet. I then decided I needed another locator so I'm now leveling up a Ma/Cl/Th and transferred all the eq from my Ma/Th to him. Psis have their uses but I haven't figured them out yet so I don't have one, but others do. All this is to say that even with 5 active players there could well be 30-40 semi-active PCs, each wanting to have the best gear available to them.
Now to the suggestions. I like the idea of gear expiring in rent before the player does. But losing all one's gear at once seems harsh. Maybe have one rare item disappear every two days starting at day 20 (and starting with maxxed items) . In that case, by day 60 they will have lost all their rares. At some later point (3 mos, 6 mos, 1 yr?) you can wipe the player and the rest of his gear.
I think the quest items and services are pretty good. I've already bought some items and plan to spend more in that shop. So that's a valid gold sink for me. Maybe expand the list to include adding attributes to equipment (like +HnD to a held item or maybe TS or invis to some worn item). Or maybe even toy with the idea of "special ordering" a maxxed item for some exorbitant price. Maybe you could get it right away or maybe you pay the money and the next time one pops you get a message telling you it's ready for pick up.
I don't like having to pay rent. If rent comes back I'll probably stop playing. I like the actual rent charge mechanics just the way it is. You have to have enough money to rent for one day but you only get charged 30gp per day.
I also don't like scrapping. Or DTs for that matter. It's really just a bothersome pain in the ass and not necessary in my opinion. It's not like in the MUD's heyday where whole factions of ppl were running around competing with other factions of people to scarf up the best eq. The people playing today seem to be quite willing to share beyond what they need for their own PCs. So say, if Nikthil scrapped a DPM, I think everyone playing today would work to help him get it back. In fact, some time ago I DT'd and lost everything. With Valer's help I got everything back except a BDP. Acele had came across the BPD without knowing I DT'd. After hearing about my DT, she sought me out and gave me the BDP. So scrapping doesn't help eq change hands right now. It just annoys ppl. I'd vote for suspending scrapping altogether [and disabling all DTs as well ]
I suggested something similar to loot boxes earlier, in that equipment doesn't pop until the mob that loads it is killed. I now see that would be far more frustrating that what we have now, unless the load rates are vastly increased. It's frustrating enough to have to check a zone 10, 20, times a day to see what loaded, let alone to have to kill each mob of interest in each zone that many times to check on eq.
Not sure what you mean by an auction command. There already is an auction channel. But auction isn't really viable right now I don't think. The people currently playing seem willing enough to share out their extra stuff as needed. I've given, received, and seen given and received, many maxxed items. I don't think any current active players are hoarding extra gear other than what's on all their various morts, however infrequently they may be played.
How would insurance work?
How would luck potions work?
To sum up then, the current system is working for me but I can see how others might still be frustrated. Increasing load rates would be ok with me. I like the idea of a gradual gear-wipe followed by eventual p-wipe, I don't like paying rent, scrapping, or DTs. I think loot boxes, if I understand how they work, would be more frustrating that the current system. For the most part, everyone playing today is cooperating in obtaining and sharing equipment without need for auctioning, scrapping, or otherwise artificially forcing equipment to circulate. I like the current quest sytem and would be happy to see it expanded as noted above.
Zax