IDOC Monopoly
I'd like to put in my two cents about IDOCs, since I represent what is likely Broadswords most desired player, a new or returning one.
Since returning to UO about a year ago, I have found housing, particularly the acquisition of housing to be the most stressful part about the game. I play on Atlantic mostly, for reference.
When I first got back, I was easily able to find space for a small house, which I setup and began my journey pretty quickly. I had outgrown it pretty fast. Thankfully, some hero named Spring has a runebook setup with runes to every IDOC, and within a month I was able to find an abandoned spot with enough space available to place a villa... Which was my first house when I played originally back in 99, so there was a lot of nostalgia that came with it.
I quickly realized I would outgrow that space as well. Within about 8 months I was searching for larger spots again.... Only this time I was finding it impossible to place. I would camp out at the spots and try to snag them, yet somehow, some guy would beat me EVERY SINGLE TIME. It became apparent that I was not going to be able to acquire a house through this method, and I was likely going to have to buy one if I wanted a bigger space.
I refused. The only person who was selling houses was the same person who was snagging them every time. Regardless of how this person was acquiring them, whether it is by fair methods or through scripts, they represented a direct competitor. And I refused to play THEIR game. So this left me stuck in my house.
That is, until the other day. A guild member was quitting, and he gifted me their house. I just finished setting up and moving in, and I am satisfied.
For now.
There will once again some point in the future, where I will have to come into direct competition with this person and their monopoly. And at that point.... Well, I'd rather quit then be forced into an unfair game.
Anyhow, I've seen some pretty good suggestions to how to resolve the IDOC situation. I like the way the items are awarded, especially when it's in Fel, it creates a nice little spontaneous competitive area for a while. The only thing I would change is the stuff that gets deleted from the house, I think there's too many things that end up being removed from the game in this method.
As for the house itself.... My best solution would be to hold a blind auction for it, one bid per account. All money is taken when the bid is made, and all money returned to everyone except the winner. if nobody bids, it just goes to an empty space
For those who don't know, it would look something like this. Nobody can see anyone else's bids
Player 1 bids 2mil, and 2 mil is taken from their account
Player 2 bids 1mil, and 1 mil is taken from their account
Player 3 bids 10mil, and 10 mil is taken from their account
Bidding is over
Player 3 gets the house
Player 2 gets their 1mil back
Player 1 gets their 2 mil back
This would also act as a gold sink
Anyhow, this would help level the playing field in terms of how housing is done.
Just my two cents, but for me, this has been probably the most frustrating part of the game experience so far.
Since returning to UO about a year ago, I have found housing, particularly the acquisition of housing to be the most stressful part about the game. I play on Atlantic mostly, for reference.
When I first got back, I was easily able to find space for a small house, which I setup and began my journey pretty quickly. I had outgrown it pretty fast. Thankfully, some hero named Spring has a runebook setup with runes to every IDOC, and within a month I was able to find an abandoned spot with enough space available to place a villa... Which was my first house when I played originally back in 99, so there was a lot of nostalgia that came with it.
I quickly realized I would outgrow that space as well. Within about 8 months I was searching for larger spots again.... Only this time I was finding it impossible to place. I would camp out at the spots and try to snag them, yet somehow, some guy would beat me EVERY SINGLE TIME. It became apparent that I was not going to be able to acquire a house through this method, and I was likely going to have to buy one if I wanted a bigger space.
I refused. The only person who was selling houses was the same person who was snagging them every time. Regardless of how this person was acquiring them, whether it is by fair methods or through scripts, they represented a direct competitor. And I refused to play THEIR game. So this left me stuck in my house.
That is, until the other day. A guild member was quitting, and he gifted me their house. I just finished setting up and moving in, and I am satisfied.
For now.
There will once again some point in the future, where I will have to come into direct competition with this person and their monopoly. And at that point.... Well, I'd rather quit then be forced into an unfair game.
Anyhow, I've seen some pretty good suggestions to how to resolve the IDOC situation. I like the way the items are awarded, especially when it's in Fel, it creates a nice little spontaneous competitive area for a while. The only thing I would change is the stuff that gets deleted from the house, I think there's too many things that end up being removed from the game in this method.
As for the house itself.... My best solution would be to hold a blind auction for it, one bid per account. All money is taken when the bid is made, and all money returned to everyone except the winner. if nobody bids, it just goes to an empty space
For those who don't know, it would look something like this. Nobody can see anyone else's bids
Player 1 bids 2mil, and 2 mil is taken from their account
Player 2 bids 1mil, and 1 mil is taken from their account
Player 3 bids 10mil, and 10 mil is taken from their account
Bidding is over
Player 3 gets the house
Player 2 gets their 1mil back
Player 1 gets their 2 mil back
This would also act as a gold sink
Anyhow, this would help level the playing field in terms of how housing is done.
Just my two cents, but for me, this has been probably the most frustrating part of the game experience so far.
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Simple housing raffle system would be sufficient enough. Best part is this system already exists so would just have to be adapted to IDOCs with minimal dev time taken away from precious NL. Maybe add nominal fee (5m-10m) to enter.
However! I have mentioned in other threads that it sounds like the most recent IDOC changes are final and they don't care otherwise, from what they've said at M&Gs. You know, those changes that have only helped the non-legit players. I'm so happy I'm out of the housing market as I absolutely wouldn't buy from these players either. Good on you for not caving.
I'm on my way out of the game because of similar aspects of the game that are just ignored by the devs. I'll be sure to give my houses to a new(er) player instead of letting them fall.
I will be slow to reply because I cannot log in/stay logged in to the forums.
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fir what it’s worth I feel they need to close the 2D client and them make everyone play via the EC but have a 2D model within that way any interface etc like Pincos is legal
then not bullshit cheating for house placement etc and any kind of bot
but as above the current dev team are not capable. Which is not the problem, not asking or employing people that can is the problem
Username, thanks for the constructive comment. It's sad but true, without necessary changes a lot of people will quit, it's an uphill battle for sure. In regards to the raffle system, while it is good, I think it still places the advantage to the people who are monopolizing the system. They have far more accounts than a standard user would, and still have an unfair advantage.
How would you feel about a complete moratorium on house placements starting now.
Then lets say you join NL. You work your way through a season which in some way shape or form allows you to earn an account bound house placement tool that has one successful placement use that you can transfer with your character to the normal shards and you get to place a house.
*throws another log on the fire and takes a sip of his Good Old Moonglow Red*
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The devil is in the details on that one.
Yanno, I think stopping all house placement might be a good idea. The new legacy part not so much, I have no interest in playing new legacy. That's just an extra step. But. Stopping the placement of houses by this individual, and all individuals, until a better, more fair solution could be reached. I'd absolutely support that.
Feigr, the analogy between other businesses is a pretty good comparison. When I used to be in retail way back in the day, every black Friday we would have swarms of resellers line up early and attempt to purchase all the deals before everyone else. The business would usually make the decision to limit these purchases, as the resellers generally worked as a team and as such had unfair advantages over the other shoppers.
Once again though, if what shootgun says is true and messanna doesn't care about whether her customers are happy or not, it's irrelevant.
Is messanna like ceo of broadsword? Or just like some middle manager on a dated game. I just ask this because if enough of her customers are upset and there's enough tangible evidence of loss of subscription or profits, I would assume something would be done to remedy things more expediently. I saw a uo Skype or zoom call a while back and the only thing I remembered was the poor qa guy falling asleep.
House auction is the way to go. 24 hours. Highest bid wins. Show the highest bid on the sign. Could someone always outbid everyone to get the house? Sure. But then what’s the profit margin when you just spent 1go more than anyone was willing to pay? 1gp. Right now it’s 100% profit.
This guy is making at least 2k to 3k dollars a month just from his RMT and house sales. Talking will not make him give up on that.
Could also be that they just know doing something like what I'm recommending is just going to result in someone else replacing them and there's some line of people waiting to do the same thing. I'm not omnipotent. They could know something I don't.
I don't like to use the "Ask someone" and it makes my skin crawl, but I waffle back and forth on that issue. People will really help you if you ask and transfers have always been a premium thing.
I do waffle on the issue though. Not a couple hours ago I mentioned that FFXIV lets you move around for free.