Shouldn't the Developers rethink how EM Event items drop ?
To my understanding, currently what determines the highest chance at a drop is looting rights.
Now, who has a higher chance (and quite a higher one too....) to get looting rights in between established players and new or returning players who have lesser suits and templates ?
I would imagine, the established players.... right ?
Now, if one looks at the economy in UO, it is easy to see how most items cost very large amounts of gold which, understandably, a new or returning player would not be able to afford.
Furthermore, considering how established players often already have most of everything, it is way hard for new and returning players to get a drop that they could really sell to established players for large amounts of gold which they could then use to afford those items being very expensive....
And this circle makes it therefore way difficult for new or returning players to be able to "catch up" with existing, established players....
They cannot have looting rights to earn good items to then sell to established players for lots and they do not have the large amounts of gold which many good items sell for....
EM Event items, if dropped NOT taking into account looting rights, could benefit also new and returning players for participating to the Event who could then sell that lucky dropped items for large amounts of gold to some established player and use that gold to buy those good items which they need to catch up.
And, perhaps, this system could be much beneficial to new and returning players is ALSO monsters' drops, from time to time, could benefit new and returning players with the occasional very good item drop even when they did not have top looting rights.
Otherwise, I see it inevitable that those players already on top and having highest looting rights will stay on top and those new and returning players always being unable to compete against them because doing less damage to Monsters.
Comments ?
Now, who has a higher chance (and quite a higher one too....) to get looting rights in between established players and new or returning players who have lesser suits and templates ?
I would imagine, the established players.... right ?
Now, if one looks at the economy in UO, it is easy to see how most items cost very large amounts of gold which, understandably, a new or returning player would not be able to afford.
Furthermore, considering how established players often already have most of everything, it is way hard for new and returning players to get a drop that they could really sell to established players for large amounts of gold which they could then use to afford those items being very expensive....
And this circle makes it therefore way difficult for new or returning players to be able to "catch up" with existing, established players....
They cannot have looting rights to earn good items to then sell to established players for lots and they do not have the large amounts of gold which many good items sell for....
EM Event items, if dropped NOT taking into account looting rights, could benefit also new and returning players for participating to the Event who could then sell that lucky dropped items for large amounts of gold to some established player and use that gold to buy those good items which they need to catch up.
And, perhaps, this system could be much beneficial to new and returning players is ALSO monsters' drops, from time to time, could benefit new and returning players with the occasional very good item drop even when they did not have top looting rights.
Otherwise, I see it inevitable that those players already on top and having highest looting rights will stay on top and those new and returning players always being unable to compete against them because doing less damage to Monsters.
Comments ?
Comments
lets screw the EM events now, they already screw up the deco business, lets focus on this now, i want to see what the EC crybabies will say about.
And yet, these new or returning players, at least to my opinion, are those MOST needing for these drops in order to then be able to sell them for lots of gold to those established players who have the gold....
Insisting on looting rights to determine drop chances only helps established players who have the better suits and templates, doesn't it ?
Do we want players' numbers for UO to go up or not ?
Non max imbued jewels, an AI bow with mana leech and swing speed. healing skill. imbued suit. thats enough to get loot rights and can be put together for very cheap or even free.
no scrolls are really expensive. 110 or 115 archery or throwing is fine. taming, you dont need a maxed out cu, altho they are nice. a dragon will do almost as well. spellweaving is a pain to train, but thats no different for an old player vrs new or low gold one. Mystism can be good. easy to play, not my personal choice because cant cast rising colloses in towns, but its an option.
Back then, there were more players as now and, even though still difficult, new or returning players could still find buyers for the "smaller" items that they were able to retrieve with their reduced looting rights and templates....
But now with the higher scarcity of players ?
It is enormously more difficult now, to my opinion, for a new or returning player as compared to "back then" to find anything of interest to those players having the wealth and, thus, capable of speding large amounts of gold which could help these new or returning players to "catch up with" existing and established players....
So, at least to my opinion, it is not possible to argue that existing players did it "back then" when today, it is way more difficult for new and returning players...
Changing the way that EM Events' Items drop could be, to my opinion, a good start to help out new and returning players to obtain highly seeked items which they could then sell to those players who have the gold and the wealth, the existing, established players....
And wouldn't the "TOP" damagers be those players, already well established, who got their suits, templates, pets all maxed out ?
THIS is, to my opinion, precisely the issue.
It puts new and returning players in competition for "TOP" damaging positions, with other players against whom they simply have not a chance, given their highly inferior templates, suits, pets....
And when these new or returning players realize this, and the uneven odds to get any item of real value when competing for top looting rights, it is not a surprise that quite a number decide to give up playing Ultima Online....
For years I had a connection that didn't allow me to participate. The population was still high, so even with a good connection it was super laggy. But when it's bad enough that you freeze up long enough that when you can move again the action is a screen or more away, you really can't catch up and make any impact. You had to enjoy it as a spectator. Which I did. But not without being disheartened at times. Nothing to be done.
I do recall some events where gates where created; step through and you got a gift if I remember correctly. Or there was something to click to get a prize in your pack. That was fun. I could try my best and get something for the participation. I don't know how you'd deal with those who'd loaf around and just take a prize when it's all over. Meh.
After a significant break, coming back with a better connection, the economy and the gear were so different that, yeah, it's hard to even figure out how to catch up. So if the prizes offered at the EM events are based on damage done to mobs you're not gonna get in on that.
Because of the kindness of others I now have a few characters that are beautifully put together and I think I can make a little difference now when fighting larger battles than I'm used to. But I'm not a natural at it. It makes me nervous! LOL! And I'm easily visually overloaded so there's a lot of...What?! Where?! Oh! I need to stop being nervous about it and maybe stop decorating or working a rogue long enough to practice more. There's no other way to get better. This I know.
But what I and others, who might not be the best natural fighters often do is, go heal and cure as much and for as many as we can. Frankly, I think that's worth something. I have had some folks tell me that healers can get drops. To the best of my recollection I never have. I'll still go sometimes for the comradery and the laughs before and after the battle anyway. But it would be nice to get a bright shiny toy now and again too.
Thanks!