This whole Era Accurate Argument

[Manfromx]

It's not guys being terrified of change, it's sticking to the intentions and reasons for creation of the shard.

Do you know what feature creep is?

I do. It all depends on the admins though. It's not a forgone conclusion that it'll be worse as some people think. Nor is it right for me to say everything will be better.

Are you seriously suggesting that you couldn't fix a few things like containers or add a couple house designs without completely breaking the game? The second you change one thing then you have to change everything else apparently.

The best argument so far is that the creator of this shard doesn't ever want to do that. The reason it's the best is because I can't argue against it lol. It's not my server after all.

Terrified of change... well, I don't mean to be cruel with that comment. However when you say "ever hear of feature creep?". I hear "Any change will ruin my game in the long run". That sounds like fear to me. It's not an insult though. I think it's somewhat justified as I wrote earlier.

If you wanted to add to T2A era stuff with a few basic items/functions all you need to do is restate your goals. Determine what gives T2A the best gameplay of all the era's (it's not magic if it's been recreated) and establish that you never want to change the core gameplay as part of your mission. It's not impossible and although I respect you guys love this era so much you want crappy containers and all. I think you're mixing the great gameplay of T2A with some nostalgia and it's clouding judgement on the less fun aspects (like cutting bandages) simply because it tickles the memories in your head.

Like I try to say in every post. I'm here to stay simply because of how well this shard is run. OSI made mistakes during T2A and pre-T2A and I still stayed because the concept and the gameplay were great. The community here is solid from what I've seen. So even if I'd like some more perks or bug fixes, well it's not like OSI was giving in to me in the late 90's lol.

I just wanted to have an honest discussion and get some answers.

[Kraarug]

I can see a lot of the responses are guys terrified of change. I can't blame you. OSI did some crazy stuff to a game with a dedicated fan base. Essentially dumping the world on it's head.

...

Perhaps you think it's a simple case of being afraid of change but there's something that you, and OSI, over looked.

The playerbase have time invested in the way things are (were).

OSI went along the pathway of "Me too" when it came to game development. They chased EQ and the Asian market pretty heavily trying to please the playerbase and their bosses at EA who's former business plans just included another version of Madden football.

To be very clear, this shard is doing what OSI should have done and stuck with what they had. This shard is growing because it hasn't changed it's principles.

Trust me, save but a few people and one particularly in Canada, hate cutting bandages one by one. But we do it because it was 'simply the way it was'.

So that's what makes UOSA different and apparently successful. Don't mess with a good thing or you'll get what everyone else has: failure.

[TheEttinKing]

i would pay 5 mill for a marble patio if anyone has a marble patio deed please pm me.

[Manfromx]

Sure I agree that OSI did a lot of "me too" developing.

However T2A isn't Ultima on release day. So obviously there was a point when you guys were liking the changes OSI were making .

[BlackFoot]

there was a marble workdshop outside of vesper/minoc for abotu 10 minutes once.

[Rendar]

Sorry if this isn't the best place to ask this but I'll try anyway.

I'm new to UOSA and first I'd like to thank everyone that made this shard happen.

Just on a whim I thought to try out UO again and stumbled upon this server. I come from Napa Valley and Catskills early on in UO. Most my time was spent doing RP with the Shadowclan (Orc Clan) on Cats. Maybe some of you out there might be familiar with them. T2A and Pre-T2A were definitely my favorite periods and it's great to see that even though the graphics have aged this game, the gameplay style it introduced hasn't been bested yet.

Anyway, I see a lot of flaming posts (both sides) here and there on Era Accuracy. It seems to me this server is very accurate thus far. With only a few things cherry picked but usually in the same Era.

I've also seen the goal is to provide the setting but advances in VOIP and Broadband will forever change the game. This server can't do anything about that.

So with all that in mind the answer so far seems hazy.

Is there seriously a firm line drawn on nothing being added to this server other than what existed at around Nov99 on OSI?

So say if we wanted new housing types, armoire's that you can place items in the full size of the gump instead of the bottom 1/4th, new house addon's etc. Even if it doesn't break combat or the economy. This seems like a missed opportunity to become the de-facto user shard .

I only ask because although I love that time period, I think all of us used to be excited when OSI added new things to the game. It seems strange to not want to improve on this foundation. That might lead to stagnation in the end as peoples interest wanes. Some people aren't chasing combat and PvP 100%. Having new houses and items to work for is definitely a good way to keep alternative play styles in the game where they do us all good.

Sorry this was so long. Just wanted to voice my thoughts and say thanks for the server at the same time. Regardless of what the admins want for this shard I'll be playing for a long while yet. The game is fairly big .

Thanks again Community + Admins!

Who were you on Catskills?

[Pac]

These posts from people who have been playing here for five minutes and then suggesting that we abandon the entire concept of this shard are getting annoying.

Population growing pains I guess.

Edit: New housing designs were mostly lame and custom housing was a travesty.

[Wise]

Slippery slope.

^^ This

[Manfromx]

I was E'thuk on Catskills of the Howling Skulls.

Sorry for being "lame" for suggesting things . I know I'm new here. What does a UO veteran like me know about the game anyway .

[Faust]

These posts from people who have been playing here for five minutes and then suggesting that we abandon the entire concept of this shard are getting annoying.

Just need to be breaking them in is all.

[Oswald]

These posts from people who have been playing here for five minutes and then suggesting that we abandon the entire concept of this shard are getting annoying.

Population growing pains I guess.

Edit: New housing designs were mostly lame and custom housing was a travesty.

On the other hand the population seems to be steadily growing - I see people everywhere and it seems even more populated this week than last.

[Manfromx]

On the other hand the population seems to be steadily growing - I see people everywhere and it seems even more populated this week than last.

I've brought 4 friends back into the game since I've started. Like I said I love the shard. The game at this point had just enough rules and just enough lawlessness to be exciting and rewarding. (however the Dread Lord days did work better for Orc RP)

[Kordavox]

I think that is sort of the reason the shard is doing so well. There is no player bouts, debating inclusions and exclusions to the game/code. It's "era accurate" and that's all there is too it. Petitioning for change works more like a court case than a public poll.

This is a great way to put it. I came from Divinity, where constant bickering on the forums was the norm. Complaints about what had been added/removed in the past, whether or not it should be deleted/made available again... the constant bickering was a real detriment to people's enjoyment of the game and I feel really affected the server's population.

[Smelly Ira]

Yeah the whole 'legal case' thing is a good point, having this kind of test for changes is infinitely better than what the other shards seem to be doing.

[Manfromx]

I dunno, as a gamer it's not like debates about what is in or should be in or should be changed is something new to me.

I can't think of one game where everyone was perfectly satisfied. Even here people debate what was really in the era and if exceptions should be made to some features.

World of Warcraft is the most successful MMO ever and I'm pretty sure if we took a peek at their forums we'd see a good many lively discussions . Some liking changes, others hating. That's never going to vanish. There are more opinions than people.

Forum discussions on the game shouldn't be crossing over and ruining the game you're playing.