Housing: an accurate problem

[God Himself]

Alright, I started playing UOSA about four days ago and I love it. The dev team does an amazing job and the player run events and seasonal specials make the game that much better.

But, I have one issue with the era accuracy policy that pertains to the housing. There were no mid-sized houses in T2A, it literally goes from the 7x7s to 14x14s and up. I think it would be great if you put Renaissance houses in the game such as small tower, small marble, etc.

It would allow housing spaces to be used more efficiently and players would have a greater variety of options for their already used 7x7 spots. I understand that the point of second age is era accuracy, but the housing change came for a good reason.

Personally, I don't think fudging the housing would hurt or hinder, I think it would help. I'm open to opinions and ideas about this and want to hear what you think.

With regards,
God

[wgensel]

The housing changes though came specifically because there was no space left for players and the inflation in the housing market was insane. That situation simply doesn't exist here. There are spaces out there for 14x14 even though players horde space, and at worst you can buy one from the horders for something like deed + 10k. Or just place a bajillion small houses since there are spots everywhere. I've even seen space for towers around...

[God Himself]

The housing problems weren't centered purely around the housing inflation. There was a general outcry on the OSI forums for a series of mid-sized houses.

People didn't want the shitty 7x7s with a single room. They wanted something dynamic and spacious. Not to mention they wanted variety. I feel these things would help as well even though this is a T2A server. I would like to see stone workshops for small vendor houses and small towers. Not to mention the log cabins, who didnt love those?

My point is, housing is a moot point in relevance to gameplay itself. Having renaissance era houses wouldnt take away from the game experience in my opinion. I just want to see some more variety for houses.

With Regards,
God

[Dagon]

having neon elf hair is a moot point also, in relation to gameplay, so it should be added.

[God Himself]

Dagon, I understand the point you're making. Neon elf hair is an impractical thing though and is purely aesthetic. The mid-range house serves a practical purpose by providing affordable and spacious housing opportunities for the more casual player who doesn't want to get a tower or keep.

Keep in mind I'm entirely in support of T2A accuracy. But, in this case I feel that the general populace would be greater served with the addition of Renaissance era houses. Being a more casual player I don't think I'll be able to ever find the time to farm for the larger houses. I'm sure there are many players who share my feelings and wouldn't mind seeing a broadening of the housing front.

At any rate, I hope to hear more input and opinions about my proposal.

With Regards,
God

[BobDobbs]

Adding UOR housing would destroy the atmosphere of this shard.

[Mikel123]

"God Himself", it's just against the point of this shard. New players come here and suggest things like that a lot... however, as good of an idea as it seems to you (and, perhaps, most of us too!), it's not going to happen. Mechanically, the only thing every player here agrees upon is that we want to mimic late 1999 UO. Every single player here, by playing here, agrees with that. It's the stated purpose of the shard. Beyond that, you get into gray areas - should we implement non-accurate things that are 50% approved? 90% approved? Etc. And I think the shard director(s) have wisely chosen to keep the door on those types of things shut.

Stay awhile though... you will find that 1999-era UO is well worth keeping in it's raw, pristine condition. There are some minor inconveniences, but the freedom to explore character types and brand new characters is second-to-none.

[God Himself]

I fail to see how houses could make or break the atmosphere of the game. I feel accuracy to skills, combat, mobs, armor and weapons etc. is more important than the housing issue.

Could you expound upon why you feel that the Renaissance houses would ruin the atmosphere?

With Regards,
God

[BobDobbs]

I never saw any UOR style homes when playing on Great Lakes because I quit OSI long before they were implemented. Therefore UOR style homes on UOSA would destroy the atmosphere of UOSA.

I'm not really interested in debating why you think otherwise.

[Mikel123]

I fail to see how houses could make or break the atmosphere of the game. I feel accuracy to skills, combat, mobs, armor and weapons etc. is more important than the housing issue.

You're missing the point. EVERYTHING is important. There is no piece of accuracy that is less important than another. In an ideal world (and to be honest, this shard is pretty ideal), everything that we know is inaccurate will get fixed. The shard admins have a list a mile long of little, easy fixes and big giant fixes.

It's not gray, it's black and white. You're not going to get gray here.

[God Himself]

"Mechanically, the only thing every player here agrees upon is that we want to mimic late 1999 UO"

Just a little fact: Runebooks were added in early 2000. They didn't exist in late 1999. That stood out immediately to me. But, I didn't say anything because it's a practical inaccuracy. Just like how a broader house selection is practical.

"There are some minor inconveniences..."

Runebooks were deemed a big enough convenience that they made it in. I don't see why practical housing wouldn't fall under the "so convenient we need it" category.

Also, I'm in favor of just a select few houses as well. We don't need to add sandstones or large marbles. I just want more mid-range options.

With Regards,
God

[God Himself]

"I never saw any UOR style homes when playing on Great Lakes because I quit OSI long before they were implemented. Therefore UOR style homes on UOSA would destroy the atmosphere of UOSA.

I'm not really interested in debating why you think otherwise."

Well that's just your personal experience with the game. Based on these facts you would probably be in a minority of people who quit before UO:R. What if the fact that runebooks were in the game ruined it for me? I could go around plaguing forums with one-sided arguments demanding they be removed. Or I could weight the pros and cons of the situation and make a logical decision based on utility.

I just hope you give this more thought than just the "i didn't see it i don't want it." stance. All I'm asking for is a little open minded discussion weighing these pros and cons. I understand your game experience didn't ever see the dawn of Renaissance houses, but based on that fact you never saw the practical use in the mid-sized houses either.

With Regards,
God

[BobDobbs]

I just hope you give this more thought than just the "i didn't see it i don't want it." stance.

You're going to be very, very disappointed.

[MustardCat]

Runebooks are era accurate:

Ok first off, there was no runebooks in t2a. It was after that era and an expansion or two later when they came in. Second, they are and always have been blessed. They were not susposed to be blessed, but due to a bug they were, and OSI descided not to fix it. So my suggestion is either bless them, or, if they arent going to be blessed, dump them so we are more era accurate.

Runebooks were introduced in November of 1999 and were not blessed:
http://update.uo.com/design_43.html

The T2A era spanned the period on Oct 1998 to April 2000.

A bug in a later era did cause them all to be blessed, but the only way to bless a runebook prior to that was by use of an item bless deed, obtainable through the Cleanup Britannia ticket system (also in era). Item bless deeds are not available on UOSA.

Don't waste your time, your asking for something blatantly out of era to be added. No matter how much you reason it, it's never going to happen. It goes against everything this sever is about.

[Rammar]

Just a little fact: Runebooks were added in early 2000. They didn't exist in late 1999. That stood out immediately to me. But, I didn't say anything because it's a practical inaccuracy. Just like how a broader house selection is practical.

Runebooks were added Nov 23, 1999. That single day of patches is likely the only gray area you'll find on this shard with regards to mechanical accuracy (namely the exception of phase II housing).

There are tons of good ideas that came after this, but picking and choosing among these is not the purpose of this shard.