This whole Era Accurate Argument

[Manfromx]

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!

[MatronDeWinter]

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.

[Pat]

Lots of people did not like the changes OSI made... hence the reason for emulating T2A. The era is not only being emulated for the style of pvp.

[Manfromx]

If that's what the admin wants it obviously works. Like I said though I think there is another opportunity but it's not necessary to take it.

However even if they did add stuff the admins can decide what they think adds to the current content while retaining the spirit of T2A. So it's not like the community gets to bicker about what gets in. They just get to bitch. Which happens no matter what you do .

I do agree not all changes were liked. Not all were hated either. It's not impossible to determine "why" T2A is a favorite era. I'm sure we all could make a decent list. I just doubt that "I love how the housing choices are limited" is topping that list. Suggesting that era is beyond improving is simply not true. If the argument is supposed to devolve into "well who decides what is good etc etc" then I guess I'm right in it now .

Anyways I'm guessing the official word is no new stuff then? That's too bad if true but I think I can live .

[Horvik]

Oh god please dont add stuff that came after t2a. i know your intentions are good, even i got excited about new updates while playing on osi. At the same time I hated updates, every new that came out made poeple value it in millions just to later drop in price by 2000%. Plus every new item added be it furniture or weapon or mount screws half the shard population over by making their existing items less worth.

Thats why i like the idea of this shard not updating beyond one era. It is like it is, i know if i chose to gm a skill it will be equally good for however long i play, they wont add some uber items and screw over half my gmd skills. Just to few months later realise they are overpowered and nerf them and nerf over everyone that payed millions for them.

[uofuntime]

It is like it is, i know if i chose to gm a skill it will be equally good for however long i play, they wont add some uber items and fuck over half my gmd skills. Just to few months later realise they are overpowered and nerf them and fuck over everyone that payed millions for them.

So true. I hate how on OSI, they introduced the 120 (give or take, can't remember) skill cap. Last time I played, it was so alienating to new or returning players starting anew because being GM is worthless. You have to make millions of gold just to buy the special rare scrolls that allow you to increase your skill cap. While the majority of the shard is doing champion spawns, the few new players are left with no one to interact with. It's like they're trying to find ways to keep the few subscribers left entertained. Little do they know that they're making it very un-fun for new players (it's all about hand-outs and twinking).

[Faust]

A lobbyist ruins UO shards just like it does the government.

That is what it ultimately comes down to for changes to player run shards.

The era accuracy goal of this shard removes this factor that always ends up bringing a server down.

[BlackFoot]

Plus every new item added be it furniture or weapon or mount fucks half the shard population over by making their existing items less worth.

I know your probably talking about super weapons and whatnot which I agree with but, the effect of changes positive or negative cant be the deciding factor if they get implemented here. For instance everyone that spent forever gming their lockpicking a long time ago wouldnt have had to due to new detect hidden changes. Or the crystall balls being a normal monster loot now dropping value of the rare crystal balls.

Changes may make things easier/harder shouldnt be a valid arguement for or against change.

To the OP: There are many unique items on UOSA that a player can strive for that are continually being introduced to the game through events and gameplay. These give collectors a long lasting goal.

[Oswald]

There's not even a debate to be had here.

It's a t2a shard - plain and simple. No matter how loudly anyone bellows about gargoyles and necromancy, it's not gonna happen, ever. At least not as long as Derrick is alive.

I would say the most liberal/progressive change you might ever see is the ability to cut bandages faster since that's more of a quality of life issue than a new feature.

That said, how did runebooks make it in? I don't remember runebooks AT ALL and I quit before UO:R came out.

[Populus]

There's not even a debate to be had here.

It's a t2a shard - plain and simple. No matter how loudly anyone bellows about gargoyles and necromancy, it's not gonna happen, ever. At least not as long as Derrick is alive.

I would say the most liberal/progressive change you might ever see is the ability to cut bandages faster since that's more of a quality of life issue than a new feature.

That said, how did runebooks make it in? I don't remember runebooks AT ALL and I quit before UO:R came out.

I'm not sure if runebooks existed in t2a either.
But I think we all can agree that no runebooks is silly. Nobody wants to have a bag full with 100 runes. It's not like anyone would say "What, runebooks? That's not t2a! MAKE T2A or I'll do something"
Just saying.

[Oswald]

There's not even a debate to be had here.

It's a t2a shard - plain and simple. No matter how loudly anyone bellows about gargoyles and necromancy, it's not gonna happen, ever. At least not as long as Derrick is alive.

I would say the most liberal/progressive change you might ever see is the ability to cut bandages faster since that's more of a quality of life issue than a new feature.

That said, how did runebooks make it in? I don't remember runebooks AT ALL and I quit before UO:R came out.

I'm not sure if runebooks existed in t2a either.
But I think we all can agree that no runebooks is silly. Nobody wants to have a bag full with 100 runes. It's not like anyone would say "What, runebooks? That's not t2a! MAKE T2A or I'll do something"
Just saying.

Era accurate is era accurate. It's used to stop other quality of life changes such as bandage cutting, so why would something as big as runebooks make it in?

[Lonebob]

I don't really want change but man it would be nice to have a small tower.

[Manfromx]

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.

However adding new housing types does not equate to skill caps of 120, new items that make your current ones worthless or other such extremes. Like I was saying earlier about making it so that Armoire's can use the full graphic when you open them to store stuff instead of the bottom 1/4th. Why is era accuracy important on something like that? That just seems anal.

I know it's easier to take a hard fast line against any changes, but as has been brought up before there have been a few cherry picks already for better gameplay.

Thanks for the replies though. I know this is a can of worms on here but I wanted to understand why every few posts or so there was an argument about this topic and never an official response. Just both sides debating their position and sometimes slinging mud. I see now it really is out of fear that any change will somehow ruin everything. While the other side see's a great shard with a good player base miss a chance to improve on the T2A era. In a way that it maybe should have gone if OSI had seen the original player base (including PvP,PK's, griefers and thieves) as more important instead of new subscriptions.

Just my observation so far.

There are benefits for sticking to the era 100% no doubt.

Like I said earlier this is one of my favorite era's. So I'm cool with the decision. I just thought maybe some things could be considered non-detrimental to the feel of the game.

[Oswald]

I can see a lot of the responses are guys terrified of change.

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?

[tenduil]

Slippery slope.

Small tower's were nice. Not cutting bandages was nice. But I'm happy forgoing those for T2A era accuracy and no changes.

If your happy here than stay! More the merrier! But if you want a mix of old and new I suggest you look elsewhere.