Guide to Getting OSI Support for Player-Run Establishments

Many times I am asked "How did you do this?", or "How do I get started if I wish to open my own place?" Quite a few people think that I simply asked for it and received it due to my "GM friends". I always find this amusing, as that is not the way it happened at all. I never even had spoken to a GM before (except via tells when I paged one normally for help) the tavern was built. I've seen a great deal of confusion about what is necessary to open a place like mine, and many misconceptions as to how these places come to exist. Therefore, I've provided some guidelines and hints to get started with your own place.

Paging a GM via normal means is NOT the way to do this. The GMs that you reach via the normal paging system are all support GMs, meaning that they are there to help players who are stuck, have problems with their character, being harassed, or to catch exploiters. (Check http://support.uo.com/gm_0.html for more details of what GMs can do.)

They are not able to lock-down furniture, provide a quest, or decorate your project. Usually they will just say "I can't help you with that", or point you towards the owner of an existing establishment. There is another type of GM, the Interest GM, who IS able to help you. They are the ones responsible for developing quests, assisting the seers in their quests and projects, and assisting players who have created popular establishments or groups. Unlike regular GMs, you do not page them; rather, they come to you. You must prove your venue worthy of such attention before it is given. And how to do this? Here's what you need to do:

First of all, you must have an already existing establishment, and not just an "idea". Whether it is your own building that you have purchased, or an already existing game building you've taken over, it does not matter, but you must be actively using it already. GMs and Seers are not there to create the place.. that is your task. *You* must come up with the idea, the means to make that idea work, and have the dedication to carry out the idea before and after it is accomplished.

Also, it must be fairly well-known in the surrounding area, and publicly accessible to *all* types of players, not just your own guild or group. Once it's locked-down and decorated, it must be open twenty-four hours a day.

The biggest problem you will encounter is generating interest in your project. The best way to do this is to hold events to attract attention, such as player-run quests, newbie giveaways, a 'happy hour', an auction, fight nights, etc. Make announcements on the popular newssites, such as UO Vault and CoB, and any other sites that are relevant to your shard. This will bring newcomers to your establishment, and if they like what they see, they will come again, and tell their friends as well.

There has to be enough activity at your place so that you gain the attention of seers and Interest GMs. If they hear about your place in a favorable light, they will visit as normal players to get a feel for the place. I must stress here that the way to do this is NOT to contact a GM or Seer.. they must hear of you via in-game means or by reading news sites or your shard's news page. A petition signed by your patrons may also help, as will a web-site for your establishment with a map, news and any other relevant information. They will want a regular player's point of view of the place, so may visit at any time in disguise. If they like what they see after a few visits, they will approach you in-game and discuss gaining assistance with you, and schedule a time for when renovations are to be made.

Running your own establishment is a great deal of fun, but it will also give you problems as well. You will have to deal with your furniture being taken, murderers, and other types of harassers. A few groups enjoy attacking known popular sites, not just because of the crowds, but because they love to annoy the types of people that frequent such places. It will be difficult at times, and you may feel like giving up.. but if you are persistent, your efforts will eventually be noticed, and it will actually help your cause in the long-run. You must realize, however, that even after your place has been assisted by OSI, you will continue to have many of these problems, and will have to have the means to deal with them on your own. GMs will assist in certain areas, such as severe forms of harassment and monster gating, but overall, you are still responsible for defending your establishment yourself.

Finally, be patient. Help will not come over-night, regardless of how popular your place becomes. My tavern was running for weeks before I received assistance. We still have to deal with the rude players, and even though it has been difficult at times to grin and bear it, overall I have found the tavern to be an extremely rewarding project, and regret nothing. I've made tons of friends, and it is great to see others having fun and making new friends as well, and enriching the world of UO.

Good luck with your project!

Kazola