DenDragon - Greetings and thank you for attending tonight's Open House.
DenDragon - Tonight's topic is: "Quests and Events". Please phrase your questions accordingly.
DenDragon - Tonight, we'll also be having some Seers here to answer some of your concerns, due to the nature of this meeting's topic.
DenDragon - Remember that we may not have the opportunity to answer all of your questions. In addition, some questions may not be answered if the guys from OSI feel that it is not appropriate or that it has been better answered through some other question.
DenDragon - In addition, please do not submit any questions that have already been answered during past conferences. We encourage you to read the logs of the previous Open Houses, which are available at http://uohoc.stratics.com.
DenDragon - Thanks for coming, everyone. We will now begin accepting questions.
DesignerD - We've got a special guest here tonight--some of you who follow Ultima:Ascension might know of her :)
LadyMOI - While we're getting started, I'd like to announce that there will be an in-game chat tomorrow evening at 6pm CST on Beta shard featuring DD and Rich Vogel...
DesignerD - (You need to be a beta tester to join it, of course)
LadyMOI - The channel will be Genesis, and we would like to hear any questions you might have regarding The Second Age.. or the future of UO at that time :)
LadyMOI - So PLEASE come, if yer a beta tester.. and join in!
Glamdring - *VemTheRazor* Is there anyt chance of having quests for rare and/or unique items, such as powerful swords and the like?
DesignerD - I can see already we'll have to divide questions between dev-side quests, and GM run quests. :)
DesignerD - On the dev side, we'd like to incorporate a quest engine that generates quests--and yes, gives cool and possibly unique items as rewards for completing them.
GM_BEAST - There have been several quests where the players were rewarded
GM_BEAST - with special items
GM_BEAST - These items normally have enhanced power and a special name
GM_BEAST - Presently, Nystul is rewarding players, who deliver blackrock to him, with special items
Glamdring - *Damon_Blackheart* Why are there no quests for evil players (e.g. murderers, theives, assasins). This could create more depth instead of an everything-is-how-it-seems wonderland of virtue :).
GM_BEAST - Evil quests do present some interesting problems in terms of rewards and organization
GM_BEAST - The plot that is going on now involving the FoA allows the player to choose whether they wish to be good or evil
GM_BEAST - As the plot contiues to unwind, then there will be additional opportunities for evil players to participate
Glamdring - *Shakkar[MT]* Running events in player owned cities or public structures has huge security problems. Thieves and killers return time and again to harass you and steal you blind. Are there any extra security measures or anti harassment measures you can implement?
Glamdring - In a chess tournament we can hardly have one if the boards are stolen or you have to look up from the board to fight a battle every five minutes
DesignerD - This gets at broader issues, but basically... we'd like to give players more tools to run events themselves.
DesignerD - So we've talked about taking the "oracle" capability that some Seers have now, to script NPC conversations, and give it to all players so they can write quests themselves.
DesignerD - Doing something like protecting a chess tournament is a little harder. We don't currently have any plans for something that could handle a case like that--but we'd welcome them.
DesignerD - Players are UO's biggest asset, and there's a lot of creative folks out there. We'd like to find more ways to hel pyou build your own stories.
Glamdring - *bishop7* why aren't there more major monster attacks, like there use to be, where everyone on the shard was alerted to an attack?
GM_BEAST - There were several problems with the monster attacks like the one you mentin
GM_BEAST - The first is that these broadcasts are extreme fiction breakers, acting as a world wide intercom
GM_BEAST - We wanted to avoid the broadcasts at any cost from that point forward
GM_BEAST - In addition, most players enjoy the extra effort that is put into a well thought-out and planned plot liine
GM_BEAST - While I understand the enjoyment of attacking monsters, it is a fleeting pleasure
GM_BEAST - Whereas a quest, that provokes thought, and spans several months is able to captivate a larger pool of players for a longer period of time
GM_BEAST - As we learned by our mistakes with earlier quests, we are able to add to the depth and interest in furture quests, past simple monster spawns
Glamdring - *Strider* I feel that more quests should involve the various player run towns and establishments. Do you agree and if so, what steps are planned to coordinate such activities with the player runs towns and taverns and such?
GM_BEAST - In all honesty, they do
GM_BEAST - Not all player venues will be involved
GM_BEAST - and when they are, you might not be there to enjoy it
GM_BEAST - Obviously, we have not included the venues as much as some would like
GM_BEAST - But as we see an opportunity to include a location, such as Kent's, then we will do so
GM_BEAST - The Role-playing characters that can be found on each shard
GM_BEAST - Some of them are closely tied to some of the player venues on that shard
GM_BEAST - Considering that the Seer sponsors the venues on their shard
GM_BEAST - Each official venue has a Seer contact
GM_BEAST - and will be included if it fits the fictional situation.
Glamdring - *Deylios* We have a public pub and wish to run player events and the such but everytime we turn around someone is stealing the furniture or something to that effect. When can home users or public run establishments hope to be able to do and further our own story telling?
DesignerD - As the Vault already reprinted (damn, they're fast!) we intend to have at least furniture lockdown soon. We today discussed putting in lockdowns in advance of ownership exactly so that player-run taverns and public buildings can thrive while ownership is being coded.
DesignerD - In advance of ownership means I'd like to get it in in the next server update
DesignerD - (alongside a few other long-requested items, including fixing bardic provoication flagging, and exceptional plate :)
Glamdring - *Sisiarafen* Being a member of a evil roleplay guild I know there is no way we can contact the FoA or such seers. Our plans we would like to have kept secret, without needing to tell extra people about it, can we have evil seers to assist us in creating quests? (The Sinful of NV)
GM_BEAST - The Green Robed Seers are neutral and they can be approached by anyone. Contacting a GRC is not easy at the moment, but if one was approached with a good quest idea, whether it revolve around good or evil, then they should act on it
GM_BEAST - With regards to the FoA, there are already many Evil role-playing groups that have intimate ties with the FoA.
GM_BEAST - They will ally with whoever will help them with their cause, whether those players appear good or evil (I consider all FoA supporters evil BTW :)).
Glamdring - *Livius* When are we going to see quests that require some of the non-combative skills? I understand that it can be difficult to do, but they are an integral part of UO.
GM_BEAST - The present quest does have some non-combat elements to it.
GM_BEAST - There have been several Seer quests that did not require combat. These quests revolve around problem solving and riddles.
GM_BEAST - Although, we are exploring some quest angles that would require a trade skill to complete, and encorporating it into the main plot.
GM_BEAST - Look for a most compicated puzzle in the VERY near future.
DesignerD - One that will require a LOT of brainpower :)
Glamdring - *Celtain* How do you become an "official venue"? How do we contact a seer (on Pacific) to set something up?
GM_BEAST - Actually, you should not try to contact a Seer about your location.
GM_BEAST - The Seers are very active participants in their shard's community, and they do hear of new locations of interest
GM_BEAST - Any location that is famous on their shard, and is a center of player activity, then the Seer will contact you.
GM_BEAST - If that location receives Seer sponsorship, then it will be reviewed for a few weeks by other Seers and GMs before a decision of assistance is made.
Glamdring - *DarkHorse* How about the completion of quests, giving fame/karma (The harder the quest the more fame/karma gained)
GM_BEAST - This is already the case.
GM_BEAST - Players, who capture FoA members and deliver them to the Court of Truth in Yew, do gain some fame as a part of their reward.
Glamdring - *Kyn* To ask an oft-asked question (I assume), when will there be possibilities of new Seers, as was mentioned a few weeks ago?
GM_BEAST - We will be looking for new Seers in the very near future. Actually, we are always looking for outstanding role-players to join the Seers.
GM_BEAST - We will not have a public application process.
GM_BEAST - Each prospective Seer must be sponsored by a Seer or IGM.
Glamdring - *Arkenor* How will the new shards handle the lack of history thus far? Also, when will the europe shards be up?
DesignerD - Well, we have had shards come up at different times before. They will just join the plot midstream. Assume that all OSI-run events in the ast have happened on the new shards too.
DesignerD - Heh... anyway--players will quickly fill in the player history, I'm sure.
DesignerD - As far as when the shards are coming--very soon, in fact. Keep an eye on the top European sites like ClanUK and Talkhouse.de for info soon.
GM_BEAST - One last point about becoming a Seer
GM_BEAST - The best way to attract the attention of a Seer or an IGM is to become an active member in your shard's community
GM_BEAST - Run quests
GM_BEAST - Role-play well in the OSI and player events
GM_BEAST - External contact is not the best way to become a Seer, but in-game fame is.\
Glamdring - *Jon* Will future quests invole anything that could need a multi-shard effort?
GM_BEAST - Multi-shard quests will not be involved in the longer plot-quests.
GM_BEAST - it is important that the player community on each shard be able to control their own destiny. Not to mention the fictional complications of doing that.
Glamdring - *Goldcard* Do the rumors of this FOA quests eventually resulting in a wipe have any basis in fact, or are they just rumors?
GM_BEAST - Given the evidence, there is no true indication of what the FoA has planned.
GM_BEAST - No one knows exactly what will happen if they succeed, but we will continue to gather information to try and find out.
Glamdring - *UOSephiroth* when\if players get to have more control over creating quest will they be able to give awards (such as those given by seers.. unique items...substantial amount of gold etc....) and will it be available to everyone or just certain people such as Mayors of Player Created Towns?
DesignerD - The players will have to come up with the rewards themselves, I fear :) Otherwisem, it's an obvious exploit to generate quest rewards just for you and your friends. :)
DesignerD - No special powers. Remember, part of the philosophy of UO is to give players tools to make the world, and let them run with it--not to give certain people favored status that lets them lord it over others.
DesignerD - Those players who make towns or run quests are doing it with tools available to everyone.
DesignerD - The goal is to give plenty of tools so that anyone wishing to take up the challenge of doing that sort of thing can do so.
Glamdring - *Arkenor* Will the new European servers and other new shards have quests given the lack of seers there. Also, when will the europe shards be up?
Dupre - We will have support on the European servers not to worry. We are almost ready to open the European shards.
Dupre - We will make an announcement on the update center...check there for more information
Glamdring - *Garlaxel* What aids will players have in generating quests in the future, Will we be able to hire actors to respond on Que to Key words?
DesignerD - Yes, that is exactly how we plan to handle it. We also have talked about making them able to respond to objects given to them, by saying something or giving another object back.
DesignerD - Some of this capability exists already, for Seers to use. So it wouldn't be that big a deal to extend it. Before we moved n making any such system, though, we'd want to alk with Seers and interested players about how it might work. It's a ways off though.
FrostByghte - Thank you all for coming to the UOHOC. There should be a transcript up at http://uohoc.stratics.com. Please come to the next meeting...and bring a friend...if possible.
Special "Late Night" Chat with Seers.
Seer_Garak - Thank you!
Seer_Nikademus - Let's get who's who here
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - Feel free to query/msg a Seer with a question.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - We'll try to attach a shard to our name...
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - ...so you know who to talk to.
Seer_Nikademus - I'm a Seer on Atlantic, FYI
Seer_Nikademus - We can't answer any questions about the release date of t2a
Seer_Garak - Oh yes, FYI- I'm a seer on Chesapeake.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - *Kender* So, with the capture of Martoo Saul on Sonoma, doth that mean the FoA quest is over there? I've not seen any news items about it since Martoo was caught.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - There is still an underground movement, and you may also want to read the Town Cryer (newspaper at owo.com) for information.
Seer_Garak - *meta-GL* who is the seer for GL or seerers?
* Seer_Garak forgets
Seer_Kelley - stephen is
Seer_Stephen - Yes, I am a seer on Great Lakes.
Seer_Garak - *Kazola* seer degodefroi and seer domaru as well are on GL
Seer_Nikademus - *Jon* Will new Seers on the new servers be recrutied from the exisiting servers?
Seer_Nikademus - They will be recruited in the same way as has always been done, which Beast discussed
Seer_Kelley - And as Beast said, the best way is not to ask
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - Here's a good one, which I am often asked:
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - *Mr_Chips* Where the %@! are yoU? I've never seen you ONCE
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - Seers are hard to find.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - *Mr_Chips* Are you on daily?
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - Keep in mind that there are over 10,000 active players on any given shard. Even if we meet hundreds of players, we can't ever meet you all.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - It depends on what's going on. During the FoA quest, for example, we might be on more often, with information about the FoA.
Seer_Garak - *Krynn* I would like to run a quest were you have to siege a castle. Could i get GM support in making that area a major spawn zone for the quest (i.e. armies of undead)?
Seer_Kelley - The ratio swells our heads sometimes. There are a handfull(seers) per shard, and many many players
Seer_Garak - Sometimes spawns can be arranged, but automatic spawn zones can't be created.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - In addition, this sort of thing would be what BEAST was talking about earlier, when he said that you need to establish yourself and get a Seer to notice you. Asking us this *here* is not a good way to make it happen.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - There are some notes on this, from a player, at http://kazolas.crpgtavern.com.
Seer_Garak - *Vassago_Dragon* Why the Britannia tour is gone (the gates from LB castle)
Seer_Garak - Presumably because it was a single event, and it is now over. We didn't handle this one personally.
Seer_Nikademus - *Castil* Is there alot less player interaction and quests on the Atlantic Shard, or is it just me? When I read the UO news it always seems like we don't do much of anything, like the shard is populated with introverts.
Seer_Nikademus - As Kelley just said, there are only a handful of us per shard. But we try to move around as much as possible.
Seer_Nikademus - Believe me, ATL is not full of Introverts
Seer_Nikademus - :)
Seer_Garak - Nor is Ches. :-)
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - A lot of the perceptions about how many events go on depend on whether the event was reported to news sites. News sites are eager to hear about this kind of thing -- if you participate in an event, write up an in-character tale about it and send it in!
Seer_Garak - *SquirePug* Any news on what is going on with the LS shard?
Seer_Garak - Any LS seers here to take this one?
* Seer_Ozar is involved with something in-game and is therefore somewhat afk :)
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - *Mr_Chips* Do you have GM powers?
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - The answer is very simple: no.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - Seers merely have special "sight" (hence the name Seer) regarding events and quests that might be going on on your shard.
Seer_Garak - Our Green-robed characters are invulnerable, but that is all.
Seer_Kelley - We cannot grant anyone fame or karma, stats or skills, or any weapons out of thin air.
Seer_Kelley - We depend on IGMs for these
Seer_Caledor - Some carry large sticks.
* Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma grins.
Seer_Kelley - And deer masks
* Seer_Nikademus chuckles
* Seer_Garak laughs
* Seer_Daemeon drools.
Seer_Garak - *beans_bax* this might be a stupid question but ... when is the best time to participate in quests? i play during off hours (12a-6a EST) and never see anything quest related
Seer_Garak - We all have real-lives too, and play when we're available... so it varies greatly
Seer_Garak - Many of us are around during the typical "prime time" hours.
* Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma nods
Seer_Garak - But sometimes also in the afternoons and the like.. It's an individual thing.
* Seer_Garak laughs at his use of "real-lives", since he needs to get one.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - *nevyn* where can i find out more on this?
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - *nevyn* seer activity...
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - Read in the UOVault, Crossroads of Britannia, and other player-run boards, as well as the Town Cryer (at www.owo.com). And be alert, in-game, for interesting developments...ask around.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - *Garlaxel* Do you think the seers should hang out at a given place? so people can find them? or would those places just become lag logged...
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - Well, we don't really want to announce where we "hang out."
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - But we tend to frequent player-run establishements and other roleplaying centers.
Seer_Kelley - Towns and Taverns are a good place to find us, yes
Seer_Garak - A lot of the time not even we know where we'll be an hour before hand :-)
Seer_Nikademus - Basically any place that's already received our support
Seer_Kelley - Or, if you need somehting such as a wedding, contact a counselor who can get us talking with you much faster
Seer_Nikademus - *Loreaux* What are some role-playing cntrs on Atlantic?
Seer_Nikademus - Well, let's see
Seer_Nikademus - As for taverns, there is the Serpent's Cross in Yew
Seer_Nikademus - and the Hungry Halfling in Rivendell
Seer_Nikademus - Note that Rivendell is a player town as well
Seer_Nikademus - Trinsic and Yew both have town councils
Seer_Nikademus - And there is a Mage's Tower in Moonglow
Seer_Nikademus - By the Lycaeum
Seer_Kelley - FYI, Lacerta has written up a nice seer faq and it is being reviewed currently..We all hope it can be published at some time
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - And, of course, on all shards there are many more roleplaying areas which might not be as "famous" as the ones you see in the Vault, but which are still worth visiting...and you might find a Seer there as well.
Seer_Garak - *fred* Do you consider players who interact with each other roleplayers, even if they don't say thee or dost thou every minute in the game?
Seer_Garak - Wow, I toughie... Personally I feel that a "role player" is someone who.. well.. plays a role. This means having a persona with a history, personality, likes and dislikes, and so on. The way in which you speak should be based on this persona, not specifically on olde english. But not everyone chooses to play this way, and it's not always easy to specify one person as a role-player and another as a non-roleplayer.
Seer_Garak - Anyone else have comments to add on this one?
Seer_Caledor - The character I play on Sonoma does not at all use Old English in fact.
Seer_Kelley - I think most everyone would agree with that, Garak
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - "Thee" and "Thou" aren't important. But "im gonna cap ur ass" isn't really a legitimate role in the Ultima world.
Speed - I have a character who doesn't speak :)
Speed - emotes quite a bit though
Seer_Nikademus - I hardly ever use old english, actually
Seer_Nikademus - I emote ALOT
Seer_Nikademus - :-)
Seer_Kelley - Blind and deaf characters..that's some real creative RPing
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - *Gordon* Do you post the quests and events somewhere or are they normally private?
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - It depends on the size of the event.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - Some of them will just develop, some will be yelled out by the town criers, or posted in the Town Cryer newspaper.
Seer_Garak - I think most of us agree that the k00ld00d-speak isn't a valid role in the UO world.. :-)
Seer_Nikademus - *Jon* What type of support could be given to players for player run quests?
Seer_Nikademus - We'll try our best to meet your needs, but it does take time
Seer_Nikademus - Certain things, like editing your character, aren't allowed
Seer_Garak - *Aras* can you drop a hint or two as to what the next plot devolpment after FoA might be?
Seer_Garak - We don't know... we find out as we do it.
Seer_Garak - *Aras* Straight forward question, how many seers are there all together?
Seer_Garak - Generally 3 or 4 per shard...
Seer_Kelley - *Greenwood* We're thinking of using one of the empty houses in britain as a ranger station, where people can rest, tell stories, help newbies with tips, and such. We're starting events and quests for it soon... but I was wondering how long it will take to get attention... I''ve been posting in UO vault and CoB
Seer_Kelley - Which shard is this? Generally we and the IGMs wish to see how you handle the place without our support first. if we see you will gain from a lockdown or some kind of help, then after a few weeks we will usually step in.
Seer_Garak - *Annex* who's a pacific seer?
Seer_Garak - I don't know... any pacific seers here?
Seer_Caledor - Adamantyr, but he left.
Seer_Garak - oh well
Seer_Garak - I can't keep track of who and where we all are. :-)
Seer_Nikademus - There are 4 on Pacific
Seer_Garak - *Lord^Gladiator* what can u tell us about the lost dungeon of Doom?
Seer_Garak - Unfortunately we don't have access to this sort of info... not any more than you anyway.
Seer_Kelley - Guess it's still lost
Seer_Garak - We find out about these things through the Vault and CoB usually. :-)
* Seer_Kelley dodges the rotten fruit
Seer_Nikademus - *Arkon-LS* When are carpenters/tinkerers going to be able to build stuff like Candlabras..etc
Seer_Nikademus - Only the Development team can answer that, sorry
* Seer_Daemeon hefts a tomato.
* Seer_Garak blocks the incoming fruit, thus saving the lives of his fellow seers. :-)
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - that's a prime example of a non-Seer question. We don't handle support, we don't handle development. We're just events people =).
Seer_Garak - OK, some of these [the rest] are technical questions better suited for the GM's or the programmers...
Seer_Garak - We seers are players, like you, who are in a unique position to help create storylines and character personas...
Seer_Garak - Also some of the questions are in regards to getting establishments noticed.
Seer_Garak - As was stated earlier, it's best to start doing what you can with what you have... And get multiple players involved.
Seer_Garak - When something appears on the Vault or CoB repeatedly, or better yet, if we start hearing about it a lot in-game, that gets our attention.
Seer_Hearadh|Sonoma - Yup. On that, I'll point to the URL I mentioned earlier: http://kazolas.crpgtavern.com. That's a player-run site with some relevant information...
Seer_Garak - Lockdowns can only come after you've been operating for a while, and players on your shard start getting involved.
Seer_Garak - Yes, that link is very good, has a lot of useful tips.
Seer_Nikademus - Thanks for staying