Xander - Welcome to Ultima Online Celebrity Chat. The UOCC is a forum wherein we bring guests from the UO community to speak with YOU!
Xander - Our guests range from the more popular websites, creators of 3rd party programs, counselors, seers, and even players from your own shard.
Xander - They will speak with you about anything related to UO...from their own experiences as a newbie, to more specific questions about what they do.
Xander - Please bear in mind, that our guests are not members of the DEV team, and so cannot answer questions about something like when necromancy is coming out.
Xander - When we begin, please /msg the designated ops with your question or comment, and when it is your turn we will set voice to you, and let you ask your question yourself.
Xander - Please /msg Alton, CJ, or XenaDragon with your questions.
Xander - Our special guest tonight is Glamdring. Glamdring, why don't you tell us a little about what you do?

Glamdring - nothing
Glamdring - :)
Glamdring - j/k
Glamdring - I'm the Counselor Coordinator for UO...I work with all the shards
Glamdring - I help them try to solve issues...I take of the reporting for counselor program
Glamdring - and I built and maintain the database of volunteers
Glamdring - plus I'm the the Asst Network Admin for the Stratics IRC server
Glamdring - and moderate the UOHOC chats
Glamdring - and sometimes I just sit on my butt and feesh up treasure =)

Glamdring - hi CyricTibaan
Glamdring - man...say that 5 times fast
CyricTibaan - Hi Glamdring... i was wondering is there was any hope that the age for becoming a counselor will be lowered? Perhaps to 21?
Glamdring - well...I wish it was my call to make the change
Glamdring - but I sure wouldn't mind it happening
Glamdring - Right now if you're under 25 the Companion Program can get you into the helping mode
Glamdring - if/when changes are made that'll look good on an app
Glamdring - Thanks for the q Cyric

Fake_Lord_British - Heylo
Glamdring - hiyas
Fake_Lord_British - I was wondering, what was your first experience with UO?
Glamdring - about 10 mintues into it getting a black screen and seeing the words "You are dead"
Glamdring - :)
* Fake_Lord_British smiles *
Glamdring - I think I got whacked by a deer
Glamdring - it was the opening day of beta
Glamdring - and then I was lynched by rabbits
Glamdring - ugly mess...fur all over the place
Glamdring - then I stood there looking around not believing it
Glamdring - people we walking past I knew they saw me on their screen too
Glamdring - pretty wild
Glamdring - UO was actually my first online game experience
Fake_Lord_British - Also, what server do you play on when not working?
Fake_Lord_British - Or servers, rather
Glamdring - ancient chinese secret =)
Glamdring - actually I play a few of them
Glamdring - thanks for the q FLB

Glamdring - Hi Chrae
Chrae - Hi Glamdring :>
Chrae - Is there any chance of adding "specialized counselors" like for example a player who has much experience in thievery to handle such topics?
Glamdring - I think that would limit it too much
Glamdring - the problem is, when a personal normally calls
Chrae - Often times, a counselor will have no idea what I'm talking about when I refer to a "perma flag"
Glamdring - they have more questions than just the one they called for
Glamdring - we've added a lot of new counselors recently
Glamdring - just give 'em some time
Chrae - Ok ;>
Glamdring - but we're all experts in "can I have ur robe?"
* Chrae laughs *
Glamdring - "y r u grey?"
Glamdring - tahnks Chrae
Glamdring - thanks even
Glamdring - :)

DarkBlade - Yeah
DarkBlade - I had a question
Glamdring - sure, fire away
DarkBlade - I was curious, Why did you get involved in the counselor program?
Glamdring - heh, when I figure that out I'll let you know
Glamdring - actually
* DarkBlade chuckles *
Glamdring - during beta I had so much fun
Glamdring - when the call came out I wanted to get more involved
Glamdring - I got robed 5 times that 2nd day of release
Glamdring - cause the servers kept warping
DarkBlade - Ugh...timewarps
Glamdring - and then I checked the queue and there were 390 calls
* DarkBlade shivers *
Glamdring - and I said "wtf did I get myself into"
Glamdring - :)
DarkBlade - =)
Glamdring - we didn't get it below 100 calls for weeks
Glamdring - :)
Glamdring - but I've loved being a part of it
Glamdring - thanks for the q DarkBlade
DarkBlade - Sounds real interesting
DarkBlade - Thanks

Glamdring - Hi Weazel
Glamdring - I've got an uncle I call weasel
Glamdring - actually just "a" weasel
Glamdring - :)
weazel - Okay, do you think we are way too addicted to uo, we got action figures comming out, twister is toyyin around with t-shirts, just want to know your opinions on those issues
weazel - sorry talking in 3 rooms at once =)
Glamdring - depends on if I can an action figure and the royalties
Glamdring - :)
Glamdring - can get rather
Glamdring - actually...you know what...people like it
Glamdring - what people like, people will buy
Glamdring - probably be collectors items someday
* weazel just thinks its a bit creepy *
Glamdring - well...if wing commander can become a movie
weazel - hehe okay, thats all i wanted to know =)
Glamdring - why not ultima figures :)
weazel - well that movie royally sucked =), had to say it
Glamdring - thanks weazel

Glamdring - ruh roh
Glamdring - yeah Tes? :)
Tes_AFK - Ok
Tes_AFK - What exactly is your online duties not counting your duties as counselor coordinator?
Glamdring - you mean like on Stratics?
Tes_AFK - I am refering to in UO itself
Glamdring - oh
Glamdring - I coddle Teserax
Glamdring - hehe
Glamdring - if you mean in game
Tes_AFK - like we know what SRCs and Cs do..
Glamdring - I help out when a call needs to be escalated
Tes_AFK - what exactly are you?
Tes_AFK - :)
Glamdring - I have SLC robes and the same tools
Tes_AFK - okey :)
Glamdring - I don't have any additional tools or l33t powers than the SLCs do
Glamdring - :)
Glamdring - that what you were looking for Mr Man?
Glamdring - :)
Tes_AFK - Yes Master
Glamdring - hehe, thanks for the q Tes
Glamdring - go back to work
Glamdring - j/k
Glamdring - Tes rocks

Glamdring - hi Dixieman
Dixieman - hi...
Dixieman - i was wondering about the connections between the counselors and the seers..
Glamdring - as in what kind of contact we have with them?
Glamdring - or involvement with planning quests and such?
Dixieman - yes, and if a counselor gets to help out in questcreation/acting.. and such.. i heard a counselor mention it when just chatting with players one day
Dixieman - that he played a dragon in the attack on Skara for instance
Glamdring - well...normally we're too busy to get involved in what they're doing
Glamdring - but there may be special circumstances were an extra actor is needed
Glamdring - it's happened in the past
Dixieman - but is it possible on NON scheduled time...
Glamdring - if the seer needs assistance
Dixieman - I would love that if i where ever picked out as counselor..
* Dixieman has wishful thinking *
Glamdring - well...it doesn't happen very often =\
Glamdring - so I wouldn't become a smurf in hopes that it would happen
Glamdring - it's pretty rare in the past
Glamdring - it's been rather
Glamdring - thanks for the question Dixieman

Glamdring - hi again Cyric
CyricTibaan - heya! I was wondering what exactly companions do? The UO website is a bit vague.. i was wondering if you could explain further.
Glamdring - The main function for companions is to help new players
Glamdring - not newbie chars...but new account holders
Glamdring - I wish I would've had someone like that around when I first started
Glamdring - would've helped out a lot
CyricTibaan - So they just lead them around for a day?
Glamdring - not so much lead them around...but to be around to help them out
Glamdring - show them the town, teach them how to make a character
Glamdring - and teach them how to make money and survive
Glamdring - so they can enjoy the game
CyricTibaan - Ahh.. I see =)
Glamdring - thanks for the q Cyric
CyricTibaan - Thank you

Chrae - Hi again :>
Glamdring - hello again Chrae
Chrae - Any chance of having a fixed spot in game where counselors and players can bum around and talk independent of the counselor queue?
Chrae - just to chit chat when counselors are off duty
Glamdring - yeah...the main Counselor's Guild Hall in Britain
Chrae - Also..
Glamdring - when the calls aren't hitting hard that's where you'll find 'em
Chrae - I think that Counselors should have at least 100 gold on them so when I'm not able to get an answer out of them, at least I can gank 100gp off them for my troubles ;>
Glamdring - hehe...would help if we had something to carry it in =)
Glamdring - no pockets in the robes
Glamdring - no pack on the back
Glamdring - :)
Chrae - Ask the Dev team give you packs ;>
Chrae - ..just a thought
Glamdring - actually I asked them to give me money
Glamdring - hehe
Glamdring - j/k
Glamdring - thanks for the q Chrae

Glamdring - hi Katherine
Katherine - hello :)
Katherine - Are you aware of the favoritism that is involved when appointing volunteers in the counselor program?
Glamdring - What can I do for ya?
Glamdring - well...as a person who has read hundreds of applications I would have to disagree with you a bit on that
Glamdring - there's no doubt that if someone I know and trust recommends someone
Katherine - as a former counselor i am speaking from experience :)
Katherine - and that is why i chose to leave
Glamdring - that I will place a high level of confidence in that person over someone I don't know
Glamdring - well...there's a difference between favoritism and recommendations
Katherine - was not what I was getting at :)
Glamdring - I don't understand your question then I'm sorry =(
Katherine - appointing those who are friends over those that are quailified
Katherine - er qualified
Glamdring - well...but as a previous counselor you probably also know that there's no cap on the number of counselors per shard
Katherine - correct
Glamdring - it's whatever the SLC needs to be staffed
Katherine - well I have just been told to take this to email so I will graciously leave..thank you for your time
Glamdring - I for one when I chose counselors would pick those who were qualified and those who were recommended to me
Glamdring - a SLC isn't going to turn down someone who's qualified
Glamdring - thanks for the q Katherine

DarkBlade - Hello again
Glamdring - hi DarkBlade
DarkBlade - I know I'm too young for the program, but I've looked over the application
DarkBlade - I was curious if you knew why the questions on it were so easy?
DarkBlade - Because I thought that counselors get swamped with complicated things
DarkBlade - Not things like how to get into the thief guild...
DarkBlade - So I was wondering why there arent any really hard questions
Glamdring - sometimes they do...but a lot of times they're general gameplay questions like those
DarkBlade - Oh
Glamdring - you can teach people the details...but it's harder to teach how you react
DarkBlade - Yeah
Glamdring - those questions show a lot about people just by HOW they answer them
Glamdring - not the difficulty of the question itself
DarkBlade - I see...Well I guess that pretty much answers that question
Glamdring - then we get into more details in the interview
* DarkBlade goes back to thinking up more *
Glamdring - thanks DarkBlade

Glamdring - hi Crys
Crys - Hi
Crys - What was your most interesting counseling experience and why?
Glamdring - probably the time I showed up on a call and this player was naked and had 5 sheep following him
Glamdring - and he swore it wasn't what it looked like
Glamdring - :)
Niobe - I don't want to know about anything like that. :)
Glamdring - hehe
Crys - hehe
Crys - thank you
Glamdring - thanks Crys
Glamdring - "_

Glamdring - hi Dixieman
Dixieman - again :)
Dixieman - As counseling really in essence is a kind of customerservice what is really the priority, exellent gameknowledge or being a good communicator?
Glamdring - hehe...you know I'm going to pick the middle ground and say both =)
Glamdring - communication is harder to teach than knowledge though
Dixieman - hehe, very diplomatic...
Dixieman - that was what i was coming to..
Glamdring - there's no comparison to a person that can deal with an irate player
Glamdring - who's ready to quit
Dixieman - is more game knowledge taught at the training sessions ?
Glamdring - and can just talk to them
Glamdring - I would have to say it's a mixture...
Dixieman - ok..
Glamdring - training is more geared to customer service
Glamdring - there are always other more experience counselors around
Glamdring - to help if they have gameplay questions
Glamdring - thanks for the q Dixieman
Dixieman - and you have your superiors to fall back upon if you cannot answer a specific Q yourself?
Glamdring - yeah, we have the GM's to look to
Dixieman - ahh q answred :9
Glamdring - :)

Glamdring - anyone else have any questions?
Glamdring - Here's a good question for you all
Glamdring - since the UOHOC is the "chat of commons"...what do you see as the positives and negatives of the chats?
Glamdring - msg one of the q takers if you have a comment

Chrae - The dev team doesn't answer nearly as many questions or take the time that you have ;>
Chrae - ..often times I've had a group of 5 people
Chrae - get together and all ask 1 question, and it never gets around to being answered
Glamdring - well...one of the things with the dev chats it we get flooded with questions
Glamdring - so unfortunatly...we have to go in order
Glamdring - but
Glamdring - this is a much more intimate environment too
Glamdring - there isn't 300 people here like the chats
Glamdring - we're working on ways to make it better though
Chrae - I would also like to express my appreciation to you and all of the other counselors on thier selfless efforts to help improve the game
Glamdring - Thank you...that means a lot. It really does
Glamdring - people who are upset are 10 times more vocal than those that have something positive to say

^BajaBlackSheepShard - i agree with her
Glamdring - hi Baja
^BajaBlackSheepShard - on the fact you guys are trying reweally really hard
^BajaBlackSheepShard - and i also thank you
^BajaBlackSheepShard - but i have aquestion
Glamdring - hehe :)
^BajaBlackSheepShard - There is a bug thats been out for a while, and i have tried for almost 3 months
^BajaBlackSheepShard - to get a anwser to my question, but i keep being kicked to the curb, i have emailed, paged everything
^BajaBlackSheepShard - what do i do? they wont anyser the question
^BajaBlackSheepShard - anwser also
Glamdring - Well...they do read every email
Glamdring - but I can't imagine how much they get
^BajaBlackSheepShard - they may read... but they dont anwser
Glamdring - there's over 135k active accounts
Glamdring - they may not answer but the info goes the appropriate place
^BajaBlackSheepShard - I'll just say, because of bugs where greys can give counts, i lost my only character ( friends account ) and died because i was turned perma red, 5 gm's gone
^BajaBlackSheepShard - and its been 3 months since i informed them, and never got a reply, ive sent about 10 emails
Glamdring - I'll make sure that gets passed along...I wish I could say one way or the other Baja
Glamdring - but I can tell you that I'll make sure that the info goes to the right place

CyricTibaan - I think it is a good forum because you get to hear things one might not have thought to ask. But at the same time, there isnt enough time to ask questions at certain events *like when programmers come to chat*
Glamdring - yeah, that's hard
Glamdring - they put in a lot of time
Glamdring - and usually they're doing the chats on their time off
Glamdring - this is my hobby
CyricTibaan - =)
Glamdring - :)
Glamdring - thanks Cyric

Glamdring - who let him in?
Glamdring - I protest!
Glamdring - j/k
Src_Wynter - Lol!
Src_Wynter - Ok : What is the difference between you (Glamdring) and Kal El, since you both seems to hold same title as Volunteer Program Coordinator? ;)
Glamdring - what's up Wynter?
Src_Wynter - ;)
Glamdring - Well...I'm not the Volunteer Program Coordinator
Glamdring - that's more of Durga's job
Src_Wynter - Oh
Glamdring - Kal used to be the Counselor Coordinator
Glamdring - but he was retitled to Arch Counselor
Src_Wynter - what does Arch Counselor do exactly?
Glamdring - and I was the Asst Counselor Coordinator
Glamdring - but since there's no coordinator to be asst to
Glamdring - that was dropped from me
Glamdring - In most cases, the title "arch" is the GM in charge of that volunteer program
Src_Wynter - what are his duties then?
Glamdring - I dunno what he does...he seems to make me do everything
Glamdring - j/k
Src_Wynter - heh..
Glamdring - He's the guy who keeps this whole thing together...he's done a great job
Src_Wynter - yes he does a great job at it ;)
Glamdring - he paid me $20 to say that btw
Glamdring - =)
Src_Wynter - Well that is about it ;) that is all i have to ask ;) now.. get busy.. you have some more work that kal just gave you!!
Glamdring - yeah, well look who's in here asking questions
Glamdring - you wouldn't know i wasn't working if you were =)

Xander - I'd like to thank everyone for attending today's UOCC
Xander - UOCC occurs every other Monday
Xander - please stop by in two weeks
Xander - where we will have a team of senior seers
Xander - on hand to answer your question about the seer program
Xander - again, thanks for stopping by
Xander - now, chat on!


At this point the chat was officially over, but Glamdring stayed a bit longer and answered a few more questions in the then unmoderated channel. Here's an excerpt of that.


Dixieman - I think this form of moderating with voiceing is much more 'honest' then the format with ops reciting questions like in UOHOC chats
Glamdring - Thanks for the good q's guys
DarkBlade - Thanks a lot Glamdring
Glamdring - yeah...but we get so many questions in uohoc Dixie
Dixieman - i know..
^BajaBlackSheepShard - i am happy with this chat, was well done
Glamdring - but that's one of the things we've been talking ALOT about lately
Dixieman - it is a dream :)
Fripp - Dixieman, its hard to keep the chats orderly without moderation
Chrae - Sorry about harassing you about the gold/packs for counselors ;>
Dixieman - i know.. i have been in this buisness a long time :)
Glamdring - hehe, I'm married...I get harrassed all the time
Glamdring - j/k
Glamdring - that and free gold =)
Chrae - Counselors should get a salary of UO gold, it's only fair ;>
Lucas_ - umm..I was wondering Glamdring... when are you going to open again the companion program applications? I really would like to take part of it :)
Glamdring - well...that would be an unfair balace in the game Chrae
Glamdring - it's hard to play a lot though to get the big bucks
Chrae - Glam, I'm not talking about anything more than 100gp a month ;P
Glamdring - Lucas...I don't know on that one. I'm not directly involved with them
Glamdring - lol Chrae, thanks for the generous thought =)
Chrae - Do companions get to hang around in the Counselor/GM chat?
Glamdring - it's a different program Chrae
Glamdring - we have different job functions
ghyde - Glamdring, I've two q's for you: What do you think of having Counselor Special Powers in exchange for not being able to play normally? Is it worth it to help others instead of playing and interacting?
Glamdring - I like doing both ghyde
Glamdring - counseling is just as addicting as playing
Chrae - ghyde, counselors have the closest relationship to players because the DO play the game also :>
Glamdring - I've seen people put in 50+ hours in a week
Lucas_ - umm..I guess I missed something.What's the colour of the companion's robe(if they have any) :P
Glamdring - Companions don't wear robes
Phillip - What fun is there to Counceling?
Glamdring - they're regular players
Lucas_ - oops,that's right
Chrae - lol, naked companions! Is that OSI's new ploy to keep new players in UO?
Lucas_ - heheh
Glamdring - Senior Companions wear gold robes
Glamdring - Phillip...have you ever done volunteer work?
Phillip - i haven't
Phillip - where can I find a compaion?
Hythlodaeus - Companions will have (companion) by their name
Lucas_ - damn..this companion thingy is getting interesting..;)
Glamdring - If you ever do rewarding volunteer work Phillip, you'll understand what I mean
Glamdring - there's nothing like having a player understand something
Phillip - ok, i understand :)
Glamdring - or making them smile
Phillip - Glamdring: What are the chances of new monsters appearing in UO?
Glamdring - a lot of that art was designed a long time ago
Glamdring - it's on the cd...that's a lot of patching
Glamdring - or a new CD