Alton - Good evening and welcome to Ultima Online Celebrity Chat. UOCC is a forum wherein we bring to you celebrity guests from the UO community, ranging from website administrators, OSI personnel, counselors, seers, and even roleplayers and PKs from your own shard! They drop by to answer your questions about UO, their experiences in it, and about their own contribution to the community.
Alton - Our system is similar to the UOHOC chats. All you have to do is /msg a designated question taker with your question or comment. However, when it is your turn, rather then a moderator pasting your question in the chat, instead we set +voice to you and allow you to talk with the celebrity guest yourself!
Alton - We ask that you please keep your questions on topic. Our guests are not on the DEV team and cannot answer when necromancy is going to be released. Also, this is not a forum for debates...if a particular thread goes on we may ask you to put it off until after the chat has ended.
Alton - Our question takers tonight will be....Cj,Index,and Patience.
Alton - Our Guest tonight is Calandryll, Why dont you tell us a little about yourself.

Calandryll - Well, I am the Online Community Coordinator for Ultima Online
Calandryll - Basically that means I communicate with the players and bring their feedback to the Dev. Team
Calandryll - The communication works both ways of course, so I also get answers for players
Calandryll - and either e-mail them, or post them on the boards.
Calandryll - That's the easiest way to describe what I do...it's a lot of tracking down information
Calandryll - and then relaying it to everyone involved.

Alton - Let the questions roll.
Lyfe - uhhh
Lyfe - patience answered my questions
Lyfe - =D
Calandryll - Hi Lyfe
* Fizzle shakes his head *
Lyfe - hehe, sorry
Lyfe - Lemme see
Lyfe - How dooes osi plan to cope with the potential player loss when cool games like Shadowbane and Hero's Jounry come out?
Calandryll - Good question...I think by keeping UO fresh. One thing we have noticed is that
Calandryll - games like EQ and AC have not affect our numbers, in fact, we're still growing
Calandryll - despite these games being released. I don't see why that will change.
Lyfe - thats because they umm.. arn't fun
Lyfe - the PvP factor in UO keeps everyone going IMO
* Calandryll laughs *
Lyfe - I know, I've played em both for months
Lyfe - the difference is that UO has something to do when your bored of fighting programmed polygons
Calandryll - Well PvP is certainly a big part of the game for some players.
Calandryll - But to answer your question, continuing to update the game and add new features, while also fixing the bugs
Calandryll - will keep players coming back to UO.
Lyfe - do you have any specifics?
Calandryll - Not that I can release, the top level was posted as part of the 6-9 month plan
Lyfe - k, thx
Calandryll - You're welcome! :)

Meri-Baja - Oh my this is good I can ask my million questions
* Calandryll chuckles *
Calandryll - Hi Meri!
Meri-Baja - Ok...Calandryll do you need a college education for your job?
Meri-Baja - Hello nice to meet you!
Calandryll - Well I am not sure if you /need/ a degree...I do have one and I am sure it would help though.
Meri-Baja - What do you think is the best food on UO and do you actually play?
Meri-Baja - ok Alton I'm done ya can shut me up!
Calandryll - My fav food is plain ole bread actually...and yes, I do play, in fact...
Calandryll - I died 3 times over the weekend...to monsters no less! Lol, taking on 4 earth elementals at the same time in melee is generally a bad idea. :P
Meri-Baja - Are you an ultima addict like me?
Meri-Baja - hehe
Calandryll - I wouldn't be here if I wasn't!
* Calandryll laughs *
Meri-Baja - well then tell my mom its perfectly healthy!
Meri-Baja - OO one more question
Meri-Baja - Have you recieved many complaints about Baja?
Calandryll - Actually, I've seen a few posts on the boards, but personally I have not gotten many...having said that
Calandryll - I do know it's an issue and we are working on it.
Meri-Baja - Thanks a lot for answering my questions!
Calandryll - Thanks for the questions Meri!

Presicent|UOSS - Greetings! :)
Calandryll - Hail Presicent!
Presicent|UOSS - Just wondering if you've been frequenting the new Professions and Server Forums on Stratics?
Presicent|UOSS - Many good ideas are brought up and debated here, bugs are reported involving specific skills, and specific server problems are mentioned
Calandryll - Actually, I must admit that I have not (other than the alchemy boards, but they've been there for a while)
Calandryll - I must admit ignorance here, I did not even know about the new boards (must have missed that one)
Presicent|UOSS - hehe
Calandryll - I will make it a point to check them out though.
Presicent|UOSS - Look on the sidebar under Forums :)
Calandryll - Ahhhh ok. :)
Presicent|UOSS - hope to see you there ;)
Calandryll - I'll make time to read them a bit tomorrow and Wednesday
Calandryll - thanks for bringing them to my attention Pres!

ASRC_Sassy_away - Hello calandryll, for clarity I will just paste my question in here
ASRC_Sassy_away - Hi, with the frontier of the new lands coming in, and the planning of uo2, will there be much life left to our current world? If many leave to uo2, will it cause servers to shut down?
Calandryll - sure
Calandryll - Hmmm, well you've got two questions there really, so let me address them one at a time
Calandryll - first, as far as the expanded lands...the idea is to have people journey between the old lands and the expanded ones
Calandryll - sorta like they do with T2A and the old lands. So while yes, players will be a bit more spread out, you'll still see quite a few people around.
Calandryll - Now as far as UO2, again, we're not going to stop supporting UO just because UO2 comes out.
ASRC_Sassy_away - one more question please?
Calandryll - The two games are actually quite different.
Calandryll - Sure
ASRC_Sassy_away - with the new pvp areas that will be designated, will it be as complicated as choosing an area in the old world for this? for example, A player doesnt pvp, but yet his home might end up in pvp zone?
Calandryll - Well, I don't think that the exact areas are defined yet, so I can't really say much about it
ASRC_Sassy_away - thank you *bows*
Calandryll - Sure, anytime! :)
* Calandryll chuckles *

Calandryll - no problem, Hi Ivy! :)
Ivy - i was just wondering what are the changes
Ivy - you as yourself
Ivy - want in game
Ivy - as a player
Calandryll - well the thing I am looking forward to most are name change deeds...right now I have a hard time playing my Calandryll character
Ivy - oh
Calandryll - I'd love to be able to change his name so people dont recognize me all the time. :)
Ivy - i had 3 actually
Ivy - sorry
Calandryll - no problem at all
Ivy - so i ask the other ones?
Calandryll - sure go ahead :)
Ivy - ok
Ivy - u said that the numbers of players are growing
Ivy - but does osi only sees numbers?
Ivy - how about customers that are not very satisfied?
Calandryll - oh not at all, and please dont think I was saying that...
Calandryll - our current customers are extremely important to us and we recognize the need
Calandryll - to implement features for the veteran player...that's what skill management is all about
Ivy - :)
Calandryll - and the expanded lands of course (room for housing) is also for vets
Calandryll - not many newbies will have a house they can place. :)
Ivy - well my third question question was about vet players
Ivy - but i guess you answered that
Ivy - thanks
Ivy - :)
Calandryll - You're very welcome.

Calandryll - Hail Pisces!
Pisces-NV - Hello Cal
Pisces-NV - :)
Pisces-NV - hmmm...
Pisces-NV - Mt only question was we will have to buy a 3rd disk now that contain the new lands like we did for t2a, or will this be a patch?
Calandryll - No there wont be a CD...everything in the plan will be published in over time
Calandryll - so it won't need a CD and it won't be like one huge patch with all of that stuff in it
Pisces-NV - Thats great to hear:)
* Pisces-NV bows *
Calandryll - Aye
Calandryll - Thanks Pisces!

Cuchulainn - Hail
Calandryll - Hail :)
Cuchulainn - :)
Cuchulainn - With a goal of 1000 events a week, I think there may be a need to revamp the community section
Cuchulainn - think that will occur?
Calandryll - Well it is certainly something we'd have to look at...1000 events a week
Calandryll - means UO will be a very busy place and the more we can communicate that on the site
Calandryll - the better.
Cuchulainn - Aye, same with the event calander, and getting stories known
Calandryll - Aye, well one thing you can do now is customize what you see on the site
Calandryll - using My Uo.
Calandryll - That way you can keep track of the shards that most interest you
Cuchulainn - One more question, do you think the uowebsite will ever host message boards, or will that be left to fansites?
Calandryll - Well anything is possible, but it's not planned at this time as far as I know.
Cuchulainn - Ok thanks.
Calandryll - anytime!

Calandryll - Hail Famine
Famine - whops
Famine - lol
* Calandryll tapes Famine's shoulder *
Famine - was pking
Famine - =x
Famine - Calandryll have you ever played a player killer in either the old or new rep systems?
Calandryll - err, that was supposed to be "tap" lol
Calandryll - Actually, no...I was an anti in the old Noto days, and then became a Dread when fighting against NPKs
Famine - ehehe, so you don't know what its like to lose 20% of your stats? =(
Calandryll - nope, but then, I don't know what it's like to attack an innocent. ;) j/k
Famine - lol
Famine - okay thnx
Calandryll - anytime! :)
Famine - also
Famine - anotehr question...
Calandryll - ok shoot
Famine - any idea when potion barrels will be out?
Calandryll - sure, tomorrow :)
Famine - uh
Famine - okay
Fizzle - hehe
Calandryll - the patch is tomorrow, potion kegs are in it. :)
Famine - ahhhh
Famine - =)
Famine - is this patch also going to fix
Famine - the blade spirit resist bug?
Famine - okay well...
Famine - i gotta go...
Fizzle - heh
Calandryll - I dont think so, i got some good info on that and we are looking into it

Zorn - HI Cal
Calandryll - Hail Zorn
Zorn - Just a few quickies if you dont mind
Calandryll - not at all, go ahead! :)
Zorn - First off, can you give us any inside scoop on what OSI has planned by way of
Zorn - in game gifts this xmas
Zorn - ;x
Calandryll - Hmmm, I have not heard any plans yet mentioned in the Dev meetins...one thing we do want to keep in mind
Calandryll - is that after the item reduction plans went in, many players felt that gifts only added to the count
Calandryll - But, I can ask about Christmas gifts and see if any plans are in place.
Zorn - great, but dont stop giving out stuff on holidas
Zorn - 2ndly
Zorn - when will rune books go live
Calandryll - Those are also in tomorrow's publish
Zorn - really? cool, will they be on euro shards as well?
Calandryll - the FYI section of the uo.com site has the publish info and all of the items in the patch
Zorn - oh ok, one last thing
Calandryll - yes, are are publishing all shards tomorrow
Calandryll - sure!
Zorn - Whats it like working for OSI?
* Zorn bets cal gets that one a lot *
Calandryll - It's great! :) I've had 4 jobs before this one (since college) and none of them even come close. :)
Calandryll - It's a lot of long hours though, but when you enjoy what you do, you can't really complain about that!
Zorn - ok, well thanks a bunch for taking time to answer my questions
Calandryll - anytime Zorn, thanks!

Frumph - Well met Master Calandryll
Calandryll - Hail Frumph
Frumph - I would like to first say that on behalf of the community and I speak for the whole on this that you are by far one of the best and are happy to have you as part of the family.
* Calandryll blushes *
Calandryll - Thank you. :)
Frumph - .. now.. for the questions :)
Frumph - I realizes Phase II allows the players to lockdown items and its forthcoming to the phase III which is house item decay.. My question primarily is for those who probably never read a message board.
Frumph - Is there a plan in action for everyone and even the most non-newsworthy person to have acknowledgement that the date of the decay in houses will be published? is that in the works?
Calandryll - Ahh, very good point...the answer is yes.
Calandryll - I'll be posting a communication on the site soon detailing that phaseIII is coming
Frumph - To lesson the call on players complaining to GM's (heh)
Calandryll - and warning players to put items in lockdowns/secures
Calandryll - I also want to get something on the patch server as well
Calandryll - PhaseIII is a pretty major change to the game and I would hate for anyone
Calandryll - to be taken by surprise.
Frumph - My concern as well.
Frumph - Now, I'm confused by something, .. in tomorrows patch.
Calandryll - ok, go ahead
Frumph - It states that there is a problem with 'of protection' items changing peoples stats. .. I feel that the particular patch with that problem should be fixed before going in, I for one use such items.
Frumph - Am I just confused on what is involved with that particular 'of protection' stat change problem?
Calandryll - Ok, let me answer that first.
Calandryll - the problem has existed for a while now, but, skills management sorta heightens the problem
Calandryll - because the loss of skills happens right away.
Calandryll - That's why we put up the warning to players...and
Calandryll - hang on a moment...ah good news, I just got off the phone with Runesabre
Frumph - Couldnt we avoid any hassles by just removing its ability from the game like we did with reactive armor? Skill change Is a big thing and people without itemID putting on an item might be dismayed to find the outcome to be a loss.
Calandryll - we are going to fix that problem before we publish
Calandryll - in fact, it is fixed on TC right now. :)
Frumph - Very Sweet! (thank you runesabre)
Calandryll - Good timing. :)
Frumph - Again, your the best.
Calandryll - Thanks Frumph! :)
Frumph - Thank you for your time m'lord.

SirLunar - Thanks
Calandryll - Hail
SirLunar - Cal, I was wondering if you were looking at changing the rate of frequency of sos on SP
SirLunar - Fishing is very hard there, and with no maps, 30 hours of hard fishing
SirLunar - SHOULD get a bottle or two
SirLunar - <Grin>
Calandryll - Hmmm, as far as I know, to be honest, there are no plans to change it.
Calandryll - SP is supposed to be a hard shard after all. ;)
SirLunar - Well
SirLunar - With poles breaking, boats 3x the price
SirLunar - no maps
SirLunar - with the SAME frequency
SirLunar - it would be difficult
SirLunar - but
SirLunar - as I was saying, while fishing is too easy on regular shards
SirLunar - I dont know of any other skill, nerfed remotely close to as bad
SirLunar - er
SirLunar - hard, I should say
Calandryll - I can see what you are saying, it's something I can bring up, but I will be honest with you, I doubt it will change in the near future...if at all.
SirLunar - okay, that is what I was wondering...thank you very much for your time and taking my question
Calandryll - anytime SirLunar!

* C_Montano_Atlantic bows *
C_Montano_Atlantic - Hello Calandryll
C_Montano_Atlantic - As as you have mentioned before that the UO community is still growing. Can you give us an estimated number about how many *new players* you are expecting?
Calandryll - Actually I can't. Projections like that are not something I can talk about in public unfortunately.
C_Montano_Atlantic - It's ok but we are expecting more *new players* are we?
Calandryll - oh sure...we are fully expecting new players...we have new players sign on all the time
C_Montano_Atlantic - Ok second question
C_Montano_Atlantic - Right now there isn't an *official place* for players to communicate with Counselors, Companions, Elders and Seers. Will there be a change in the near future to increase communications between players and volunteers?
Calandryll - That's a great question, and again, unfortunately, I don't have an answer...that's more something that Durga or Kal would know about.
C_Montano_Atlantic - Oh ok haha
C_Montano_Atlantic - Ok thanks and please pass my message to Orbeus that his comment on volunteers was great!
Calandryll - You bet! Thank you!
C_Montano_Atlantic - take care

C_Myth-Sonoma - Hello Calandryll...
Calandryll - Hail Myth
C_Myth-Sonoma - I just have a few quick questions...
Calandryll - sure!
C_Myth-Sonoma - What are your opinions on the idea of aggressors not being able recall in the 'In Concept' section of uo.com� I feel that murderers are getting it hard enough already with stat loss and the long term murder count times.
Calandryll - Well, I personally really like the idea...but, the truth is, my opinion doesn't really matter much...as far as murderes though
C_Myth-Sonoma - i see
Calandryll - this isn't directed at murderes, it affects aggressors...so if a blue attacks a red...then that blue cant recall...but the red still can
Calandryll - so basically, it's all about, if you want to start a fight, then you have to be ready and willing to finish it.
C_Myth-Sonoma - makes sense
C_Myth-Sonoma - adds a new challenge
C_Myth-Sonoma - to PvP
Calandryll - but, remember, it's still in concept, so feedback is very important at this point.
C_Myth-Sonoma - now.. question2...
C_Myth-Sonoma - Oh yes.. one other question.. guild alliances, I would much like to see alliances without having to declair enemies with friendly guilds. Any idea how long till that may be implemented?
Calandryll - Exactly Myth, and adds some uncertaintly, because if you attack and it goes bad, you can't escape as easily.
Calandryll - Actually, that is something we've talked about a lot and it's something I've seen players ask for
Calandryll - Revamping guilds in general is pretty important, but I can't give any dates really on specific changes.
C_Myth-Sonoma - of course :)
C_Myth-Sonoma - question #3...
Calandryll - ok :)
C_Myth-Sonoma - Lastly.. Ive been quite a fan of the ultima series.. the game is great fun, however it lacks the substance of previous ultimas where the virtues were a big major aspect of the game. In the future will we see any emphasis put on following the virtues..?
C_Myth-Sonoma - I still remember vividly playing ultima7
C_Myth-Sonoma - ...
C_Myth-Sonoma - terrific game
Calandryll - Well, I think a lot of that is up to players. I played a character who followed the virtues, so did many of my friends in the game...
Calandryll - I do think that with the new seer programs, since you'll see many more events in UO, that that will help even more.
C_Myth-Sonoma - not enough... and with so many different attitudes in the game... its not quite the same..
Calandryll - Right, but you can't force the virtues on people. :)
C_Myth-Sonoma - its a shame :)
C_Myth-Sonoma - anyway.. last question.. any date on an Aussie Shard.. ive been waiting 2 years..
C_Myth-Sonoma - its good to hear we are finally getting one
Calandryll - Hmmm, I don't think we've set a date for it...I do know that Tyrant has been updating the Aussie community on a regular basis
Calandryll - but I am not 100% sure what the status is at this time.
C_Myth-Sonoma - havnt seen much for a lil while..
C_Myth-Sonoma - anyway.. thankyou so much for sharing your time
C_Myth-Sonoma - much apreciated
C_Myth-Sonoma - !
Calandryll - You're welcome Myth! :)
* C_Myth-Sonoma signs off *

Alton - Thank you for attending tonight's UOCC. Remember, UOCC occurs every other Monday night at 7pm CST. The log of tonight's chat will be posted tomorrow on http://uo.stratics.com.
Alton - Please feel free to join us here in #ultima-online at any time of the week for help in game, the latest UO news, or just to chat. Have a nice evening.