Gilthas - Good evening and welcome to our 25th Ultima Online Celebrity Chat. UOCC is a forum wherein we bring to you celebrity guests from the UO community, ranging from web site administrators, OSI personnel, counselors, seers, and even role-players and PKs from your own shard!
Gilthas - They drop by to answer your questions about UO, their experiences in it, and about their own contribution to the community. Our system is similar to the UOHOC chats. All you have to do is /msg a designated question taker with your question or comment.
Gilthas - Tonight's Question Takers will be Sabin, Lord-Xanthor, and Prescient , please /query or /msg them with your questions! Do not message myself or XenaDragon please!
Gilthas - Tonight's guests will be XenaDragon, Project Manager and Webmaster of UO Stratics (http://uo.stratics.com). While we are waiting for questions lets listen as our guests introduce themself.
* XenaDragon coughs *
Gilthas - D'oh, plural.
* Gilthas waves to Xena *
XenaDragon - Hi everyone, it's us, Xena ;)
* Gilthas fixes. *
XenaDragon - For those of you that have no clue who I am,
XenaDragon - I'm Xena Dragon, web master aka Project Manager of UO Stratics
XenaDragon - I'm ready for any questions you might have, so bring it on !
XenaDragon - If there's anything you want to know, or something you'd like to tell me, just message one of the question takers and who knows, you might get lucky ;)

Gilthas - Go ahead, Pfredd.
* Gilthas pokes Pfredd *
Pfredd - OK
Pfredd - wakes up
Pfredd - :-)
XenaDragon - Hi Pfredd
Pfredd - Xena, if there is one thing you could change in UO, what would it be, and why?
XenaDragon - I really would not have to think long about an answer on that one
XenaDragon - I'd love to take care of all the grief players
XenaDragon - Get rid of them once and for all
XenaDragon - I'm a fairly open minded person, and I strongly believe that there's room in UO for all playstyles
XenaDragon - but anyone that's out there to deliberatley ruin the fun for others has no place in my play experience
Pfredd - So some sort of PKing would be OK?
XenaDragon - Oh yes
XenaDragon - absolotely
XenaDragon - absolutely even
* Pfredd grins *
Gilthas - Thanks Pfredd.

Gilthas - Go ahead, Krozy.
XenaDragon - Hi Krozy
Krozy|Debug - Ah.. How did you get to be the webmaster of UO Stratics?
XenaDragon - That happened a few years ago
XenaDragon - Like most players, I was playing UO and found myself in need of some basic info, such as how to mine and use some basic skills
XenaDragon - I stumbled on the UOSS, which was at that time hosted by stomped I think
XenaDragon - I noticed that much of the info I needed was on that site, but bits and pieces were missing
XenaDragon - So I sent the little info that I had that was not on there to Den, the web master
XenaDragon - He thanked me and asked me send in some more info
XenaDragon - That inspired me to find out some more and keep sending it in
XenaDragon - One thing led to another, and before I knew it I was on the UOSS team as editor
XenaDragon - I just kept adding to the site left and right, and we grew bigger and bigger
XenaDragon - Den then moved on to opening EQ Stratics and asked me to take over UO Stratics
XenaDragon - That's it in a nutshell :)
Gilthas - Another reminder folks, XenaDragon and UO Stratics are not affiliated with OSI. =}
* XenaDragon is proud to be independent *
Gilthas - Thanks Krozy.

Gilthas - Go ahead, Matthew. =)
XenaDragon - Hi techie
* XenaDragon grins *
C_Matthew_GL|techie{work} - well, I just had a quick question.... I know it is on a lot of minds
C_Matthew_GL|techie{work} - have you heard anything through the grapevine about a new...
C_Matthew_GL|techie{work} - tech method to replace councelors and such to lighten the load on GMs and add to the game?
XenaDragon - Nope, I can't say that I have
C_Matthew_GL|techie{work} - okie dokie :)
XenaDragon - This 'black wednesday' came to me as a surprise as it did for all of you
XenaDragon - Does that answer the question?
C_Matthew_GL|techie{work} - thanks Xena :)
XenaDragon - You're welcome
C_Matthew_GL|techie{work} - yeah, I think that does it :)
Gilthas - Danke Matthew. =)

Gilthas - Juvenile, go ahead.
XenaDragon - Hi Juvenile
Juvenile - Hi, just wondering what your views on Player Run Shards. Good or Bad?
XenaDragon - I think they are bad
XenaDragon - And the reason I think that is because they take players away from the 'real' shards
Juvenile - hmm . ok..
XenaDragon - We all know that ultimately money is what makes the shards go round, so the more subscribers stick with UO, the better it will be for all of us
XenaDragon - It's really as simple as that imho
Juvenile - thanks
XenaDragon - I'm sure that that's not what you wanted to hear ;)
Gilthas - Thankee Juvenile. =)

Gilthas - Go ahead, Krozy.
XenaDragon - Hi again
* XenaDragon thinks Krozy needs to look up from his debugger *
Krozy|Debug - This is in reference to ..
Krozy|Debug - "XenaDragon and UO Stratics are not affiliated with OSI. =}"
Krozy|Debug - Wasn't there a time when UOSS was hosted by OSI ?
XenaDragon - Yes indeed
XenaDragon - A very common misconception is that we are actually related to OSI
XenaDragon - For the record: we are not related to OSI, at all
XenaDragon - There was a time that we had trouble with our web host, and we knocked on OSI's door to rescue us
XenaDragon - OSI recognized our value, i.e. being an on-line manual and more, and offered to host us on their server
XenaDragon - But even then, we were an independent site, we did what we wanted to do
XenaDragon - Then some months later we found a new host, thanked OSI for their support, and moved on
Gilthas - Thanks Please email [email protected], or [email protected] with suggestions for future guests or topics Thank you all and Good Night =)
Gilthas - D'oh.
Gilthas - *ahem* No one saw that.
* XenaDragon chuckles *
Krozy|Debug - hehe
Gilthas - Er uhm, thanks Krozy.
Krozy|Debug - thank you

Gilthas - Go ahead, Tharaxis.
Tharaxis - aah goodie :)
XenaDragon - Hi there
Tharaxis - hail Xena :)
Tharaxis - Firstly, whats your take on localization in UO, and if you could improve localization so as to better support the english players while allowing ease of translation, how would you go about doing it?
XenaDragon - whoa
XenaDragon - You didn't type all that in a second, right?
Tharaxis - lol
Tharaxis - hardly
Gilthas - 1.2 seconds, silly.
XenaDragon - Okay
Tharaxis - provisional questions :)
XenaDragon - Anyway, localization as a means to draw more players into a game is a good thing
XenaDragon - The way that OSI did it with UO leaves room for improvement though
XenaDragon - I'd love to wield a supremely accurate broadsword of power
XenaDragon - but showing my broadsword [supremely accurate, power] just doesn't cut the cake for me
Gilthas - Too bad, a magic boardsword [accurate/power] for you!
Tharaxis - hehe
Tharaxis - yeah
XenaDragon - Indeed
Tharaxis - can I ask another?
XenaDragon - Sure
Tharaxis - it's also good, I promise :)
Gilthas - Hmm. That's breaking the rules, but sure. =}
Tharaxis - And whats your feeling towards the IMHO early release of UO:3D to a commercial market, given the fact that the beta testers were unanimous when it came to it being still beta, and it falling largely onto deaf ears?
XenaDragon - Another easy one :)
Tharaxis - :)
XenaDragon - I always say release software when it's done, not when marketing tells you to
Tharaxis - in an ideal world :p
XenaDragon - Indeeed
Tharaxis - ok, thanks I think that sums it up :)
Tharaxis - I'll get back to you with more later
Tharaxis - :)
XenaDragon - Bye now
Tharaxis - ciao
Gilthas - Thanks Thraxis. =)

Gilthas - Oo Oo, I have a question!
* XenaDragon grins *
Gilthas - What are some of your responsibilities as the Project Manager of UOSS?
XenaDragon - Bottom line: I have to make sure that the entire site is in tip-top shape
Gilthas - And the middle line?
XenaDragon - I'm very lucky to have a team of dedicated people to help me with that
XenaDragon - What it boils down to is that I have to struggle through about 200 emails every day
XenaDragon - And to all the people that I did not send an email in return; sorry but I really cannot answer them all
XenaDragon - I'm taking care of updating the web pages, some I do myself, others are assigned to editors.
XenaDragon - I have to make sure the news teams are operating smoothly, and for that I have a handful of news team managers strutting their stuff
XenaDragon - And there's of course the forums, that are always a source of work, be it scripting new features or looking into trouble as it arises
XenaDragon - If it's on the site, I probably know about it :)
XenaDragon - Does that give you an image?
Gilthas - Yeah. Eep.
Gilthas - Thanks Gilthas.
* XenaDragon grins *

Gilthas - Go for it Tharaxis. =)
Tharaxis - :)
Tharaxis - I'm baaack
Tharaxis - ok
XenaDragon - Hello again
Tharaxis - I dunno if I was alotted another 2
Tharaxis - but I'll go for the longer 1 first
XenaDragon - heh
Tharaxis - Do you think the firing of the volunteers from the US Servers was a good idea, and if so, why don't you think OSI is doing it to the "newer" asian market? It appears the english/american market has been left out to dry, while more focus is now given to the emerging asian market.
Tharaxis - Do you also believe EA's exploitation of a largely free support base was a good idea at all (given that the volunteers actually payed EA for the "priviledge" to work for them). Do you also believe that OSI can still maintain any sense of quality and customer support without the volunteers there to do it?
Tharaxis - thats one question btw
Gilthas - Crikey!
XenaDragon - Gimme a sec to read it all
Tharaxis - :)
XenaDragon - let's see if I can touch all you mention there
XenaDragon - Firing the volunteers: From EA's perspective it was probably the only thing they could do
XenaDragon - it was either that, or seeing a lawsuit and paying every volunteer large sums of money
Tharaxis - true... true
XenaDragon - From our point of view: it sucks big time
XenaDragon - I *really* cannot understand why there would not be a way for someone to say 'I want to volunteer' and that would be the end of all legal hassle
Tharaxis - understandable
XenaDragon - It boggles the mind...
Gilthas - U.S/European laws. =\
Tharaxis - :)
XenaDragon - As for the Asian support not being nuked; it's obvious that certain laws do not apply there
Tharaxis - was that the 1st Q answered?
Tharaxis - ah
Tharaxis - ok
Tharaxis - :)
Tharaxis - yeah...
XenaDragon - Gimme a sec to type it all, ok? ;)
Tharaxis - hehehehehe
XenaDragon - let's see, did I miss anything?
Tharaxis - I don't think so
Tharaxis - and a quick one here
Tharaxis - If you had control over either the server or client developers, whats one thing you would make them focus on before anything else?
XenaDragon - hmm
XenaDragon - I already removed grief players, so that's not an option
XenaDragon - I think I would bring back Abyss
XenaDragon - Thanks for your questions
Tharaxis - no problemo
Tharaxis - :)
Tharaxis - bb soon ;)
Gilthas - Thanks Thraxis. =)

Gilthas - Go ahead Robert.
XenaDragon - Hi Robert
C_Robert_EU - Hello Xena, What are your thoughts as to the interest seer and elder program not being in place no more, Also do you think that player run quest guilds will now be the norm in UO>)
XenaDragon - Well, now that you asked, I'm going to let you in on a little secret
* C_Robert_EU Listens *
XenaDragon - Up until last wednesday I used to be in the interest program, and it has hurt me a lot to see it die like this
C_Robert_EU - aye
* Gilthas hugs Xena *
Gilthas - *sniff*
C_Robert_EU - It shall be missed a great deal
XenaDragon - having witnessed what Troubs, Elders and Seers can do for players, and knowing that that will not be coming back is a sad sad feeling
XenaDragon - But, we have to look forward, and I know that from the ashes of the old the new shall arise
C_Robert_EU - aye, I'm sure there will be many player run quest guilds.)
C_Robert_EU - But still it's so sad to see it go
XenaDragon - I started out long ago with some quests that were player-ran only, and I know that with the right mindset players are capable of generating tremendously interesting fiction
XenaDragon - Keep yer chin up, laddy
* XenaDragon winks *
C_Robert_EU - *smiles*
* C_Robert_EU grins *
C_Robert_EU - Thank you Xena
Gilthas - Thanks Robert. =)
XenaDragon - You're welcome

* XenaDragon looks around the room *

Gilthas - Go ahead, Ham.
ham - eep!
* XenaDragon pokes Ham *
ham - Heya Xena :)
ham - yeah yeah, i'm done and cooked :)
XenaDragon - You're going to embarrass me now, right?
ham - I have two questions for ya
ham - no
ham - hehe
XenaDragon - Good
ham - Which would you like, the entertaining one, or the hard one?
XenaDragon - yes
ham - um
XenaDragon - :)
ham - how about them mets??? =P
ham - We'll start with the hard one =P
ham - How do you respond to readers who say that UOSS is "outdated" in it's statistical and essay content?
XenaDragon - A much heard comment...
XenaDragon - I'd say they are partially correct
XenaDragon - There are some sections that can use a brush-up
XenaDragon - However to call the site as a whole outdated kinda makes me mad
XenaDragon - We update the site on a daily basis, and there really is little info that is actually incorrect
XenaDragon - With 3500+ pages (really) it just takes a while to get to them all
XenaDragon - So the common answer would be "we're working on it", and that would be true too ;)
ham - FYI counselors are indebted to the work that you and your crew has done in producing UOSS :)
* XenaDragon bows *
XenaDragon - It was our combined pleasure
ham - ready for the next q?
XenaDragon - Bring it on!
ham - MUAHAHAHAHAHA
Gilthas - Uh oh..
* ham blushes *
ham - hrm
XenaDragon - Careful there, you don't want me to spank you in public
ham - well... then... there... now
Gilthas - ...
* Gilthas will copy and keep that line. *
ham - How do you feel about the cancellation of Xena: Warrior Princess? And did you ever dress up as Minax to mimic her?
* Gilthas laughs *
* XenaDragon giggles *
XenaDragon - First of all, yes I do feel a tad sad about the cancellation
XenaDragon - My first ever UO character was moulded after Xena: Warrior Princess
XenaDragon - She just *so* much what I envisioned a UO character to be
XenaDragon - Mind you, this was before I even managed to get into the beta
Gilthas - Minus the whole flying disks thing.
XenaDragon - yeah, we need chakrams in UO, really
XenaDragon - Anyway..
Gilthas - Heh.
XenaDragon - That was the character that I decided to stick with
XenaDragon - And since I'm a big fan of the complete Ultima series I signed up as official Dragon at UDIC (www.udic.org)
XenaDragon - Hence the name, Xena Dragon
XenaDragon - As for dressing up in kinky leather, I thought we agreed to not discuss that in public ;)
ham - I was just asking :)
XenaDragon - Next!
Gilthas - Once again "..."
ham - thanks :)
* XenaDragon chuckles *
Gilthas - Thanks ham. +)

Gilthas - Ok folks, that's it.
Gilthas - Thank you for attending tonight's UOCC. Remember, UOCC occurs every other Monday night at 7pm CST (Most of the tiem). The log of tonight's chat will be posted on http://uohoc.stratics.com.
Gilthas - 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. E-mail [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected] with suggestions for future guests or topics.
Gilthas - Thank you all and Good Night and Ktnx! =D
* XenaDragon waves *