House of Commons from 1998-10-08

House of Commons from 1998-10-08

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.