A Couple of New Player Questions

[Ingwe]

Thanks in advance for any answers!

1) Is it a goal of this server to try and vastly increase the server population? I ask for a few reasons. First is that the last two servers I played on both gave rewards to players merely for staying logged in all the time, the theory being that it keeps the average players online # higher, which attracts even more players. I'm not asking for rewards here, btw, just giving you some history on me. Second is that, without knowing the answer to this question I've tried staying logged in to WP when AFK but it seems like if my character isn't doing anything or is doing something pointless (like training a skill that has already hit GM), I get disconnected pretty quickly. Just wondering about this, no big deal either way. I'd just like to know what I should do with my char when I'm done for the day, log or no.

2) Has anyone compiled a good or comprehensive list of pet-killing mobs? I enjoy learning a lot of things about custom servers through trial-and-error, but this is not one of them.

[Falkor]

We would love to see more people enjoying WP but the actual count is not a priority. We've been chugging along for 7 1/2 years with varying online numbers. I've seen it as low as 4-5 average and as high as 28-30 average. We'll keep focusing on quality vs quantity and hope that players give us a try. I agree that if we hit a core of 50 or so online this place would really take off.

We don't have PvP for the "serious" gamers nor are we brand new to attract those hoping to be the first to stake a claim. I can say that we do have nearly every feature that players are begging for on other shards. They are here and stable and balanced. Unlike some shards, new players are able to get started and become successful even with players who have been here for years. The opportunity is still the same, and the veteran players will help you along the way instead of just killing you on sight

Nothing on the server side is designed to disconnect you if you're not active. Many people spend time afk at the bank or in their homes. It's probably something in "the interwebs" between you and the server. Even I get disconnected sometimes when I'm afk.

For mobs dangerous to pets, be wary of anything that isn't a "standard" UO creature. There is one actually named "a pet hunter" which does exactly that - no surprises with that one!

[GhostRiderGrey]

While it is true that we have no mechanic in place to disconnect afk players, the shard does restart each morning at 3:30AM shard time to run maintenance routines and keep the server running smoothly.

I can tell you that late last week (Nov 11-14) the ISP was fiddling with settings on their end and this was causing intermittent disconnects. Disconnects such as this, and others caused by disruptions in the inter-webs as a whole, are unfortunately beyond the shard's control.

Ghost

[Ingwe]

Thanks Falkor and Ghost! I'll stay logged in when I can and I've already found the voting stones; thanks for the heads-up about server restarts. Meanwhile me and the series-of-tubes are gonna have a talk about the disconnects.

I knew WP was a no-go on the PvP, that's a big reason why I came here. I've had my fill and then some of Felucca servers. Another reason was the features you mentioned, Falkor. It's easy enough to see from the updates that you keep things interesting and fun. And 7 1/2 years running is as stable as it gets in UO. Thanks for the general warning about pet-killers, that's easy enough advice to follow.

See you in-game

[Edit] - I have a few more questions... big surprise, I know

1) Are there any good guides yet on Spell Crafting? I know it's beyond me at this point but it looks interesting and I'd like to read about the system in-depth.

2) I read that creating items merely to trash them for tokens is against server rules - understandably - but is it alright if we trash craftables that can't be resold/cut/smelted as we make them? Heating stands while training Tinkering, for example.

3) Where does one get a Book of Bushido around these parts? Neither the Samurai trainer nor the Zento Scribe had one and those are the only places I know to look.

[Elizabeth]

I can answer 1, 3.


1. I can answer most of your questions about spell crafting, what do you want to know exactly?

3. Player vendors usually sell them for pretty cheap. Player vendors can be reached by going to the TC/Travel Center (under Custum Destinations on the Moongate) by steping on the tiles on the roofs. The recent tiles added (the ones with more active vendors/houses) will be on the 2nd or 3rd roof.
Or, I remember you have to kill something like an elite ninja.. (I could be thinking of ninjistu) Those would be found in tokuno.

Hope this helps!

[Falkor]

I don't know if there's an existing writeup on spellcrafting. Basically you must find the book, each of the abilities that can be added to a weapon (like adding spells to a spellbook), and gems to "charge" the book so it can be used. Failure has a chance to destroy the target item but it's the only way to add specific properties to an item.

You can trash items created while training a skill. It's only an exploit if you do so after maxing out the skill just to create tokens.

Many enemies in Tokuno carry a book of Bushido. The ninjas will carry a book of Ninjitsu which can also be useful.

[Ingwe]

Thanks everyone I appreciate your offer Elizabeth but I'd like to know about Spell Crafting top to bottom, not just one specific aspect of it. The info on player vendors was a blessing, I don't think I'd have ever found them otherwise.

[Elizabeth]

How to get the spellcrafting book: Defeat the Hythloth dungon boss, aka "the magic boss", for a chance deed that may or may not give you the book. The boss can change into three forums (human, wyrm, imp) and can self heal. She/he also spawns a monster known as 'acid imps', which leave pools of dangerous acid once they die. Use an invis cloak and cast metor swarm between hiding. Corspe skin (on the boss) also is usefull. Do not use a weapon. Once you get the spellcrafting book, it will bond to you so it cannot be sold. There is also a chance in the same room that a crusty chest may spawn, so if or when you go there, be on the lookout.

What they are used for: Spellcrafting books are used to raise the stats of an item. There are 50 different crafts, which are used for adding a certan stat to an object, and can be collected by fighting certan dungon bosses. Some give resists, and others things like 'use best weapon skill'. Magic jewels can be gathered the same way, but are used to power the spellcrafting book. Without them you cannot use the book. You need a certan level of inscription skill to use different crafts. You will always have a chance of destroying the item you are adding stats too, though, so be carefull!

[GhostRiderGrey]

Just a heads up that the Hyloth boss is one of the more difficult, if not the most difficult bosses. To assist players we have compiled the following:

Master Dungeon List

and

Master Quest List

These 2 lists can be useful in determining if you might be going to a location that is too tough for your current play level.

Ghost

[Ingwe]

Thanks for the lowdown on the Spellcrafting book, Elizabeth! And thank you very much again, Ghost - those guides look like they'll come in very handy. Especially since the toughest thing I've tackled so far is a bolt of cloth, lol.

[Edit] - If anyone happens to re-read this thread, I've run into a few more questions. Big surprise, I know

1) Pet training - I can't get a pet to build skills at all. I took them to the training room and sicced them on Training Twiggys, I put them against low-level spawns like ratmen and lizardmen, and couldn't gain even 0.1 in anything. I might have guessed that it's difficulty-based and you need tougher monsters at higher levels, but it couldn't even gain a tenth of Wrestling starting at 0.0 skill. You should be able to gain off a chicken at that level. Fyi - the tame in question is a Woodland Healing Fairy.

2) Is there a patch I'm missing or workaround for the blocking/rubber-banding tumbleweeds? I know that it's something built into RunUO causing it - I got on a newly started server 2 years ago where the same thing happened - and it drives me kah-ray-zee!

3) It seems that you can't release a tame while it's under the effect of Peacemaking. Is that a bug or an on-purpose?

4) What is the deal with Great Harts aggroing to everything? They attack me and my pets, they even attack random wandering animals - I watched one take out a sheep and a horse for no reason at all, lol. Bug or on-purpose?

Thanks guys. Having a lot of fun exploring WP