potential steel steed changes(my idea)

[merchantmace]

I know what I'm about to say is going to be unpopular... but try to stay with me.


I'm sure it was a passing joke... But... There was a comment for steel steeds to be gone from the shard. No one freak out!!.... no one said it was going to happen.... it was a joke!!

However... i think there may be something to it. I could support steel Steeds being gone. I use mine alllll the time and it would change my game a lot... definitely would make things more difficult. There are a number of good substitutes in the game as it is.... i know... everyone leans heavy on their steed. But at some point.. shouldn't we be more involved in the play than sicking a heavy defence beast out and letting it do all the work... or setting it on a mob and just sitting back and using pop shots while this thing takes very little damage? Anyone ever take a bio to a peerless? dead real quick. Bios are not as impervious as the steel steeds.. and that's the part i think i would prefer to change. Bios are fun... and the people that have them can attest ... they die aaallll the time. Your steel steed however.. take hits and damage on an enormous lvl. allowing for a slow but sure way to sit back and basically remove yourself from the real action.

Now there are many way to do things... let people with more that 1000 days keep them (i would not qualify) have everyone turn them in all together. maybe revise the steed so its maybe slightly better than the fluffy but still take up 4 slots.

And if they were to be kept and at same strength... just a thought. perhaps A new peerless could be created... where the rare special drop was the steed.. you would have to collect the keys... then you would have to battle the boss just to have a small chance to get one? make the steed a more valuable commodity?

Any of these options would take staff many many hours to research... develop and implement... if in fact they chose to do any of them... or something entirely different.

Anyway... post your thoughts... its been said by many players that they are over powered and people rely on them too heavily... I'm guilty... as long as they are there... I'm going to use them.

[Katpaws]

you could give me all your steel steeds and then they would be gone, killing spawns would be more of a challange for you.. win win situation Id be glad to help

[Chvayre]

Very interesting. A player that wants more challenges…………… I have a thought what about a place that not only tears up steel steeds but also pets in general?

[merchantmace]

HAHA Ari! i could do that but looking for a shard supported idea.. To make EVERYONE a better player and not simply carried by the steed.

I think Chvayre has a great idea. I think it would be a great addition to take out the "pet protection". I think it would be great to have an area where we didn't have that option. And items gotten from there were a bigger point of pride. I'm not looking for more powerful items.... i happen to think our item catalog is right where it needs to be. Lateral changes and little tweeks could be cool... but staff has done a great job giving us just what we need and not making us gods.

Can always count on staff to come up with great ideas.... who knew!?!? haha

[SlickBlade]

whaaaa?! bios can die?!.. lol

[Avanthar]

been mulling this over all day...still not entirely sure where I fall on the issue. Yes Steel Steeds are quite powerful....yes they can handle the vast majority of the MOBS without breaking a sweat...and yes they are still quite difficult to get. (I check twice daily and haven't tamed one in 4 months, and yes I understand the spawn system, clock, place holder etc). Is there an over reliance upon the steel? yes....is there an over reliance on pets in general? yes....it always seems players on day one are trying to tame Cu and White Wyrms. Many institutions such as the Amazons and pet hunters have been put in place to minimize the use of pets especially in the Dungeon Boss arena...there are still methods to use them...but by and large they are taken without the use of pets.

There are two factors I think that are the cornerstone of the issue....ONE is population...the more players on at the same time working together minimize the need for pets. I remember early on I could go all week and not see another player...or at best there was 2-3..My Steel was my only friend (lol)...early on in my development as a player I could not solo a great many things and even the stuff I could would take insane amounts of time...I needed my Steel just to get through the MOBS and progress. Over time I have begun to ween myself off the Steel...I still bring it out when time is of the essence or efficiency is necessary or I am trying to protect "newer" players. I now enter new scenarios without my Steel and only bring him out when it is warranted...but this is a matter of philosophy...Which is point TWO.

Philosophy. There are those that would rather play the game using a tank to complete tasks..this could be based on time constraints or any number of different things...It would be wonderful if all any of us had to do all day is play UO and knew we had years ahead of us to slowly earn and gain each step of the ladder. We can argue the merits of philosophy of individual game play but in the end...it is essentially a free game that we have volunteered to play and support. If one chooses a philosophy of game play that differs from others then so be it...they have the right to pursue the game in their own manner. We may not like it...but tuff noogies.

We all show up here trying to get whatever we are looking for out of the experience...whatever has drawn us here has drawn us here...I am sure it is different for each of us and we are all seeking a different outcome at the end of the day...It is up to the individual to shape and mold his/her/its game play to their own individual needs. If you don't want to rely on your steel or bio or annoying pink fluffy thing don't use it...put it away (or give it to Ari).

I would, however, welcome the addition of MOBS and scenarios that would be zero tolerance for pets (ala Chuck Norris) The caveat however is that is still would need to be solo'able since population constraints exist.

If the staff sees fit to enforce a philosophical shift and eliminate or minimize Steel or nearly equally as efficient pack of Storm pets or those infernal pink fluffy thingys...then we will adapt

I guess as I wrote this I figured out what side I came down on....if you wish to challenge yourself and grow...then do so....if you wish to use your pets as your main offense by all means do so.

[merchantmace]

Wow... i seem to have struck a nerve with everyone.. Didn't mean to upset you. I see people that have complained about the use of pets are now taking the other stance once its thrown out there as a suggested possibility.

I understand some points.... but isn't the uproar about the change a clue to how much people rely on this helping hand? instead of going out and making a friend or 2... or working at something till you figure out your technique.

I think i have an accomplished resume when it comes to what can be accomplished without pets... and without the use of macros while fighting (which i never do). I'm all for playing as you will and as i said in a previous post. I believe chvarye has quickly come up with a better solution to what i have suggested. It was an option i hadn't thought of. The idea was not to assault the shard with a thought. Simply one comment... lead to thinking... which lead to a thought posted to generate ideas which ultimately will (hopefully) lead to new challenges. Essentially it will be creating a new level to whispering pines that many may not be ready for. I will love and support the shard whatever happens. Or if nothing happens.

The healthy discussion and the possibility of generating creative juices of all...that's what this was about. I apologize to those who felt attacked and feared the loss of this part of the game. It was not my intent. Simply bringing a thought to the surface and see what would come out of it. After all... that is what this part of the forum is about.

[Yordor]

Anyone who feels that his steel is being used as a crutch is free to quit using it. I haven't seen a problem with people dominating the harder mobs with their pets as it is now. Almost nobody will do a Sleeping Dragon champ just because of how Serado hits. I might do a dungeon boss occasionally and I always forget the peerless even exist! I do have a steel I use occasionally.

Every form of play has its strengths. One could say stacking magic buffs like faster casting + cast recovery + mana regen + spell damage increase makes an unstoppable mage. Others might say honor + discord + bless weapon + crusader/tainted weapon makes it too easy for a mele fighter. Then there are the archery weapons, and barding. You can take out orcs with your bare fists if you're determined enough.

It has been proven that a flock of 5 chickens can take down some of the hardest monsters in the game. I may go train a bear or gorilla just to see how strong they can get, or try to clear a dungeon with only a shepherd's crook or gnarled staff.

Anyway, I can't see a problem that removing / nerfing steels would solve. Everyone plays in a different way and so far there haven't been any issues caused by the disparate approaches.

[merchantmace]

hmmm..... Not sure how else to phase everything i already said... it appears its a very sensitive subject... And again i will state i was not trying to cause panic. It was a suggestion... it was out there to feel around.. Everyone please stop getting their feelings hurt. I had accomplished what i had set out with Chvarye's response. It was a conversational piece to spring forth new ideas.

As far as free to quit using perhaps a portion of my resume will help clear it up.. I have done 65 proxy never a pet... 78 dread horn no pets.. 40 travesty no pets and countless on the others. I have done all champs but oaks no pets ( to include sleeping dragon). Could go on..... no pets is not a new idea for me.... i have already taken the responsibility for myself to do so. And like i also said i enjoy using my steed as well.

The problem it would have solved was creating a new challenge for everyone. And again i repeat. Chvarye had come up with a far better solution than i had in the beginning. I dropped my initial inquest in support of a far better idea brought forth by staff. It was a thought... brought up to support other ideas. I apologize for hurting others feelings by mentioning it. I am however encouraged by the one who took it constructively... Thank you chvayre... even if nothing comes from it.

[Yordor]

The only aspect that is "sensitive" to me is the in the phrasing. I resent the insinuation that those who don't agree that a problem exists now are somehow inferior players or are just too stupid to understand your train of thought. Anyone with an opinion different from your own is labeled a whiner or an imbecile. So much for this constructive dialog.

You state that you have done a vast number of champs & bosses without the aid of a steel so exactly how would removing them change your game play experience at all? It won't! It would affect only those who do wish to use pets by making their tactics conform to your ideals of how UO should be played. I have yet to see a post by anyone else saying that they're out of challenges and need a new uber-boss to keep them entertained.

New mobs are good. Harder mobs are fine. Belittling others for their style of play is uncalled for and it's guaranteed to stir my pen (or keyboard in this case).