Free Use Duel Arena

I agree, as a newer player that has been making attempts to get into the PvP scene here, the few runs in the duel pits that I have participated in have ended due to running out of reags. I have also seen this happen with several other groups in the few that I have watched.

If the skill gain could be nullified in the arena I think that would be ideal, however with the new systems of public announcement in IRC of duels, timers, and gumps to enter, I agree that it could be more trouble then its worth to try and gain magery in there.... then again someone will try to exploit everything.

While I'd say having free use is ideal, having bank access or one of those 'Variety vendors' with bandages and reags could also make a big difference. It is definitely not about the money, (however I feel like some of the more well off/vet players here have long forgetting what its like to be new, as I have seen across multiple threads now).

A down side to the vendor though, is that 20 of each reg isn't going to really prolong any sort of duel, and if they stocked higher amounts (say 50 or 100, then normal vendor increases with demand) would there be an outcry that people buying up reags could use and abuse these vendors and then they are not available for duelers? (is it possible to check that you must have been in the duel pit within the last 10min before you could purchase?)


EDIT: Another thought I had, would be that each player could choose an option on the gump, to pay a small fee of a few hundred gold, to make their session free use, as it seems like it isn't about the small amount of gold needed, but convenience of not running out of reags in the middle of a match, or waiting for multiple people to go restock.

Perhaps I'll talk to Les about getting Timbo friended to the Moonglow arena tower, if he wants to run a restock vendor or two there....

If we want more pvp, we need to make it as easy as possible to learn.

Free regs,no skill gain!

I don't like free use, even CTF is questionable IMO, makes UO too much like an arcade game it feels like.

To help the newbies maybe the recently inflated costs players are charging for items should be toned down.
You all want new people to fight? You want more people to interact with? All that go pk'ing, notice the lack of people you are not finding?
Well when you constantly pk the shit out of them when they are farming trying to get ahead so you COULD HAVE SOMEONE to fight. You lose them because of frustration, lack of items or gold to get things. 800k or more for a weapon, Charging 200k for a tamer quest? please, this is typically going to be a NEW tamer needing this more than anything. These people are building their chars, farming some to save up for those dueling regs, getting a house ingame, maybe stop gouging them....

This is a fel server, We already have CTF as our "safe" zone where there is NO risk. We do not need another trammel zone that will ALSO pretty much only be the other place pvp will exist.

No to free use.

Times up!!!
Insert coins to continue

LOL @ everything Xeg said. Having free use at the arena would affect N O T H I N G at all.

New players trying to get ahead? OS's most recent public harrower was FULL of new players that you and your homies decided to stone wall/ release a shit ton of dragons at?

Let's see, who has the most kills on the server.... oh , right, also another one of your "homies"

I've never seen a tamer quest charging over 100k per slot, but I do not doubt that one.

A weapon going for 800k?! That is not a weapon for a new player to begin with / whether it be a runic , or a high end slayer. They need a bard or tamer to start with not a peace/warrior requiring a damn slayer that costs a small fortune that most vets are afraid to lose.

Being that I sell regs constantly to people I frequently have people asking me how much regs they can get for 5k, or 10k gold. THAT is a lot to a newer player, ALL i was trying to accomplish with this thread was giving newer players that finally just scrounged the gold to finish there first bard and wanted to learn to PVP the ability to do so without it taking gold out of their bank that they are desperately saving for a house.

I help new players all the time and I can guarantee you that dueling say 10 times in a row would eat a HUGE chunk out of a new players value.

If I am out pking I will usually kill someone once then move on. No reason to continuously kill them and ruin their gameplay, unless they continue attempting to attack me while I am out and about. New players cannot get frustrated and lose hope after only dying once, it's apart of the game and there is risk to it.

I don't like the idea of framing this as free regs for newbies. It feels untruthful. The reality is that those that spend a lot of time in the arena feel it would be more convenient if they didn't have to restock.

There are two great reasons to not have free use systems, in my opinion.

For one, some battles in uo are ones of attrition and risk. A poisoner often intends to run his opponent out of curing ability. Or a macer- refreshes. And there are several other relevant analogies. Free use systems make a lot of these templates irrelevant.

As far as 5x is concerned i think just about everyone that does this would agree that its more convenient and doesnt hurt the spirit of the match itself. But that doesnt mean its a good thing.

Second, too many of the servers systems are being bottled into closed-world systems with no loss and no risk. Its simply not in the spirit of a felucca only server. Who says practicing shouldn't have a cost? And for many, this has become the end game. Its framed as if its a gateway to more open world 'real' pvp but that's just not true. At this point the server has produced an entire generation of pvpers that dont see a reason to graduate past the duel arena or event center (eg trammel.) And theyre even being paid platinum out of thin air for it. No doubt the future tournament system will do the same. Atleast the duel arena doesnt (yet, once it occurs to a certain few people the lobbying will begin.)

Have none of you noticed the difference in this server between now and a year ago? When will it be too late? I hate to say this but the automated events and instanced areas are a dangerous direction for the server. And i hope you vets have started to notice.

Wny cant we let duels happen in traditonal locations like the farms and dungeon wrong? Tournaments on tower roofs like grimoire and stormhold and many others.

I miss wrong roof duels and the farms was awesome spot.

Who says practicing shouldnt have a cost? Your teammates that suggest going to test .

When I go to duel sometimes I bring a pouch with 1000x of each reg or more so the restock although annoying isnt the reasoning IN MY MIND.


p.s.

i wont be bringing the pouches anymore

Oh and had I kept reading Mes's post I would agree with you that there are too many people that use the arena as their only avenue of PVP but free use obviously has nothing to do with this.

I agree , more should field

I'm okay with the formal dueling ladder and automated tournaments for pragmatic reasons. But I don't think there should be any circumstances in this game where "free-use" exists -- including CTF (which I play) -- no matter how well intentioned the reasons are. This is a resource-laden world and most actions should always consume resources. Casting a spell should consume regs, taking a hit should reduce armor durability, chugging a potion should leave an empty bottle.

I'd write up a long-winded post...

But Pax Romain and Mes have both already perfectly expressed my opinion.

Okay- if there are any new players that would like to practice dueling - you can always PM me ( timbo) on IRC and I will provide you with some regs and may even come and duel with you !

Some may say if they have a character that is capable of dueling then they shouldnt need help- well I say I dont want them to have to choose between their first house and learning some PVP .

FYI I think free use at CTF is 100% dumber than having free use arenas. Atleast in the arena the rules generally dictate no potions at CTF you may as well forget the poison spell/skill cause u could stick a damn close pin in your drink cure key. ( this goes for refresh too )


EDITED to say that this post in no way is me supporting NON free use CTF or arenas for that matter! I highly doubt there would be the numbers CTF sees if it wasn't free use... if i was a new player and I had 40k or so I wouldnt spend 2k to stock up for a CTF when I need to buy my first house.

TOO many people are turning this into a lazy factor when this is ABOUT THE NEW PLAYERS!!!!


Alteast put a FREE USE duel arena in OCCLO for YOUNG ONLY!!!!!

+1

there should be no ctf and no duel arenas. otherwise its gonna be too late.

If there is ANY post in this thread that is against free use , this is the one I agree the most with !! Something, I dont know what, but something needs to be done !

Why don't all of us "vets" brainstorm on ways to cater to PVP more here , and get the field experience back to where it should be !!!

I know for one, a few others and myself are trying to get TB back up and going, and an active presence from CoM and SL will certainly help keep us inspired!

Although, personally I do not think that getting rid of CTF would be the answer - but maybe post CTF organized field fights, or something.

How about trophies for stat consecutive stat murders - 1 plat trophy for hitting 10 stat murders - 1 plat trophy for hitting a bounty of XX or a bounty from XX people, and a ladder sysem climbing up to 100 stat murders , bounties, etc.... Would need some sort of "check" in place to make sure you are not farming alts or buddies alts - also - vice versa a system for PK hunters . People seem to L O V E their trophies.

Keep in mind, this post was not well thought out... I literally just woke up and haven't finished my first coffee

I've never been in favor off offering rewards/trophies to get people to do events or play. SL would love field fights, but can we get the others to leave CTF or dueling to do them? We are trammelizing the server too much if we do free use arenas, it is bad enough with CTF and instance events. I said no to free use arenas.