[MUD-Dev] banning the sale of items

[Christopher Allen]

From: "Kristen L. Koster" <koster at eden.com> wrote:
> Christopher Allen wrote:
> > I ask because we are seriously considering charging a one-time fee for
what
> > we call "the gift of fate". It would be different for different games,
but
> > the the idea would be that someone could get up to speed enough to
> > participate in the community.
>
> Why not start all your players at that ability level if they truly can't
> "participate in the community" until then?

A good question, which I have a possible answer:

When a game first opens, the level "average" players starts off low. As it
grows and has been around for a while, that average is now higher, but does
typically top off.

The intent of the gift of fate is to allow someone that wishes to skip some
of the effort to go from the beginning to low average. However, since other
players had to work their way to low average, we can't just give new
starting players the ability get their easier, and many people will want to
earn it. However, for those that don't we may be able to charge for it.

I know in my particular case, I feel like I paid my "dues" on UO, but my
character no longer exists (I quit after getting frustrated by PvP.) I might
consider paying extra to skip all the killing of rabbits and other newbie
stuff. In particular as right now I don't have the time, nor would enjoy
going through that again. In fact, my goal would not be to become a master,
but to maybe participate with some role-playing now that Renaissance is
coming online.

In our games, we are attempting to fit the "gift of fate" into the game
world. For instance, in Alvatia, the "gift of fate" might mean that you
start with the skills of a trade (say blacksmithing or carpentry) and maybe
a journeyman's guild license. This way you could start the game better able
to directly participate with the economic system the game, with skills that
are needed for the common good of the game, but not skills like sword and
magic, etc. that are more prized by the higher characters in the game.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. Christopher Allen                                 Skotos Tech Inc. ..
..                           1512 Walnut St., Berkeley, CA 94709-1513 ..
.. <http://www.Skotos.net>               o510/649-4030  f510/649-4034 ..




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