By now most of you have had a chance to think about this and vote in the game about the possibility of an item wipe. We do not think a player wipe is necessary as no one is even remotely near the top level that a player can go, let alone massive amounts of people having multiple top level avatars. The economy is also very well in check, with it growing slowly but steady and seems to be healthy.

What seems off a little (and many of you appear to agree) is the items - armor, weapons, etc. The voting is going heavily in favor (about 3 to 1 ratio in favor ) of the item wipe.

What we need to know, if this is going to happen, is what concerns there are about details. We're not going to guarantee any one thing that is brought up will be done, but we need to know all sides of it to plan it so it will be a positive change that helps balance things more as they should be.

We already have a couple of new changes that will be taking place at the same time that we think players will like. Also, we expect this to take place after we come back from the DLDS that will unveil the new macro system as well.

Lots of new changes taking place in the game this year. Part of the beauty of the game is the tremendous amount of work that goes into improving it and keeping it fun and exciting. Prepare for a fun filled year of great and challenging changes!

As I tell anyone who asks, I'm for the item wipe. With any time I talk, this is just my opinion. Lets hear everyone elses. He we go for me.

Items are stagnant and possibly still a good deal on players who never play but for whatever reason still have all their gear, or houses of gear. I don't know 400 players in the game. If I added up all the people I knew with alts, it's probably around 40 people. That's 360 other people with eq, good or bad. I had not said much about items since that last purge. I think it helped everyone who still plays a tremendous deal. I've got better eq than I've ever had but that's not exactly because of purged players/items. I've killed the mobs I want loaded over 80 times in about 3 weeks to get what I've got. I got lucky on a few things and people just looking around and saying who that was from. I've even come upon an item someone scrapped and I'm offering to make a trade to give it back.

I have no issues with us all starting over with eq. I think it will be a good deal of fun. I'm sure many hate this thought because of all the gear they've spent so much time loading. It'll be a pain to see a few things I've got go away, knowing how difficult it was to get, but I'm up for the challenge, not to mention the exp I'll get doing so. A few I'm sure have houses of "prize" eq just collecting dust. To me, that's not right, give it to someone who can use it. Not pointing any fingers, I just know of a few that'll lose A TON of items.

With those who are strong among us, you've got the hp and you'll get the eq as you go up. From what I understand, everyone still needs some exp, that'll give you something to look forward to going from level to level getting back items. I hope that all will be sure to pass down eq that they no longer need. I see this as an opportunity for many players to come together and really enjoy the game as groups. Me and my zombies will be at hand to help with anything. I've told a few that I'd even stick around some kills to make sure everyone gets loaded up with certain run of the mill items and doesn't have to worry about trying to load one because I'm on it. That means they can work on other things. That might take more time.

I'm losing my thought bubble here with phones ringing at work etc....

Oh, Maybe we could all keep just two items. It would be some work, but maybe even before the item purge, put in the request of which items we're currently wearing that we wish to keep. Myself? It would be my 3 fates necklace and my Ragebringer ss. Fates does some 25 luck, hp mana, regen, pretty rare to come by and my ragebringer is a weapon for one and sets my str to 25. First thing I'll hit up is black knight eq for whatever stops it gives per slot. Not much, but it's something and very easy to get a hold of.

We'll all be running around getting lowbie eq and passing it on as we get better items. I think it will be a ton easier than a player wipe and much less stressing to load items. We're at a strength now that it's really not that difficult to get a hold of something we really want. I just hope some people won't come back just to load themselves up with eq again and go back to sitting around and never playing. I see this item purge as nothing but good. Toss in a few reboots to test out the kinks that I'm sure will be with new macros, and we'll all be back up to power in no time, hopefully with a few other people who play getting their hands on some nice stuff as well.

Okay, you all know I'll reply with more, thanks for scanning over this.

I agree a lot with what Gydin has to say. I think it would be a nice addition to be able to keep one or two items, but then it would probably get shot down for the fact that people have cracklers. Regardless of if we get to keep an item or not, I'd like to bring up the idea of maybe having a low end set of standard eq for a character that is already created, and past a certain level. Yes, we may have lots of HP, but that doesn't mean we can kill for gear without at least *some* gear, and let's face it, the starting gear would be more like ornaments on a lesser lord.

I must say I am NOT for this idea at all. I think it's a very
short-sighted idea at best. It will take people around a month
to load back their equipment that they currently own, and then
what? What are staff trying to achieve exactly with this idea?
Alienate 33% of an already low player base? If so, then that's
a great way to do it.

I had a look at the few of the players that still currently play,
both mortals and avatars. Almost all of them are fully decked out,
and have better equipment than what I had when I was their level.
So, I am pretty sure there is no equipment shortage as such on dl.

I also do not intend to waste a month of my time in order to load
back equipment I already spent alot of time on. Year(s). Con too.

My $1/50.

As we all mutter, we know Bojie is against this idea. For whatever hording rumors there are, it's assumed you wouldn't like this. It means all the items you have on diff characters just waiting to be traded to people who don't have the gear you want because you've loaded near everything in the game for each of your characters goes to waste just sitting there.

Bojie, you have a great opportunity to turn around the way many think about you. I still try to be your friend but at times I see you treating me the same way you do those you don't care about. You would be a great help to all loading back some gear. It's not just gear that we already have, it's giving people a chance to get gear that sits on players who never play. When those people do play, it's for 30 mins to say hi and show of what gear they've got. This item purge is a great opportunity to balance out all the complaints about so and so hording whatever. I honestly think it'll bring a lot of people together and we'll all enjoy this challenge.

For me, the long standing Eracules is whatever is gone. I see that gone against Efori as well. That's a huge barrier broken down. It seemed like it was Efori and I against them. But now we all joke around and play together. I have no problems with anyone in this game and really look forward to helping everyone out in the item purge. Not only is it an item purge, but new and fun additions will be added, hopefully with a few new zones. Mine isn't done because now I'm second guessing it all. I hope St. Bernards can be added if it's possible and once we all get up to the strength to go killing in there, it'll be a huge new challenge.

Much love to all.

I am sure that few players that are going to be left
playing after item wipe will be very happy. Yes, in
theory that's how it would play out Gydin. In practice
though, it will be much different. What are say, 10,
active players going to do with all the equipment that
they load among themselves? Simple, hoard it in all
the bags/holes/tubes that they find. So from my point
of few this wipe achieves nothing. It will go back to
the same old (now).

I am far from a major hoarder in the game and I saw
and know enough to be able to say this with 100%
certainty. I love how people who have no clue, make
up fake stories about me. Much <3.

Ha, I just came on to post about this. Those that play all the time would control a massive amount of the easier to claim eq. Steel bracelets, emperor rings, shadow rings, being a few of these. How many players out there are sitting with 4 steel bracelets on all their alts? It wasn't something I had considered. I still think this purge is a good idea, maybe if there was a way to limit how many of an item you can have, to say 2? Aside from scrolls, gems, etc. I believe that is in place in a few games. You could only ever get two steel bracelets, two bags of holding, list goes on. There are ways around that of course. If it's not on your person, you can load more. Wow, this really is a difficult problem.

It looks like there's no simple way to make everyone happy and the staff is doing the best they can. I'm completely against a player wipe, but that is the all ending equalizer. We all know how many players that lost last time though. I think it'll come down to people being less selfish and trying to help out everyone for the good of the game. So what if you and 4 people are the biggest and baddest guys in the game... that's fun why? Some see me as big and I laugh at them. I'm not large when I compair myself to other clerics. It's all in how you play the game.

I'm thinking more and talking more with people in the game and they are more accepting of the item wipe. Very many are upset about a few items because of the work they put into loading it. Most seem to be able to name 5 items they'd love to keep. I can name off 5 myself, already included in my previous post is my aura which I died for a few times trying to force. It was a proud day when I did. I would hate to lose it. Maybe before the purge we can all tithe 5 items we wish to keep. No clue how to go about this. Again, with this item purge, more items in the game = less times I'll have to try to force it. Given someone doesn't get decently strong enough that on a reboot they can go around loading just about everything and horde it.

Hrm, someone just mentioned a really good point. If we all purge all items, we're going to die trying to load it back. Maybe toss 5 con to everyone, maxing out at 18 con. That'd probably be a good incentive to come back as well and keep on playing. Yes I know you have 17 con and that 5 con wouldn't matter, but heck, now you're back at 18 con.

I think this item purge is for those who are committed to DL and admire the hard work it'll take to be our levels, but wearing level 50 gear. I'm all for the challenge. We might lose a few players, but I'm sure we'll gain the balance with many others.
Shutting up now.

Bojie,

Thank you for sharing your opinion, however, it would be more helpful if you could post some specific concerns as well. We discussed this idea in great detail prior to asking how people feel about it. Nothing is done to the game without thinking out all sides and how it will affect the entire game and players as a whole.

We have already stated some specific reasons as to why we're thinking of doing this and what we hope to achieve with it. A few I didn't post was that it will encourage people to once again group together to get items and will encourage more exploration as groups.

We really don't see that this change will lose us as many players as you seem to imply. If this makes someone leave then they were already out the door to begin with. Our player base does happen to be slightly bigger than 10 people also.

I hope that we don't lose any players due to this. There are a few things we're not sharing that are due to be unveiled, as I said. I think people will be pleasantly surprised. We're striving to make DL more fun for all, no matter what class or level you are.

I barely play any more so maybe my opinion is of little value, but I'll state it anyway.

My first concern is that very few people have commented and I see no other staff opinions on this. I'm curious to hear from them as it will affect their mortal characters as well.

My second concern is the same as Bojie's. What is trying to be achieved here? I've read and re-read this thread and I see two vague explanations:

1. "What seems off a little (and many of you appear to agree) is the items - armor, weapons, etc."

Define a little? What is off? Is it the fact a few extremely rare items don't load anymore because they are maxed? Other rare items don't load because they are almost maxed? Well, isn't that the point of rare items? First come first served?

2. "..so it will be a positive change that helps balance things more as they should be."

How should they be? What is balanced? Is it the fact people have characters that they rarely play any more and keep all the so called 'best' items really an issue that warrants this extreme measure? I've never heard of anyone, anywhere be expected to hand over or share an item they don't use anymore. They fought long and hard for it, just like everyone else and now the idea is to take it away from them, so someone else can load it. It's simply unbelievable. Everyone has the opportunity and chance to load items. If someone can't, that does not mean there is a problem.

My third concern is the fact stated in the online question that this will also include !purge characters. Unfair. Wasn't the point of these people being !purge so they won't lose their items?

Change is good, change is wonderful, change is fun - but only if it's the right change, for the right reasons. I simply do not see a positive reason. I see a punishment for people playing the game as it was intended to be played. So, if it's the intent to strip me of the holy robe off my back so it becomes available for the next person to use it, go ahead. You won't see me return to run around looking for wicker armor to use so that I can go fight a lvl 200 mob for the equipment I 'used' to have. I would much prefer a player wipe and start off a lvl 1 naked, then lvl 154 naked.

Hanna brings up many good points.

I think the item wipe is for the people who play consistently, not every now and again. I never thought there a need for an item wipe and have been very happy with the last attempt to quel complaints about eq on people that never play. My character is sitting pretty nice right now because of it, and I've worked for it. Over 100 kills on the skeletal beast to load back an item I scrapped loading something else pretty major. I've gotten very lucky with a few things that I've worked at so so, and tons lucky at things I've strived hard for.

The more I look at this the less I like it. Again, kudos to Hanna for some good points. This will be an interesting challenge, but will it benefit the game? Or simply those who play all the time? I'm seeing those who rarely play as loosing all their gear and the few rare times they do play, they've got nothing. That would be a major bummer.

This is a very difficult topic. More input people!

This is my personal beliefs, and does not necessarily represent the official opinions of the staff. (Obviously)

I've thought long and hard about this, trying to look at everything with unbiased eyes. I've listened to a few people debate about it, and I've come to draw my own conclusions as such.

I truely believe that an item purge, at this time (and at almost any time) would not be beneficial to the game. It is a meager solution to a non-existent problem.

One thing I think a lot of you may not remember, is that certain code was implemented, and as far as I know, is still in effect, that circumvents the reasons for something as drastic as this. The higher the player base we have, the higher that items will max at, with the sole exclusion of unique (one of a kind) items.

And so I ask you this. We have a fairly decent player base, albeit a not very consistent one. But that largely has to do with other issues in the game, that in my opinion, would have to be modified before something like an item or player purge were to happen. So, why do we want to sacrifice years of hard work just to start over again and just lead to the same (again, non-existent) problem again?

It would be unfair to everyone, once again. The larger PCs would just run out and load the better stuff again, and the lower leveled PCs would be S.O.L. again. That, and, due to certain class benefits, certain classes will have an unfair advantage over other classes when it comes to reobtaining items. We can of course hope that they would be willing to help out the lesser classes, but, I for one, do not see that happening, unless they're close friends.

One thing in Distant Lands still rings true, just as it would in real life. Your family comes first, and in Distant Lands, we all have our little families. I, for one, would have no qualms about giving a nifty item I just loaded to a member of my "family". But I would be hesitant about giving it to a friend if I didn't know whether one of my family/guild members needed it.

And so the cycle keeps on. The same things will persist, the same thing will happen again. The selected few will have all of the better gear again (even if it does take a little while) and the people with less resources (be it friends, family, or just lack of spells/skills/levels) will be left behind, once again.

This is not to mention that we have plenty of gear returning back to the game these days. The people that have been "sitting" on their gear is returning. People are purging, houses are being cleaned out of said purged people. People die... Things return to the cycle.

Gydin, for one, I know has died at least once. Look at him now? He's sitting fairly well. There's a couple other players also, myself included, that have started over and were able to climb back up the ladder fairly quickly due to some hard work and a little knowledge, and not to forget the help of friends and family.

And so once again, we're back at... "What's the point"? What benefit comes from it? Is it worth the sacrifice of countless hours, days even, of playtime, trying to load that fancy new bracelet? Why, when if we just worked a little harder, we could obtain either that item, or one that is similar? Not to mention there's always room for trade...

Does this all make sense? Feel free to ask for clarifications.

Warmest regards,
Jorlain

First, I'd like to say that I have purposefully withheld information about why
the item purge is a good idea, and I am going to continue to do so. Sounds harsh,
but that's life. My general purpose is to limit the advantage players can obtain
over each other as well as add/continue some of the mystique of the game.

Second, I'd like to say that as a player, I'm not very fond of the idea of an
item purge. I don't really know where much is... and most of the (good) stuff
I've gotten has been given to me by friends. Others have complained to me from
this perspective as well. On the other hand, this will add a new challenge
to the game that can create some interesting situations. Let's face it, this
challenge will be mostly temporary -- in fairly short order even those without
friends at all will have help with gear -- we really do have some very friendly &
helpful players. It will encourage me and others like me to explore some more
(which is really a very large part of what the game is about at this point). It
will encourage people to group because the masses can generally get better equipment
than individuals. Yes, some people will have a temporary advantage in the game.
(I saw someone do this... and I have no complaints about it... just thought I'd
point it out to try to help level the playing field -- If you know some
characteristic will give you an advantage in such a situation, maybe YOU should
begin preparing to have the advantage NOW?) From a roleplaying perspective this
adds a really interesting plot twist, I think. Just imagine if one day every one
in the world woke up and everything they thought they "owned" had just disappeared.
It's as if someone had stolen everything the world and then redistributed it to its
original owner. Someone should come up with a RP name for this "event". As a player
I kind of view this as a natural disaster of sorts (think of a hurricane taking away
everything you own -- Vulsin, imagine real hard here).

Third, some might say the idea is "very short-sighted at best". But as a Staff
member, I whole-heartedly disagree. I consider making judgements without all of
the information to be very short-sighted at best. *I* have more information about
the situation than any other person on this planet. Hanaisse did bring up some
very valid questions (Thank you, Hanaisse) and I will try to address them (although
not directly). There are a number of reasons why I believe this IS the best solution
to some of our current delimmas. As I said, I'm going to be intensionally vague and
I'm going to struggle not to provide more information than I deem is necessary to
help you properly understand the situation. The item purge is not about redistributing
items amongst players, that is a side effect, the item purge is about being able to
make some significant changes to items without bias. Perhaps an extreme example to
illustrate the point... How would you feel if we lowered the gold value of every
item you owned while we raised the value of everyone else's equipment? We certainly
aren't going to do that to anyone on purpose, but it is a possible side effect of
some of the types of changes we intend to make to items for this purge. The item
purge allows us to make these changes without having to worry about what effect it
will have on the current owner of the item. A few vague examples of things we
intend to change (more or less everything we think needs adjustment on an item is up
for grabs -- got suggestions?):

* Set some items so they can't go into a container
* Set some items so they are RP only
* Adjust the gold value of some items
* Adjust item life spans
* Adjust item occurance types

There are other positive side effects beyond what is listed here. I actually
believe a DLDS followed by an item purge and new changes (both zones and code)
would likely ATTRACT MORE players than it would push away. If you are so adverse
to this change that you are considering quiting the game, you might as well quit
now. Don't get me wrong, I don't want ANYONE to quit. Just like the next DL
player, I want more players on DL, but those players need to understand that much
like real life, change happens and they need to be able to adapt and even embrace it,
that is part of Distant Lands. There are likely even larger changes than this
item purge on the horizon for DL. We (the Staff in general) strive very hard to
be impartial about such changes -- this is part of that effort. Distant Lands is a
community and as such sometimes the community needs to come before the individual.
That said, this item purge affords us a number of the benefits of a full purge,
without the painful loss of characters. Essentially, it will mean that all of the
equipment is available to active players. Yes, you need to invest time in DL
(which is hopefully FUN and NOT WORK) to regain previous gear, but ultimately that
seems like a fairly small "price to pay".

Finally one individual point I need to address --



People don't remember this because it is a rumor at best. You will NEVER find any
perfect indication of any kind of item load "max" as a player OR staff member. This
was one of the changes we put in when we created item occurance types and made lots
of massive changes to items at the full purge 3.5 years ago. We made this change
because we found that people were trying to compile databases of the equipment in
DL and this gave them an unfair advantage.

Hopefully this will at least help provide some perpective as to why the change is
viewed as desireable by some (actually most, based upon the current poll).

Best regards to all,

--Nezmar

Everything you said above Nezmar to me is just
smoke and mirrors. From your explanation about
the item changes I don't see any reason why
they (changing item value/stats/etc) can't be
implemented without the item purge. There is
obviously some hidden agenda behind this purge
that you don't want your players to know about.
I find that unsettling, because I care about dl,
and I am definatelly not on my 'way out'.

Yes, it will initaily attract some players, but
that won't last very long hence the term I used;
short-sighted. From your tone it seems as if this
is a done deal and that you don't care what players
actually think. Sad.

Bojie, I'm sorry your comprehension skills are so poor that you would think such things.

Best regards,

--Nezmar

As a player I am for the item wipe. Yes, I will temporarily miss all the items I have, but frankly most of them were given to me. I'm looking forward to going out in groups with my friends and loading them again.

As a staffer, I'm fully behind the item wipe as well. I have more info on it all than most, except for Nezmar, and fully understand the need for it. I'm really sorry if it makes people unhappy but I really believe it has to happen for the good of the game. We're looking at the long term health and fun of the game and to prevent the horrific trauma of a player wipe. I firmly believe if we did that we would lose people.

I know this will be interpreted as me brown nosing etc, but I really don't care, but I think the fact that Nezmar even allows open and honest discussion and expression of discontent with decisions and thoughts about the game is pretty cool. I mean, he does, after all pay for it. Literally and with his (and Amaessara's) many years of hard work building it up and then paying for the constant upkeep of the hardware and software it takes to make it stable. We need to keep in mind that playing here is a privilege, not a right owed us under the Constitution. Even the Constitution only guarantees us the right to pursue happiness, it does not guarantee it.