Galene,

I really do appreciate the hard work GMs put into the game and systems like the MHO. I am however perplexed by the gutting of the prize closets. Would it be possible to get an explanation as to why it wasn't feasible to leave existing items in our closets? Even if the explanation is somewhat vague I am pretty sure we'd all like to know.


I myself have wracked my brain thinking, did I do anything wrong? And I can't think of what I could have possibly done to 'abuse' my prize closet. We had 2 x4 items in our closet, a steel sword and an armor. We bought the armor exactly once and gave it away and the sword twice - more than 8 years ago - and gave them away during our 'sprite' games at the time. Our spell trinkets were given away and if there were leftovers we stuck them on a servant character for the next event. Everything else in our closet is considered a 'fluff' item granted some with nice scripts like the hair changers and some polishes and lace-ables. However, we didn't overbuy any of that stuff. We've always been judicious on when and where to use them. We have never ever ever ever put an item in a playershop.

I know we probably bought spell trinkets the most followed by a tray that holds medium (a fav of mine for events). The games we play often involved giving out an item for each correct answer or action, etc which meant a lot of items went out and we filled our Solstice trees with items for our annual Solstice party and raffle. It is my understanding however that that is the intended use for these items. I simply don't get it; I don't understand what the issue was with leaving grandfathered closets since moving forward there would have been no additional support for them or taking away items that were felt to be "unbalancing" and trimming down closets to get rid of that issue. But this move seems really extreme; can you blame us for thinking this is an intentional move to start the elimination process of the MHOs?


Xynwen,


I have to say I know you have taken a lot on the chin since this all was announced and especially in the last few days. Thank you for letting us know it wasn't just your idea to come in and bulldoze the place because honestly, I thought it was. So my apologies if I was overly harsh but this whole thing has me confused, upset and underappreciated. And I am all those things not just about my own MHO, which I do hate to see diminished, but for the friends I have who I KNOW have worked tirelessly to create, enhance and have their orgs thrive. I cannot begin to tell you how I have seen some groups work and work hard and long hours on their concepts and recruiting, training, executing their ideas. The fact that they will have less resources is as Rohese said, disheartening. I wish there had been more of a discussion about this subject with the MHO leaders involved in some capacity. This entire change is coming off overly punitive and harsh.


Kat

>> But is there an actual reason why the prize closets couldn’t have just been left as is for existing groups?

Forgot to address this in my last post. The reason is really as simple as -- the prize closet system was broken, too large, had too many items in it, etc. and allowing them to stay as-is would continue to prop up a broken system. Again though, I do recognize that YOU didn't know it was broken and it is not your fault for using the system as it was allowed. So again - no blame for anyone here for having a robust closet. I do know that makes it hurt even more with them getting greatly reduced though, and I feel for you.

--Xynwen--
World Team, MHO GM
>Emails for MHO business should go to GS4-MHO@PLAY.NET
"My real name is Mephistopheles, but you can call me baby"

Here's how I have to process these:

1. Receive an automated email notification a report was made

2. Open up the GM MHO tracking spreadsheet and find out what the last # PER entered onto the spreadsheet was [every one ever submitted is kept, and the notification doesn't tell you what # it is, so we have to track this so we don't lose our place as there are over a thousand submitted]

3. Go to the report website, navigate to individual reports, navigate to # you found in #2

4. Review the PER to see if it meets submission requirements

5. If it meets requirements, add it to the GM MHO tracking spreadsheet

6. Repeat for every new PER

7. Update the GM MHO tracking spreadsheet with the # of the final PER you handled, so you know where to start the next time

Why in this day and age are we not using the tools available to us? Automate, automate, automate! A ticketing system would remove most of the headache of this. Add in API calls to the Google Calendar with an approval by the GM handling the ticket. I'm sure that if you asked some of our players, they'd be able to create such a thing - probably at low to no cost.


@~}~ Rozy ~{~@

>> No one went and forced ICE age materials to update, despite the fact that no one else will be getting new ones every again.

>>> I'll have to chime in and disagree on this statement here regarding ICE age materials. ICE age materials WERE forced to be updated to become the new names that are used today. And even to this day, if a GM touches one they HAVE to update it to the new material name. I.e. If you give your ICE age material item to a GM for an alter, you won't be getting back that same material on the item. It's a completely legal and copyright issue now. -- GS4-Aulis

Aulis - You are definitely twisting the point of Ptolemy's statement. Everyone knows that ICE age items still exist in the game. The GM touch rule is a somewhat strange line to draw, especially for a legal and copyright issue - which Simutronics is still infringing on if that is the case. The items show up when players use them. They show up in player shops as well. If Simutronics wanted to FORCE all of these items to be updated they could have done it long ago.

Applying the ICE age materials rule to game closets. As long as a GM doesn't have to go in and modify an existing MHO closet item then it should be allowed to remain "as is" outside of the new rules. Right?

-- Robert

>> A mongrel kobold points at you and yells, "Mine! Chasin!"

Hey all, just wanted to touch base and give you a few updates!

1. I've been slammed between work and some RW deadlines, but I should be more even-keeled the next few weeks so I should be getting even more of your closets finished.

2. I asked and got permission to add another container in your prize closets. So if you have a grandfathered structure (or are getting one), you'll see a large cherrywood chest in there. It has the same storage capacity as your trunk. We know a lot of you will be stocking up on items at merchants and the like, so this should give you another way besides your personal locker to hold things.

3. I was able to get some of the prices of the prize closet items adjusted. If your closet has already been reopened, I'll be going through and updating those prices for items affected.

4. If your closet is open but you are waiting on one or two items that needed a rebuild -- those are in QC, and as they come out, I'll add them into your closet.


COST UPDATES:
* Unscripted fluff - 20K, 25K worn
* Containers - 30K
* Scripted container - 40K
* Dice - 30K
* Drink container - 30K

--Xynwen--
World Team, MHO GM
>Emails for MHO business should go to GS4-MHO@PLAY.NET
"My real name is Mephistopheles, but you can call me baby"

P.S. I still think 50k is REALLY high for our orb gems to turn into chrisms and such.

Jadzara