Artifacts, Stats, And Crafting, 2 December, 2008 Options

[Fists]

Most of the suggestions have provided a way for artifacts to be stolen for some period of time. The trouble is that the decay time on items needs to be long, or that becomes an annoyance in itself - and one that affects everyone, and not just artifact buyers. So if the decay time is long, artifacts can be stolen for long periods and thus aren't worth much (value = base value * fraction of time you get to keep it); if the decay time is short, it costs a lot of money to replace your items all the time and that's potentially just as annoying.

The assumption is that decay time on the average item will be at least two weeks, probably four or longer - because any shorter would be extremely annoying. So if your artifact gets stolen once per year, you're missing out on about 8% of your item's value, which is a substantial chunk. And if artifacts really could be stolen for that long, I suspect they'd be stolen all the time. Plus, I suspect this value actually grows exponentially the more artifacts you have, because being able to steal many items in one go would be appealing.

In short, the decay time isn't really a variable that can be changed for this purpose - it needs to be kept long. Something else needs to be done. It's telling that your suggestion is "buy short decay items" - it's clear that the length of time you're without your item is the variable that needs to be fiddled with. Trouble is that changing decay time directly has a knock-on effect.

Plus, if you're robbing someone, there's nothing to prevent you from stealing every stitch they own - they'll get their arties back quickly, but they're still without all their other stuff. I really don't see what the problem is with that, they'll still be annoyed and they haven't lost any real-life money - which I think is only fair.

As for the decay time, if my shiny weapon or piece of armour had a decay time of 2 weeks, I don't think I'd be able to play . I'd say at least 2-3 months is essential for items such as these, but of course that's a ridiculous amount of time for someone to wait to get their artefacts back.

Perhaps there are some other options available that may not be completely IC but may still work. Something along the lines of an option to pay gold to get your arty back, or buying another artefact that lets you return one artefact per week but only after a week has passed since it left your possession. Something that offers something to both sides of the equation - either gold or the use of your artefact for a week for the thief, and the chance to get your artefact back for the owner.

Mmm, really shouln't leave my posts until 3am, everything is fuzzy and I suppose my sentence structure is as well..

[Veloso]

Which is, if you look back, exactly the direction we were heading in - my suggestion was to have the artifact power reset after x days but not the item, since powers are imbued in items (see the OP for that). There were a few other similar suggestions.

[Vaerom]

Simple solution. Someone steals your armor, you hunt down said thief, kill said thief, automatically loot your artifacts back. Couldn't steal anyone else's as they need to do the same. Also, another option hire a thief to steal them back. Both sound like viable options to me and both make sense.

[MrConor]

I think it's important everyone remembers the utilitarian considerations here: for everyone who is pissed that their artifact has been stolen, there's a thief who is now overjoyed that he has managed to steal an artifact!

[xArtemis]

I'm on the fence.

On the one hand, I think like the thief. Yay, I stole an artifact.

On the other hand, I think like the owner/customer. What the hell, I payed 200 bucks and now I don't have my product.

The reset time (and there has to be a reset time) needs to be reasonable enough, or has to have a set method of delivery, or you're basically telling people the real money they spend on this game can be ganked by whoever, whenever.

[Tehuti]

Only a fool or the uninformed would spend money on artifacts in this game if theft of them for any extended period of time becomes possible (beyond the normal reset time in other IRE games). The only way to soften the blow is to make artifact costs near trivial. If that is not done, then you can be sure astute people, unless they are masochistic, will not be spending their money on anything outside of lesson purchases.

[Garnuk]

Firstly, these threads are old.

Secondly, how are you going to steal things?

[xArtemis]

Read the OP.

We don't know how yet, I imagine in kits.

[Garnuk]

edit: nevermind just realized rifle has no balance time, and can take wielded items.

[Ainsley]

edit: nevermind just realized rifle has no balance time, and can take wielded items.

Not sure what your original post was, but rifle does have a balance, however short it is.

I'd like it to be changed to where you can't take wielded items (or maybe even just wielded items that are gripped), though.

[AndersAldous]

Not sure what your original post was, but rifle does have a balance, however short it is.

I'd like it to be changed to where you can't take wielded items (or maybe even just wielded items that are gripped), though.

Shouldn't take wielded or worn items.

[Ainsley]

Shouldn't take wielded or worn items.

Not sure if that shouldn't is, 'it shouldn't but it does', or a 'it shouldn't by design', but I've definitely rifled wielded weapons off someone before.

I gave them back, but I'm hearing of other people stealing wielded weapons off of near-newbies and keeping them which makes me sad.

If it's the former, I definitely agree. Also there should be a low to zero chance of getting stuff from closed containers, too.

[AndersAldous]

Not sure if that shouldn't is, 'it shouldn't but it does', or a 'it shouldn't by design', but I've definitely rifled wielded weapons off someone before.

I gave them back, but I'm hearing of other people stealing wielded weapons off of near-newbies and keeping them which makes me sad.

If it's the former, I definitely agree. Also there should be a low to zero chance of getting stuff from closed containers, too.

I mean "it shouldn't but it does"

[Garnuk]

Not sure what your original post was, but rifle does have a balance, however short it is.

I'd like it to be changed to where you can't take wielded items (or maybe even just wielded items that are gripped), though.

one of my guild mates got all his weapons, coins and bandages rifled from him before he could finish writhing.