Dennar provided an avenue for merchants and the community to interact and it went the way of most "towns" anymore....crickets. I wonder why?

So I ask LS, what is it that is missing to keep things like Dragonclaw and other player run towns from becoming a fun interactive part of the community?

No loot?

Seems most people are concerned with items in this game(which is the problem with item based games).

When people are not concerned with what they need to survive and can just survive they explore.

Well said and I agree

Agreed.

But why does everything need to focus on loot? Community has always been key for me. Dragonclaw was community driven and it's such a shame it was not taken advantage of more when most crafters complain of not having a viable outlet for their skills other than enhancing or crafting for themselves. *sighs*

I'm just glad that Dennar gave it a chance and made it available. The castle will remain of course and most of us will move our vendors inside there where we can still interact with the community some *smiles*

Because the game was altered in "item" based now. People compete over the items they have and how much of it they have. Its not about RP anymore. RP used to be a full time thing, some even in PvP. Now its like, only RP in RP events and none at all in PvP. This is where AoS took place.

It is a shame it is going, I started a small hamlet on Legends, offered free vendor spot for folks. I get alot of sales, but I wanted vistors too.

I agree folks are too much into the arty give it to me now

I guess the solution is out there, but elusive.

The trick is to merge the things that are pulling the communities apart. Why can't an item based game have community, role playing and fun? If there is a way to mend the four into the game, it may just bring back the type of fun we had in the old days.

This is why I say it can still be done, and probably needs to be done more than ever. I can't go into DOOM alone to get items, and I don't mean the stealables. It would still take a pretty good guild to get them on a consistent basis. Messing around near the minotaur, those monsters are pretty tough. Would be great for a guild to take on, community.

I don't necessarily think the item hounds are messing up the game too much. The solution is getting all aspects of the game you like and using them together. I would love to go hunt some of the monsters I read about and find some of the loot I read about, but I can't find groups or guilds to join. Grouping in UO is not as easy as grouping in other games today...but, it used to be. Why can't we bring it back?

I know on these forums we were talking about starting a UOF guild on a shard...what happened to that? I would join up in the hopes that I could see more of Britannia than the Elder Gazer's in Shame. Do I want gold and loot? Yes, of course. But, not to the extent that it drives everything I do in game.

I am starting to ramble so I will end with this: the solution is to find a way to mix it all together and make it fun again.

Basically, it also takes more than just one commited person. Dragonclaws website will remain in the hopes that the castle it self will keep folks interested and some day it can reestablish itself with a solid core of folks that will take the time to make it work.

IMHO

First of all and totally off topic I love your avatar! Thanks for the smile

I wonder if what you're saying can be accomplished. Long ago Dennar spoke of such group/town outings. For instance he mentioned our town was invaded by balrons and we need to retrieve what was stolen so the crafters make some fine armor for some warriors and together they battle balrons for the eve, taking the loot and enhancing it. Or a dragon quest for leather for the tailors in town. Perhaps we can start there?

It is easier said than done, takes alot of work and dedication and a LARGE active core group to sustain the efforts of individuals or small groups. Things that help a group thrive include hunting/exploring parties, great vendors, regular events that bring people in to see your vendors and know about your outings.

The events can focus for a time on craft related subjects, but should move into different areas that will attract various player types. Well publicized is very important. Know that you will have to invest in prizes for events or people will not come. The prize amount gets higher all the time.

I personally love storytelling contests, there used to be some great storytellers on the shard, and may still be. Choose locations for events that may not start at your place, but lead to it.

Dennar has given much to this shard. Some of my favorite relics are armor from being mass killed in fel vs tram wars. RROOAAARR we couldn't move, but we tried and we laughed!