I HAVE A DREAM!!

[Dracolique]

and mind you, its ONLY a dream, because I am WELL AWARE that nothing I am about to suggest is even REMOTELY possible with the way things are now..... but Im gonna put it forth anyway.... FLAME ME ALL YOU WANT... its a fantasy, and thats it.

I dream of a world where all shards are interconnected.... where a single RunUO server is less like a world all its own with administrator gods, and more like a city with administrator mayors....

I dream that players could travel between servers by moongate WITHOUT logging out, and that all information for ALL players would be kept on ONE mainframe that could upload character information to any server that requested it... thereby allowing a character to travel to servers that he had never been to before and keep his character in-tact.

I dream of a network where all new scripts are submitted to a panel of "Universal Administrators" where they would be approved, standardized, and distrubuted to all servers on the network automatically, thereby keeping ALL servers compatible with all OTHER servers.

But most of all, I dream that a network such as this would give the player-run community a leg up on OSI, and allow us to TRULY compete with that monstrosity of a company.

That is my dream, its not gonna happen, so GO AHEAD, FLAME ME!!!!

[Powerworks]

Actually I have thought of the same thing MANY times.

If we could get someone higher in the dev world *cough* Ryan, Zippy *cough* interested maybe we could get something done.

now that i have read his post that would be actully nice. But we would need somthing such as the "windows update" where your computer would automaticly download this file from the runuo.com network...Where runuo could be so complex in the futuristic world where newbies wouldn't even have to deal with SETTING up there runuo service or updating scripts to work...This will probably come true in many years before us if Ultima Online is still popular in the internet world

[Dracolique]

Holy Cow!!

I was so ready to get flamed for this post, that I actually put on flame retardant goggles and a kevlar vest in Real Life...... I cant believe someone else has actually considered this. Thats really cool.

well..... shit, Im in for the long haul if anyone REALLY wants to try something like this.

[mebane2]

Doing that kinda sorta of a thing has been around for a bit. First time I saw it was with SETI when they got the plug pulled on them. Still have tons of data to process, but not the computing power. So they do a distributed system so you can just setup 1 or 2 comps on a local network that run certain software that downloads a block of data, processes, and returns the result.

The combined effort of so many computers makes it as powerful if nore more then a super computer.

BUT. The problem is UO is all real time, unbuffered data streams. Cross linking servers like that would make things hard. Plus the data storage could be a problem. And well peeps could create there own server, setup a char with an admin account that was uber strong, then walk it over.

It's a nice idea to combine all the players of Freeshards into one interactive world using the combined computing power of all the servers out there. But there would just be way way way too many difficulties.

[Dracolique]

( The S.E.T.I that Mebane2 is referring to is the "Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence" just in case someone doesnt know.... and Ive followed their progress as well. But anyway, Mebane, to respond to your post:

It could be made so that an administrator had to be approved to be allowed to start a shard in the community.... and if he left his own server, he would be reduced to player accesslevel and have all stats set to 10, all skills set to 5, and lose all equipment but a robe and sandals until he went back to his own section again.

All Im saying is that rules could be imposed and enforced.... for instance there could be a watchdog script written that would monitor commands and report if a player had been modified by a character of higher accesslevel. (GM or Admin), and if the character HAS been modified, he cannot cross to other realms........ and the GM or Admin who did it would be automatically flagged for an audit by the "Universal Administrator Panel" who are the ones that actually run things in the universe.

So there are ways to impose rules and police the community.... Im not saying this would be an open free for all.... It would be a closed community of responsible administrators who police themselves. ( of course it would be open to ALL players for free, but the network itself would be very controlled and standardized ).

I think its a damned good Idea, and I for one want to be a part of it.

[Khaz]

Sounds like the Star Wars setup to me. Not the game, but the movies: bunch of planets with their own seperate governments, but with representation in the universal Senate with the Chancellor presiding over the whole group. It works for them, it could work for us.

[Dracolique]

and just because the network would be standardized to facilitate compatibility between systems, does NOT mean that all shards would be the same, or even equal.... administrators could create their own scripts, and as long as the script is reviewed, and is deemed to be compatible with the rest of the network, then he could request that it be applied to only HIS section of the "Runuo Universe".....

this would allow massive customization of personal sections, providing a varied and ever-changing, ever developing universe for players to explore.

If anyone can give me a DEFINITIVE answer as to why this could not, or SHOULD not be done, then please, post it.... otherwise, Im afraid that Im never really going to let this concept go.

[UD]

its an interesting idea, but there are way too many variables. what if a player has an aos item and goes to a non aos server? anything you do will either require massive computing power (replacing items), or will be undesireable to the players. also consider the bandwidth limitations involved with something like this. all the data would have to be stored at a central location to maintain consistancy. this server would have to be fast enough to serve data in real time to multiple servers? not only would this require a ridiculous connection, but an obscene amount of bandwidth per month.

[PSIonyx]

Well I'll tell you why I think it *shouldn't* be done...
some people really like the idea of uber neon weapons of ultimate pk uberality .... I want to choke them to death!

enough said.

[Dracolique]

well its funny you should mention the bandwidth requirements and such, UD... I happen to have access to a rediculous connection (200 MegaBYTES, not BITS per second )..... and UNLIMITED bandwidth per month.... if your wondering how I have access to such a "preposterous" and "unimaginable" connection, go look up one of my posts entitled "question about shotgunning connections".

now, I know that even that connection would not be adequate in the long run, but its more than enough to get us off on the right foot...... all Im missing is the massive computing power to back it..... and as far as your comment, PSIonyx, Im not really sure what you were trying to say.... it sounded to ME like you made a pretty good argument FOR the network, not against it..... maybe youll have to clarify.

Dracolique.

[PSIonyx]

Well I guess what I was trying to say is that in order for players to travel between worlds their equipment must also do the same. So my problem is this, on your server playerx gets an uberneon sword... now he wants to jump around world to world, this sword is not allowed on my world, what will happen to it? and why would someone want to travel world to world if their items may not be allowed on some worlds and are on others.

I hope this was a little more clear... And hey! if you do get it to work out I'll send you a fruitbasket and a balloon that says "I'm wrong" LOL[/quote]

[Lysdexic]

Sadly, as I myself would bend all my knowledge and resources to aid such a cause, it definately could never happen. It would require shards with specifics, because alot of us free-gamers hate OSI's setup, so we'd be stuck with stuff like:

A shard with no regs,
A shard with no skill cap,
A shard with a huge stat cap,
A shard with races,
A shard with classes,
A shard with complete RPG,
A shard with complete PVP,
A shard with 3 billion tourneys and noone who plays otherwise,
A shard with quests up the wazoo,

Catching on?

[Rooster2]

Nope, not catching on... The answer to your issue is alot of stuff rewritten and modified for this.. Look on my post regaring sql.. Basically there would be rules, that andy shard involved would have to follow:

1. Must be stock (no custom scripts) or all custom scripts must be agreed on by mayors (think 'the Presidents' or 'congress' - You'll always need a group with power to make decisions without being ONE person, unless all servers are at your house, as is the case for me and the project).

2. Each server runs a full map. Reastically, there would be more than one city per server. The maps on every server *WOULD* be custom, even if they were the same as OSI (ya know those server boundies?? You're 'chunk' of the map would be that block).

3. A decent computer would be needed as the "access/accounts/login" (sql)server. In addition all shards would direct their saves to this server as well. It is (of course) this area that would require major rewriting of the code. A guy I work with who loves projects (and does SQL for a living) is working on making some of this happen small scale, so I can run my two shards here with the same players / items.. As I've said, serialization / saves I believe will be the hardest thing. I'll post more after today, lol - just wanted to basically get the point that something is sorta being worked on.

[NeonDestiny]

Maybe, instead of just the one interconnected universe, perhaps seeperate like duoverses or triverses, for different types of gameplay. Maybe, a PVP Universe, an RP Universe and an OSI universe. Which could solve quite a few problems. Or even better, OSI, PVP, Test Center and RP Universes. Where if you wanted an OSI clone, you would put it on the OSI network, a non-test PVP, youd do it on the PVP network, ANY TC shard would go on the TC network, and an RP network for Roleplaying.

The RP Network could actually probably work pretty well, having different races unique to each world.

[UD]

if u have to use stock scripts whats the point? why dont you just run 1 server...the whole point was to have different worlds connected.

[Dracolique]

Im running out the door right now... but ill answer that... if you look back through the posts youll see that what we are proposing would be this:

each shard on a particular network would Start with a set of standardized scripts for that sector.... and any custom script would have to be approved by the moderators of that particular universe and be deemed compatible with that network in order to be approved.

but customization would still be possible.

[mbcmike]

I hope this isnt too off topic, but cant something similar be done with this using Neverwinter Nights. When you play that game online, cant you travel between servers using "portals" or something of the sort that will automatically transport you to another server.I didnt play NWN for long, but I thought I remember something about that.....being able to travel to different servers if they had it set up that way.....

I know NWN is unrelated to RunUO, but it is a similar idea

[Dracolique]

mike, this is not directed at you... I just happened to post it right after your last post..... in fact its directed an noone really, Im just gonna say it cuz its bugging me.

Im getting kind of annoyed at the repeated questions such as "well, if the shards are going to be standardized and all the same, whats the point of doing it?"

If you have a question such as that, please read through the posts in this topic again.... that issue has allready been addressed 3 times by me alone, and at least a couple times by other posters. Thank you.

And I know that Ive explained myself well, because Rooster2, and NeonDestiny both seem to have grasped the entire concept and how it would all work..... please read their posts if mine dont make sense to you.

After all the feedback, Im pretty much convinced that something of this nature WOULD be possible, as well as technologically and theologically feasible.... the player based community just needs to come together and do it.

Ill probably not post any more in this topic unless its something that really needs addressing, so if anyone posts questions that have allready been answered, or aguments that have allready been addressed.... then I, at least wont be responding to them.

I will, however continue to monitor this thread for new information and I will be replying to posts that warrant it.

Cya!!

[Dracolique]

PSIonyx, you raise a valid question about the "Uberneon" sword. The way I envision this being handled is by one of TWO means:

1) Any particular "RunUO universe" could have its own specific set of rules determing the stats of items that could or could not exist within it, and in such a universe, an item such as your "UberNeon" sword simply could not be created, even by an administrator.

2) If method 1 is not used, and any administrator can make anything he wants in his particular section of the universe, then administrators should also be able to determine what can or cannot enter their domain as well. So if you specify that swords which do more than 15 damage cannot exist on your server, and the player has his "UberNeon" sword which does 78 damage, as well as a helm which does not comply with your rules, then when he tried to enter your server, a gump would pop up as such:

________________________________________________
you have one or more items on your person which cannot
enter the realm of "PSIonyx Kicks Anus" they are:

UberNeon Sword,
Helm of Dastardly Deeds,


Please remove these items from your person if you wish to
enter this realm.
_________________________________________________

[Hawkins]

Originally Posted by Dracolique

and mind you, its ONLY a dream, because I am WELL AWARE that nothing I am about to suggest is even REMOTELY possible with the way things are now..... but Im gonna put it forth anyway.... FLAME ME ALL YOU WANT... its a fantasy, and thats it.

I dream of a world where all shards are interconnected.... where a single RunUO server is less like a world all its own with administrator gods, and more like a city with administrator mayors....

I dream that players could travel between servers by moongate WITHOUT logging out, and that all information for ALL players would be kept on ONE mainframe that could upload character information to any server that requested it... thereby allowing a character to travel to servers that he had never been to before and keep his character in-tact.

I dream of a network where all new scripts are submitted to a panel of "Universal Administrators" where they would be approved, standardized, and distrubuted to all servers on the network automatically, thereby keeping ALL servers compatible with all OTHER servers.

But most of all, I dream that a network such as this would give the player-run community a leg up on OSI, and allow us to TRULY compete with that monstrosity of a company.

That is my dream, its not gonna happen, so GO AHEAD, FLAME ME!!!!

Hey, that's exactly my dream, i ever drafted on a project plan.

[Dracolique]

First of all, Hawkins..... ITS MY DREAM GODDAMMIT AND YOU CANT HAVE IT!! Im not sharing. :P

Second of all, are you the administrator of that site that is linked to in your signature? If so, then you, I, and anyone else who really wants to make this happen have ALOT to talk about.

And even if thats not YOUR site...... EVERYONE GO LOOK AT IT RIGHT NOW!! Its pretty cool.

Thank you for the post, hawkins. You have no idea how happy that makes me.



Well, if Hawkins wants to get on board, then that gives us.... lets see..... so far we have:

1) My access to an unfathomable internet connection which could be the launching point for the actual Mainframe once it gets developed.

and 2) Hawkins allready has a site set up for the precise (or something VERY similar to ) thing that I have suggested here..... and since Im sure he has probably been picked up by all major search engines, we would have some instant publicity there..... not to mention a place to store files specific to this project for download by developers.

that is, of course if hawkins is interested in hopping on board... perhaps he merely came in here to advertise his site, I dont know.

As i say again...I really like this idea...All shards would have the same sort of scripts yet customised differently...Such as :
You would have the same "stuff" but in a different inviroment...
I have tried this awhile ago with Ryst and Ryst II
didn't work out to good though scince Ryst II shut down

[Ravatar]

nahhhhhhhhhh



*runs to the easy skill gain shard*
*runs to hard skill gain shard with complete skills in a few days*

[KillerBeeZ]

I also had this idea back in the days of RunUO b25 or so
I am an Idea man and can solve ANY problem with enough time (some things like world peace and Quantum Physics are solvable but would take more time than I have)

I've actually come up with a way to do this as far as the physics go...

1) items / skills / stats need not be transfered

lets make an example:
a player joins shard A via a "Server Gate" for the 1st time after playing on shard B for a while
Shard A looks at the players character info on Shard B to see how they started (mage, paladin, custom) and starts the player with that starting info on shard A, then player plays as if they just started.... then
when the player wants to go back to B they just use the gate again, the player is saved on Shard A then Shard B applies the info to the player.

with this method any shard can be a custom shard with no need for "the man" to watch admins backs

2) super server not required

the cpu power required would be drasticly reduced if it doesn't need to xfer items and such, all you really need it for is to tell the client where to go.


like I said I can solve any problems, throw them at me I'll solve them