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Then they just rotate to another key on another card (with other information differing enough to dodge out-of-game banning) and resume action, passing word on of potential GM alts. Even if they can be created and removed at will, names *do* stick out. The worst that you'll do is drive them to this fine game that doesnt silence/shutter private servers, and has mostly self-regulation. The result is a very hardened userbase that knows what does happen.

Dont worry about the script kiddie, he'd get justice here as well. It just would happen with whole accounts with tons of gear, to the point where thousands can disappear with a phonecall - no need for a GM.

I'm not sure how well this would translate to MMORPGs

It translates pretty well: that's exactly the system they use in Lineage II, one of the most played MMORPGs out there (second only to WoW, I think).

Just dont come in with a Logitech G15 or a server of your own making - then moddability goes out the window. They'd have to outright undo the bnetd decision before I ever come back. Until then, I'll happily slay farmers indiscriminately in any manner I see fit. No need to circumvent faction problems, just pure "you make the fun in the game" pvp.

After all, WoW only comes out on top after the top two games are taken out of statistics.

If there's been a known bug in L2, it's been fixed. Here, the only issue is not being able to drop sellshops in town. Nothing better than having a farmer crew being taken out by a few mobs in town and dropping their ill-gotten treasure for westerners to grab.

Well, it'd not be complete without saying that they sued their competition into submission. Although they got something out of it, it really served to drive more people to a more tolerant game of third party servers.

In fact GameGuard does not block one single hack I know of for Lineage .....

Eventually, someone will make a WoW-killer in the MMORPG arena. It may take a few years, but it'll happen.

WoW Killer? Do you not know about the exclusion of existing games in some statistics? Or do you need a recent chart?

Many others have gone off of Blizzard to better pastures. Here, you can do something about the farmers instead of having a GM take care of it. As for private servers, they arent "
just for the pirate", they're for those who want a bit better experience without the farming/exploits (Maybe you might want to take a clue on that one, Blizzard - or are those greenbacks inhibiting that?).

So far, NCSoft NA has been relatively sane with the well regulated private servers out there - versus the rabid Blizzard. All the bad things in L2 are usually with the commerce elements in the game. Your choice, funding invulnerable farmers and future lawsuits, or a decent pvp/grind?

So? Buying/selling items for anything other than the in-game currency violates the Rules of Conduct (number 11). They knew that when they bought the items. When you go outside the system, don't expect that system to care if you get burned. You can certainly give the items back to the people who had them taken from them by someone else breaking the rules and who didn't violate any rules themselves.

Ahh, That thread is right here
http://boards.lineage2.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Numbe r=349130&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1#Pos t349291349130

Rules of Conduct http://www.lineage2.com/legal/rules.html

Rule # 1. While playing Lineage II, you must respect the rights of others and their rights to play and enjoy the game. To this end, you may not defraud, harass, threaten, or cause distress and/or unwanted attention to other players.

Rule # 10. You may not advertise the intent to or commit the act of buying, selling, trading, sharing, or transferring access to any Lineage II account.

Rule # 11 You may not advertise the intent to or commit the act of buying or selling items for cash or trading items from one server to another.

My Favorite, Rule #18 You will not exploit any bug in Lineage II and you will not communicate the existence of any such exploitable bug (bugs that grant the user unnatural or unintended benefits) either directly or through public posting, to any other user of Lineage II. Bugs should be promptly reported via 'Ask A Question' at http://support.lineage2.com/.

Yank his account but, I don't see any LAWS broken, but then again IANAJL.

Rules of Conduct http://www.lineage2.com/legal/rules.html

Rule # 1. While playing Lineage II, you must respect the rights of others and their rights to play and enjoy the game. To this end, you may not defraud, harass, threaten, or cause distress and/or unwanted attention to other players.

Rule # 10. You may not advertise the intent to or commit the act of buying, selling, trading, sharing, or transferring access to any Lineage II account.

Rule # 11 You may not advertise the intent to or commit the act of buying or selling items for cash or trading items from one server to another.

My Favorite, Rule #18 You will not exploit any bug in Lineage II and you will not communicate the existence of any such exploitable bug (bugs that grant the user unnatural or unintended benefits) either directly or through public posting, to any other user of Lineage II. Bugs should be promptly reported via 'Ask A Question' at http://support.lineage2.com/.

Yank his account but, I don't see any LAWS broken, but then again IANAJL.

This is a really bad idea. Any new player who uses this service will have no idea how to play this high level character. All high level characters are quite specialized, and players who have taken the time to get them to a high level know all the subtleties needed to play that character effectively. Someone who just bought/rented a character will have no idea how to even play the game, much less be aware of the subtleties needed to play that character well.

Example: I play Lineage II (http://www.lineage2.com/ ). A couple months ago, I was grouped with this one healer. I asked the healer which armor set she was wearing, since I didn't recognise it. She responded with the name of an armor that's meant to be worn by a damage dealing melee character. When I asked her why she was wearing that type of armor, that it wasn't good for her character, she switched to another type of armor... which was still the completely wrong choice for that character. I asked "You just ebayed that character, didn't you?", and she promptly left without saying another word.

The point of that whole story is, most MMOs have a very strong focus on group play in the later levels and endgame. If there are inexperienced players in the group, then the group will go badly. If the group goes badly, then the player will get an unfavorable impression of the game, and the other, experienced players will not want to group with the inexperienced player again, further giving the the player an unfavorable impression of the game.

Seriously, that almost amounts (in some people's books) as going to the Dark Side. Not because of CoH, but the ever popular Lineage II

I think he was referring more to a Lineage II model, where you download the game for free and then pay the monthly fee for it.

Seriously, 9 out of 10 people throw the box they bought the game in away anyway. And I'd much rather have the game for free download (especially on a Steam-like platform) than have to go to the store and get the thing in a box - as if that is somehow worth it.

Well, if you're willing to be a bit flexible, there are options for nonpurist gaming.

That article looks suspiciously like a plug for the Warcry site.. oh well.

Anyway, Lineage 2 also just launched a massive (500MB) content expansion, "Chronicle 2". A bunch of new areas, a bunch of new quests, overhaul of items and a new gambling system. Unlike some other MMO games, all new content (as with their previous expansions) is free to all subscribers.

That article looks suspiciously like a plug for the Warcry site.. oh well.

Anyway, Lineage 2 also just launched a massive (500MB) content expansion, "Chronicle 2". A bunch of new areas, a bunch of new quests, overhaul of items and a new gambling system. Unlike some other MMO games, all new content (as with their previous expansions) is free to all subscribers.

Actually, a lot of the time, these people who collect in-game money, sit amongst 2 or more computers whilst macros take care of most of the work for them. I don't think this is the same as your friend working for you. Also, these people make the game experience unenjoyable for people who like the leveling treadmill.

Adena Farms Inc© is a good explanation of how this hurts the gaming experience.

Any time there is profit to be made by ruining an online economy, there will always be people lining up to make it.

Any time there is profit to be made by ruining an online economy, there will always be people lining up to make it.

This marvel leads to a big problem:

• People start living on virtual income.
• They optimize their behaviour towards income, not fun.
• They disrupt the experience of the "normal" user.

I started playing Lineage II lately. There are complete areas inhabited only by Bots and Farmers. Bots are Programs which gather gold (scripted characters with hacked clients). Farmers are users which make a living from the virtual income. Both sell their gold/items through auctions and other eCommerce to (some) users. All three clases are not highly regarded by other players.

Regards, Martin

P.S. Please do not missunderstand me: If i had no income and could earn some living by playing a MMORPG, i would probably do it too. The problem is a direct consequence of the social gradient. I have no real solution for this... Banning the sales in the real world is only a measure of limited use.

Looks like Lineage II and City of Heros will be launching on the same day. I cant imagine how anyone could launch two MMOGs in one day. Especially when Lineage II choked with the start of open beta.

It's not the only hope!

Lineage II also looks incredible. I've never played the original Lineage, but millions of Korean's can't be wrong! Plus they have Richard Garriot omg! And the anime chick elves!

-Eyston

Presumably, most people here have a fair familiarity with the MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) phenomenon, but here's a rundown of the major products out there from my bookmarks, for anyone who's interested but not wholly informed. Feel free to correct any of this if my understanding of any of these games is in any way flawed:

Anarchy Online
Asheron's Call
Dark Age of Camelot
Everquest
Shadowbane (just released - very buggy)
A Tale in the Desert
Ultima Online

Horizons
Eve Online (final beta - close to release)
City of Heroes
Dragon Empires (in beta)
Everquest 2 (in development)
Lineage II (in development)
Star Wars Galaxies (closed beta)
Imperator (very early development)
World of Warcraft (very early development)

Most of these games don't release specific subscriber base numbers. However, a series of very good guesses is compiled here.

http://www.lineage2.com/

This is the 'New' version of the Korean game. It's in early beta phase, but has a steady following. Character models are *gorgeous*.