If you've played KO for any amount of time, then like myself you have probably lost one or more things of considerable value to people you thought you could trust. In my case, I lost a CS+7 about a year ago, and recently a ROC+1. In both cases the loss occurred within the clan.
The result is that I don't want to loan things anymore, but that detracts from the fun of the game. Yes there are a lot of selfish and unethical people in the game, but I for one enjoy helping others succeed, and I know there are others like me in the game because I have met them.
I've given this a lot of thought, and I propose the following idea. It is simple, elegant, easy to implement, easy to use, and would add tremendous positive aspects to the game. It is described below; let me know what you think.
The fundamental idea is to add a method, similar to Seal/Unseal, to Own/Unown an item, and an "Owned Item" can be retrieved by its owner back into the owner's inventory.
Here are my thoughts on the details of how this would work. It is, in effect, a relatively straightforward upgrade of the Seal/Unseal system:
- An Owned Item would be clearly identified with a special marking, similar to the way sealed items are shaded, and when you hover over them, they would indicate the owner, like "Owned by Kitaura".
- An Owned Item may only be equipped, traded, or stored in the inn. Specifically, an Owned Item may not be merchanted, destroyed, upgraded, or compounded.
- An Owned Item put up in trade should be clearly marked as owned.
- A player may pull up a list of his or her Owned Items. The list will show who is currently holding the item.
- A player may at any time retrieve an Owned Item back into his or her own inventory. When this occurs, the player who held the item when it was retrieved will be notified by some means that the owner has retrieved the item (perhaps via the letter system already in place).
This would be incredibly simple to implement, and consider the fantastic things it would make possible:
- My buddy wants to borrow my CS+7 for the war. Maybe I don't know him all that well. Maybe I won't be around when the war is over to get it back, but I want it three hours from now when I plan to go PK. I mark it as owned, trade it to him, and when I logon three hours later, simply retrieve it.
- Maybe a guy has a glass belt and I have an iron belt, and he thinks maybe he would like my iron belt instead, but he's not sure how it will affect the character, if any at all. I simply mark it as owned, let him try it for a few days, and then retrieve it when I feel like he's had enough time to evaluate it.
- This would be a fantastic way for clans that keep clan banks to keep from having items stolen. The clan leader could mark items as owned, always know where they are, and retrieve them if necessary.
- How many times have you asked or been asked: "Can I just hold it for a minute to see how it affects my AP/AC/HP/etc.?" Usually the answer is "No freakin way, dude!" LOL. With Owned Items this would be trivial.
Finally, there is a more advanced possibility that brings even more dynamics. In #2 above I indicated that an Owned Item should not be merchantable. Suppose, on the other hand, that an Owned Item is merchantable, but must have a time period attached. At the end of the time period, the item can be retrieved by the owner, but not before. In other words, it's a way of implementing a loans systems!
For example, let's say I put a ROC+1 up in merchant for 100M, with a time period of 10 days. PlayerX buys it, and for 10 days it's his to use. I cannot retrieve it until the time period is up. So, PlayerX effectively paid 10M per day for the use of a ROC+1 for 10 days. This would make higher level items accessible to players who otherwise cannot afford or obtain them yet, and it would add a whole new dynamic to the economy of the game!
Okay, comments please.
K2, are you listening?
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