Again, I am mentioning these items only because they are
currently going through QA:

Coming in publish 66 we took a long hard look at the
enhanced client. Expect publish notes in the next couple of weeks on Test
Center. Some of the features include:

• Resizable Containers

• The ability for boats to plot courses on Treasure maps … (oh and I might as well tell you now we are targeting a major update to treasure maps for the middle of this Summer).

• Fixed gardening gump

• Plant gumps do not display health indicators in the SA client while full-screened in Japanese language mode.

• Cypress Tree plants as well as possibly other plants show up outside of the plant gump in the SA client.

• Custom UI Improvements

• Custom fonts

• Prompt to select a target type when adding stuff to hot bar.

• Double-clicking on player or server names does not log in to that player/server.

• Mousing over the health bar does not highlight the healthbar owner in the SA client

• There is no way to "Repeat last command" (like Ctrl-Q in Legacy).

• Expanded optimization for the Enhanced client

This is just a teaser, there are about 30+ bugs and feature
changes as well

On the Bard front … there will be a new quest for the three
Masteries of Provocation, Peacemaking, and Discordance … the details of each of
these Masteries will follow as the respective quests and balancing for each of
them make their way to Test Center.

Third party program detection and speedhacking: we’re still coding
and testing.  By the time we get to Test
Center for Pub 66 we hope to have a solution that we can iterate on moving
forward.

Yes, we understand there are 3^rd party programs
that are a part of the UO experience. We are targeting those programs that
negatively impact the play experience for others. This will be a non-intrusive
update to the client that will interact with scripters using their programs to
gain advantage over those players who prefer to play by the rules and inside
the guidelines.

On factions: We’ve collected and documented all of the
feedback regarding factions on TC 9. First, you need to understand that TC9 is
not like normal Test Centers. It is a playground for us to try things. It does
not indicate or imply that we are moving all or even some of the ideas that we
push there. In addition, we don’t make major system changes without just a few
weeks of feedback from players. The faction system is a HEAVY undertaking, so
should we press forward on the experimental test center, we’ll keep pulling
info and data from players before pressing to the live game.

For Japanese players in reference to translation: We do not
have time to implement it for this publish … but for early Summer we will give
the Japanese players an option to show items and mobiles in English.

Player Memorials: it’s been a long time coming but we have
designed a tool that will allow players to engrave headstones and/or pedestals
so they can pay respect to family members and friends who are no longer with
us. I would ask that out of respect for those family members, colleagues, and
respected members of the community that you use the tool with reverence and
maturity.  This tool is for private
memorials only. There will be a special headstone that EMs can place for public
display.

I’d like to say thanks to all the players who attended the
quick chat on Pacific several weeks ago. I do have a copy of the chat log, and
do reference it.  In addition, please
know that I do make an effort to get back to all players who contact me
directly, and I do read the customer feedback emails.

Given that I’d like to end with this … another quote we
learned at the Air Force Academy:

Be an example to your men, in your duty and in private life. Never
spare yourself, and let the troops see that you don"t in your endurance of
fatigue and privation. Always be tactful and well-mannered and teach your
subordinates to do the same. Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice,
which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide.

- Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

I pass this on because as
developers we try to be respectful to players in addressing your concerns and
taking feedback. We take our jobs as a matter of pride and often joy. When at
all possible please remember that.  Yes
we’re human, and we make mistakes sometimes in correspondence, but first and
foremost we want to constantly deliver a solid and enjoyable environment for
players to gather and explore. 

I’m thankful that each of you
has remained steadfast and patient.  I am
so looking forward to more updates like this where I can share all we’ve been
planning for the five months.

Sosaria is in transition to one
of the most exciting times in UO history. 
Stay tuned and bring your friends.

See you on the boards,

Calvin