Binding & storage

[SirValentine]

I don't speak for anyone but myself, but for a long time, I've had a storage issue. Specifically, with Bound-to-Character items.

A recent thread got me to thinking: if an item is BTC, it should only be able to be used by that character. However, what possible justification is there for only that character to happen to have that item in their inventory or bank?

Proposal: All BTC items are BTC for wearing/wielding/using purposes only, and BTA for purposes of storage in inventory or bank.

Do this and I'll buy more character slots, to create more bank mules, to hold more stuff!

[cdbd3rd]

That would be cool.

Pointing at the LOTRO side again, BtC items can be placed in the shared storage there, but remain bound to that character and only can be taken out by that same character.

There is a filter toggle-box to hide any items bound to other characters, easing any confusion while digging thru the shared storage with alt chars.


From a money viewpoint, this would absolutely increase sales of Shared Bank expansions.


...I don't see them allowing us to *actually* handle BtC items in any BtA manner. No moving of BtC items to other characters.
But being able to store those items in Shared space should be doable.

[Syllph]

Breaking News: Turbine announces VIPs get unlimited storage....

just saying... could be an idea....

[FAQ]

Breaking News: Turbine announces VIPs get unlimited storage....

just saying... could be an idea....

Wow, I think that is the only thing that would make me want to go VIP, even already owning all the content.

[Enderoc]

I don't speak for anyone but myself, but for a long time, I've had a storage issue. Specifically, with Bound-to-Character items.

A recent thread got me to thinking: if an item is BTC, it should only be able to be used by that character. However, what possible justification is there for only that character to happen to have that item in their inventory or bank?

Proposal: All BTC items are BTC for wearing/wielding/using purposes only, and BTA for purposes of storage in inventory or bank.

Do this and I'll buy more character slots, to create more bank mules, to hold more stuff!

Now that is a perfect fix, especially if you allow crafting of those items just not equipping transferring only to account characters.

[Greantun]

Proposal: All BTC items are BTC for wearing/wielding/using purposes only, and BTA for purposes of storage in inventory or bank.

As a developer, I see large issues with this. This would mean that EVERY BTC item in the game now has to track to whom it is bound. BTC items are easy now, they just can't be placed in certain locations (shared bank, mail etc), so only those locations have to check. Now, not only would there have to be checks on a few locations, every way that an item can be worn/wielded/used would have to add code that checks to see that the character is the one that owns it.

That would mean changes to the database to store the extra information (for EVERY BTC item that exists - even temporary) in addition to adding code to make sure they can use it.

Not saying it is impossible, it is just hard.

A simpler idea is to add another location in your back (like the TR bank) that you could store BTC items. Turbine could sell space in that location, separate from the normal bank, and there would not have to be any retroactive changes to the existing items (you would move them in there yourself).

[droid327]

As a developer, I see large issues with this. This would mean that EVERY BTC item in the game now has to track to whom it is bound. BTC items are easy now, they just can't be placed in certain locations (shared bank, mail etc), so only those locations have to check. Now, not only would there have to be checks on a few locations, every way that an item can be worn/wielded/used would have to add code that checks to see that the character is the one that owns it.

Yeah this is the difference. In LOTRO, items are individually instanced....in DDO, they're merely calls to the 'central database' version of the item. That's why there is no item in DDO that has "variable stats" like there is in LOTRO. Allowing item individualization like that would require a complete rebuild of the engine.

There is no such thing as BTC in DDO - its an illusion. There is only a "no mail/trade/AH/shared bank" flag. And likewise, BTA really is just "no mail/trade/AH". If you could somehow get your BTC item to another character, through a bug somehow, I expect you'd be able to equip it.