TOPIC: War Maul of the Ancients?

A lot of people are focusing on how simple it would be to recreate and distribute the Arcane Recipe tokens. That’s the trivial part. It ignores the huge cost of actually creating the artifacts, which I believe is why they went away in the first place!

I’m just curious. For those who have an artifact, how much time did it take? How many discussions did you have with Jeff? How many hours were spent negotiating? And then Jeff went off and created a recipe. How much time do you think that took? He doesn’t seem to me like the kind of guy who would dash off a list of ingredients in 60 seconds. And then the art had to be licensed or created. So how much do you think all that cost? I’ll go out on a limb and say it “only” cost him a hundred or two dollars. The real concern is, how many hours did it cost?

And with everything going on do people really think Jeff has the bandwidth to just absorb all that for the benefit of one person, when he could be trying to expand to new venues and designing adventures and token sets and everything else that benefit the entire TD community?

I have no insider knowledge, but it’s my understanding that’s why they went away in the first place, and why he created the Wertz boxes to get the last one out of circulation before he had to go through all that one last time.

Yes, I know, it would siphon away lots of trade goods. Remember that artifacts were replaced by relics and legendaries to compensate. They only overlapped for a brief period. If artifacts did come back, the increased demand for gold and goods would jump, which might be good for a few with big stockpiles, but would likely hurt everyone else. Or should we stop making legendaries altogether to keep trade good prices stable?

One or two people a year get a shiny new toy, at the expense of hundreds (or is it thousands now?) of other players, and at a cost of lots of Jeff’s time and countless community hours haggling over how to make it “fair” for everyone?

Zero stars, would not recommend.

Maybe Jeff could create a few fixed artifacts each year, with standard recipes and powers, so that all that effort could benefit multiple people instead of just one. That would be fair. You know... legendaries.

Brad Mortensen wrote: A lot of people are focusing on how simple it would be to recreate and distribute the Arcane Recipe tokens. That’s the trivial part. It ignores the huge cost of actually creating the artifacts, which I believe is why they went away in the first place!

I’m just curious. For those who have an artifact, how much time did it take? How many discussions did you have with Jeff? How many hours were spent negotiating? And then Jeff went off and created a recipe. How much time do you think that took? He doesn’t seem to me like the kind of guy who would dash off a list of ingredients in 60 seconds. And then the art had to be licensed or created. So how much do you think all that cost? I’ll go out on a limb and say it “only” cost him a hundred or two dollars. The real concern is, how many hours did it cost?

And with everything going on do people really think Jeff has the bandwidth to just absorb all that for the benefit of one person, when he could be trying to expand to new venues and designing adventures and token sets and everything else that benefit the entire TD community?

I have no insider knowledge, but it’s my understanding that’s why they went away in the first place, and why he created the Wertz boxes to get the last one out of circulation before he had to go through all that one last time.

Yes, I know, it would siphon away lots of trade goods. Remember that artifacts were replaced by relics and legendaries to compensate. They only overlapped for a brief period. If artifacts did come back, the increased demand for gold and goods would jump, which might be good for a few with big stockpiles, but would likely hurt everyone else. Or should we stop making legendaries altogether to keep trade good prices stable?

One or two people a year get a shiny new toy, at the expense of hundreds (or is it thousands now?) of other players, and at a cost of lots of Jeff’s time and countless community hours haggling over how to make it “fair” for everyone?

Zero stars, would not recommend.

Maybe Jeff could create a few fixed artifacts each year, with standard recipes and powers, so that all that effort could benefit multiple people instead of just one. That would be fair. You know... legendaries.

actually very little trade goods were needed
it was more Old uncommon-URs and the hunt of finding and trading
time spent negotiating...very little. maybe an email a day for a week(some had a little more)
art work= very little
with the token db now...the recipes would be easier to come up with.

bandwith= you tell jeff hey i want everyone in my party to have +3 AC, +3 saves and my wizard gets an 0 level, 1st level etc

Jeff comes back---no party enhancer artifacts....I can give you +5 AC, +5 saves, extra spell stuff and first attack on you is double damage automatic hit...

You agree or disagree and then modify or start from scratch.

then recipe(if you agree)
100K in GP
Ring of spell storing
charm of spell swapping
relic armor
relic shield
2007 uc alchemits pouch
2007 UR saphire necklace
2005 scroll of Fly
2010 dragon tooth amulet
2008 invetation to celebration
2007 feedback loop
special any year
cabal set
etc
he could even say old gold back trade good alcemists ink
or 2014 cloak of shadowskin

you could never know I made that list in 5 min

Wertz boxes?

Singsalot wrote: Wertz boxes?

Sorry are you asking about Wertz boxes or inserting them into the conversation.

jedibcg Banjo 42 Lover wrote:

Singsalot wrote: Wertz boxes?

Sorry are you asking about Wertz boxes or inserting them into the conversation.

Someone mentioned them earlier in the thread. I also wanted to know what Wertz boxes are.

Dave Autzen wrote:

jedibcg Banjo 42 Lover wrote:

Singsalot wrote: Wertz boxes?

Sorry are you asking about Wertz boxes or inserting them into the conversation.

Someone mentioned them earlier in the thread. I also wanted to know what Wertz boxes are.

A generous player traded in their arcane recipe effect to dramatically alter the treasure mix in 2013.

That year there were two sets of treasure mix, one that was listed as having more equipment and one that was listed as having more monster trophies.

The mix that focused on equipment had many more URs and Relics than usual. I don't know about at what percentage but 5-10% would not surprise me.

Some people were very upset by the distribution of high value tokens in this manner.

In 2012 (I think if I have the wrong year someone will correct me) some of the treasure boxes were spiked with higher than usual number of relics and older UR’s. This came about because one of the arcane receipes for a artifact was turned in by the owner for the benefit of the community instead getting an artifact.

Matthew Hayward wrote: Some people were very upset by the distribution of high value tokens in this manner.

That's putting it lightly...

Wow. Didn't know the history behind this. 2013 was my first year and I pulled a UR after my first run. At the time I had no idea what I had pulled, but a very friendly veteran player was kind enough to inform me. Didn't realize the box was spiked in my favor. FWIW, I haven't pulled a UR since.

Druegar wrote:

Matthew Hayward wrote: Some people were very upset by the distribution of high value tokens in this manner.

That's putting it lightly...

i was not. Because I realized everyone went to that box. I went to the monster bit box...loaded up. It was a long game pay day...but it worked out well 3 years later

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

Druegar wrote:

Matthew Hayward wrote: Some people were very upset by the distribution of high value tokens in this manner.

That's putting it lightly...

i was not. Because I realized everyone went to that box. I went to the monster bit box...loaded up. It was a long game pay day...but it worked out well 3 years later

I was very happy with how the treasure pulls went that year, and am glad that I pulled from the Wertz boxes. I understand why some people were pretty upset though.

Druegar wrote:

Matthew Hayward wrote: Some people were very upset by the distribution of high value tokens in this manner.

That's putting it lightly...

2 things.

1. why the terminology "wertz box"?
2 . talk about shooting oneself in the foot. i saw my collection value drop, but so what. did anyone give back the enhanced treasure?