Compiled a list of some of the suggestions I read and like

[Cpt_Starfox]

I wanted to say how I liked so many of the ideas I read about today... so rather than bumping a lotta post and trying to say something different in each one... I'll compile a list here of the things I would love to see the most which I have seen suggested  

Tents! - Yes it does sound great for RPing!
Robes with removable hoods - here here! (yes!)

Maybe a twist on the original VS for skill points idea... I think someone already thought of this but...
Pay some VS to exchange skill points in one skill to another (not raise a skill by itself but exchange between)
Perhaps 1 VS could change over so many skill levels from one to another (this might also allow for Chiv to get to 120... Although I'd love to reach it before anything like this happens just to say I have done so and done something rare and got a neat title to show off LOL) (Although I will likely never even get close... running low on skill room as it is hehe)  However... I do remember seeing a donation thing (as I believe was mentioned on this subject) to get a skill to 120, but that you have to have room for that many points... I don't wanna hurt any donations!  Perhaps on this donations thing, let it take points out of one or more areas if needed.  (don't know if ya already do or not... just saying my 2 cents hehe)

NPC Hirelings... improving existing usage?  I didn't know they existed at all... How and where can I hire some? And the idea of using them sort of like "non-pet-pets" with different commands and the ability to equip them and all that... sounds great! I love the idea and hope it is possible one day  

Now one of my own ideas... well... I  don't mean to complain (so please don't take it as such as honestly this really doesn't matter that much to me, but I'm just mentioning it anyway) the exchange between augment levels in the transmutation box... kinda steep seeming to me.  Maybe because it takes me forever it seems to get even one low level augment... the task of collecting tons of mid-level ones to change to higher level ones is very... well... dawnting to me.  Perhaps is easier for other players... but for me... seems to take forever to get just one low level augment LOL (ya maybe because my luck is pitiful hehe) So obviously what I'm asking is for an easier to reach exchange rate if that is reasonable. (don't know if that has been asked before, I hate to re-ask stuff like this so sry if I did)

Some of this stuff sounds fairly simplistic... I could possibly work on some scripting for the hooded cloak thing and the tents... the NPC hireling thing might be  a bit out of my immediate league as I am fairly rusty on my UO script editing skills atm... Of course anything I do depends on how much free time I have and if I wanna play the game atm or work on it LOL!  I just recently got back into UO, so I am very much enjoying just playing for now hehe.  Still, Maybe if I get some stuff scripted up, I can pass it on to some of you staffers and see what you think  

Of course I'm not sure if it is script help that is needed to get things added or even if any extra help is wanted at all, but I'm just offering the possibility of help if you wouldn't mind me trying   (particularly on these things listed... not sure if having a close to complete script might help convice anyone to add things hehe)

All this aside, I want to let the staff and everyone know that I LOVE Sylvan Heart! These additions might be nice as would others people might think up, but for me... You really don't have to change anything because this place is beyond wonderful!  

Thank you!
 

[Varsin]

Unless the Hirelings where severly capped then I would be leaning towards saying no. The shard I came from allowed Hirelings to heal, cure themselves, other players and their keeper. If their skills where high enough they could res you aswell. They could use and wear buffed gear (Think of High level Runics/ Arties and how we also have sockets and augments ontop of that). Use weapon specials of what ever weapon you had given them. When they died you could res them (9 times only limit, that applied to all but players) but the likelyhood of them dieing was minimal when kitted out. They also had the same skills you did and could ride the best steeds in the game just like capable warriors.

Ironic considering everytime anything other then Hireling skill (Leadership) became powerful it got severaly hit with a nerf stick until camping and begging sounded promising careers.

I have nothing against Hirelings IF alot of overpowering elements get adressed, if they didn't get dealt with and they were added in you would see several high profile players and their mini-mes all kitted out in Good Runics or arties and augments tearing up everything.

The augment transmutation thingy is an old and repeated request, the rates used to be 3 ancients to 1 legendary, 3 Legendary to 1 Mythic this was back in the ancient days. They where also double what they are now for a brief time till Oak relented and halfed them down to half-stupid levels. Your best just selling the ancients and most Legendaries and just focus on getting Mythics from high level spawns, other players and the occasional dungeon box.

The other stuff I can't honestly comment on.

[Kauri]

Maybe a twist on the original VS for skill points idea... I think someone already thought of this but...
Pay some VS to exchange skill points in one skill to another (not raise a skill by itself but exchange between)
Perhaps 1 VS could change over so many skill levels from one to another (this might also allow for Chiv to get to 120...

I think the problem I have with this idea is that some skills are incredibly easy to raise (animal lore, eval int and so on) and some are....not (think taming). I dunno bout everyone, but I would gladly macro lore for a few hours to legendary then pay a vs to turn it into taming, as oppose to the days/weeks it takes to get taming from 0 - 120.

[Aderyn]

Kauri has an excellent point regarding some skills being harder to raise than others. Though, I'd like to see some implementation of being able to exchange skill points between weapon skills. Say I have a legendary fencer, but decide I want to become a mace-fighter or an archer. Weapon skills all pretty much raise the same way and at the same rate. All that really changes is your equipment.

[Cpt_Starfox]

Oks, I must agree on the Vs to skill points exchange thing.  Although on that point I also agree with Aderyn that it might can still be used for weapon only skills.

Stepping back and re-looking at the hirling idea... ya... would need some serious issues addressed, but it still sounds fun hehe.  Maybe a lower skill cap over all and on individual skills (like set it and not allow it to raise) and 1-time rez.  Still deck em out with anything, but have them have only set skills that they can use (like an archer or mage or swordsman or etc with maybe only a 2 skill mix limit like mage/archer or mage/swordsman) Some skills might require other skills added with them to make them feasable of course (magery/eval int/meditation and swords/tactics/anatomy).  I'd say same thing applies to those skills as in set them at a decent level and not allow them to raise.  Dunno about mounting.  I'd guess they could mount anything, but they and their mount would be taking up separate follower slots.   I would think you'd also have to be paying every so often to keep em around... humm hehe

Hireling: "This place is insain! You owe me! Pay or I leave!"
Me: *tries to pay*
*You are dead and cannot do that*
Me: *Rolls eyes* "Fine leave, but where are you gonna go in the middle of Minoc town in Fel without me?  So, if you wanna get paid... hush up and rez me so we can get outta here!"

Now... I hate to disappoint anyone... but I looked at the code for a bit... Whew, I'm rustier than I thought!  Dunno about  this stuff anymore, but maybe if I keep looking at it, it will start to come back to me hehe.

-edit-
Oh yes!  About the exchange rate... used to be double what it is!?    *Is suddenly much happier with current rates* LOL 

-edit-
*Re-reads Varsin's post about augment exchange* Hey... wait a tick... are you calling me half stupid? or in my case since I can hardly get an anchient... full stupid?  hehe LOL