Winch Thoughts

[Mordraugion]

imho criminals wouldn't go near the place, if they wanted to steal a merchants goods out on the road away from the cities is a much more viable option and with the amount of merchantantable goods entering, would it be even possible to stop and check everyones pass? And as for merchants individual security thats why they'd pay for caravan guards.

[Donari Tyndale]

I don't think so. After all a storehouse is a much better target then a guarded caravan. And through securing the winch, all the merchants in it would gain safety, they'd gladly pay some extra tax for that.

[bilbous]

The winch is there for the same reason any gated community is, to keep the rabble out. Honest or not as long as you are rich you are welcome, just try not to foul your own backyard. In other words you can trade in stolen goods all you want just make sure they were stolen elsewhere. If you start stealing within the community there will be trouble. Minions are tolerated as long as they keep in line.

[Xillix Queen of Fools]

I don't think there is the slightest bit of inconsistency. The winch is a restricted area sure people can fly over the walls just like airplanes, does this mean there are no security checks when you land? The winch is the vital head of commerce in Yliakum's first level and it is well protected.

Brigands might not want to steal from the winch but I can assure you organized crime would (and probably does).

Megaras and pterosaurs too are a highly regulated commodity and the Octarchy keeps records on ownership and use of them.

To address the ideas about the Octachy I can tell you what I have said in the past it is a "Relaxed Totalitarian Regime" meaning over time it has gotten less draconian, but its roots would be downright distasteful to most of you all raised in the free world of modern times.

Rivalries between Octarchs and the families of the vigesimi still exist and you will get more on that later.

Poverty is not really the reason people are kept out, it is volume control. The Octarchy knows better than the average citizen what the needs of Yliakum are. You do not need to trust them as they do not need your trust.

For now let it be known the Octarchy does not care if you think the restricted access makes sense, it has its own reasons, and the power to maintain the situation as it is.

One thing most of you forget when you long for consistency is that there are "realities on the ground" to contend with. One example is  "why can't I bribe my way in?" The actual reason is simple, if such a way existed, as soon as the first money bug came everyone would just buy their way in. (also the guard is upstanding)

If it hurts your feelings that you cannot get in because you will not quest, well . . . I am not sorry. 

More means to get in will come in time but what can we do? You all want too much too fast.

[kougaro]

Well, please excuse me if that has been adresseed before (i didn't find anything through a search), but what is the size of the winch? i mean, the part that goes up and down. Because i find it an important element, when it comes to understand the economy between the levels, and its interest for merchants and other people.

EDIT : thanks Mordraugion for the answer, however due to my poor english, it seems you didn't get what i asked.
I imagine the winch like some kind of elevator, and i was wondering the surface of the platform. 

[Mordraugion]

Ahh that clears up a lot thanks.
@Kougaro approximately 5km between levels

[Induane]

Xillix, a pretty good description, and it does do a good job clarifying things.  The inconsistencies Zan pointed out regarding the buildings around the winch looking the same has more to do with development than with a real indication of settings.  It looks to me like the winch area was a rush job with the exception of the winch building itself which is fabulous imo.  This is probably due to not enough time/manpower to make more stuff in that area.  The difference isn't that the houses are poorer people houses, its that the houses models and textures are of a far lower quality.  They are just copied and pasted from the rest of the town which is older, hence the discrepancy.  I'll assume at minimum new textures there will show up one day and it will look a bit more consistent.

If it hurts your feelings that you cannot get in because you will not quest, well . . . I am not sorry. 

Maybe not but I am...it feels more like a rousing game of "Guess the Phrase" with lots of running and walking between guesses than it does any sort of questing... I know there are lots of discussions about the quest system and this isn't the place for them, but I do feel that the lack of regard for people who find the highly limited system to be less than enthralling a bit on the condescending side.

[Xillix Queen of Fools]

My saying that I do not mind people who do not quest not getting into the winch in no way indicates anything even remotely similar to my having no regard for players who do not quest.

The settings team puts in countless hours in many directions to consider all types of play. The winch is, for now, a quester's reward.

[iriss]

I wish people would stop moaning about winch access and use their time usefully and do the quests - they are NOT so difficult to solve.
And I didn't need to be rich at all in order to get into winch but rather productive.

[Zan]

For the record, I'm not complaining about not getting into the winch here .. I can get into the winch

Thanks for the explanations though!

[Xillix Queen of Fools]

Just trying to cover all my bases Zan

[Jawn]

I figured getting in th winch is something similar to getting in a Guild (of old, not PS ones): it's mostly who you know, and who you are friends with, not always a question of money. Or Who you can impress. And that's about how it works. We have no connections per se, but if you impress the right people (quests), you get a good word. Eventually, you get in.

That's how i saw it....

.

[Kieve]

Hehe... can I put in my vote for a fourth option?
Hang Raithen out the top-story window by his heels, until he gives you the OK for access to Winch. *evil laugh*

I've been working at getting in for about the last month or so (on & off). And all because Frilaa's blasted husband went missing... *sigh*
Was it a clever trap that you can give a quest that requires winch access to complete, in order to encourage more questing, or just an oversight in quest-completion checks?
...Either way, I've really come to dislike Raithen. Hike all that way out to see him, you think he could be a LITTLE more pleasant to deal with.