Mules, Clones and Done.keys for Dreams Month?

[Goofy05]

In retrospect, I wish that I had put out a half dozen mules every chance I got so that I could have won some of these rare items and GIFT them to people who weren't so lucky.

I can't decide if it's more disappointing to hear people bragging about how much they got, or whining about what they didn't get.

I didn't wind up with very much when I see what others list that they have received, but I'm grateful for what I've received because I know it is more than some.

I'm also grateful for the patience and kindness of our hosts this month, espeically Hula who seemed to always be going above and beyond to make sure that people got their ears.

But most of all, I'm grateful for the time that I spent joking around with my friends while we waited in the room. To me, the time spent strengthening friendships with people is the greatest dream I was gifted all month long.

Rolls, I applaud you! I did see a number of mules on vmk this past month. I don't know what their intent was in collecting the non-tradeable items, but I understand the beta was what they were really after and that is disappointing. Some may try to say they meant to gift them to others, but to whom? Only their friends on the game? Yes, I'm certain that would be the case. Still others would only want them for themselves, to trade later. It's a shame those mules took up spots that other players may have wanted to be in but couldn't enter the rooms because of the long queues.
I would still like to thank those who weren't afraid to post their side of this issue. There are a lot of others who chose not to say a word.

 

[Goofy_Bob]

It wasnt an official VMK position.

The hosts were upset, I witnessed it first hand. They told us it wouldnt be so bad but the same people were winning, in some cases 7,8,9 times in a single shift. I saw another host say we see the same people in every room.

So I came here and made a statement and closed a post...

Ah. I wonder how someone could be winning 7+ times a shift? That's a shockingly high number to me (considering how difficult it was for me to win twice all month). And if the Hosts knew it was the same person, couldn't they limit it?

 

[Vary]

This is a hair off-topic, but while we're talking about upsetting the hosts and players winning several times in a shift:

On Sunday, an in-game friend of mine was in one of Lily's 'Suite Warming' parties and got ears. He noticed that there were a few people making comments like "i can't believe I was in two of these in a row" or something like that, and saw Lily say very firmly that anyone who had just gotten ears from her ought to leave. This got him thinking, and a little later on in Lily's shift, he went to his own Suite (he won one midway through the month, the lucky stiff), cleared it, and opened it. I followed him in. Within seconds the room was filling up with people, many of them familiar faces from the room he'd just been in. A few even went so far as to congratulate him and claim they'd just seen him win! And I won't post any titles, but I saw a few that I recognized from here and other boards. He cheerfully played dumb for a few minutes, wondering why so many people had come into his room, but once it became apparent that Lily was not coming by to hand out prizes, most of his 'guests' either left or went very still and quiet; probably searching the guest room list for another newly opened Castle Suite room.

Well, this was simply too good to just leave it there, so we got a few more friends with Suites to play along, and we got most of the same people, doing the same routine. I noticed as Lily's shift was ending that she was no longer giving out ears along with the rooms: in the host sightings thread for that day, a player reports:

I just happened across Lily in small world imports. She had just awarded room and told us all to follow winner there. When we arrived some players started asking what we won. One player says "what we get" and lily responded "I'll tell you when you learn some manners"....so she left without giving anybody else anything. Needless to say some players were upset at the ones who were rude. Please, ppl, have enough sense to not ask or beg the hosts for things. I'm sure this has been a long month for them too.

I really don't understand this. From the reports, Lily was only giving out non-tradeable prizes in the rooms. Who is so bored with the month that they need to spend their time getting seven or eight pairs of ears on their charachter?

I think the use of mules is not the only 'ugly' side of dreams month, and not the only thing that got up the hosts' noses.

 

[aengus]

Ah. I wonder how someone could be winning 7+ times a shift? That's a shockingly high number to me (considering how difficult it was for me to win twice all month). And if the Hosts knew it was the same person, couldn't they limit it?

This part is guessing and speculation, the first part as I mentioned I saw first hand so want to point out now I am guessing.

Lets just pick a number of 6 mules. they read tomorrowland has not been hit yet. they go to many differnet instances of the hub say. host comes in and they get the tomorrowland package. They now move to Fantasyland after reading hte sightings post. Park in different instances of hide - n - seek. host comes in and gives the fantasyland package. rinse repeat, she tells two friends, and she tells two friends LOL

OR

Maybe they put 6 people in the same room fill it and got lucky. 6 tomorrowland packages at once.

I strongly guess they can see duplicate IP matches. But they cant out right accuse you of not being, brother, sister, mother, father, grandma and grandpa.

I dont know for sure obviously. But I have friends who did similar tactics quite successfully. (yes i still love my friends that i disagreed with LOL) I guess it doesnt really matter any more really its over.

 

[BriarRosie]

It wasnt an official VMK position.

The hosts were upset, I witnessed it first hand. They told us it wouldnt be so bad but the same people were winning, in some cases 7,8,9 times in a single shift. I saw another host say we see the same people in every room.

And I think it speaks volumes that many of the "visible" posters of the DIS
haven't been winning that often. It has been fun to rediscover friends.

 

[Goofy05]

Yes, Aengus. I've witnessed BOTH scenarios you've just mentioned. True, it no longer matters as dreams month has ended, but I would like people to think about this for future events. Muling has been around a very long time, I've done it myself a time or two. However, I did not see the point of it during the Dreams event. Beta aside, most people ended up with ears and pins. There is absolutely no reason I can see to accumulate these non-tradeable items. Guess that's why I chose not to mule. It looks as though I may have been the minority.

 

[eaglesgirl]

You know the same thing happened though when the quests for the Epcot rooms were done. So many mules were logged in and caused the server stress. Why? Because it was important for THEM to get THEIR treasure detector magic and stock up on whatever rare items they could find.

Even though lots & lots of people got ears from my room last night, I'm sure that many in the queue already had several pairs of non-tradeable ears. These will be the same people who will write to the "Contact Us" and DEMAND that the ears be released as tradeable.

I did boot people who went afk in my room without letting me know. It wasn't to be rude or "power hungry" as some say. It was to give a FAIR chance to people who truly were earless & were eager to see a host. If someone did go afk, it was for a restroom break, to get a quick drink, or to eat a quick meal & all I asked was that they let me know. They didn't park a player in my room and leave for hours. It really disgusts me to have seen how greedy so many players were during this event. Like it was mentioned several times...at this point, the items aren't even tradeable & who knows if they ever will be. Last time I checked, there are still items I've had for a LONG, LONG time that still can't be traded. I hope they never release them as a tradeable item.

Just so you know, my son did win ears earlier in the day. He never did see a host, so we're not sure how he got them. When we realized he had them, he did not plant himself in my room to get more ears or items. I still have SEVERAL friends who did not get ears and I feel horrible (they weren't online last night). As far as getting extra ears for myself, I requested not to get any. When I opened the room, I requested in the information to NOT give me ears. In truth, I don't even want to wear mine...maybe I'll sell them for 10 credits!!

The hosts & staff were working hard to give out these items...why couldn't people, on the last day, allow players who didn't receive ears, the chance to get a pair? As a teacher, I know many of you were taught at a very young age that it's appropriate to share. So, why doesn't it apply to virtual items?

 

[TLinden16]

You know the same thing happened though when the quests for the Epcot rooms were done. So many mules were logged in and caused the server stress. Why? Because it was important for THEM to get THEIR treasure detector magic and stock up on whatever rare items they could find.

That's not really the same as this. The quests awarded a prize to anyone who completed the quest. Everyone had an equal opportunity to complete that quest, and it was their decision to do it on their main character or on a dozen mules.

For dreams month, everyone who put a bunch of mules into the rooms on a regular basis upped their chances of winning over people who only put their main character in. Let's say there were 100 different public rooms that had the potential to be visited. If I have one character in one of those hundred rooms, and you had 10 characters in those 100 rooms, who had better odds of getting something?

I think Aengus said something to me last night that makes sense to describe why he chose not to put his mules in there. I'm going to paraphrase what he said, but basically he said that he can mule with the best of him, and that's fine when he's playing against VMK for items (i.e. in quests), but when he is playing against his friends, it makes him think before using those mules.

I spent a lot of time in rooms waiting around with Aengus, Disvaclub, and GreenieMimi (as well as others here and there). Most evenings, and more on weekends, and the only time we collectively saw a host together was when we saw Hula on Sunday night. Each of us had seen a host here and there on our own if we were very lucky, but when the four of us were together for hours and hours, we only saw a host once.

 

[aengus]

You know the same thing happened though when the quests for the Epcot rooms were done. So many mules were logged in and caused the server stress. Why? Because it was important for THEM to get THEIR treasure detector magic and stock up on whatever rare items they could find.

This is a great example! I have no problem with this. This is player vs VMK, NOT player vs player. MULE away it doesnt "cost" vmk anything. It also doesnt hurt the kids around you "odds" at winning.

Sword in the magic pins. Mule away! player vs VMK and at no cost to VMK.

Nobody mules better than a DISer I guess this was the point I was trying to make all along.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Can someone please tell me the benefits of collecting non-tradeable items on mules?

There is none that I see, other than the possible speculation that they will someday become tradeable. This is NOT why I had more than 1 character signed on at many times last month. (Which is a different question, but... close enough that I feel it applies.)

My thoughts on this are mules are taking dreams ears from other players who only play one character.

Well, not really. First off, you are assuming that the prize that will be won is ears. Secondly, your premise indicates that there are limited spaces available for characters to occupy. Therefore, if a secondary character is sitting somewhere, there is no space for someone else's character. This is not the case in vmk.

Ex: Let's suppose there are 100 spaces for a character to occupy in vmk. Then if 50 people each had 2 characters on, they are "taking dreams" (potentially) from 50 other people. However, that is NOT how VMK works. There are infinite spaces for characters (ok, not infinite, but FAR from limited). So, let's say Mimi1 in Main Street S. and Mimi2 in New Orleans Square E. Jegrezo can still go to any one of endless locations to wait in hopes of winning a prize. Perhaps there is no space in Main Street S, but since no one knows where luck with strike next, there is no benefit to being in Main Street S or Main Street NSES, for example. Furthermore, there is no assurance that Main Street S will result in a prize of ears should it get the lucky visit. The prize could be a pin. Therefore, a 2nd character of 1 player is not "stealing" a ears from another, in my opinion.

I have other characters as well. However, I am not playing them this month. I did win ears on my secondary girl, but I do play her and she has friends who also won ears that day.

With 100% co-player respect and in NO WAY attacking you, you state that you did not play mules this month, but in the next sentence you say you won ears on your "secondary girl." Isn't she by definition a mule? And to connect with your statement above, if 1 believes that each pair of ears is taken from someone else who could have won them, didn't your "secondary girl" take "dreams ears from other players who only play one character" as you mention above?

Now, only because I am sure someone out there is wondering...
Why have more than 1 character on during Dreams month?
- After not making credits for 2 days, I realized that waiting on the hope of seeing a host was going to every available moment of VMK time. So how is one to make credits during this time with Halloween looming in the near future? Enter, another character. While sitting and waiting for hosts, pirate games can be won at the same time, earning much needed credits.

- Friends. Jegrezo's friends list is full. My solution to this problem is that my seconadary girl character has additional friends. Several DIS members are friends on this character. They all know they are not on my primary character's friends list, but they also know that they can send me notes and often find me on my secondary character. Therefore, she is signed on quite often just for social reasons - a giant aspect of VMK for me.

- Increase your odds of being in the right place at the right time. NOT with the hope of winning multiple prizes, but rather with the hope of seeing a host and MAYBE win A prize. I don't have a VMK map in front of me, but if you consider 6 lands x a minimum of 4 locations (NOS, the smallest land) per land, in most cases MANY more, times up to as many at 8 instances of a location, that's 192 locations that lightning could strike. (And this is not even CLOSE to the real number if we sat and did the calculations) So I have less than a 1 in 200 shot of a prize with the 1st dream given of the day. 1 in 199 on the second. 1 in 198 on the third, and so on....
(I was a Psychology / Communications / Theater major. I hate math. If my calculations are wrong, please don't focus on the numbers.... They are there simply to illustrate my point.)

- Flash forward later into Dreams month: I won ears and was lucky enough to win a Suite (which I won on my main character Jegrezo who was sitting for the 10th day and approximately 80th "dream squad hour" (yes, 80 hours - probably more) in the exact same spot (room, instance, yes, even seat). My goal shifted. I have always wanted a red tent, not to trade, to have. So, I started sitting in Frontierland locations. Incidentally, i NEVER won a Frontierland Set. So much for the "increasing my odds" theory. Additionally, I started to hop around, hoping to see a host and get my friends in a host-occupied room in time to possible win a room. (Btw, this never was successful.)

- A friend who DID successfully win a Frontierland set, was amazingly kind and gifted me a red tent. While this person refused to take anything in exchange for it, this friend has yet to win a certain item that was their only dreams month want. This was in the last week of the month. I had a new mission. Attempting to win this prize for this person. I used my secondary character to try to do this.

- Lastly, but the primary reason: I had made a pact with 2 friends on day 1 of Dreams Month. We were together through this entire month, no matter what. Yes, I won my room (the thing I really wanted), but I also am someone who sticks to my word and I was going to be by my friends' side every day and hour if they wanted to sit with the hope of seeing a host.

They didn't always hang in the same place. Sometimes I wanted to go see other friends. So, through the magic of vmk, I was able to sit in 2 different rooms and chat with various friends and keep watch over a friends' character when they went afk in case they were to win the suite. Yes, these are friends that I could contact out of game and yell, "Get back to your computer! You won!!!"

Did this create a situation whereby I could win a prize? Sure. Would I EVER accept a 2nd Suite? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Was I looking for beta to trade? No. Was I collecting ears in the hope they would someday become tradeable? No. I had the wonderful joy of giving MANY titles to hosts this moon on various occasions resulting in earless kids (and yes a few earless adults) getting the thrill of discovering the seemingly elusive ears in their inventory. I also offered to hosts to leave rooms and not get ears so that someone else could enter and receive them.

Was I hoping to win the pins? You bet! I am proud to say that I set out on a mission about a year ago to acquire every non-award pin in the game and recently achieved this (very difficult) goal with the exception of the green car which I will never earn on my own and therefore never have. Do I have too much free time on my hands? Probably. Am I thrilled to have accomplished a goal I set for myself? Yes! So, yeah, I wanted those Dreams pins (shame on me!), but I wanted them on Jegrezo as she is "me" and has the full set, so, no benefit of dreaming with another character there.

So, can I explain the benefit of collecting non-tradeable items on mules? Nope. Can't explain it. Don't understand it. Never signed a 2nd character on to "collect" anything.

Can I explain the benefit of having an additional character on VMK during Dreams month? I have tried. Hope it was somehow an interesting read.

And the thought of having 8-9 characters on at the same time - "wo" might be the only appropriate word.

- Dreams

 

[aengus]

Not that mims needs defending dreams, but she stated earlier also that this rant all started because of bigger numbers of mules not 1 or 2. All at the same time logged in all over vmk.

The other point i disagree with you made is that you do take away from other players. If North instance gets hit, and its an AFK mule a real player could not get in there, sure they could get into the south instance but maybe they wanted in that north instance on a gut feeling.

The grand prizes that went to mules are examples where a player was literally denied a prize. Other than the last day there was a very limited amount of winners.

 

[TLinden16]

This is a great example! I have no problem with this. This is player vs VMK, NOT player vs player. MULE away it doesnt "cost" vmk anything. It also doesnt hurt the kids around you "odds" at winning.

See, I told you Aengus said that. hehe.

 

[Goofy05]

Not that mims needs defending dreams, but she stated earlier also that this rant all started because of bigger numbers of mules not 1 or 2. All at the same time logged in all over vmk.

The other point i disagree with you made is that you do take away from other players. If North instance gets hit, and its an AFK mule a real player could not get in there, sure they could get into the south instance but maybe they wanted in that north instance on a gut feeling.

The grand prizes that went to mules are examples where a player was literally denied a prize. Other than the last day there was a very limited amount of winners.

Thanks, Aengus. Some people just didn't understand my point. I think it's time to lock this thread.

Dreams: You mentioned my secondary character as being a mule. My definition of a mule is a bit different. Jess is very much my own. I play her almost as much as I do Mims. It was a necessity when I needed a break from being a CL and just wandering around vmk.

 

[aengus]

moderators always get last word

I agree its time to lock this up. Battle lines have been drawn ROFL.

Many good points were made on both sides. Just not going to be an agreement and I feel like things might be heading to the point where people may begin to cherry pick and perhaps even take shot at each other.

Dont want to see that happen.