Shattered Kingdoms

So yeah, thought I'd come back and play after seeing decent player counts within my play hours.

Understandably my character had been hit with the de-hoard bat, since I hadn't logged in in well over a month.
That's fine, I expected it.

But this anti-hoarding flag I now have is insanely stupid. I logged back in with basically a couple bits of good armor, a few of my trinkets and a few weapons which is great. Apart from the fact that my entire collection of herbs/potions is now in my inventory since my container got taken away. This is fine really I can deal with that.

It's the fact that I now CAN NOT keep anything. Even the store bought container I brought to hold onto my stuff that didn't get de-hoarded gets taken off me when I log off, same goes for armor etc to make my character even somewhat functional in game.

Why does the de-hoarding code take away ALL items you obtain after being flagged. My character is now unplayable for a week which doesn't entice me to start playing again. De-hoard limited and unique equipment all you want. Let me at least keep this storebought low level crap to get by with until then?

I have to agree with this idea. The fact your character becomes unplayable for a week means that it is unlikely that someone is going to come back and then stick around. Much more likely a player will come back say high to some old friends then they will get frustrated and leave.

An alternate idea keeping to the same principles. If you are struck with the (H) flag when you log out your effective level is reduced against log out thieves. If the (H) flag made you a level 20 character when your logged out you would suffer the general issue if you had good gear but it wouldnt stop you from using store bought items (well most of them). It could also come with additional shop keeper speech on buying "Looks like you have a mark on you. Id watch out for thieves if you buy that." To expand on the idea the level reduction could be more or less harsh depending on how many items are dehoarded.

Got a little more free time and some interest has returned so I've decided to plvl a char to try out some of the changes while I wait for that dreaded (H) to go away.

Edit: There was still a point in my post if you wade through the frustration.
My character paid for an item to use while they waited for the hoarded flag to debuff, thinking it wouldn't affect low level or store bought items.
I was wrong. Even if I drop all of the herbs/potions I am left with a merc without armor/shield and the terrible inconvenience of having to find temporary armor to use each time I want to log in.

I am sure the hoarder code as name implies was intended to mess with hoarders, not people that lost interest for a month or two.

I am pretty sure that's exactly what it was intended to do. The real question is why didn't you just get rid of any unique or high level gear before you took a break? Keeping gear out of circulation for a month or two because you have lost interest is not really fair to everyone else. I agree that you should be able to buy non-limited, common gear and have it save even with the dreaded Scarlet H, though.

It is to try to get items back into circulation as I understand it. So if you take a month or two off you expect to get hit by it. The problem is that if like yourself you where taking a break and return you have a week in which the decision to return feels like a bad one making you less likely to stay. The reason for the H flag is to stop you rehoarding the gear when you log back in.
Another alternative "Fix" is an outfit like command for some cheep crappy items for all levels. This is taking into consideration not all classes as effected by being naked. There are a few spots around the world they is free armor and weapons for the taking (yes they suck). Request command also makes it less harsh to deal with as a lighty.

I get the feeling there is a lot of extra work could go into the dehoarding code, to make it better for all situations. However is it worth the time. I think a little bit of effort on the H flag is worth it for returning players who have taken a break is probably more affordable as far as coding time vs benefit gained. That is set a level which H flag doesnt take items below it away from you every log out.

Fair enough I know what you're saying. I hadnt otherwise planned to stop playing for that long. Didnt plan at all really, I just stopped logging in one day.
to be fair also there was a bunch of armor available when I stopped but you are right in the fact it is unfair to keep a suit out of circulation.

That said it doesn't change the fact that my character is near unusable for anything other then fountain arpee(yawn) until that H disappears.

I think we went from one extreme to the other. No restrictions at all, to one that docks a player who may have some reason other than hoarding items. It was still a result, and there is still good reason why the items should be stripped...

...If there are items that exist presently that are without restriction, perhaps those should remain holdable by anyone, regardless of the H flag. Still a "punishment," but not one that keeps someone from wanting to play the game.

I agree with the form of punishment.
All I'm suggesting is items that arent limited or items that are limited to a number above 10 or so should still be available so that a character is still usable to an extent. Hell my character could tank most of the PvE wilderness with storebought tanso. Which is all Im asking for lol

Anjin peeks in

The code now literally brands players

he goes back to lurking

It's true, but it's invisible to all other players.