[Prodigy9]

Currently, the only way to legally get rid of a structure on a realm that disbanded from an inactive player is to buy the realm, wait a couple weeks, do what you want with the place, and re-sell the realms to the server for a net loss of credits. As a result, there are a lot of very old abandoned structures scattered across the map; these structures are not being used by anybody in particular, and they contribute to the complaints about how there aren't as many wide open areas in the server as there used to be.

I therefore propose that three months after a realm disbands from an inactive/banned player, it becomes legal to disassemble the structure without being required to buy the land. With this idea, it would still NOT be legal to blatantly loot the realms of valuables and leave a husk of stone and wood standing. The purpose of this proposal is not to take valuable items from old realms, but rather to free up land for either your own use or someone else's. If you want to take down an ancient building, you would be required to completely disassemble it and either use the land for your own work or return it to a somewhat natural appearance to leave for another player.

Pros:

• Allows current players to recycle land that is in disuse due to the former owner being inactive for a long time.
• Could lead to a more dynamic landscape in parts of the server containing old abandoned realms.
• Empowers players concerned with the decreasing abundance of pristine wilderness to take it upon themselves to restore land to wilderness-like conditions.
• Still gives inactive players four full months to reclaim their land (one month before the realms disband, and another three before disassembly of the buildings is allowed).

Cons:

• Might be considered a form of looting or griefing.
• Creates possible grey area in rules about what is or isn't considered to be looting.
• Players that have been inactive for a very long time could, upon an eventual return, find that their buildings are gone.

...I imagine this will be a rather controversial idea, so please take care to keep all comments/criticisms civil.

[shaddowdemon]

I'd have to think about it before I agree or disagree with this, but the immediate problem that I see is how do you know who owned the realm? For example, if a realm disbands in the middle of nowhere and no one knew who that player was, how would you know when three months have passed since the realm disbanded? I suppose you could just wait three months from the day you find it... but that seems... not effective.

[jeniansmom]

For example, if a realm disbands in the middle of nowhere and no one knew who that player was, how would you know when three months have passed since the realm disbanded? I suppose you could just wait three months from the day you find it... but that seems... not effective.

Ask a staff member to check for you?
Post a sign with the date you discovered it and wait 3 months from then? Or a sign with a date 3 months from when a staff member told you the realm disbanded?
Or could disbanded realms have a motd when you enter them that states the date of disband and the most recent owner?
Just late night thoughts.

[Eetrab]

I therefore propose that three months after a realm disbands from an inactive/banned player, it becomes legal to disassemble the structure without being required to buy the land.

This is a brilliant idea, and below I will discuss why:

Pros:
Allows current players to recycle land that is in disuse due to the former owner being inactive for a long time.
Could lead to a more dynamic landscape in parts of the server containing old abandoned realms.
Empowers players concerned with the decreasing abundance of pristine wilderness to take it upon themselves to restore land to wilderness-like conditions.
Still gives inactive players four full months to reclaim their land (one month before the realms disband, and another three before disassembly of the buildings is allowed).

I am very in favour (yes, I live in Australia so deal with it) of this idea.. Since I live in Abyssus, I know of many potential abandoned builds that could be de-constructed. Plus, after four months, either the player is not coming back ever, or is most likely starting fresh. Myself, I find it more difficult to repair heavily griefed structures than deconstructing and re-building them.

Cons:
Might be considered a form of looting or griefing.
Creates possible grey area in rules about what is or isn't considered to be looting.
Players that have been inactive for a very long time could, upon an eventual return, find that their buildings are gone.

There would need to be a fixed time, like you siad, four months in order for this to work properly. Plus, we all know of people who loot realms regardless of their disband time. Its a rule, not to, but hard and loosely enforced.

...I imagine this will be a rather controversial idea, so please take care to keep all comments/criticisms civil.

Controversial? I do not think it is too bad. Plus, this is not one of those suggestions that are emitting stupidity like infra-red radiation from the sun.

Currently, the only way to legally get rid of a structure on a realm that disbanded from an inactive player is to buy the realm, wait a couple weeks, do what you want with the place, and re-sell the realms to the server for a net loss of credits.

Quite a hassle as I have done it once myself. I gave up after that.

these structures are not being used by anybody in particular, and they contribute to the complaints about how there aren't as many wide open areas in the server as there used to be.

There are a few complaints, but there are more open areas, and almost untouched areas than not.

Maybe, not as a rule but suggestion, if this one was put in place, those who do remove structures leave at least some of it, so there is evidence that there was a structure there before. Then all these abandoned structures become ancient ruins of the 3.0/4.0 times.

I did it in this order for a reason! I am much in favour of this suggestion, to say it again.







Oh, and for the wall if text, I present to you a smiley face . Enjoy!


Edit: Just to suggest a suggestion about the name of you suggestion, I would suggest that the suggestion name be changed from "Allow destruction..." to "Allow Deconstruction...", just as a suggestion for your suggestion. (Suggestion suggestion suggestion suggestion suggestion recommendation proposal proposition submission moisture sucking ducks suggestion suggestion suggestion )

[Emershaan]

It takes a month to disband, and this would be allowed three months after that. If somebody hasn't even attempted to log on once in four months, chances are they don't really care anymore. I'm in support of this.

[mitchie151]

I think if the realm has disbanded tough luck. You should be able to destroy it right there and then, however, you would still have to keep all of the materials in chests on site in order to return to the person if they return within 2 weeks. If not, sucks to be them, you have some new loot!

[Prodigy9]

For example, if a realm disbands in the middle of nowhere and no one knew who that player was, how would you know when three months have passed since the realm disbanded? I suppose you could just wait three months from the day you find it... but that seems... not effective.

Ask a staff member to check for you?
Post a sign with the date you discovered it and wait 3 months from then? Or a sign with a date 3 months from when a staff member told you the realm disbanded?
Or could disbanded realms have a motd when you enter them that states the date of disband and the most recent owner?

I was thinking you'd just have to know who owned it and therefore be able to figure out when it disbanded, or if that's not possible, wait three months after you first discover it. I do like the idea of having an automatic MOTD update when a realm disbands, but I would be hesitant to make this suggestion dependent on additional coding.

Maybe, not as a rule but suggestion, if this one was put in place, those who do remove structures leave at least some of it, so there is evidence that there was a structure there before. Then all these abandoned structures become ancient ruins of the 3.0/4.0 times.

Not sure how I feel about this. I do like the idea of having "ancient ruins" around for people to explore, but at the same time it sort of contradicts the goal of restoring previously-owned land to wilderness conditions. Perhaps it would work, though, if as you suggest the person who takes the initiative to deconstruct an old building is able to choose either option--either leave a small part of it intact as a monument/ruin, or get rid of the whole thing. If someone leaves ruins lying around though, I think that should have to be a stylistic decision, i.e. it's ok to leave a nice-looking tower from a castle mostly intact, but it's not ok (or at least discouraged) to take down almost everything while leaving the parts made of cobblestone.

I think if the realm has disbanded tough luck. You should be able to destroy it right there and then, however, you would still have to keep all of the materials in chests on site in order to return to the person if they return within 2 weeks. If not, sucks to be them, you have some new loot!

That would be another approach to this situation, and I'd be mostly OK with that. I know Spritzo has previously advocated for such a policy, claiming that the month before the realm disbands is the grace period to come back and claim your realm, and that an additional grace period after disbanding is unnecessary. The only concern I have about this is that somebody could feasibly go on a long vacation or be without internet due to IRL problems for a couple weeks or a month, while fully intending to return to MR and pick up where they left off; with a longer waiting period, such as the three months post-disband that I suggested, we can be more certain that a realm has truly been abandoned by it's old owner.

[DGannon]

Taking down a structure is easy. Very easy. Somebody that wants to use the land for something else will do it themselves, no problem. If everyone went around destroying unused builds, there'd be almost nothing to find. I think things should generally just be left as they are unless you're replacing it. In that case, you'd just buy the realm and wait two weeks; no need for more complicated rules. However, if there's a griefed building or something that's just bad, I think you can use your own judgement (for people who have judgement anyway ). Is there a sign? Does someone ever change the building? Did you put a sign asking whose it was? If nobody's getting griefed, nobody will report griefing.

[Intelli]

There's a difference between taking down a structure, and looting a structure. Generally, we don't care if you take down something to expand your own build.

Unless you ripped down a massive stadium (for example) to expand your cobble castle. That would be an issue.

[Lm108]

There's a difference between taking down a structure, and looting a structure. Generally, we don't care if you take down something to expand your own build.

Unless you ripped down a massive stadium (for example) to expand your cobble castle. That would be an issue.

This seems a bit flawed. You're basically creating grey areas for yourself, which I know from past experiences, are incredibly hard to deal with.