So, my creep won some tokens...

From what I had read, and understood, creeps were eligible for the anniversary tokens. So I entered my creeps into the token lotto.

Well, my warg won, so I logged on to claim them, but, alas, I've got a little icon that tells me I have mail. Unfortunately, the postmater forgot that there are no mailboxes in the Ettenmoors.

So, this got me wondering...

1. WHY hasn't the issue of being able to enter your creep into the lottories been fixed??? I mean, my database and php programming might be a little rusty, but I'm sure if you put a simple if statement in there, like IF player = monsterplayer THEN they are not eligible to enter the contests, then this issue would not continue to come up over and over again. I'm sure I could come up with the code if you want me to.

2. But, this begs the question, why cant creeps have a mailbox in Grams???

/sigh :mad:

This may come across as rude but why would you enter creeps in a lottery knowing that there's no mailbox and that Turbine has said creeps and session characters being listed is a bug?

I dont want to sound like a dick, but his FIRST line answers your question.

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Originally Posted by Cerridwen

This may come across as rude but why would you enter creeps in a lottery knowing that there's no mailbox and that Turbine has said creeps and session characters being listed is a bug?

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Originally Posted by KouklaGirl

From what I had read, and understood, creeps were eligible for the anniversary tokens. So I entered my creeps into the token lotto.

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Why not keep entering your creeps until the problem is resolved? Maybe if enough win lotteries, they will fix it

They have the tech to have items put into your inventory upon logging in as we have seen with the discount scrolls so its reasonable to think that they could do something similar with creep lottery winnings.

You only get the tokens from npc drops in the moors only

excatly, why enter a creep in a lotto that he can not use the winning?

You not only screw all the other freeps but even your own freep.

I guess I just do not understand why you complain after doing something like this.

I am not a creep, but I've played one on TV ;)

Okay, actually, I do have two creeps: a warg and a defiler. I too would have thought what the OP though and entered my creeps (I would think they would just appear in inventory. I seem to remember that happening to something creepside before. But it's been a while). The way I read it, creeps could take part too and the mail issue wouldn't have dawned on me unless I won. Luckily, I haven't played my creeps since Mirkwood came out and so didn't enter them in the lottery.

On an aside I think creeps really need some kind of post office box. If they win lotteries, they can get the silver by vendoring things and it would help creeps buy and sell things to each other (or more easily move items among characters).

But Creeps can't read......Everyone knows that. :D

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Originally Posted by KouklaGirl

1. WHY hasn't the issue of being able to enter your creep into the lottories been fixed??? I mean, my database and php programming might be a little rusty, but I'm sure if you put a simple if statement in there, like IF player = monsterplayer THEN they are not eligible to enter the contests, then this issue would not continue to come up over and over again. I'm sure I could come up with the code if you want me to.

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Having worked on large distributed system using objected oriented programming - I am thinking. The answer to the question "IF player = monsterplayer" is not that easy to find. Since the lotto runs on a low security web based server, they do not have direct access to the database servers. Instead they get a limited periodic export of some data.

I suspect they have to wait for the data base and other people to develop, test and export the information that they need in a way they can easier ask this kind of question. I think they have tried to implement it. I remember the account being linked to this forum id being completely locked out of all lotteries because I got a creep.

It is like every thing else that Turbine does. They have a lot of really nice ideas. No where near enough resources to do them all. Or even in many cases to do them 100% solid in a timely fashion. Or by the launch date as specified by management.

Yes, this is very simple. Creeps can enter and win lotteries, but they can't get the mail so there is no point in entering them. It's been this way for months. Why would anyone think it was any different for this lottery? Don't enter creeps or chickens in lotteries, period.

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Originally Posted by Cerridwen

This may come across as rude but why would you enter creeps in a lottery knowing that there's no mailbox and that Turbine has said creeps and session characters being listed is a bug?

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Originally Posted by Maxal

excatly, why enter a creep in a lotto that he can not use the winning?

You not only screw all the other freeps but even your own freep.

I guess I just do not understand why you complain after doing something like this.

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Please see my original post...

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Originally Posted by KouklaGirl

From what I had read, and understood, creeps were eligible for the anniversary tokens. So I entered my creeps into the token lotto.

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And, I assumed that they had some other method of getting the items to your creep like, oh I dunno, putting it in your inventory like they did the Writ we got on Monday?

I mean, Turbine being - now - a mutli-billion dollar company, you think they would figure something like this out. :rolleyes:

Once again, creeps being able to enter lotteries (any and all lotteries) is a bug. It is not intended and we cannot award any winnings to creep characters. This is a very long standing known issue.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Once again, creeps being able to enter lotteries (any and all lotteries) is a bug. It is not intended and we cannot award any winnings to creep characters. This is a very long standing known issue.

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I think the confusion stems from this entry in the 4/26 update release notes (highlight coloring added by me...):
"Note: Ancient Gold Tokens will drop for Monster Players. These can be exchanged for an Ashen Skull Box. In addition, Free Players may also exchange the Ancient Gold Tokens in the Ettenmoors. These gift boxes will have a slightly different loot pool and will include Spirit Stones as well as Cosmetic Items that will not be available in gift boxes from other vendors. Tokens and Gift Boxes have also been added to the Lottery System! Beginning April 26, check my.lotro.com often for your chance to win tokens, gift boxes and other items. "

It could be easily misconstrued that Monster Players could attempt to win in the lottery, but it seems that the tokens are only available as a drop for these players and not available through the lottery.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Once again, creeps being able to enter lotteries (any and all lotteries) is a bug. It is not intended and we cannot award any winnings to creep characters. This is a very long standing known issue.

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Yeah, I guess I misconstrued the post that jb_marsh alluded to. And, perhaps I had a glimmer of hope, too, that creeps would finally get some love. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by KouklaGirl

...I had a glimmer of hope, too, that creeps would finally get some love. :rolleyes:

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Hey, I *tried* to hug a reaver once... it ended badly. :p

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Once again, creeps being able to enter lotteries (any and all lotteries) is a bug. It is not intended and we cannot award any winnings to creep characters. This is a very long standing known issue.

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Why not fix the problem, then? Or stop the lottery process until a fix is available? In most lines of work, just saying, "Listen, we know its a bug, deal with it" wont get you any happy people.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Once again, creeps being able to enter lotteries (any and all lotteries) is a bug. It is not intended and we cannot award any winnings to creep characters. This is a very long standing known issue.

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Arf, wish I knew it before, for once I won something nice!

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Originally Posted by KouklaGirl

1. WHY hasn't the issue of being able to enter your creep into the lottories been fixed???

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This bug has crept in three separate times:

1. I honestly can't remember what the first issue was now. So very long ago... Needless to say, we found it and fixed it.

2. However, as my.lotro.com continued to grow, we were monitoring performance, usage, etc. Based on what we were seeing, we made some changes to the foundation of the system. This in turn had the side effect of making the creep/session checks not quite accurate any more; creep/session play characters that had not logged in recently could enter lotteries. We didn't find this edge case until the more voluminous live data was thrown at the system. Again, we patched this.

3. Now, we fast forward in time a bit and our neighboring franchise wanted to give away free stuff too. In the process of refactoring the code so these two and any future franchises could all make use of nice, shared code, mea culpa, I refactored out the creep/session play check, something unique to the LOTRO franchise. Apply /facepalm this past week for five minutes on discovering that.


Now, to answer your question more directly. Why hasn't it been fixed for a third time? Priorities. While the lottery system is popular (free stuff for minute effort... yes, please!), this isn't a critical bug to find, fix, and test (to avoid me blowing something else apart with the fix) in the grand scheme. Sapience regularly messages the known issues, especially when he cooks up an extra special lottery full of coal, taters, or symbols.

It will get fixed Soon; it just has to wait for the opportune moment.

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2. But, this begs the question, why cant creeps have a mailbox in Grams???

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Can't help you there; these are not the blue names you are looking for. You would be best served bringing this up in the game dev Suggestions forum. I suspect it is due to what those naughty, naughty wargs keep doing around any sort of upright post you put in the ground.

I have also had this issue. I'm sad. D:

Wouldn't it be possible to reroute winnings of creeps to the highest leveled freep for the account?

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Originally Posted by Cerridwen

This may come across as rude but why would you enter creeps in a lottery knowing that there's no mailbox and that Turbine has said creeps and session characters being listed is a bug?

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Then why does Turbine make a lottery, and select what toons are eligible for a lottery, and allow a submit button at the bottom of the lottery??? If creeps are not eligible, then they shouldn't have a selectable radio button beside their name, or Turbine should filter out creep characters. Wasn't our setup for the lottery...twas Turbine's.

Or...people could just watch what characters they are entering....and stop complaining when their Creep / Session players win.

I'm still waiting for a screeny of a My.lotro page with a Creep winning the Symbol...