A Rogue's lock box request
by Krystalle Voecks 
May 26th 2007 at 9:05AM
![[y halo, i c whut u did thar]](http://www.blogcdn.com/wow.joystiq.com/media/2007/05/lockbox.jpg)
Imagine with me, if you will... You're standing in the bank minding your own business. You have all your bags open, both in your inventory and in the bank. Everything is arranged perfectly, and you're comparing pieces of gear in the bank versus ones you've since picked up to see which items should stay and which should go. As you go to pick up the next item -- *BAM* -- all of your windows close. There is no warning before this happens, and you freeze mid-mouse move. You double-check your chat box, questioning if you've somehow overlooked a /say, a /whisper, even an /emote... There isn't anything. It then dawns on you that you're now staring at some random stranger's trade window. A window where they are hurriedly moving a lock box from the top trade slots to the "will not be traded" spot, as if even having that item in your vicinity means that you'll somehow steal it from them. As if this weren't enough, they then just stand there, silent. It would appear that the owner of this box is one of the myriad number of players who are laboring under the belief that Mind Reading is one of the first-tier talents in the Rogue's Subtlety tree that we all seem to spec into, just for reasons such as this. Welcome to the life of a Rogue -- especially one in a major city. No other ability or tradeskill in the game seems to garner people shoving trade windows in your face without so much as a single word. But every single day, across many different servers, people open trade windows with Rogues and wordlessly await the opening of their lockboxes. While I understand and appreciate everyone's desire to get their boxes open to get at the goodies inside, I must personally get on the pulpit here and just say "Ask us first, please?" I will happily open lockboxes if people ask first, and I don't even care about tips. The request makes me happy enough, frankly. So, please -- if you want your lock boxes opened, ask before you open trade.
Any other Rogues out there with this particular issue? I know from talking to the Rogues in my guild I'm not the only one, but I'm curious just how widespread the problem is of people opening trade windows without asking is.
Filed under: Rogue, Analysis / Opinion, Tips, Virtual selves, Odds and ends
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Quoi May 26th 2007 9:12AM
"No other ability or tradeskill in the game seems to garner people shoving trade windows in your face without so much as a single word."
Two words: Mage Water.
Jemmet May 26th 2007 9:28AM
*deep sigh*, yup, happens all the time.
/ignore /vanish /poke another banker-npc
And ditto, when asked (politely..) I'm happy to oblige ("sec, finishing stuff"), but slam a tradewindow in my face, "plx plx opne plx" doesn't tickle my lockpick-aid.
Bazwyn May 26th 2007 9:31AM
I think this is related to a similar issue. Mages. I can only imagine the headache of a lockbox trade to a rogue. As a 70 mage I get tell's all the time demanding water or portals. I have set rates for these things, 50s a stack(very cheap compared to vendor) or 1g for a port to pre-TBC cities, 2g for TBC cities.
It gets pretty bad, it even led to a forum post on Maelstrom. I was soloing in Zangramarsh, run up into coilfang. This paladin sends a tell...plz burn me some water. I give him my usual costs, 50s a stack. He aggrees, I make the water, then his friend starts up a bitch storm. Saying he should pay, and I should be glad to give him the water for free. I even offered 75s for 2 stacks. I ended up giving up(it was getting quite abusive) and left without giving away water. The pally then threatens me in pm about a "forum" post. O so scary. He then made the post. I kind of feel sorry for him, because alot of the casters went hard on him. I fortunately keps screenshots of the conversation. I think he learned his lesson. But its definately a good ready.
One of the worst things I hear from people, especially with water is, you cant ask for money, i'll tip what I want. I think rogues get jacked the most. I dont know what it costs to learn lockpicking, but the tips you guys must get...Water is expensive, it costs right now abour 30-40g for glacial water. And non-mages are always trying to jack up the price. Anyhoo. my rant is over. have a great day.
mindrazor May 26th 2007 9:46AM
Oh--and don't forget the /who whatever city- followed by the whisper for a summon to said city when playing a warlock. I get these all the time from people I have never met. Yeah, let me run around asking people I don't know if they will help me bring your sorry ass to this location. Not to mention using up a shard.
The same thing happens everyday with guild invites (which are not as annoying, but how about speaking with me first), group invites for who knows what, and signing guild charters. If someone is trying to get a new guild off the ground and speaks to me first, I will gladly sign the charter, but don't just throw the thing up in my face while I am doing something else--AH, bank, killing a mob... I'm not likely to help you in that situation, nor would I want to actually be in a guild run by a leader who would do that!
ErsatzPotato May 26th 2007 9:39AM
My "Your cat won't eat bread, I'm not dueling your twink, and I'm not giving water to a rude l33t stranger." response to blind trades macro made game life ever so much more relaxing.
Had an /ignore bit to it for awhile but they're so cute when they squirm and hiss. That and the ignore list was full within three days.
eNoroX May 26th 2007 9:40AM
I do understand your problem, and me being a rogue that likes to sit in town all day and gawk I do have people come up to me and ask/just open the tradebox. You know what? I actually like the just open the tradebox because it gets it over with quick and I don't have to wait to say Sure and THEN wait for them to open up and put it in the will not trade box. Eh, tips and the kindness of the players is appreciated but whatever to get it done faster works for me. Well, that's just my two cents. Maybe we just have to totally different opinions.
Theserene May 26th 2007 10:33AM
My rule is, that if a trade window/group invite/duel request is opened without asking first there is NO way I am helping.
michel May 26th 2007 10:54AM
it's that simple : I have a mage and I do NOTHING to stranger without be paid.
People can cry, insult, threat, I don't care at all.
I adjust the price if the person is nice / low level / good roleplaying / whatever.
rude people without notice opening trade for water will get a "I ask 1g for one stack of water." (or more! )
in fact, for portail I ask "18pa for the rune and what you want for the work, 1pa for example",
but if the person is just plain annoying and rude, I will fix a price (absurdly high) and I'll be totally roleplay "I need money to construct my house near gnomeregan, I work as a Mage, it's not a game! studies was expensive, ask Father." and so on :)
the same with engineer, I always ask a price (whatever, even 1pc ! but a _price_ ), even if you have all the component.
but, if you ask me by channel/private and say you'll pay me, I go where you are immediately. you are the customer.
to summarize : I want it to be a relationship; to be a "worker" (in a fun fantasy way) being paid. to be useful and polite to you and me.
not just stupid rude people opening stupid dialog box on the stupid video game.
Elixir May 26th 2007 10:51AM
I play a mage on hellscream. I get dozens of tells for hey give me a couple stacks of Water. I go ahead and create the water, offer it in trade and wait for a tip before I accept the trade if they wait long enough, and don't offer anything. I just cancel the trade and move on. I have pissed so many people off this way. I hope it gets around to people that I don't enjoy demands, nor do I enjoy donating to beggars.
rcdan May 26th 2007 10:55AM
Great topic. This is what happens when you get a bunch of 10-17 year olds whos parents havn't taught them any social manners. Honestly it seems at least on the sever i play on the majority of the population are self important preteens. You know, the ones whos parents led them to believe they were more important than anyone else and could do no wrong.
sandystuart May 26th 2007 8:36PM
the worst has to be ppl opening up a trade window and the just saying "money". i mean as if you are gonna give it to them, complete and utter strangers!
Dabura May 26th 2007 12:14PM
Wow you obviously dont know what its like for a mage. EVERY 5 minutes I get a request for water or food or both. Then there's all the bloody portal requests, which I never oblige to unless it's someone I know.
jess May 26th 2007 11:22AM
CT addons have an option to block trades when you're at the bank.
But as a rule I always ask a rogue and tip.
cgdoyle May 26th 2007 11:29AM
I have both a rogue (my main) and a mage, same problem. My usual response is a "No. Come back when you learn manners."
Michael May 26th 2007 11:28AM
What happens if you do a variation on the gold begger trick by unlocking the box then just going AFK and never hitting the trade button?
Tolento May 26th 2007 12:09PM
In over two years on Proudmoore as a rogue, I can't remember when someone HASN'T actually asked first. I love my realm. The more I read, the more I recognize it really is one of the better ones.
Dcruize May 26th 2007 12:14PM
I get round it by having a city outfit that consists of cloth chest/head/shoulders and a caster's offhand that looks like a staff. Some people actually fall for "I'm not a rogue Im a mage, my tooltip is bugged".
Totem May 26th 2007 1:11PM
I always ask a rogue if he can/will open my lock box, but if he doesn't ask for a tip I'm kind of at a loss. Whats the standard tipping rate for a lock box open?
Rich May 26th 2007 1:18PM
CT Core and CT Mail...
Enable block trade at mailbox and bank...
That part of the problem solved.
dudemcguy May 26th 2007 1:29PM
I got this won. Was in a group running Slave Pens on my rogue and I spot a Rich Adamantite vein. I ask if anyone else is a miner to which the tank says yes. As I'm rolling for it he proceeds to loot it. Nice.
Afterwards we take down the last boss and he then shoves a box in my face and just waits there for me to open it with no tip I might add. So I just sit there seeing how long it will take for him to leave.