Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsA 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 2 of 2)
Lori May 26th 2007 1:41PM
I find an unannounced duel window popup annoying as well although it may be normal for this activity. At first I would look around for the person but when I found that nearly all were at least 10 levels higher than me, I now just decline them all.
Sykoh May 26th 2007 2:28PM
There is an Interface option for "Block all Trades". It's my new best friend.
I used to keep closing windows on people until they got the idea they needed to ask. I would also keep the window up, pick the box, then wait for a bit to see if they would tip, since they so badly needed something from me.
But yeah, "Block all Trades" works wonders. It still lets me initiate the trade.
robodex May 26th 2007 3:36PM
If I'm in a major town, I'll generally close the window, /point, /laugh then log onto my hunter.
Either that, or I'll tell them to throw themselves in front of a moving train.
Julia May 26th 2007 3:40PM
As a mage, I am forever tired of demands for bread/water. And I'm still a low level - I can't imagine what it will be like at 70.
And I too would like to know the etiquette for tipping - I never know how much to tip. I always tip, as a courtesy, but I don't want to be stingy and tip too little, but also not go overboard. Standard guidelines?
robodex May 26th 2007 3:44PM
I won't open a box for less than 50s. If you really want that green, then you'll pay.
Dinaer May 26th 2007 5:21PM
I play a rogue, and this used to happen to me all the time. I would routinely close the window and the say that they should be more polite. I never got an angry retort, but received numerous apologies.
Now that most players on my server are high level, it happens much less often.
Acceptable Risk May 26th 2007 7:01PM
I'll decline pretty much any blind prompt; guild charters, group invites, trades, duels, whatever. Repeat prompts without any kind of explanation get /ignored.
As for myself, I make sure to be extraordinarily polite when asking for lockpicks/food/water. And then I'll only ask people who are clearly just bumming around town, no one who's in the bank or in the auction house or at the mailbox.
Circle24 May 26th 2007 9:38PM
assuming i dont have to go out of my way ill always give food and water to someone who asks or make them a portal, i never ask for anything in return.
in a raid though i prefer just being traded, its faster that way
Rod Oracheski May 27th 2007 3:05PM
It's right up there with being invited to a group out of the blue, accepting to see what's up and having them say "Port to Shatt"
I like to see how long they'll wait.
scott veirs May 29th 2007 7:40PM
Lvl 70 rogue, maxed lock picking. I have not been force upon yet on this new server (2 months now) and am always asked if I can open it for them.
Alterac Mtns. Nice people, but not enough.
MartinC May 27th 2007 3:47PM
Maybe you should try playing on an RP server. The RP crowd in general is more more respectful, polite, and actually knows how to type complete sentences.
I have a high level rogue on an RP server, and obviously get asked to open lockboxes often, but not ONCE have I seen a trade window open rudely in front of me without a friendly request first. Everyone always asks first, and not only that, they ask nicely and with proper spelling :-)
Hexadecimal (Lightbringer) May 27th 2007 4:07PM
I will ask several times in the city trade channel for a rogue.
If there's no response I will hunt one down and /follow them so I can pst without using manually moving.
Other times I will /follow and then initiate the trade first, with lockbox and 50s tip (I'm low level) ready to go.
I feel as if this just saves time for both parties, no?
Minxette, Firetree May 27th 2007 5:40PM
Damn! You guys need to be more inventive. If someone asks my rogue to open a box without discussing it first sure I'll pick the lock.... but I won't hit the trade button.
If they put in a sufficent amount of money then I will trade in return. Usually though they just hit the trade button without putting in money and wait for me to hit my side. I don't. And so they wait. After about 30 second they figure it was a trade issue and try again.
I do the same thing. Another 30 seconds pass. Now usually clued up people give up at this point in time or hand over money. If they give up then I proceed to open trade windows in their face for another minute or so.
Yes I've wasted 2 mins of my time, but damn it has been funny for me and I've wasted heaps of their time.. and hopefully they will learn their lesson.
Sylvina May 29th 2007 10:15AM
What I used to do:
I'd lockpick the box and then never hit 'accept trade', and so it'd just sit there... lockpicked... while the person waits. Then he'd try again, and I'd rinse & repeat. I kept someone busy for like 15 minutes before, it was HILARIOUS.
Krianna May 30th 2007 2:32AM
Heh, my fiance actually had someone threaten him if his pali didn't buff the guy....
My fave is tells from 70s asking my mage for a summons.
bcimhe Jun 19th 2007 1:43PM
As a rogue I'd like to say 2 things. First it took me hours of swimming/killing/picking or stealthy pickpocketing / lock picking to level up my lock pick. I don't owe you that skill for free any more than I owe you free leather work. Secondly, it is not my duty to stand and wait on you for free while you figure out how to get from Stormwind to IF. People are offended and act like I'm a poor player / noob if I tell them I will not stand still for 10 friggin minutes while they come to me and get their box opened.
The answer to why this happens though is simple. Other rogues oblige. All of you stop and start asking for tips, we all get them. If you don't we won't. We brought this on ourselves.
Llorac
Rivendare
Dagger? Oh this thing.
FB Jul 10th 2007 11:48AM
As a warrior blacksmith, I made my own skeleton keys to avoid having to ask for help but now that I am finding the occassional mithril box I need help. It is hard, but generally I wait until some rogue takes up his position on the IF bridge and announces that boxes will be open for tips. I just wish rogues would set a tip scale:s so much for iron, so much for mithril etc. As for food, I find it myself and don't need water. However, a summons or port to BC would be really nice to get my mining going again but my only option is a polite tell to a mage or warlock in a city. Of course I will pay for the service, just like I pay for an engineer to make me thorium shells with my mats. If that mage or warlock has a problem with a stranger asking for help they should, they should become a warrior who cannot do anything for anyone or find another game to play. Mutli .... many people. Requried interaction. Misanthropes, be warned.