Grab Bag, Oh My Grab Bag

Posted By: Sanya Thomas 2004-08-06 18:12:33

Lots of announcements (for example, want to meet us at a mini-gathering at GenCon?), and some solid questions and answers for you: Q: Does the “one relic per keep” change apply to Mordred? A: No. I swear on a stack of game manuals, however, that the extensive feedback received on the topic has been passed on to the designers. I sure do appreciate the thoughtful and well-considered notes on the subject of this design, and I thank you for them. Q: I have a question about the proposed bonus level system. Assume for this question that I am level 39. If I kill a mob that dings me to 40, my understanding is I will immediately ding to 41. The question is, will I lose my free level 40 respec since I can't use the respec at level 39, and yet I must use it before I hit 41. A: You won’t immediately ding to level 41. The free level doesn’t happen automatically – as designed, you have to CHOOSE to use it at your trainer after receiving some kind of system message to let you know that you’re eligible. Lots of people have questions about this system. The thing is, we really want to wait until something is actually coded before we announce that it will definitely work in one way or the other. Last week’s grab bag question on the topic is already somewhat wrong due to incomplete information, so I don’t want to make it worse. Once something is coded, I’ll post an extensive Q&A on the subject, I promise. Q: Since the server downtime earlier this week, I’ve been crashing when I try to zone into New Frontiers. I’ve also occasionally seen the message, “The destination zone could not be loaded.” What did you do? A: We fixed an exploit or two that was allowing people who intentionally deleted (or manipulated) certain files to cheat. Don’t cheat. The first player to email me about this exploit (and we checked him out to see how often he’d “tested” it, first) is currently playing on an account that will be free for life. Q: I'm getting a lot of questions (as both a cleric and an LGM spellcrafter) about the following and how they relate: +power(for gear), +power pool %, acuity-piety, and conc pool. Is there a place where I can find definitive information as to how these factors relate to each other? For example, on a cleric, what is the conc pool "stat" based on? I hear a lot of people say that +power stats on gear, like what came out with SI is no longer useful, misnomer or legit? I was under the impression that +power pool % was applied after +power stat and piety pool was calculated, is that correct? I guess I've just not been able to find definitive information on the relationship between those things. Can you point me in the right direction or provide any assistance? A: You’re at the right place, I hope. Our Programmer of Power (aka “Ed”) looked directly at the code and provided the following response: ”Power is computed in the following order: Class/Level Stat (primary casting stat/acuity) Direct Power from gear Power Percent from gear Power from RA's “So, the power pool % does affect the power gained from stat bonuses, as well as direct power from gear. The only power it does not affect is power acquired from RA's. “Concentration is much simpler and is based off class/level and the primary casting stat (barring the ML ability Greatness which is applied on the end).” I hope that helps! Q: I was wondering what the cap on these stats is: + % power + % to casting speed In alliance chat and guild chat, they say “+ % power” cap at 25%, and “+ % casting speed” is 8%, but my /bonuses says I got +32% power and 9% to casting speed. And then I'd like to know too if the cap raises each 5 level like + to skills. Thank you. A: I went back to the Programmer of Power: Percent power, at its base, has a 25% cap at a rough rate of 1% every two levels. Note, however, that the percent power cap is affected by items that raise the power cap. Percent casting speed has a 10% cap at a rough rate of 1% every 5 levels.” 25% and 10% are the caps at level 50. Also, by “rough,” he means he’s rounding off the numbers, so if your log analysis doesn’t produce a result of exactly 1%, it’s not a bug. Q: Will there be a relic reset when the changes to the system currently on Pendragon reach the live servers? A: We are not currently planning a reset. Hear me out, though – if the new system doesn’t help the realms without relics, we need to adjust the system more, and we need to know that as soon as possible. So please, give the new stuff a try. I look forward to seeing your informed feedback very much. *** Announcements: The “BG status” has returned to the Herald! Check out the Realm War tab for more information. Speaking of tabs, we’ve added a new one – “Patch Notes.” Instead of putting patch notes on the front page of the Herald, we’ll update this section from now on. And hey, still speaking of tabs, that Community section is really rocking. We’ve added several new features. The Scroll of Valor isn’t just for announcements of 50s and LGM status hurrahs, we’re also now celebrating our players who reach the exalted Realm Rank 10 status. Once a week, we’re featuring “Tales By the Hearth,” short stories from our players about their latest deeds. And finally, we’ve introduced “Real Life Snippets” – announcements from our players who’ve met each other in person and their deeds. Reading about your friendships, marriages, and joys is great fun for us, and we’re excited to share the happiness with everyone. Remember, though – the community page doesn’t write itself, Missy can’t read your mind, and inclusion in features such as the Scroll of Valor is not automatic. You need to tell us the big stories of your life, physical and virtual, using the “submit news” button you’ll find on top of the Community News section. Going to GenCon? We’re going, and having a casual mini-player gathering the night before the show! I don’t have all the details yet, but we’d love to meet any and all Dark Age of Camelot players who are attending GenCon on the night before the show kicks off. Come by, shake hands, have some hors d’oeuvres. Here’s what I know so far: When? 6:30 PM, August 18. Where? Jillian’s in Indianapolis 141 South Meridian St Indianapolis, IN 46225 (In the private billiard room that we rented: http://www.camelotherald.com/files/indy.zip). Who? You. Me. The Moderately Evil Overlord. Other Mythic devs. Local DAOC players. How much? Nothing. We’re not providing any food beyond small snacky things, though, so be prepared to have dinner and drinks at the restaurant or to eat before you come out. I’d love to know if we can expect you there – so drop me a note with the subject line GENCON if you’d like to hang out that night! My email, as all of you and most V!agrah023 distributors know, is Sanya AT mythicentertainment DOT com. “Drop in” players are completely welcome, but if you don’t warn me that you’re coming, we won’t have enough cocktail wieners. Have a nifty keen weekend!