Dev Chat Mar 23 2009
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Welcome and Introductions
Raven: Welcome to the Allakhazam EQII Dev Chat! Your EQII Zam staff tonight are Calthine, SpyderBite, Draknorr, and myself.
Raven: To submit a question, /msg Spyderbite (your question here). Do not use IM's, pop-ups will be ignored.
Raven: Now I'll let the SOE Developers introduce themselves...
autenil: Hello everyone, I'm Autenil, EQII Technical Director
Domino: Hiya folks! I'm Emily "Domino" Taylor, game designer, generally found lurking around tradeskills.
timetravelling: I'm Brett Scheinert, associate game designer. generally working on boss encounters and zone population. allo! =)
Rothgar: Hello. I'm Greg "Rothgar" Spence, Senior Programmer on EQII.
Fyreflyte: Hi, I'm Fyreflyte. I primarily handle dungeon and quest itemization.
Kaitheel: Heyya all! I'm Nathan "Kaitheel" McCall, events wrangler and quest maker.
GlipSOE: Hey all! I'm Nick "Glip the Gnome" Parkinson, associate producer and the guy who randomizes everyone else. :)
Kiara: Hello! Christie "Kiara" Renzetti - Community chick
Questions and Answers
Feldon: Will any of the Guild Hall Amenities be appearing in Player Housing?
- Rothgar: This is something we've talked about but we don't have any specifics to announce at the moment. Before allowing any amenities in player houses we want to be sure that we don't devalue the cost of those amenities in guild halls. If there are any specific amenities you'd like to see, I'd encourage you to use the /feedback command in game to let us know.
Vodroc: When introducing guild hall amenities we were told there would be a guild only broker amenity, however it was stated it was harder to implement than expected and we could expect it during Guild Hall Phase 2. Is this feature still slated and is there a general timeline it can be expected?
- Rothgar: The guild-only broker is still an amenity that will take quite some time to implement. So its not totally off the radar at the moment but not as high on the priority list as some of the other features we want to implement.
Fromage: What is the status of the population situation on the PvP servers? This was going to be looked at after TSO was released but there has been no update. Some people are wondering if they should start rolling on PvE server or choosing another game, others are anxious for an influx of new victims. Any sort of update so we can plan accordingly?
- GlipSOE: This is definitely something we're having internal discussions about and our in the process of developing a plan for. And as much as I'd like to lay out exactly what the future plan is for everyone right now, it really isn't finalized enough to give all the details. But rest assured, it is not something we've forgotten about and as soon as we've got finalized plans to give, you'll hear it. :-)
Anon: I love the new shiny collections in Lavastorm on Test, but it seems to me the shiny pop rate is low, expecially considering the size of the collections. I finished the "red shiny" collection in one play session, but in two weeks dedicated shiny harvesting before the Test Copy wipe I was unable to finish all the "yellow" collections. Could that be tweaked?
- Domino: That's something we can look into, thanks for bringing it up! =)
Rivers: I spend a lot of time explaining to new players why their download/patching takes so long. Are there any plans to integrate the suggestions which have been proven to work at speeding up the process over and over again; in to the helpful hints which are offered to these people during the patching process?
- autenil: We are looking into a few different options for downloading and patching. It's definitely something that we see as a barrier to entry in the game and we have some short- and long- term plans on how to address it.
Stugein: Is the delay on the fighter changes, at least in part, an indication that y`all have seen the light and will be nixing the hate meter and corresponding parseable hate numbers? *crosses fingers*
- Rothgar: The parseable hate information has been taken out since it was an integral part of the fighter changes. However, the threat meter stands on its own as a game feature we've been talking about for a long time. As a result, it should still be going live with GU51.
Mike W: The decision to scrap the current fighter revamp must have been a difficult decision. The Producer's Letter also mentioned adding "incentives" to get folks to play on TEST. Was the lack of participation on TEST the driving factor to "re-examine" the fighter revamp or was there more to it?
- Froech: There were a lot of factors involved in our decision to remove the Fighter revamp changes from Game Update 51, and some of that was feedback we'd received from the players, but not all. There were just some unanswered issues that we felt we needed more time to look at, and we'd already postponed the next game update enough, so we decided to pull the whole thing out for now, and spend more time looking at it. Sure, we want more participation on Test. But I don't think I can point at any one thing and say "this was the reason".
Anon: How are you planning to top last years' additions to Nights of the Dead?
- Kaitheel: It's an ongoing challenge to be sure, but I feel that some of the things that we've been chatting about should add to it. I'm not sure that topping it is my goal, nor should be, but adding to it and supporting it with additional content is. What those changes and additions may be? We'll have to wait and see. Muhahaha!
Vlahmaak: Was the fighter revamp push back really part of a master sinister plot to keep the classes imbalanced forever in an attempt to have some lame excuse against ever bringing beastlords back? Now that we know you are NEVER going to have balanced classes when will you just give in and give us Beastlords (at least on PVP servers only that way you dont have to deal with Beastlord balancing issues on blue servers)?
- Kiara: You caught us! It's all to bring about the rise of the Beastlord...
- Froech: What are beastlords?
- Kiara: They will be gnome only, tradeskill only, and female.
- Froech: ;p
- Kiara curtsies
- Fyreflyte: And they will have the ability to sit in chairs!
- Kiara: Yes they will!
- Kiara: And unlike halflings, will have useful summoned pies!
- Rothgar: And while playing beastlords, multi-core support will be active.
- Calthine: And can they dye their armor?
- Kiara: That too * nod *
Panix: Dust Distillation.. please allow us to do combines per stack vs. one at a time; but requiring the same amount of resources. Get your hands on a ton of lower tier dusts.. and you're stuck distilling for a week just to upgrade them to a small pile of T8 dusts. I'd much rather be out harvesting.
- Domino: That's something that I can certainly take a look at when time permits :)
Jaed: The Docks in RoK have been an issue on the PvP servers for a while now. The revive points are really out of whack strategically. Was this as planned so that the Qeynos side could dominate or was it an oversight that has just been put on the back burner?
- timetravelling: They were not intended to give Qeynos an advantage. They were actually adjusted internally, but I believe with the shuffle with the last update it may have been lost. I'll definitely go check that out =)
Anon: In the latest Producer's letter Bruce Ferguson talked about a desire to improve communication with the player base. How do you plan on going about that?
- Froech: Well, more of these chats, for one. And we're trying to get data out there more frequently, and before it hits the servers. We're also reading the boards, but we've always done that. Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in the day, and at some point it comes down to making content, or spending time on the boards. We're trying to find a better balance.
- Kiara: In addition to what Bruce has said, we're going to be looking at ways to solicit player feedback on specific issues. We don't have a full plan yet.
- Froech: More producer's letters. Just more communication, both from the dev team, and the community team on our behalf. We're trying to listen to you all, but there's a lot more of you than there is us :)
- Kiara: When we do, we'll be sharing that.
Aesthetics-Dragowulf: In the next few updates and expansion is there any plans on updating tinkering and/or transmuting?
- Domino: I believe this came up at the last dev chat and I said then that we do intend to take a look at tinkering and transmuting as we approach the next expansion. However, I'm not quite ready to discuss the nitty gritty details yet. Stay tuned!
Feldon: With the number of slots that EQ2 devs can design desirable rewards for players rapidly shrinking, are EQ2 devs seriously looking at an augment system? Quest rewards (and perhaps special dungeon drops) could be bolt-on adornments
- Fyreflyte: I'm not quite sure what you mean about the number of slots shrinking... The only slot I can't effectively make upgrades for currently is the primary weapon slot, due to the power of Mythicals. We're working on a number of things to ensure that we can continually offer upgrades to existing equipment, however. A more robust adornment system has certainly been discussed, though adornments are currently reserved primarily for tradeskills.
- Fyreflyte: I don't have time here to go into details, but we have a number of things in mind to keep items interesting, including new stats and whatnot.
Deson: What exactly is a GU/LU these days? Because GU's/LU's had mid to large sized fixes/mechanics additions as well as the additional content they tended to have a comfortable partnering. With the proposed increase in time between each, what does that mean for the monthly "we just fixed/changed added a cool new mechanic"?
- Froech: It's hard to define....there's 2 components that we usually look at for a Game Update. Frequency and content. Ideally, there's enough content for us to put out there to keep you all engaged for a period of time, and for us to wrap up a bunch of background improvements (lag and other code/quest fixes). We keep 3 branches of the game here in the office, and if we don't get it out there frequently, it makes working on the three harder, and sometimes we just want to show something neat.
- Froech: But yes, if we feel the need to take more time between Game Updates, it's likely because there's a feature that we're working on that is so intertwined in multiple areas that we can't ship it out early.
- Froech: So you'll see us occasionally not stick as much to a defined timeline, and just release the data when it is ready.
Aesthetics-Dragowulf: Right now the Evil side is up one more race/city than the Good side. Is there any plans on giving the good side another race/city to once again attain balance?
- Kaitheel: The future holds another good aligned city for Norrath, yes. You may start guessing, now!
Stugein: We're seeing more and more that groups are asking for or requiring raid-geared players for single-group (heroic) content. Having your mythical is quickly becoming a requirement to get into many TSO shard instance groups, for example. Was this an intended progression of the perception towards heroic content, that it will require raid-gearing to tackle, or is something else going on here?
- Fyreflyte: We're not looking to require raid gear for group instances, though we're aware that some of those instances currently require it. Instead we're trying to add alternate paths for acquiring powerful gear that will help non-raiders tackle the heroic zones. One example is the shard-purchased armor, which is quite a bit more powerful than items previously gained from single group instances.
- Fyreflyte: This armor can be further improved in the comming 2-group zone as well.
- Fyreflyte: I've been working *much* more closely with the zone and encounter designers recently to try to balance gear progression versus dungeon difficulty. We're aware some imbalance still exists, but we're working on it =)
Anon: The level 45-55 revamp in Lavastorm is just great! Are there plans to bring other old overland zones into the new scheme, with new quest hubs and series?
- timetravelling: Glad you like it! We are always looking into that, but don't have any specific zones to announce right now.
Aesthetics-Dragowulf: First off I'd like to applaud the work of Imago-Quem and what he and his colleagues are doing with the snap-ons that I've noticed recently and the new graphics improvements like the GPU Shadows. My question is if there is a "big project" that you at SoE might possibly be planning for the graphics engine OR an alternative for the long canceled (brace yourself) skeletal revamp? Because we all know models need a facelift. =P
- autenil: I'll pass on your remarks to Imago-Quem. I'm sure he'll be glad to receive them :)
- autenil: We do have more graphical improvements in the works over the long term, but you won't be seeing a complete engine rewrite anytime soon.
- autenil: The programmers and artists are working together to improve the quality (and performance!) of EQII's graphics, but it's going to take a little bit, so you have to be patient :)
Feldon: The T3 Void Shard armor from the x2 raid zones uses 4 of the 12 new appearance armor sets. Any idea when the other 8 sets will be available and how?
- Fyreflyte: The new Void Shard armor should all have unique appearances when it goes live. I think some of the art may not have made it to the Test server.
Ojeda: The new hats in the Market Place look great! However, on any model other than a Ratonga... they create bald characters. Is it possible to adjust the models so that a character's hair is displayed?
- Froech: Our character lead isn't here, but I'll discuss the issue with him, and see if we can't figure out an easy way to fix it. Not making any promises, mind you, as the systems involved are hairy, so to speak :)
- Domino groans
- Kiara throws tomatoes
Kulssin: I haven't gotten more than 5 mats per pull on a node since the last update while harvesting. Was this as intended? Are the days of pulling 8 or 10 mats out of a node over?
- Domino: There hasn't been any change to the harvesting tables since the last update - nor in fact for quite some time before. Have you offended Bristlebane lately? Or respec'ed your achievements to remove bountiful harvest? I'm not aware of any changes that might be causing this effect.
Anon: Is there anything you can tell us about the next expansion?
- Froech: What expansion?
- Froech: :)
- Calthine: BOOOOO
- Raven blinks
- Froech: Seriously, not yet. There will be a time, and as soon as we can, we will do so. So hang on!
Anon: So, who's going to Fan Faire?
- Kiara: me!!!
- Kiara bounces and waves
- Froech: That's a great question. I'm working on the list right now, on the whiteboard in my office, but haven't finalized it yet. So far, no list is available.
- Domino goes to peek in Froech's office!
- Froech: I should be able to finalize it in the next several weeks, though, so you can expect to see us announce on the boards, and maybe as an eq2players post, if Kiara's willing to overlook my random puns.
- timetravelling crosses fingers
- Kiara: Puns? What puns?
Emlar: During beta, it was said equipment would get their bonuses diminished when player would reach 10 lvls more than equipment level. Is it still scheduled for next expansion ?
- Fyreflyte: We're still working on that system, though it doesn;t work in the way described here.
- Fyreflyte: I don't have a lot of information to give you about it right now, but we do want to allow room for you to continue to improve your equipment (which was becoming a problem for certain effects like crit).
Seliri: will dev chats be more publicized (i.e. on eq2players headlines at least)? they are often VERY underwhelmed compared to the amount of actively involved players when it comes to communities such as eq2flames and the official forums.
- Kiara: They are usually announced on EQ2players and with an MOTD in game. However this one wasn't, and it's my fault. I completely spaced on it all until late in the day today.
- Kiara: We're going to look into ways to get them more attention and incorporate other avenues of communication into questions and the like. Like Twitter.
Feoghal: Any advance with the GH, to let us put more items in? Our GH has 1600 items, but 3/4 it completely empty
- Rothgar: Performance has been one of our top concerns lately and increasing the item limit could have a negative impact on many players running near the minimum spec for EQII.
- Rothgar: Until we can make more performance improvements we aren't quite prepared to do something that could adversely affect your gameplay experience. However, we do understand that you want a higher item limit so its something we will continue to evaluate.
Katanallama: Who is your favorite super hero and why?
- Froech: Superman. He's the original, and most ill thought out :) He had no invulnerabilities, so they had to make up him being infected by krypton rocks, to make him interesting.
- Froech: oops. No vulnerabilities.
- timetravelling: oh man, um
- Kiara: Superman :) But only for today for my best friend. Ordinarily, Batman. Because he doesn't rely on supernatural abilities to do what he does. Yeah, he's got a gagillion and two dollars to make neat gadgets, but he really works for it. And he's interesting. There's a lot of depth to him and his motivations.
- autenil: Iron Man. Technology WIN.
- Rothgar: I think I'd have to agree with Autenil.
- Kiara: mmmm Iron Man wins cause of Robert Downey Jr. * drool *
- Rothgar: Although I was thinking about being Dr. Manhattan for Halloween.
- timetravelling: rorshach was awesome...but i'm gonna go w/ the detective in Powers. he was rad =D
- Fyreflyte: I always like Silver Surfer. He was nearly omnipotent, but still chose to use his power for the good of the universe.
- Domino: I'm torn between Wonder Woman, just because Lynda Carter was so awesome, and The Tick, because of the incredible deadpan seriousness of his monologues...
- timetravelling is NOT going to Rothgar's party
- GlipSOE: The Tick, because he can beat up Superman and Iron Man stacked on top of one another carrying Batman
- Kiara: SPOON!!!!!!
- GlipSOE: That's right
- Domino thinks, plus, you gotta like a superhero whose battlecry is a kitchen implement
- Kaitheel: Colossus. Hard on the outside, but a sensitive painter inside.
Raven: And now the question on everyone's lips.....
Raven: Is it true that Rick Astley will assuming the role of Antonia Bayle in the next 3 expansions? What does Heather Graham have to say about this?!
- Froech: Am I too old? Who in the world is Rick Astley?
- GlipSOE: Rest assured, we're never going to give her up, let her down, run around or desert her.
- SpyderBite: XD
- Kiara: oh god... dying. can't breathe.
- Calthine falls off her chair
- Kiara: Aaaaand Glip wins the dev chat! Yay!
- SpyderBite: Glip wins for best DEV ANSWER EVAH!
- autenil: Expansion preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI
- Domino: he totally looks like Daniel Craig by the way ;)
- Rothgar: Glip's gotta make us understand.
- GlipSOE: Thank you thank you, I'll be here all week.
Goodbyes
Raven: And on that note, I'd like to thank everyone who joined us tonight. As well as all the people who submitted questions - sorry we can't get to them all.
Kiara: Thank you everyone!
autenil: Thanks guys, it's been fun as always :D
Domino: Thanks for coming! You know where to find us on the forums! =)
Raven: Special thanks to the busy people from SOE who tok the time to come and answer the questions and have some fun with us also.
Froech: Thank you, folks. We really appreciate your interest in EQII, and giving us the opportunity to chat!
Rothgar: Take care all!
Kaitheel: Thank you all!
SpyderBite: Thanks everyone! Good times as always! :)
GlipSOE: Thanks all, take it easy!
- Kiara blows kisses
- Groshander waves good bye
FFA Chat
The following have been gleaned from the EQ2-FFA channel, which is open for chat during dev chats. Every attempt has been made to keep them in context.
Whilhelmina: My husband had a question on ranger itemization : he realized that the V2 shard set had some characteristics brought down on the test sever (a +8 ranged became +6 ranged if I remember well). Is it intended ?
- Fyreflyte: Yes. That was unfortunate, but after looking at the overall bonuses from that set, rangers and assassins were receiving a huge amount of crit and double attack from those sets.
- Fyreflyte: I would like to point out, however, that the new set available will have upgrades to those stats
Feoghal: Fyrefylte do you keep the single/aoe tank idea for the fighter rewamp, or its will be completly new?
- Fyreflyte: Uhm, for fighter class balance, that's more Aeralik's domain
- Fyreflyte: I try to match my items up with whatever his aims are, but since he's not here to discuss them, I can't really comment
- Fyreflyte: The whole team certainly has input into class balance, and we all listen to the community and frequently bombard him with issues we've seen, but yes, ultimately he implements that stuff.
- Fyreflyte: Plus I have to coordinate with the zone designers.
- Fyreflyte: And balance old gear vs new gear, and each class' armor against each other at each tier
Terriustelemnar: I think you should suggest a Feerrott revamp! omg getting around in that zone is aweful
- Fyreflyte: I'll bring that up =) Zone revamps aren't always worth the manpower they take, but I seem to remember someone here mentioning they'd like to see Feerrott redone, so who knows?
Feoghal: Fyreflyre the blue stat the crit taunt completely gone, or just a temporary situation on test? Seliri: it's gone until further ado
- Fyreflyte: My understanding is it's temporary
- Fyreflyte: I had to pull taunt crit off everything cause those items won't load properly without the code support for it (which was reverted)
- Fyreflyte: But my best guess is that it will go back in at some point.
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