Stormreach Harbor Renovations

[Tolero]

With the return of the (occasionally) sunny weather, the Coinlords decided it was time to invest in the revivification and beautification of Stormreach’s Harbor. Observant citizens may notice the refurbishing of several major hubs of foot traffic, and an overall improvement in the quality of our docks and streets. Read about the upcoming changes to the harbor by clicking here (http://www.ddo.com/article/986)!

[totmacher]

Totmacher says, "free nat gann!!"

[Turial]

Interesting, When might the citizens of Stormreach see such improvements and attempt to set up permanent homes in the area?

[totmacher]

Interesting, When might the citizens of Stormreach see such improvements and attempt to set up permanent homes in the area?

my cleric's only been around 2 years, no need to settle down now, I usually just sleep under the house k dock and beg for coins to fund my party's heal scroll/wand addiction in house k as well

[Quanefel]

Maybe Stormreach is growing to such a degree it needs to branch out and create a camp or second city. Like....oh, near the southern polar region of the continent. I am sure a mass of citizens would swarm to it and explore more of the icey southern region. *Hint hint*:D

[Anastasios]

For the amount of coin the lords may be making off the AH, maybe this isn't enough, I mean can we at least get some trails paved with plat and some plat statues, and how about a place in the harbor where we can stick all our gatherers of collectables, I mean isn't it about time the coin lords gave them a place to all hang out and chill together? I mean they can all get together and talk about, well, maybe collectables??

Also rumor has it, the KK got the boot too, more to come on where he might end up (heard he owed some plat to the Berrigan Enge for his last campaign-better watch out, we would hate to hear screams of 'YARK YARK NO NOT THE CEMENT BOOTS!!')

[Turial]

....
Also rumor has it, the KK got the boot too, more to come on where he might end up (heard he owed some plat to the Berrigan Enge for his last campaign-better watch out, we would hate to hear screams of 'YARK YARK NO NOT THE CEMENT BOOTS!!')

Wouldn't that be more of "glug, gluggg, glug"?

[GreyRogue]

Interesting, When might the citizens of Stormreach see such improvements ... ?

/seconded

[Babidi]

Woot...I like new content for those that arrive in stormreach, this may be good news on the horizon!!!

Thanks Tolero for the info, now give us a release date.

[totmacher]

tolero where are you hiding nat gann

I'm really tempted to buy another account just for the forum name "freenatgan"

[Beherit_Baphomar]

Berne Jorn is an idiot. Ive cleaned that place out 100 times and he goes and move somewhere else thats infest?!?!?

Whats wrong with Delera's graveyard?? No infestations there....a'course he'd have to put up with the eternally grieving
but thats better than infestation!

I refuse to help this man any more.

[jkm]

please tell me that we aren't eliminating base jumping from the harbor?

[Hafeal]

Well, despite the woes of the marketplace depression the Coinlords have dug into their deep pockets ...

I still have not heard of any programs to help the souls who lost their livelihoods when the tent was brought down. And the beggars and panhandlers still litter the streets. Perhaps some further employment options are needed ... :)

[Forceonature]

Berne Jorn is an idiot. Ive cleaned that place out 100 times and he goes and move somewhere else thats infest?!?!?

Whats wrong with Delera's graveyard?? No infestations there....a'course he'd have to put up with the eternally grieving
but thats better than infestation!

I refuse to help this man any more.

ROFL. I know, Berne needs Terminex or something...

[ZEFFLON]

Can I make a motion for a pink salon for Rowan in here as well Lol..............

really a revamp maybe new lowbie quests, but also so highbie quests thrown in? I mean you have to appeal to both come on devs listen up, we want more new quest for our baby toons but as most of your dedicated player base has capped toons lets also have a few higher ones thrown in as well.

[Bekki]

Hear hear!

I would gladly donate for a Stormreach Slaon and Barber Shop!
and perhaps add some new Styles for the ladies...

Like add the Hairstyle of the Halfling in the opening credits
for the female Halflings.

That would be really cool.

For a Nominal fee of Gold; the Ladies of Stormreach, (and gentlemen)

could go to the Barber Shop or Salon, and Update their Hairstyle
Get A Shave, or Change their hair color if they desire...

and maybe even make it PINK! :D:D:D

[Bekki]

Can I make a motion for a pink salon for Rowan in here as well Lol..............

really a revamp maybe new lowbie quests, but also so highbie quests thrown in? I mean you have to appeal to both come on devs listen up, we want more new quest for our baby toons but as most of your dedicated player base has capped toons lets also have a few higher ones thrown in as well.

/Seconded

[Rameses]

call me a Negative Nancy, but why not spend your time fixing Handwraps and other game-mechanic issues. Instead of cheesy role-playing garbage.

I am, Rameses!

[Tolero]

call me a Negative Nancy, but why not spend your time fixing Handwraps and other game-mechanic issues. Instead of cheesy role-playing garbage.

I am, Rameses!

That's already in the mix :)

[Laith]

call me a Negative Nancy, but why not spend your time fixing Handwraps and other game-mechanic issues. Instead of cheesy role-playing garbage.

I am, Rameses!division of labour (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_labour) is often the reason given by devs when someone asks this sort of "why X instead of Y" question.

Thus the answer is "X and Y are done by seperate people, and the completion of one has nothing to do with the completion of the other".


That's already in the mix :)
then, of course, there's always that shroud of secrecy (tm).

gee, sure would be nice if there were some sort of regular posting of bug fixes and mechanics tweaks. ;)

[Impaqt]

That's already in the mix :)

Of course, How are we supposed to know whats "In the Mix" Since you took away our WDA and it seems al the MMO Sites arent all that interested in out bug fixes either.....

THis is a Neat Announcemnet... But makes it sound like its been Implemented already and we dont even have a Downtime notice...

All this Hush Hush stuff just seems Backwards and Counterproductive to me....

[Leyoni]

division of labour (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_labour) is often the reason given by devs when someone asks this sort of "why X instead of Y" question.

Thus the answer is "X and Y are done by seperate people, and the completion of one has nothing to do with the completion of the other".

Ah, but isn't there somebody at the top dividing the labor? Seems that the problem lies there.

[Eelpout]

call me a Negative Nancy, but why not spend your time fixing Handwraps and other game-mechanic issues. Instead of cheesy role-playing garbage.

I am, Rameses!

I don't understand how actual changes to the landscape and redoing the Harbor map are "Cheesy role-playing garbage". Ease of navigating a map and relocating NPC's and quests don't seem to me to be about role-playing. It also seems that whenever they can, they put the changes into a story/role-play format to make it less sterile to the community.

I know you rarely jump on the devs/communication team, but after many of us calling for communication or any changes, even visual ones, I think we should see where this goes before giving them grief.

[Vizzini]

Still performing regular searches every weekend on Khyber and Thelanis


Totmacher says, "free nat gann!!"

[Rameses]

division of labour (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_labour) is often the reason given by devs when someone asks this sort of "why X instead of Y" question.

Thus the answer is "X and Y are done by seperate people, and the completion of one has nothing to do with the completion of the other".



This is fine. I understand labor management.
But with all the TOP SECRET BS that Turbine has adopted.
Maybe a little communication is better than none at all.

I am, Rameses!

[Drider]

This is fine. I understand labor management.
But with all the TOP SECRET BS that Turbine has adopted.
Maybe a little communication is better than none at all.

I am, Rameses!


Maybe because even when they give us some information... people like you, still complain.

[Rameses]

I don't understand how actual changes to the landscape and redoing the Harbor map are "Cheesy role-playing garbage". Ease of navigating a map and relocating NPC's and quests don't seem to me to be about role-playing. It also seems that whenever they can, they put the changes into a story/role-play format to make it less sterile to the community.

I know you rarely jump on the devs/communication team, but after many of us calling for communication or any changes, even visual ones, I think we should see where this goes before giving them grief.

Sure, ok that "neat-ness" lasts for a nano-second. Then it's back the same-ol-same. When major game-mechanics are still broken.
As I stated just a minute ago...
"throw us a frickin' bone people." ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7bYNAHXxw)

I am, Rameses!

[Rameses]

Maybe because even when they give us some information... people like you, still complain.

LOL know who you are talking to, before you make such statements.
Search my posts... you'll see I rarely complain.

I am, Rameses!

[Vorn]

If I were a betting man, I'd wager we'll hear something more specific around 14 August.

[Porkchop]

Soooooo, the Devs have been silent for over a month and the first news we hear from them is that they are renovating the harbor.... Are you kidding me???? Really??? Is this supposed to get us excited!!!!????

[ZEFFLON]

Sure, ok that "neat-ness" lasts for a nano-second. Then it's back the same-ol-same. When major game-mechanics are still broken.
As I stated just a minute ago...
"throw us a frickin' bone people." ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7bYNAHXxw)

I am, Rameses!

Ramese are you blind buddy, here is a bone and if your negative towards it, it will clamor back up, thank them give positive constructive feedback and see where we go.............

[Impaqt]

I just hope that when this does go live they give us an extra character slot or 2... ya know.. SO I can actually go play the new stuff....

My Lowest character is about to be level 5 right now.. and character 8 is hitting 16 tonight..... SO I doubt my last lowbie will find the harbor challenging for more than a few days at this point.

[Coldin]

Sounds cool. I hope they're making sure to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls as well. :)

[ZEFFLON]

Sounds cool. I hope they're making sure to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls as well. :)

As long as it is pink for someone special LOL

[Beherit_Baphomar]

Ramz asks;


call me a Negative Nancy, but why not spend your time fixing Handwraps and other game-mechanic issues. Instead of cheesy role-playing garbage.

I am, Rameses!

And Tolero replies;


That's already in the mix :) - The first we've heard about what Ramz is asking.

You feel it necessary to say;


Maybe because even when they give us some information... people like you, still complain.

Do you realise if the Dev's had some sort of communication with us Ramz wouldn't have to ask, which would mean this thread wouldnt have went south...like almost every thread on these boards...

Ho hum, same ole same ole.

[MissErres]

So Tolero...

Does this revamp to the harbor mean that possibly Turbine is wanting to enhance new player experience to the game? That maybe they are expecting/hoping for a surge in new players? That maybe there will be some advertisement of the game sometime in the near future??

*crosses fingers*

[Bekki]

As long as it is pink for someone special LOL

LOL!
*singing Badly*
"pink is their Faavorite Color!!!" :D:D:D

[Eelpout]

Sure, ok that "neat-ness" lasts for a nano-second. Then it's back the same-ol-same. When major game-mechanics are still broken.
As I stated just a minute ago...
"throw us a frickin' bone people." ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7bYNAHXxw)

I am, Rameses!

I do understand where you are going with that. I am also frustrated with the loss of the WDA, and it does feel like there is less substantial communication coming from the powers that be. I am just waiting to see what is on the horizen before I get too worked up.

But if I don't hear anything new in the next 5 years I will seriously be P!ssed Off!!

[totmacher]

but don't worry, once again they're gonna build up hype for a couple of months and totally fall flat when delivery falls through (see the monk for more details). so focused on creating new stuff they totally forget about the old. most mmos concentrate on BOTH sides of the coin

[Eelpout]

but don't worry, once again they're gonna build up hype for a couple of months and totally fall flat when delivery falls through (see the monk for more details). so focused on creating new stuff they totally forget about the old. most mmos concentrate on BOTH sides of the coin

Hey man, it is a rough economy right now. Pretty soon we won't even have one side of a coin:D

[Laith]

Ah, but isn't there somebody at the top dividing the labor? Seems that the problem lies there.of course, but the landscape guy is gonna be working on landscape while the mechanic guy is fixing monks. What's he going to do? Not release his work because handwraps should come out first?

Apparently someone though that revamping the beginner area was a worthwhile investment. While i personally do think that it's always been the little things (bugs, omissions, and rule changes) that brought DDO down, a beginner's experience is paramount to keeping new players. The real step though, of course, is to make lvl1-3 something other than sewers and kobolds...

[Coldin]

So Tolero...

Does this revamp to the harbor mean that possibly Turbine is wanting to enhance new player experience to the game? That maybe they are expecting/hoping for a surge in new players? That maybe there will be some advertisement of the game sometime in the near future??

*crosses fingers*

That's probably a strong possibility. Considering the compendium revamp, the compendium FAQ, and the Stormreach Economics Series, it's a lot of stuff geared to help new players get into the game.

[totmacher]

the problem isn't division of labor, it's prioritization of labor

new content = marketing can spin > fixing old content & bugfixes

[Hokiewa]

blech waste of time. Ramses has it right, why revamp the beginner area for the 4th time yet simple bugs from launch are still in the game. Waste of resources.......

[Laith]

the problem isn't division of labor, it's prioritization of labor

new content = marketing can spin > fixing old content & bugfixesi'd love to see how they could spin a reorganized beginner area toward marketing.

I mean: i'd totally go back to WoW if they shuffled the houses around in Goldshire. ;)

[Gratch]

Hmmm... maybe they removed the WDA because: "renovating the harbor" wouldn't have gotten much constructive feedback...

I would have preferred the devil invasion to have smacked the harbor first... then we win... then they renovate it... :)

[Angelus_dead]

of course, but the landscape guy is gonna be working on landscape while the mechanic guy is fixing monks. What's he going to do? Not release his work because handwraps should come out first?
He'd work on a landscape that actually matters, like Everice Citadel or Dar Quat Undercity, instead of spending time tweaking harbor boardwalks that nobody cares about.

To look at it from an optimistic perspective, hopefully the fact that they have time to edit something unimportant like the harbor means that all the new high-level quests and raids are completely finished and ready to go.

[Impaqt]

He'd work on a landscape that actually matters, like Everice Citadel or Dar Quat Undercity, instead of spending time tweaking harbor boardwalks that nobody cares about.

To look at it from an optimistic perspective, hopefully the fact that they have time to edit something unimportant like the harbor means that all the new high-level quests and raids are completely finished and ready to go.

Try Looking at it this way...

WHY would turbine do this?

Everyone who plays this game current.. At at least the VAST majority, Zerg their way through the Harbor. Its uninspireing and pretty boring for us nowadays. We're Twinked and seldome stop to smell the roses.

WHen I first Started the game 2 years ago, It was much the same.. I had fun, but overall the dungeons were pretty bleak and the mobs pretty uninspiring. Tangleroot was the first quest that I said.. Wow.. This is cool....

Pretty Much Every quest throught the Harbor looked the same. Felt the same.... Kudos to the thousands of players that made it through and found out how vast and exciting the world we have really is.

Make the Harbor as interesting as The Orchard.. Or the Necropolis (Yes, The Necroplois is cool...... Go back and try it again)

This smels of a Major Adverting Campaing is goign to coincide with the revamp of the Harbor to me.

[Beherit_Baphomar]

To look at it from an optimistic perspective, hopefully the fact that they have time to edit something unimportant like the harbor means that all the new high-level quests and raids are completely finished and ready to go.

You think they've finished the two, one room raids already?!!? Wow!

As for high-level quests, I didnt realise they were still putting them out.

[Laith]

WHen I first Started the game 2 years ago, It was much the same.. I had fun, but overall the dungeons were pretty bleak and the mobs pretty uninspiring. Tangleroot was the first quest that I said.. Wow.. This is cool....

Pretty Much Every quest throught the Harbor looked the same. Felt the same.... Kudos to the thousands of players that made it through and found out how vast and exciting the world we have really is. i didn't see anything mentioning a fix to this situation, however: a reorganization of the harbor without additional harbor quests seems... odd.

i'm expecting more to come with this news, but i've certainly been let down before.
the "new low level experience" that many hoped for in mod7 was less than stellar.

[Eelpout]

He'd work on a landscape that actually matters, like Everice Citadel or Dar Quat Undercity, instead of spending time tweaking harbor boardwalks that nobody cares about.

To look at it from an optimistic perspective, hopefully the fact that they have time to edit something unimportant like the harbor means that all the new high-level quests and raids are completely finished and ready to go.

I am not advocating for the Harbor redux. However, I am fairly certain that the "Nobody cares about" comment is not accurate. I would say that a majority of Permadeath players as well as others who reroll with frequency, might enjoy the change. Not a majority, but certainly not "Nobody"

[NullWolf]

Main thing I find interesting is the article:

It isn’t yet known what the Coin Lords are up to behind the closed doors to Aspirant’s Corner, but if upcoming changes to the rest of the Harbor are any indication, it’ll be something good.

So, Aspirants Corner will be closed off, and reopened with additional stuff from the looks?

[Porkchop]

Plenty of us have played this game for a while now. We have capped characters. We spend time leveling and equipping them and getting them the best gear. We ran the Shroud raid over and over and over and over again to get all this cool "crafted" gear. For what? TWO quests last mod! I sure do hope that they are concentrating on raising the level cap and adding a bunch of new high level content for the players that have been around since the beginning.

[Grosbeak07]

I think the last paragraph says a lot (by saying very little).

They (the Developers) are moving things around for a reason and I think you have to be patient and find out what it is, before any of us can pass any judgement on these changes. I think what is outlined here is really cool, even if only for a day.

I don't need to know what they are exactly planning to do or when, it doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the game. For all I know they are moving everyone out of Aspirant's Corner to put in stables for our new battle ponies!

[NullWolf]

For all I know they are moving everyone out of Aspirant's Corner to put in stables for our new battle ponies!

War dogs... I want ridable war dogs... or dinosaurs like halflings are supposed to have... :D

[Grosbeak07]

i didn't see anything mentioning a fix to this situation, however: a reorganization of the harbor without additional harbor quests seems... odd.


Where did it say there were not going to be any new quests?

[Laith]

Where did it say there were not going to be any new quests?where did I say we weren't?

I said it didn't mention any. Infact, i said i "expect[ed] more to come with this news".
If they are not explicitly mentioned, you can't assume they're coming.
Well, you can... but you can also be disappointed.

[Grosbeak07]

War dogs... I want ridable war dogs... or dinosaurs like halflings are supposed to have... :D

I want a rideable halfling! :)

But we are on Thelanis, so I suspect we will get butterflies.

[Mindspat]

So Tolero...

Does this revamp to the harbor mean that possibly Turbine is wanting to enhance new player experience to the game? That maybe they are expecting/hoping for a surge in new players? That maybe there will be some advertisement of the game sometime in the near future??

*crosses fingers*

Oooh - a revamp of the new player experiance was talked about several months ago. I think it was mentioned the same as a new out door starting area and the Savarath (sp) Raid area.

What's missing is a Compendium of Known Development. This would eleviate a LOT of the confusion some people insists on expressing - which is a good thing. :)

[Mapa]

For all I know they are moving everyone out of Aspirant's Corner to put in stables for our new battle ponies!

Oh no you didn't!!! Running around jinxing a perfectly good idea so early in the "Discovery" phase is right out. Plus look at the subsequent chaos unleeched by your offhand remark. Riding halflings indeed !!! Pfft !!! You should be ashamed, now go get back under your bridge before the butterflies attack. :p

[McBadger]

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that this whole harbor renovation was put in with the last mod much like the market live event and was sat on to spring on us at a later date. Spread out to give us a little something between mods to keep our interest and completed long before the masses bemoaned the shortfalls of monks.

[spyyder976]

Main thing I find interesting is the article:

Originally Posted by http://www.ddo.com/article/986
It isn’t yet known what the Coin Lords are up to behind the closed doors to Aspirant’s Corner, but if upcoming changes to the rest of the Harbor are any indication, it’ll be something good.


So, Aspirants Corner will be closed off, and reopened with additional stuff from the looks?
*********************************************
My guess is they're making room for player housing for us, since most of the moving around of quests/npc's was relocation of housing for various reasons. They told us before they would bring us housing after it had been tested on LOTRO and they decided how to implement it for us here, and it's been on LOTRO for a while now. Also, it would be extremely smart of them to give us housing now, as it would make MANY folks EXTREMELY happy, rather than waiting to give us something we want so badly for a looong time down the road. If they ignore the housing issue for another year or so I'm sure many will be quite upset, including me! I'm haven't even played this game much the last couple of months simply because I'm tired of shuffling items I want to keep through the mail system after every quest because my pack is so full of things I don't need just yet but will later. I want to put them down somewhere and go off to quest/loot without all that added weight on my back! I hate having to leave a group after every quest only to do inventory management, then I must start group hunting all over again. It gets really old!

[Puddles404]

"I agree!

How dare they try and make the new player experience any more interesting when we have all played through the starter areas 20+ times!

We, the players who have already done everything, demand more things for us to do! Stuff for guilds only, those PUGers are really annoying."

I hate forums. Really.

Yet i keep coming back just in case there is something interesting on here. Like this.

Hey, at least the flames will keep me warm.

[Shaamis]

With the return of the (occasionally) sunny weather, the Coinlords decided it was time to invest in the revivification and beautification of Stormreach’s Harbor. Observant citizens may notice the refurbishing of several major hubs of foot traffic, and an overall improvement in the quality of our docks and streets. Read about the upcoming changes to the harbor by clicking here (http://www.ddo.com/article/986)!

All of the new renovations sound good, but I really cant bring myself to delete a character just to experience the harbor (new or old) again.

However, if I had a new character slot, I'd definately get a cleric rolling

<shameless plug for a new character slot here, please make it happen>

[RavenStormclaw]

I hate this quest. To boring. I hope with it being moved they may have put in a few other vermin then just spiders. Maybe a few rats as well. HINT HINT DEVS: A named semi-rare vermin bane weapon drop would be nice. I hate dong quests with no loot in them.

[CSFurious]

this harbor renovation is nonsense if you ask me

as to housing, that is super-nonsense

i just want more bank space, i.e., a vault where all of my stuff can be stashed

later

[winsom]

I don't understand how actual changes to the landscape and redoing the Harbor map are "Cheesy role-playing garbage". Ease of navigating a map and relocating NPC's and quests don't seem to me to be about role-playing..

If this becomes the focus of Mod 8 will you still be happy? I won't.

I like the idea of new adventuring areas for low levels, as long as that is not the focus of the content team. An expansion team should work on this and not the development team that the established players support with subscriptions. That's just my opinion. Since the monk class already arrived, and those who wanted to make monks already did, I do not see there is going to be much attraction for existing players to make yet another new character. Even if these seasoned players were to do that, chances are they would not be spending much time at these low level anyway. That is just how the game seems to go: Level up quickly past this lowbie content to get into the meat of the game at higher levels.

Low level "harbor" style quests ARE great for getting new players into DDO, but I think they would do well to create an entirely new hub of activity, preferably outside of Stormreach. Give us a place to go to when we step outside of Stormreach. A road, and surrounding landscap that actually leads to another center of civilization, even if it is a smaller hamlet and not another Stormreach. . This development could be the next marketed expansion/stand-alone retail box for DDO. Please sell it to people that might enjoy playing DDO for the first time. I have no interest in making my 15th-or-so low level character until Turbine can deliver on the druid class.

[cdbd3rd]

this harbor renovation is nonsense if you ask me

as to housing, that is super-nonsense

i just want more bank space, i.e., a vault where all of my stuff can be stashed - especially if it can be shared across characters.

later

slightly amended, then /signed. ;)


Actually, I'm good with some new air blowing around lowbieville, too. I spend a lot of time there, it seems. :rolleyes: *grin*

[valczir]

please tell me that we aren't eliminating base jumping from the harbor?

/signed

We need more places to fall long distances from, not less. My monk is at the point where he doesn't take more than about 15 damage even jumping from the highest tier of House Deneith, and he's only level 8. Give us a floating island or something, so that we can find new and creative ways to mangle our characters without even entering a quest.

Seriously. I'm not joking. I'm getting tired of not being capable of dying unless I enter a quest area.

Maybe a really complex skyscraper so that those people with really high jump will have a challenge to climb? Maybe floating skyscrapers to jump between, all with small ledges that we have to land on?

Phew, I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it.

Of course, it'd be cool to reward us with some kind of quest way up at the top of those towers (heh - a quest where half of the work is just getting to the entrance would be awesome), but I'd be fine with just the towers, too.

*shakes head* Sorry, got off on a tangent, there. Ignore my ramblings.

[branmakmuffin]

But the real excitement is that the pier now features solid earth-work docks, a perfect place for parties, weddings, or other social occasions!
Does this mean the game is going to implement social activities? As part of the actual game, not just people standing around /say'ing things to each other?

[ShaeNightbird]

I think it'd be cool to see it here.

[branmakmuffin]

I hate doing quests with no loot in them.
Then stop doing them.

[Grimtooth333]

All of the new renovations sound good, but I really cant bring myself to delete a character just to experience the harbor (new or old) again.

However, if I had a new character slot, I'd definately get a cleric rolling

<shameless plug for a new character slot here, please make it happen>
Agreed... but I want more than 1 more.

[Bombalo]

Im more interested to understand why everyone thinks that this is mod 8. You know what did we get between mod 6 and mod 7...thats right zip nada nothing. So the fact that we are getting anything in between mods should be a good thing. Stop complaining about a product before anyone even sees it.

[GeneralDiomedes]

AFAIK it's update 7.1

[Lewcipher]

call me a Negative Nancy, but why not spend your time fixing Handwraps and other game-mechanic issues. Instead of cheesy role-playing garbage.

I am, Rameses!

You are now known herewith as "Negative Nancy". *fancy magic noises and stuff*

[Samy]

The only way I see this being worthwhile is if they'll actually have significant new player influx.

The only way I see significant new player influx is by a new retail box.

A new retail box is unlikely (though I'll admit it's possible) without a paid expansion.

Consequently, I view this as unlikely to be worthwhile without a paid expansion.

[Cendaer]

I like the idea of new adventuring areas for low levels, as long as that is not the focus of the content team. An expansion team should work on this and not the development team that the established players support with subscriptions. That's just my opinion.

Ummm... I'm sure our subscriptions go toward the payroll of the ENTIRE DDO team. I seriously doubt that Turbine's accounting department is going to say, "OK, as of today, all established accounts' subscription payments will be used exclusively for paying the existing team, and all new accounts' subscription payments will be used for an expansion team." That would just be silly.

Nevermind that exapansion is development


Low level "harbor" style quests ARE great for getting new players into DDO, but I think they would do well to create an entirely new hub of activity, preferably outside of Stormreach. Give us a place to go to when we step outside of Stormreach. A road, and surrounding landscap that actually leads to another center of civilization, even if it is a smaller hamlet and not another Stormreach.

We already have these places, and people barely use them because Stormreach is THE center of activity on Xendrik. The Black Loch, Three Barrel Cove, Gianthold, Zawabi's Refuge, Ataraxia's Haven, Meridia, Restless Isles, Threnal Ruins, all of these are places outside of Stormreach where characters can congregate if they chose to, but they're only populated by the characters who are questing in those areas, and only for as long as it takes for them to complete those quests. Even if they added every amenity Stormreach has to all of those areas, people are probably not going to go hang out in Zawabi's Refuge in between the quests they're doing in Meridia. Why would they?

Even if new town locales were added, with associated quests, no one's going to remain in them just to congregate; after they've finished with the quests, why should they? As for the roads and landscapes, sure, they'd be nice flavor, but who would want to spend all that time running back and forth when we can use more civilized methods of transportation, such as airships and wagons, which can get us there faster, and with less hassle? If most people are going to use the faster, hassle-free method of transportation (which I'm sure the majority would; given how often people like to run quests as quickly as possible), wouldn't the addition of roads and landscapes be a waste of the DDO team's time?

There are already plenty of games out there that require you to traipse through forests, and travel long, winding roads just to get somewhere. Does DDO really need a travel time-sink? Every day I see players who barely have the patience to wait for someone to get buffs in House Phiarlan and then use the teleporter to get to House Kundarak, so I can't imagine that additional travel time-sinks are going to be lauded by a majority of the players.

As for me, I think it's great that the DDO team is treating Stormreach as the growing frontier city that it is, and evolving the city as the game itself grows. I think it adds more flavor to the game, and gives an impression that the city is not completely static, unlike a lot of other games out there whose cities look exactly the same today as they did when the games were released 3 or more years ago. A completely static city is unimaginative and grows lackluster as time goes on. Why shouldn't it be treated as something which is progressing and being improved by the "city leaders"?

[Puddles404]

...see above post...

Yay! A voice of reason.

Enough of the Booing already. Revamping the harbour implies that something 'big' is definitely in the works. They wouldn't do it if they didnt expect an influx of people into the game.

It could also be a sign of things to come. Maybe they are starting from the bottom and going to the top, adding a bit (read; LOT) of
spit and polish to everything. Maybe they want to improve the whole game and make it appealing to everyone, not just the people who have been there and done it all.

And hey, the next time any of you decide that you do want to cap another toon, maybe this will be a little speed bump in your otherwise well trod path to cap.

[Hvymetal]

To be honest I kinda think it's nice they are revamping the Harbor (would be nice to see some new quests to go along with it, hint, hint). If you look at people on outside website forums their biggest complaints is getting in groups not running the same old standard quests especially in the dead-zone (around 7-12ish level).

Hopefully this is a sign of a big push to get a lot of new blood into the game, which I think we need desperately.

[Mapa]

Ok, an attempt at a SWAG. All we know about the "Summer Update" is that:
1) Harbor renovations
2) Beginning of DX10 support
3) It has also been refered to as Mod 7.1
That's it, but we also have been told of a big presence at GenCon.

Here's the SWAG, "Summer Update" or Mod 7.1 will be the Harbor renovation, DX10 support, and some bug fixes. Released the week of GenCon with a big media blitz. That's it, thats all, nothing to see here.

:sarcasm on: While I am at it, Mod 8 in OCT/NOV will be just a renovation of Threnal and some bug fixes, so that Mod 9 in Feb. can be the big Half-orc, level cap, content (finally) blowout. :sarcasm off:

Now before everyone gets worked up, this is my "Dooooooooom and Glooooooooom" scenario, I hope that I am wrong but the available public information and Mod track record bear this prediction out. Tolero, Turbine, anyone home, please prove me wrong. Seriously, please say SOMETHING to prove me wrong.

[branmakmuffin]

The only way I see this being worthwhile is if they'll actually have significant new player influx.

The only way I see significant new player influx is by a new retail box.

A new retail box is unlikely (though I'll admit it's possible) without a paid expansion.

Consequently, I view this as unlikely to be worthwhile without a paid expansion.
A paid expansion will turn off a lot of the current base, because "no paid expansions" was part of DDO's original marketing appeal.

[ShaeNightbird]

Paid expansions were one of the primary reasons I stopped playing EQ. That and dealing with Sony.

[query]

we got an AUTOMATED DWARF MACHINE!

Come on! FINALLY the forged prove what a machine REALLY is, and who wants to dare that journey when it eats your ADM card?

*Suddenly a mumbling halfling with big jowls steps up, saying*
"And Natt used to complain after his "accident," all the time. Funny how you don't see him no more.


Don't mess with the Bambino Halflings, or you WILL meet a dinosaur the WRONG way!"

(Plays cheezy Halfling Mafioso Talera music)

[branmakmuffin]

Paid expansions were one of the primary reasons I stopped playing EQ. That and dealing with Sony.
DDO is the only MMO I have ever played (thought about doing the 10-day of LotRO). If Turbine released a paid expansion, I wouldn't buy it and if too much content became paid, I'd stop playing.

[Samy]

The only way to get significant new player influx is via paid expansion. New people won't buy in unless they see boxes on retail shelves. Vendors won't stock boxes unless there's something new to sell. They won't stock the old boxes that they failed to sell.

If you dislike paid expansions, fine. You have every right to do so. But be aware also that without them, the game will not be going up in sub numbers, and more likely will be going down.

[branmakmuffin]

The only way to get significant new player influx is via paid expansion. New people won't buy in unless they see boxes on retail shelves. Vendors won't stock boxes unless there's something new to sell. They won't stock the old boxes that they failed to sell.

If you dislike paid expansions, fine. You have every right to do so. But be aware also that without them, the game will not be going up in sub numbers, and more likely will be going down.
Well, then, that's the way it goes.

If I can keep playing in the non-expanded world, then perhaps I will, but I will never pay one more dime on top of my monthly fee for DDO.

I think Turbine will think long and hard before rolling out a paid expansion, as I'm sure many current players feel exactly the same as I do.

[MTG]

Well as far as paid expansions go as long keeps the same feel and we can get more slots its ok with me, then whatever if its another $30 thats fine I pay $60 a week for console games. As of right now I have 4 active accounts and 2 more that arn't (for when I want to make more toons) I'm not going to like to have to buy 6 expansions to keep playing the game but I will just like I did for WOW.

[ShaeNightbird]

In my experience, paid expansions cause people to leave games, not join. I use EQ as my example here.

Sony kept releasing new paid expansions. It got to be a joke because every 6 months, they'd release another one, and of course, people wanted them, so they paid. The cost to the gamer of moderate income got to be phenomenal. People started dropping EQ. Sony began to lose money, so what did they do? More paid expansions, to lure people back. Didn't work. Recently, in desperation, Sony granted a 2 week free reprise to all those folks with dormant accounts so we could see how cool they'd made everything, and re-up. So I went back to see. I thought it sucked.


The new content was buggy beyond belief, the graphics were old, and lag still ruled the world. No improvements had been made to extant modules, either. Believe me, those could have used it. A game that was once cutting edge was so hu-hum, and it was still expensive! No one in their right mind is going to pay for that when prices for gas and groceries are through the roof. I was happy to get to see some former guildies I hadn't seen for 2 years. We held a reunion in the guild hall, and that was it. When the 2 week reprise was over, people left in droves. Sony is still losing money, because they don't listen to their base. So, if Turbine wants a good example to follow, as to how to lose friends and adversely influence people, there it is. I believe people are more inclined to come to games with reasonable monthly fees, because things are so expensive in the real world now, and gaming may be rapidly becoming a luxury. Sad but true.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I want this game to continue and grow!

So, I want Turbine to do whatever it has to do to keep this game going.

From a business sense, they will only continue to support thisgame if it continues to profit their company.

Being an MMO, that mostly means monthly subscriptions. Which needs many players to bring them profit.

current players need more content to keep them interested. new players need a reson to come to the game, and an easy way to get the software. For many they need a new box on the shelf to interest them.

People will buy whatever is new. New boxes, on the front store shelves will get new players. Keeping them is another issue.

if the game becomes too expensive they will lose players. But paying for an occasional expansion will not drive many away....unless it becomes too much too often.

More staff would help. because we really do need more content more often.......that's the only way to keep people inerested.

Anyway, I'm willing to pay a resonable and affordable amount of money to keep playing this game.

But I should note, that I am not currently playing PnP D&D, because they keep changing the game and making me buy more and more books.....with no hope of a wallet big enough to keep up to date.
Don't follow Wizards example plz. it is driving away some loyal customers.
Maybe it's cause I'm old now, but I was just getting used to 3.5 and now they are going to try to force me to buy a whole new set of books......and also make my old chars obsolete yet again.
Not a happy campaigner. (and I was almost halfway through converting my orginal 1st edtion chars to 3.5......sigh)

[winsom]

I think Turbine will think long and hard before rolling out a paid expansion, as I'm sure many current players feel exactly the same as I do.

Not that many. It's been a standard practice for MMOs to release 1 or 2 expanions a year. I think DDO and City of Heroes are two of the larger games that have not followed this model. Expansions are a good way to bring new players into the game and that benefits those of us that are already here.

When I played Everquest 1, I did not buy every expansion. Just the ones that had something that appealed to me. I ended up buying a couple more later on when they were heavily discounted.

[branmakmuffin]

Not that many.
I anxiously await the results of your scientifically conducted marketing poll.