Whats happening moving forward developers?

[Nick_RC]

Seeing as the holidays have been and gone and everyone is settling into the new year I think it would be a great time for the devs and whoever the head honcho is now (still fernando?) to let us know what is coming up for this game. I have noticed a few trends that have got me scrating my head of late and have a few questions to ask. The dev tracker has been dead recently, mainly just DDO store updates and locking threads about things that apparently shouldnt be discussed.

A few questions/thoughts.

1. What are the plans for the next update? Will we be seeing lvl 15-16 dungeons? I believe this was the plan originally. The update 8 quests were a blast and great xp a min (well most of them) for us tr nuts. Great storyline and beaultiful quests. Also took pressure off the Gianthold for TR's.

2. So if the next pack is 15-16 does that mean we will be looking at new end game content for a while after that? The big influx of players from F2P who have stayed generally have multiple capped toons now. Its a good time to start accomodating both them and the vets who have been waiting patiently for some end game focus.

3. Character creation feels stagnant too me at the moment even with the recent additions of the Half-bloods. It didnt change a whole lot - people just TRd their favorite builds into one of these if they felt the extra dps would be nice. We havnt had a new class since FVS and that was quite some time ago and for all intents and purposes not much different too clerics. Are there plans of adding new classes?Prestige lines have trickled to a one-2 every second update. This compounds on the above and while the ones that have been released are very good it still seems slow. However why character creation seems so stagnant too me is really because of the way epics/endgame work currently. End game performance and seeing a character develop to its max potential at cap is a big part of many peoples leveling process. End game in DDO is epics and raids. And because of the way epics are being run much of the variety that this game excels at (character customisation) is lost. Epics pigeonhole classes more than ever before. I used to love building battlemages and whacky builds but now I don't because I enjoy playing end game and simultaneously refuse to have friends carry my gimps through quests.You used to be able to take any 6/12 people through a quest/raid and through teamwork and coordiation pull off a win. You can do that now too I guess but combine the grind that is epic with the share amount of time it would take to get the gimp-team through an epic and people just wont do it. Path of least resistance. I wont do it. For example - Epic last stand is a cakewalk with 'epic focused toons' easily doable with any 6 people. Ive gone in on my caster and 5 ,elee and destroyed it in 10 minutes or so. Take the gimp team (non epic focused, flavor builds etc) and they will struggle. They might pull it off but it will take 30 mins or so. Now multiply the additional 20 minutes taken by the grind that you need to do to craft just one epic item and its human nature to take the path of least resistance and reroll into something that will complete epics easier.

I TR alot. My main is on his 8th life (3 ftr 3 monk 1 pali 1 barb) and my other two are at least 36p. I pug and run with channel/guild mates probably at an even ratio. This is the trend I have seen.
a. TR melees with epics in mind tend to roll some variation of fighters, barbs or monks. In all my TRs I can likely count the amount of rgrs and palis on the fingers of two hands. Why? because palis and rangers substitute dps and tactics for flexibility and because of the way Epics are designed dps = win, flexibility = not so much win lol.
b. TR arcanes with epics in mind tend to reroll their beloved sorcs into wizards. Because wizards are just that much better at the moment. Its the reverse of the above for a caster tho Caster flexibilty and dc (wiz) = win, caster dps (sorcs) = not so much win.
c. Pugs - roll whatever the hell they feel like rolling bless them. Then they get to endgame - realise they could be doing alot more and do one of the above two.

4. This is a nice segway to get into epics. When is the epic reboot going to occur and what will you do to change things up? It is my guess the crafting system will be going towards that of mabar/sorah kell. Is this going to be the case? Is this why GH epic has not been released - which has reportedly been ready for months? Because the set of items is so large (like the desert) that ur saving it for the epic reboot?

I have many more questions but most of them have been asked many times by people more gramatically correct and eloquent than I. Any information about whats coming up would be much appreciated. A state of the game address would be even better.

Cheers

N

[Jonny_D]

/signed

[Ganak]

/signed

[Irinis]

Dev team is too busy designing the new line of armor kits for 10,000 turbine points per kit to make a state of the game address. :)

In other words, /signed, would love some communication on what 2011 has in store for us eager players.

[azrael4h]

Every time someone asks about the state of the game on the forums, Turbine kills a kitten. THINK OF THE KITTENS! ;)

(and /signed)

[ArkoHighStar]

if history is any indication. Fernando should be putting out the State of the Game some time around the anniversary

[Hambo]

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1. What are the plans for the next update? Will we be seeing lvl 15-16 dungeons? I believe this was the plan originally. The update 8 quests were a blast and great xp a min (well most of them) for us tr nuts. Great storyline and beaultiful quests. Also took pressure off the Gianthold for TR's. I believe this to be the case... All new content has pretty much followed a pattern of rising 2-3 levels over the previous release since Korthos (I know, exceptions exist)

2. So if the next pack is 15-16 does that mean we will be looking at new end game content for a while after that? The big influx of players from F2P who have stayed generally have multiple capped toons now. Its a good time to start accomodating both them and the vets who have been waiting patiently for some end game focus. See reply to number 1... Also, I believe in one of the recent "Ask the Devs" segments on DDOcast, the developers said that this year's content will be focused on upper level/endgame.

3. Character creation feels stagnant too me at the moment even with the recent additions of the Half-bloods. It didnt change a whole lot - people just TRd their favorite builds into one of these if they felt the extra dps would be nice. We havnt had a new class since FVS and that was quite some time ago and for all intents and purposes not much different too clerics. Are there plans of adding new classes?Prestige lines have trickled to a one-2 every second update. This compounds on the above and while the ones that have been released are very good it still seems slow. However why character creation seems so stagnant too me is really because of the way epics/endgame work currently. End game performance and seeing a character develop to its max potential at cap is a big part of many peoples leveling process. End game in DDO is epics and raids. And because of the way epics are being run much of the variety that this game excels at (character customisation) is lost. Epics pigeonhole classes more than ever before. I used to love building battlemages and whacky builds but now I don't because I enjoy playing end game and simultaneously refuse to have friends carry my gimps through quests.You used to be able to take any 6/12 people through a quest/raid and through teamwork and coordiation pull off a win. You can do that now too I guess but combine the grind that is epic with the share amount of time it would take to get the gimp-team through an epic and people just wont do it. Path of least resistance. I wont do it. For example - Epic last stand is a cakewalk with 'epic focused toons' easily doable with any 6 people. Ive gone in on my caster and 5 ,elee and destroyed it in 10 minutes or so. Take the gimp team (non epic focused, flavor builds etc) and they will struggle. They might pull it off but it will take 30 mins or so. Now multiply the additional 20 minutes taken by the grind that you need to do to craft just one epic item and its human nature to take the path of least resistance and reroll into something that will complete epics easier. I may be wrong, but to my recollection there have only been two class additions to DDO... Monk and FvS. That's in nearly 5 years. Since FvS was introduced just over one and a quarter years ago, amd monk about two years before that, I'd say, based on minimal information, that we're about half way through the cycle to a new class, not that I wouldn't give my eye-teeth for new options.

I TR alot. My main is on his 8th life (3 ftr 3 monk 1 pali 1 barb) and my other two are at least 36p. I pug and run with channel/guild mates probably at an even ratio. This is the trend I have seen.
a. TR melees with epics in mind tend to roll some variation of fighters, barbs or monks. In all my TRs I can likely count the amount of rgrs and palis on the fingers of two hands. Why? because palis and rangers substitute dps and tactics for flexibility and because of the way Epics are designed dps = win, flexibility = not so much win lol.
b. TR arcanes with epics in mind tend to reroll their beloved sorcs into wizards. Because wizards are just that much better at the moment. Its the reverse of the above for a caster tho Caster flexibilty and dc (wiz) = win, caster dps (sorcs) = not so much win.
c. Pugs - roll whatever the hell they feel like rolling bless them. Then they get to endgame - realise they could be doing alot more and do one of the above two.

4. This is a nice segway to get into epics. When is the epic reboot going to occur and what will you do to change things up? It is my guess the crafting system will be going towards that of mabar/sorah kell. Is this going to be the case? Is this why GH epic has not been released - which has reportedly been ready for months? Because the set of items is so large (like the desert) that ur saving it for the epic reboot? I would love to see a "unified crafting system", where everyone starts with a base item and builds it into their idea of the ideal piece of equipment. Wouldn't it be neat if you could update something like the "Eternal wand of cure light wounds" to the next level (cure moderate/serious/critical) every 5 or so character levels? Start off with simple armor and improve it over time? Same with weapons?

I have many more questions but most of them have been asked many times by people more gramatically correct and eloquent than I. Any information about whats coming up would be much appreciated. A state of the game address would be even better.

Cheers

N

My thoughts in Yellow

[Taurnish]

:cool:Well said Nick. I would like to see at least a comment or two on the general game direction. Level 15/16 quests are needed and comments responding to your statements on epics would be more than welcome. Finally, I too anxiously await any news on GH epics. I think epic GH would be a nice refresher for this great quest set than many old players blitz through as TRs now.

[testing1234]

3:well put couldnt agree more that the epic is very limiting on character creation and is due a overhaul.
TR and epic are the two endgame options

[grodon9999]

Inquiring minds want to know. Come on devs, throw us a bone.

[Fafnir]

I also want to know. And to match my personal preference, I would like the emphasis to be on late group content and end game content (raids/epics).

[Xeraphim]

I also want to know. And to match my personal preference, I would like the emphasis to be on late group content and end game content (raids/epics).

I would also like to hear about later content that my TR could do instead of grinding specific quests into absolute oblivion. Epics = new gear for the metagamers, which is always a good thing, but I don't metagame at endgame.

I also like to hear about PrEs and new Items. The new named items from the Drooam Pack are simply amazing! Well done there!

[Nick_RC]

Yeah its the limiting of character creation that annoys me the most out of everything 2bh. Would love to hear anything from the devs at this point. Seems like another Lull period.

N

[Drfirewater79]

1) next content is lvl 15-16 .. then there will be at least 1 more at lvl 17-20 according to ask the devs almost half a year ago now. Then they will be going back to mid and low level content cause for some reason people think there isnt enough of it already.

2) They are working on druid to be out this year ... I do not believe they have ever come out with a race or a class in the same year we got favored souls the year before half races .. and this year is druid .. i wouldnt expect another new class or race till next year .. but i wouldnt be surprised for a new race ... new class would be highly unlikely for a good year or two after druid. Especially since more then half the population of this game is likely to leave for about 6-8 months late this spring because of SWTOR.

3) I dont know yet but i am pretty sure they havent given information about the next update yet at all cept to say its level range. Should be due out any time now. But also have to remember timeline is important .. pax east is march 11th and everyone in the mmo field knows this is the year of the mmo. More mmos launching or expected to launch this year then ever before in the genres history. Star wars to announce its launch date is just some of the big news... but you have DCU already launched ... RIFTs to launch if not already ... tera ... and several others including the agent the first FPS MMOrpg. They have to save big announcements like DRUID and new races for these big media events. AND pax east is in there hometown of boston so they have to make a big presence. My bet is Druids announced in march on top of a new end game system ( not just levels but maybe a crafting raid again like shroud aiming at lvl 18+ gear rather then lvl 11+ gear) and an alternative to epic missions/gear.

But truth is its all speculation until we know better.

[Drfirewater79]

Inquiring minds want to know. Come on devs, throw us a bone.

lets be honest .. they would be stupid to tell us anything before pax.

[transtemporal]

/absolutely signed

The design of epics is such that players are railroaded to a few viable tactics to be effective. Most epic-specced melee builds are variations on a theme: stunning, big DPS and big HP. Most epic-specced casters: enchantment-focussed, mass hold and miscellaneous cc. Flavor builds need not apply.

I enjoy epics a lot but in the long run, I think the current design is bad for the game.

[Cetus]

Well, epics don't feel *epic.* These so called challenges are in no way dangerous, intimidating, nor demanding of groupwork. Most of your tasks in epic content that take up any amount of time are of the *hey lets beat down this 1 million hp statue two times over in epic deeps* type. Turbines idea of making a quest epic is to just test how many hitpoints our 6/12 man parties can endure beating through until the mana users start running out of mana and the tanks start depleting their resources (via boosts, rages, damaging clickies etc..). You make any fight long enough, having finite spellpoints inevitably leads to that fate anyway- this is not a challenge.

As far as epic crafting is concerned, I like being able to slowly gather up pieces to a prized item- but there needs to be some light in the end of the tunnel. Every epic quest should have a counter similar to the 20th end reward system granting a choice of items that are perhaps niche to that area. Perhaps for a dungeon token fee, I don't care what it is- as long as there's a system installed that guarantees a piece eventually.

Another point is regarding augments, there needs to be WAY more variety for augmentations. Guards is the first example that comes to mind. Perhaps major lores or greater foci for casters, +7 stat abilities in the rarest of slots, the creativity is unhampered, as long as there's a certain degree of caring about it in the first place.

[Nospheratus]

Very well put!

@Hambo - Loved the unified crafting system! Would love to use the 5k blades of the dark six I have... :D

[Razcar]

They cannot make any statements or comments because of Atari.
...no, darn, that excuse was depleted long ago.

[Hambo]

Very well put!

@Hambo - Loved the unified crafting system! Would love to use the 5k blades of the dark six I have... :D

I just like the option to make items a little more powerful in graduated steps via crafting in addition to randomly finding "named" items. If done properly (i.e. incorporated into the design from inception), updated items should be easy to "deconstruct", so that you could remove the "Oozebane" that would be useful in early levels and replace it with another more useful characteristic later.

[Yaga_Nub]

**** you talk a lot Nick. :)

and /signed.