The Timing of Update 9

[GoldyGopher]

With some upcoming dates in mind I am wondering about the Timing of Update 9

The fifth anniversary of DDO going live is February 28th. Pretty safe to say Turbine/WB wants to do something special for that weekend, considering who few games these days make it to 5 years.

Warner Brother’s has already announced they are going to make a semi-big deal over it, with the release of the D&D Movies (with Bonus Turbine Points for DDO) on Feb 15th and according to a few other articles there will be addition point bundles available elsewhere.

Update 3 was released on February 3, 2010, so another date we are fast approaching.

Let us for a moment assume that Turbine wants to have Update 9 live before the Fifth Anniversary date. The problem is the 28th is a Monday and Turbine “Likes” to put live updates on Wednesday, that means the 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd of February could be the target dates.

If we assume that Turbine will want to have Time to make a hotfix if necessary before the Anniversary that really takes the 23rd out as that only leaves 24 hours to identify and create a hotfix, leaving the 2nd, 9th and 16th. I mean they don’t like having stuff unavailable during big “welcome back” “Double XP” “+2 Loot” weekends. Note I expect to start seeing promotions of this upcoming Anniversary weekend soon.

Turbine has in the recent past given the players approximately two weeks to preview the upcoming Update on Lammania. So if it goes Lammania today that two week time frame leaves the 9th and the 16th to go live.
This is where the interesting release date of D&D movies comes into play. Because of the bundled promotion Turbine/WB is most likely not going to want people not to be able to play the day after the release (16th). So that leaves February 9th as the most like go live date for Update 9. It also means we should see the new Lamannia update either today or tomorrow. If not Turbine is pushing itself into a bad position before the Anniversary.

I should note that Turbine could change their MO on release dates, but…

[MrWizard]

i think they are just having some issues as they hinted at a new engine and complete spell revamp...maybe march?

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Evidence would indicate Turbine doesn't put nearly that much thought into release dates... or if they do it never works out as they plan.

[Coldin]

We might get the update in February. I wouldn't put it past them. I don't think they would let preferring to release updates on Wednesdays to stop them if they could release on a different day. :)

I wonder what the engine guys are working on though. Is it crafting perhaps? Or something else entirely?

[MrWizard]

We might get the update in February. I wouldn't put it past them. I don't think they would let preferring to release updates on Wednesdays to stop them if they could release on a different day. :)

I wonder what the engine guys are working on though. Is it crafting perhaps? Or something else entirely?
I remember something about the LOTRO engine being used, so it would be a big update for us..and a lot of testing for them.
Probably help with instances and hitching though.
And one of them made mention of 'something' like the LOTRO defrag utility for our local files coming soon for DDO, so that is another indication of an engine change.

A large number of devs were asking about spells and said they wanted to change things. I would imagine that it is part of this update. And everyone knows how tricky those dang spell mechanics can be.

And changing spells requires the whole 'balance' thing.

It is enough for me to take my 16 and 17th level casters out of mothballs and get to 20 for some TRs before this happens.

[Certon]

If it's just the engine, I'd be fine with that, but if it starts to play like LotRO or, worse yet, LOOK like LotRO, I will be disappointed.

Whatever they do, I'd hate for this game to be MORE like WoW, because I am one of the very few who think that game is horrible.

[Shade]

What I expect from turbine given there past history:
Anniversary will be +1 loot levels and +2% XP for that day only.

Update 9 will take about as long as Module 9 took, and require heavy hotfixing after release. Some people will be banned for exploits that are entirely turbines fault due to poor code. If any new races/classes get released, they will be extremely expensive buys on the turbine store and have NO ingame unlock.

What I'd hope to happen for anniversary (but will never happen in a million years):

Anniversay will be an epic event that has some awesome raid boss like combining the tent destruction with mabar event but bigger and better. Something like destroying the entire harbour and filling it with epic elder super beholders (think hound elite + epic scaling + harder + purple named + 50x hp) that the entire server has to band together to defeat to unlock the raid to save the harbour!

For update 9 release time:
On Lamannia this friday.
Live early feb, giving us Druids, Shifters, Elemental Savants, Ravagers, Occult Slayers, Accolyte of the Skins and a huge new high level module of the size and scale of gianthold. Oh and unnerfed attack speeds. heh.

[Khanyth]

I predict that Truthful One will come to Ebberon and destroy everything, causing brand new areas, races, and turning everything as we know it upside down and inside out, and make every toon start out back at level 1, with no gear, favour, exp, past lives, TR..... it'll be as if everything rebooted.

=awesome=

[MrWizard]

they really really really really need to put a 3 or 4 code password in the ddo store to buy points with a credit card for this update.

they should think about allowing an option for that 2 or 4 code password to be used not just for the credit card transaction, but also for the entire store.

kids, hackers, etc...great protection.
Currently- no protection + No refund = lost player and/or cash

(remember, buying turbine points and then having a hacker spend them is still losing your money)

Devs, I implore you to wake up to this and just add the code.

[Coldin]

I remember something about the LOTRO engine being used, so it would be a big update for us..and a lot of testing for them.
Probably help with instances and hitching though.
And one of them made mention of 'something' like the LOTRO defrag utility for our local files coming soon for DDO, so that is another indication of an engine change.

A large number of devs were asking about spells and said they wanted to change things. I would imagine that it is part of this update. And everyone knows how tricky those dang spell mechanics can be.

And changing spells requires the whole 'balance' thing.

It is enough for me to take my 16 and 17th level casters out of mothballs and get to 20 for some TRs before this happens.

Technically, LOTRO and DDO already use the same engine. They just have branched in very different paths. It could be quite possible though they are intending to take some features from the LOTRO's version over to the DDO version. Though, I'm really not sure if that's the case.

Spell revamp is something they have clearly talked about though. We could see the beginnings of that. Though that doesn't seem like it would require much from the engine team.

So...*shrug*

[NeutronStar]

With some upcoming dates in mind I am wondering about the Timing of Update 9


http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3553341&postcount=52

[GoldyGopher]

A little bird told me Turbine (as in Turbine Management) is under the impression Update 9 will be delivered and Update 10 will be ready in time for the 5th anniversary of DDO on Feb 28th.

If that's true, it's no wonder the Devs haven't posted as much. They're working like fiends to get two updates out during the next five weeks.

To that I say, good luck guys, you'll need it! :cool:

I too have heard similiar rumblings
I have also heard that U9 will be pushed back and a number of things from U10 will be incorperated into a single U9 and U11 will now be refered to as U10 and so on and so forth...
And I have heard that U10 will flip positions with U9 since the U9 is the updated with problems.

Two of those three statements came from people at Turbine who SHOULD be in the know. The Third comes from someone outside of Turbine who COULD be in the know. Does it make any of them more accurate than the other? or even other possibilities?

I doubt we will be seeing a major overhaul of the spell system, Eladrin would have already been prepping the masses for such a change, see TWF nerf. Not that I don't think the system doesn't need help by the way...

[DelScorcho]

Anniversay will be an epic event that has some awesome raid boss like combining the tent destruction with mabar event but bigger and better.

Hmmm, combining a lag fest with a ban fest. Doesn't sound good to me. /not signed.
:D

[Coldin]

I too have heard similiar rumblings
I have also heard that U9 will be pushed back and a number of things from U10 will be incorperated into a single U9 and U11 will now be refered to as U10 and so on and so forth...
And I have heard that U10 will flip positions with U9 since the U9 is the updated with problems.

Two of those three statements came from people at Turbine who SHOULD be in the know. The Third comes from someone outside of Turbine who COULD be in the know. Does it make any of them more accurate than the other? or even other possibilities?

I doubt we will be seeing a major overhaul of the spell system, Eladrin would have already been prepping the masses for such a change, see TWF nerf. Not that I don't think the system doesn't need help by the way...

I'm pretty sure there's been a few comments from the devs, Eladrin included, that they're planning on doing an overhaul of the spell system. Not super major, but balancing sp costs across spells, so that single target DPS spells are cost-efficient compared to AOE spells.

Of course, then there's also the aggro change that's been hinted at, as well as the Fortification changes.

Really, there's been lots of hints at lots of things, but all still lacking in any detail.

[GoldyGopher]

I'm pretty sure there's been a few comments from the devs, Eladrin included, that they're planning on doing an overhaul of the spell system. Not super major, but balancing sp costs across spells, so that single target DPS spells are cost-efficient compared to AOE spells.

Of course, then there's also the aggro change that's been hinted at, as well as the Fortification changes.

Really, there's been lots of hints at lots of things, but all still lacking in any detail.

There was some discussion before the TWF nerf was announced and before it became official Eladrin created at least one official topic that alerted everyone to how the change was going to be made and why.

While we have had some discussions on changes we haven't gotten the "Spell Casting Change/Nerf/Addition/You Love it you hate/..." official topic yet explain why we should all like this change. So I just don't for see anything more than a minor "change/nerf/addition/You love it you hate/..." going into U9.

[Coldin]

There was some discussion before the TWF nerf was announced and before it became official Eladrin created at least one official topic that alerted everyone to how the change was going to be made and why.

While we have had some discussions on changes we haven't gotten the "Spell Casting Change/Nerf/Addition/You Love it you hate/..." official topic yet explain why we should all like this change. So I just don't for see anything more than a minor "change/nerf/addition/You love it you hate/..." going into U9.

Maybe, maybe not. We didn't really hear about the TWF changes until just before Lamannia was updated if I recall correctly.

Granted, Update 9 may just be a small change to test the waters of a much larger change. Though, I think a change to spell point costs isn't nearly as big of a change as the TWF changes were.

[Zinruko]

my biggest concern now is them increasing sp cost to firewall...

[Barumar]

I too have heard similiar rumblings
I have also heard that U9 will be pushed back and a number of things from U10 will be incorperated into a single U9 and U11 will now be refered to as U10 and so on and so forth...
And I have heard that U10 will flip positions with U9 since the U9 is the updated with problems.

Two of those three statements came from people at Turbine who SHOULD be in the know. The Third comes from someone outside of Turbine who COULD be in the know. Does it make any of them more accurate than the other? or even other possibilities?

I doubt we will be seeing a major overhaul of the spell system, Eladrin would have already been prepping the masses for such a change, see TWF nerf. Not that I don't think the system doesn't need help by the way...

Interesting rumors, but what I would really like is some word from Turbine a month from the 5 year Anniversary as to what they are planning. Even a teaser would be better than totat silence, but then that is their pattern...

Also, aren't we overdue for a state of the game?

Personally, I hope they do something really cool for the 5th year Anniversary (Still got a Genie from the first year and have fun starting a dance party with it) and not just a XP and Loot/Reknown bonus which I think would be a given for the week or month.

I think something along those lines it apropriate, with better items offered perhaps.

Also, if mod 9 is going to be ready for release in a month, shouldn't they be getting it on Lammannia soon?

Agree that 5 years is amazing for an MMO to be still around (and growing!) I am really amazed I am still here playing as I never expected to play any game this long.

In 35 years of computer gaming (Zork on my Dad's work Main Frame over a 300 baud modem :eek:) I have never played a game this long and until something better comes along, I imagine I will keep playing DDO as long as they keep it fun!

Barumar

[madmaxhunter]

We need another Fernando Paiz interview for 2011!:

http://ddosource.com/interview-w-fernando-paiz-and-preview-of-u7/

[visionary1977]

I doubt we will get any major updates to the game until they have been demonstrated/advertised at PAX on 11th - 13th March 2011

We will probably get another tedious & grindy event for the Anniversary (Groan), plus some bonus xp and a +1 to the loot table (YAY, time to TR again)

Ho hum

Speculation is great, but facts are better.. come on Turby put us all out of our misery.

[Auran82]

Psions are a shifty bunch.

[Mister_Peace]

I wonder, if they did nothing but increase server hardware capabilities wouldn't that be enough for one update?

[Khurse]

Hmm, yeah.
while being completely not-in-the-know, nor having any friends having dated Turbine employees third-cousins older brothers ex-roommates former lawyers shoe-shine boys sisters veterinarians dentist, I can't say I have any means to disprove anything.

2 Updates in the next 30 days seems a little unlikely though. Given that nothing has been rumoured or even hit Lamannia yet, one update going live in the next 30 days seems somewhat unlikely.
I'd guess the 5th anniversary will be a 10% xp ,20% guild renown , and +1 loot table week.
Probably with 50% bonus DDO points again. (Which is cool as I should need some by the end of February)

[fuzzy1guy]

Evidence would indicate Turbine doesn't put nearly that much thought into release dates... or if they do it never works out as they plan.

100%

Ppl here are putting FAR more thought into this than turbine ever has.

[BoBo2020]

Psions are a shifty bunch.

I knew you were going to say that.


2 Updates in the next 30 days seems a little unlikely though. Given that nothing has been rumoured or even hit Lamannia yet, one update going live in the next 30 days seems somewhat unlikely.

I don't know, 30 seems to be a magical number, I just hope we don't rush into an EPIC fail.

[GoldyGopher]

Lamannia isn't supposed to be up right now, and we will be taking it down.

But ... later next week we will be opening Lamannia up again with some new things for you to look at.

I'll be posting more information up early next week.

Posted earlier today after Lammania by accidently got turned on.

Hopefully Thoon is refering to U9.

[Drfirewater79]

Your also forgetting Pax East in there home town march 11th only two weeks after there anniversary. Its highly likely that they are gonna do a big in game event for the anniversary and hold off on the update till after PAX so they can make a big announcement like druids and/or a new adventure area and new end game feature or increased drop rates of epic seals and shards and scrolls .. .or epic raids having a chance to drop epic weapons (already crafted minus the augments) .

Any way you look at it its gonna be a big annoucment at pax to compete with SWTOR which is expected to make an annoucement about its launch date at PAX delayed or not.

If they have a marketing team worth a licked cent in a sewage ditch mile deep in backflow sluge ... then they are waiting for a big announcement for what might be the biggest press release convention this year. Pax is gonna be massive this year .. and if Turbine doesnt want to be out shun in its own backyard ... its gotta do this one with style ... especially with WB backing them.