Update 21 - Round five

[KookieKobold]

We've brought Lamannia down for another update!

We'll update the release notes and known issues once we've got them ready.


I'll update this thread once Lamannia has been updated and is ready to go!


**UPDATE**

Lamannia is back online!

[irnimnode]

getting internal error when trying to launch server

[Shorlong]

We've brought Lamannia down for another update!

We'll update the release notes and known issues once we've got them ready.


I'll update this thread once Lamannia has been updated and is ready to go!

Will this update include the changes to shadow armor? Also, will the devs be on hand sometime this weekend to hand out ingredients to make Thunder Forged weapons and Shadow Dragon armor?


getting internal error when trying to launch server

Might be because they just took the servers down ;)

[xTethx]

Is the Twin Peaks raid actually going to be dropping the raid chest with this update?

[Seikojin]

Will this update include the changes to shadow armor? Also, will the devs be on hand sometime this weekend to hand out ingredients to make Thunder Forged weapons and Shadow Dragon armor?

Might be because they just took the servers down ;)

I hope they are around to hand out ingredients as well. Very useful to share with those during the week so they too can get in on the action.

[KookieKobold]

Lamannia is back online!

updating the OP to reflect this fact as well.

[DemonStorm333]

another new launcher?

[Correlan]

Release notes?

[Infiltraitor]

Release notes, Good sir.

[SirShen]

Will Sarva Bellistrae ever be fixed? Because casting spells that one shot kill you all the time is not fun. How are you ment to flag for the raid if you cant kill her because on live i will not be using res cakes.

[Oxarhamar]

Will Sarva Bellistrae ever be fixed? Because casting spells that one shot kill you all the time is not fun. How are you ment to flag for the raid if you cant kill her because on live i will not be using res cakes.

just a thought but, maybe bring a party?

[SirShen]

just a thought but, maybe bring a party?

So you are ok with her casting spells with no reflex save?

[xTethx]

So you are ok with her casting spells with no reflex save?

You can easily use ioun stone/spell absorption item to absorb the 1 charge per tick. Also, while it may be a bit harder, elemental absorption helps, the elements just vary every cast which is why it's harder to prepare for. And if you are ranged/spell caster you can strafe with haste and dodge her spells if you don't want to use any of the above. Haven't tried strafing melee on her so cant comment if that will work. So there are options rather than just dying and rezzing a bunch.

[Teh_Troll]

Will Sarva Bellistrae ever be fixed? Because casting spells that one shot kill you all the time is not fun. How are you ment to flag for the raid if you cant kill her because on live i will not be using res cakes.

What does she shoot at you?

[SirShen]

You can easily use ioun stone/spell absorption item to absorb the 1 charge per tick. Also, while it may be a bit harder, elemental absorption helps, the elements just vary every cast which is why it's harder to prepare for. And if you are ranged/spell caster you can strafe with haste and dodge her spells if you don't want to use any of the above. Haven't tried strafing melee on her so cant comment if that will work. So there are options rather than just dying and rezzing a bunch.

She does 600hp and over of damage with these spells with no save, is this really working as it should?

[xTethx]

What does she shoot at you?

It's similar to draconic incarnation dragon breath. Only she does a random element and she can spam it every few seconds instead of 1 per minute.

[xTethx]

Like i said she does 600hp and over of damage with these spells with no save, is this really working as it should?

Like I said, there are easy ways to avoid/mitigate this damage. You can use skill/gear. Whether it's working correctly, I cannot comment on what devs intended for this encounter, but it can easily be defeated with basic tactics/gear.

[Teh_Troll]

It's similar to draconic incarnation dragon breath. Only she does a random element and she can spam it every few seconds instead of 1 per minute.

With no save?

Give me no save on my Draconic stuff and I'll be okay with it.

[xTethx]

With no save?

Give me no save on my Draconic stuff and I'll be okay with it.

Yea no save in the 4 or 5 times I did it. The damage is around 650 of a random element.

[die]

She does 600hp and over of damage with these spells with no save, is this really working as it should?

best tactic I found was lead her up the stairs where the shrine is then jump off to right and spam searing light and dots. Her spells cant hit you now she is easy. Solo melee well still working on that one lol Good luck.

[Teh_Troll]

Yea no save in the 4 or 5 times I did it. The damage is around 650 of a random element.

Oh that's all? meh, it's like getting double-tapped my an EE mob.

but still . .. the is D&D online and it should have a save.

[Nibor]

With no save?

Give me no save on my Draconic stuff and I'll be okay with it.

I would also like to be invulnerable while talking.

[DrawingGuy]

best tactic I found was lead her up the stairs where the shrine is then jump off to right and spam searing light and dots. Her spells cant hit you now she is easy. Solo melee well still working on that one lol Good luck.

Yeah... jumping on walls, torches, pillars or hills. Clipping exploits with stairs and ledges. Or if those aren't in place, kiting. A boss is fine and needs no adjustment as long as Sorcs and Monkchers can solo them.

[ishr]

WTB release notes.

[die]

Yeah... jumping on walls, torches, pillars or hills. Clipping exploits with stairs and ledges. Or if those aren't in place, kiting. A boss is fine and needs no adjustment as long as Sorcs and Monkchers can solo them.

Not sure if the ledge is a exploit, I never got into that sort of thing but running for my life and jumping off ,I found that pretty cool . I have **** near 13 toons to flag for this raid.. and the vast majority are not casters , I will be down sizing I believe real soon.

[SqueakofDoom]

Release Notes ('https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/376774-Lamannia-Release-Notes-%28Last-Updated-2-21-2014%29?p=4503430#post4503430') and Known Issues ('https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/376772-Lamannia-Known-Issues-%28Last-Updated-9-12-2013%29?p=4503425#post4503425') have been updated.

[jimmy316]

any chance of another dev event i was not here for the last one and missed out on a few things ??

[die]

LMAO that's what we needed a rare rust monster!! Nice we don't have one of the most Iconic monsters in the Game ACTUALLY MANY.. but we got that Rust Monster nailed down!1 Nice job

[jimmy316]

not sure what happend but the npc's are broke i made a FVS and went to tr and everything messed up others are complaining about the npc also cant click on nothing really

[KingKoz]

With no save?

Give me no save on my Draconic stuff and I'll be okay with it.

I haven't had the chance to play the raid on Lammania yet, but I was under the impression it is an end-game raid. Shouldn't the mobs be the toughest to defeat, as well as be the most powerful we come up against? And as others have said (my motto when playing) is there is always another way.....ya just gotta figure it out (or wait for someone else to figure it out).

[Teh_Troll]

I haven't had the chance to play the raid on Lammania yet, but I was under the impression it is an end-game raid. Shouldn't the mobs be the toughest to defeat, as well as be the most powerful we come up against? And as others have said (my motto when playing) is there is always another way.....ya just gotta figure it out (or wait for someone else to figure it out).

Yeah, but this is a game based on D&D and every change from core mechanics is ********. There should be a save.

[taurean430]

Sooo...

During round 4 I let go my annoyance at no character copy and logged onto lamania. I spent 6 hours there attempting to recreate one of my characters only to find that I couldn't gear the character. Ultimately, I decided in a last ditch attempt to spend another few hours making a build similar to what my long term plans are for my Cleric. However, after doing 3 relevant caster life tr's, I discovered again that I couldn't gear this character. I hung around most of my day off hoping to see one of you folks to just get some restored relics. I figured that would be reasonable since the kobold vendor had comms and scales. Suffice to say, I gave up. I found that most of the relevant gear wasn't available, and there was no one to communicate this to.

I feel as though I wasted my day off. I strongly urge you folks to get that character copy working. And if you cannot at least make relevant loot available so we can recreate our builds if we want to.

[die]

Sooo...

During round 4 I let go my annoyance at no character copy and logged onto lamania. I spent 6 hours there attempting to recreate one of my characters only to find that I couldn't gear the character. Ultimately, I decided in a last ditch attempt to spend another few hours making a build similar to what my long term plans are for my Cleric. However, after doing 3 relevant caster life tr's, I discovered again that I couldn't gear this character. I hung around most of my day off hoping to see one of you folks to just get some restored relics. I figured that would be reasonable since the kobold vendor had comms and scales. Suffice to say, I gave up. I found that most of the relevant gear wasn't available, and there was no one to communicate this to.

I feel as though I wasted my day off. I strongly urge you folks to get that character copy working. And if you cannot at least make relevant loot available so we can recreate our builds if we want to.

why do you feel the need to totally replicate your toon? just roll one and test the content isn't that what beta is about flush out bugs? Scratches head.....

[Vordax]

why do you feel the need to totally replicate your toon? just roll one and test the content isn't that what beta is about flush out bugs? Scratches head.....

No this is not its purpose, it is a side benefit of its main purpose.

The main purpose is to be a preview server and get feedback on the changes that have been made. How are we to provide decent feedback if we are playing characters that we are unfamiliar with?

[die]

No this is not its purpose, it is a side benefit of its main purpose.

The main purpose is to be a preview server and get feedback on the changes that have been made. How are we to provide decent feedback if we are playing characters that we are unfamiliar with? I agree to disagree I was able too make a great toon WITH max destiny's, great EE gearr on almost all my items I picked the same spells put them on the same hot bars Hell I even named them the same .. pretty **** close to being my toon . I don't know what all the fuss is about. I will admit it was kind of a drag gearing them up but really it only took start to finish 20 minutes or so. And also its my understanding that this is not a preview server any more its a Alpha and Beta server . now that the Mournlands no longer exists. Either way hardly any thing too cry about I think it suckS more that we have named rust monsters instead OF like I don't know... Balors -Chimera's things like that. But to each his own I guess

[Vordax]

I agree to disagree iwas able too make a great toon max destiny's, great EE gearr on almost all my items I picked the same spells put them on the same hot bars Hell I even named them the same .. pretty **** close to being my toon . I don't know what all the fuss is about. I will admit it was kind of a drag gearing them up but really it only toon start to finish 20 minutes or so.


You apologists just don't get it. We don't want to waste hours of our time getting a character ready to play on a test server. I would love to test the new content, but I don't want to waste hours remaking a character.

[die]

You apologists just don't get it. We don't want to waste hours of our time getting a character ready to play on a test server. I would love to test the new content, but I don't want to waste hours remaking a character.

Hr's.?.... then you got bigger problems lol . All the time you just wasted here I could already have a toon made. Just sayin

[taurean430]

I agree to disagree iwas able too make a great toon max destiny's, great EE gearr on almost all my items I picked the same spells put them on the same hot bars Hell I even named them the same .. pretty **** close to being my toon . I don't know what all the fuss is about. I will admit it was kind of a drag gearing them up but really it only toon start to finish 20 minutes or so.

To be fair, whether you agree or disagree holds no relevance.

That is my feedback post wasting a day off wanting to recreate one of my characters and test out the content. In previous visits to lamania, I could test out things, report bugs, and have an enjoyable experience playing the new content on my builds. I've no interest in a fresh toon that I'm unfamilliar with which has no relevant gear. Maybe that's just me, and if so I'm fine with that.

[Vordax]

Hr's.?.... then you got bigger problems lol

I play a PM on live. Completionist + extra caster past lives + half way to epic completionist, +5 tomes in nearly all stats, well geared. How long does that take to replicate on lamania? PM's live and die by their DC's, to test adequately I need to match my main's DC's.

[die]

To be fair, whether you agree or disagree holds no relevance.

That is my feedback post wasting a day off wanting to recreate one of my characters and test out the content. In previous visits to lamania, I could test out things, report bugs, and have an enjoyable experience playing the new content on my builds. I've no interest in a fresh toon that I'm unfamilliar with which has no relevant gear. Maybe that's just me, and if so I'm fine with that.

Well your not missing much any way. you will be able too run this 7 layer dungeon n about the time it takes to run COAL CHAMBER. Looks nice. Named rust monsters lol. the other quest is nice I like it but once again it took me solo first run about a Hour. So. yea you will see it soon enough.

[die]

I play a PM on live. Completionist + extra caster past lives + half way to epic completionist, +5 tomes in nearly all stats, well geared. How long does that take to replicate on lamania? PM's live and die by their DC's, to test adequately I need to match my main's DC's.

over kill you wont need it. every thing is undead lol BINGO!!

[Vordax]

over kill you wont need it. every thing is undead lol BINGO!!

So what is the problem with having them fix the copy tool? Why are you so dead set against it?

FYI Undeath to death is a necro based undead killing spell.

[taurean430]

Adequately gauging dc's and their effectiveness does indeed require being able to reproduce what you already have on live. Same with saves, etc.

If you are playing simply for the fun of it, and to occasionally point out a bug along the way - nothing wrong with that. Just as there isn't anything wrong with the other point of view expressed.

I could be rude, and 'lol' at your 20 minute creation having any idea what's going to be needed to run these new raids on EE. But unlike you, I realize that isn't very cordial. Now, if you'll excuse me for awhile, I'm running late for a party.

[die]

So what is the problem with having them fix the copy tool? Why are you so dead set against it?

FYI Undeath to death is a necro based undead killing spell. I Am not dead set at all , im saying roll a toon check it out have fun. Its that easy. Think of it like this next update then youll have a alpha toon already there. Any way I don't care I am pretty disappointed my self with the update .

[Vordax]

I Am not dead set at all , im saying roll a toon check it out have fun. Its that easy. Think of it like this next update then youll have a alpha toon already there. Any way I don't care I am pretty disappointed my self with the update .

A 20 minute toon won't be able to guage DC's very well. In addition the character will more than likely be wiped in the future so you can't count on it being there for the next cycle.

[die]

Adequately gauging dc's and their effectiveness does indeed require being able to reproduce what you already have on live. Same with saves, etc.

If you are playing simply for the fun of it, and to occasionally point out a bug along the way - nothing wrong with that. Just as there isn't anything wrong with the other point of view expressed.

I could be rude, and 'lol' at your 20 minute creation having any idea what's going to be needed to run these new raids on EE. But unlike you, I realize that isn't very cordial. Now, if you'll excuse me for awhile, I'm running late for a party.

You got me there, that was rude. Sorry about that. Have fun tonight be safe.

[Momsboys]

We've brought Lamannia down for another update!

We'll update the release notes and known issues once we've got them ready.


I'll update this thread once Lamannia has been updated and is ready to go!


**UPDATE**

Lamannia is back online!

Someone broke some of the NPC's in the dojo, Why are they killable in the first place?

[kierg10]

Well your not missing much any way. you will be able too run this 7 layer dungeon n about the time it takes to run COAL CHAMBER. Looks nice. Named rust monsters lol. the other quest is nice I like it but once again it took me solo first run about a Hour. So. yea you will see it soon enough.

the 7 layer dungeon will take 30 minutes to run in a decent group? Bah humbug.

[die]

the 7 layer dungeon will take 30 minutes to run in a decent group? Bah humbug.

Yes I had High Hopes for this area. They were dashed less than a Hr later when I left. Now mind you I did not see every rare. only about 5 .BuT ITS not a big enough area to need save spot like I was hoping you know like a true dwarven complex would be at lest that's how I have them envisioned

[taurean430]

Yes I had High Hopes for this area. They were dashed less than a Hr later when I left. Now mind you I did not see every rare. only about 5 .BuT ITS not a big enough area to need save spot like I was hoping you know like a true dwarven complex would be at lest that's how I have them envisioned

I'd be interested in reading about what you did see though. Due to work hours and other commitments it's highly likely I won't have time to log in over the weekend.

[PsychoBlonde]

You apologists just don't get it. We don't want to waste hours of our time getting a character ready to play on a test server. I would love to test the new content, but I don't want to waste hours remaking a character.

"We" like to use Lama-land to try out builds that "we" don't use on the live server. I've been having a blast with mine and there's plenty of gear on the auction house to cover the basics.

Of course, I have two completionists on live so there's no such thing as a character type that I'm "unfamiliar" with.
But playing an unfamiliar character can be the best way to test--you find out some weird stuff when you're not sure what you're doing and you're relying on the text descriptions of things to tell you what should work together. Often, they don't. Or do so in a really peculiar way.

[PsychoBlonde]

I Am not dead set at all , im saying roll a toon check it out have fun. Its that easy. Think of it like this next update then youll have a alpha toon already there. Any way I don't care I am pretty disappointed my self with the update .

I'm waiting for eTBC, myself. I'm hoping they go nuts with that one. This update seems kind of filler-esque.

[die]

I'd be interested in reading about what you did see though. Due to work hours and other commitments it's highly likely I won't have time to log in over the weekend. The tiles look nice , you come in the entrance you can go left or right both ways lead too the same stair case up too the 2 dragon raid at the base of the stairs there is a door oh rogues search the stairs there is a chest. go down the stairs at the door now you are on the 3rd level from there take the other door to the crafting hall area WHICH IS A SMALL AREA .

From there you take the stairs down now you are in what appears too be lower crypt OF dead kings. this are is cool looking. from there you take another set of stairs down too my favorite place. and now your at the lower raid and the first puzzle too open the door to the market which does not look like a market to me. and on a side note what I find funny is all these dwarves are Cr 33 all of them. and a dragon killed them all... but we adventures 12 of us less than cr33 are going too not only kill all the undead dwarves but the dragon and her minions also... It just has no ..

I don't know the word I am looking for , just doesn't make sense to me. And who built these puzzles the dragon the dwarves? seems silly you would lock you self in and then give the key to opening your layer silly.

ok so I finally got logged in there is 5 out of 12 rares I have 1.cassa goldwright 2 ulmer bloodpenny 3 daelus madune 4 gate warden egil the rage singer. I must of got the psedo dragon on the other FVS AND A EARTH elemental they are calling something else they just put flames on it...so 7 out of 12 so far Like I said it looks great just way smaller than I was hoping. and I did all this on a FVS SO I have afeeling fighter are going too have a rougher time so may take longer on melee another thing I found rather boring , once again (just like the under dark is the monster placement) every 2nd turn its the same mob with the same caster.. boring. spice it up. make where there is nothing then bam a hundred dead dwarves pop up out of the ground and make it random.. or have a bunch laying on the ground and then... they don't animate so you never know..... and have I don't know a juvenile dragon roaming the halls or something really bad ass that can spawn any where .. so you would always have too be on your guard. but the same group in the same place is Blah.

[die]

I'm waiting for eTBC, myself. I'm hoping they go nuts with that one. This update seems kind of filler-esque. Please don't get me started on Lame re- hash Epic quests we have ran for almost a decade ..ACK ACK .. makes me sick to my stomach I even stick around for this lazy production. New quest!!... Ok that was rude. I understand its not the designers or the producers who decide . Its some one way up the ladder. Old quest to epic to is like hey put some new paint on they wont realize they have ran these quests too death, already waiting for the next mod. and with that said, I do realize you cant make quests as fast as I can run them.. I know that.

[xTethx]

ok so I finally got logged in there is 5 out of 12 rares I have 1.cassa goldwright 2 ulmer bloodpenny 3 daelus madune 4 gate warden egil the rage singer. I must of got the psedo dragon on the other FVS AND A EARTH elemental they are calling something else they just put flames on it...so 7 out of 12 so far Like I said it looks great just way smaller than I was hoping. and I did all this on a FVS SO I have afeeling fighter are going too have a rougher time so may take longer on melee another thing I found rather boring , once again (just like the under dark is the monster placement) every 2nd turn its the same mob with the same caster.. boring. spice it up. make where there is nothing then bam a hundred dead dwarves pop up out of the ground and make it random.. or have a bunch laying on the ground and then... they don't animate so you never know..... and have I don't know a juvenile dragon roaming the halls or something really bad ass that can spawn any where .. so you would always have too be on your guard. but the same group in the same place is Blah.

1. Rust monster
2. Harpy
3. Dwarven-ghost
4. Regular Ghost
5. Helmed Horror
6. Skelly
7. Earth Elemental
8. Psuedo Dragon
9. Human Necromancer
10. Shadow
11. Inanimate Object (made up of broken pillars/books)
12. Gate Warden

Those are the 12 to look for.

[lyrecono]

Have you finally added the pack to the ddo shop?
I'm getting sick and tired of fruitlessly spamming for a invite to the new content

[whereispowderedsilve]

Have you finally added the pack to the ddo shop?
I'm getting sick and tired of fruitlessly spamming for a invite to the new content

Same for the sake of convenience, please add the quest packs to the DDO store. Please & thank you, asking nicely/sincerely/politely.

It would be very much GREATLY appreciated! :P! :)! :D!

[lyrecono]

Same for the sake of convenience, please add the quest packs to the DDO store. Please & thank you, asking nicely/sincerely/politely.

It would be very much GREATLY appreciated! :P! :)! :D!

i just came from Lamania, where, yet again, nobody added the new packs to the ddo shop.
During Round 2, the dev's wpuld look into it. Why haven't you guys added this yet? why not make it standard with every new build?

[die]

i just came from Lamania, where, yet again, nobody added the new packs to the ddo shop.
During Round 2, the dev's wpuld look into it. Why haven't you guys added this yet? why not make it standard with every new build?

You can buy it. Type into the search bar Thunderholme. It worked last night. it was 90 or 95 tp

[lyrecono]

thanks for the misinformation, next time bring reading glasses.
The 95 tp item in the ddo shop on lamania is the guest pass, not the actual pack.

again dev's put the actual pack in the ddo store instead of the guest pass, guest passes need to be bought by a vip or someone who already bought the pack and given away.
This is a insulting slap in the face to a premium player.

Edit:
also, 90% of npc's are unresponsive, meaning that the ED bug is not yet fixed

[die]

thanks for the misinformation, next time bring reading glasses.
The 95 tp item in the ddo shop on lamania is the guest pass, not the actual pack.

again dev's put the actual pack in the ddo store instead of the guest pass, guest passes need to be bought by a vip or someone who already bought the pack and given away.
This is a insulting slap in the face to a premium player.

o.0 Sorry about that.

[Shorlong]

thanks for the misinformation, next time bring reading glasses.
The 95 tp item in the ddo shop on lamania is the guest pass, not the actual pack.

again dev's put the actual pack in the ddo store instead of the guest pass, guest passes need to be bought by a vip or someone who already bought the pack and given away.
This is a insulting slap in the face to a premium player.

Edit:
also, 90% of npc's are unresponsive, meaning that the ED bug is not yet fixed

Anger issues much?

Squeak commented that the reason the pack isn't on sale in the store yet is due to the team who works on the packs not having them ready yet. My assumption is that it isn't as easy as hitting a button to get them into the store. You also didn't need to jump down the guy's throat, he was trying to help and simply misunderstood either what you said or what he saw in the store. Not something that deserves you being a jerk to him about.

And as a current premium (VIP just ran out and have to take a break due to real life stuff), I can say that I don't feel insulted; these things can take time. Try to be more understanding instead of an ass.

[lyrecono]

o.0 Sorry about that.

thats ok, i'm a bit grumpy after waiting for weeks to get the darn pack added to the store on Lamania


Anger issues much?

Squeak commented that the reason the pack isn't on sale in the store yet is due to the team who works on the packs not having them ready yet. My assumption is that it isn't as easy as hitting a button to get them into the store. You also didn't need to jump down the guy's throat, he was trying to help and simply misunderstood either what you said or what he saw in the store. Not something that deserves you being a jerk to him about.

And as a current premium (VIP just ran out and have to take a break due to real life stuff), I can say that I don't feel insulted; these things can take time. Try to be more understanding instead of an ass.

by not putting it into the shop they block out a part of their paying player base. a lot of them are disappointed and insulted. there is taking time and there is taking their sweet time.
many of us have been blocked out or weeks, every round/update i'm told that it will be added in the next round. A pack should be added to the ddo shop before it goes live on Lamania.
It should be on their "new pack" checklist, right after adding non emo story writing, good loot an exp.

[Krelar]

It should be on their "new pack" checklist, right after adding non emo story writing, good loot an exp.

There's your problem...

They haven't finished those first three things yet! :D

[Havok.cry]

adding non emo story writingThis is not possible while they are concentrating on the Forgotten Realms.

[lyrecono]

There's your problem...

They haven't finished those first three things yet! :D


This is not possible while they are concentrating on the Forgotten Realms.

sadly, so true....


still, sorry "die", for jumping down your throat like that.

[maddmatt70]

Like I said, there are easy ways to avoid/mitigate this damage. You can use skill/gear. Whether it's working correctly, I cannot comment on what devs intended for this encounter, but it can easily be defeated with basic tactics/gear.

Well 650 points of damage is not a lot of damage for a tank build with a dedicated healer. It depends if there is a break between the 650 pts of damage ticks. Someone could twist in and wear some energy absorbtions items and take less damage. Spell absorbtion will probably run out on ee. I really dislike spell absorbtions personally although I think energy absorbtions are fine. I do not know why the devs went the spell absorbtion route so heavily in DDO. Seems like not a very good way to compensate for evasion. I would rather the devs nerf evasion in some way then this whole technique of spell absorbtions and spells that do not have a save sort of thing. Seems kind of like the devs went to a cheap less attractive solution.

[Nightmanis]

Well 650 points of damage is not a lot of damage for a tank build with a dedicated healer. It depends if there is a break between the 650 pts of damage ticks. Someone could twist in and wear some energy absorbtions items and take less damage. Spell absorbtion will probably run out on ee. I really dislike spell absorbtions personally although I think energy absorbtions are fine. I do not know why the devs went the spell absorbtion route so heavily in DDO. Seems like not a very good way to compensate for evasion. I would rather the devs nerf evasion in some way then this whole technique of spell absorbtions and spells that do not have a save sort of thing. Seems kind of like the devs went to a cheap less attractive solution.

I think the way it's heading, they're making shields better for defense. If it all stacks like Heal amp does, you could mitigate probably 100% of the elemental damage that you see in the game.

[Oxarhamar]

I think the way it's heading, they're making shields better for defense. If it all stacks like Heal amp does, you could mitigate probably 100% of the elemental damage that you see in the game.

and if it stacks to 100% we will likely see a serious nerf

[Nightmanis]

and if it stacks to 100% we will likely see a serious nerf

Let's figure it up then. Tower shield, twists, feats, etr.

Shield in question:

Purple Dragon Shield
Tower Shield
+ 8 Enhancement Bonus
+10 CHA
+ 10 CON
While blocking: 20% energy absorption
20% chance to shield bash while attacking
Sovereign Vorpal
Upgrade:
Purple augment slot
+8 Orb bonus

ETR in Question:

Divine Past Life Stance: While blocking, +10% damage absorption against Acid, Cold, Electric and Fire damage, per stack of this Past Life.

Note: Blocking does not require having a shield equipped.

Feat in question:

Shield Deflection Passive When actively blocking with any type of Shield you are proficient with, you gain a Competence bonus based on the type of shield to completly ignore Acid, Cold, Electic and Fire damage.

Buckler: 20%, Small Shield: 25%, Large Shield 30%, Tower Shield: 40%

Twists in Question:

Block Energy: Passive Bonus: While blocking, you absorb [10/20/30]% of Acid, Cold, Electric, Fire, Force, Light, and Sonic damage.

So, assuming all these stack and they stack like heal amp, we'll start with the feat Shield Deflection and go from there.

1.4 Shield Deflection
1.2 Purple Dragon Tower Shield
1.3 Block Energy ETR
1.3 Block Energy Twist (Tier 3 twist)

2.8392.

Or 284% of damage dealt by Cold, Acid, Electric, or fire blocked. And another 30% of force, light, and sonic blocked with the twists.

Difference between this and everything else? You have to have a shield equipped, this all pertains to a tower shield (max dex/dodge bonus 2), and you have to actively be blocking the attack for it to work, therefore you have to stop attacking and actually press the shift key.

[Oxarhamar]

So, assuming all these stack and they stack like heal amp, we'll start with the feat Shield Deflection and go from there.

1.4 Shield Deflection
1.2 Purple Dragon Tower Shield
1.3 Block Energy ETR
1.3 Block Energy Twist (Tier 3 twist)

2.8392.

Or 284% of damage dealt by Cold, Acid, Electric, or fire blocked. And another 30% of force, light, and sonic blocked with the twists.

Difference between this and everything else? You have to have a shield equipped, this all pertains to a tower shield (max dex/dodge bonus 2), and you have to actively be blocking the attack for it to work, therefore you have to stop attacking and actually press the shift key.

although you lost me after the "so assuming" bit

there is a lot of investment involved for a return that will mostly be effective only on stuff like Velah's Breath attack that can be easily timed and blocked.

[maddmatt70]

I hate blocking unless it is some sort of reactive blocking situation. If the dragon has a tell and you can then block if you read the tell correctly that is cool, but if this is one of those try to stay blocked as much as possible then I hate the concept. Blocking an entire quest with intermingling of using the intimidate skill is not a tactic that should ever be rewarded because that is an inactive play style. I much prefer hate tanking with some skill usage and other tactics throw in because that is a reward for player skill. Player activity means more skill. Blocking is not player activity.

[redspecter23]

I hate blocking unless it is some sort of reactive blocking situation. If the dragon has a tell and you can then block if you read the tell correctly that is cool, but if this is one of those try to stay blocked as much as possible then I hate the concept. Blocking an entire quest with intermingling of using the intimidate skill is not a tactic that should ever be rewarded because that is an inactive play style. I much prefer hate tanking with some skill usage and other tactics throw in because that is a reward for player skill. Player activity means more skill. Blocking is not player activity.

I think this is an important point to stress to the dev team. I personally hate active blocking. However, reactively blocking to a specific tell from time to time isn't so bad if the attack is extremely deadly and the act of blocking it severely reduces the threat. Blocking every swing from 15 giants on me isn't fun. It's annoying. Blocking LoB when he shows his tell is good reactive gameplay. Make this new attack more like LoB and you could get me to like reactive shield blocking from time to time. Make it like spammy giant knockback and I'll curse you til the servers shut down.

[lyrecono]

nice calculation, since the tower shield has a max dex, can you do the calculation for this one? the wall of wood (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Wall_of_Wood_(Level_24)) and the storm fist (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Bulwark_of_the_Storm%27s_Fist_(Level_25)) are still the go to shields for tanks with a dex modefier. (even though they're old content, nothing better was released)

[Nightmanis]

although you lost me after the "so assuming" bit

there is a lot of investment involved for a return that will mostly be effective only on stuff like Velah's Breath attack that can be easily timed and blocked.

Hence why it's most likely never going to be nerfed. Like you and Matt said, it's only useful on enemies that have a telltale sign of what's going to happen, such as Velah.

As far as constantly blocking goes, if you would continue blocking while doing other options (tumbling, cleaving, etc) then I could see it being actually a somewhat viable playstyle. However, every time you do anything while holding shift, you stop blocking and there's not really a point in holding shift anymore.

I wouldn't mind being able to just tumble and cleave everything with my shield up. Would be fun to try.

[Nightmanis]

nice calculation, since the tower shield has a max dex, can you do the calculation for this one? the wall of wood (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Wall_of_Wood_(Level_24)) and the storm fist (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Bulwark_of_the_Storm%27s_Fist_(Level_25)) are still the go to shields for tanks with a dex modefier. (even though they're old content, nothing better was released)

1.2 Deflection
1.3 Twist
1.3 ETR

It's still 200% blocked.

Also yes doing it with either of those shields is inherently better because then you actually get more defenses because of the higher dodge. Hence why my S&B build will use light armour and a heavy shield, vs fullplate and a tower (unless the Shadowscale actually retains a really good amount of defense that isn't given to the other armours, which it doesn't seem likely at the moment.)

Also, just to keep saying it:

GIVE US SHIELDS IN THE CRAFTING SYSTEM!!!!!!!

[JJMC895610]

ETR in Question:

Divine Past Life Stance: While blocking, +10% damage absorption against Acid, Cold, Electric and Fire damage, per stack of this Past Life.

Note: Blocking does not require having a shield equipped.

Feat in question:

Shield Deflection Passive When actively blocking with any type of Shield you are proficient with, you gain a Competence bonus based on the type of shield to completly ignore Acid, Cold, Electic and Fire damage.

Buckler: 20%, Small Shield: 25%, Large Shield 30%, Tower Shield: 40%

Twists in Question:

Block Energy: Passive Bonus: While blocking, you absorb [10/20/30]% of Acid, Cold, Electric, Fire, Force, Light, and Sonic damage.

So, assuming all these stack and they stack like heal amp, we'll start with the feat Shield Deflection and go from there.

1.4 Shield Deflection
1.2 Purple Dragon Tower Shield
1.3 Block Energy ETR
1.3 Block Energy Twist (Tier 3 twist)

2.8392.

Or 284% of damage dealt by Cold, Acid, Electric, or fire blocked. And another 30% of force, light, and sonic blocked with the twists.

Assuming all four of those effects stack, you would get 76.48% absorption (take 23.52% of the damage).
1-(0.6*0.8*0.7*0.7)=0.7648

[Nightmanis]

Assuming all four of those effects stack, you would get 76.48% absorption (take 23.52% of the damage).
1-(0.6*0.8*0.7*0.7)=0.7648

Hence why I said if it stacks like heal amp. We used to test this all the time, and the way I did it is correct.

[Krelar]

Hence why I said if it stacks like heal amp. We used to test this all the time, and the way I did it is correct.

The difference is that healing amp is a percent increase and elemental absorption is a percent decrease. What you did is incorrect for any kind of percent decrease.

[Nightmanis]

The difference is that healing amp is a percent increase and elemental absorption is a percent decrease. What you did is incorrect for any kind of percent decrease.

.......

...******.

[Eth]

Spend some time yesterday. Some stuff of note:

- Named items drop in wilderness chests
- Epic hard shadow dragon raid gives 3 chests, epic normal gives 2 chests
- commendations of valor drop in the end chests (12-21 each side chest, so 1 normal and 2 on hard)
- end reward gives random loot now (and renown/comms)
- if a person already flagged for the raid, teleports to the entrance other people in the group cannot do the flagging (it prevents that dragon breath chick from spawning)

[Sokól]

Well tried out Lamannia for the first time on friday here is some feedback:

Character copy fix it pls.

Rolled up a pure sorc thought there would be tomes, why no tomes?

Did the 2 dragon raid on en:
only random loot in chest, really fun raid, spell absorbion, fire absorbion needed and favors evasive toons with good saves.

[lyrecono]

Well tried out Lamannia for the first time on friday here is some feedback:

Character copy fix it pls.

Rolled up a pure sorc thought there would be tomes, why no tomes?

Did the 2 dragon raid on en:
only random loot in chests, really fun raid, spell absorbion, fire absorbion needed and favors evasive toons with good saves.


Character copy tool has sadly been broken/turned off for weeks
tomes could be bought in the DDO shop, assuming someone hasn't killed sir pointsalot again
(npc's can be killed with an ability, including the one that gives free points)

[Sokól]

Character copy tool has sadly been broken/turned off for weeks
tomes could be bought in the DDO shop, assuming someone hasn't killed sir pointsalot again
(npc's can be killed with an ability, including the one that gives free points)

he only gave 2k point not enough for tomes, I used some of the points for sp and hp pots.

IMO sir pointsnotenough should give 20k not 2k do not see the point on the limit for a test server...