Update 34 Lamannia

[Atheok]

Will we have Reaper Mode available on Lamannia before U34? And when should that be expected? End of November, beginning of December?

[Cordovan]

Unclear on the exact time frame, but yes, we will likely see more Reaper previewing prior to it being released on the Live servers.

[Silverleafeon]

Thanks.

I would like to say, the idea of making Reaper 1~10 skulls is absolutely brilliant!
The ability to adjust Reaper makes it so much better.
Making 1 DC per skull is a good change.
I like the thought that 10 skulls should be nigh impossible atm.

[Atheok]

Unclear on the exact time frame, but yes, we will likely see more Reaper previewing prior to it being released on the Live servers.

Thx for the reply, looking forward for it once again. I hope the PM aura and the shiradi procs get fixed too.

[Pyed-Pyper]

Unclear on the exact time frame, but yes, we will likely see more Reaper previewing prior to it being released on the Live servers.

Could we get an official explanation or description of what "Reaper" is?

[Sam-u-r-eye]

Could we get an official explanation or description of what "Reaper" is?

At the end of one of the live-streams Sev asserted that it was a "doom" difficulty with 10 different settings.
Implemented across all content.
With a generally uniform debuff/buff system.

Am curious how it will be integrated story-wise.

[Cordovan]

Could we get an official explanation or description of what "Reaper" is?

The DM wants to kill your characters.

[Pyed-Pyper]

The DM wants to kill your characters.

OK.

Care to share anything beyond a tag line? Vision, goal, purpose, you know, big picture stuff?

[Bzzzt]

OK.

Care to share anything beyond a tag line? Vision, goal, purpose, you know, big picture stuff?

https://averyteoda.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/rocksfall-everyonedies-good.jpg

[Steve_Howe]

OK.

Care to share anything beyond a tag line? Vision, goal, purpose, you know, big picture stuff?

It's to shut the people up who are whining about the game being "too easy."

[irnimnode]

The DM wants to kill your characters.
LOL don't sing bring it on. Not afraid to die. It is what i do best.

[Seikojin]

OK.

Care to share anything beyond a tag line? Vision, goal, purpose, you know, big picture stuff?

There are a handful of threads not in the reaper mode sub forums. Essentially it is a ramped up difficulty where enemies get buffs akin to champ mods and players get penalties that discourage solo play, encourage group play, tactics, and mechanic knowledge of the game. No specific details since it is really early, however I am sure a run on Lamannia when it comes up will be made.

[Pyed-Pyper]

To those of you that replied to my question and don't work for Turbine, thank you for the effort, but you cannot answer my question.

What is the purpose of Reaper? What is the point? What goal(s) should be achieved by Reaper so that it is considered a success by the development team?

I would be very surprised to get an answer. I get it, there's a lot of rage hate vented here on the forums. Every drop of information from the devs gets hashed, rehashed, twisted, mangled, splattered, regurgitated in unrecognizable forms, and subjected to unethical scientific experiments before starting yet another round of the same cycle of treatment. Wash rinse repeat. Who would want to dip a toe into that pool.

I've read plenty on the forums, and watched some posted videos. I read a lot of what players want or think what Reaper is to be, but the players are not the ones making the decisions. So I ask again,

What is the purpose of Reaper? What is the point? What goal(s) should be achieved by Reaper so that it is considered a success by the development team?

[nokowi]

The DM wants to kill your characters.

I expect some serious pwnage if you guys appear again in the 11th anniversary event.

10 Skull Cordovan!
10 Skull Severlan!

[sirgog]

To those of you that replied to my question and don't work for Turbine, thank you for the effort, but you cannot answer my question.

What is the purpose of Reaper? What is the point? What goal(s) should be achieved by Reaper so that it is considered a success by the development team?

I would be very surprised to get an answer. I get it, there's a lot of rage hate vented here on the forums. Every drop of information from the devs gets hashed, rehashed, twisted, mangled, splattered, regurgitated in unrecognizable forms, and subjected to unethical scientific experiments before starting yet another round of the same cycle of treatment. Wash rinse repeat. Who would want to dip a toe into that pool.

I've read plenty on the forums, and watched some posted videos. I read a lot of what players want or think what Reaper is to be, but the players are not the ones making the decisions. So I ask again,

What is the purpose of Reaper? What is the point? What goal(s) should be achieved by Reaper so that it is considered a success by the development team?



The answer to that question is obvious.

To keep long-term enfranchised players playing the game and spending money on it.

If it attracts even some of the people like me (long term players that have barely touched the game in the post-Shadowfell period) back, it will be a huge success. As soon as I read that it was on Lamannia I returned to the game confident that there will be something to do again in the future.

[Eth]

The answer to that question is obvious.

To keep long-term enfranchised players playing the game and spending money on it.

If it attracts even some of the people like me (long term players that have barely touched the game in the post-Shadowfell period) back, it will be a huge success. As soon as I read that it was on Lamannia I returned to the game confident that there will be something to do again in the future.

Pretty much.
Half our guild returned a couple weeks ago. First time we had an almost full guild only raid group since about a 1.5 years.

[MeliCat]

Pretty much.
Half our guild returned a couple weeks ago. First time we had an almost full guild only raid group since about a 1.5 years.

:D Squee! I look forward to seeing your achievements on the forums. You guys and others who will also come back...

[Cordovan]

To those of you that replied to my question and don't work for Turbine, thank you for the effort, but you cannot answer my question.

What is the purpose of Reaper? What is the point? What goal(s) should be achieved by Reaper so that it is considered a success by the development team?

I would be very surprised to get an answer. I get it, there's a lot of rage hate vented here on the forums. Every drop of information from the devs gets hashed, rehashed, twisted, mangled, splattered, regurgitated in unrecognizable forms, and subjected to unethical scientific experiments before starting yet another round of the same cycle of treatment. Wash rinse repeat. Who would want to dip a toe into that pool.

I've read plenty on the forums, and watched some posted videos. I read a lot of what players want or think what Reaper is to be, but the players are not the ones making the decisions. So I ask again,

What is the purpose of Reaper? What is the point? What goal(s) should be achieved by Reaper so that it is considered a success by the development team?

The purpose is to offer an exceptional level of difficulty for those who want it. It began as a discussion of a difficulty level above Elite, and has become Reaper difficulty. We'll deem it a success if some of our best geared and skilled players enjoy it.

[Qhualor]

The answer to that question is obvious.

To keep long-term enfranchised players playing the game and spending money on it.

If it attracts even some of the people like me (long term players that have barely touched the game in the post-Shadowfell period) back, it will be a huge success. As soon as I read that it was on Lamannia I returned to the game confident that there will be something to do again in the future.

Well this enfranchised player will be walking away probably a couple weeks after Reaper is released. Good to know now with an unconfirmed date. Why? Because I don't agree with the devs idea of what they consider a fun challenge. Really all they did was pool together some forum suggestions that they enjoy a challenge playing their self imposed nerfed characters, some wanted to bring back class roles and some enjoy one shot mechanics and combining all that into a multi tiered difficulty. Than they will create a story line to explain this reasoning.

Really you didn't have to wait for the devs to create Reaper. A lot of what's in Reaper has been here all along. If you enjoy your characters self healing nerfed, don't equip a devotion item. If you enjoy getting one shot, don't equip damage mitigation items and run quests 5+ levels below elite. If you enjoy class roles there is PD and you could group with like minded players.

For me, I have nothing left to aspire to. I can already beat elite either solo or in a group and not always in a full group or with team oriented players. I can do it playing classes I've never played before. I can do it without great gear. I can do it without multiple past lives. I probably would have met the devs half way and given a ton of feedback on Reaper if it wasn't for the mechanics that is offered and stayed with the game, but since the devs lost control of power creep, the core of D&D and can't develop a sensible challenge, I see no point.

[Qezuzu]

Really you didn't have to wait for the devs to create Reaper. A lot of what's in Reaper has been here all along. If you enjoy your characters self healing nerfed, don't equip a devotion item. If you enjoy getting one shot, don't equip damage mitigation items and run quests 5+ levels below elite. If you enjoy class roles there is PD and you could group with like minded players.

Now find a full party of players who will willingly join you, running quests far below level, without any gear, and with no tangible reward. See how easy it would be to find players to do that, and see how easy it would be to enforce things like no devotion items, or no PRR items, etc.

"Just gimp yourself" is a terrible suggestion. The game should provide challenge in a natural manner. It is much easier to just leave DDO and find a game that provides actual challenge, than it is to spend time thinking of self-imposed rules that don't work in a group, and may or may not actually challenge you (super pro-tip: most heroic elite quests are still super easy when ran without any gear on.) This is why Reaper mode is being implemented: because they're losing players. My entire guild is psyched for reaper mode, it's giving us renewed interest in the game, many people I know feel the same way.

You've expressed harsh dislike of Reaper mode before and I'll just say: I don't understand why. It seems to me you dislike the concept in general, not its design, even though you admit elite offers you no challenge. What do you want to see in a challenge mode, if at all? What exactly do you dislike about reaper? Because thus far, you've offered no suggestions on how to improve reaper mode, only rantings that it's a terrible idea that will ruin DDO, or something.

[Sam-u-r-eye]

Now find a full party of players who will willingly join you, running quests far below level, without any gear, and with no tangible reward. See how easy it would be to find players to do that, and see how easy it would be to enforce things like no devotion items, or no PRR items, etc.

"Just gimp yourself" is a terrible suggestion. The game should provide challenge in a natural manner. It is much easier to just leave DDO and find a game that provides actual challenge, than it is to spend time thinking of self-imposed rules that don't work in a group, and may or may not actually challenge you (super pro-tip: most heroic elite quests are still super easy when ran without any gear on.) This is why Reaper mode is being implemented: because they're losing players. My entire guild is psyched for reaper mode, it's giving us renewed interest in the game, many people I know feel the same way.

You've expressed harsh dislike of Reaper mode before and I'll just say: I don't understand why. It seems to me you dislike the concept in general, not its design, even though you admit elite offers you no challenge. What do you want to see in a challenge mode, if at all? What exactly do you dislike about reaper? Because thus far, you've offered no suggestions on how to improve reaper mode, only rantings that it's a terrible idea that will ruin DDO, or something.

+1

[Sam-u-r-eye]

Well this enfranchised player will be walking away probably a couple weeks after Reaper is released. Good to know now with an unconfirmed date. Why? Because I don't agree with the devs idea of what they consider a fun challenge. Really all they did was pool together some forum suggestions that they enjoy a challenge playing their self imposed nerfed characters, some wanted to bring back class roles and some enjoy one shot mechanics and combining all that into a multi tiered difficulty. Than they will create a story line to explain this reasoning.

Really you didn't have to wait for the devs to create Reaper. A lot of what's in Reaper has been here all along. If you enjoy your characters self healing nerfed, don't equip a devotion item. If you enjoy getting one shot, don't equip damage mitigation items and run quests 5+ levels below elite. If you enjoy class roles there is PD and you could group with like minded players.

For me, I have nothing left to aspire to. I can already beat elite either solo or in a group and not always in a full group or with team oriented players. I can do it playing classes I've never played before. I can do it without great gear. I can do it without multiple past lives. I probably would have met the devs half way and given a ton of feedback on Reaper if it wasn't for the mechanics that is offered and stayed with the game, but since the devs lost control of power creep, the core of D&D and can't develop a sensible challenge, I see no point.

Quitting the game because something was added to it that you don't like, but don't have to use, is silly.

The answer to your complaint is the answer you're trying to give others. Ironically.
I don't think its a good answer but you're basically saying, "Play the game how you want!"

So DO IT. Not every update is for everyone. I despised the 10th anniversary gear and irony but managed to find some fun in it. Did I take a break for a bit? Yeah, but people need breaks to. But hey! Try 1 skull on Lama and see if you enjoy it. It will make heroics a lot more interesting!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXsQAXx_ao0

[Qhualor]

Quitting the game because something was added to it that you don't like, but don't have to use, is silly.

The answer to your complaint is the answer you're trying to give others. Ironically.
I don't think its a good answer but you're basically saying, "Play the game how you want!"

So DO IT. Not every update is for everyone. I despised the 10th anniversary gear and irony but managed to find some fun in it. Did I take a break for a bit? Yeah, but people need breaks to. But hey! Try 1 skull on Lama and see if you enjoy it. It will make heroics a lot more interesting!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXsQAXx_ao0

Perhaps you missed the part where I said I have nothing left to aspire to. I had been asking for a sensible and balanced challenge for years and Reaper was what the devs came up with. I don't find those mechanics fun or a sensible challenge and I doubt the devs are going to design yet another difficulty setting for players like me, so I see no sense in continuing to play when I have "beaten" the game.

[Qhualor]

Now find a full party of players who will willingly join you, running quests far below level, without any gear, and with no tangible reward. See how easy it would be to find players to do that, and see how easy it would be to enforce things like no devotion items, or no PRR items, etc.

"Just gimp yourself" is a terrible suggestion. The game should provide challenge in a natural manner. It is much easier to just leave DDO and find a game that provides actual challenge, than it is to spend time thinking of self-imposed rules that don't work in a group, and may or may not actually challenge you (super pro-tip: most heroic elite quests are still super easy when ran without any gear on.) This is why Reaper mode is being implemented: because they're losing players. My entire guild is psyched for reaper mode, it's giving us renewed interest in the game, many people I know feel the same way.

You've expressed harsh dislike of Reaper mode before and I'll just say: I don't understand why. It seems to me you dislike the concept in general, not its design, even though you admit elite offers you no challenge. What do you want to see in a challenge mode, if at all? What exactly do you dislike about reaper? Because thus far, you've offered no suggestions on how to improve reaper mode, only rantings that it's a terrible idea that will ruin DDO, or something.

Of course it's a terrible suggestion, but that's what Reaper essentially is. When I asked for a better challenge on elite I was met with remarks telling me exactly the same thing. Some players didn't want elite to get harder for them, even though they had multiple options.

I am fine with a tougher challenge, but not one that doesn't make sense. The design I have a problem with, as I have mentioned many times before. If you have been following my recent few posts on Reaper, than maybe you remember the many many suggestions I have made for what I believe makes for a sensible challenge over the years. I've also made several threads on the PC forums. What we have been told is that it's too costly and time consuming for the devs to go back and rebalance content vs character power. Fine, I can sort of understand that but will accept it. Some of my suggestions have been what I think are easy implementations or just boosting existing mechanics. Over the years, have any of my suggestions been seriously discussed or put into the game? Nope. So what makes you think suddenly the devs are going to scrap all their work on Reaper, send it back to the drawing board and listen to my suggestions? Especially when we all know there are no major changes to anything once it hits Lamannia. Next round is focused on bug fixes.

[Elfishski]

Of course it's a terrible suggestion, but that's what Reaper essentially is. When I asked for a better challenge on elite I was met with remarks telling me exactly the same thing. Some players didn't want elite to get harder for them, even though they had multiple options.

I am fine with a tougher challenge, but not one that doesn't make sense. The design I have a problem with, as I have mentioned many times before. If you have been following my recent few posts on Reaper, than maybe you remember the many many suggestions I have made for what I believe makes for a sensible challenge over the years. I've also made several threads on the PC forums. What we have been told is that it's too costly and time consuming for the devs to go back and rebalance content vs character power. Fine, I can sort of understand that but will accept it. Some of my suggestions have been what I think are easy implementations or just boosting existing mechanics. Over the years, have any of my suggestions been seriously discussed or put into the game? Nope. So what makes you think suddenly the devs are going to scrap all their work on Reaper, send it back to the drawing board and listen to my suggestions? Especially when we all know there are no major changes to anything once it hits Lamannia. Next round is focused on bug fixes.

I'll agree that they should never have unbalanced the game so badly with the absurd power creep that they've implemented (e.g. adding a crit profile expansion to every single tree/class... how did that address any balance other than making the most powerful ability of every melee/ranged class into the same thing and reduce diversity?), adding bonus melee/ranged/spell power all through epic and in every epic tree - again, just made everyone more powerful for no particular purpose, and made elite trivial to skilled players.

But mistakes were made, it's too late to go back, and the game is what it is. Given the current situation, a reaper difficulty that universally weakens self-sufficiency and DPS of characters is probably the best solution.

When you're looking at 10-star Reaper and saying "that's absurd" well that's the point, but 1 or 2 star reaper will hopefully be an appropriate and modest increase in difficulty that will give you something to aspire to again on your characters. As long as the devs don't make the horrible follow-up mistake of multiplying character power by 10 again within the space of the next 3 or 4 updates as happened in the last 3 or 4 updates, trivialising even 10 star reaper.

As others have more eloquently said, we do enjoy making characters better, and while I'm happy playing a concept-build character with deliberate flaws, I want to at least make them as powerful as I can within that concept. If I want to have a challenge in a group, the only way that can possibly work (without a static group of friends who play at the same time) is to have restrictions imposed by the game, otherwise I'm just functionally piking while all the monsters die instantly, which isn't fun for me nor is anyone else pleased.

[Pyed-Pyper]

The purpose is to offer an exceptional level of difficulty for those who want it. It began as a discussion of a difficulty level above Elite, and has become Reaper difficulty. We'll deem it a success if some of our best geared and skilled players enjoy it.

Thank you for the reply. I am curious about how the development team is dealing with certain concepts regarding Reaper mode. There are probably many ways to describe them. I would phrase them like this:

At which level will Reaper first be available? Will someone be able to run Reaper mode Cannith Crystal, for example? How will Reaper alter the loot bonus to chests? Will there be a Reaper enhancement tree (as someone suggested), or other power boosts to deal with the increased difficulty?

[nayozz]

the thing i would like to read he most about lammania release notes... would be the fvs enhancement revamp :D

can't wait...

[Kza]

the thing i would like to read he most about lammania release notes... would be the fvs enhancement revamp :D

can't wait...

Agreed, excited!! And will be really fun se the new patron tree, IF that also is comming this update.

[Seikojin]

So Cordovan, U34 due next weekend on lamannia? :)

[Sam-u-r-eye]

So Cordovan, U34 due next weekend on lamannia? :)

eh?

This weekend? ^^

[Cordovan]

We want to give everyone a heads up that we're pushing U34 into January so we can (hopefully) include Reaper difficulty with it, along with a few other things. We're still targeting some kind of patch for December, which will probably have a few bug fixes in it. We're also targeting an updated Reaper preview for Lamannia soonish.

[Sam-u-r-eye]

roger doger

[Steve_Howe]

We want to give everyone a heads up that we're pushing U34 into January so we can (hopefully) include Reaper difficulty with it, along with a few other things. We're still targeting some kind of patch for December, which will probably have a few bug fixes in it. We're also targeting an updated Reaper preview for Lamannia soonish.

Thanks for the heads up.

[HastyPudding]

We want to give everyone a heads up that we're pushing U34 into January so we can (hopefully) include Reaper difficulty with it, along with a few other things. We're still targeting some kind of patch for December, which will probably have a few bug fixes in it. We're also targeting an updated Reaper preview for Lamannia soonish.

Good. More polish is better than a rushed update.

[Seikojin]

eh?

This weekend? ^^


We want to give everyone a heads up that we're pushing U34 into January so we can (hopefully) include Reaper difficulty with it, along with a few other things. We're still targeting some kind of patch for December, which will probably have a few bug fixes in it. We're also targeting an updated Reaper preview for Lamannia soonish.

Hopefully? :) Awesome on the updated info Cordovan.

[Eryhn]

We want to give everyone a heads up that we're pushing U34 into January so we can (hopefully) include Reaper difficulty with it, along with a few other things. We're still targeting some kind of patch for December, which will probably have a few bug fixes in it. We're also targeting an updated Reaper preview for Lamannia soonish.

thats a good thing imho. rushed things breaking things before xmas holidays isnt nice so good call. bug fixes also never hurt. since you ARE targeting some fixes, could you plz include the cannith crafting issues about extra shards not going where they are supposed to be able to go in some cases?

[Eth]

Cool.

[fearlossPhiction]

We want to give everyone a heads up that we're pushing U34 into January so we can (hopefully) include Reaper difficulty with it, along with a few other things. We're still targeting some kind of patch for December, which will probably have a few bug fixes in it. We're also targeting an updated Reaper preview for Lamannia soonish.#

migt be a good idea to publish this in general as well so it shows up in the normal dev tracker

[Fenix93]

We want to give everyone a heads up that we're pushing U34 into January so we can (hopefully) include Reaper difficulty with it, along with a few other things. We're still targeting some kind of patch for December, which will probably have a few bug fixes in it. We're also targeting an updated Reaper preview for Lamannia soonish.
So the Reaper will be upwards with 34? perhaps better that way longer it applies in reviewing the content and the pug more likely you are to come out in good shape right away.