What happened to Reaper 1??

[aureolin]

I've been trying to run more quests on Reaper difficulty this life (2nd life arti) - normally I don't run Reaper at all unless I'm in a party. Until very recently I used to see 1 or perhaps 2 reapers in a quest on Reaper 1. Now I usually see 2 to 3 reapers at a time, along with a large mob spawn. It's easy to spot when it happens - the number of mobs will suddenly double or more (the original spawn, not the number remaining "alive") and two or three reapers will appear. The last several quests I've ran at Reaper 1, I've seen a solo reaper exactly once. This seems to be the same across both old and new content. I've seen multiple spawns most recently in the Feywild and Delera's tomb quests. This is lots of fun when you're running solo on a squishy second-life ranged toon. :-P

Steve G (Zaqar on Sarlona)

P.S. When I run with parties, even on high reapers in epic levels, multiple reapers are the exception rather than the rule. So, what happened to Reaper 1????

[helpfulguy1234]

Yeah I get streaks like that too, I guess it's "random". As much as I believe SSG's version of random.........

[slarden]

I am not sure how the calculation works, but it seems there are more reapers in bigger mobs vs smaller so it might be based on the # of enemies in an area. skull is definitely part of the calculation as well.

I haven't noticed any difference in the number of reapers spawning. I doubt they would have focused on R1 with any changes.

[Bjond]

https://forums.ddo.com/forums//attachment.php?attachmentid=1440&d=1603016773
could be worse

[droid327]

There should never be any "extra" mobs that spawn above what normally would...scaling caps out in Elite, so that is the max mob density

That being said, lots of quests have high mob density at points, and every mob that spawns can spawn a reaper - so big spawns are more likely to have one or more reapers. Deleras I know has lots of big packs of undead. It also has scripted spawns that appear on a delay, so that might be why you suddenly see the mobs "double"

Aside from that, it's just rng being rng. Sometimes you get clusters.

[aureolin]

https://forums.ddo.com/forums//attachment.php?attachmentid=1440&d=1603016773
could be worse

lol!!!

[adamkatt]

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/743898785733935248/801604145508515850/unknown.png?width=1199&height=675

I think this was r3 kobald assault back in jan 2021

[slarden]

https://forums.ddo.com/forums//attachment.php?attachmentid=1440&d=1603016773
could be worse


Haha I recognize that from the first time I ran the Depths chain on reaper in 2017 and was using a repeater to attack splitting puddings. It went about like this, but I was only @ R3 at the time - so at least no dooms.

[AlcoArgo]

You may also be seeing more mobs spawn than expected because reapers tend to aggro everything in range on you. So mobs that may be out of range or around a corner that you usually don't aggro immediately will run to you.

[CaptainPurge]

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/743898785733935248/801604145508515850/unknown.png?width=1199&height=675

I think this was r3 kobald assault back in jan 2021

The real question is ... how in the H E double hockey sticks did you manage to leave that many reapers untouched?

[adamkatt]

The real question is ... how in the H E double hockey sticks did you manage to leave that many reapers untouched?


As long as you stay inside the gates reaper spawns are too far away to notice you. I didnt step outside the gate until finished . i think ive seen as many as 20 reapers out there.

[CaptainPurge]

As long as you stay inside the gates reaper spawns are too far away to notice you. I didnt step outside the gate until finished . i think ive seen as many as 20 reapers out there.

Ahh. KA is an auto-skip for me. I don't think I even ran it much pre-Reaper but maybe before tons of other XP options were added.

[droid327]

Ahh. KA is an auto-skip for me. I don't think I even ran it much pre-Reaper but maybe before tons of other XP options were added.

Yeah I wish H/E scaling also shortened the script interval in "wave" missions like KA and DA. If you're asking for a tougher map, then the mobs should come at you faster too.

Then the XP/min might actually be worthwhile, if you can handle it

[CaptainPurge]

Yeah I wish H/E scaling also shortened the script interval in "wave" missions like KA and DA. If you're asking for a tougher map, then the mobs should come at you faster too.

Then the XP/min might actually be worthwhile, if you can handle it

That's a fantastic idea. Would we include raids?

[Xgya]

https://forums.ddo.com/forums//attachment.php?attachmentid=1440&d=1603016773
could be worse

About as much DOOOM as the average weekend forum post :P

[AbyssalMage]

P.S. When I run with parties, even on high reapers in epic levels, multiple reapers are the exception rather than the rule. So, what happened to Reaper 1????
You are running on R1 which is the problem. After Hardcore Season 2 (or maybe it was 3?) the number of Reapers that spawned on Reaper 1 was increased (it was first introduced during the HC season and immediately carried over to the "Live" servers). Unfortunately the change didn't effect Reaper 2+ so they were mechanically easier. While I was on hiatus (ok, I quit but came back) they changed it even further. I now average 6 to 8 Reapers on R1 but when I group with my friend we had as low as 1 x Reaper and at most 4 x Reapers on higher difficulties. I think we did have one outlier with 7 x Reapers. There are some other problems with R1 (getting 1-shotted has actually become more common) than in R2 but I don't run enough R2 to give a definitive conclusion about this one. Build up your Reaper points and move to R2 when you can. Just hope SSG doesn't get sore and nerf R2+ because of this thread/feedback.


I am not sure how the calculation works, but it seems there are more reapers in bigger mobs vs smaller so it might be based on the # of enemies in an area. skull is definitely part of the calculation as well.

I haven't noticed any difference in the number of reapers spawning. I doubt they would have focused on R1 with any changes.
"Quest Length," as defined by the developers, has a huge impact. There is a check, regardless of "agro" to spawn a Reaper (this was actually supposed to have been removed at some point) so simply moving left/right at the entrance to begin "buffing" or summoning a merc can actually spawn them. Very annoying even if it is a minuscule chance!. Any time a NPC spawns has a greater than average chance to also spawn a Reaper (Example: The werewolves in Yester Hill).

And yes, they focused on making R1 purposefully harder back in Season 2 or 3 of HC (as mentioned above). It actually makes R2 and R3 easier mechanically than R1 in a full group. Solo, it can be easier if your build can get past the Heal Penalty.


There should never be any "extra" mobs that spawn above what normally would...scaling caps out in Elite, so that is the max mob density
Scaling caps out at 4 players in group content while all NPC's are scaled to max in Raids. There is legacy code that actually accounts for classes but I've read mixed reviews that this was removed.

Challenges scale 1:1 unless that was changed.


That being said, lots of quests have high mob density at points, and every mob that spawns can spawn a reaper - so big spawns are more likely to have one or more reapers. Deleras I know has lots of big packs of undead. It also has scripted spawns that appear on a delay, so that might be why you suddenly see the mobs "double"
Agreed.

Mobs "double" depending on party size. It's why if you are in a full party you are more likely to see Orange/Red Alerts frequently while small party/solo you may get Green/Yellow (initially until "Call for Help" triggers).


Aside from that, it's just rng being rng. Sometimes you get clusters.
I wish it was RNG :/ It's horrible coding. And it is HC rules bleeding into "Live Servers."

[Wizard1406]

You are running on R1 which is the problem. After Hardcore Season 2 (or maybe it was 3?) the number of Reapers that spawned on Reaper 1 was increased (it was first introduced during the HC season and immediately carried over to the "Live" servers). Unfortunately the change didn't effect Reaper 2+ so they were mechanically easier. While I was on hiatus (ok, I quit but came back) they changed it even further. I now average 6 to 8 Reapers on R1 but when I group with my friend we had as low as 1 x Reaper and at most 4 x Reapers on higher difficulties. I think we did have one outlier with 7 x Reapers. There are some other problems with R1 (getting 1-shotted has actually become more common) than in R2 but I don't run enough R2 to give a definitive conclusion about this one. Build up your Reaper points and move to R2 when you can. Just hope SSG doesn't get sore and nerf R2+ because of this thread/feedback.


This is really unfair to new/casual players. Hardcore should never affect regular servers. R1 already has been buffed before, by giving mobs higher saves.

I don't have much problems with leveling in R1 anymore, except the occasional super buffed caster/DOT champs, but that's unrelated to reapers and probably a scaling bug. However going to R2 already makes the quest take noticably longer solo, especially in quests with "bag of HP" red names like in Wheloon and Stormhorns. While the rxp increase is not worth the extra time, unless you never play legendary to farm rxp.

[adamkatt]

Ahh. KA is an auto-skip for me. I don't think I even ran it much pre-Reaper but maybe before tons of other XP options were added.

yeah this was back when i was new to rxp, it takes too long these days but it was good for a few screenshots.

[dunklezhan]

That's a fantastic idea. Would we include raids?

I'd certainly prefer this kind of thing as a mechanic for difficulty scaling than "bump HP/Saves/Damage and add arbitrarily super powered random adversaries" but... reckon that's a LOT of hand crafting they'd have to go back and do. :(

[slarden]

You are running on R1 which is the problem. After Hardcore Season 2 (or maybe it was 3?) the number of Reapers that spawned on Reaper 1 was increased (it was first introduced during the HC season and immediately carried over to the "Live" servers). Unfortunately the change didn't effect Reaper 2+ so they were mechanically easier. While I was on hiatus (ok, I quit but came back) they changed it even further. I now average 6 to 8 Reapers on R1 but when I group with my friend we had as low as 1 x Reaper and at most 4 x Reapers on higher difficulties. I think we did have one outlier with 7 x Reapers. There are some other problems with R1 (getting 1-shotted has actually become more common) than in R2 but I don't run enough R2 to give a definitive conclusion about this one. Build up your Reaper points and move to R2 when you can. Just hope SSG doesn't get sore and nerf R2+ because of this thread/feedback.


"Quest Length," as defined by the developers, has a huge impact. There is a check, regardless of "agro" to spawn a Reaper (this was actually supposed to have been removed at some point) so simply moving left/right at the entrance to begin "buffing" or summoning a merc can actually spawn them. Very annoying even if it is a minuscule chance!. Any time a NPC spawns has a greater than average chance to also spawn a Reaper (Example: The werewolves in Yester Hill).

And yes, they focused on making R1 purposefully harder back in Season 2 or 3 of HC (as mentioned above). It actually makes R2 and R3 easier mechanically than R1 in a full group. Solo, it can be easier if your build can get past the Heal Penalty.


Scaling caps out at 4 players in group content while all NPC's are scaled to max in Raids. There is legacy code that actually accounts for classes but I've read mixed reviews that this was removed.

Challenges scale 1:1 unless that was changed.


Agreed.

Mobs "double" depending on party size. It's why if you are in a full party you are more likely to see Orange/Red Alerts frequently while small party/solo you may get Green/Yellow (initially until "Call for Help" triggers).


I wish it was RNG :/ It's horrible coding. And it is HC rules bleeding into "Live Servers."

I don't believe this theory as I participated in reaper HC1 - HC3 and was one of the first on the server to get my cloak season 1 and 2. I completed all seasons mostly on R1 and I didn't notice any real difference between the seasons. There are a few quests where I drop down from R4 to R1 solo due to quest difficulty/mechanics and it's always a breeze.

And just logically it doesn't seem they would program or hard-code R1 this way. Everything scales by skull so it sure seems the code is done that way vs having some special rule for R1 to make hardcore more difficult. Hardcore is much easier compared to season 1 now.

[AbyssalMage]

And just logically it doesn't seem they would program or hard-code R1 this way. Everything scales by skull so it sure seems the code is done that way vs having some special rule for R1 to make hardcore more difficult. Hardcore is much easier compared to season 1 now.
It was asked/answered in a live stream. Then it was "debated" here on the forums.

When Reaper was first introduced you could finish R1 while never seeing a Reaper. Especially on short/medium adventures. This was the "fix" SSG implemented to help prevent this from happening during the above mentioned HC season. Unfortunately (fortunately?) this DID make R2 easier because that specific coding doesn't effect R2+ and so you are less likely to spawn Reapers. Maybe it is/was an oversight. It isn't like SSG has a stellar track record of quality control.

Since my last post, and playing a lot more in R2, I can still confirm I see less than 5 reapers/run. I run on R1 with another toon and still regularly encounter 6+ on many of the same length adventures.

[slarden]

It was asked/answered in a live stream. Then it was "debated" here on the forums.

When Reaper was first introduced you could finish R1 while never seeing a Reaper. Especially on short/medium adventures. This was the "fix" SSG implemented to help prevent this from happening during the above mentioned HC season. Unfortunately (fortunately?) this DID make R2 easier because that specific coding doesn't effect R2+ and so you are less likely to spawn Reapers. Maybe it is/was an oversight. It isn't like SSG has a stellar track record of quality control.

Since my last post, and playing a lot more in R2, I can still confirm I see less than 5 reapers/run. I run on R1 with another toon and still regularly encounter 6+ on many of the same length adventures.

Can you send a link to the livestream.

This doesn't match my experience at all. When I run R10 every room is loaded with reapers of all kinds. When I solo R4-R6 I see many reapers. When I drop down to R1 for a few quests I barely see any reapers compared to the other difficulties and completing is so easy compared to the higher difficulties. R1 is significantly easier than R4.

When they made R1 a bit more difficult the flattened the curve slightly making R1 slightly more difficult and R10 easier (less of a damage debuff, etc.).

I don't think the R1-R10 adjustments had anything to do with hardcore. There were many comments that R1 was easier than elite and also that it took too long to take down bosses on R10 due to the damage debuff. After the change I did notice R10 being easier, but didn't really notice any difference at lower difficulties - the difference was too small.

[Cordovan]

As far as I am aware there aren't specific Reaper number spawning rules for Reaper 1 difficulty that exist only in Reaper 1. Additionally, unless for some reason we ran a specific command or something on Hardcore to address a specific bug there, there wouldn't be a change brought first to Hardcore then the rest of the game worlds. The Hardcore server gets the same game builds as the rest.

[merridyan]

Can you send a link to the livestream.


I suspect there is not a link to send. This is just rumormongering.

[AbyssalMage]

As far as I am aware there aren't specific Reaper number spawning rules for Reaper 1 difficulty that exist only in Reaper 1. Additionally, unless for some reason we ran a specific command or something on Hardcore to address a specific bug there, there wouldn't be a change brought first to Hardcore then the rest of the game worlds. The Hardcore server gets the same game builds as the rest.

It wasn't you that responded to the question. It was the person "in charge" of Reaper for that Season. I just looked at Wiki and Season 2 introduced the new Champions which makes me think this is when the code was put in place. It has been 2 years so there have been a lot of changes to the game in general and staff turn over.

Thankfully you are still awesome as ever Cordovan.

[AbyssalMage]

I suspect there is not a link to send. This is just rumormongering.
I personally don't keep links to their live streams. I usually don't even watch them unless there is a monumental/seismic change coming to the live servers

Do the employees keep links to their live streams? Although this was 2020 season 2 or 3 so if you know where to find that range you are free to look at the hours of footage. It will be about HC so that should narrow it down a little. Cordovan didn't answer the question so that should narrow down videos where he is the sole commentator.

[Dalnarac]

I've been trying to run more quests on Reaper difficulty this life (2nd life arti) - normally I don't run Reaper at all unless I'm in a party. Until very recently I used to see 1 or perhaps 2 reapers in a quest on Reaper 1. Now I usually see 2 to 3 reapers at a time, along with a large mob spawn. It's easy to spot when it happens - the number of mobs will suddenly double or more (the original spawn, not the number remaining "alive") and two or three reapers will appear. The last several quests I've ran at Reaper 1, I've seen a solo reaper exactly once. This seems to be the same across both old and new content. I've seen multiple spawns most recently in the Feywild and Delera's tomb quests. This is lots of fun when you're running solo on a squishy second-life ranged toon. :-P

Steve G (Zaqar on Sarlona)

P.S. When I run with parties, even on high reapers in epic levels, multiple reapers are the exception rather than the rule. So, what happened to Reaper 1????

My understanding, each mob has a chance to spawn a reaper. Each death (mob, character, pet or hireling) has a chance to spawn a reaper. That being said... I have seen, what I call, bugged quest. Where more mobs spawn than my single player should bring. Since I solo reaper1 a lot, I have learned to identify this issue pretty quick. If I see more mobs in the first or second group than expected, i will get out of the quest and reset. Go back in and low and behold, less mobs. It does seam to happen more often in the past 6 months. Or I am doing more quest in the past 6 months. Not sure :)

[merridyan]

I personally don't keep links to their live streams. I usually don't even watch them unless there is a monumental/seismic change coming to the live servers

Do the employees keep links to their live streams? Although this was 2020 season 2 or 3 so if you know where to find that range you are free to look at the hours of footage. It will be about HC so that should narrow it down a little. Cordovan didn't answer the question so that should narrow down videos where he is the sole commentator.

Checked them all, no mention whatsoever.

[thegreatcthulhu]

Reaper spawns for me have always been hit or miss for me. Sometimes I get zilch, other times I get a decent amount. It feels like the odds of seeing them go up with monster groups that appear "out of thin air" versus the initial ones that are placed on the map with the initial dungeon load.

For example, Witch Hunt - When Beatrice summons her red caps on R1, a reaper will get summoned with the red caps every 3 or so cycles. Otherwise, if I get lucky and kill her fast enough, I can usually run around the entire map and sometimes not have a single reaper show up. Likewise, I am pretty sure that is why someone managed to get so many with that run through Kobold Assault.

[Sunnie]

I've run quests on R1 recently where I didn't see a single reaper. I've also run some R1s where I saw 2 or 3 at the same time.

So that contradicts the theory that there's some code to guarantee reaper appearances in R1.