Producer's Letter - 5/21/15

[Buffyanne]

I don't think the why's and wherefores even matter at this point.
IMO just about anything that brings in cash for the game without completely destroying it is a pretty good thing.

In days past maybe we had the luxury of complaining about Ottos Boxes, Raid Timers or SP Pots but at this point if you took those things away the loss of revenue would probably cause bad things to happen almost over night.
Even if you made a good argument that those things caused the game to lose players in the first place, taking them away would be a mighty big shock to the game's ability to keep the doors open (in my view).

I hear you on the need for revenue. Maybe a compromise then where you can't use raid timers on 'new release' raids. Much like those free movie ticket coupons that can't be used opening weekend on new movies. So no raid timers on new raids in the first three months of release. This gives the raid strong life until the next update at the very least.

[phillymiket]

I hear you on the need for revenue. Maybe a compromise then where you can't use raid timers on 'new release' raids. Much like those free movie ticket coupons that can't be used opening weekend on new movies. So no raid timers on new raids in the first three months of release. This gives the raid strong life until the next update at the very least.

This sounds suspiciously like a compromise.
You realize you're on the internet?

That sound reasonable, kind of like hearts not working to switch to a new class for a while.

[Kulothar]

I wonder if current tech allow to make tree based on two classes. Like, making Eldritch Knight a very specific Fighter/Wizard multiclass tree: Something like Core 1 requires at least Fighter 1 and Wiz 1, and Capstone requires at least Fighter 8 and Wizard 8 (but still char level 20).

Or if is possible to make some feats grant access to enhancement trees, like making the 400 Silver Flame favor reward be access to "Silver Flame Exorcist" enhancement tree via a favor feat.

This would solve a lot of problems with trees that are stuck in one class, but are better aimed at specific multiclasses, like Kensei, Eldritch Knight, Henshin Mystic and Warpriest.

There is the precedent of the AA and Harper trees. If a Drow or Wiz took the right enhancements it could unlock the tree like elves, 1/2Elves and Mournlords unlock AA. They could make the AA enhancement a toggle so you could select AA or EK like other enhancements have options. Or there could be a quest/Feat/etc to unlock it like the Harper tree.

[Steve_Howe]

That also shows that all the DOOM posts about DDO dying soon are junk...

You don't invest in new hardware for a dying game.

Unless you are "forced" to.

DDO runs on Windows 2003 Server servers.

As you may or may not know, Microsoft is stopping ALL support for Windows 2003 on July 15th. Therefore, Turbine HAS to upgrade to at least Windows 2008 Server or, more likely, Windows 2012 Server.

LotRO is upgrading their servers too. Additionaly, it looks like they will be merging servers. They will also be moving their European servers to Amsterdam while the American servers will be moving to a datacenter in New Jersey. I think it's safe to say the DDO servers will also be moving to New Jersey.

There is a question, of course, as to whether the new servers will be as capable as the current ones? Instinctively, one would say newer = better. However, that's not necessarily true. It's quite possible the DDO servers could be migrated to less-capable blade servers and DDO performance could suffer. Blade servers are relatively cheap so it might just make more financial sense to move everything over to less expensive and less-capable machines.

[phillymiket]

I think it's safe to say the DDO servers will also be moving to New Jersey.

Nice!
Guys, I see cosmetic eyebrow waxes in our future! :-D

I can see the quests now.



He he, I'm "just kidding".
New jersey really doesn't "deserve" the rep.

But I'm pretty sure any quests in the NJ expansion zone will REQUIRE you to buff. That's a basic Jersey fail condition.

[Silverleafeon]

By the way I have seen a lot of MoD multi runs on khyber recently, I guess school is out now?

[Silverleafeon]

Additionaly, it looks like they will be merging servers.

I wonder if they could merge DDO servers and get around the TR cache destruction problem.

If everyone on DDO could group with other servers that would be cool?
Whatever...

[nibel]

There is the precedent of the AA and Harper trees. If a Drow or Wiz took the right enhancements it could unlock the tree like elves, 1/2Elves and Mournlords unlock AA. They could make the AA enhancement a toggle so you could select AA or EK like other enhancements have options.

No, not like that. I mean like specific class requirements on core enhancements. Eg, to get access to T5 enhancements you would actually require 5 levels in two different classes. Using my example on Kensai:

T1 would require Fighter 1 and Monk 1.
T2 would require Fighter 2 and Monk 2.
T3 would require Fighter 3 and Monk 3.
T4 would require Fighter 4 and Monk 4.
T5 would require Fighter 5 and Monk 5 and Character level 12.

Core 1 would require Fighter 1 OR Monk 1.
Core 2 would require Fighter 1 AND Monk 1 AND Character Level 3.
Core 3 would require Fighter 2 AND Monk 2 AND Character Level 6.
Core 4 would require Fighter 4 AND Monk 4 AND Character Level 12.
Core 5 would require Fighter 6 AND Monk 6 AND Character Level 18.
Capstone would require Fighter 8 AND Monk 8 AND Character Level 20.

I'm not sure if this is possible to implement under the current engine.

Or there could be a quest/Feat/etc to unlock it like the Harper tree.

Harper is a favor unlock. Once you hit that favor mark with any character, it is permanently unlocked for you entire account. I was thinking (as another option, not in addition to the previous one) about them being character-based. You take a specific feat and you get a minor benefit and access to an enhancement tree. Or a favor patron give you a free feat with access to an enhancement tree (like Argonessen give you the "Draconic Vitality" feat).

That is also another feature I don't know if it is supported by the current engine.

[Steve_Howe]

I wonder if they could merge DDO servers and get around the TR cache destruction problem.

I read the LotRO Producer's letter and it sounded like they may have licked the guild transferral issue there. Hopefully DDO could do the same.

If everyone on DDO could group with other servers that would be cool?
Whatever...

I'd like to group with Captain's Crew sometime. They sound like they're a blast. Yeah, it would be cool.

[Steve_Howe]

By the way I have seen a lot of MoD multi runs on khyber recently, I guess school is out now?

No, it's one OCD guy who simply HAS to get a Litany (among other things) on ALL his toons.

[Faltout]

No, it's one OCD guy who simply HAS to get a Litany (among other things) on ALL his toons.

I must have counted over 200 runs from that Kally guy. But I wonder for how long other semi-random people will keep joining. How many timers do they have? Seriously. And it's killing the raid for all the rest. All the people that would join an LFM are now running EN MoD over and over and over.

Kinda liked the recent LFM (not from Kally) though that had like 86 runs and counted how many succumbed to the grind (30 players was the last count before he succumbed as well around 60 runs). And the fun fact is that as soon as that LFM went away, Kally's LFM went up with another 20ish runs.

[Steve_Howe]

How many timers do they have?

A lot fewer than they used to, that's for sure!

I imagine Turbine is pleased.

[mudfud]

We've also been hearing your feedback that you'd like an improved experience when using the DDO Store, and we're happy to say that we'll be introducing a new store in the near future! We expect the updated DDO Store to offer a streamlined experience when making purchases and many other improvements. We're planning to start rolling out the new DDO Store to players later this summer. You will still be able to purchase Turbine Points with a credit/debit card, PayPal, and a wide selection of alternate payment methods. We'll have more to say about the DDO Store as we get closer to its launch.

Thank you for being a part of the Dungeons & Dragons Online community, and we love hearing your feedback. It's been a pleasure to talk to everyone here, and we hope to see you in-game for a long time to come.

Robert “Severlin” Ciccolini

I was thinking this weekend. WoW we are getting an updated store that's what we really wanted, and you all are actually doing something we wanted. Then I logged into the LoTRo forums and saw pretty much a copy paste of them getting the store also because that is what they really wanted. So truthfully, why are we both getting the store we both wanted? Or do you actually have these forums confused with the LoTRo forums, since I have barely seen anybody wanting an updated store here.

And then I was like WoW again!!! We are getting new servers which might help some of the issues we are having on quite a few of our servers. And then I logged into the LoTRo forums again, and was completely disappointed again. They are also getting it.

So again I ask, who copied who? Did you copy and paste the stuff from Vyvyanne over there or did Vyvyanne copy paste your producer letter. Or for the super conspiracy people, are you Vyvyanne on those forums or are you really Vyvyanna being Severlin on these forums?

[phillymiket]

I was thinking this weekend. WoW we are getting an updated store that's what we really wanted, and you all are actually doing something we wanted. Then I logged into the LoTRo forums and saw pretty much a copy paste of them getting the store also because that is what they really wanted. So truthfully, why are we both getting the store we both wanted? Or do you actually have these forums confused with the LoTRo forums, since I have barely seen anybody wanting an updated store here.

And then I was like WoW again!!! We are getting new servers which might help some of the issues we are having on quite a few of our servers. And then I logged into the LoTRo forums again, and was completely disappointed again. They are also getting it.

So again I ask, who copied who? Did you copy and paste the stuff from Vyvyanne over there or did Vyvyanne copy paste your producer letter. Or for the super conspiracy people, are you Vyvyanne on those forums or are you really Vyvyanna being Severlin on these forums?

From my guessing and gathering, it would seem to me that DDO is being forced into new servers and a new store.
Would they have done that anyway?
Who knows? Does it really matter?

I can understand that they would want to frame the change in a positive light.
Why not? It's a positive turn of events for the game regardless of what inspired the change.

[fmalfeas]

Or, you know, Turbine has gotten sick of the lag, and the issues with the current store and awesomium many-instancing, and decided to migrate their games to new server hardware to deal with the lag, and are taking the opportunity while they're at it to revamp the store, possibly licking the multi-instancing of awesomium processes, and thus reducing lag as well. And I highly, highly doubt that the servers are /only/ running DDO, or /only/ running LoTRO. It's probably shared hardware. So what's good for one game is good for both games in this case.

[mudfud]

Or, you know, Turbine has gotten sick of the lag, and the issues with the current store and awesomium many-instancing, and decided to migrate their games to new server hardware to deal with the lag, and are taking the opportunity while they're at it to revamp the store, possibly licking the multi-instancing of awesomium processes, and thus reducing lag as well. And I highly, highly doubt that the servers are /only/ running DDO, or /only/ running LoTRO. It's probably shared hardware. So what's good for one game is good for both games in this case.

From my guessing and gathering, it would seem to me that DDO is being forced into new servers and a new store.
Would they have done that anyway?
Who knows? Does it really matter?

I can understand that they would want to frame the change in a positive light.
Why not? It's a positive turn of events for the game regardless of what inspired the change.

Then in that case don't put it in a producers note about ddo, when in fact it is a turbine wide thing. I feel it's misleading because we are not exclusive to getting it. It is being said as something "we" want, when in fact "we" didn't. Do they not know some people play lotro also and might feel mislead by a copy paste of what is happening in lotro touted as being exclusive to here also?

[lyrecono]

Really?

I'm dumbfounded how people can actually believe stuff like this. Were you not around for any of the 7+ years where the top tier caster builds completely dominated all melees? Sorcs and wizards ruled this game for the longest time.

Then you should know better...
True, this time wasn't fun for melee's, with the number of wining casters in party these days, i hope turbine gives their vitamin shot soon

Play with better people.

The way he said barbs were fine in EE with their new enhancements(right after U19) i doubt he has any idea what well played&build melee's look like.

That also shows that all the DOOM posts about DDO dying soon are junk...

You don't invest in new hardware for a dying game.

They never said new hardware, just a different data center, most likely one that cost less, cause money talks

*sigh*

still no mention of...

GNOMES!

*sigh*

And there was much rejoicing.

They are a part of the Eberron story, they should be here, heck, even as just npc's
But the dev's just walk all over our gnome wishes

[Steve_Howe]

They never said new hardware, just a different data center, most likely one that cost less, cause money talks

Incorrect. Sev CLEARLY said new hardware. The relvant paragraph of his was quoted in one of the posts above.

Not only did HE say there was going to be new hardware used in the new data center, the LotRO Producer said almost the exact same thing in their forums.

[Eth]

We do not hate any particular class, or race, or destiny. That is never a factor in our decision making.

It's completely acceptable to hate monks, halflings and unyielding sentinels.

[lyrecono]

Incorrect. Sev CLEARLY said new hardware. The relvant paragraph of his was quoted in one of the posts above.

Not only did HE say there was going to be new hardware used in the new data center, the LotRO Producer said almost the exact same thing in their forums.

Did he?

i must have missed it
i was going with the info on his opening post

We’ve made some excellent strides to reduce lag and improve stability, and we are continuing to work towards these goals. One of the larger projects that we are working on is a transfer of our game servers and other hardware to a new data center. The new facility will provide both Dungeons and Dragons Online and our friends over at The Lord of the Rings Online with more stability, greater CPU power, and a better networking capability. This will complement our ongoing efforts to reduce lag. It’s a big project and as the year progresses we will be working toward a date where we will migrate to the new datacenter.

Robert “Severlin” Ciccolini

honestly, i don't keep up with Lotro and their fora.
maybe a simple misunderstanding or translation error.
transfer sounds like moving what you already have to another location.
Buying new hardware sounds like buying new hardware.

if so, then:

my apologies