Producer's Letter - 5/21/15

[Stoner81]

Some really neat stuff coming up looking forward to see what the rest of the year brings us

Stoner81.

[Susquehana]

I should not tell players that Ranger will be next once we finish up Warlock in case something causes us to change our plans. Nor can I say that fighter will be some time after that, probably after we work on a new Favored Soul tree. Sadly I cannot confirm any of this information.

Sev~

So fighter will be lucky to see anything for a year?

[Silverleafeon]

As we've mentioned previously, the biggest weakness of casters currently is putting out good boss DPS without completely draining spell points. We will be addressing that with some kind of new high level damage over time spell. I have no time frame to announce at this time, but unlikely it will be 3 years out.

Sev~

It is beginning to be obvious to us players (who are less smart than you, at least I am), that designs for caster to be good at 20 and at 28 will fail due to the high front loading of spell power scaling. Unlike Melee Power which is very conservative in the heroic levels.

A good balance at 20 will be underpowered at 28.
A good balance at 28 will be overpowered at 20.

You don't have enough scaling.

And yes I am talking more power creep, but the DM started this one when they put CR 70 Creatures on the game board, not me...

Not sure, but if you added 3 universal spell power at each epic level for all classes, then all casters would appreciate it.

Good point.

It might should be more, spellcasting are used to doing with 200~400+ spell power.
Melee and ranged power is typically half that.
But whatever.


So looking at a Legendary Dreadnought Toon:

Gains Epic Power = +3 ranged and +3 melee power per epic level
Gains +3 melee power per level of LD (and if this increases from level 5 to 10 which it ought to that complexes things).


However, assuming one changes things from this angle:

All Epic Destiny Levels would be examined and grant about 6ish Universal Spell Power.
Some more, some less.

Then Epic Power would be changed to grant:
+3 ranged
+3 melee power
+6 universal spell power
per epic level


Now we have some decent scaling going on during Epic levels.
Let us see how that compares to Epic Maximize (150 universal free spell power)

Level 20 --- Full ED of 30 universal spell power
Level 28 --- Increase of 48 universal spell power

Hmm...and we have to go thru the effort of ranking all the Epic Destinies too.
Not enough scaling between level 20 and 28 (which is a problem due to the instant full ED available at 20).


How about moving it all to Epic Power instead?
Increase to +10 universal Spell Power per Epic Level

Level 20 --- Zero
Level 28 --- Increase of 80 universal spell power

This is actually about 2 more than the 78 shown above.
But 70 less than my example with the epic feat tax.

I think maybe Sevs Dot Epic Spell, HatsuharuZ's theories and an new Epic Item with a higher reduced spell cost along with some better metamagic item reducing spell costs might be the better route?

Nicely done.

But is it enough?

How much will +80 spell power do for toons that easily have 350 spell power to begin with at level cap?

Take a spell that does 100 damage.

Spell power rating determines how much damage you deal with spells. In most cases, each point of spell power increase increases the base damage of your spell by 1%. Various effects can contribute to your spell power, all effects are added together.

So with 300 spell power (Fawngate's best spell exceed thus but most come to at ? Let me log in and look.)

Assume 300 (which is low).

100 damage becomes 400 damage.

Increasing thus to 380 spell power.
100 damage becomes 480 damage which is an increase of 480/400 = 20% increase in spell damage.

This is assuming one does not apply Empower or Maximize to one's spells.

But, one will go higher.

Fawngate's spells she does not care about are at 318 (and they rise +60 in battle)
The spell she does care about are 393, 467, 441

So her favorite spell type will easily break 500 in a dungeon.
100 damage becomes 600 damage.
Increasing 80 universal spell power, 100 damage becomes 680 damage.

The net increase is 13%

Given the effects that I have seen a mere 20 melee power do, I must conclude that melee power and spell power are in totally different categories.

Should we add an applied +225 for both Empower and Maximize for 725,
the new net increase is about 9%


I am going to lean back and say I like the simple solution of Epic Maximized Metamagic applied for free available at level cap better.
We need more really good Epic Feats.
I made a whole bunch of suggestions on the player's council last year and only one of them was a popular choice among the council members, so I can easily say its tough to get good ideas for epic feats.


So I offer you 3 very attractive Epic Feats:


Epic Maximize -- gain metamagic that does not cost sp and add 150 spell power.
Requirement level 30 and Maximize spell

Epic Combat Casting -- your spells cannot be interrupted.
Requirement level 30 and Mobile Spell Casting

Extra Twist -- gain an extra twist slot (costs for opening and increase slot level use the same math.
Requirement level 30 --- must have all spheres maxed out

Epic Dot Spell with low sp cost (per Sev's wisdom)
Requirement level 27~30[/b]

[Silverleafeon]

I guarantee a world of fighting over whether Shirdai should get more spellpower granted than Magistar...


Btw `` Magistar and Draconic need to be rewritten particularly when someday Epic Destiny levels increase to 10.

[Thrudh]

Well I play with a large guild with several partner guilds, who share a teamspeak server and have all been playing another mmo. So a handfull (at best) of players coming back for a new class doesnt mean diddly squat. "Data" remains the same. Besides, what made you LEAVE ddo? I doubt it was a lack of the warlock class. So as I said, they need to fix the reson players are LEAVING.


Top 3 Reasons players are leaving DDO=
1. Lack of endgame content
2. Lag
3. Bugs



Will we roll warlocks to try them out for a few weeks? Sure... Then we will go back to the other MMO that actually has new content for us to play.

Be honest for a second... If they released new content, wouldn't also play it for a few weeks, then go back to the other MMO? (Which I bet you haven't been playing for 5+ years - Let's see if you're happy with how fast they release new content after you've played all their current quests 100 times each)

There's no way ANY game company can release content fast enough for you...

[Thrudh]

Top 3 Reasons players are leaving DDO=
1. Lack of endgame content
2. Lag
3. Bugs

Also, by the way, (and this is totally true)... I got two new players to join DDO last month, and they are amazed by:

1. How many quests there are to play.
2. How there's no lag in a physics based real-time combat game (they are old FPS guys, so they like this kind of gameplay AND they have fast new computers)
3. How there's almost no bugs (the ONLY bug they've mentioned to me is hitching a couple of times on a ladder - I told them to jump on the ladder, and they said "Yeah, we figured that out... no big deal")

[noinfo]

As we've mentioned previously, the biggest weakness of casters currently is putting out good boss DPS without completely draining spell points. We will be addressing that with some kind of new high level damage over time spell. I have no time frame to announce at this time, but unlikely it will be 3 years out.

Sev~

A new spell that does dot is really only a bandaide approach.

We need variety and versatility in spell casting beyond just spam mm and dot.

melee in general are in a pretty good place and I enjoy playing mine, My casters vs trash are in a good place too.

When it comes to orange named and above they could use some work.

With orange named save vs death spells should have the same effect as mortal fear. But limited to 1 hit at all (no stacking from multiple failed regardless of different casters)
PWK should instakill orange below 10%

Red and Purple named, used to be debuffed back in the day by casters to reduce their damage output. now a few low stat debuffs make little difference so no one bothers.

in addition to stat debuffs make spells like waves of exhaustion give significant debuffs, to melee power and direct % penalty to hit.

Get rid of additional time triggers on charms

Spells of incapacitation effecting the boss for reduced time even 1 second then a 1 min timer on being affected again,

Something a little more creative than another dot.

[Silverleafeon]

Compare the possible scaling of 9% over levels 20 thru 28 to the increase in hit points of red named bosses?

I bet I know which one is much higher.

[Thrudh]

Curious as to why this letter has no real detail compared to the last few? It looks more like an update release schedule. I think this letter will just turn into another gripe thread.

Makes it real easy to stop writing letters.

I used to call my grandma, and all she did was complain about how I never called.

So I stopped calling.

I can't believe the negativity... A new class, new servers, Shavarath and epic Vale/Shroud and people are complaining... Not even a little excited?

[mightstriker]

Progress? Sev - if what we have been experiencing on Ghallanda for the last two months is progress - I really am going to be giving up my VIP subscription. I am actually a little angry that there was no apology (or recognition at all) of the problems our server has experienced over the last two months. It would have been nice to see a little statement that our concerns have been heard by you, that there was some feigning of interest, at least.

[Silverleafeon]

Some really neat stuff coming up looking forward to see what the rest of the year brings us

Stoner81.

I agree, I am very excited.

[Thrudh]

I agree, I am very excited.

Me too.

[Silverleafeon]

The disadvantages of an Epic level 30 Epic Maximize is that it comes all at once at level cap.
Therefore it totally removes all the benefits from the reincarnation playstyle.
That is not entire healthy.

Tying it to ED levels is not good as ED levels might increase, and its hard to predict which ones deserve the most love.

Tying to ED innates are more static as they innates will not increase regardless of the ED, and it would grant the Devs a bit of rebalancing power.

Tying into Epic Power is the most smoothest way and does not involve a feat tax.
However +3 melee power >>> is much stronger than +3 universal spell power.

[Silverleafeon]

Me too.

Definitely, I read it all and was delighted.
Did not know what to say, except woot!

[mikarddo]

Seperating the Warlock update from the quests+raid update is exactly what I have been hoping would happen. It spreads out the "news" factor which is exactly what DDO needs. This means less "rushing" and more time to enjoy each new item.

Much appreciated.

[Lonnbeimnech]

The disadvantages of an Epic level 30 Epic Maximize is that it comes all at once at level cap.
Therefore it totally removes all the benefits from the reincarnation playstyle.
That is not entire healthy.

Tying it to ED levels is not good as ED levels might increase, and its hard to predict which ones deserve the most love.

Tying to ED innates are more static as they innates will not increase regardless of the ED, and it would grant the Devs a bit of rebalancing power.

Tying into Epic Power is the most smoothest way and does not involve a feat tax.
However +3 melee power >>> is much stronger than +3 universal spell power.

Another reason melee damage overperforms compared to caster dps into epics, there is no caster equivalent to pulverizer, devistating crit, overwhelming crit, you just do double damage on crit, period. Also as melees get better weapons and various ways to add [w], there is nothing like this for casters. Imagine if equipping a thunderforged orb made your fireballs do 4.5[10d6], or ruin do 4.5[500d1]...

[Silverleafeon]

Another reason melee damage overperforms compared to caster dps into epics, there is no caster equivalent to pulverizer, devistating crit, overwhelming crit, you just do double damage on crit, period. Also as melees get better weapons and various ways to add [w], there is nothing like this for casters. Imagine if equipping a thunderforged orb made your fireballs do 4.5[10d6], or ruin do 4.5[500d1]...

Well the devs need to add spell critical multiplier into wizards and sorcs through their core enhancements. Reason for this is because the meta right now in this game is mostly melee and casters have been left in the dust in terms of overall dps from their spell casting. And something tells me that the devs arn't going back to tweak wizards and sorcs anytime soon.

Well, perhaps Epic Power simply needs rewriting:

Epic Power

Usage: Passive
Prerequisite: None

Description

+3 Melee Power
+3 Ranged Power
+10 Universal Spell Power
+15% Universal Spell Crit Bonus Damage

Note This feat is automatically given to all characters each time they gain an Epic level.



Also, each Epic Destiny Innate could have 1d6 Universal Spell Power added to it.
(Or we could use a more scientific method

[Calinthus]

Greetings!

(1)It’s been extremely busy and fun for us here on the DDO team this year and we feel the time is right to provide an update on some of our plans over the next few months.

(2)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.

(3)Update 27 will follow in July. It includes an all-new adventure pack that returns to Shavarath, showcasing the Archons’ side of its endless war. With your help the Gatekeepers have gathered enough Mysterious Remnants to continue their research. They’ve tracked the Remnants back to Shavarath, the Plane of Battle. You need to travel there to recruit the help of the Archons in unravelling this mystery. The Archons, however, will only aid those who are worthy, and you find yourself embroiled not only in their tests, but in their eternal struggle with the Devils and the Demons. This adventure pack will include three new dungeons and a new raid, and as usual will be free to VIPs.







Robert “Severlin” Ciccolini

(1) And, I, for one, greatly appreciate the work you've done.

(2) I've noticed this, and, well, see above. Looking forward to the swap. ( I know it'll require some careful handling.)

(3) Yes. Yes! YES!!! WOOT!

You guys ROCK!!

[Qhualor]

Makes it real easy to stop writing letters.

I used to call my grandma, and all she did was complain about how I never called.

So I stopped calling.

I can't believe the negativity... A new class, new servers, Shavarath and epic Vale/Shroud and people are complaining... Not even a little excited?

I'm not complaining. It all looks good to me, but it read more like a schedule without details. The last letter had more meat to it. I suspect that it's probably because some people don't understand delays, tentative ideas and hold what is said as a promise when it's not. For about 6 months some people were quoting from the last letter and using it as a basis of "but Sev said.." and proof.

[Calinthus]

So what about Monks and Artis?

I know Artis got a bit of a buff with the Rogue Mech buffs but Pure Artis seriously need a redo!

And as for Monks - Well it would be nice if we weren't forced to go full on Earth Stance with all enhancements AND two item slots dedicated to PRR to have any chance of staying alive for more than 3 seconds!

Dunno much about arties, but, as a monk, I run(ran) in Fire Stance, and virtually no PRR, and, aside from a few (ok, a lot) of overwhelming mobs, and EIN not charged, I did fairly well.