U45 Preview 2: Revamped "Catacombs" and Delera's Tomb"

[Cocomajobo]

Update 45 is expected to contain revamped versions of both the "Catacombs" and "Delera's Tomb" adventure packs. This revamp will include the debut of Epic versions of the quests in addition to polish of the existing Heroic versions. The quests that have seen this polish pass are listed below:

Catacombs

• The Friar's Niece 3/23
• Return to the Sanctuary 3/23
• The Old Archives 3/23
• The Crypt of Gerard Dryden 3/23
• Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral 3/23
• Setting the Wards: The Patriarchs' Crypt 3/23
• Endgame: Marguerite 3/23
• Endgame: The Archbishop's Fate 4/23

Delera's Graveyard

• The Mystery of Delera's Tomb 5/27
• The Missing Party 7/27
• Free Delera 7/27
• Return to Delera's Tomb 6/27
• Thrall of the Necromancer 8/27

Known Issues

• Catacombs: Some chests in the catacombs are giving items from an old treasure table
• Catacombs: Some of the DM audio is interrupted by the next line of dialogue before it finishes.
• Catacombs: the Vendor Nina Bringtheart has a string table error as one of her two choices of dialogue.
• Catacombs: in the quest journal the questline for epic catacombs will be called ~CR 23 QUEST ARC after completion of the questline
• Catacombs: Human zombie drops empty treasure bags
• Catacombs: Skeleton archer drops empty treasure bags
• Catacombs:Crazed Werewolf has a typo in its name.
• Catacombs: Typo in the quest " ENDGAME: Marguerite"
• Catacombs: Typos in Archbishop Dryden dialogue
• Delera's: skeleton archer drops empty treasure bags
• Delera's: Greater Arcane Skeleton drops empty treasure bags
• Delera's: The end quest rewards for both The "Delera's Tomb" quest line and the "Return to delera's Tomb" Epic quest line are giving out Heroic Loot

Bugs Fixed Since Preview 1

• Archbishop Dryden now wears Silver Flame robes like he should have always

[Aelonwy]

I spent time two weeks ago running both of these on Lammania, in epics to see the changes. Epic Catacombs was rife with improvements and awesome indeed. Epic Delera's not so much. Aside from that one lever in quest2 being changed to a multi-lever puzzle I didn't notice any significant changes in either decoration, mobs, or story.

Your notes do NOT indicate if there have been any changes whatsoever to Delera's since the first preview.

Has Delera's undergone some significant Wow-factor of changes that I should log on to see? Or should I instead spend some time trying to figure out alchemist because there is nothing more to see here than I have already seen?

[Quikster]

I feel like you're missing an opportunity to add mid-epic throwing dagger in deleras.

[Cocomajobo]

I spent time two weeks ago running both of these on Lammania, in epics to see the changes. Epic Catacombs was rife with improvements and awesome indeed. Epic Delera's not so much. Aside from that one lever in quest2 being changed to a multi-lever puzzle I didn't notice any significant changes in either decoration, mobs, or story.

Your notes do NOT indicate if there have been any changes whatsoever to Delera's since the first preview.

Has Delera's undergone some significant Wow-factor of changes that I should log on to see? Or should I instead spend some time trying to figure out alchemist because there is nothing more to see here than I have already seen?

Delera's has not seen any design changes since preview 1.

[AlmGhandi]

Delera's has not seen any design changes since preview 1.

Maybe they could get the voice actor back to make more of an "epic" feel to Epic deleras……

[Frogger1234]

Maybe they could get the voice actor back to make more of an "epic" feel to Epic deleras……

You mean Gary Gygax? It would be some trick to get him back for more voice acting.

[Loromir]

You mean Gary Gygax? It would be some trick to get him back for more voice acting.

That would be EPIC!!!!

[Noir]

Maybe they could get the voice actor back to make more of an "epic" feel to Epic deleras……

Aside from some computer generated wizardry.
I can safely say this is never going happen.
And under no circumstances should the voice actor be "replaced" in this chain.

[AlmGhandi]

Aside from some computer generated wizardry.
I can safely say this is never going happen.

Why?
They just need to contact him. Offer enough $$ and anything is possible....

[Aelonwy]

Delera's has not seen any design changes since preview 1.

Thank you. I will spend my Lammania time trying to figure out alchemist then.

[SirValentine]

This revamp will include the debut of Epic versions of the quests

Shrug. This just means I'll stop running Catacombs & Delera's in Heroic.

You keep taking away Heroic-only quests. The last time you added any was...2013, I think? The three level-15 Disciples of Shadow quests. Has there been any new content just for Heroic since then?

[TitusOvid]

Posted in the wrong place: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...60#post6289860

[MeliCat]

First impression from a lvl 30 thrower using LGS ice on EN. pretty much all the same but a few minor tweaks. Disappointed that the confusing turn around for Delera's part 3 to part 4 then part 4 to end reward has not been addressed - even just updating the text with clear directions would help please on the NPCs.

Below is just thoughts I jotted down as I went through - stream of consciousness only... you get what you get...


Catacombs:

don't talk to guy outside catacombs? how do i know what to do? has this char already run it? don't know where to go... if I was a new player this would suck. It is not at all clear to look upstairs...
(NPC): Archbishop Dryden tells you, 'You finished your search of Gerard's tomb?

Ah, I see. Missing you say? Unfortunate. Still, such bravery deserves a reward.

Take something from my coffers. Then we will discuss what you have learned.


idk... must have been on a quest? now on 'setting the wards'

cute blue blockout wall effects... creepier than before...
(Dungeon Master): The main altar lies ahead, sealed within a cloud of deep darkness. Shadowy forms linger at the edges of the room. They seem dormant - for now
doesn't look 'sealed' ... looks like ineffective mass over thing... this does not look like main goal and is not intuitive... older was better

took north corridor - traps went off even just me walking down middle - not that unexpected having to get close to pull levers.
ok so blocked off levers got to go directly past and time it... except they don't appear to come near me to hit at all so meh. oh.... you can click that chair set thing ... it does *not* look like an alter... making it clickable just looks weird... but whatever... although it does make DDO feel more like a select and click game which I am really not happy with. the original alters are more discrete?

West corridor... no trash to negotiate with while pulling lever. makes it much easier.
only 2 main alter guardians?? oh and the quest is done? super short

ok this time you don't go through... so now i'm super confused how to get out... i guess i just recall
Dungeon Master): As you ignite the last shrine, a sense of warmth and welcome sweeps over you. You can now proceed to the Patriachs' Crypt.

decide to go south to go back out.... oh i forgot about that blue door...? ok... this is now open with all the runes lit and there is a chest...? non intuitive ending.. I would have recalled. previously the way through was right there where you finished the quest. not a big deal as even if i recalled i suspect i could enter directly??* (not going to test that..)

through to 'Setting the Wards'

like the redeveloped area... purple tint... stairway coming in...
um... so i got xp for killing trash... that's nice as i would probably do it anyway...

ok this is just confusing... good thing the objective tells you to run away and yes you can't appear to kill him at this time same as heroic... so you run through the door, pull the levers either side, pull the lever to open... and back to the same place... but nothing else to do? oh and you can kill him now and it gives you xp...
so standing here... no way to go through unlike last time... the exit to catacombs door works... not obviously but it's close enough for me to easily work it out.

Glad to see the alter back in end games Margarite... I chose not to kill her... but apparently you can...end fight might be interesting with the dropping down part... although plenty of places to run to.

curious what the door is directly opposite as you exit the quest. and a vendor? i guess its thematic of the area

last fight... less places to hide and redundant perch points as ranged and then a glabezou anyway. always enjoy being thrown up into the air with those things. at least 10 mobs so that's good if anyone wanted that reaper.

end reward outside was all normal loot. kind of like the cute selection of weird loot for such a long chain... seriously looooong chain...



Delera's:

deleras tried to start pt 4 but 'our business here is done' so couldn't

normal jump still works..a LOT of lag. not good. still have to kill every silly thing to do anything... bleh.

not walking on bones still works - although wraiths still spawned so i think that changed.


Part 2 turnaround Club of the flame is still the same (ie terrible...). base xp of these is not going to incentivize me to do them - particularly parts 2 and 3.

didn't get that silly delay at the door in part 2.... which almost never happens... so either i got lucky or they fixed it...win!

the place where i would have had to pull out my hireling has turned into a lever puzzle... which i spent a couple of minutes on. not hard but i can see some people complaining. if a new player was to come in though that would be good for the heroic version (which i didn't test)

part 3 still have to kill every single thing... bleh...potential changed text at the end or no?

(NPC): Delera tells you, ''Hargo Kimmare... he was not to hurt the girl! I ORDERED IT!''
I never read things so maybe not...


Stream of thoughts while grappling with the turnaround:
now begins the games most confusing turn around... text says grospic so grospic ... get end reward. didin't read text so as usual confused... but have learnt enough to go talk to people back there... it would really help if he could give you additional direction at that time if you changed the text pleasego to Hargo who tells me to go away... i mean... again... text would *really help* to explain what to do here...fortunately he gets a green tick... i pay gold... but... i still can't get into the quest right behind him....
where does it tell me to go back into the door for part 3??* seriously this is the main thing that should have been fixed...please just change the text when you talk to him to give you clearer directions what to do.
i go back into part 3... because unlike a new person i know i have to...it still has the confusing double objective that doesn't pop up both at the same time such that there is potential to do it wrong... if both popped that would be better.

pt4 now accessible.


into pt 4
annoying wait at gates on east side was shorter but the two gates were out of sync. puddings still there (i love frying them or someone else doing so if on the right character )
two end chests on the side require unlock... meh...

exit quest.... again Hargo gives like no useful information what to do next. please change the text please. grospic is equally unhelpful - again text would help
fortunately I know to go to pt 3... and all i get is the level 5 vom, comms and seeds. Hope this changes as again a long chain so to be rewarded would be nice.

[TitusOvid]

You Mailbox is full Meli. So here it goes:

That post of yours is really hard to follow. Is it possible you use headlines maybe? Something that makes it easier to discern what you are specifically talking about?

That would be awesome. Thank you.

Cheers,
Titus.

[MeliCat]

You Mailbox is full Meli. So here it goes:

That post of yours is really hard to follow. Is it possible you use headlines maybe? Something that makes it easier to discern what you are specifically talking about?

That would be awesome. Thank you.

Cheers,
Titus.

It has 2x headings... delera's... and catacombs'

stream of consciousness reporting... you get what you get..... and the only point I really wanted to make I put in a summary in the first line.

[Alrik_Fassbauer]

That post of yours is really hard to follow.

People are just not used / trained to read a stream of consciousness writing ... Yes, math formulae are so much easier to read ...

I'm always writing like that. I'm used to it, so I can read and understand it.

[Noircere]

Did a full run of Epic Catacombs. Seems generally-improved. I like the less-running-between-quests thing. Cooler boss fights, too. Enjoy spiders instead of bats in heroic.

Bug:

• Shares quest progression with heroic; if you had the heroic chain partially-completed, you cannot begin the epic chain at the start.
• Considerable lag when restarting the chain; took around 30 seconds to reset.

Tuning:

• Part 2 has very good XP/time if you ignore all the enemies and run to the end. Not super-too-good, but par with many of the best things in epics.
• Parts 7 and 8 have unusually poor XP/time, clocking in at about 30% of what would be considered usual for quests at that level range.
• (I suspect this is and always has been true on heroic as well?)

[Zistra]

Shrug. This just means I'll stop running Catacombs & Delera's in Heroic.

You keep taking away Heroic-only quests. The last time you added any was...2013, I think? The three level-15 Disciples of Shadow quests. Has there been any new content just for Heroic since then?

Obviously this is a personal-choice thing, but.. you do realize that they made it so you get the first-run bonus XP in both Heroic and Epic now instead of one or the other?

[Alrik_Fassbauer]

Now I remember where the new look of Archbishop Dryden's Chamber would be perfect for ! There's a chapel of the Sovereign Host inHouse Deneith ... Which looks to bland and empty ...

It would be great to have it a bit better looking on the inside ...

[SirValentine]

Obviously this is a personal-choice thing, but.. you do realize that they made it so you get the first-run bonus XP in both Heroic and Epic now instead of one or the other?

Yes, but I don't like wasting my time doing the same quest twice for fewer rewards. We only get favor once, so I'll only run it once.

XP is everywhere; it's about the least important (and least fun) thing to worry about in this game. You just play the game and it racks up all by itself. I don't object to "XP/min", but I'm not going to spend my time calculating it.