Very Informative Q and A with Severlin

[GoldyGopher]

I would like to thank Severlin and Cordovan for today's Question and Answer session, celebrating the 15th Anniversary of DDO during the Weekly Live Stream.

Today's session was extremely informative and provide insight into a large number of problems, concerns and issues that many of us have with DDO. Much more so than previous Q/A and ask the devs.

At this juncture it would appear that previous ownership was far more secretive or selective in what information could be provided to the public.

An example of this was the discussion on Cosmetics and the lack of a Cosmetic Wardrobe. The problem is with Mirror of Glammering doesn't make a "cosmetic" item, rather it is a "link" to the existing items. I am not sure I am wording that correctly, but that's the gest. This gives us, the player base, an understanding as to why something that looks so simple to us isn't fixed or changed.

Thank You

[rabidfox]

The addition of new engineers being hired to help deal with stuff like lag was probably the highlight of good news out of the stream.

[Lupito]

good q&a tho what I disliked is that many of the questions are answered with no eta , they just sound nice to please the crowd

[myliftkk_v2]

We going to get a transcript? Some of us don't have time to listen to Q&As when we can consume a transcript in a fraction of the time.

[droid327]

We going to get a transcript? Some of us don't have time to listen to Q&As when we can consume a transcript in a fraction of the time.

This is one of my recent big pet peeves. Written word exists for a reason, its often the most efficient and effective way to communicate ideas.

I know people want to drive clicks and subscriptions and ad revenue, but we just want to be informed.

[Silverleafeon]

From my memory:


Hired several tech to deal with lag issues.
Are hiring more people right now.
Lag issue solutions are currently divided between: making effects more efficiently applied, and too many attacks at level cap, and ____
There will be a mega server, but initial tests on the mega server indicate that lag issues must be solved first.

Cosmetic Bag is very, very difficult because mirror of glamming links to the real item.

Horse Bag is going to replaced with Horse Stable like the backpack tab for companions (creatures that follow you around).
This is difficult but much less problematic than Cosmetics.
Sample of what this looked like was shown.

Talking about fitting a new iconic into this year if the extra time works out, otherwise next year.

Psionics will have to wait not only due to work on spell system but the additional work of balancing such, but is a favorite to do someday.
Alchemist took much, much more time than anticipated and Psionics would be greater.

Would like to add a new stateroom to the guild airship and its about 9th on the to do list, but keeps getting pushed back.

Class balancing is an ongoing process.

Bows required a complete rework of the Bow animation and when it is done the Bow will be in much better shape.
New Bow tree will be later, and while it will add to the Bow options it is not consider a Bow fix in itself.

Bows will not fire faster at level cap due to too many attacks increasing Lag issues, but they are working over the Bows (implied level cap Bow will be improved).
On the same note, the Haste Action Boost might need to be replace with something just as attractive like massive crit bonus due to Lag issues.

Epic Destinies explained somewhat in detail.
Seems to be going towards their versions of some of the ideas I and others presented:
Epic Destiny will be more like Heroic Trees in function.
There will be a pool of points to spend when you reach level 20.
There will be points earned per each level gained to spend.
You will be able to spend points on multiple Epic Destiny Trees.
They have pinpointed which Epic Destiny Trees are very popular and which are not.
The unpopular trees will be improved.
One of the goals is that thru the pool of points and improving the overall effectiveness of the Trees, entry into Epic will be enjoyable (or some other words therein).

They know people want Monks improved, but its Bow time atm.
They have lists of things to do on Monks including making Finishing Moves more dramatic.

No answers on individual items, because this is not the format for that.

Server opened up for new update.

Goal of doing these Q&A talks more often.
We should see more ask Sev anything format with Cordovan.

The questions about Mini Expansion were:
Salt____Marsh is too big for a pack.
Might be 8 or 9 (rough guess not commitment) dungeons.
They realize that ViP should either get:
1) a discount on the Base Pack
2) or bonus items.
The tech to make that happen (I guess seeing you are VIP when purchasing) is being put in place and will be available to use by the time Mini Expansion arrives.
So, they realize that Vip needs to feel Mini Expansion still worthwhile to be Vip.
Also, realize that the LotR Mini Expansion was not as attractive as usual and future could be improved upon.

Savage Island (whatever the Dino pack is) will not be this year, but enthusiasm is too great to withhold in the future.

There is unlikely to be a Greyhawk World due to the scope required for creating a new world and the demand for people to return to Forgotten Realms (which they will do sometime in the future) and continue with Eberron.
Sev did not want to discuss Copywrite issues, saying simply if they bring in a new world they want it to be BIG.
Planescape will have to wait for the same reasons (although he is inclined to do that world), due to the fact that it would be so intense there might not be any new content for a year in order to create the new world (which is not a good business model at this time).

No comments or complaints about the new owners.
Was a comment on having applied for _____ (I forget) and therefore he could not discuss yet.
Also, artists are getting new texture and particle tools and ____ (which is the equivalent of a graphic update of sorts).

Half Elf is being redone as we speak.

Other races have been used so often that it might be a mistake to rework.
Therefore instead of improving the Elf race, they brought out the Wood Elf as an model upgrade.
New races with better looks instead of redoing all the old, to prevent shocking players.
(Here is where the mention of iconics came in).

No mention of a new class in the works.
Currently focused on Epic Destinies.

There will be a level increase with the next Big Expansion, however the Epic Destinies MUST be done first.
(And there will be the Mini Expanion before the Big Expansion.)
No mention of how high the level cap will go, but mention that they read player feedback about the level cap increase in detail and decided they must do the epic destinies (implication of other thoughts of reading feedback not said).

Comment by Cordovan that the new Epic Destinies will be more enjoyable/better than the old?

Other questions answered....

Half Elf will have new skin/model.


Oh and yes, Reaper points will be increased, but only after the new reaper system is created which should reduce lag, creating a Reaper Ranks along with Leadership for Party Leader sharing part of their Reaper Rank power to help newer players survive in reaper better.


Also, Epic Destinies will become more approachable by new players.



Another Lag issue is that the internet as a whole is far more unstable after the Virus hit than before.


Mention of until December for redeeming code (but please check and make sure that is right)?

[myliftkk_v2]

we just want to be informed.

^^ I don't need to hear from self-styled reporters not reporting 100 what was said, but what they think about what was said 90 and was said 10. I get enough of that across every vertical I'm in and the inaccuracies are legion.

Let's read what was actually said first, then we can robustly debate its meaning, while having an accurate textual record to reference.

[Silverleafeon]

I would love to read an actual transcript as well, please don't let my memories prohibit someone taking the time to do so.

[myliftkk_v2]

Hired several tech to deal with lag issues.
Are hiring more people right now.
Lag issue solutions are currently divided between: making effects more efficiently applied, and too many attacks at level cap, and ____
There will be a mega server, but initial tests on the mega server indicate that lag issues must be solved first.

Thank you for this.

Permanent fixes for Lag + Megaserver are most likely things to get me to start back up regularly pugging again. I will be interested to see how this goes.

[Annex]

From my memory: <snip>

Thank you for taking the time to write a synopsis of the Question and Answer.

[Inanout]

TNX for list.

[Ganak]

Some specific notes on LAG:

"Have been experimenting with new infrastructure changes, starting with Argo...to mixed results...some say a little better, some say not better.

Looking at effects system and changes there.

Main goals: Continue to look at infrastructure, but really the effects system is lagging us in terms of how many effects can apply to creatures. We need to revamp our proc system (so it makes more sense and to be more unified as now there are procs all over the place), part of this is at the high end players attack so fast. Need to make action boost feel good (like crits rather than haste). Effects system needs to be streamlined and work better. There are ways its being used currently that are not ideal.

Infrastructure stuff should help some backend things part of it.

Referenced weird year and pandemic impact on internet and saw some strange cases on the public internet, and many cases are related to this (good pings; dropped packets)."

More people; more engineering resources. They are hiring.



That proves it; Cetus is the cause of our lag.

[Rastallin]

I would like to thank Severlin and Cordovan for today's Question and Answer session, celebrating the 15th Anniversary of DDO during the Weekly Live Stream.

Today's session was extremely informative and provide insight into a large number of problems, concerns and issues that many of us have with DDO. Much more so than previous Q/A and ask the devs.

At this juncture it would appear that previous ownership was far more secretive or selective in what information could be provided to the public.

An example of this was the discussion on Cosmetics and the lack of a Cosmetic Wardrobe. The problem is with Mirror of Glammering doesn't make a "cosmetic" item, rather it is a "link" to the existing items. I am not sure I am wording that correctly, but that's the gest. This gives us, the player base, an understanding as to why something that looks so simple to us isn't fixed or changed.

Thank You

As simple as this explanation is, it goes along way to improving custom relations. We now understand and can move on. Transparency is important devs. We like to know why things can't be done. Also excellent news on the reaper point increase. I know a heap of people will be happy about that.

[Silverleafeon]

A point that I forgot:

Player Council Application deadline is closed.

The people working on that project are sorting thru applications.

If you did apply, Mid March is the earliest you might they might be done with choosing applications, maybe later than that.

[Mofus]

Yes, was a nice interview, very informative, thanks guys.

[Cernunan]

They are planning 2 Hard Core seasons this year, the first happening in April

[Inanout]

I was impressed with Severlin.
I will be renewing sub because of this.

[LightBear]

I would love to read an actual transcript as well, please don't let my memories prohibit someone taking the time to do so.

Go Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnN2DN0PfZo

Press the [...] icon below the video window, or to the left of the video title.
You get a selection of which one is "Open Transcript".

To the right of the video the auto generated transcript appears.
About 1500 lines of text, not going to paste that here.

[infael]

Silver, thanks for the info!

[infael]

Thank you!!! The captions actually look good so far ( haven't finished watching yet)

Go Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnN2DN0PfZo

Press the [...] icon below the video window, or to the left of the video title.
You get a selection of which one is "Open Transcript".

To the right of the video the auto generated transcript appears.
About 1500 lines of text, not going to paste that here.