U54 Preview 2 (4/19 - 4/21)

[Lomizir]

Disclaimer

Everything seen on the preview server, Lamannia, is not final and is subject to change or removal before live release.

Hello, folks! Preview 2 of Update 54 (initially listed as U53.2) will open at 1pm EDT on Tuesday, April 19th! It is expected to remain open until 1pm EDT on Thursday, April 21st.

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Update 54 will feature the presale rewards for our upcoming expansion pack, the Isle of Dread and this preview showcases the new Tabaxi race and Tabaxi iconic as well as mounts and hirelings for presale.

To access tabaxi on the preview server, speak to Lord Poincelot in the Dread Overlook (reached through a portal in the middle of the Test Dojo) to be granted preview server specific DDO points and then "purchase" the races in the DDO Preview Store. You will then be able to log out or reincarnate and choose tabaxi.


In addition to the highlighted presale items, this preview features the following changes. Changes from Preview 1 appear in blue:


Bugfixes

• Eldritch Knight's elemental damage dice should now more reliably add up
• Eldritch Knight's Force's Point no longer spams your combat log
• Fixed a typo in the Quicken metamagic enhancement for Exalted Angel
• Shadar-kai chain can now be used while quelled
• Regeneration no longer has visual effects and therefore no longer has visual effect bugs
• Greensteel Regeneration no longer disables on death
• Raging Blows in Barbarian now correctly grants its +1W
• Palemaster Undead Shrouds should now persist through logout better
• Holy Mantle from Divine Crusader should now persist through logout better
• Abyssal Shroud from Warlock should persist through logout better
• Shiradi's Pin now grants its listed 3W instead of 1W
• Shiradi's Pin no longer has a DC since the DC was never going to work
• Killer Instinct now has removal floaty text to make it clearer when it wears off
• Storm's Eye now has no removal floaty text since that makes it insanely visually obstructive
• Scion of the Astral Plane no longer disables on death
• Monsters casting Flame Strike will damage players again
  
• Epic Delera's runearm now drops as intended
• Legendary Saltmarsh runearm now drops as intended
• A variety of active Exalted Angel abilities no longer work underwater
• Fixed typos with Green and Shadow Dragon Breath in Draconic Incarnation
• Air Savant's Feather Fall no longer stops being active on death
• Feywild Attunement in Shiradi Champion now grants its listed spellpower
• Fatesinger's Grandeur now functions properly
• Creeping Doom and Divine Wrath no longer go through spell absorption
• The Defiler of the Just raid questgiver no longer tries to teleport you into the dungeon no matter what you tell her
• Epic Spellpower categories no longer require ML26
• Fixed typo in the Filigree Divinity: Seeker (Rare) (melee attack power -> melee power)
• Fixed a typo in a generic Sharn text line for town NPCs
• Fixed Slay: Blank bugs in the Splinterskull chain
• Magus of the Eclipse: Lunar Insight now functions properly
• All Magus actives may now be used while moving
• Clarified Vistani core 4's tooltip to make sure it was more accurate
• Displacement no longer takes Enlarge since its a self-only spell
• Artificers should find it much easier to mount up now while charging their runearm
• Core 2 of Shiradi now provides the doubled and listed dodge and fort bypass
• 1st core of Exalted Angel now provides magical training correctly
• Prevented scenarios where a Reaper Ring enchantment could be erroneously applied to a non-ring item.
• Fixed a typo in the Draconic destiny mantle
• Fixed typo in Shiradi epic moment
• Fixed a typo in barbarian's Focus Wide buff
• Crazy Strikes now grants its W bonus correctly
• Fatesinger core 2 and 3 now grant their listed DC bonuses
• Shillelagh now correctly gives Bludgeoning DR bypass instead of Magic

Gameplay Changes

• When you release from a dungeon while dead, you will be brought back to 20 HP instead of 1 HP
• Trap the Soul has gotten an overhaul:
  
  • There is no more Hit Dice limit on this spell, and there is only one variant
  • This spell now gives you the regular gem for all CRs
  • Cannith Crafting recipes just use that one regular gem
  • Changed the cooldown to 10 seconds (Sorcerer remains at 8)
• Shiradi caster mantles changes:
  
  • All proc dice have been raised to 7d77
  • Spellcast scaling has been raised to 100%
  • Proc rate has been raised to 7%
  • The elements offered have changed: now you may select from Light, Force, Poison, or Sonic
• The following Destiny Mantles now deal 1d6+6 damage per caster level when they proc:
  
  • Magus of the Eclipse
  • Fatesinger
  • Primal Avatar
  • Exalted Angel
    

UI Changes

• Hovering over your Epic Destiny points now displays a context-sensitive tooltip that reports your points breakdown
• The LFM UI Difficulty display element has been adjusted to be more vertically centered
• Hovering over a weapon now factors in the Improved Critical feat
• The character sheet has gotten a minor visual upgrade in its layout:
  
  • It now shows you your total level instead of your total Action Points
  • Several text and bounding box inconsistencies have been fixed involving bad element placement
  • The Saves label is now Saving Throws and is the proper font
  • The BAB box is now lined up correctly and the BAB amount is now centered
• A variety of UI improvements relating to how we display Character Level have been made:
  
  • Your character sheet no longer shows the Epic class in its class breakdown
  • When someone requests to join your LFM, you will now see their total level in parenthesis and then their class breakdown, which will no longer include their Epic class levels. Text Literal: "$NAME$ ($LVL$)($CLASSES$) would like to join your party."
  • The Character Selection screen will no longer display your Epic class levels
  • Examining a player now shows their total level and then their class breakdown, and the class breakdown no longer displays their epic level
  • The Guild, Who, and LFM displays for players no longer show their Epic levels as part of their class breakdown
• The Who, Guild, and LFM UI elements for player entries now have appropriate skin mapping hookups for UI skinning

Misc Changes

• There is a new gameplay option: Force Heals to Self when Targeting Undead (default: false). While true, when you have an enemy Undead targeted, any positive healing actions will be cast on you instead of the undead.

[Cordovan]

Just a quick note that initially we were calling the actual Isle of Dread release Update 54, but while working through the process we've instead opted to call the next game update Update 54, which includes what essentially amounts to the things necessary to launch our pre-purchase for Isle of Dread in addition to enough stuff that we felt it should get its own formal numbered release. So, Update 54 is next, Update 55 is the actual release of Isle of Dread.

[Seph1roth5]

*Fatesinger core 2 and 3 now grant their listed DC bonuses

So for 6 months (and counting) fatesinger hasn't been giving 2 DCs? That's completely ridiculous, and why people are always saying devs are so much quicker to nerf things that help players, and INCREDIBLY SLOW to fix things that hurt our numbers.

[Artos_Fabril]

So for 6 months (and counting) fatesinger hasn't been giving 2 DCs? That's completely ridiculous, and why people are always saying devs are so much quicker to nerf things that help players, and INCREDIBLY SLOW to fix things that hurt our numbers.

To be fair, it only took them one update less to nerf Shiradi (for casters) into worthlessness than to fix this bug in Fatesinger.

[FuzzyDuck81]

Just a quick note that initially we were calling the actual Isle of Dread release Update 54, but while working through the process we've instead opted to call the next game update Update 54, which includes what essentially amounts to the things necessary to launch our pre-purchase for Isle of Dread in addition to enough stuff that we felt it should get its own formal numbered release. So, Update 54 is next, Update 55 is the actual release of Isle of Dread.

So that means it's following along with other expansions, allowing pre-purchasers immediate access to the new race & iconic plus any other potential unannounced things like new destinies or universal enhancement trees?

[Sirea]

So there are no actual changes/fixes to tabaxi in this preview?

EDIT: found it

[Steelstar]

So there are no actual changes/fixes to tabaxi in this preview?

They can be found at the Preview 2 Tabaxi thread, found at the link in the OP:

Update 54 will feature the presale rewards for our upcoming expansion pack, the Isle of Dread and this preview showcases the new Tabaxi race and Tabaxi iconic as well as mounts and hirelings for presale.

[Sirea]

They can be found at the Preview 2 Tabaxi thread, found at the link in the OP:

Yeah, I found it 0.2 seconds after posting, thanks!

[Fenix93]

Just a quick note that initially we were calling the actual Isle of Dread release Update 54, but while working through the process we've instead opted to call the next game update Update 54, which includes what essentially amounts to the things necessary to launch our pre-purchase for Isle of Dread in addition to enough stuff that we felt it should get its own formal numbered release. So, Update 54 is next, Update 55 is the actual release of Isle of Dread.

A my curiosity... I have not noticed in any video of the content Creators that I have seen on this beta new hearlings for the preorder versions of Isle of dread... so I naturally say it... Update 55 (Isle of Dread) will bring the much rumored rework of the hearlings?

[rabidfox]

A my curiosity... I have not noticed in any video of the content Creators that I have seen on this beta new hearlings for the preorder versions of Isle of dread... so I naturally say it... Update 55 (Isle of Dread) will bring the much rumored rework of the hearlings?

There's raptor hires, lvl 7 & 32. Can see them here: https://ddowiki.com/page/Update_54_named_items

[Arkat]

So no new content or a Universal Enhancement Tree to preview, huh?

[Krelar]

The Defiler of the Just raid questgiver no longer tries to teleport you into the dungeon no matter what you tell her

Does this mean there is consistently a way to talk to her and actually get into the raid now? It used to be that the random teleport from a different dialogue option was the only way to get in sometimes.

[btolson]

[*]The following Destiny Mantles now deal 1d6+6 damage per caster level when they proc:

• Magus of the Eclipse
• Fatesinger
• Primal Avatar
• Exalted Angel

for Primal Avatar, I'd raise this to 1d6+10, due to the narrow selection of spells which can proc any of its mantle flavors. And because it doesn't offer anything else useful (shared mantle is not useful).
There's still a 0% chance I'd use it at 1d6+10 compared to Draconic or EA, but it increases the odds someone else might find a use for it.

Also, probably give the Primal mantles a 100% chance to proc when you use a relevant spell. If not, then at least state what the % is in the tooltip.


No comment on Magus or Fatesinger, too long since I've considered either of them for anything. I use Primal on all my toons right now, just definitely not for the mantle.


Also, point of clarity:
Do the Light & Fire damage procs from EA have a separate 5s cooldown? The tooltip is not clear whether it is shared or not.

[rabidfox]

Does this mean there is consistently a way to talk to her and actually get into the raid now? It used to be that the random teleport from a different dialogue option was the only way to get in sometimes.

On live:



On lam: (You can always just get inside now without issue. It works great.)

[Lynnabel]

Does this mean there is consistently a way to talk to her and actually get into the raid now? It used to be that the random teleport from a different dialogue option was the only way to get in sometimes.

That's correct!

[Lokeal_The_Flame]

While my wife is super excited to the point where she squealed with a level of delight sufficient for hurting my eardrums in response to the Tabaxi, frankly I'm just waiting for a race that is inherently able to heal from negative energy, a cursed artifact that makes you undead (Like some sort of Signet Ring artifact), a new cleric domain that includes a shroud of undeath, or a universal enhancement tree that allows you to heal through negative energy.

[VinoeWhines]

When is Shadow Dancer Epic Destiny getting fixed in one of these patches?

Things were suppose to stack? Some do, some don't. Tier V Epic Moment 50% Incorporeal isn't stacking with the 25% Incorporeal from:

Depths of Darkness: While in your Shadowdancer Destiny Mantle, you gain 25% Incorporeality and 25% Concealment.
Shadow Mastery: Epic Moment: Dissolve into a whorl of shadow, leaving your corporeal form behind. While in this form, you are considered Sneaking and Invisible regardless of what you do (apparently everyone still sees you and aggros to you). You also gain 3d6 Sneak Attack Dice, 50% Incorporeality.

It's such a Hit and Miss Epic Moment that is relying on you to get swung at to proc which, makes you have to hang around like a Piñata for it to work, that a stacking 50% more Incorporeal, will give you at least a coin toss up better chance to work and not be a soulstone while your Epic Moment cooldown timer ticks on by for the next attempt.

Sleight of Hand :Wand and Scroll mastery is useless for Epics, that was suppose to stack.

Sleight of Hand should be:

Sleight of Hand: Traps and Vials Mastery: You can make Noisemaker Traps or Noisemaker Vials(on exploding they stick to door/wall and make ticking sound), with the ability to place or throw in stealth.

(Tier 1): If you have the Trapmaking Feat, you can now add your Sneak Attack Dice and Damage to Traps and Vials.
(Tier 2): You can use the higher of Melee or Range Power to Traps and Vials you Throw.
(Tier 3): You can inscribe scrolls as Traps and Alchemical Recipes as Vials.

Maybe have specific Alchemical Vials like Mass Suggestion/Confusion, Turn to Frog/Bat, a real Tanglefoot a la "Sharn exploding goo"(with DC: Reflex (DC 20 + Rogue Level + Stat Modifier + Assassinate Bonus)
and Shadow-Thunderstone: Alchemical Vial Trap Attack: 1d6+2 Force damage per character level and dazes in an area. Fort DC (12/16/20 + Rogue Level + Stat Modifier + Assassinate Bonus).

[SpardaX]

While my wife is super excited to the point where she squealed with a level of delight sufficient for hurting my eardrums in response to the Tabaxi, frankly I'm just waiting for a race that is inherently able to heal from negative energy, a cursed artifact that makes you undead (Like some sort of Signet Ring artifact), a new cleric domain that includes a shroud of undeath, or a universal enhancement tree that allows you to heal through negative energy.

Next Race and/or universal tree: Necropolitan?

https://www.realmshelps.net/monsters...opolitan.shtml

Or perhaps more in line with DDO lore, you rose up from the catacombs duality chain but retained your mind? Iconic could start in the catacombs area or a potential Silver Flame favor unlock for a Universal Tree.

[Arctigis]

'Improved' Shiradi mantle still not worth taking on casters - particularly in light of the other
mantle improvements.

[Gambrel]

Misc Changes

• There is a new gameplay option: Force Heals to Self when Targeting Undead (default: false). While true, when you have an enemy Undead targeted, any positive healing actions will be cast on you instead of the undead.

Thank you! A long wished for quality of life improvement!