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Version 3.31 is online![/SIZE]
I'm going to start this one out by thanking all the people who contributed first, because without them, this update would be a lot smaller...and a lot less cool. So in no particular order, I'd like to give my personal thanks so Alatriel, Guardian 452, Script Wrecked, Honora, Xaltotun and mixafix for their specific contributions and/or initiatives. Specific contributions will be detailed below. Similar thanks go to the members of the Project Team and GM Team who contributed to various efforts with input and perspective. Lastly, a fair amount of this content comes from the community as a whole. While some things may not seem like direct requests and suggestions, the original motivations for some come from the community at-large, so thanks go to you all for bringing forth your ideas, even if we've managed to twist them from their original forms.
As I mentioned within the last few days, there is an updated
HAK and
TLK file required for this update. If you haven't downloaded them yet, please do so now.
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Fixes:[/SIZE]
- Fix Find Traps skill bonus calculation
- Fix heal kit static drop in Swamp of Sorrows cave to be the correct version
- Fix spelling and grammar issues on discarded papers in Tomb of the Emerald Skull
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Area updates:[/SIZE]
- Updated – Hallowlight Forest (A path! A path!) {1}
- Updated – Fieroz City, formerly Fort of Last Hope (now matches the description in established lore) {2}
- New – Siphe Castle (interior) {2}
- Updated – Partial Great Forest facelift (adjusted spawns, new layouts and a new cave...somewhere)
- Updated – Silkwood Spider Cave (adjusted spawns for density)
- Updated – Leringard, main city and docks (now more closely matches approved description) {2}
- New – Leringard undercity (Yep! New mid-level adventuring areas with a progressive difficulty) {2}
- Edge tile fix in a quest area {3}
- Some extra CNR scattered around in a few places
- Added trash barrel to Center
- Vale and Clover reflect recent attacks and destruction
- Magic returned to the Great Rift following several CDQs by Storold and crew
- Change start point in Center to be away from the portal
- More grouped under another heading (below)
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Armor Crafting updates:[/SIZE]
There are some pretty significant changes to Armor Crafting, specifically for the metal armors, helmets and shields. This project was spearheaded by Guardian 452 and ultimately most of the heavy lifting was done by him, but it was definitely a group effort with significant input coming from members of the Project and GM Teams. In terms of specifics...
- Metal helmets reduced to one type per metal. Since each helmet variant differed only in appearance, they were wasting valuable palette space. Helmets can be customized to any of the other appearances. Recipes are likewise reduced to one helmet type per metal.
- Metal shields reduced to one type per metal and size factor (small, large and tower) for the same reasons as the helmets. Recipes are likewise reduced as above.
- Redundant Platinum Chain Shirt removed from palette
- Added a craftable breastplate for each metal type as a step between chainmail and splint mail
- Added Platinum and Cobalt shields
- Completely reworked the properties of all armors across all metals. Armors, helmets and shields are designed to complement each other and work as a set. There is a more consistent progression between armor types within each metal and upward through the metal types. If anyone wishes to take advantage of the new properties, old metal armors can be “oxed”. Anyone wishing to keep the old properties may do so.
- Tower shield recipe ingot requirements reduced by 1
Specifications on the new armors, shields and helmets will be posted elsewhere. They would make this post far too long.
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Thrown Weapons:[/SIZE]
- Weight and cost significantly reduced on throwing axes
- Crafting yield increased on throwing axes
- Stack size for throwing axes increased to 100
- Elemental rods can now be applied to throwing axes, darts and shuriken
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Loot!!![/SIZE]
- Loot drops updated with over 100 fresh items lovingly designed and created by the Layonara Project Team. These items replace a similar set of 100+ unique items you've all come to know and love over the last few years. Special thanks to Guardian 452 for taking the time to create the final items.
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Shifter PrC forms:[/SIZE]
A while back, we disallowed two Epic Shifter feats from being used due to some serious lore violations with the forms. Particularly, these were the Construct Shape and the Undead Shape feats. It doesn't take much imagination to understand why constructs and undead are somewhat the antithesis of Layonara's Druids as we have represented them in lore. Anyway, at the motivation of Xaltotun and mixafix, we started an effort to replace these forms with something more compliant with lore. While the end result differs quite a bit from their initial proposal, proper credit is due to them for getting the ball rolling.
The Undead Shape feat is now Nature Entity Shape, and the Construct Shape feat is now Manifestation Shape.
- Nature Entity Shape – The Shifter can take the form of one of three nature entities: Nature's Warrior, Nature's Vengeance and Nature's Wrath. These forms have new properties associated with them that are around the same power level as the undead forms but more appropriate for the forms that are represented.
- Manifestation Shape – The Shifter can take the form of one of three manifestations: Obsidian Manifestion, Hematite Manifestation and Diamond Manifestation. These forms are basically re-skinned and renamed, but mechanically the same as the Construct Shape forms.
For any who are curious, a “manifestation” is a concept from our MMO work that is formed around an entity out of whatever natural materials that are available, thereby giving the formless entity a form.
Full details for these feats will be available on LORE shortly.
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General Game Features:[/SIZE]
- Ship captain conversations updated to be a little more descriptive about their destinations {4}
- New customization system. This is actually a system GMs have had for a while but which was never adapted for player use. It's easier to use, better organized, allows cloning of appearances (subject to racial/gender/type limitations), has easier-to-use coloring and is always successful. That's right, there's no more DCs for modifying equipment and no more wasting potentially hundreds or thousands in True for all those failed checks. A small fee still applies, but it's far more reasonable. Thanks to Script Wrecked for adapting the system for player use.
- Updated math for the Save vs. Soul Mother. *listens for the sound of jaws hitting the floor* The new progression goes like this:
- Levels 1-3: Automatic success – no chance of Soul Strand loss
- Levels 4-20: DC = level / 2
- Levels 21+: DC = 10 + ((level – 20) / 4)
[/LIST]In other words, below level 20 (and above level 3), the chance of losing a soul strand from dying increases by 1% for every
two (2) levels. Above level 20, the chance of losing a soul strand from dying increases by 1% for every
four (4) levels. At level 40, that chance sits at 15%. {5}
- New system – AutoXP. This system allows a new mechanism for GMs to reward good RP. Rather than a single hit with a fixed amount, this system will grant a small amount of XP, based on the character's level, at regular intervals over a period of time as long as the character is logged in, not idle and not in combat. {6}
Low-level/New player experience:- Adjustments to Center crypts and undercity spawns to be more friendly to a solo, low-level adventurer
- Dirty Claw Kobold spawns tweaked
- Adjusted combat XP curves to give a boost to characters through level 12. Formerly, this curve flattened out at level 3.
- Moved a Point of Interest to make it easier for the new player as an introduction to the system
- New characters get more True to spend
- Adjusted combat XP calculation for parties to reduce or eliminate the XP reduction when a character is below the average party level, especially by larger margins. This actually affects everyone, not just low-level characters, but the effect will be more profound for this group.
As an important comment, any items removed from the palette have been converted to dynamic items, so if they are put onto an ox, they will not be destroyed.
I'll be making a few more posts related to this update soon, but until then feel free to ask questions that come to mind.
Notes:
[SIZE=10]{1} Primary credit to Guardian 452[/SIZE] [SIZE=10]{2} Primary credit to Alatriel[/SIZE] [SIZE=10]{3} Primary credit to Script Wrecked[/SIZE] [SIZE=10]{4} Primary credit to Honora[/SIZE] [SIZE=10]{5} Please note, this reduction in the Save vs. Soul Mother DC is a purely OOC change. Please do not RP or acknowledge any sort of change in this mechanic in any in-character way. There is not IC reason for it. There's no greater purpose or mysterious shift in the Cosmos, nor have your characters become “stronger” somehow or the Soul Mother gotten “weaker” or “less hungry”. This is simply me adjusting the curve, as we have done in the past.[/SIZE][SIZE=10][SIZE=10]{6} This system is completely at t[SIZE=10]he discretion of the GMs, and they may[SIZE=10] enable or disable it for any character at any time for any reason. It is not an entitlement, it is a reward. Please treat it as such[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE].
[/SIZE] Enjoy!
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