Discussion Thread: Dev Journal 02 - October 12, 2005

NanoHaxiaI

I'm glad we got an update, though it leaves me feeling like we've got not real idea what's going to change.

MAs will get attacks for outside IL, though we have no idea in what shape and form, or how it'll work.

Hackers will be balanced, both Patchers and Virologists it sounds
like(possible FM "nerf"?). We don't really know in what way, just that
you'll change the damage and caps on some things.

I'm also concerned about Code Archive space. With the introduction of
more and more abilities, i.e. Zen Master and Free-Fire MA abilities,
we'll defintely need more Code Archive space. It's already too small as
it is. Inventory as well.

**Othinn1**

POwedMxOplayer wrote:

2. Who is doing the testing? Is this what became of the QA Server?

The testing is most likely done by SOE's internal QA team. I doubt they're using the QA server to do this. According to what I've read, Monolith had their own QA team as well, they just used their own server, and the QA server existed to allow players to help out.

POwedMxOplayer wrote:

3. What has become of the original Dev crew? How many came to SOE? Can we have a reunion party?

According to what I've read, around 26 of the original dev crew joined SOE. I'd like to know exactly who is still with us. I know Andy Kaplan and Erik Krebs joined SOE, but that's it.

**Othinn1**

Personally, I'm going to wait and try out the new combat system before I start praising it or worrying about it.

I'm glad they're not getting rid of the Hacker and Coder abilities. I didn't think they would, but it's nice to hear it from the devs in case I was wrong. And like Erik Krebs, I have absolutely no problem with any animation or balance changes. I don't mind the current animations, but you won't hear a single complaint from me if anything is changed.

**MxO-Insertion**

Hacker toning sounds GREAT! No more interlock w/multi-opponents... Seems a little wierd. It'll have to look cool SMILEY

**STR1NGS**

Glad to hear the obnoxious hacker effects are gonna be toned down :smileyhappy: Also looking forward to the combat revisions...

THREE CHEERS FOR THE RESPEC!!!

:smileyvery-happy:

**Aquilae**

Soooo all the items Archon stated in the Journal before are still in development?

I'm personally mostly interested about the Mega City revamp.

Message Edited by Aquilae on 10-12-2005 10:28 PM
Message edited by Aquilae on 10/12/2005 18:28:20.

**Eidolon**

Archon wrote:

When we release the combat system update we will be granting an
attribute respec to everyone and providing complete information about
the effects of increasing your stats. I will provide you with more
information as we make progress through the changes. I have already
decided that the respec is absolutely necessary, but there may be a few
other things that accompany it.

Will the attribute respec also allow us to change the Character Trait that we chose over six months ago?

It's great that we can reset our attributes again (even if I just did
it and still haven't assigned anything yet), but I'm sure there are
some redpills out there who, like me, found out about the individual
statistics a little too late and have been stuck with a Character Trait
that is different from what they'd like their base stats to be.
It's not that big of a deal, but since Archive drops are
significantly harder to come by, it does make a difference in just how
much one can benefit from the attributes.

As for the combat revision, I'll look forward to the day when a degree
of realism kicks in and I do, in fact, continue to focus on the
original target who's about to fall instead of the ally who jumped in
with full health. However, I have absolutely no idea what
the effects of this "Melee Free-Fire" are and how it'll balance with
regular freefire and additional factors.

Perhaps in the next Dev Journal we could get some (more)
information/discussion on expanding the Code Archive, revitalizing the
Spy
tree and balancing Hackers, the MegaCity revamp, server stability
issues during live events, and, of course, just what exactly this
combat revision will do. Other than that, thanks for the
update.

AmbrielSyntax

Overall, I think this Dev journal is a little lacking in content. 40% of it covered Pandora's box -shrugs- I think the developers that handled Pandora's box deserve congratulations, and everything said in the journal about it was cool. I think the rest of te journal that I was looking so forward too had more less interesting old content. It was vague and as always, everyone has more questions than answers. An ETA on the next live event would be handy SMILEY Why not make a forum specifically for questions to the Devs and you guys actually answer them if you can. For example..can we get some more disguises? Can you make all the doors in the game the same instead some within range some out of range? Can you fix the lockpicking animation? I was successful at picking the lock already, why am I standing here doing the lock pick dance?

-sigh-

Aquilae wrote:

Soooo all the items Archon stated in the Journal before are still in development?

I'm personally mostly interested about the Mega City revamp.

Message Edited by Aquilae on 10-12-200510:28 PM

Me too. Like a convention center, sports stadium, gas station, airport, candy factory, library, mall, walkable subway system or sewer system, car factory, big clock tower monument/building/club?, aquarium, zoo (I know I saw that cat 'Glitch', wheres all the other animals?!), and a couch store.

Godel

I agree that this journal is a bit disappointing as it kinda lacks in meaty content, still I think there are some good news, yay for a new RARH, yay for toning down hacker's effects (just tone down even the awakened abilty effects and make an option to turn them all off without turning off even numbers and other important things), yay for hacker balancing and I'm even very positive on the combat changes (I think you're really going in the right direction, this move IS friendly towards interlock, as you say, not only in feeling but even in practice, so YAY!

I'm disappointed mainly because I expected something really new about the combat system, but I guess I'll have to wait for the next article. We don't have to wait that much this time, since there is nothing time consuming like the SOE transition on the way, right? I hope so

p.s.: what about the chat update that will permit us to create chat channels? will it come with the SOE mail? what kind of stuff will we be able to attach to mail, only source code or even items?

and YES, make us change even our original char profile with the next reset, and our char description too! PLEASE! no wait, make the description changeable by the owner whenever he/she wants!

Message Edited by Godel on 10-13-2005 05:37 AM

Message Edited by Godel on 10-13-2005 05:38 AM
Message edited by Godel on 10/12/2005 19:38:56.

**RemagDiv**

Thanks for the update, SOE.

While not particulary detailed, at least we are being reassured SOE is
still working on the game to improve it. Two things that caught my eye
was the whole combat rebalance with another respec (which will tone
down Hackers, hopefully) with toned down visuals (hopefully the
Hyper-Speed blur and other annoying visuals will be done away with) and
a mail system which will make contacting people much easier as you
don't have to catch them online to talk to them. It will also be a
great way to send our mass e-mails to your Faction of important events
and times!

**Othinn1**

Godel wrote:

We don't have to wait that much this time, since there is nothing time consuming like the SOE transition on the way, right?

Working on the game isn't time consuming? According to Walrus, one of the reasons this dev journal took a while to write and post was the fact that Erik Krebs was helping with the combat changes (that, and he got sick recently).

Hardnova

I'm just thinking, will all this delay the zen master and the other new trees?

Also I didn't get one part right, is it true that there will be a mail in the game, like in the movie, that we can drop mails or staff for other players? Like in the Animatrix, the osiris droped a package before they were destroyed, and later to be found by the Locos. Or I have a big imagination?

To finish, I think the Hackers are not unbalanced, they have weakesses. My kung fu/ Karate character kick them, the only thing is, that they can attack us from a far. But in interlock, they are like babys SMILEY Just use compel Close combat and get them in interlock.

Tks for the new news.

bonobi

I really enjoyed this update...thanks

I'm glad to hear that they saw a major flaw in the combat system and are making the appropriate changes needed. That the origional interlocker can have up to 10+ seconds to attack again while others outside only have 5 secs is a major problem. I enjoyed multi-on-one combat but now that is pointed out I can see why they are changing it. Plus with outside melee combat attacks it'll still seem like the old system but people won't be at a disadvantage as far as time is concerned...very good.

In the pandora's section I saw the origional idea and thought that since you've implemented the box and missions already why not bring back that idea of random roaming gangs of that size and place them downtown? That would be really cool if its a random encounter with a nice reward. It would make people frequent downtown more often looking for the roaming gangs...why throw it out?

I love the ideas on hackers...they do need a little tweaking especially in the animation department. But don't forget about the flaming hands. If you make the animations look like they fit in the matrix then everyone will be happy.

FlyMeToParis

So i'm kicking azz in interlock, will the poor reds buddy be able to
pull a free fire attack off on me, and will it have a anamation? I hope
so... SMILEY

oooo edit. will i be able to mail my things from charecter to
charecter? I have a old toon on method-recursion i wanna delete but
she's got so many good items i don't wanna trash.

Message Edited by FlyMeToParis on 10-12-2005 09:54 PM

Message Edited by FlyMeToParis on 10-12-2005 09:55 PM
Message edited by FlyMeToParis on 10/12/2005 20:55:15.

Steege

Archon wrote:
That said I am not opposed to balancing their abilities and toning
their effects down. At some point in the near'ish future we plan to
start making a pass at effects. The goal of the pass is to identify
obnoxious effects and tone them down till they fit our game.

Praise Jeebus! Halleluiah!