House of Commons from 1999-03-12

House of Commons from 1999-03-12

Glamdring	Greetings and thank you for attending tonight's Open House.
Glamdring	Tonight's chat is "In Development"
Glamdring	I will be our moderator for this evening. In order to submit questions please /msg or /query Fot, Fripp, Jerrith, Xena or Marduk.
Glamdring	Please /msg different question-takers at different times, in order to balance the load and speed this process up. Do not msg anyone from OSI or myself--these questions will be ignored.
Glamdring	Remember that OSI may not have the opportunity to answer all of your questions. In addition, some questions may not be answered if the Dev Team feel that it is not appropriate or that it has been better answered through some other question.
Glamdring	In addition, please do not submit any questions that have already been answered during past conferences. We encourage you to read the logs of the previous Open Houses, which are available at http://uohoc.stratics.com
Glamdring	Thanks for coming, everyone. We will now begin accepting questions.
Glamdring	*El_Barto* 2 Questions: With the new changes to stealth, you're basicly making it useless to the thief (reveal on snoop). How are thieves supposed to survive? And why not make the Chameleon potion invulnerable to AllNames? If not, it defeats the purpose.
DD	First off, we don't want stealth to be to antisocial a skill. And we are going to work hard to make sure that it is a viable skill but isn't useful only for stealing and killing. We've made several revisions on Test Center even since the update stuff was posted on the website... those changes are no longer exactly current.
DD	For example, stealth no longer checks the people around you when you start stealthing--instead, we made it harder to stealth up towards groups. This allows players who are in groups to help "protect" each other against thieves, while leaving the lone guy in the woods still more vulnerable. That way players can protect themselves against those using the skill for that purpose.
DD	As far as the Chameleon potion--there is no way to make it invulnerable to allnames. It makes your skin basically translucent-- it is NOT a hiding or invisibility potion by any means. Its utility is thereofre very specific and narrow.
Glamdring	*Garen* for the necromancy patch, will the availibility of these "rare" reagants become greater? also, with the introduction of so many new skills, will the skill cap be raised slightly?
DD	We intend to keep the rare reagents rare. The exact availability will of course need to be determined by testing, though. :)
DD	As far as the skill cap, the answer is no, we do not intend to raise it anytime soon.
Glamdring	*Duskwalker* Two quick questions; Will only the fisherman who found an SOS be able to recover its treasure (like the treasure map system)? Also, what's the ETA on guard zones for housing going in ?(I noticed it is not yet In Testing and still In Development)
DD	Anyone who has an SOS can try to fish it up. Guard zones from housing has scary technical issues and potential abuses, and it is taking a while to sort these out, unfortunately :(
Glamdring	*Katana* Why is magery a requirement for Necromancy? I thought Necromancy was going to be in opposition to Magery!
DD	Necromancy being in opposition to magery was idle speculation. It is not in opposition. Instead, it is a subschool of magery. We expect to add other subschools eventually (including one that IS in opposition to Necromancy)
Glamdring	*Crazy_Ed* with all the talk of necromancy going around, is there any chance of different schools of magic? ie. fire water earth and air magic? there are already many sites out there with such proposals.
DD	As I said, we expect to add other subschools eventually.
Glamdring	*Cyrae* What are the proposed changes to the Order/Chaos system?
DD	You will be hearing more about this in Runesabre's upcoming chat with BattleVortex, but basically: we're going to keep order from fighting order and chaos from fighting chaos, to create a greater sense of sides.
DD	We're also going to eventually expand to more factions than just those two.
DD	We intend to make consensual PvP a fun experience for all who choose to participate, with things like ladders, plot-based activities, etc.
Glamdring	*Ian123* Is there any date on when these things will go to the normal shards?
DD	The stuff that is currently listed as In Testing on the website will MOSTLY be published to the shards next week, if all goes well. Probably tuesday. The exceptions are Necromancy and Alchemy, which we have decided are not to the point where we feel ready to release them. We feel the need to add more potions, more spells, and more structure to them.
Glamdring	*SirValiant* Alchemist applaude the changes to their profession but one item remains unresolved... when will we be able to stack potions???
DD	Well, stacking potions actually has some tricky technical issues related to stacking. Stacking currently isn't real smart about items that are the same time but have differnet behaviors, data, and scripts attached. The result is that if we just made potions stackable rightnow, you'd be able to stack greater heals and heals, and end up losing the "greater" part off the item. :(
Glamdring	*Crombie* Two part question: 1. With the new fishing changes, when you use a map or messgae in a bottle and fish the treasure will you need lockpicking to get the treasure from a chest? 2. How will not seeing items on boats decks affect me as a pirate? Will i still be able to see the corps of the people i kill?
DD	1) no. 2) no either. But as part of the boat revisions we have coming this may change, because we'd very much like to make boats more viable in a number of ways. In fact, making treasure only available thru deep sea fishing from a boat was a measure we took to enhance boats.
Glamdring	*SieMing* Will researching potions be necessary after formulas are posted on the web? (if the answer is no, could you ask what the purpose of research is?)
DD	Well, some people read webpages. And many many more don't. And some people who DO read webpages use them as a hint book, and some don't. And some people like finding stuff out themselves and other's don't.
DD	It's the curse of static data in online games... they all have this problem.
DD	Unfortunately, alchemy isn't really suited for dynamic potion formulas, since each reagent has a specific meaning.
Glamdring	*Shadow* To calm players minds......Will weapons be able to be poisoned with the forgetfulness potion?
DD	No.
Glamdring	*Phyer* Since PKs will undoubtedly control the spawn sites of the new reagents, won't PKs be the only people who can create the new potions and learn necromancy?
DD	There's too many assumptions in that question. :) I question the notion that PKs are guaranteed to control the spawn sites of the new reagents, when we haven't even settled all the means by which they will spawn
Glamdring	*Jon-UOMarket* The rare item industry has recently been uttery destroyed by the appearcence of rare items in chests, new craftable items, and treasure hunting. Any plans to have a real, perminent, rare item economy? The rare items traders are a large part of the Ultima Online comunnity, and are mostly utterly appalled at the destruction these changes have wrought. What can/is being done about this?
DD	Well, there's quite a tension there, between the expansion of the player economy with more craftables, and the marketplace for rare items. We feel that it is more important to give players greater scope to build and shape their world. However, there will always be rare items. They may not be quite as rare as before, though. In addition, we expect that there will be items that may be craftable but so amazingly hard to craft that they will be extremely rare
Glamdring	*Leo* When will Bowyer/Fletching get new items or update? You already have different types of trees in existence, why not take advantage of that? I nearly fell over when I saw that fishing was getting updates!! Bowyers want New items also. Thanks!
DD	Be patient. :) We are, as always simply marching thru all the skills doing upgrades. We are quite aware that bowyering is crying out for stuff like different woods, different feathers affecting the quality of arrow made, etc.
Glamdring	*Sonofapreacherman* What is the timetable on the upcoming quest engine?
DD	It's a big task. My personal hope is that we can start tackling it sometime in the next couple of months. But other priorities may interfere, we'll see.
Glamdring	*DarkBlade* There was something said once about smiths being able to craft magic weapons. Any details or estimates on implementation, or has it been dropped?
DD	Hasn't been dropped. Weapon enchantment is a real favorite of Sunsword's and I think he may take it on as a pet project.
Glamdring	*Larch* Please describe more about necromancy. How many spells approximately do you intend to create over time?
DD	"A lot."
DD	:)
Glamdring	*Ibn_Shaun* Bandage stacking was promised in the December 8, 1998 #uohoc chat. Why isn't it in the list of things that are "In development"?
DD	Darn good question. I don't know why that one slipped thru the cracks. I assume you mean bandages stacking when they are first created...
Glamdring	*Shamino* Will skills advancement gates return to Test Center? I do not have lot of time to develop a character on this shard but I'd like to help test out the new features.
DD	I believe that our current policy is to only have advancement gates for crafting and other peaceful skills, and not for anything that can be used offensively or antisocially.
Glamdring	*James__Hetfield[SEA]* Is player races still on?? Or gone?
DD	Still hovering around as a possibility, but not anytime too soon. For one thing, we want to make sure that when we do races, we do them well enough that they are each as fully fleshed out (especially visually!) as our current humans are.
Glamdring	*Rafta-GoV* Could you give us a definate time Pet Nerfing will be fixed on the main Shards?
DD	As far as I know, it IS fixed. Pet nerfing occurred when crossing server boundaries, and it was corrected in the last update., Unfortunately, already nerfed pets remain that way.
Glamdring	*SirValiant* A recent post on the dev board mentioned using art for rocks and sand as resources to make new craftables. Have you read the post and are you interested?
DD	With our new "research system" backend (in use by necromancy and alchemy both) ANYTHING can be a resource. I haven't read that post, but it is something we are looking at, and which you might expect. :)
Glamdring	*illz_DXM* Will Necromancy be a skill in addition to Spirit Speak or will Spirit Speak become necromancy after a patch?
DD	It will be a new skill in addition to spirit speak.
Glamdring	*DrubDeviL* For the thieves....Why nerf stealth when you're adding friends of the house the ability to detect without fail or skill gain. That alone will make homes secure again...
DD	Because we're not worried only about house breakins. We are also worried about the fact that it was just about impossible to take any preventive measures against a thief who stealthed up to you, snooped, stole, and ran away.
Glamdring	*Arislan* Can I can an E.T.A on the end of townfighting?
DD	No, because we won't disable it until we are sure that the new features in plac for PvP are fun and workable. We realize that a lot of people use townfighting as a way to PvP in a way they enjoy, and we want to make the change only once we are sure that there are other venues for them.
Glamdring	*Tawnos* You mentioned forgetfulness potions won't be used as poison, will any of the new potions be used by means other than drinking? (poison or thrown)
DD	The versions on TC are all drinking versions at the moment. Part of researching, however, will be finding the combos that make throwable versions. You should expect MANY variants for each type of potion.
DD	Forgetfulness, however, will remain a drink-only type of potion. It was not conceived of as an aggressive act, but rather as a tool for players to manage skills.
Glamdring	*Slothers* How will new spells be displayed, are you adding more circless into spellbooks? Or are you planning on us having seperate books for each school?
DD	Necromancy does not use a spellbook. In fact, no new magic will use spellbooks.
Glamdring	*deVoca_Ni* since potions with durations (and some spells) did not have their durations increased when combat time was lengthed, is there a chance of doing that now?
DD	Sure, as part of alchemy revisions.
Glamdring	*Ceri* Is Necromancy going to have a 'raise the dead' spell, to animate dead corpses eg. raising a corpse of a character that has over 90
Glamdring	magery will result in a bone magi, raising a non-decayed corpse will result in a zombie, raising someone that doesn't have about 90 magery
Glamdring	or 90 of a weapon skill results in a normal skeleton and if the corpse in question has over 90 of a weapon skill it raises as a skeletal knight..
DD	There will be an animate dead spell. There may be *several* animate dead spells.
DD	And that is all I will say at the moment. :)
DD	(I'd note, on TC there already IS an animate dead spell)
Glamdring	*Katana* Isn't the new 'Shield' potion a bit too powerful. It would make mages and archers invunerable to melee fights. Even if it only lasted 10 seconds, I can get Corp Por'd to death in 10 seconds!
DD	Shield is one of those potions which I referred to as one that will have many variations. The basic effect the same, but picture stuff like a throwable version that makes a force bubble, one you can hid ein and move with but which blocks air and which thereofre you take damage to use, one which has a wider radius but which you cannot move with,
DD	one which is disrupted by speciifc spells, one which strength can break down, one which makes you immobile, etc etc.
DD	The version you have right now on TC is basically nearly the most powerful shield potion there would ever be. Ones which you cannot use magic thru would be a good example of a commoner shield.
Glamdring	*Duncan3* I'm wondering how a non-combat merchant alchemist will be able to get reagents for the new potions, and also if it will ever be possible to gain fame without hunting down dragons...
DD	The answer to the first part is, he buys them from player vendors. We expect the new reagents to be hot items in the player economy. As far as non-combat people gaining fame, we've been trying to find a workable means for this for quite some time now, but keep coming up with exploits. :(
Glamdring	*Vortex_* How do you plan to end the blue healer problem, will a flag system go in place?
DD	When you heal a guilded person, you will become a guild member of that guild (for two minutes) for the purpose of other people targeting you. However you will NOT have the privilege of targeting members of that guild freely.
DD	So you'll be sort of an "affiliate" member--you take on their vulnerabilities, but not full membership.
Glamdring	*GM_Jason* When will food spawn on the special trees such as coconuts, apples, etc
DD	When we get around to it... it's never been a very high priority. We actually have much of the code, just never turned it on. :P
Glamdring	*deadfrog* Will GM Leather armour ever yield a Higher AR value?
Glamdring	Will a greater level of Spirit Speak affect the outcome of Necromacy, or is SS just a prerequizite to get in?
DD	GM made leather armor already does yield a higher AR value. Because of how the overall armor calc is done, however, it kinda rounds out. But trust me, it is there & it does matter. As far as Spirit speak, it is just a pre-req.
Glamdring	*Palnud* Forgetfulness Potions: Will they be available to each skill in game, and to what degree will they affect a skill if drank? Approx skill point reduction #? 5, 10, 50 all that skill wiped? Also will there be a query as to, are you sure you wish to drink this ect..
DD	They will exist for all skills. Right now on TC there are three levels of it, going up to around 10 points lost. However, there will probably be more. And no, there is no query.
Glamdring	*Gypsy_* Will paint and brushes ever be usable on the newly craftable easels?
DD	Someday I hope to allow players to actually draw pictures in UO. Someday. :)
Glamdring	*Krltplps* What are the chances of Spell Interruption being taken off of wrestling? The ability to cast a spell shouldn't be based on how well you can throw a punch, but how well you can concentrate while getting hit. Sticking it onto Meditation or a combo of Meditation/Eval Int would be a lot better for the "pure mage" you guys are going for.
DD	It's come up many times, but hasn't made it onto our to-do list yet.
Glamdring	*Coz_Drach* What about your "randomize" function ? don't u think there's something wrong when after succefully casting 10 time the same spell, u suddently fizzle the same one 10 times ?
DD	We've checked the random stuff over and over, and it appears to be working correctly. :P I know, seems unbelievable, but that's what the programmers tell me.
Glamdring	*Ceri* There is a delay on the explosion spell that allows you to cast EXP then E-bolt before it registers as being attacked... will this be fixed? and if so when?
DD	That's not a bug, it's intentional to add more tactical diversity to magical attacks.
Glamdring	*Eagawk-UOHOC* Assasination as a skill was brought up in a previous UOHOC. What's happening with that?
DD	At the moment, nothing.
Glamdring	*Queso* Will it be possible, any time in the near future, to become a glorious or dread lord without having to do extremely ridiculous stuff?
DD	Well, it's gonna be REAL easy to be a dread lord if you kill people.
DD	Seriously, though... we want glorious to be for the very few, the practically suicidal few...
Glamdring	*Phunix* Any other skills that will get subschools? Like wrestling getting an unarmed combat skill or swordsmanship getting a double weapon skill?
DD	In our Master Plan for Conquering the World, just about every skill has subskills.
DD	Double weapon skill is not likely, but weapon skills for specific weapon types, and differentforms of unarmed combat, are indeed things we've looked at
Glamdring	*Ethos* Would it be possible to implement some sort of a "sparring mode" in which dammage was simulated and skill was not gained? This would be *very* usefull in technical and tactics training among guild members. It would not be abused by macros because as I suggested skill gain would also be nill.
DD	Yeah, it's possible, Hadn't really considered it though, since what most people want out of sparring is skill gain... a dueling mode is a definite likelihood though.
Glamdring	*Halador* Q: In terms of the game's engine, financial feasability. etc., how far can you take the original UO, and is a successor on the horizon?
DD	We can take UO VERY far. For that matter, I'd argue that it's already far enough that nothing out there, in testing or otherwise can match it in depth. And we're proceeding merrily along on adding yet more. We're still the only true virtual world on the Internet, and we fully intend to keep pushing the boundaries.
DD	UO is effectively its own successor. We can revise the client, expand the world, improve technology, and just replace modules in place, while still providing an ever-evolving experience for players.
Glamdring	*Queso* Raph, about the story with the tree, I respect your view of online communities, I have been in tight knit situations like that online, but never in UO, why can't you accept that UO is not what you wanted it to be and take that into account in your design of the game for the future?
DD	Queso, the fact that you have been so unfortunate as to not have that type of experience within UO doesn't mean that thousands of others haven't had EXACTLY that sort of tight-knit relationship with people. I get stories like that every day.
DD	To my mind, UO has achieved just about everything one could hope for. Not everything that was in our original lofty dreams, of course, but certainly more than enough.
DD	We have what is possibly the most vibrant, endlessly fascinating virtual world ever made here. Yes, we've learned a lot, and certainly the lessons we have learned would affect things we do in the future.
DD	But to imply that UO is somehow a failure, I think is a big mistake. It has had more impact, on more levels (artistic, industry-wise, financially, and socially) than we really ever dreamed possible.
DD	All i can say is, I hope you DO find that sort of emotional connection with people in UO someday... it really enriches the experience.
Glamdring	*C-Laser-CATs* How was the Wing Commander movie?
Rainman	*chuckles*
DD	I saw the movie last night. I have two scales on which I rate movies. One is the real movie rating scale, on which I have to confess it shows poorly next to anything from "The Children's Hour" to "Funny Face" (can you tell I am an Audrey Hepburn fan?) or "Full Metal Jacket" or "Schindler's List."
DD	However, I also have my personal "LadyHawke" scale.
DD	On that I rate fantasy and sci-fi movies, scaled down from LadyHawke (which I think is the best fantasy movie made... Blade Runner is up there too)
DD	On THAT scale, I'd call it a 7 out of 10.
DD	Basically--take it for what it is, and you'll probably enjoy it. Realize that most of the stuff (the WWII homages, the Das Boot references) are intentional. And just assume that those young actors are, well, young actors. :P
DD	I do wanna see the toys though. :) All in all, I enjoyed it, might even watch it again on cable.
Glamdring	Thank you to everyone for coming tonight...and once again thanks to DD for answering our questions on his own time. We really do appreciate it. The log will be on the website soon.
Glamdring	Take care all and be safe driving home :)
Marduk	*SirValiant* This probably won't get posted but thxs Dev team for all the hard work you do... there are players out there who are grateful but we're not as vocal as the complainers.
Marduk	Well put :)
Marduk	*Mako* Just wanted to give my appreciation for the great changes that have taken place. They have renewed my excitement in UO. The theif changes make it a great role to play, the treasure hunts add an exciting element to the game and the forthcoming changes all heighten the possibilities for great fun. Just wanted to say thanks and keep up the GREAT work.
DD	Thanks for the kind words... I actually need to leave because we're under tornado watches around here... bye all!