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Title: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Arthur_Parker on October 12, 2006, 12:38:52 PM
Of Special Note
· The level cap has been increased to 40!
· Players may now enter the Trollshaws and Misty Mountains. Welcome to Rivendell!
· Class Traits now open at level 15!

Gameplay
· Players will now be teleported out of their instance if they are defeated in combat.
· When a monster becomes locked to another player and the vitals turn gray (meaning you won't get credit for it) the name also changes to a gray color.
· Fixed an issue where you needed to have a melee weapon equipped to use a Ranged conjunction as a hunter.
· The Champion/Guardian will no longer break a target’s stealth when using a non-harmful skill on the target.
· Accomplishments will no longer advance while players are in a raid.
· Fixed some issues with tapping associated with Lore-master/Captain pets and Hunter traps.
· Parry, Block and Evade Chances have been modified with another eye for balance.
· Burglars’ ranged combat is solely the purview of thrown weapons now.
· Lore-master shield use has been removed.
· Bleed Rates have been adjusted for most classes.
· Guardians can use heavy shields at level 15 now. All low level heavy shields have been removed or converted to be standard shields.

Conjunctions
· Added 48 new Conjunction matches, bringing the total number of matches to 70. This includes new conjunctions of 4, 5, and 6 matches.
· Conjunction attempts are now automatically reserved for the fellowship of the player who started the attempt.
· You will no longer see the Conjunction UI unless at least one other active fellowship member is nearby.
· You will no longer be able to open up a Conjunction attempt on a monster that is not tapped to your fellowship.
· The Conjunction 'vulnerability' state, the multi-colored shimmering globe that appeared over their heads from time to time, is no longer used. You will now simply start a Conjunction with roughly the same frequency as the previous mechanic supported.
· The "Conjunction Initiator" line of Skills has been removed from all classes; it is no longer needed.
· The time allowed to contribute to a Conjunction attempt has been increased.
· Fixed a condition that could result in Effects not being removed on expiration correctly.
· Fixed a bug that was causing some effects to become permanent on players for a play session.
· Fixed a bug that was preventing players from receiving the effects of their Traits and Characteristics on login.
· Fixed a bug that was resulting in players logging in and not being able to see their Quests, Accomplishments, map notes or travel network data.
· Fixed a bug that was leaving players immune to attacks from some monsters or unable to attack until they logged out.
· Player pets and other damaging objects, e.g. Hunter traps, are now able to open a Conjunction attempt on behalf of their summoner.

Skills
· The level that classes receive skills to cure Poison, Disease, Fear, or Wounds have changed. Also, some classes that could not cure can now do so. Lore-master can cure wounds at level 10, diseases at level 16. Captain can cure fear at 16, Minstrels get a lesser cure at 26. Hunters can cure poison at 16, Burglars get a lesser cure at 26.
· The following skills are now Instant Skills. This means they can be used whenever you are not currently performing a skill, even if you are currently recovering from a previous skill play. The Action delay will be on hold until the end of the Instant Action:
Champion: Sprint, Sudden Defence, Dire Need
Burglar:Ready and Able, Touch and Go, Find Footing
Captain: Cry of Vengeance, Rallying Cry, Routing Cry, War-cry, In Harm's Way, Last Stand
Guardian: Turn the Tables, Guardian's Pledge, Shield Swipe, Retalitation
Hunter: Intent Concentration, Needful Haste, Beneath Notice
Minstrel: Triumphant Spirit, Cry of the Chorus, Raise the Spirit
· The “Hunter's Guile” Conjunction base skill can now be used at Range.
· Lore-master morale cost for Give Hope has been adjusted and it now works on Quest NPC's.
· Lore-master’s Sign of Wylds: Rage now lasts a longer duration.
· Captain's Critical Buffs have been modified with an eye for balance.
· Using Riddle will turn-off your auto-attack, to prevent accidentally breaking the monster out of the Riddle "mez".
· The Hunter's skill "Merciful Shot" now can only be used on a target who is below 50% health.

User Interface
· Map
o Players can now filter their map notes using a new right-click context sensitive menu on the radar.
o When you use the "m" key to open the map or click on the "+" button on the radar, the correct map should open. No more standing in Staddle and getting the map for Breetown!
o The map can now filter its mapnotes.
o The map now includes a listbox of maps for quick navigation.
· Quest text will scroll to the top when receiving a new quest.
· There are two new options in the UI Settings:
o Overhead quest icons (defaults to on) displays quest icons over NPC heads
o Overhead non-quest icons (defaults to off) displays non-quest icons over NPC heads
· Made the progress bar (channeling, induction, item use, etc) moveable around the screen.
· Players can now right-click on other players or their vital displays to view their bios and send tells.
· Quest Iconics and Trainer/Crafter/Merchant Iconics can now be toggled on/off.
· Players can now move the Conjunction attempt display window and Conjunction contribution UI. Hit Ctrl-\ to locate and move them.
· Updated the Mail UI to preserve an already set subject when dragging in a new item attachment, and to disallow the entry of non-numeric characters into the currency fields.
· Key Mappings now have a divider for easier finding of key mapping areas in options panel.
· New Skill Icons for Classes Champion, Hunter, Guardian, Lore-master for levels 1-10.
· New Icons for Call to Air and Call to Metal.
· Those nosey hobbits will now be easier to see in the radar!
· When entering various indoor locations in the world, the fog of war may be remembered for your location. (This is dependent on the number of dungeons you have been inside recently.)
· Player-created pipeweed fields are now selectable.

Chat
· There is a new Options page: Chat! The chat options have been moved from the "UI Settings" page to the "Chat" page.
· Chat Tab Filter Menu has been alphabetized.
· Chat Output Channel Menu has been alphabetized.


Crafting
· Prospectors, forestors, and farmers who didn't get a tracking skill for their profession before will now get one.
· Fixed issue causing crafting resources on the landscape to vanish.
· Tiers 3-5 of the Farming tradeskill are now available.
· Tailor NPC's now sell recipes.
· Crafted jewelry has improved & updated magical enhancements.
· Hides are more common and found on more creatures now.

Items
· Look for bracelets and pocket items that can reflect damage. These effects begin to appear in the mid levels on bracelets and pocket items.
· Heavy shields are now sold at heavy armor smiths.
· Potions to cure Wounds, Poison, Fear, and Disease are now for sale at the Provisioner.
· Reduced the damage on all common weapons sold at shops or found as treasure.
· Increased the damage on most Uncommon and Rare weapons.
· Magical enhancements on uncommon and rare shields have been changed (in some cases removed, in most cases switched out with enhancements that are using new values)
· Enhancements on magic jewelry have been adjusted (in most cases increased).
· Club of the Burglar has been renamed to Club of the Champion.
· Typo in Club of the Bear fixed
· The magic on uncommon weapons have been updated (some increased, some decreased).
· Updated the magical properties on all uncommon armor.
· Cave Crawlers drop trophy items.
· Decayed only drop jewelry & gems now.
· Slightly reduced item wear from combat, evade, and parry events. Starter and low level equipment have less durability but are cheaper to repair. Note: Skills still have a high chance of causing item wear and eventually will get a pass for general item wear balancing.
· Non-low-level shields have greater structure and should wear out less often. In many cases it is now more expensive to repair shields.
· Shields are more expensive.
· Equalized the monetary values for some 1-handed and 2-handed weapons.
· Fixed a description in the Shoes of the Westmarch. Shoes are now red in color.

Graphics/Animations
· Made the Dread aura stand out more against dark backgrounds
· The animations and scripts for all avatar combat animations have been unified to ensure that all races/classes have similar timing (e.g. Men and Hobbits now fire arrows at the same rate)
· Avatars will now properly carry pies.
· NPC Escorts will now properly trot along their paths at a slower pace than the avatar's run.
· All Avatars now run with their weapons in an more appropriate pose.
· Completed a pass on combat attack hooks for the level 1-10 creatures and avatars. Combat hits, block, parries, and evades should happen on time in most cases now.
· The Action Duration Values for all non-melee skills have been adjusted to new values. This should increase the pace of combat for most classes when they are using non-melee skills.
· Escorts no longer play the conjunction FX when knocked down.
· The Beam associated with the “Power of Knowledge” skill should no longer remain permanently if you use the skill on a dying monster.
· Earth-kin will now animate properly in melee and missile combat.
· Chickens now move at normal speeds.
· Hares now move faster.
· Goblin Sappers no longer lower their hands when carrying a firepot, and the firepot will no longer re-appear as the Goblin Sapper dies.
· Dwarves have new skin and hair!
· The super-shiny armor bug should be fixed!

World
· Various terrain texture seams in the North Downs have been cleaned up.
· The forest in eastern Meluinen has expanded slightly.
· Adjustments have been made to Nan Wathren to prevent players from getting trapped within various battlements.
· The eastern pass into Nan Wathren now has a discoverable landmark.
· Areas marked as Nan Amlug West on the map panel should now also appear as Nan Amlug West on the radar disc.
· Various floating objects in the North Downs have been grounded.
· Players will no longer get stuck between objects outside of the Hunting Lodge.
· Players will no longer get stuck between objects in the Mad Badger Tavern.
· Removed artifacts from the radar map in Andrath.
· Fixed texture seams in the Midgewater Marsh and Chetwood brigand headquarters.
· Fixed a bug where players could get stuck in Archet.
· Fixed a bug in the Prancing Pony where a player could get stuck.
· Fixed a bug in Archet where a player could walk through a fence.
· Cleaned up the terrain in an area of the Midgewater Marsh.
· Players will be able to pass from Andrath into the Barrowdowns now.
· The Bucklebury Ferry now has white bollards and the tall lamps described in the book.

Character Creation
· The character creation UI has been streamlined a bit:
o Movies are skippable with the ESC key.
o Character naming is rolled into the appearance changing screen.
o Origin (nationality) is a popup menu instead of a listbox.
o Zoom in and out buttons have been added.
o Double-clicking an existing character will enter the game with that character.
o Starting the game with no characters brings you straight into creating a new character.
· In character creation, the camera now orbits your character instead of having the character spin in place.


Miscellaneous
· Players now enter the game with a very basic set of armor.
· The "social" interiors (taverns, etc.) should now appear without Fog of War on the mini-map.
· Players will no longer get sent to Bree when defeated in the Trollshaws dungeons.
· Changed the Loot Roll timeout to 30 seconds.
· The Captain's “Improved Courage” trait has been removed from the game.
· You can no longer put items into mines or other crafting resources in the world.
· Combat logging will no longer show damage done to corpses.
· Players can no longer send new mail if their mailbox is full.
· Monsters are undergoing a renaming pass. Some monsters have new names, and a number of quests have been updated to reflect this.

Traits/Accomplishments
· New Accomplishment area for the Misty Mountains.
· Class Traits now are the purview of class accomplishments; they will be earned along your character's development rather then granted at a specific level.
· Corrected rewards for a number of Accomplishments.
· Fixed a bug that caused some exploration quests to incorrectly track landmark discoveries.
· The “Now For Wrath” accomplishment will bestow and advance correctly when “Rallying Cry” is used.
· The Captain's Banner of “X” accomplishments will now bestow and advance correctly when your heralds are summoned.
· “Hardy Bear” accomplishment is now only advanced by summoning your bear. The required number of uses has been reduced accordingly.


· New Hunter Traits!

"True Shot"
"Hail of Arrows"
"Cutting Arrow"
"Swift and True"
"Fast Pull"
"Hasty Recovery"
"Long Pull"
"Arrow Storm"
"Centering Self"
"Efficient Quiver"
"Heightened Senses"
"Sturdy Trap"
"Stealthy Shot"
"War Shot"
“Enduring Precision”

· New Champion Traits!

"Call of the Wild"
"At the Ready"
"Patience"
"Heavy Shield Use"
"Vicious Strikes"
"Deadly Strikes"
"Deep Strikes"
"Improved Blade Wall"
"Improved Bracing Attack"
"Improved Blade Storm"
"Eye of the Storm"
"Improved Flurry"
"Swift to Anger"
"Time of Need"
"Improved Battle-frenzy"

· New Traits for the Burglar!

"Hidden Dagger"
"Footpad"
"Leaf-walker"
"Strike from Shadows"
"Opportunist"
"Trickster"
"Disabling Attack"
"Blind Fury"
"Focused Eye"
"Cunning Wound"
"Ambidextrous"
"Swift and Subtle"
"Perplexing Riddle"
"Overwhelming Odds" - NYI
"Appraising Eye"
"Side-step"

· New Traits for Guardian!

"Guardian's Ward"
"Selfless Defence"
"Shield Expertise"
"Stoic"
"Stinging Blow"
"Reactive Block"
"Strong Lungs"
"Quickness"
"Deflected Blows" *Limited Functionality
"Parried Blows" *Limited Functionality
"Heat of Battle" *Limited Functionality
"Brave Heart" *Limited Functionality
"Grim Challenge"
"Harasser"
"To the Rescue"
"Controlled Breathing"

· New Captain Traits!

"Improved Banner of War"
"Improved Banner of Hope"
"Improved Banner of Victory"
"Improved War-Cry"
"War Caller"
"Improved Threatening Shout"
"Improved Attacks"
"Improved Routing Cry"
"Voice of Determination"
"Improved Rallying Cry"
"Improved Words of Courage"
"Improved Hands of a Healer"
"Focused Strikes"
"Defiant"
"Subtle Command"
"Loyalty"

Quests

General/UI
· Certain quest arcs in the Misty Mountains have been temporarily shortened due to inaccessible regions, and will be extended when those regions open up.
· When quests are ready to be completed, a checkmark will appear next to the quest name in the journal and in the quest tracker.
· Quest Items on the landscape should no longer disappear when you go into combat.
· Fixed fellowship quest propagation in instances.
· Pie and Mail quests now show the mapnote on the radar for the NPC who will complete the quest.
· The quest title on the quest bestow and quest advance dialogs is colored by the level of the quest relative to the player.
· The Shire now has updated quest loot.
· Quest rewards have been added for the Lonelands.
· Extraneous quest rings are gone from the minimap.


Specific Quests
· Because of technical problems with non-class pets, the Ered Luin quest "Missing Lynx" will for now not be giving out a lynx kitten as a pet, as the quest dialogue implies.
· Corrected StringTableError in the text for NPC Celephadh.
· The quest “Staunching the Flow” has been re-worked to have clearer objectives.
· The North Downs quest “Hunting Bears” will now correctly generate the item Bear Meat in addition to Bear Pelts.
· Gaffer's quest can now be completed. He asks the player to gather some of the fallen apples from the orchard and bring them back to him.
· The level for "Last of the Fireworks" is now in line with the rest of that quest arc
· Captain Trotter has a quest for you, yes he does! He'll ask you to venture across the bridge and talk to Aggy Digwood.
· Minor tweaks in the “Assault on Archet” instance.
· Added orc archers to the Weather Hills area for “Rise of the Orcs” quest.
· “Oakheart's Flight” can now be completed.
· “War and Famine” quest targets are now placed correctly. All weapon racks, shield racks, and crates in the quest area should be legitimate quest targets
· Corrected "fixme" text in the “True Intentions” quest.
· TBDs have been fixed in the “Rune-kenner” quest in the North Downs.
· Glambaen the lore-master in Lin Giliath has arrived, supporting local lore training as well as the “Rune-kenner” quest.
· Guidance has been updated to reflect Atli Spiderbane's move from the Hunter's Lodge to Archet after the newbie experience.
· The “Defence of Trestlebridge” has been polished.
· The quest "Stolen Treasures" can now be completed after finishing the "Assault on Archet" instance.
· Corrected the directions back to Posco in “Posco's Uncle.”
· Corrected the prerequisite quest for “Wanetta the Wedge.”
· Corrected “Worries from Waymoot” so it will shut off if you have completed or accepted “Rescue Dora's Chickens.”
· Londrandir no longer refers to himself in the third person when commenting on “Londrandir's Message.”
· Changed quest target creature in “Coat of Shadow” to Warg Stalkers.
· Reniolind now completes his escort, which was breaking "To A Ranger's Aid."
· There is no longer a “fixme” in the quest tracker in the quest “A Road Through The Dark” after you kill the two spiders.
· The quest “Man-slayer” in the Lone-lands can now be completed.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: WayAbvPar on October 12, 2006, 12:48:26 PM
Goddamn it. Now I have to log in and see the new stuff.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Yegolev on October 12, 2006, 01:13:33 PM
I cannot complain about Guardian nerfs.  Yet.  I'll roll up another loremaster and see if the combat is better.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Arthur_Parker on October 12, 2006, 02:34:55 PM
Rivendell is a bugger to get to, but quite impressive.  They fixed the Guardian's sweeping cut skill  :-(


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Yegolev on October 12, 2006, 03:01:55 PM
I'm more interested in what they did to the parry/block/evade% since that's within the Guardian's theme.  Doing huge damage is not, I think.  I'll find out soon enough.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Strazos on October 12, 2006, 09:57:46 PM
I'd still like to get some f13 action with my 14 Captain. Come on, teamwork will be fun...right?


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Yegolev on October 13, 2006, 06:18:24 AM
Just look for Tarragon and invite me, bitch.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Arthur_Parker on October 13, 2006, 03:40:15 PM
I'm more interested in what they did to the parry/block/evade% since that's within the Guardian's theme.  Doing huge damage is not, I think.  I'll find out soon enough.

As a 33 Guardian, I can't block or parry worth a damm anymore and it takes over 3 minutes to kill an elite 3 levels below me as my dps have dropped through the floor.  Despite now hitting like a girl, my skills still seem to have too high power requirements, so for most of the fight I just get to watch auto attack.  Exciting stuff, it's a bit like playing a WoW Rogue who doesn't get combo points while being on Prozac and buried under 12 feet of mud.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Trippy on October 13, 2006, 06:18:36 PM
I'm more interested in what they did to the parry/block/evade% since that's within the Guardian's theme.  Doing huge damage is not, I think.  I'll find out soon enough.
As a 33 Guardian, I can't block or parry worth a damm anymore and it takes over 3 minutes to kill an elite 3 levels below me as my dps have dropped through the floor.  Despite now hitting like a girl, my skills still seem to have too high power requirements, so for most of the fight I just get to watch auto attack.  Exciting stuff, it's a bit like playing a WoW Rogue who doesn't get combo points while being on Prozac and buried under 12 feet of mud.
I don't see a decrease in blocks or parries with my level 18 Guardian against normal mobs -- if anything the frequency has gone up. However Elites, even two levels below my, are no longer soloable. I can barely scratch them now before having to flee. I wasn't able to stay in combat long enough to determine if blocks and parries have dropped off against Elites but something definitely has changed.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Rasix on October 13, 2006, 06:41:26 PM
Lame.  I really dislike the entire concept of "Elite" mobs.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Arthur_Parker on October 15, 2006, 03:11:51 PM
I'm more interested in what they did to the parry/block/evade% since that's within the Guardian's theme.  Doing huge damage is not, I think.  I'll find out soon enough.
As a 33 Guardian, I can't block or parry worth a damm anymore and it takes over 3 minutes to kill an elite 3 levels below me as my dps have dropped through the floor.  Despite now hitting like a girl, my skills still seem to have too high power requirements, so for most of the fight I just get to watch auto attack.  Exciting stuff, it's a bit like playing a WoW Rogue who doesn't get combo points while being on Prozac and buried under 12 feet of mud.
I don't see a decrease in blocks or parries with my level 18 Guardian against normal mobs -- if anything the frequency has gone up. However Elites, even two levels below my, are no longer soloable. I can barely scratch them now before having to flee. I wasn't able to stay in combat long enough to determine if blocks and parries have dropped off against Elites but something definitely has changed.


Yeah the block and parry drop rates I was getting was based on elites, it doesn't seem too different to what it was on normal mobs.  Possibly dropped slightly but they have changed at least one item I had that used to give an increase to block chance and now doesn't.  I'm still enjoying it despite the lower damage output.  +Damage weapons against certain types of mob make a big difference.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Surlyboi on October 15, 2006, 11:37:58 PM
My Leggings of the Mark don't look as cool anymore  :-(


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: WayAbvPar on October 16, 2006, 11:52:08 AM
Was there some sort of Champions nerf that I missed? I was getting my ass handed to me by the same mobs I was pwning last week.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: Arthur_Parker on October 17, 2006, 12:29:44 AM
Was there some sort of Champions nerf that I missed? I was getting my ass handed to me by the same mobs I was pwning last week.

Just before the patch, did you logout standing next to a Guardian?  It might be splash nerfage.


Title: Re: Release Notes - October 12, 2006
Post by: WayAbvPar on October 17, 2006, 03:13:52 PM
Heh. That is as good a theory as I have heard yet.