Are we there yet?

[Silirrion]

...the answer is almost! We will be doing at least one more update to 17.9 on the test server before considering moving the update to the live dimension. This build will hopefully be on test live shortly then we will make the assessment as to when the update will go live. Most likely the week after next.

With birthday content now included in the update we will be sure to release the update before the birthday celebrations kick off.

In terms of the new changes hinted at in my last message, some has already been pulled out of the database rips and is being discussed so thought I would elaborate a little more and some of it will be an additional surprise in the next build.

The Shade perks have been changed so that perk actions after a chain has been started no longer require the Shade to be behind the target. This was primarily done to aid Shades in PVP situations and yes we realise that it will make it slightly easier for Shade's to contribute damage in PVE. We did consider splitting the functions and making it work differently in PVP and PVE but in the end we came to the conclusion that for consistency and for playability we wanted to keep them the same.

In addition to the changes where the perk action chains are now tracked on the Shade themselves we think that this will allow Shades to contribute much better in PVP than before.

Next up is one of the cool little surprises we have managed to squeeze into 17.9. Those who frequent Camelot castle in search of a certain dragon will find that the great cyborg beast's creator has decided that enough is enough and might want to speak sternly to anyone who hurts his creation. Suffice to say once 17.9 is live we would recommend that you pay attention after the dragon's demise.

You might find that there is a trick or two in store for those who try.

We will also be updating the 17.9 preview before the weekend with some details of some of the new vendors and the birthday items!

[pinkishpunk]

Wonderful to get some status report from you, so we know we aint all alone yet

[Lukew]

AoC, Age of Craig

Thanks for the update mate. And excellent news about shades. We were beginning to think you'd forgotten about them.

[Uriam]

oooo the addition to tara sounds like fun.

[Graftmage]

What did you do to the chickin?

[Silirrion]

oooo the addition to tara sounds like fun.

I think it will most definitely be fun Means and the coders have been conspiring to find new and ingenious ways to challenge you all.

[pinkishpunk]

What did you do to the chickin?

does it really matter, the enginen cant handle the massive amount of people there, so it becomes such a lag fest that its pointless to even try to get pass box if the defend has sufficend numbers of people there just to make sure the other side LDs, gets warped to hell and back and such.
So any energy wasted on changes there that aint aimed at resolved that, is uncalled for and not resolved the basic issue that the system cant handle the numbers there.

[Harios]

I think it will most definitely be fun Means and the coders have been conspiring to find new and ingenious ways to challenge you all.

So tarasue is turning into a pvm encounter?
Or does the change affect pvp aswell?

[Graftmage]

Sil, regarding shade perks, and "behind target" and "start of chain" stuff.

[Stab] ⇨ Double Stab ⇨ [Perforate] ⇨ Lacerate ⇨ [Impale] ⇨ Gore ⇨ Hecatomb

Perks in square brackets are "chain starters", will they all require to be behind or just Stab perk (as it is on test now)?

[Shumarte]

So tarasue is turning into a pvm encounter?
Or does the change affect pvp aswell?

since when isn't tara a pvm (afk) raid?

[Silirrion]

So tarasue is turning into a pvm encounter?
Or does the change affect pvp aswell?

Nothing is changing specifically with Tara (and its still the same gas levels)...just now you might want to pay attention after the dragon is downed.

[Sethic]

Sounds nice, maybe this will revive the battle at Tara

[flyinguns]

let me guess : after you killed his dragonpet his master or some others monsters will pop out and try to make you pay for that

ok just some advice :

1)balance the new boss please, it will be sad to kill this raid cause of another boss impossible to kill.

2)make him drop new pvp pistol for ranged adventurer please

[Traquemort]

Impossible to kill? for a raidforce? yes please, well, at least impossible at start, but don't do it in a way like aoe insta kill, there's no fun in that. Please make it require a real coordination (not meaning doing 3 zergforces instead of one) from everybody and not escapable, with something like an aoe nano that prevents from meeping.
Some pvm challenge would be great, and having to manage the pvp'ers coming to get the mob for the other side at the same time would be nice, could be way better than just killing tara if the mob is hard to kill.

[flyinguns]

yes that could be impossible to kill if they give him many hp and a nuke who deal 30K of damage after 2 minute

[ladyfian]

I love the idea of this, the tara part that is.

All I wonder is it going to affect froobs and tara? and lowbies? GPH is still a good thing for low level pvpers (agents etC) who need nano cost, and if this "new encounter" is way op, what of the froobs and lowbies who frequent tara?

[Omutb]

Please make it require a real coordination (not meaning doing 3 zergforces instead of one) from everybody and not escapable, with something like an aoe nano that prevents from meeping.

Anti-meep and something to seal the door so people cant leave until the new mobs are dead.

[rakhabit]

Some Omni only content for RK1 :P

[Daiken]

Same on RK2, poor clams will never see it! :P

[Borgina]

24hr flags for all in lair after Tara dies? <evil grin>