Monthly Development Update - December 2015 (RIP 2015)

Hello everyone! I'm going to post this up a little early, as things will be winding down here at the office for the rest of the month. It has been quite the year, and while there is still much to do, I am looking forward to the first real vacation of 2015. With all that said, let's begin!

Winter 2015
Earlier this month we kicked off our 2015 winter holiday event, which can be read about here. Be sure to help Santa Leet, hunt down Father Time, and bite into a Gingerleet while you still can!

Also during this holiday season, it's still possible to take advantage of our membership offer. Buy a 3, 6, or 12 plan and you will be awarded with some extra months, and some Dust Brigade Parasite armor! This offer is only available until January 5th.

The Reck
This month has been mostly devoted towards the continued development and polish of The Reck. After some further consideration, and based on some collected feedback, The Reck will be a playfield that is open for everyone, but the quest content will still be aimed at level 90-160 players.

The bulk of this month has been devoted to working with the monster camps around the playfield, adding some dyna encounters, and fleshing out the background quests to help expedite leveling while directing traffic to different areas throughout the playfield. Keeping with the current schedule, I hope to have The Reck on Testlive early January, with a targeted Live release at the end of January.

Systems Changes & QoL Improvements
It has become abundantly clear that there are some issues with the current state of certain nanos/abilities/professions. During January, in addition to finishing The Reck, I plan to address some of the most glaring issues. Planned balance changes, bug fixes, or QoL changes that I cannot fit in January, will be moved to February. Going forward, I will try to give these sorts of issues more focus and attention.

Thank You
It is hard to believe 2015 is already over. It has been a fun and challenging time, giving way to a whole new set of goals and objectives in 2016. Thank you everyone who helped make this year great, and I'll see you in 2016!

Happy holidays everyone!

Nerf irelia.

last!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Michizure

After some further consideration, and based on some collected feedback, The Reck will be a playfield that is open for everyone, but the quest content will still be aimed at level 90-160 players.

---

Thank you!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Biancha

Thank you!

---

more /follow and dual log :(

So are the dyna encounters part of the quest series for this new playfield or open world? If so and they offer anything unique I wouldn't count on anything but 220 farmers wrecking the Reck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by haxi

So are the dyna encounters part of the quest series for this new playfield or open world? If so and they offer anything unique I wouldn't count on anything but 220 farmers wrecking the Reck.

---

The area is level locked ... 220's can't enter.

Emma

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Emma

The area is level locked ... 220's can't enter.

Emma

---

Did you read the monthly post?

Dont bloody make the area open for all levels...

Good job, even tho theres 1 thing left to do Michi ^^

Sounds great! think your doing an amazing job!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by haxi

Did you read the monthly post?

---

""This month has been mostly devoted towards the continued development and polish of The Reck. After some further consideration, and based on some collected feedback, The Reck will be a playfield that is open for everyone, but the quest content will still be aimed at level 90-160 players. ""

I missed that change, sorry ... it should go back to being level locked. Otherwise it will be 220's taking their alts thru the quest content.

Emma

edit: It should go back to this from November's Update: ""As evidenced by some of the earliest of the Rubi-Ka planet maps, The Reck was an original zone, placed between Rome and Broken Shores. While it will fill this void on the planet map, however, it will be a level-locked experience. Players level 90-150 will be able to enter, and will be ejected once they reach level 161 or above.""

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Emma

/snipI missed that change, sorry ... it should go back to being level locked. Otherwise it will be 220's taking their alts thru the quest content.
/snip

---

This is exactly what will happen unless the area is level locked. +1 for level locking the zone.

so many updates O_O have a lot to get look in to

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aiken

This is exactly what will happen unless the area is level locked. +1 for level locking the zone.

---

I follow you, i will not look forward to try the new zone if its not level locked.
for me it would be priceless to see more zones with level locks to kill this alt following issue and where people earn creds by running level service etc etc. a level 100-160 whatever can not compete vs a 220 in a levling pf.
also the Gd should think off all all the petitioning and drama he could dodge by blocking 220's to harass low levels without alts.
you are pretty weak in ao when levling if you only hold 1 account, becose nobady can mess with someone that holds a 220 alt behind him on follow, he will destroy you if you want to farm on ''his'' playfield.


Also a odd thing i never understod, and that would be pretty much avoided in a level locked field when it comes to /petitions and drama.
220's demanding that they own the ''area'' wich is a common thing in ao when your levling.
i never understod how someone can own a open playfield in a game, but here in Ao it is very normal.
but it be appriciated if the new playfield were level locked to disabled 220's to own the playfield by running level service/tank service whatever and make anyone without a 2nd account weak and pushed out.

First page?
Keep up the great work!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Teknologist

First page?
Keep up the great work!

---

Remember when getting "first page" took hammering the F5 key? Now you can cruise for days and still get it!

"Keeping with the current schedule, I hope to have The Reck on Testlive early January, with a targeted Live release at the end of January"

Yaay!

Even though I don't know what The Reck will be like or what the quests will be like, I can already tell that opening it for all levelranges is not a good idea. So please don't..