Duskruin/saved posts July 2015

General Information

Category: Paid Events: Adventures, Quests, and SimuCoins
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 1374
Author: GS4-WYROM
Date: 7/11/2015
Subject: Duskruin Updates Discussion

I'd like to discuss the plans for Duskruin on the next run. Outside anything new added to the grounds, this is the last overhaul planned for the bloodscrip earnings structure.

Arena Updates

There will be a 250 cap on earnings. That cap will be achievable. Earning bloodscrip won't be about massacring everything as quick as possible. Time will still be an important element to being a top earner, but there will be more things at play when earning bloodscrip. Dodging the traps will play a minor role. Dying and surrendering will no longer have any penalties to your bloodscrip earnings, but will still result in no chance of a randomly created item in your prize package. Prize packages are also getting a small revamp to offer a little more variety. Losing will now earn a good showmanship bonus to bloodscrip, meaning people who can't always win will still have a chance to earn more depending on how long they last on their final opponent. For example, if you can't defeat the your 12th opponent and you had 3 minutes to defeat them, you'll earn for making it to the 12 opponent, for dodging any traps, and a bonus for lasting 3 minutes (dying/surrendering won't get you that bonus). The spells haste and rapid fire will be dispelled during the combat sequence of the arena matches. While they both offer an advantage, the reason is due to the crashes many of you experienced in the arena.

Ratacombs Updates

Bloodscrips earned while searching the Ratacombs will have a higher range of their value. It will still not compare to the arena, but it will be closer to the hopeful median. The random directions in the Ratacombs will be lessened with some more static areas to walk through.

Shop Updates

I will be going through the shops to try to make some items more appealing for purchase. The limited release items will be discussed as we get closer to the first run under these ravamped conditions.

---

~Wyrom, APM

>>They call him Wyrom, not afraid to get dirty; work all day, in game by 5:30; loresongs eloquent, item embellishment, double speed development... ~Silvean

Category: Paid Events: Adventures, Quests, and SimuCoins
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 1440
Author: GS4-WYROM
Date: 7/22/2015
Subject: Platinum Beta Testing

I don't know why I haven't earned some of your trust (general you). We might not agree on some topics, but I think I've been a very fair with my rulings and forthcoming with information, not just with this event, but with the game as a whole. My goal here is to make the game a better place, and that usually starts with making sure it's fun. Speaking strictly about Duskruin, I wanted to address concerns with people who struggled. Unfortunately, I had to address the lag issue as well which was a blow to wizards. I actually have an idea I'm going to try to rush in to automate the disconnection issues so you don't need to chase down a GM for a replacement item. Hoping to have it ready for Friday (but it might not happen). That said, if we discover the lag/disconnect persists with the Rapid Fire being barred, I'll add it back.

Since this is going to be a hot topic, I guess I'll just lay everything out so you can make the decision if Duskruin is right for you.

Arena +The arena is slower by about a second per "round" that is being cycled throughout your placement. This means you have about ten minutes to get through the arena instead of eight minutes.
++This does mean that creature clean up will be a second slower as well.
+There are a couple new creatures in the arena. Hobgoblins have moved to becoming champions where kiramon moved to being regular foes.
+Creatures have less bolt and ranged DS equivalent to a negative modifier of your level / 2. This means at cap, you'll see a reduction of 50 DS.
+Creature health has had a reduction across the board. Characters under level 10 still get the biggest bonus to health reduction.
+Hazards go off about twice as fast now, and there is no immunity for the first 30 seconds. Creatures will not use hazards until they are established as your enemy.
+Dodging a hazard will now injure the creature, giving players who might not be able to overcome an opponent a chance.
+Scoring is based on winning, killing, speed, and dodging hazards. If you don't win, your speed bonus changes to what I've named the showman bonus, which awards you bloodscrip based on how long you lasted. All four categories have a hard cap of how high you can score. I'll leave it up to you to figure out the range you score for each. The only way to score 250 is by winning. The temporary titles and item prize have been adjusted to be distributed at specific bloodscrip won. Exp and silver awards are equivalent (in some manner) to the bloodscrip you've earned. Prior to this, silver was randomized.

Ratacombs +There are 25 less rooms in the Ratacombs and the maze layout shifts less often.
+Bloodscrip amounts are now displayed when you search, eliminating the need to LOOK to see what you got.
+Survival ranks will help you stay on your feet when entering and exiting the sewers.
+A small handful of new descriptors have been added to the rats (if you want another one, Cruxophim)

---

~Wyrom, APM

>>They call him Wyrom, not afraid to get dirty; work all day, in game by 5:30; loresongs eloquent, item embellishment, double speed development... ~Silvean

Category: Paid Events: Adventures, Quests, and SimuCoins
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 1441
Author: GS4-WYROM
Date: 7/22/2015
Subject: Stil starting tomorrow night? Any word on the ultra-high-end stuff?

It starts Friday at around 9pm. It will be open until Sunday the following week (so 10 days). That means you have 2 whole weekends (not not two whole weeks).

---

~Wyrom, APM

>>They call him Wyrom, not afraid to get dirty; work all day, in game by 5:30; loresongs eloquent, item embellishment, double speed development... ~Silvean

Arena

Duskruin Arena/saved posts July 2015

Shops

Category: Paid Events: Adventures, Quests, and SimuCoins
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 1537
Author: GS4-TAMUZ
Date: 7/23/2015
Subject: A teaser

We've also added some items that may appeal to more RP-centric characters instead of purely mechanically-inclined prizes. Spellbound is now home to a new tome and codex which are chock full of verbs to help you express yourself!

For example...

Tamuz flicks a bit of dust from a page of his leather-bound tome.

Tamuz flips through the pages of his leather-bound tome.

Tamuz gazes intently at a page of his leather-bound tome, lost in thought.

Tamuz moistens his fingertip with his tongue and slowly turns a page of his leather-bound tome.

Tamuz emphatically pokes a finger at a page of his leather-bound tome.

Tamuz turns his leather-bound tome over and shakes it vigorously, but it seems there's nothing stuck between the pages.

Tamuz turns a page of his leather-bound tome.

Tamuz pulls a small stylus from the binding of his leather-bound tome, scribbles something on a page, then puts the tool away.

Tamuz slams his leather-bound tome shut with a loud THWAP!

Tamuz drums his fingers on his leather-bound tome, lost in thought.

And that's only half of the verbs available on them!

___
ASGM of Events and Festivals

High End/Limited Items

Category: Paid Events: Adventures, Quests, and SimuCoins
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 1443
Author: GS4-WYROM
Date: 7/22/2015
Subject: Limited High End Items

So we have a handful of items we'll be selling in limited quantity. But I know there has been a lot of concern to how this will work. Well, good news. It's not a set number of items. So the faster fingers aren't going to win the arms race here.

How it will work is, Sunday afternoon (ET) I will put out the rare items. You will have a couple of hours to decide and make your purchases. The schedule is tentatively from 1pm to 3pm on July 26th. Any items that don't sell will be offered at another run.

So the items?

Item	Price*	Notes
Spell knowledge certificate	300000	Create an item or use your own to make a spell knowledge enhancive. The spell list to choose from has some limitations, but not many.
Coin hand certificate	250000	Create a coin hand from your own flesh! Description will be [a something][your race][hand]. Don't want to use your own hand? No problem, we can find something more to your liking.
Blink certificate	175000	Create a 5x "blink" weapon. Most weapon profiles allowed with exception to naginatas, katanas, and claidhmores.
RotFlare certificate	125000	Add RotFlares to a weapon of your choice. Some exceptions would be a "blink" weapon or fusion. Others may exist on a case-by-case scenario.
* Item price may be subject to change before they are placed out for sale.

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~Wyrom, APM

>>They call him Wyrom, not afraid to get dirty; work all day, in game by 5:30; loresongs eloquent, item embellishment, double speed development... ~Silvean

Category: Paid Events: Adventures, Quests, and SimuCoins
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 1548
Author: GS4-WYROM
Date: 7/24/2015
Subject: Info on non-limited high end items

>>How about those pirate harnesses? Would you consider lowering the cost or upping the capacity?

They hold 50lbs, which is already pretty over the top. And they were fully unlocked with special features. I think the price was actually low on them. They aren't here this run, but if there is any demand, I can bring them back.

>>If these limited items aren't really limited why can't they be just put in the shops to buy? Why do you need to set a date for purchase?

We are limiting it still. This way anyone who comes short of typing BUY ITEM before the other person still walks away with the item. The window is 2 hours to try to accommodate personal schedules. Like I said in the previous discussion, it's a breath of fresh air for limited releases.

>>Maybe we could see those in the August list?

Item development, coding, and QC unfortunately needs way more lead time than 4 weeks. I don't think we'll see something like this at this venue.

---

~Wyrom, APM

>>They call him Wyrom, not afraid to get dirty; work all day, in game by 5:30; loresongs eloquent, item embellishment, double speed development... ~Silvean

Category: Paid Events: Adventures, Quests, and SimuCoins
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 1553
Author: GS4-WYROM
Date: 7/24/2015
Subject: Schedule Update

I've thought long and hard. I'm going to put the certificates out the first Sunday, but only from 2pm to 3pm ET. I will then put them out again the following Sunday (8/2) at 9pm until we close (which I believe is 10pm) ET. While the layaway, downpayment, and being overly lenient methods are desired, I feel this is still the proper direction to go. It's not intended for everyone who wants one of these items to get one. It's intended to be something very rare still. I think allowing the items to be purchased during the last hour of this event will open it up to many others though.

Because of this update, I am going to put a HARD DEADLINE of August 5th on the certificate redemption. There will be instructions on the certificates. If you plan to be out of town, out of reach, or simply away from GS after you purchase that certificate and do not attempt to redeem it by that deadline, the certificate will be forfeit. If we pass the deadline date because of legitimate reasons, such as we can't find a qualifying item after something gets rejected, you've had something terrible come up, or you accidentally fall into a time rift and find yourself in a quest to save the universe, then we'll be okay about the deadline passing.

---

~Wyrom, APM

>>They call him Wyrom, not afraid to get dirty; work all day, in game by 5:30; loresongs eloquent, item embellishment, double speed development... ~Silvean