Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 30 Postmortem


Screenshot by SabeSr

Join us Wednesday, June 1st at 3:00 PM Central (20:00 GMT) for our monthly Hangout of the Avatar! Richard, Starr, and Chris will be chatting about Release 30 and looking ahead to Release 31, as well as starting to talk about the impeding R32!

In an exciting twist to the normal flow of the livestream, the new community manager, Mathew “Berek” Anderson, is set to spice things up by not only taking your questions and feedback live in the chat-room and also in advance right here in the comments section, but will be on the livestream in the office with Starr and Chris!*

We will be giving out some really awesome prizes during the livestream. All you have to do to qualify for one is to come hang out with us in the IRC chatroom during the broadcast. Be sure to join us throughout the livestream for multiple chances to win cool Shroud of the Avatar swag!

Watch here at 3pm CST on Wednesday, June 1st:

*Please keep in mind that questions and feedback related to this release’s specific topics will be given priority and really verbose questions may be skipped, as they can be a challenge to shorten and summarize live on the air. In brief… please keep your questions… brief.

Only one post submission allowed! If you have multiple questions (please keep it to 5 or less), place them into that one post. This will allow us to get to as many players as possible. Thank you!



107 Comments


  1. Baron Drocis FondorlatosBaron Drocis Fondorlatos

    Question: When will we see more changes in PVP that stop “blue healer” mechanics?

    Question: Will NPC guards provide any type of protection to players before final wipe? (i.e. will they attack players in combat mode as a very basic form of protection)

    Question: In the last hangout Chris stated that he was going to make body parts unransomable in the next release. Meaning if you were killed in pvp you would no longer be able to pay to have your body parts (skull, jaw bones, hands) returned. If this has not been added to R30, will it be added to R31?


  2. BerekBerek Post author

    For everyone who submits questions, a reminder to please keep it to ONE post! If you have multiple questions, put them into one post. Also, we ask that you keep it to a MAXIMUM of 3 questions per player. Thank you!

    1. Violation ClauthViolation Clauth

      Question 1: Will there be drinking?
      Question 2: Will there be dancing?
      Question 3: Will there be women?
      Question 4: Will there be any virtues that aren’t forsaken?
      Question 5: Where is the alter so I may complete my quest?

      p.s. I’m not slightly serious. I actually really enjoy this request and the limitation. I’m one of the terribly excitable types that sometimes goes nuts and puts in 20 questions… good for everyone to get to more peoples questions! :)

    2. NeiroNeiro

      As someone else already mentioned – add an edit option if you intend to have rules like this one. Also, it’s usually better to come up with rules prior to publishing.

    3. Lord AndernutLord Andernut

      This has been a burning question for me:
      What “end-game” Portalarium-produced content is there for players AFTER we have somewhat decorated a house and completed the main questlines? What will players have to strive for beyond leveling up their skills/crafting?

      So far ALL rare items are collected by purchasing them from Portalarium – what will we find in-game? How rare will the rarest equipment or decorations actually be? Does everyone eventually get that ideal set of armor in a couple of months, or will some things take a year or more?

    4. Transfer

      When will we be able to claim our Duke Island and LotM Island spots? I don’t see ANY in Brittany, where are these located? It does not seem fair to advertise these as part of pledges during kickstarter and to keep advertising post-kickstarter for 3 years if there are not even enough of these for your Kickstarter Backers!

      Is there even 5 Keep/Castle island with keeps in the game?


  3. QuentonQuenton

    Question: Has there been any thought given to simplify the pre-requisites of taming so as to not require consumables unless used as an enhancement to taming (eg. increase chance to tame)

    Question: What’s the logic behind bumping into NPCs (including watchers) slowing us down considering it breaks the flow of movement and seems to be less of an immersive aspect and more of an annoyance? Has the dev team considered removing this and still decided to keep it?

    Question: Has there been any consideration given to disabling close-up conversation, or resetting the camera back to where it was before the conversation (rather than its default zoom level)?

    Question: What’s the future of the crafting system based on how many parts it requires to make a basic item? Is it sustainable?

    1. Black TortoiseBlack Tortoise

      As for your 2nd question – not everyone agrees that bumping into an NPC and being slowed down is non-immersive. I like that mechanic and dont wish for it to be removed. Its not very hard to dodge NPCs anywhere, and it would be silly to run straight through them without anything happening. Remember, patience is a virtue :).

    2. QuentonQuenton

      Since the number of questions has dropped from 5 to 3, go ahead and skip question 3 (about conversation).


  4. AlexanderAlexander

    Question: Can we get some clarification concerning Tracy Hickmans book(s). Is the ‘Blade of the Avatar’ the same book as ‘The sword of Midras’ due to be released in June? Will there be sequels to ‘Blade of the Avatar’?

    1. Browncoat JaysonBrowncoat Jayson

      This has been answered before. “The Sword of Midras” is the same book previously available as “Blade of the Avatar”, but fully edited and expanded with 4 new chapters. “The Sword of Midras” is the first book of the “Blade of the Avatar Trilogy”, which Tracy and Richard will continue to write.

      (There is also a ‘spinoff’ novel that is a prequel to Underworld Ascendant, bringing Dark Elves from Novia to the Stygian Abyss, but I don’t know is this is being professionally edited/published.)


  5. GraveDncerGraveDncer

    Question: Will there be a mechanic that allows for melting down Addon items post R30?

    Question: Regarding POT directional settings, will hometown have these examples?

    Question: After “Final” wipe, are mini-wipes expected? For example if a new exploit (highvale) is abused can we expect a wipe/back up or if skills are unbalanced are you expecting to wipe portions of the game? And as a follow up will there be a mechanic in game to reset your skills after re-balancing?

    1. GraveDncerGraveDncer

      Question: Will you consider a hotkey to simplify stacking and combos? In other words hit a key and all duplicate cards on the deck stack, or hit another key and all possible combos link up.

    2. GraveDncerGraveDncer

      Question: Regarding Gear durability and crafters. Are we moving toward a scenario whereas in order to repair an item to full durability you will require a COTO and skill level equal to the max durability?

      Example 1: To repair gloves back to 50/50 you will require 1 crown and a minimum skill level of 50 in the pertinent craft skill
      Example 2: To repair chest back to 150/150 you will require 1 crown and a minimum skill level of 150 in the pertinent craft skill .


  6. PK UPK U

    Question: Are the current spell effects placeholders?

    Question: Now the have a blue healer check can we have healing out side our party?

    Question: Can people who ARE pvp flagged see other people who are pvp flagged with a Red name vrs current blue?

    Question: Whats the status of the pvp town (npc) discussed a cpl months ago?

    Question: When can I drop my gold on my floor? Mabey a few diffent pile sizes but it should also reflect the amount placed in the pile.

    1. PK UPK U

      Opps forget the question about npc pvp town I forgot the one I needed to ask..

      Question: Are there any plans to add minimum skill requirements to crafting and gathering skills.

      1. BerekBerek Post author

        Sorry, only five questions. If you don’t select one to remove, this one will be voided.


  7. Carlin the Druid ArcherCarlin the Druid Archer

    Question: Will the NPC dialogue UI ever get an update as at the moment it is really terrible and detracts from playing through quests etc. I’d like to see something more like that used on other RPGs such as Divinity: Original Sin, Pillars of Eternity, The Witcher 3 e.g. better font, better layout etc, more applicable to RPG not MMO style play.

    Question: When will we start seeing interesting quest mechanics? I have been avoiding the story line quests but finally tried the first parts of the Love storyline – necropalis etc.

    There seemed to be no interesting mechanics. In fact all I did for the necropalis was run pas lots of monsters and then engage in conversation. I tried searching for secret doors, hidden treasure, side quests etc but there seemed to be nothing (perhaps I didn’t look hard enough?)

    *** The actual storyline is good, just very badly presented in terms of dialogue UI/layout and backed by poor quest mechanics

    *** Hopefully this is just because the mechanics are still coming soon?


  8. WoftamWoftam

    Question: Will we see an increase in placeable item limits for POT’s and within houses prior to the final wipe?

    1. WoftamWoftam

      Question: Will Chests/Trunks or containers ever have a maximum item or weight limit or will they forever take whatever you can cram into them?


  9. Juzzie

    Q: containers and doors will they have guest level permissions?
    Q: player owned towns, you said they would have some on map imdicator of population will this include the underground biome?
    Q: Is work still being done pre r32 on the healer, I would love tomplay this class but other than self heal and the passives its pointless.
    Q: Will we ever see rare skined tamables? Example obsidian wolf with a red muzzel.

    Thanks


  10. TeddyMITTeddyMIT

    Q: 亞洲語系的翻譯預定時間?
    Q: 近戰武器(刀、劍、斧、槌、長柄)的通常攻擊複數效果是否會恢復?
    Q: 語音系統的實裝預定時間?
    Q: 音效、動畫的修改完成預定時間?
    Q: 請告訴我每個初始職業所代表的主線任務是哪一個?戰士→?法師→?弓箭手→?

    1. NeiroNeiro

      translate.google.com guesses:
      Q: Translation of Asian languages predetermined time?
      Q: melee weapons (knives, swords, axes, hammers, long-handled) whether the effect is usually attacks the complex will be restored?
      Q: voice systems mounting a predetermined time?


    1. Baron Drocis FondorlatosBaron Drocis Fondorlatos

      Those posts were previously moderated AFTER Berek made the rule about 5 questions and 1 post per person. I never went over 5 questions. Berek made the other posts invisible, added my questions into the first post, and THEN wrote the new rule in the instructions.

      So yes, I got the memo. I don’t know why the posts are visible now.


  11. Jack KnyfeJack Knyfe

    Question: Now that a CotO is required to repair max durability on gear, will that be the only way to repair gear on the crafting tables?

    1. Jack KnyfeJack Knyfe

      Question: What is meant by “Rotated POT Templates”? Does this mean instead of choosing our own entrance (which was slated for future implementation) that now the entire map is rotated?

      1. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

        The orientation of the Scene matters to many people. Where the Sun rises, how the stars track across the sky. Those whose scenes are on the North Coast will (rationally) want the coastline of the Template to be to the North.

        I’ve heard many reasons expressed.


  12. GreyfoxGreyfox

    Question: Can we integrate more building block types of devices into the game allowing for unique player created content. Specifically devices to power movement and physics and control variable lighting and colors. (After R1)

    Example: Minecraft.


  13. Sara DreygonSara Dreygon

    Question: What’s the plan for repair and repair kits and what does GM repair get you?
    Question: Any word on Tungsten and Zinc alloys to provide more diversity and crafting options? Last I heard was R30?
    Question: With the way max durability decreases now, does the 200% body slam durability debuff affect durability or max durability and should this % be revisited?
    Question: Some skills don’t improve much as you level (ex Coup de gras). This going to be revisited before final wipe?


  14. gtessergtesser

    I noticed that some NPCs will be labeled as ‘Friendly NPC non-killable’. I understand why in multiplayer, but is this also the case for single player offline? I want to be able to kill all NPCs, and I don’t want to know if an NPC is important by the color of their tab or because they don’t die/act like nothing is happening when I attack them.


  15. Evenios

    this confused me i thought release 30 was already out thats why i posted where is the notes for it lol


  16. Skyo

    Question:

    What are the upcoming plans for PVP?

    How is PVP going to become more prominent and less of an avoided bad joke-duel?

    For players that wish to PVP, what about an optional setting that only puts them with other PVP players?

    When will “the fall” be completed?

    When will we have 5+ skull areas?


  17. Sota BabeSota Babe

    Questions:

    1. Will there be something on that map that tells me if i am entering a single player vrs multiplayer dungeon.
    2. Will public vendors exsist after wipe and if so how will that effect player vendors?
    3. If I hire a vendor can I place it on a friends property maintaining my controll over it?

    1. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

      2) They will exist to give those who have no vendor of their own a place to sell their wares.


  18. Black TortoiseBlack Tortoise

    Question: what is the current schedule / roadmap for the ability to place any item in our homes? E.g., placing weapons, tools, armor, gems, spell scrolls, wooden boards, pieces of charcoal, what have you.

    Question: any update for the discussion of being able to place any item anywhere in the game world? I know SotA isnt 2D and thus the expense of allowing this is a whole different universe, but it was a beloved aspect of UO :).

    1. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

      Equipment usable as decoration is on the Post Wipe Schedule.

      “Place Anything Anywhere” is under debate, on the Post Wipe Schedule, and may only be implemented in Single Player Offline.



  19. Olddog

    Question: there is a bunch of anger over prosperity tools, are there plans to bring these back in line with there add on store price?

    Question: will we be able to melt down our stuff in r31?

    Question: will all the emotes we have learned last post r32?


  20. vallovallo

    Question: What is the purpose of PVP within the Lore? Why do people revoke protection of the oracle? What is their benefit?
    Can you maybe implement it as some form of Faction based PVP?
    E.g: People can decide whether they openly show their allegiance to a certain faction or not (PVP Flag)
    Hidden supporters of a faction become flagged if they enter fights.
    If you openly wear your faction tag you get rewards like Buffs for EXP or other things.


  21. Stryker SparhawkStryker Sparhawk

    Question: Is there to be a brewing crafting station implemented post-wipe (or any other specialty station) that should be considered when someone has a pledge station reward?

    Question: Will brewing be considered a cooking sub-skill while distillation an alchemy sub-skill, or its own category?

    Question: We have apple trees, could we get jugs or mugs of Apfelsaft (apple juice)? (for the children, who LB says are ‘on the way’)

    Feature consideration: A creation place/date (still thinking of brewing), e.g. brewed in Brittany, Maiya 30, 467


  22. GameDelver

    Q. When will the famous Lord Brittish and Darkstarr allegiances of Order and Chaos arise? I feel this will fix a massive gap in pvp adding more options. These players should be kill on sight to the opposing faction and unaffected by pvp tags.

    Q. When will we see smaller Dragons or Drakes that can be tamable for GM Tamers?

    Q. When is Bone Armor going to make it into the game?


  23. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

    Question: 1) Will there be separate permissions for Basements when the Rent-a-Room feature is implemented?

    It would be advantageous to be able to set separate permissions for Basements to allow people more flexibility in how their lots are used. An Avatar could rent rooms in their basements, and leave the house proper restricted to their own use. Or, for those that would like to use the above ground portion of their property for Public facilities, set the lot for public access, and reserve the basement for their own living space, restricting access to themselves, their Guests, and Kindred.


  24. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

    Question: Can Governors have a way to get an overhead screenshot of our towns that shows everything that’s been placed, and highlights lots?

    Would it be possible, without a great amount of effort, to provide a method by which Governors might be able to create a screenshot of their whole seen from above the center point of the scene highlighting the placed lots and showing any houses place on them along with other deco that may have been placed either on lots or in the scene? This would be very useful for creating and maintaining assets such as web sites devoted to the town or towns, and provide a standard look and feel. Bonus points if you could highlight claimed and unclaimed lots differently.


  25. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

    Question: Would it be possible to separate the number of Monuments that can be placed in POTs from the number of NPC Buildings, and give separate totals for each?

    The Monuments are meant to provide some in-game benefit for those POTs who have them placed, while the NPC Buildings are now purely decorative. This encourages Governors to forego the NPC Buildings and placing their Vendors therein in favor of the Monuments. Having separate limits for each would balance this out. (Please don’t reduce the number of NPC buildings I can place!!!  )


  26. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

    Question: Can Bleachers and Stages, Stage Stairs the similar items be made POT decorations that can be placed outside the boundaries of a Lot, please?



  27. MatherynMatheryn

    Q1 – Will we be able to eventually move everything on our lot including our house – IE place the house in a corner position?

    Q2 – will we see towns that are tier’d IE a mountain town where there are home built into the wall so that there are several levels of the town? (as a point of reference Markarth from skyrim)

    Q3 – will we start to see a more ‘choose your own adventure’ type quest line rather than a ‘start here do this and finish here’ quest line?

    1. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

      A1 – This was one of the (now expired) Stretch Goals called Flexible Placement. As the Stretch Goal wasn’t completely funded, it will not be implemented for Episode 1. It will likely be for Episode 2, but, DLMB.


  28. DancingShadeDancingShade

    Question: Can we look forward to a variety of craftables that use body parts? i.e. necklaces of teeth

    Question: If yes, could these body parts include trophies from PVP and/or children NPCs? Perhaps named something like “Bone goblet made from DancingShade’s skull” or similar.

    Question: Decorative torture devices. Love the wheel of pain – can we have more like it? Iron maidens, shackles and placable blood splatter decorations.


  29. SmokerKGBSmokerKGB

    Question: Will resources yields be increased, so that we crafters can keep up with durability losses on equipment? I would like to be able to make equipment to sell on my vendor… I can barely keep up with supplying myself…

    Question: Can we get a sensitivity slider for double clicking speed, using the reticle?

    1. SmokerKGBSmokerKGB

      Question: Can you talk about changes to the reticle? Slider to change intensity or fade out completely…

      Question: I got a “warning” point, How long does it stay on my record?


  30. curtcurt

    Question: Can you make so all costal towns has a coastal water village lot (so exists logical places for the lighthouses)


  31. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

    Question: Will one or more of the new Packages that are replacing the Pledges be able to be purchased and attached to an existing account that already has a Pledge?

    Currently, only one Pledge may be attached to a single account. Will the Packages follow the same rule, or are they viewed as bundles of items?

    (This is my Fifth)


  32. StarLordStarLord

    Question1: will there be an improvement on agriculture? Currently its painful without greater yield.
    Question2: how “rare” are the COTOs? I did not see any drop yet.
    Question3: what about durability of pledge items? Can they break or always be repaired? With COTOs only? Currently pledge equipment is pretty worthless after some hours of gameplay…

    1. StarLordStarLord

      questions 4+5 have been cut off above, so adding new 2 questions here.
      Question4: will we be able to create/collect all currently sold items? E.g. water buckets. When I have paid for a full bucket and used it, I should be able to refill in a river. Or get some seeds from harvesting or mine some coal….
      Question5: there had been some major changes lately (camera, targeting, durability) which have caused quite some upset (e.g. I almost stopped playing because of the camera view). Why this late in the development (3 months before final wipe and not 1 year before) and are there any new changes coming?


  33. Rufus D`AsperdiRufus D`Asperdi

    Berek, if you wish people to comply with your One Comment limitation in the future, you need to provide a method whereby we can edit comments.

    1. BerekBerek Post author

      No problem, I understand that I made a change mid-initiative. Now you know :).


  34. NeiroNeiro

    Question: Aren’t you afraid to kill off the last bit of hope people have for a successful game? Now that you dishardened people with a broken targetting system and pay to win currency? In my guild, people who usually were super optimistic have either gone silent or started regretting spending thousands of dollars on the product.


  35. Golem DragonGolem Dragon

    Will we see a use of existing combat tech to allow for active offhand actions, whether it be an offhand weapon or a shield? We have the ability to charge attacks with main hand, could we have same with offhand or to manually lift up our shield when we want to manually block or hold it up to continuously try to block attacks?


  36. Katrina BekersKatrina Bekers

    Q.: is Portalarium PR team actively probing and surveying the mainstream/press perception about the company, its policies, its flagship product and the direction of the project? Is the company happy with discoveries and results (if any)?

    TIA

    1. Golem DragonGolem Dragon

      could include social media too… great ways to search on that and gather data too…


  37. Browncoat JaysonBrowncoat Jayson

    Q.: When will Viking themed bundles, without housing or lots, be available? I love the wearables, but I can’t afford another pledge value.

    Q.: For COTO availablility, are Gold Crowns only available in the store or do they drop as well?

    Q.: Is it intentional that in-game Crown drops cannot be exchanged, like Gold Crowns can be, so real-money purchases have their choice of effects but in-game drops have to take randomness? This seems to indicate that in-game drops will be used FAR more for repairs than for Potions.

    Q.: In the R27 release notes for COTOs, it was noted “In later releases, they can be redeemed with trainers, the oracle, and other locations for blessings.” Blessings came in the form of potions; what effects will redeeming COTOs with trainers or the Oracle be, and what other uses are being considered?

    Q.: “The Sword of Midras” will be out in a couple weeks, and Tracy said he was working on “Shards of the Avatar”. We also have a trilogy of Sojourner Tales adventures set in New Britannia coming at some point. Any release dates, summaries, or progress available to share about these projects?


  38. GarfieldGarfield

    Question: In the offline mode, Can we have all our three party companions and a combat Pet show up at the same time while in the combat?


  39. Nolove0369Nolove0369

    Q. What is going on with the HUGE nerf to the Expert crafting stations ? Why have they become Pretty much useless with a +5 to Skill. Will we see a adjustment to this before R32?

    Q.: Has any thought been given to the readjustment to resource gathering times , to a playable level without the use of a potion?
    Addition Info : As it stands right now gathering while using the best tool is unplayable and feels like a punishment with out the use of a Potion.

    Q. What exactly is the drop rate of a COTO?

    Q At what percentage should a COTO drop so you can actually be truthful saying they drop in game and don’t need to be bought in store?
    Additional Info : ( I play average 6-8 hours a day and in the past 2 releases I have not seen 1 nor has anyone I play with)

    Q. Can you describe what regular item repairing is (Field repair) and what it consist of and also Max Durability repair is? and how does this effect our crafters, Since they are no longer involved in either?

    Q. Are you open to giving back the ability to repair max durability of a item to the crafters and not requiring a COTO for this action? (and possibly redoing the entire item repair process)


  40. margarittemargaritte

    1) Is there a chance to get a second offensive skill for the Life tree or a slower cast time for Banish Undead? That long cast means a lot of interruptions and makes it take a painfully long time when fighting larger groupings of undead as a pure Life mage. I would love to see a transfer spell similar to death touch/ray or some kind of AoE that does not require the combo.

    2)For the love of all that is holy, please tone down the visual effects of Soothing/Cleansing Rain. I have mentioned this several times, but as is, the spell visual effects are so blinding so as to make it unusable in many situations.

    1. margarittemargaritte

      3)This is probably a dead horse, but pretty please, can the Ghost Corpion be a real ghost, susceptible to the Banish Undead spell?

      1. margarittemargaritte

        This needs and edit feature. Question one should read “a faster cast time” for Banish Undead, haha, any slower and I may cry!


  41. gtessergtesser

    Question #2: How will equipment degradation be handled in single player offline mode?


  42. tyler180

    Are all the NPC town with player housing biomes staying as they are, or are they going to change before the house rush? If they’re not what’s the plan for moving players houses that have already been placed?

    What’s the plan to make meaningful PvP?



  43. Uncle Ben

    Question: Completely destroying the item for failing to Enchant/Masterwork is extremely harsh. Are there any planned changes to lessening the punishment for failing to Enchant/Masterwork on an item?


  44. SeleneNoctuaSeleneNoctua

    Question:

    1.Will we see new fireworks available for the 4th of July?

    2. What is the respawn timer to collect from Fireworks boxes and snowball boxes? (in a 3 month wipe window, I have never seen either of these come up for a second collection)

    3. Any update on improvements to agriculture, like a custom UI, use of rainwater and well water, or possible future skills?


  45. Browncoat JaysonBrowncoat Jayson

    Berek: For the hangout, do we have to be in IRC or can we log into Discord? Its a lot easier for me on mobile to open Discord than try to use IRC in a mobile browser…


  46. nikos32

    Grettings. I am a Ultima series fan, especially of Ultima IX which is the best single player RPG for me.

    I was looking for a new ultima game from Richard for almost a decade, till I heard about Shroud of the Avatar (I think it was from Richard’s wiki page). When I searched on youtube for related videos, I found “Portalarium Austin” and when I saw the videos, like “Iolo and Lord British!” my reaction was like THERE WE GO!

    I’m watching the progress of SotA for quite a while now and I must say that, even though it started well (the whole project) and I was so hyped about it, even though improvements have been made since then, there are also some things that turned bad.

    I’m wondering if all this content is only for the Multiplayer mode, for which mode I’m not interested at all.

    What I’m talking about ?
    I’m talking about the features I mention below:

    1) House decoration (creating furniture or moving them).
    2) Farming resources like pumpkins or cutting trees.
    3) Cartoon UI (skill bar, buff bar, menu bar etc).

    Even though it started well, the first demo videos with Richard you could clearly see the older Ultima inventory (bags) style etc but now the only things that left to remind older Ultima games are:
    – The pentacle/cross symbols.
    – The character animation especially when you put in/pull out for weapons.
    – The title name ‘Avatar’ and the Britannia.
    – The way character jumps and the jump voice! (:P)

    I mean, come on,
    Where are all these potion types (red/black/yellow potions etc) ?
    Why is there a skill cast timer ?
    Why items are not dropped on the floor/ground and there’s a list popping out instead ?
    What happened to the “grab the item and drag it into your bag” feature (including the awesome loot sound everytime you were putting an item in your inventory)
    Why did you remove the inventory-bag style looking ?
    Ultima IX have had cinematic view during conversations with NPCs and there was voice saying whatever was written in the subtitles. On SotA there’s just a plain text shown in a weird menu format and with no voices at all.
    Ultima IX was based on maze gaming which I don’t see here…
    The music doesn’t change whenever you’re close to a mob ? The chill “town”-music is still playing while you kill mobs ?
    Except the craft book, there’s no other book/paper style feature ? No spell book ? No potions guide book or whatever ?

    The list can get bigger but I don’t want to waste my time because you’ll probably ignore my comment anyway.

    I can find a reason about why you did some of these for Multiplayer mode. But will it be the same on Single Player ?

    The SotA map / areas are AWESOME (including graphics) but without some of the very basic stuff / features that older Ultima used to have, personally I prefer to not try SotA at all because the nostalgia / feeling of a real oldschool RPG (as Ultima series used to be) could be lost.


  47. agra

    Will all PRT’s, new and old, have an NPC core (crafting NPC’s, banker, supplies) prior to July 28th, 2016?


  48. Phil ScottPhil Scott

    Q1 – Will we be able to enchant items to give light? and
    of course when?

    Q2 – On the pledge rewards there are a number of items that
    are listed as “suitable to hold enchantments”, many come with
    a permanent enchantment to act as a light source. When will
    we be able to add enchantments to these items (I don’t think
    that it works now)?

    Q3 – On entering a level Something is being done after the
    100% level is reached, (Try entering Black Rock Cove as
    an example of a level that sometime has a 1 minute plus
    wait at 100%) and what causes this to be so long on
    just a few levels? On most levels (POT, NPC, Combat PRT)
    it takes a very short length of time for the level to
    load once 100% is reached.

    Q4 – At this time we can enter Central Brittany from the
    overworld map without going through one of the suburbs
    at the time of final wipe (R032)?

    Q5 – When will the resources that are not yet in any
    recipes, for example Zinc, be used and will they be used
    for new recipes or will current ones be modified
    (like the White Iron change to include tungsten)?


  49. Nolove0369Nolove0369

    We curently have a auto smelting system that allows for auto smelting of 20 ingots 1 at a time for up to 20
    Times. But were still smelting them 1 at a time.

    Q. Can we get bulk smelting recipies that allow smelting 20 ingots at 1 time?

    Q. Will salvage ever produce anything but metal scap, Like return ingots or leather someday?

    Q. Will we ever see items like hand carts for moveing more supplies in game?


  50. Nolove0369Nolove0369

    Spending lots of resources trying to get a exceptional item, then haveing to make a few of them trying to get 1 though the mastercraft process, just to have it runined with a random upgrade that does not fit my build is quite hart breaking, and annoying.

    Q. Can we get rid of the RANDOM enchant from both Master working and Enchanting and be able to pick the upgrades we want from a list.

    Q. Why does producer skill play such a big roll in success in both crafting and gathering skills.

    Were a level 75 blacksmith has the same success rates and crit rates as a level 100 blacksmith.


  51. Sir GrantSir Grant

    Q: For offline single player mode, would you consider increasing Producer experience gains to allow the player to gain higher levels of crafting ability (since there isn’t the opportunity for purchase/trade for components / equipment of higher quality)?

    Thanks!


  52. Kelly O'ShayKelly O'Shay

    1 Why did you change the rule that allowed armor, weapons and other items to be repaired to “like new” condition to require payment of a crown of the obsidion?
    2 Did you realize that this would be “pay to win” and that “pay to win” is very bad for the game and the mmorpg industry in general?
    3 Did you consider that this would invite in game gold to real world cash blackmarket to increase at an alarming rate?
    4 Did you consider that third world gold farmers might spring up at such a rate that it would render the game unplayable?
    5 Are there any plans to remove the “friends only” and “single player” online modes?
    6 If so, did you consider that removing these and making “multi-player” online the only choice would enable the gold farmers to ruin every pledge player’s in game experience?


  53. AncevAncev

    1. How many levels deep can a dungeon go and still be considered one instance?

    2. Any thoughts on the salvage skills recovering more crafting resources at high levels? I was thinking there could be a secondary market for broken gear. Perhaps a salvage tab in the public vendors or a npc junk vendor? Some players would buy the broken gear for crown repair value, and others would buy it for salvaging resources.

    3. Would it be possible to modify the POT_forest_metropolis_02_template so houses can be placed on both sides of the river near the default entrance? (An example would be Twin Traders 155.3, 38.4, -169.5) Also, for some reason when you teleport to a friend inside of the POT_forest_metropolis_02_template it brings you to a totally different part of the map than the default entrance.

    4. Will the secret room in the lord benefactor house be available at some point? The front of the house has a window frame with exterior walls, vs actual windows and there’s no way to get into the room under the stairs.


  54. Kelly O'ShayKelly O'Shay

    I have heard a rumor that the topmost skill in a melee tree should be GMed because the level of that skill is multiplied by any other skill in the tree you use to determine the resultant effectiveness each time it is cast. Is there any truth to this? For example, if your Air tree has 33 gust, then you cast a lightning at 50, it only maxes out at 17 because of the multiplier.


  55. Doschl

    What are you doing with the resurrection time for pets???? in r29 it was 5 minutes…and now? 3??????? thats a not going!


  56. Kelly O'ShayKelly O'Shay

    If I use the same bow to kill 5000 Bears, will the bow become a named item, such as “Bearslayer, or Bearbane or “Bow of Bear Slaying”.


  57. Kelly O'ShayKelly O'Shay

    Please add the new QA employee to the list of employees on the main web site. And, if people have changed role, please update the site to reflect the current roles.

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