My theory of how Haze line got nerfed on Live

[Banza]

<DIV>The Dev team at SOE probably uses a program like Visual Source Safe which controls who edits the code so that two people can't make a change to a file at the same time, thus losing one of the changes.  SOE has a "migration" process where they document what files were changed, and the applicable files move from Development to Test to Production.  What comprises the code of this game is actually hundreds or thousands of mini files, or modules, that include snippets of code that are "called" from the main program.  What this does is allows them to isolate certain parts of code so that portions of code can be moved to Production, and they don't have to move every single line of code up.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>(Sorry if I am explaining something that is common knowledge -- this is my first mmorpg, so I am not totally sure of the player base's knowledge)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyway, the module that controlled the Haze code probably either:</DIV> <DIV>- had code that updated something else, and they missed the fact that the Haze fix was in there</DIV> <DIV>- the people managing which files had changes missed that the file containing the Haze code was still on a list for a Production update, and it got moved to Production without SOE's realization</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>With a list of 10, 20 or maybe even 100 files with who knows how many developers touching them, and who knows how many project managers reporting tothe person or people who keep the master list of which files have been changed, and which ones need to go to Test, and which ones go to Production, and the fact that you may have three different versions of the same file (Dev, Test and Production), you'll have instances when a file just gets overlooked.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So that's my theory of what happened here.  This was supposed to be a part of the priest balancing update, but the code got lost in the shuffle, and made it to Live.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Banditman]

<P>Nice theory.</P> <P>Completely wrong, but nice.</P> <P>There is now a single line note in the updates for TEST that indicate the nerf to Haze.  Which gives SOE the opportunity to go "Oops!  It slipped!  But since it's coming anyway just deal with it."</P>

[Banza]

How is it wrong?  I agree with you about them now putting the line on the Test notes is a result of them accidentally moving the change on Live.  But my post was about how it accidentally got put on Live.  Your thought is that they purposely put it on Live?

[BigRedWo]

<P>They did it on purpose just to see how we, the Mystic community will react.  It's akin to a small child using a magnifying glass on ants...</P> <P>Child - "Lookit em run around freaking out!"</P>

[Signal9]

<P>I'm not sure one way or the other, but I can say that their change-control proccess...*ahem* needs improvement.</P> <P> </P> <P>This is not the first time a change to the Live(Production) code has surprised our community liasons.  They've even promised to address the cause of those slip-ups, but we seem to have falled short of any meaningful changes in the proccess.</P> <P> </P> <P>Whatever the cause, it needed to have been stopped months ago.</P>

[Banditman]

I really think they just wanted to see if we'd notice. <div></div>

[BigRedWo]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Banditman wrote:<BR>I really think they just wanted to see if we'd notice.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>You think they'll notice that we noticed?  What if they don't notice that we notice?  Will we have to notify them that they need to notice that we noticed?</P> <P>/stupidity off</P>

[Banza]

<DIV>You know, a part of me believes that "see if we'd notice" theory because it is not uncommon for an SOE employee to post on the weekends, but they were completely silent this past weekend.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The part of me that thinks it was a mistake does so because the Haze line in the Test notes just seems so out of place.  No other spell or combat arts changes -- just that one.  Mistakes happen -- own up to 'em.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Jerem]

<span><blockquote><hr>Banzai! wrote:<div>You know, a part of me believes that "see if we'd notice" theory because it is not uncommon for an SOE employee to post on the weekends, but they were completely silent this past weekend.</div> <div> </div> <div>The part of me that thinks it was a mistake does so because the Haze line in the Test notes just seems so out of place.  No other spell or combat arts changes -- just that one.  Mistakes happen -- own up to 'em.</div> <div> </div> <div> </div><hr></blockquote>That line of thought actually makes sense... it was unusually quiet this past weekend. The more I think about it, the more frustrated I get. It's not that the spell was nerfed... it was too powerful. It's the fact that they won't do ANYTHING good for us, citing these upcoming balance changes. But as soon as they see this they change it seemingly without regard for any of the so called balance changes.</span><div></div>

[Banditman]

Oh, I agree with that.  I'd gladly give up some of the perhaps overpowered Haze line for spells that actually worked to keep my group alive. But dear god. To take away Haze and give NOTHING back, and not even mention when something MIGHT be given back. That is a serious effing problem. <div></div>

[BigRedWo]

What I find the most depressing: I barely got this spell last night.  Now I don't get to be an Uber Mystic like that umerr cat.  :smileymad: