Test Server Update Schedule

[Moorgard]

<DIV> <DIV>With the upcoming launch of our first expansion in September, we're going to change our routine slightly for when live updates will appear on Test server.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The next major live update, lucky number 13, will be moving to Test in two phases. The first, Update #13a, will be on Test today. Next week we will update Test again with Update #13b, and the following week (on or about August 10) we will combine them and move Live Update #13 to the live servers.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In the month following Live Update #13, we will make several updates to the Test server. The current plan is that Live Update #14 will arrive on September 12 along with the launch of Desert of Flames.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Independent of the regular update schedule, the combat changes (which are currently active on the DoF beta server) will become active on Test during this period.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As always, thanks to all of you who participate on Test server and consistently help us to improve the game.</DIV></DIV>

[Dandeli]

<DIV>May I ask, will the combat update show up during the period of the update 13? or will it show up randomly on some unknown day between now and September 12th? </DIV><p>Message Edited by Dandelize on <span class=date_text>07-27-2005</span> <span class=time_text>05:25 PM</span>

[Eyes_of_Truth]

<P>From the bottem of my heart....THANK YOU MG</P> <P>:smileyvery-happy::smileytongue::smileysurprised::smileyvery-happy::smileytongue::smileysurprised::smileyvery-happy::smileytongue::smileysurprised:</P> <P>Finaly we get some info, thanks again!!</P> <P>Any news is better than no news :smileywink:</P> <P>Toodles!</P>

[Handleba]

It looks like the combat changes will appear sometime between now and Sept. 12th.  You say that it is on the DoF beta server and will be moved to the Test Server when you tweak some more, may I ask what the point of the test server is if you have to make the combat changes perfect before pushing them out there.  I thought the test server is to test just like DoF beta server is to test.  It looks like the combat changes are being tested on DoF before being tested on test before going live, is this the case? Anyways, I appreciate the schedule and keeping us somewhat in the loop, that is a step in the correct direction. <div></div>

[Eyes_of_Truth]

<P>Yes...apparently test server is the 1 or 2 week preview server and little more hehe...(though i respect the people that do bug reports)</P> <P>...least thats what they scream at me :smileywink:</P> <P>"We test stuff before it goes live and attempt to find bugs, we are not here to balance stuff, thats for beta testing and Devs only" - Annonomus</P> <P>Thats one of many responses i get when i ask why they havent put it on test, ready or not, it's just a test server, and finding these kinks is what theserver is for ...atleast thats what i tought testing is </P> <P>/shrug</P> <P>Toodles!</P> <p>Message Edited by Eyes_of_Truth on <span class=date_text>07-27-2005</span> <span class=time_text>05:43 PM</span>

[Vuron]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Eyes_of_Truth wrote:<BR> <P>Thats one of many responses i get when i ask why they havent put it on test, ready or not, it's just a test server, and finding these kinks is what theserver is for ...atleast thats what i tought testing is </P> <P>/shrug</P> <P>Toodles!</P> <P>Message Edited by Eyes_of_Truth on <SPAN class=date_text>07-27-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>05:43 PM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Actually, in a business environment, that is NOT the definition of a test server.  The point of a test server is to load completed changes to a designated server instead of a live server in case something major goes wrong.  The changes are left on the test server for a few days just to make sure there are no major issues and if all appears satisfactory, the change can be implemented live.  Changes can be moved to live even with bugs, as long as the system can remain stable and patches can easily correct issues.  There is no reason to leave something on test until it is 100% flawless if the problem can be corrected on the live server.</P> <P>The type of server you are referring to is a development server and not a test server.  There seems to be a lot of confusion on these boards about the difference.  You could never have a playbase on the type of server you are talking about due to the high possibility of major issues.</P> <P> </P> <p>Message Edited by Vuron00 on <span class=date_text>07-27-2005</span> <span class=time_text>06:08 PM</span>

[Eyes_of_Truth]

<P>Well server is being patched now i guess, wonder when we'll get the notes?</P> <P>TYPE FAST SLAVE DEV AKA MG :smileyvery-happy:</P> <P>/whipcrack!!</P> <P>Dont you <STRONG>dare</STRONG> stop to take a drink of that coffie! Yes, i can see you, i bribed a SOE agent to set up hidden cameras in your cubical muhahah! Cute picture of your little girl there... if you love her you'll type extra faster!!</P> <P>And my Marr help you if you make a typo!!</P> <P>Toodles!</P> <P>PS: an extra /whipcrack for good measure :smileywink:</P> <p>Message Edited by Eyes_of_Truth on <span class=date_text>07-27-2005</span> <span class=time_text>06:21 PM</span>

[Eyes_of_Truth]

<P>LOL wow..i swear only a few minutes of posting this MG had the notes up on Update form lol!!</P> <P>Man MG, where did you learn to speed type like that?? :smileyvery-happy:</P> <P>Toodles!</P>

[Arfiniel]

For goodness sakes, please give us ample time to relearn our class with the combat changes before DoF comes out.  Don't pop these changes out there one week (or less) before the DoF release...  ample time would be (in my opinion) release combat changes TOMORROW giving us less than one and a half months to adjust and /bug before the expansion.  /bog

[Tuved2]

<P>Brilliant really. The combat update will appear almost simultaneously with DoF so that the new expansion will diffuse the outrage over all the nerfs in the combat update. They knew perfectly well that if they released the Combat Update too far before the release of DoF, they'd see of wave of cancelations, folks who wouldn't be buying the expansion. If they can just delay the EQ2 v2.0 release until DoF, then their profits are secure. </P> <P>What amazes me even more is we actually bend over for this crap.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P>When is vanguard supposed to be released again?</P> <p>Message Edited by Tuved2 on <span class=date_text>07-27-2005</span> <span class=time_text>09:54 PM</span>

[ReviloTX]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Tuved2 wrote:<BR> <P>What amazes me even more is we actually bend over for this crap.</P> <P> </P> <P>When is vanguard supposed to be released again?<BR></P> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>I bend over for now, but it won't last forever (as you noted).  It still hurts though, they could at least use some vasoline.<BR>

[Ricassari]

<div></div><span><blockquote><hr>Arfiniel wrote:For goodness sakes, please give us ample time to relearn our class with the combat changes before DoF comes out.  Don't pop these changes out there one week (or less) before the DoF release...  <hr></blockquote>A week before release? As it sounds, it will be more like a day... and apart from no time to relearn the art of combat the problem is that it nearly immediately will go live - with thousands of bugs of course. Only those handpicked DoF-Testers will have a huge advandage. They will not only know the expansion and its bugs and how to exploit them very well, they also already know the new combat system. For which they already are buying the crucial Adept III spells that no one else knows by now. A change with such an impact should be allowed proper testing, and not be rushed to the live servers in no time. Proper testing, and not elite guild testing who, as we all know from prior adventure pack testing, keep the bugs to themselves and start exploiting right after the pack goes live. <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span><div></div>

[Tuved2]

And why do I think all of Fires of Heaven are beta testing DoF.

[haas]

Hi, One has to admire how they managed to postphone and postphone the combat revamp so long it's going life with the expanion. I read time on time that the combat revamp had nothing to do with the expansion, how it would be seperate releases, and yet they still manage to have the two go life at the same time (I apreciate the effort going into the combat revamp but this is starting to seem pretty suspicious as if it was somehow planned like this imo). I'd be verry verry surprised if the combat changes go life before DoF.......... maybe they're even going to get away with making it a part of DoF. In the mean time I've been playing a gimped defiler for months and ontop of that had the luck to choose sage as my tradeskill. It's too bad i don't like WoW and I have to just accept this is the way it is as I do like to play a Morpg, this would almost be funny if it wasn't so sad.

[Ethelwo]

You don't have to take the new expansion bait. Just wait and test the combat changes on what has already released before you buy the expansion. That way if you don't like what has happened to your class you can log and quit before commiting to an expansion. Thats what I plan on doing even if everyone else has the expansion a month before I start it. I don't trust SOE, they cater to a few and always nerf. If something is fun and rewarding they have to make it less so. They have to keep the fun stuff balanced with the unfun stuff. So instead of making the unfun stuff, fun, they make the fun stuff less fun. If that makes any sense to you. They are after your dollars and thats all that matters to them. If they can get you to buy the expansion before you tried out the combat changes they will. It's their MO. They won't learn or become client orientated until everyone quits blowing kisses at them and gives them the middle finger. SOE needs to fail. It may make them a better company. As long as they have people willing to pay money for crap then they will sell crap. Hell, companies sell bottled water and others buy it. Think about that. They buy plastic bottles, fill it with filtered tap water and sell it for the price of a soft drink. Thats what SOE is doing now selling bottled water. Tell them that you wont pay for beer and get bottled water instead.

[Mastoras]

<DIV>All online game companies are the same.  Some more or less then each other, but basically they all work the same way.  In the end its all about $$$ thats the bottomline.  Whatever can get more $$$ is, and always will be number one goal.</DIV>

[ReviloTX]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Mastoras wrote:<BR> <DIV>All online game companies are the same.  Some more or less then each other, but basically they all work the same way.  In the end its all about $$$ thats the bottomline.  Whatever can get more $$$ is, and always will be number one goal.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>True statement, and that is exactly how a company SHOULD be.  The thing they fail to realize is, all they need to do to be the best (in terms of dollars) company out there is offer a better product than the other guys (in terms of a better game to play).</P> <P>The problem is, they fail to realize what "making a better product" actually means in am MMORPG.  Fear not, sooner or later a company will catch on.</P>

[Suraklin]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> ReviloTX wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Tuved2 wrote:<BR> <P>What amazes me even more is we actually bend over for this crap.</P> <P> </P> <P>When is vanguard supposed to be released again?<BR></P> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>I bend over for now, but it won't last forever (as you noted).  It still hurts though, they could at least use some vasoline.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Nah KY-Jelly or Astroglide...Vasoline doesn't work well enough :smileyvery-happy:</DIV>

[Suraklin]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Ethelwolf wrote:<BR>You don't have to take the new expansion bait. Just wait and test the combat changes on what has already released before you buy the expansion. That way if you don't like what has happened to your class you can log and quit before commiting to an expansion. Thats what I plan on doing even if everyone else has the expansion a month before I start it. I don't trust SOE, they cater to a few and always nerf. If something is fun and rewarding they have to make it less so. They have to keep the fun stuff balanced with the unfun stuff. So instead of making the unfun stuff, fun, they make the fun stuff less fun. If that makes any sense to you. They are after your dollars and thats all that matters to them. If they can get you to buy the expansion before you tried out the combat changes they will. It's their MO. They won't learn or become client orientated until everyone quits blowing kisses at them and gives them the middle finger. SOE needs to fail. It may make them a better company. As long as they have people willing to pay money for crap then they will sell crap. Hell, companies sell bottled water and others buy it. Think about that. They buy plastic bottles, fill it with filtered tap water and sell it for the price of a soft drink. Thats what SOE is doing now selling bottled water. Tell them that you wont pay for beer and get bottled water instead. <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>Exactly.... ever noticed that Evian is Naive spelled backwards lol<BR>

[missionarymarr]

What annoys me about this is this is just what they said they weren't going to do. It is starting to look more and more like the combat upgrade in SWG. Basically they eventually had to rush it to live before the expansion was coming. Yet here we kept hearing don't worry this won't go live until it is ready and yet now we are getting close to expansion and it sounds like they have to have it on live by the time the expansion goes live. This doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence that this expansion is going to be all that much an improvement.

[Naginata]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> missionarymarr wrote:<BR>What annoys me about this is this is just what they said they weren't going to do. It is starting to look more and more like the combat upgrade in SWG. Basically they eventually had to rush it to live before the expansion was coming. Yet here we kept hearing don't worry this won't go live until it is ready and yet now we are getting close to expansion and it sounds like they have to have it on live by the time the expansion goes live. This doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence that this expansion is going to be all that much an improvement. <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>If the improvements to EQ2 are even half as good as the improvements to SWG from their revamp this game will be amazing. My personal hope is that itdoes what the SWG revamp does and makes many of the farmers, cretins, and uber [Removed for Content] quit because the game is harder and fun now as opposed to being profiatble.</DIV>

[missionarymarr]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Naginataka wrote:<BR><BR><BR> <DIV>If the improvements to EQ2 are even half as good as the improvements to SWG from their revamp this game will be amazing. My personal hope is that itdoes what the SWG revamp does and makes many of the farmers, cretins, and uber [Removed for Content] quit because the game is harder and fun now as opposed to being profiatble.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Well although the improvements in SWG aren't as terrible as some people made them out. They weren't ready for live. There were to many monsters which were listed as one level yet were much harder then they should be. Also Soloing was basically impossible fairly quickly. There were also a lot of bugs. Overall I found SWG to be less fun after the changes until you could get an elite class anyways since it became almost impossible to solo and not being able to wear armor just made it worse.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My whole point is though they kept saying they wouldn't rush these changes to live. Yet now they have seemed to say that no matter what they have to be on live when the expansion comes out. </DIV>

[Dark SpiderMonk]

<div></div><div>Uhh.  The combat changes are aready in the expansion so they kind of have to be release at the same time or before it.  Since they are already being tested at the high levels, it should take long to test them on test.  It is already August so be patient.  The changes are almost here.FuryFistsTest</div><div></div>

[dejahtho]

<span><blockquote><hr>Tuved2 wrote:<div></div><p>When is vanguard supposed to be released again?</p> <div><span class="date_text"></span><span class="time_text"></span> </div><hr></blockquote>i hear spring of '06, winter of '06 on the boards...nobody knows for sure, but they are in F&F beta as i sit here, so open beta can't be too far away.  as brad would say, 'more on this later(tm)' www.vanguardsoh.com if you're interested</span><div></div>

[haas]

<div></div><span>To ensure that the combat changes all go in at the same time and to avoid potential complications, we'll be releasing Live Update #13 along with the first expansion, Desert of Flames, on September 12, 2005.Told you so <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span><div></div>

[Orgingrind]

<DIV>It's good to actually know what is happening now, and the plans for the changes to be implimented.  Though, generally every "big" LU that is put into the game, there is normally something that is wrong with it or a glaring bug that the servers end up going down for an extra 2 hours.  Now, add to this DoF being released the same day as arguably the biggest LU (combat changes) so far???  To me this just reeks of lotsa downtime.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Big LU = sept12?</DIV> <DIV>DoF = sept 12?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So they both getting put in the same day and... we get to finally start playing on the 14th?  or something like that when the servers finally come back up?  Dont get me wrong, I love the combat changes that are finally coming (7months been waiting) and am highly anticipating the release of the first expansion in this game... however, wouldn't it be wise to drop the LU on us at least a week in advance then release the xpac?  Seems like a lot of hassle to release two big things in the same day.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Orgingrinder</DIV> <DIV>50 dirge, grobb</DIV>

[Dark SpiderMonk]

<div align="left">Live update 14 will be on Sept 12. </div> <div></div>

[Pins]

<span><blockquote><hr>Dark SpiderMonkey wrote:<div align="left">Live update 14 will be on Sept 12. </div> <div></div><hr></blockquote>Incorrect.  Live Update 13(with combat revamp) will be on Sept 12th.  14 will be in October or so.</span><div></div>

[Dark SpiderMonk]

<span>See Below:<blockquote><hr>Moorgard wrote:<div></div> <div> <div>With the upcoming launch of our first expansion in September, we're going to change our routine slightly for when live updates will appear on Test server.</div> <div> </div> <div>The next major live update, lucky number 13, will be moving to Test in two phases. The first, Update #13a, will be on Test today. Next week we will update Test again with Update #13b, and the following week (on or about August 10) we will combine them and move Live Update #13 to the live servers.</div> <div> </div> <div>In the month following Live Update #13, we will make several updates to the Test server. <b><font color="#ff0000">The current plan is that Live Update #14 will arrive on September 12 along with the launch of Desert of Flames.</font></b></div> <div> </div> <div>Independent of the regular update schedule, the combat changes (which are currently active on the DoF beta server) will become active on Test during this period.</div> <div> </div> <div>As always, thanks to all of you who participate on Test server and consistently help us to improve the game.</div></div><hr></blockquote></span><div></div>

[Periastron]

<div></div><div></div><span>Um... no.  See below:</span><a target="_blank" href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=news_announcements&message.id=144#M144">Desert of Flames and Combat Changes Update</a>In particular:<blockquote><span>To ensure that the combat changes all go in at the same time and to avoid potential complications, we'll be releasing Live Update #13 along with the first expansion, Desert of Flames, on September 12, 2005.</span></blockquote><span></span><div></div><p>Message Edited by Periastron on <span class=date_text>08-04-2005</span> <span class=time_text>04:47 PM</span>

[Tallhart]

<div></div>See below <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  (from the '<a target="_blank" href="../board?board.id=news_announcements">Official News and Announcements</a>' forum):<span></span><span><blockquote><hr><span>Blackguard wrote:Desert of Flames and Combat Changes Update     The combat changes have been progressing very well both internally and on our Desert of Flames Beta server. At this time, we are past the point where we can safely push a major update to Live servers without also partially pushing the combat changes. As the combat changes are still undergoing frequent updates, they won't all be ready for Live servers for a few weeks.To ensure that the combat changes all go in at the same time and to avoid potential complications, we'll be releasing Live Update #13 along with the first expansion, Desert of Flames, on September 12, 2005.Please be aware that this will not hinder our ability to hotfix data to Live servers between now and then. If something needs to be addressed, it will be.Watch the Test server for updates or, better yet, play a character on Test server if you would like to keep track of what's changing or being added to the game in the mean time. We will continue to update Test regularly until Update #13 hits Live servers.Here is a small taste of things to come in Live Update #13:In Live Update #12, we removed status and level loss for guilds. In the next big update, we will be removing the concept of Patrons from guilds entirely. Earned status is now divided by the number of unique accounts in your guild (minimum of 6, maximum of 24). Example 1: If you have 40 members in your guild (10 of which are alts) you'd have 30 unique accounts. That's over the maximum cap of 24, so any new guild status earned would be divided by 24. Example 2: If you have 4 members in your guild and you earn guild status, it will be divided by 6 (the minimum number).You will also be seeing a revamped Persona window in Update #13. The Persona window will now have three tabs to better organize information about your character. The Stats tab shows your level progress, vital stats, attributes, and resistances. The Details tab shows your character's last name, house location, and bind point. It allows you to choose from any prefix and suffix titles you have earned, and lets you enter your character's biographical information. The Factions tab displays your standing toward any factions with which you have gained or lost favor. Whenever you perform an action that changes a faction from neutral, it will be automatically added to the Factions tab.Of course, the highlight of Live Update #13 will be the combat changes. For details on the combat changes as they make it to our Test server, keep track of the Test Server Update Notes board.Again, please monitor the progress of Update #13 and the combat changes on Test server over the coming weeks, as we will be updating the server regularly.Ryan "Blackguard" Shwayder</span><hr></blockquote></span>Umber, Level 35 Paladin, LavastormWasted Knights<div></div>

[Xyl]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> haasch wrote:<BR> <SPAN>To ensure that the combat changes all go in at the same time and to avoid potential complications, we'll be releasing Live Update #13 along with the first expansion, Desert of Flames, on September 12, 2005.<BR><BR>Told you so <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><BR></SPAN> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>SOE never said that it wouldn't be released at the same time, they only said that it would not be apart of the expansion. You are not paying for the CC, directly anyways, and you are not getting the CC as part of the expasion. It just happened out that way for whatever reason.

[Dark SpiderMonk]

<span>I stand corrected.  Thanks for the info Periastron.  Somehow i missed that news.<blockquote><hr>Periastron wrote:<div></div><div></div><span>Um... no.  See below:</span><a target="_blank" href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=news_announcements&message.id=144#M144">Desert of Flames and Combat Changes Update</a>In particular:<blockquote><span>To ensure that the combat changes all go in at the same time and to avoid potential complications, we'll be releasing Live Update #13 along with the first expansion, Desert of Flames, on September 12, 2005.</span></blockquote><span></span><div></div><p>Message Edited by Periastron on <span class="date_text">08-04-2005</span> <span class="time_text">04:47 PM</span></p><hr></blockquote></span><div></div>

[Dar]

any chance on an update on the shedule ? Live update 13 pushed a week back ? <div></div>

[Keegant]

<P>DarkD, read the previous posts on this thread. LU 13 has been bumped back a month to sep. 12th.</P> <P> </P> <P>Don't know why they couldn't have put in the non combat changes now, like the guild changes and especially the  faction status window, but they apear to have decided to give us nothing other than minor fixes for the next month.</P>

[freakbo]

Yikes.. another month? Man, i'd wish they releasej ust some of the early LU13 stuff (ie. 13a) and turn the rest into 14..

[Sli]

Yeah that sucks!  There was some good stuff in LU#13.  Now we get to wait another month before we get any other major enhancements?  BAH!

[Dar]

<span><blockquote><hr>Keegantir wrote:<p>DarkD, read the previous posts on this thread. LU 13 has been bumped back a month to sep. 12th.</p> <p>Don't know why they couldn't have put in the non combat changes now, like the guild changes and especially the  faction status window, but they apear to have decided to give us nothing other than minor fixes for the next month.</p> <div></div><hr></blockquote>Oops sorry Yeah , big time gap between LU#12 and #13 <span>:smileyindifferent:</span></span><div></div>

[Drewdar]

<DIV> <P>I do think one thing should be said here. I keep reading as people are accusing SOE of wanting to destroy the game and hide that fact with releasing it with their expansion.</P> <P> </P> <P>People need to step back and think for a minute. There is honestly no game that puts the man hours and thought process this game has into its development. I haven’t heard of any company period that has the customer support so organized as this game has.</P> <P> </P> <P>You see a bug in this game usually with in days it’s fixed. We get patches the size of most games expansions, and they are good ideas when they show up. Half of the changes I see I have read from these boards prior as a suggestion.</P> <P> </P> <P>They seem to be listening, they are defiantly working hard on this game. Why then would everyone assume they want to “screw the game up” at every turn. I have yet to see them make hasty decisions. I have seen them admit when they make a mistake and try and fix it.</P> <P> </P> <P>Honestly trying to please everyone is impossible, but at what stage do you give the Dev’s the benefit of the doubt? I agree the CS in EQ1 was pathetic, but look around, this is no where near what that was.</P> <P> </P> <P>Think back to what this game was when it came out. Now look around, it’s 5 times the game it was, they have added great things to this game faster then any game in history I’d have to guess.</P> <P> </P> <P>They have to make final decisions for this game, that’s their job. How people can look at their track record to date and not give the benefit of the doubt to them is beyond me. If the combat changes are lacking I have no doubt this group will fix it. They have everything else so far. If they think the changes will improve the game I tend to believe it, all their other changes have so far.</P> <P> </P> <P>It’s good to question decisions and add ideas, but the gloom and doom attitude seems pathetic to me.</P></DIV>

[-Aonein-]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Drewdar wrote: <DIV> <P>Think back to what this game was when it came out. Now look around, it’s 5 times the game it was, they have added great things to this game faster then any game in history I’d have to guess.</P></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Its 5 times the game with half as many people as there was.</DIV>

[Tudd]

"It’s good to question decisions and add ideas, but the gloom and doom attitude seems pathetic to me." I agree, I get tired of all the negativism on these boards. However, I can point out that there are problems that extend all the way back to Beta that still exist in the game today. When things like this occur, in which major problems go unfixed for long periods of time, it's cuts into your credibility and reduces people's faith. I for one am looking forward to many of the things coming down the pipe. New or better features that improve gameplay are always welcome. But when you have stuff like mobs ignoring walls during combat, horrible pathing issues, etc etc that have all been there since Beta, people tend to be more critical of promises made. <div></div>

[Tenafly Vip]

<P>Wow, I know I'm not the only player who thinks releasing both at the same time is a mistake...</P> <P>This whole combat revamp is starting to feel like one big quagmire already. Changing the face of the game while trying to release the first major expansion...OUCH! Regardless of how the dust finally settles on the revamp, whether or not it ends up being a good thing down the road, there is going to be an adjustment period... during which the players will have to absord the changes and respec and so forth accordingly... a climate like this will undoubtably impact and even lessen the expansion's release... as player have the distraction of relearning their classes before or while trying to experience DoF's content.  They should just be logging in and enjoying everthing DoF will bring to the game, but instead mass upheaval, frustration and negativity will abound, and it will be widespread across all classes. The revamp was always going to be a negative thing for morale, lets face it, with changes like these it's unavoidable. But unfortunately it now seems likely that DoF will be lost under the onslaught and livid outcries the revamp will generate. DoF is a good thing that will be diminished for no good reason. If at all possible (unfortunately I don't think it is) the combat revamp should be pushed back to post DoF release, give the expansion some breathing room (as originally planned, the revamp was expected to hit "live" at least a couple of weeks prior). Take some extra time to fine tune it even more, as much as possible, that will ensure the transition goes quickly and as painlessly as possible. If it is percieved as imcomplete, <U>rushed</U> or if it breaks more than it fixes the proverbial powder keg will explode and completely nullify DoF's release entirely. The DoF release and combat revamp being tied together really concerns me. </P>