Varlyndria: Ascension - Coming Summer 2013

[Burningsoul]

Again, from someone who hasn't played yet read the changelogs... I see a massive, GLOBAL sweep to change the essence of the game. Secrets nailed it after we rallied for it - stop paying cash just because you WANT the best, pay the cash because the SERVER is the best - freemium my ass, give us fun and we WILL support. That support ends when we see OP noobs with cash to blow on the same tier as people who devote their time. (After seeing Clair ruin lootfest, I don't ever want that again).

What I see now, is Drak bending because of a sizeable amount of forum chatter. Clearly, he has something good here. However, now he has to deal with an uprising - (those who throw cash at anything VS those that pay because they LOVE the server and the ideals, not the freemium tactics), he's bending. Drak, get your ideals set first. You did a -lot- of good here. As someone who wanted to recreate the fun of Scorp2k/Last World/X5/SoA (pre-donate-win-button)/Lootfest Pre-Clair, but but lacked the tech aspect to make it happen...when 4 posters + Secrets' best worded attack make you start to change things, you have to set sights on the focus of the server.

Remember Last World? That people who played it hold it dear in their hearts and want to play again? How about any other donate-to-get-easy-mode server? Those come and go, but DAMNED sure we remember to good ones. And fug it, I -want- this to be a good one. It LOOKS amazing. Not since I joined the scene in '04* have I seen stuff like the current servers are producing. But please, don't succumb to the others' downfall of pay to win. Monetary is one thing, but if you want to be a legend, make us remember WHY it was good - not why once we threw X amount of cash at it, we won.

Again, I'm probably off base, but I'm speaking my mind. If I had the ability to make a server of this scope, I'd damned sure try. I just don't want to see everything you've done thrown away since people spoke up, and then see your server changed because of that. Make it come from the reason you started - to change the vision of an emu server. To make a fun, UNIQUE experience. From a failed server OP to you, that's why we all started. Much love for what you've done, from a failed server admin to what you're producing now, just saying....

Drak - not playing I'm sure I'm wrong on lots of things - and this isn't intended as a flame. You're a great upstanding person on these forums, and I respect the hell out of what you made. I just want to make my voice heard here and now.

In short, you damn sure can't please everybody - but you can leave a good taste in our mouths when we play. I've seen plenty of servers I wish were still around do it. You're doing good, keep on the path of taking constructive criticism and you're gold - just keep the core fundamentals in mind. Again, not an intended flame - just a better worded King Mort ramble from someone who's loaded and wants to see you flourish. Keep it up man, and mad props for breaking the mold.

[Drakiyth]

Originally Posted by ak48

Also, if the "Donations" are being used for anything other than the server itself it is I believe it is no longer non-profit and therefore is taxable income.

The server doesn't create its self.


UPDATE 08/26/13

• Enemy NPCs are a bit tougher now. Overlord Npcs might require a couple people to take down.

• Soulreapers now regenerate 25,000 hp per tick + Wisdom Enhancement bonus with
the Dark Reaper on. This will prevent them from dying from anything that gets
through the defenses of this buff.

• The #Fi or #itemsearch command now actually works for players now.

• The AA, "Animation Empathy" can now be learned by all classes. This AA will allow
the White Lotus to control their pet.

• Fixed Bursting Veins to be a 24 second CD down from 48 seconds. It didn't change
last patch for some odd reason.

• Theft of Life and Soul Abrasion AA powers have been removed from the game. These
AA powers were giving vampires the ability to become gods which was never intended.
If you had these powers before talk to a GM for AA refunds.

• Thane's Rune of Stone now only gives 12% mitigation down from 24%. It's end
cost is 480 and it now recharges every 12 seconds and lasts 6 seconds.

• Thane's Blessing of Thunder has changed. They now get 36% mit, 100% to melee damage,
+200% to their base parry chance and their 210 base damage defensive proc.

[Drakiyth]

Starting at level 80 with level 1 mobs running around, sure. That fails. But every single mob in the game is 80 with distinct power levels to determine progression. I could of said every player is level 5 and all mobs are level 5 if I wanted to. The fact is this is not like what other people tried, trust me on that. You'll see when Ascension launches if you're willing to give it a shot. The level 1 through 80 is completely overrated and I'll prove why. Progression can be many things besides leveling. Consider this like a skill system mmorpg now where you don't level but just improve yourself with other means and you're on a balanced playing field right out of the box.


Example of Ascension for a new player: Player creates a character and joins in, he/she starts in the nooby area and is leveled to 80 as soon as she enters. She goes down and talks to NPCs and finds out that level 80 is because she is of ascended power from the gods energy that has leaked into the world but it's only the beginning and some other ascended beings are right at the front lines waiting to attack. You grab some newbie weapons/shield and your power source and head into battle against newbie level 80 mobs that are balanced to fight your gear level. Do you see how that works now? Just because they are 80 doesn't mean anything. Also, experience is going to be modded for certain power level areas. You won't be getting mad AA points in the nooby area but will be later down the road fighting stronger monsters. AA points are vast in Varlyndria and offer the player more options of development than just what EQ gives you. There is a vendor infact that you can spend AA points at and get upgrades.

One thing too I forgot to mention is I will be cutting many spells out of all spell books and just making all spells that are worth while level 80. You won't have hundreds of spells to browse through. It's pointless. On top of BASE class spells there will also be Path spells which can only be cast when you have the charm reagent for that certain path. (this has already been in the server for months).

[Drakiyth]

Just a quick update here: Ascension is actually going to start and end at level 70 not 80. I have decided to do this after many hours of testing and finding out just how buggy some level 71+ spells are.

[Drakiyth]

Here are some screenshots of Ascension and some of the features coming that I recently added to my blog. My goal with Ascension is to get rid of the easy mode laziness of AFKing like old Varlyndria, but reward players who have to work/school/can't play by speeding up their game play when they get home if they stay online with a new point system and consumables they can purchase from a special npc.

ASCENSION UPDATES AND FEATURES COMING

• Updated over 60,000 items to be priced based on each and every stat they have by a point system. There will no longer be finding items with good stats on them that can be traded but have no vendor value.

• Removed NO DROP from almost all items in the game. Only some items still have it, like donator, path and quest items.

• Mobs drop money now based on their HP (This gives 100% balance to the server with risk vs reward now.)
• /100 = Max Copper Dropped
• /200 = Min Copper Dropped

• Removed all focuseffects and worneffects from every item in the game. I will be adding my own to certain pieces of gear but no more being confused on what does what. There will be a detailed chart of worn and focus effects on the website. Every single one of them will be custom and there won't be too many like original EQ which is by far the
most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. They have well over 1000 focus effects alone and I feel it's just pointless to do that when you can organize and categorize certain ones instead of having hundreds of the same type with different names. BLARGH!

• Changed Enhanced Weapon Damage (Old Worn) into Piercing Blow, which is a single target mitigation debuffer
clicky that comes with some items.

• Pet Focus is being removed from the game. With pets being level 70 like their masters it simply just gives them too
much power since they already get VSES.

• VSES (Varlyndria Statistical Enhancement System) is having its numbers revamped on many things to make scaling
with the PR and BPR (Power Ranking and Boss Power Ranking) more balanced.

• All items with stamina now have that value of stamina divided by 6 for agility. Agility will always be extremely low
on items because of the invincibility bug but players can acquire small amounts of it now instead of none of it. Items will never have Heroic Agi as it's far too OP. Players will no longer gain the 150 AGI bonus at the start. Stats will be reset to 5 across the board since players can now gain very small amounts of AGI on items now + their AA points.

• The entire LDON system where players can buy relics is being axed. Ldon costs are going down considerably and players need to run the dungeons to get that gear. I am also going to axe AFKing for money and ldon points.

• There will be a new system added to Toskirakk (the main city in Ascension) that will reward you with a special type
of point called (Dedication Points (DP)) for every 5 minutes you're online. DP can be used to purchase experience potions and other useful consumable items to help you get back into the game faster when you can play again after your long hard day of work or whatever else prevented you from playing. The donation tiers will now offer bonus DP to this system every 5 minutes instead of the older money/ldon points.

[Secrets]

Regarding the balance situation...

My personal opinion (as an outsider to this whole subject) is prior to getting the tier 10 donation stuff for my contributions to server stability, I was struggling with enjoying the server due to mob damage being high and necromancer HP being low. The moment I got that extra health clicky and heal clickie, everything became way too easy.

The solution, imho, is to add a clicky heal staff similar to the donation one that has a longer reuse for non-donator players. The health buff from the buff bot should be slightly below the tier one donator status. This will ensure that you get a little bit, not a ton, of extra 'umph' for donating.

The donation clickies and gear should also be able to be earned in the game somehow; it would take a lot of dedication to earn them, however, it would be an alternative to donating (and be per-character instead of all on that account.)

It's all a balancing act, honestly.

[Drakiyth]

I'm not against making the server more balanced in that regard. I like your ideas honestly and that sort of stuff is easily fixed. Just bring it up to me that you think certain tier items are unfair and I'll listen. You know though from the legendary vendor to the group oriented tier items that I am trying my best to make items on this server fun and enjoyable for all. You will never see a player with a custom weapon that nobody else can get. I won't ever do that. Infact, the last weapon that was made by our last donator is being sported around by a lot of players who earned it with heroic points. The thing is beast too and anybody can get it.

[Drakiyth]

I don't hesitate to get things done. Check out these new goodies coming to the dedication vendor soon.



Rod of the Dedicated: COST: 2000 dedication points. 100 charges,
Clicky: (just like tier 1 donator item) Heals a player for 8450 base health
(enhanced by wisdom VSES) and 16,500 mana and endurance.
30 SECOND CD - Shares CD with donator clicky.

Trinket of the Titan: COST 500 dedication points, 5 charges,
Clicky: Grants you 150 STR for 1 hour.
(stacks with almost everything)

Trinket of the Musician: COST 500 dedication points, 5 charges,
Clicky: Grants you 150 DEX for 1 hour.
(stacks with almost everything)

Trinket of the Mountain: COST 500 dedication points, 5 charges,
Clicky: Grants you 150 STA for 1 hour.
(stacks with almost everything)

Trinket of the Skilled: COST 500 dedication points, 5 charges,
Clicky: Grants you 150 INT for 1 hour. (stacks with almost everything)

Trinket of the Faithful: COST 500 dedication points, 5 charges,
Clicky: Grants you 150 WIS for 1 hour. (stacks with almost everything)

Trinket of the Beast Tamer: COST 500 dedication points, 5 charges,
Clicky: Grants you 150 CHA for 1 hour. (stacks with almost everything)

[Drakiyth]

EMERGENCY FIX IN - Some mobs in Rivervale will no longer resist everything. This was a bug.



Please download and install the new files: Varlyndria Files 08 23 13

• Some caster NPCs have lost their long duration spells that keep you
in combat forever.

• The new Rivervale PR6 Normal zone is now in the game! Players need
a gear score of 950 to enter this place.

• Added 1120 new armor and jewelry pieces into the game that drop in
Rivervale. These items are labeled "Stormcrow:".

• Added a new Treasured: item to the final boss in Rivervale.

• Added a new task in Rivervale that rewards a cool ring.

• Normal raid npcs now have a 2% chance to drop loot up from 0.5%.

• Vampire's Bursting Veins - now has the correct cooldown of 24 seconds.

• Deathguard's Sentinel of Undeath no longer gives 50 CHA but now instead
gives 36% Melee mit up from 32%, 16% evasion and 100% melee damage.

• Added 10 new items to the dedication vendor that can heal, give stats
and give defensive procs to players. Remember that you can spend your
hard-earned platinum on dedication scrolls to get your points up or
just wait it out while you're at work to get these awesome new clickies.
The bazaar gives 7 dedication points every 5 minutes as well if you want
to get some extra bonus points over night!

• Berserkers no longer have the Special AA tab choices. This was a bug.

• The Epic Wildheart Life's Gift now stacks with the other casted Life's Gift.

• Ring of the Dedicated now says clickable from inventory instead of must equip.

• Beastlords can now use most 2 hand piercing weapons.

• Bestial Overseer's Ego buff now lasts for 24 seconds up from 18.

• Zatetzuken's Custom Donator blades are now tradeable/attuneable.

• Dune Raiser's Horror of the Sands no longer requires you to be right next to your
pet to buff them.

• Helpful NPCs in Unrest can no longer be killed.

• Razorthorn the Devourer now only casts Venom breath instead of unholy, fear and
the mana/endurance drain.

[Drakiyth]

After thinking about it for a while and experiencing some of my own server I feel that the raid scenario pigeon holes players into being forced to find a group and guild and kills their fun and self improvement. I understand that the original design of an mmorpg is to team up and take on the baddies with whatever you can combine together but it overall turns into a DPS fest and who has the biggest.. well you know where I was going with that.

The case in point is I feel the server needs more freedom. I don't want players logging on and logging off because they can't find somebody to team with. I want to make sure players have both options but only if they choose to do so. Overall with this said I feel like raids need to be eliminated completely and the server needs to turn more solo to 1 group based like the diablo series. This will allow players to relax more and stop comparing classes so much and get through the content by themselves on their own time or with a friend or two but no more being forced to raid.

With this said: the following changes will be happening to
Varlyndria: Ascension. Effective immediately.

Veksar, Fallen, Monkey Rock and Kurn's Tower are becoming normal zone difficulty and the items dropped in those zones will once again become tradeable and attuneable.


I don't want any player on Varlyndria feeling squashed up in a corner and not able to enjoy the server. Those days have ended.