Announcements - 1999/11 - Release - Revision history

imported>Adventurer's Golem: 1 revision imported: updating Category:Patch Announcements to Category:Event Announcements

2020-11-13T13:32:18Z

1 revision imported: updating Category:Patch Announcements to Category:Event Announcements

imported>Arkalor at 16:35, 29 July 2012

2012-07-29T16:35:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:35, 29 July 2012
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	[[Category:Patch Announcements]]		[[Category:Patch Announcements]]
	~~[[Category:Zone Article]]~~

imported>Arkalor at 21:32, 4 January 2012

2012-01-04T21:32:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:32, 4 January 2012
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	[[Category:Patch Announcements]]		[[Category:Patch Announcements]]
			[[Category:Zone Article]]

imported>Arkalor at 18:40, 11 March 2011

2011-03-11T18:40:28Z

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	{{Microsoft Zone		{{Microsoft Zone
	\| Link = http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsupdate1.asp		\| Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsupdate1.asp</nowiki>
	\| Date = November 23rd		\| Date = November 23rd
	\| Title = DETAILS OF THE 11/23/1999 UPDATE		\| Title = DETAILS OF THE 11/23/1999 UPDATE
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	{{Microsoft Zone		{{Microsoft Zone
	\| Link = http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsspin3.asp		\| Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsspin3.asp</nowiki>
	\| Date = December 1, 1999		\| Date = December 1, 1999
	\| Title = The Spin from Turbine		\| Title = The Spin from Turbine

imported>Arkalor: Letter to the Players

2009-04-15T00:15:41Z

Letter to the Players

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 __TOC__
-== Build Notes ==
+== Release Notes ==
 {{Microsoft Zone
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 :* "Healing cheese" is now labeled everywhere it appears.
 :* Minor tweaks have been made to improve server performance.
 }}
 [[Category:Patch Announcements]]

imported>Arkalor at 17:00, 8 April 2009

2009-04-08T17:00:51Z

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	'''November 1999''' - [[Release\|Patch Page]]		'''November 1999''' - [[Release\|Patch Page]]
	__TOC__		__TOC__

	== Build Notes ==		== Build Notes ==

	~~''Material retrieved from original~~ Zone ~~caches available at http://web.archive.org.~~		{{Microsoft Zone
			\| Link = http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsupdate1.asp
	~~''Original~~ Link ~~(now dead) - <nowiki>~~http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsupdate1.asp~~</nowiki>~~		\| Date = November 23rd
			\| Title = DETAILS OF THE 11/23/1999 UPDATE
	~~<div style~~=~~"background-color:#000033; border:2px solid #cc9900;width:80%;padding:30px;margin-bottom:20px;margin-left:5%;margin-right:10%;">~~		\| Text = On the morning of November 23rd, Asheron's Call will undergo its first major update since its public debut.

	~~<font color~~=~~#ffffff>~~
	~~<big>'''~~DETAILS OF THE 11/23/1999 UPDATE~~'''</big>~~
	~~</font>~~
	~~<font color~~=~~#cc9900>~~

	~~----~~

	On the morning of November 23rd, Asheron's Call will undergo its first major update since its public debut.


	This update makes some changes to game balance -- the relative strengths of particular skills, monsters, and items. We realize that changes can be painful, and we have no intention of continually shifting the game balance. We are especially reluctant to make changes that weaken characters. However, we badly needed to curtail the effectiveness of a few skills for this update to put them on equal footing with most of the game's other skills. We do not change the character powers lightly, and we do not intend to make this a common practice.		This update makes some changes to game balance -- the relative strengths of particular skills, monsters, and items. We realize that changes can be painful, and we have no intention of continually shifting the game balance. We are especially reluctant to make changes that weaken characters. However, we badly needed to curtail the effectiveness of a few skills for this update to put them on equal footing with most of the game's other skills. We do not change the character powers lightly, and we do not intend to make this a common practice.

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	:* "Healing cheese" is now labeled everywhere it appears.		:* "Healing cheese" is now labeled everywhere it appears.
	:* Minor tweaks have been made to improve server performance.		:* Minor tweaks have been made to improve server performance.
	~~</font></div>~~		}}

	[[Category:Patch Announcements]]		[[Category:Patch Announcements]]

imported>Arkalor at 14:56, 5 April 2009

2009-04-05T14:56:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:56, 5 April 2009
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	== Build Notes ==		== Build Notes ==

	''Original Link - http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsupdate1.asp		''Material retrieved from original Zone caches available at http://web.archive.org.

			''Original Link (now dead) - <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsupdate1.asp</nowiki>

	<div style="background-color:#000033; border:2px solid #cc9900;width:80%;padding:30px;margin-bottom:20px;margin-left:5%;margin-right:10%;">		<div style="background-color:#000033; border:2px solid #cc9900;width:80%;padding:30px;margin-bottom:20px;margin-left:5%;margin-right:10%;">

imported>Arkalor at 14:51, 5 April 2009

2009-04-05T14:51:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:51, 5 April 2009
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	{{Announcements Navigation Links		{{Announcements Navigation Links
	\| Previous = Asheron's Call Beta		\| Previous = Announcements - Asheron's Call Beta
	\| Next = Announcements - 1999/12 - Sudden Season		\| Next = Announcements - 1999/12 - Sudden Season
	}}		}}

imported>Arkalor at 11:54, 5 April 2009

2009-04-05T11:54:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:54, 5 April 2009
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	{{Announcements Navigation Links		{{Announcements Navigation Links
	\| Previous = Asheron's Call Beta		\| Previous = Asheron's Call Beta
	\| Next = Sudden Season		\| Next = Announcements - 1999/12 - Sudden Season
	}}		}}
	'''November 1999''' - [[Release\|Patch Page]]		'''November 1999''' - [[Release\|Patch Page]]

imported>Arkalor at 11:51, 5 April 2009

2009-04-05T11:51:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:51, 5 April 2009
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	{{~~Patch~~ Navigation Links		{{Announcements Navigation Links
	\| Previous = Asheron's Call Beta		\| Previous = Asheron's Call Beta
	\| Next = Sudden Season		\| Next = Sudden Season

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:32, 13 November 2020
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	'''CHANGES TO MONSTERS'''		'''CHANGES TO MONSTERS'''

	:* Monsters now have more pronounced ~~"soft~~ spots" in their armor. Choosing the height of your missile and melee attacks will have a more pronounced effect on the damage you do.		:* Monsters now have more pronounced “soft spots" in their armor. Choosing the height of your missile and melee attacks will have a more pronounced effect on the damage you do.
	:* Monsters now also have clearer ~~"soft~~ spots" in their magical resistances. Mages must choose spells more carefully; using a spell to which a monster has natural resistance can reduce its effectiveness by half or more! Mages who choose proper spellcasting tactics will do as much damage as they ever did.		:* Monsters now also have clearer “soft spots" in their magical resistances. Mages must choose spells more carefully; using a spell to which a monster has natural resistance can reduce its effectiveness by half or more! Mages who choose proper spellcasting tactics will do as much damage as they ever did.
	:* Lugians, Armordilloes, and Gromnies are somewhat faster and better defended.		:* Lugians, Armordilloes, and Gromnies are somewhat faster and better defended.
	:* Lugians and some Monougas fit better through doorways.		:* Lugians and some Monougas fit better through doorways.
	:* The locations of many monsters have been tweaked to improve game balance.		:* The locations of many monsters have been tweaked to improve game balance.
	:* Vats and braziers are now ethereal, so they cannot be used as safe ~~"perches~~" for picking off monsters.		:* Vats and braziers are now ethereal, so they cannot be used as safe “perches" for picking off monsters.
	:* On the landscape, monsters will now be able to open doors.		:* On the landscape, monsters will now be able to open doors.
	:* Gromnies will no longer defend their brethren.		:* Gromnies will no longer defend their brethren.
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	:* Many Monougas will navigate better around pits.		:* Many Monougas will navigate better around pits.
	:* Banderling Captains and Tumerok Warriors were not casting spells; this now works as intended.		:* Banderling Captains and Tumerok Warriors were not casting spells; this now works as intended.
	:* Ice golems no longer take double damage from fire.		:* Ice golems no longer take double damage from fire.


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	:* Vendors no longer hold on to the magic scrolls they buy, and will only sell their standard supplies of them.		:* Vendors no longer hold on to the magic scrolls they buy, and will only sell their standard supplies of them.
	:* Minor tweaks: Health-to-Stamina Self II had the wrong scarab, and the Range for Exhaustion Other I was too short. Both will be fixed.		:* Minor tweaks: Health-to-Stamina Self II had the wrong scarab, and the Range for Exhaustion Other I was too short. Both will be fixed.
	:* Health-to-Stamina Other spells did not display their range when examined. They will now.		:* Health-to-Stamina Other spells did not display their range when examined. They will now.


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	:* Swamp Gem		:* Swamp Gem
	:* Sword of Lost Light		:* Sword of Lost Light
	:* Tibri's Flaming Spear		:* Tibri's Flaming Spear


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	:* A number of quest-related and collector-related behaviors have minor fixes.		:* A number of quest-related and collector-related behaviors have minor fixes.
	:* Ale and green tea now work as intended.		:* Ale and green tea now work as intended.
	:* ~~"Healing~~ cheese" is now labeled everywhere it appears.		:* “Healing cheese" is now labeled everywhere it appears.
	:* Minor tweaks have been made to improve server performance.		:* Minor tweaks have been made to improve server performance.
	}}		}}

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	\| Date = December 1, 1999		\| Date = December 1, 1999
	\| Title = The Spin from Turbine		\| Title = The Spin from Turbine
	\| Text =		\| Text =
	<font color=#ffffff>'''A Question of Balance'''</font>		<font color=#ffffff>'''A Question of Balance'''</font>
	<br>		<br>
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	:* to provide a fair alternative for combat that required somewhat more thought and planning;		:* to provide a fair alternative for combat that required somewhat more thought and planning;
	:* to provide schools of magic that worked well in concert with other skill sets or other characters;		:* to provide schools of magic that worked well in concert with other skill sets or other characters;
	:* to create areas of overlap between schools of magic, where each school had its strengths and weaknesses.		:* to create areas of overlap between schools of magic, where each school had its strengths and weaknesses.
	<br>		<br>
	Those were some of our many goals for the magic system. Unfortunately, as our Beta cycle wrapped up, we realized that we had not accomplished these goals nearly as well as we'd hoped.		Those were some of our many goals for the magic system. Unfortunately, as our Beta cycle wrapped up, we realized that we had not accomplished these goals nearly as well as we'd hoped.
	<br>		<br>
	:* Spell resistances were underutilized by monsters, making any projectile spell as useful as any other, and removing a tactical element from spellcasting.		:* Spell resistances were underutilized by monsters, making any projectile spell as useful as any other, and removing a tactical element from spellcasting.
	:* Given the extreme ranges of Drain and Harm spells, Life Mages were nearly powerful enough to make War Mages obsolete. Life Magic was always intended to be best at giving life, not taking it. (While this makes life mages best suited for group play, this is balanced by making the Life Magic skill -- and other ~~"enchanter~~" skills -- cheaper than War Magic during character creation.)		:* Given the extreme ranges of Drain and Harm spells, Life Mages were nearly powerful enough to make War Mages obsolete. Life Magic was always intended to be best at giving life, not taking it. (While this makes life mages best suited for group play, this is balanced by making the Life Magic skill -- and other “enchanter" skills -- cheaper than War Magic during character creation.)
	:* Enchanters were finding that higher-level spells added little benefit, making their schools of magic less appealing.		:* Enchanters were finding that higher-level spells added little benefit, making their schools of magic less appealing.
	:* Complex Portal Spells were very easy to learn, devaluing something that should have a been a mark of distinction among powerful Enchanters.		:* Complex Portal Spells were very easy to learn, devaluing something that should have a been a mark of distinction among powerful Enchanters.
	<br>		<br>
	The sum total of these concerns was that mages were less interesting to play than we'd wanted, and in some cases, much more powerful than other classes.		The sum total of these concerns was that mages were less interesting to play than we'd wanted, and in some cases, much more powerful than other classes.
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	That left us with one option: lower the power of some mages. This is something we approached very, very carefully (as shown by the many long-winded paragraphs above), because we know how much it stinks to have your abilities knee-capped in the middle of the game.		That left us with one option: lower the power of some mages. This is something we approached very, very carefully (as shown by the many long-winded paragraphs above), because we know how much it stinks to have your abilities knee-capped in the middle of the game.
	<br><br>		<br><br>
	Should these balance issues have been addressed sooner? In a perfect world, they would have been, but the discrepancies between professions only became crystal clear to us towards the end of Beta. We realized then that we had missed some vital game-balance information -- but by that time, we were in the middle of the game's “Release to ~~Manufacturing”~~ process, a long, multi-week process that could only be derailed for the most catastrophic of bugs.		Should these balance issues have been addressed sooner? In a perfect world, they would have been, but the discrepancies between professions only became crystal clear to us towards the end of Beta. We realized then that we had missed some vital game-balance information -- but by that time, we were in the middle of the game's “Release to Manufacturing" process, a long, multi-week process that could only be derailed for the most catastrophic of bugs.
	<br><br>		<br><br>
	(We know one way to catch these issues sooner in the future is to get more involved with the community. That's why this site was created, why we're showing up more on the fan sites and in chats, and why we're working to get even more involved.)		(We know one way to catch these issues sooner in the future is to get more involved with the community. That's why this site was created, why we're showing up more on the fan sites and in chats, and why we're working to get even more involved.)
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	:* In the last update, Drain and Harm spells had such great range that they let Life Mages strike at foes with impunity, leaving War Mages in the dust. Reducing their range returns these spells from the main benefit of Life Magic to a side benefit, and returns Life Magic to its original intent: a means of providing healing, regeneration, and protection.		:* In the last update, Drain and Harm spells had such great range that they let Life Mages strike at foes with impunity, leaving War Mages in the dust. Reducing their range returns these spells from the main benefit of Life Magic to a side benefit, and returns Life Magic to its original intent: a means of providing healing, regeneration, and protection.
	:* In order to provide greater benefits to enchanters, we lengthened the durations of higher-level Enchantments.		:* In order to provide greater benefits to enchanters, we lengthened the durations of higher-level Enchantments.
	:* Advanced portal spells were increased in difficulty, making it harder for low-level Enchanters to cast them.		:* Advanced portal spells were increased in difficulty, making it harder for low-level Enchanters to cast them.
	<br>		<br>
	We understand that in some cases -- particularly for Life Mages -- this has a significant effect on how you approach playing the game. We're sorry that we had to make these changes, but they were necessary to ensure that the game remain fun and balanced for everyone over the long haul.		We understand that in some cases -- particularly for Life Mages -- this has a significant effect on how you approach playing the game. We're sorry that we had to make these changes, but they were necessary to ensure that the game remain fun and balanced for everyone over the long haul.
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	<br><br>		<br><br>
	:* With our first update, we made a priority of addressing the most severe imbalances first -- particularly where the changes would end up lowering a player's power. Aside from resolving exploits, our priority going forward is to make changes that only add benefits to players, not take them away.		:* With our first update, we made a priority of addressing the most severe imbalances first -- particularly where the changes would end up lowering a player's power. Aside from resolving exploits, our priority going forward is to make changes that only add benefits to players, not take them away.
	:* We are not going to rush these changes. It's much more damaging to have to make multiple changes to a system due to lack of understanding of the problem. We will look carefully at the issues at hand, test our solutions thoroughly, and try to do them once and only once. We will not allow a situation where your power levels fluctuate wildly over the course of the game.		:* We are not going to rush these changes. It's much more damaging to have to make multiple changes to a system due to lack of understanding of the problem. We will look carefully at the issues at hand, test our solutions thoroughly, and try to do them once and only once. We will not allow a situation where your power levels fluctuate wildly over the course of the game.
	<br>		<br>
	<font color=#ffffff>'''On the Horizon: Our Next Update'''</font>		<font color=#ffffff>'''On the Horizon: Our Next Update'''</font>
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	:* Vendors will be able to purchase cooking items, and will sell more alchemy and fletching items.		:* Vendors will be able to purchase cooking items, and will sell more alchemy and fletching items.
	:* A rare case that could cause your client to crash or freeze has been fixed.		:* A rare case that could cause your client to crash or freeze has been fixed.
	:* Our ongoing storyline is beginning. (Don't forget to bring your mittens!)		:* Our ongoing storyline is beginning. (Don't forget to bring your mittens!)
	<br>		<br>
	Finally, I want to ensure our commitment to improving Asheron's Call. It was a long, hard road bringing this game to fruition, and we're going to keep working to refine it. The best is yet to come.		Finally, I want to ensure our commitment to improving Asheron's Call. It was a long, hard road bringing this game to fruition, and we're going to keep working to refine it. The best is yet to come.
	<br>		<br>
	--Chris Foster, a.k.a. ~~"Slapp~~"		--Chris Foster, a.k.a. “Slapp"
	}}		}}

	[[Category:~~Patch~~ Announcements]]		[[Category:Event Announcements]]