Official Word From SOE

Here is the state of the game, straight from Mr. Ben Bell's mouth: Hello everyone, Welcome to the fourth installment of the EQOA Producer's Letter. Each month we update you with news about the game and information about upcoming features. We're a week away from launching the first set of trade skills for EverQuest Online Adventures. The first trade skills will include Armor Crafting, Weapon Crafting and Jewelry Crafting. Each trade skill will enable you to make hundreds of items, including some of the most powerful items in the game. The components for your trade skills will be found on merchants as well as on NPCs throughout the world. Over time, we'll add more trade skills for players to use including Tailoring and Carpentry. The team spent countless hours last month playing the game. What a tough job we have! Actually, we were doing research for class balancing efforts. When our designers play the game, they rarely get to sit back and have simple fun like the rest of you. They sit at a desk with notepads and perform the same experiments over and over again until they understand exactly how each class is performing in a given situation. We implemented adjustments for all of the player character classes over the last month to address balance and usefulness issues. Feedback that we received from players has been invaluable in this effort. We read hundreds of messages containing every imaginable opinion about EverQuest Online Adventures and use the insights of our fans to identify issues in the game. We want to thank everyone who has taken the time to write thoughtful opinions about the game. Your input is extremely valuable and directly shapes game design decisions. This has been a big month for the development of EverQuest Online Adventures: Frontiers(tm). For those of you who don't know, Frontiers is the next edition of EverQuest Online Adventures. You will be able to use all of your existing characters in Frontiers, and you can also create new characters that have never been seen before. We are in the midst of wrapping up some of the key features of Frontiers, including the Class Mastery system. Class Mastery will bring new depth and excitement to your characters. For example, Priests can choose masteries that will unlock incredible healing powers, augment their attacks, or reveal powerful defensive abilities... and that's just the beginning. Characters will evolve into mighty specialists, adding to the incredible diversity in EverQuest Online Adventures. Frontiers is looking and sounding incredible! The new character models are amazing and we're introducing a huge palette of visual effects to the world. From localized fog to falling leaves, the world is becoming more alive. We'll be releasing new screenshots in the near future so you can get a glimpse of what is taking shape. The Auction system is nearing completion and we'll be testing it extensively in July. This powerful system will add new depth to the economy. It will perfectly complement the trade skill system, allowing players to auction their products throughout the world. We'll have more details on the specific features of the Auction system next month. Thanks again for all of your helpful feedback. We hope that you are enjoying the Isle of Dread and all of the other new content that was added in June. Stay tuned for even more new content and features throughout the summer. Sincerely, Ben Bell Producer Sony Online Entertainment

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Guild Sancuaries
# Jul 11 2003 at 1:58 AM Rating: Default
I think on frontiers when the guild will be transferred and stuff that the guild masters should be able to pay money and build ancuaries or buildings for there guilds as a meeting place or something to the effect and using tradeskills as a part of it maybe. Also I have been noticing people seting up casinos and thought what a great idea like you place a bet then you roll and if you roll above 50 then you double your tunar and if you roll less you lose. what a great game considering i won 2500 tunar and lost none sorry this is so long but had to get my few cents in

Aildidar
Lvl 29
Elf Wiz
Castle Lightwolf
There Here!
# Jul 10 2003 at 12:09 PM Rating: Default
Check it out: http://everquestonlineadventures.station.sony.com/news_story.jsp?id=57384
Well since this is essentially a "tips" page
# Jul 09 2003 at 12:38 PM Rating: Decent
I was wondering will you be reformating so people can submit recipes and find recipes for the various items we will now be able to make.
Trade Skills
# Jul 09 2003 at 9:28 AM Rating: Decent
Anybody have any updates on when the initial tradeskills will be added to the game?

healer melee
# Jul 08 2003 at 7:59 PM Rating: Good
With all the changes made in the game i was hoping that the healer casses would get a second melee attack. For instance when fightin a 20 mon like a wolf it bites and claws and yet the druid can transform into a wolf and only hit once.Same for the shmmy and cleric. it dosent seem like the game doesnt do healers justice. I have a 30drd with a 166str and 145dex and im usein my 30 qst weapon that does 348dmg and yet ive never hit over 125dmg to anything but light blue? whats the point of having weapons that say they do dmg and yet never produce ? it just dosent make any sence. Another thing i was wondering was why r other mon that r druids and hierophant red faced to my druid as far as my vast knowledge of druids go . All druids respect one another because they share the same atitude in life they r all apart of the same circle and so all druids no matter what race and mon should be at least nuetral to each other . not red faced.
Past Due
# Jul 08 2003 at 4:04 PM Rating: Excellent
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56 posts
Ok, its a week since this letter and no tradeskills. Where are they? I'm ready!
elf wiz
# Jul 07 2003 at 9:00 AM Rating: Default
i think wiz should be stronger for solos. i am 21 lvl and things that are green sometime(if more than one) can kill me. so i have to use my big spells all my mana drains out and im left to die. that happens on any fight especially reds. what to do to avoid that.
#Anonymous, Posted: Jul 06 2003 at 6:25 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) this game, as well as everquest for the pc, is a bunch of lame *** crap thats been ripped from lord of the rings. and every other game liek it, asherons call and dark age of camelot, are just a rip of of eq. so in effect, they are a rip off of a rip off. anyone who plays these games has a serious problem. do yerselves a favor and put down those lame *** mmorpg's and get a REAL game. its freaks of nature like you that give other gamers a bad name. . .
status ailments
# Jul 03 2003 at 6:30 AM Rating: Default
I was just wondering if anyone else is a little perplexed at the amount of damage poison and disease does now? I mean come on!! i'm a lvl 39 tank..i fought a scorpion in tea garden which conned lightblue to me and i still died after killing it! I think its ridiculous and down right frustrating that such a weak thing easily kills someone higher lvled. I mean HELLOoOoO,theres no curative items for us warriors! Lets say my healer dies and i kill the mob...i still die unless i have a whole lot of food...tweek i san understatment...try terminal illness!!
RE: status ailments
# Jul 05 2003 at 7:58 AM Rating: Good
The idea is to keep your healer alive, @$$. Before the updates the poison mobs had was ineffective against anything but low level characters. Now they've made it an aspect of the game we will all have to deal with. So HellOooOOOoooooO, it's just a game and you need to learn how to play it. Don't let your healer die, he IS your curative item.
RE: status ailments
# Jul 21 2003 at 9:05 PM Rating: Default
nice reply if you are tank and dont want posion on ya then taunt enemy so healer lives and cures U
weak mages
# Jul 02 2003 at 1:27 PM Rating: Decent
Before the update i was able to solo dark blue mobs. But now they kill me! We should be able to put up a good fight solo against a white mob because they are our same level.But right now the only soloing i can do is against light blue mobs wich almost kills my pet each time, so after every kill i have to stop...dismiss pet...take a drink...then make a new pet wich takes half my power again! Please give this some serious thought about making a better change for us mages because right about now we can forget about soloing anymore.
RE: weak mages
# Jul 03 2003 at 11:29 AM Rating: Default
ok i dont kno what ur talkin bout bcause now i can solo yellows without pet dying.b4 the update i couldnt do that
Pet help
# Jul 02 2003 at 12:49 AM Rating: Default
I would just like to say that I am thouroughly impressed with the change made to our pets. The sheer fact that they heal themselves has made their casting cost more acceptable than it ever has been. Also, prior to the changes, the enchanter race was referred to as "worthless." Now people can't get enough of us! TY TY TY! I was beginning to believe I had made a bad choice!

Misguided
Erudite Enchanter
Diren's Hold
RE: Pet help
# Jul 02 2003 at 10:47 AM Rating: Excellent
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3,473 posts
Well from a story line aspect, they modeled the Enchanters off of their EQPC counterparts.. and the pets on EQPC operate exactly the same the pets on EQOA did.. you couldnt control them, they only attacked when you got hit, etc..
to Haggen
# Jul 01 2003 at 8:56 PM Rating: Good
Thank you for responding this is the best site for eqoa keep up the good work we love you man
RE: to Haggen
# Jul 02 2003 at 12:49 AM Rating: Excellent
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3,473 posts
Thanks for the lovin'! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside now :)
Bad Patch
# Jul 01 2003 at 7:00 PM Rating: Good
I agree with the person who indicated that the priest class has no self SOW or a sprint ability.
The damage reduction on the undead spell line was also a bad patch, as that was something I was able to contribute to the groups exp with some nice damage numbers. Our cleric characters are getting weaker and weaker and pretty soon there will be knowone who will want to play a cleric char.

NAME:Bakamins 31st season/Bakamin 30th season
Server:Ferran's Hope
Race/Class:Dwarf Cleric/Dwarf Warrior
updates
# Jul 01 2003 at 5:11 PM Rating: Decent
I noticed that the updates included a loss to Palidins. Our "Bash" ability has been dramaticaly reduced. This was a nice advantage since we do not seem to hit as hard as warriors. Is there a chance that something else is in the future?
RE: updates
# Jul 04 2003 at 9:10 PM Rating: Default
If you choose to be a Paladin, you basically chose to be a tank. Your damge caused should not be your chief concern. I have a warrior and I know my job is to absorb damage, not dish it out. If you wish to deal damage with a weapon, try using a rogue, ranger or bard.
could use help
# Jul 01 2003 at 4:08 PM Rating: Default
How would this work to add trade skills to a already highly advanced character im thrilled to see this move into action just curious how it is going to work haggen or someone knowing please help me understand this thank you
RE: could use help
# Jul 01 2003 at 7:35 PM Rating: Excellent
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3,473 posts
Heh I dont know.. I just run this site, ill find out when you guys do :)
priest classes
# Jul 01 2003 at 2:25 PM Rating: Good
I agree. And why do clerics not have the ability to "safely" rez as do the unfortunates they give rez to? I can rez someone by grouping them with me and if they stay in my line of sight they rez where I am (usually a coach) safely. When I get another healer to group me and rez me I go bck to the bad place usually to instant death if I can't find someone else who can invis me. Shamans and druids of course can self invis. What gives? How bout a little help to the cleric healer?
RE: priest classes
# Jul 02 2003 at 2:58 AM Rating: Default
I am sorry to inform you of this, but druids and Shamans have the same problem.....Yes we can invis, but once we cast rez it wears off. It is very frustrating.

Erypmav
Human Druid
Diren Hold
RE: priest classes
# Jul 02 2003 at 10:31 AM Rating: Good
If you do it just right, Shamans and Druids can cast invis before the rez pop-up shows. You just have to wait a few seconds for the invis spell to go off. Try it some time.
priest class
# Jul 01 2003 at 1:56 PM Rating: Excellent
As with all balancing sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. I was greateful for the changes made earlier to the cleric's root spell. Now it does work as intended an enhances the cleric's utility in groups. I am unhappy however with the changes that have now reduced my undead spells to half their former potentcy. The undead are mortal enemy to the cleric and while I am not a tank I was particularly effective in fighting them and protecting myself before the changes. One last request/plea, etc. Almost everyone has some sort of emergency escape/life saving spell be it run fast, or emergency evacuation/teleporting or even invis and druids and shamans have these clerics are still without! Priests remain unable to save themself or their group effectively in emergencies. How about a self sow for clerics? Often we are the only one or first to die in our groups even when tanks use taunts.
melee
# Jul 01 2003 at 1:38 PM Rating: Decent
I too would like to know if they are planning on adjusting melee characters. I saw a little balancing to warriors but none to rogues, rangers, and monks. Any input would be nice. more specifically are they going to add something that WIS affects to monks. I have noticed a lot of monk only items seem to have WIS on them. There must be a reason for this.
Melee Update?
# Jul 01 2003 at 12:35 PM Rating: Decent
**
382 posts
Smiley: confused
Alright, I'm a bit confused and wondering if anybody can help me out here. The above Producer's Letter says that "We implemented adjustments for all of the player character classes over the last month to address balance and usefulness issues."

Where were the melle updates, specifically for Rangers? I know since the first balancing issue patches came out (what, two months ago?) that I have not seen a single update that involved rangers. The first update said that melee and casters would come soon, but the I swear the next one was casters ... as was the third ... and the fourth was "behind the scenes" adjustments.

Can anybody tell me if there has infact been a solid melee update, when it was, and what was changed? Thank you for the help in advance.

Edited, Tue Jul 1 13:26:50 2003
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