Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Tika]

---

Atlanta Town Hall Notes

(recap for those that do not read Stratics and to save my poor icq from crashing into perma-death.... and my fingers from typing the same thing 100 times .. )

The First Announcement

There will be NO Dwarfs in UO!


After some good hearted chuckling, some applause and a few boo's from our dwarven friends..
we moved on to the presentation.

"EA's most significant investment since their launch of UO." (Aaron "Darkscribe" Cohen)

Kingdom Reborn... all I can say is WOW. ( ETA :Spring)
Every pixel of the game is currently being redrawn with deeper detail and color .. right down to the images for the monsters. There will be a totally new interface to allow for easier use of skills, spells and such which will mean fewer clicks to get things done. Thus less need for complicated macros and memorizing what keys you have for what macro.. it will be all there on your screen for quick reference. They are currently looking at the "hotbars" and are thinking that there will be at least 5 sets total to hold everything from spells, skills, potions, bandages... etc. The new targeting system was much nicer, smoother and faster looking even in its pre-testing stages.

They are also completely redoing the new player experience to combine it with improved skill training. The less a new player has to go to an outside source to learn the game .. the easier it is for them to play and enjoy the learning experience.Tutorials and a new questing sytem for the new players will help them train and make the game more new player friendly as they learn.

Backpacks are being redone for more efficiency and the current testing one was well thought out though many like the original openess of the backpack in the current client. They are looking at ways to implement an easier way for players to hold and find things in their backpack. Aaron also spoke of a "loot all" button from corpses, which would dump the corpses loot into the backpack. They are going to continue testing of this after many voiced concerns about needing filters to keep from becoming overweight and/or taking the chance of stuff falling to the ground if the backpack carried too much.

Paper dolls will now have toggle tabs, and in the current testing paperdoll there were two. One for armor and one for clothing. They explained this made for easy switching and especially for roleplay characters to easily switch between clothing types as needed. Also a gump was being looked at that will calculate for your resists (DCI,SDI,LRC,LMC,HCI) for a better look at your current armor you have on.

The conversation went on to suggest possibilities of a new improved chat system as well as new housing tools and improved setting to hinder certain issues involved in the housing system currently. He would not comment other then to say they were well aware of players concerns with house placing and steps were being placed to hinder these issues in the future.

Some other features in the working are a zoomable camera, not only in but out as well to allow better movement and designing( for us house design fanatics) as well as a feature to allow you to see more area around you when your not sure where you are. They also discussed the mini map and the possibility of seeing fellow party members on the minimap for easy location.

When questioned on certain pictures released (leaked) they did indicate that you could sit on beds now, although it was not a planned feature for release. After cheers, jeers, begging and pleading from the crowd, Aaron Cohen looked at Jeremy and said " Write that down.. its in."

... and the crowd went wild. ( we roleplayers are )

The Developers also stated they are trying to bring more interest into the PVP system and are working on ideas daily to make it more interesting to new and old players alike.

Kingdom Reborn will be offered free to all players as a server/client upgrade.

Stygian Abyss (ETA: Late summer)

The New Race ...... Gargoyles!

It was officially confirmed that there will be both Male and Female Gargoyles in Stygian Abyss. The UO lore on this will become apparent at the right time.

Stygian Abyss is and will be an expansion and will be set up as a purchasable upgrade as all other expansion have been. The Gargoyle race will be introduced along with new abilities, UO's Largest Dungeon, new monsters, new skills, new magic, new craftables, new pets, new quests, and new housing sets.

They did not go into too much detail as this is still in the early stages and they are not ready to release more then what they have already.

Questions and Answer resumed after we saw the in game effects and the new look and feel of the new client. It ran quite smoothly and the new graphics and monsters were very impressive looking. When we saw the size and graphics on the new Earth elemental.. a gasp went through the audience. Several areas were not completed, however it was explained that ever single pixel in the game was being redrawn into the new client and not everything had been completed as of yet. What we did see though was very well done, very clear and precise.

As a side note they also took notes on several suggestions from the players regarding what they would like to see implemented in game. Some suggestions made were:
A special "Vault" type token for players to safely secure their possessions for extended time away from the game such as emergencies or military responsibilities. Thus Players

could save their items (not houses) to come back to.
Making more items stackable like blackrock,seeds,potions.
Bookcases for Rune Book libraries.(possibly a veteran reward type thing) and maybe BOD books for keeping treasure maps in.They wrote notes down on several ideas.

Ok thats the basic in and out of the meetup. I had a great time and met several great players from not only Atlantic shard but roleplayers from other shards as well. Braelynn Arie of Origin Shard and one of the Stratics reporters and Moderators also videotaped the whole meetup and will be making the video available very soon.. so keep an eye on stratics for her post on the main site to see the video ( about 2 hours long )

I should have my pictures cropped and loaded by tommorrow afternoon so will share those then.

*turns her icq back on *

*hugs* Tika

[NOT Malorn]

---

Thanks for the update. I am ridiculously excited for it all.

[Xandria]

---

Gargoyles? Well, I guess everyone got their wish. YUCK!


Unless they end up like the cartoon. Then I'm fine. Thank you Tika for the update!

[Faith]

---

Wow, this will definitly make alot of players happy. I cannot wait to see what my europa drow will look like.
_________________
:bananhump: Put this in your signature if you think bananas need loving too... even if it is from behind.

[Tika]

---

Ok a few pictures.. sorry if they are bit blurry.. it was dark and all that hehe.

The BIG announcement!




Overview of the new interface and paperdoll








Aaron, Nick and Jeremy


Nick and Jeremy


The Audience


The Audience


Press Badge from Stratics

[Ceinwyn ab'Arawn]

---

It all looks muy sexy.

[Teh Glouris Lrod Kujabis]

---

Too little too late. Poor Sin'vraal, the gargoyle seer that never was, and Circle of Singularity, the guild that was a year too early D:

It sounds nice, but I got no accounts left. Enjoy it once its out, Lrods and Ladeis.

[Saidhe Skyfire]

---

It would have been really nice if that guy with the loud british accent woulda let the UO staff actually finish their sentences before cutting in a trillion times.

People at my table wanted to go stick a sock in his mouth.


Ill be uploading the movie I took alittle later
_________________
Saidhe is more metal than Barl.

[Talon Skyfire]

---

Good post Tika, you covered all the bases.

Elvira and I also attended the meeting.

Not to piss in folk's cornflakes, but they also announced that the current 2D and 3D clients will be phased out over time...depending on how quickly folks switch over the the new client.

The designers also stated that they are working on ways to make crafters an integral part of the economy again.

All in all, the presentation looks great and I am really looking forward to the new client.

Worry not, they have preserved the look and feel of UO perfectly. It still looks similar, although MUCH prettier, to the current 2D client.

Another observation I made is that reds are jerks in real life too!

I.E, the very annoying English PK who kept interrupting everyone, protesting Trammel, and being guilty of multiple counts of douchebaggery.
_________________
~Lord Talon Skyfire
King of Sanctus
Lord Protector of Malas

[Cal Hurst]

---

I'll still have one account left to try this stuff out by the time it comes out. I just fear the introduction of the Gargoyles with Stygian Abyss.

" i haf wingz, u cant tuj me up hear, i fliy "
_________________

[Sir Robert]

---

To consider returning to UO as Mu Lem, gargoyle healer, but to be confused. To have learned from the An Bal Sil Fer, the False Prophet that gargish race of one gender.
To have one gender to lay an egg, to raise this young gargoyle, be it winged and tall or wingless and weak as ones child. But to know of the most powerful spell of existence: Ret Con! To change history! To have been used in many many instances, most notably be them of the Television Series version.
And finally to remind thee of the three Gargish Principles: Control, Passion and Diligence. Not Leetness, Pwnage and Zomfg!

(Yes, I'm now a Grandmaster Lurker, but my account is still running and Cass and I signed up for the Townhall Meeting in Columbus, OH.
I hope clothes are still dyable, I hope speaktext and Emotes still show up over ones head. If they keep that, I'll be a happy customer.)
_________________
Reality, the refuge of those who fail in RPGs

Though this be madnes, yet there's method in't

[Saidhe Skyfire]

---

They are taking away neon.. And they said some up and coming chat/im things are in the works.


My movies from the meetup!!
I had to hold my arms up in the air cause someone wih a big
head was sitting in front of me so the picture is kinda moving a bit.
My arms were tired!


UO TOWN HALL SITTING ON BED LOLz!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXaiQh-HKZg

UO TOWN HALL MEETUP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fONLN-cvDWU
_________________
Saidhe is more metal than Barl.

[Ishtar]

---

Awesome stuff to look forward too! Hope you had fun Tika!
_________________
"Knowledge is not information, it's transformation."
-Osho-
Atlantic Shard News Reporter

[Lady Autumn]

---

Looks very interesting. Great information gathered Tika!!

[Tai Kwan Leap]

---

lots of great info
_________________
"He's been fired from the Shrimp Boat?" -- Charlaine Harris "Living Dead In Dallas."