Sundren Progress Report

[Phantom Lamb]

Hey folks,


A few people have asked me questions regarding the status of events and dev items. I wanted to communicate to everyone the progress on these and tempt you with future teasers:

• Sestra / Reptile Plot--
  This is nearing completion. Players will have a major impact on some end results here, so stay involved! The folks that devote the most effort (forum or in-game) will exert the most influence.

• The Next Major Plot?--
  Well, I'm not telling! But it's starting now, so be on the look out for new threats or possible allies!

• Faction Stuff!--
  One-by-one, faction stores are being implemented. This takes a partnership between the scripters and the item creators. While it's not hard, it's time-consuming and tedious. So stay tuned and be patient.
  
  After all factions are given stores, automated join quests and a treasury voucher system will be added to each faction.

• Unique Crafting System!--
  I'll let Kael fill in details if he'd like. Most of you know by now that it's coming down the pipe, and it looks pretty darn amazing.

• New Areas!--
  Get your fur-lined coats and your hiking boots ready...

• Increased Level Cap?--
  This is the one that I've had the most questions on. There are a couple key issues that we need to resolve before moving this up. Once these are resolved internally (please don't post feedback here), we'll likely bump the cap up for you.
  • How does Sundren want to handle epic feats?
  • Are the level 15+ areas balanced?

[Belwas]

Thanks for the update PL, it's great to be able to look forward to all the new features. Also thanks to the staff for all the continued work.

[Peridan]

*Is practically jumping up and down for the new crafting system*

[Product of Void]

neat, I am looking forward to all of it.

[Anks]

I have a question about the treasury voucher system, I assume that whatever you withdraw from the treasury must be used to further the factions goals and ideals? Like.. a Banite can't withdraw a crap ton of gold and use it to cure the sick... But he can, use it to hire a band of mercenaries that could be used as pawns to further his and the Hands goals?

[Phantom Lamb]

That's the idea And the money can't be used for personal gain, either. So a Banite couldn't withdraw 10,000 from the treasury to buy himself a +3 heavy plate!

[ForsakenMustache]

Kaeldorn's a he? i feel dumb. Not to mention very far behind, a lot of catching up to do for me this summer. Anyway, please do fill in the details about the crafting system if it's not too much to ask. i admit i'm rather anxious

[Phantom Lamb]

Kael is what's known as a TRAP!

[Firechicken]

Well this being the last part of school and all I wont be on much till about mid-way in May... But I cant wait to come back!

[Kaeldorn]

Hey, I never lie about it. Guess that just goes to show Yashia is womanly enough for make believe, eh?

[Phantom Lamb]

I'd stick her.

[Anks]

You said that about Gamling aswel...... Anyways! If able, throw us a bone and tell us about the crafting system Kaeldorn

[Azulfae]

I'm confused!

You know what, I don't care who has a willy and who doesn't and I also don't care who doesn't have one, but wants one and who wants to get their hairy hands on one and who wants to get a scalpel and cut theirs off either.

What I do want to know about is more dirt on the crafting system.

[Kaeldorn]

Ok, I'll give a few fun facts..

About the Mining profession.

Mining isn't as simple as fire and forget collecting of resources, but you do actually have some control over what happens. With your mining pick equipped, you can engage a node and start chopping at it. At this point, the mining vein will become un-usable for over an hour, not including your current action. A progress bar shows that will slowly fill up and you will not be able to move your character around or assign him actions (unless you cancel the mining).

At three points during the mining process performed on a mineral vein, a choice selection screen will be displayed based on a random occurence. You get a choice to either take the spoils safely, or go on to get to the better stuff. BUT there are risks involved in going on. Depending on if you succeeded your skill check or not, bad things can happen. With a succesful skill check made, you can proceed safely. If you failed by a margin of 5, you will be given a short description of the situation in which you can make a choice how to proceed (if at all) and accurately deal with the situation depending on additional skill/ability score checks which allows you to avoid disaster. If you failed by a lot you won't even notice what might happen should you choose to proceed. Failure means losing the option to take gems already obtained, as well as 'something bad'.

Stuff that can happen:
- You break your tools. You can either choose to equip spare tools if you have them, dig on some more with your bare hands and risk injury, or quit.
- Rumbling behind the cavern wall. You can either choose to proceed carefully and take less spoils, bash the wall as hard as you can, or quit. Failure means being assaulted by nasties whose home you burrowed into.
- You spot a crack in the upper part of the wall. You can use your knowledge of caves and dungeons to balance out the wall again, place studs (if you have any), or quit. Failure means a collapse of the ceiling, there'll be a small earthquake and an impassable mass of rock will block the path, possible to bash through if you have the patience for it. Anyone who ends up under it will take crushing damage (reflex save), which can be lethal.

All skill rolls happen behind the scenes, you can't how succesful you've been until the moment of truth. No risk means low reward, the daring and skillful will take it all.

Besides wisdom and your skill level, the following attributes are of use to a miner:
- Knowledge: Dungeoneering to avoid collapses
- Strength to scare the creeps away, and also for reducing the fatigue incurred while mining
- Constitution to reduce the fatigue incurred while mining, and lowering risk of damage taken when it goes wrong (more hp)
- Smithing/Woodworking to produce tools and supplements
- Reflex save to escape collapses

[Azulfae]

Dammit I didn't know Dungeon Knoledge was needed for mines. I'd stacked up on Profession: Miner skill instead!