Dark Age Of Camelot: Really late Grab Bag

Taken from here.

Q: I was wondering what "+skill" does to skills such as Augmentation and Pacification.

A: Code Ed responds! " When casting a buff, the effectiveness of the buff is determined by comparing the skill of the caster in that type of spell versus the level of the spell being cast. If the caster's skill level is higher, the buff is fully effective. If the skill level is lower however, the level of effectiveness of the spell starts dropping off. The + Aug on gear directly affects the skill level in this check as does the skill gained per realm rank."

Q: Spawn rate question: In some cases you can kill a placeholder mob in an area to cause a different mob to spawn. An example would be to get the Deep-Chasm Matriarch, you might have to kill regular octopi in the area.

Other mobs are rare spawns that just don't pop up too often such as Night Terror.

Some folks believe that if you are too close to the area where the rare mob usually spawns, it will greatly lower the chance that the mob will spawn.

What are the facts regarding what players can do, or not do, to affect the spawn rates of named mobs?

A: This is the kind of question I usually get in trouble for answering, because there's no "hard and fast rule with no exceptions" that I can give you.

Most "named" mobs, such as the Deep Chasm Matriarch and the Night Terror, are simply rare. Some are rarer than others, obviously. These are bosses, artifact encounter spawns, etc. You can see a host of old grab bags where I discuss this. Sometimes player feedback convinces us that we've set a frequency too low. *cough*Night Terror*cough* Usually, player feedback is successful when the spawn frequency is out of balance with the level of the item the player is trying to acquire.

(Sometimes we really meant the spawn frequency and drop rate to be low, and the item in question is cool enough that we want to severely restrict their entry into the game. You're always free to write in with your comments, and I do read it all, so keep it clean and concise.)

However, that's not to say that we don't have monster generators with more than one type of monster. Usually, those are common monsters, though, not quests or rare encounters. A particular spawn point might produce skeletons, beetles, and snakes. There won't be more than a certain number of skeletons until you clear out some snakes, etc.

And there are some generators in the game (not many, but some) where if you happen to be standing within a small radius from the generator, you'll prevent a spawn. These are not generally used for named, rare monsters (since their frequency rates are considered enough of an impediment to the process), but this type of generator does exist for quest purposes.

Now, when you sum up all the hedging (some, usually, most), there's no clear answer. I can think of exceptions to all three "rules" off the top of my head.

My advice: Go ahead and clear camps. You might as well be getting loot and experience while you're waiting for something to happen. It might not make anything spawn faster, but it beats sitting around growing mold. And while you're at it, move around. You'll get better experience, it is to be hoped you won't be bored, you might enjoy the change in scenery, and if you do happen to be waiting on a generator with a radius check, you won't mess yourself up by accident. The game rewards those who do not merely camp.

Q: Does the RA MoS allow a MoS5 assassin to detect a MoS3 assassin from longer range? It sounds like from the description The Herald gives he would not, because its says MoS does not work on other assassins. I believe most assassins think it does help them detect/avoid other assassins. Thanks.

A: You answered your own question, to some extent :). Sayeth the Oracle: "MoS is for use by archers detecting archers or archers detecting assassins or assassins detecting archers (unless, of course, the archer has Camouflage up). It won't work for assassins detecting assassins because it's set up so that it won't work when both the detector and the dectectee (is that a word?) both have Detect Hidden."

This question is an excellent opportunity for me to point out a small but crucial distinction in my world:

- If you happen to disagree with the above statement, and think that it should work differently, you are welcome to send feedback.

- If you believe that in the game, MoS is working in a different way from what I have said, you should report it in game as a bug.

- But, if it's working exactly as I have reported here, and you don't like it, you should NOT report it as a bug.

Our bug team is always busy, and it would sure help a lot if you could help keep the bug appeals focused on real bugs, and not feedback. Thanks very much in advance for your invaluable assistance.

Q: Where did the /level equipment guys in Tir na Nog go? [These merchants help to outfit our veteran players taking advantage of the /level 20 feature.]

A: Your Patch Queen tells me, "The NPCs are in the following buildings in Tir na Nog: Aetheonyc, Carraent, Gwucyn, and Rhyryn are in the Green Rose Pub. Somyr and Caryan are in Cullin's Inn."

Q: CSR Ithine suggested I send this question for the grab bag, so here goes...... I have 37+14 stealth vanish 2 and Mastery of stealth 3. I was recently surprised by the ability of another stealther to uncover me from what I would consider a great distance. Assuming that person used stealth lore, I used my vanish ability. I believe I evaded that person to a point where line of site would have prevented detection. However that person knew exactly where I was. My question is, does vanish negate stealth lore? And if so, does stealth lore become active again for the remainder of its duration when vanish spell drops?

A: I returned to the Oracle: "Vanish exceeds all detection for its duration. Once the duration of Vanish has expired, normal stealth rules apply - which means Stealth Lore could detect him since Vanish was no longer in effect."

***

The results of the Herald Anthem Contest are in! We're waiting to hear back from our chosen winners (check your email, ladies and gentlemen), but Missy's put up some of the funniest as an appetizer for you to enjoy. The main course will be a cake and ale reception on Pendragon next week, where the winners will be saluted and their winning entries read to all those who attend. (Copy over to Pendragon this weekend if you'd like to attend this roleplay event.) If you can't make it, never fear - we'll post the winners and the runners up to the Herald, and the winning entries will also be featured on an NPC to be located in the main cities of each realm.

Check out the community news page, and remember - that page is for your news and tales. Submit your deeds!

***

GenCon fried my brain. First of all, I love all the people who were, in fact, there with bells on. Second of all, I'm utterly floored by how FAR some of you drove just to be there. And third, what a turnout! This was going to be a small, totally casual gathering. A few hours of chatting, a few beers, a lot of soda, nothing big, remember! I lost count at about a hundred and fifty players, and I know there were more.

One player drove from Canada. Not really-close-to-the-US Canada, either, but 700 miles of driving, Canada. Jason, man, my hat's off to you. I will say your kind gift of genuine Canadian maple syrup got me searched at the airport. Apparently large and interestingly shaped bottles of viscous fluid are a cause for alarm in this day and age, go figure. I wasn't leaving it behind, however, no way no how, so I could do no less than let the security forces of Indianapolis admire the wonders of Canadian syrup packaging.

I had the most *wonderful* time with everybody. I wish I could have taken more time with each group of people, and I feel awful for not making it all the way around the room. You all are the greatest. There is no group of gamers more fascinating, or more charming. As I was telling more than a few of the attendees, I love these events, and putting faces with famous - and infamous - names. It's a privilege to work with you, and for you. I hope to see you all again (or for the first time) in Vegas!

On that note, I'm out. I'll see you Monday.