Dungeons And Dragons Online: Weekly Development Activities (July 5 2006)

Samera has posted this week's Weekly Development Activities on the official forums:

In QA
These items are in QA and should be a part of the Twilight Forge Module. Please note: this list is still a work in progress and should not be viewed as final.

Performance

* NEW - Xbox 360 controllers will be more responsive to player input. In particular players will now be able to run at full speed.

UI Improvements

* NEW - You will be able to turn "loot spam" off if you want.
* NEW - Players will be able to enter up to 256 characters into the chat bar before having to start a new line.
* We are adding Guild Names! They will be visible under player names.
* Party Member names will be distinguished from other player names by color.
* The colors for names of party members, other players, npcs, and monsters will be able to be changed.
* Displayed damage values for sneak attacks and critical hits will appear in a distinctive fashion.
* Hostile monsters names will now appear in a configurable color (default red). Friendly or neutral monster's names will look like NPCs names rather than hostile monster's names.
* "Accept Choice" is no longer mapped to the number pad enter key by default. Existing players will still have this mapped to the number pad enter key and will need to change the setting on their own if they wish to unmap it. "Accept Choice" is intended to be what you use to answer "yes" to dialogs in the game. This change will prevent players from accidentally releasing from their body when they did not wish to.
* When dragging items over the equipment slots in the UI, they will only highlight if the slot is compatible with the item. In addition, whenever you select an item, all of the compatible inventory slots will be highlighted.
* The latency meter will be located in the main menu bar. Also, the latency meter will no longer want to be on top of everything (tooltips, for example).
* Apostrophes and spaces will once again be allowed in player surnames and guild names.
* The player biography panel will be adjusted to allow for more punctuation and printable character types.
* The alive/incapacitated/dead state of members of your fellowship will update properly even when your group members are far from you.
* The tooltip for feats will display how many times you have acquired the feat if you have acquired it more then once.
* The tooltip for "Sneak Attack" will display how much extra damage you cause when performing a sneak attack.
* Correcting a text error with the tooltip for Greater Bane items that improperly states that Greater Bane is a +2 bonus instead of a +4 bonus.
* Alerts for "Missing Spell Component" will now list what the missing component is.
* The "/help alias" description of the /alias command is being updated to properly reflect /alias' capabilities.
* There is now an option to ignore all guild invites.
* Guild invites from squelched players will now be ignored.
* The correct error message will now be displayed if your guild invite expires.
* If you die from constitution damage you will no longer have an ability damage icon appear on your screen after you have resurrected.
* In order to explain the death penalty more clearly, the Death Penalty tooltip will be changed to read "You are significantly below the minimum amount of experience points required for your level. Your maximum hit points and spell points have been reduced, and you suffer a penalty to your attack rolls, saves, skills, and caster level."
* When you hover over the icon for items in your inventory, shops, chests, and reward UI, you will receive the examination information in a tooltip. This is in addition to the current method of examination (using the "z" key or the magnifying glass on the focus orb).
* The effect descriptions will be displayed directly upon examination, you will no longer need to hover over the effect names to get the descriptions from a tooltip.
* We are fixing a display issue where players who are wearing a +Con item or are under the effect of a +Con spell during level advancement see an incorrect increase to hit points.
* The "Play this Character" button in character generation will be renamed to "Create this Character" to more accurately describe what the button does.
* Pressing the "Default" button at the bottom of the options panel is incorrectly setting Engine Speed to "Very Low". It will be fixed to correctly set it to "Very High".
* NEW - Ctrl-k will no longer bring up the UI diagnostic screen.

General

* NEW - The dwarven racial save bonus against magic effects will work against bestow curse.
* We are adding a new emote into the game! You will soon be able to /eat.
* You will now be able to log out while incapacitated.
* You will no longer be able to be both exhausted and fatigued; exhaustion will remove and block fatigue.
* The upper limit of 40 on skills will be removed.
* We are changing the way "Over Time" spells and effects work. The intervals will be closer together (i.e., 2 seconds instead of 6 seconds), but will do less damage/benefit during each interval. There will be no change to the total amount of damage/benefit, this is purely a change to how the damage/benefit is spread out over time. This change also applies to the way lava does damage over time.
* Owing to their construct nature, Warforged will find that they are able to hold their breath under water significantly longer than they could before.
* Human males are being given a more "manly" run.
* You can no longer hear the sounds of dead party members running along with you.

Combat

* NEW - Repeating crossbow users rejoice, the machinegun issue will soon be gone.
* NEW - The "no dice shown when attacking a fire reaver" bug should be fixed; it caused an intermittent problem (with all monsters, but particularly noticeable with fire reavers and ice flensers) where you would make a melee swing, and see no dice, combat chat, or damage.
* All enemy trip and knockdown attacks (including Grease) will give the player a reflex save attempt every 2 seconds for the duration of the knockdown. This mechanic is most likely changing again in the future.
* Ranger's favored enemy bonus will now apply a +2 to the bluff skill against favored enemies.
* All races will be able to cause damage when they attempt to attack while sneaking with a shield.
* The display for your party member's HP/SP bars will refresh more frequently.
* We are fixing a display issue where the damage over time component of Slicing Blow isn't displaying properly (please note: the DOT is occurring properly, it just isn't displaying properly.).
* We are fixing a display error that sometimes causes the damage numbers over your target's head to be incorrect when a sneak attack is performed while the precision attack feat is active.

Enhancements

* Warforged with Improved Fortification will no longer be healed, even if they have taken the "Healer's Friend" enhancement.

Items

* NEW - We are fixing a bug that causes some bracers to be created without their intended effects.
* NEW - Light Hammers will get the benefits of Weapon Finesse Feat.
* NEW - Potions of Remove Fear will now actually remove fear effects. The potion retains its bonus to saving throws vs Fear.
* Common collectables will have their stack sizes increased to 99.
* Wizards and Sorcerers will have a greater chance to receive Damage Amplification modified weapons as part of NPC-based quest rewards.
* Scrolls for Death Ward and Ball Lightning will be added to the game.
* Outsider-Chaotic, Outsider-Lawful, and Outsider-Evil Bane effects will function correctly on the appropriate monsters.
* We are adding Immunity special effects to treasure effects (for example, Proof against Poison).
* The Kundarak Warding Shield's minimum level requirement will be changed from level 2 to level 10 for shields looted after this change goes live.
* Any wand offered as a quest reward will now be fully charged.
* We have fixed a display error in the description text for mithril armor where the text stated that mithril armor was a medium armor instead of a light armor. This was a text error only and will not change performance.

Spells

* NEW - Icestorm will no longer hit people for extra damage (you will be hit once for cold damage and once for bludgeon damage, but previously you were being hit twice by both.)
* NEW - Melf's acid arrow will not invoke spell resistance.
* NEW - Shout will no longer have deafen as one of its effects.
* Jump spell bonus will increase to 20 at 5th level and 30 at 9th level.
* The Phantasmal Killer spell will include a will save to disbelieve and completely negate the effects (this will bring it in line with the Player's Handbook 3.5 rules).
* We are fixing a problem where the Flame Arrow spell can fail based upon your spell resistance.
* We are fixing a problem where holy smite is not properly stunning evil creatures.
* Lightning bolt and flaming sphere would periodically hit targets more than once. This issue will be fixed.
* The Divine power spell is being fixed to properly apply the correct amount of temporary hit points to its target.
* We are fixing the Bard song "Inspire Greatness" and the spell "Greater Heroism" so that their greatness effects will no longer prematurely end when the bonus temporary hit points are used up.
* Melf's Acid Arrow is having its look and effects changed so that it appears bigger and brighter.
* We are fixing an issue where if you've been hit by multiple blindness spells, all of the spells would end as soon as the first spell expired. Now your full sight won't be restored until the final blindness effect has ended.
* The "doom" spell will now properly give you a -2 to your attack rolls (as per D&D rules).
* Having the benefit "Improved Heightening" will no longer give a discount to spells that are already maximum level.
* The poison spell will now show immunity effects if cast on an immune target.
* When you resist a spell due to an item of spell resistance, it will now send feedback to the combat chat tab.

Monsters

* NEW - Skeleton Arcii will be slightly easier to turn.
* NEW - Monster Drow will no longer be caught sleeping, as elves do not sleep.
* NEW - We are fixing a problem with the animation for tripped/knocked down monsters. This is an animation issue only.
* We are adjusting several monsters' vulnerability to light. Ghouls, wights, skeletons and slimes will no longer take extra damage from light. On the other hand, Vampires will be more vulnerable to light.
* The Beholder's Scorching Ray eyebeam will function properly. Beholders will also no longer be able to shoot through walls. Dead beholders will no longer emit antimagic fields. Vorpal weapons will no longer effect Beholders.
* The alchemist fire thrown by kobolds will have a reflex save for half damage instead of having the regular to-hit roll.
* We are making some adjustments to Fleshrender, Ice Flenser, and Fire Reaver AI's.
* Storm Giant's arrows will no longer disappear before being fired, and will also now fire from their bow.
* The Guardian of the Seal of Shan-to-Kor will now be less likely to walk on top of people (float) during combat.
* Xorian skeletons will no longer be immune to fire.
* Casting "Blind" on Velah the Dragon will have no effect.
* When a wraith kills something that is already undead, it will not spawn a new wraith.
* Icestorm will have the proper visual effects when cast by troglodytes, kobolds, and hobgoblins.
* We are fixing a bug that is incorrectly inflating trolls' vulnerability to poison. In conjunction with this fix, we are also raising the strength and damage capabilities of trolls and ogres on the "hard" and "elite" settings.
* NEW - Monsters will no longer look like they are "moonwalking."

NPCs

* NEW - The Brothers and Sisters of the Silver Flame stationed in Taverns to resurrect fallen heroes will also cast several curative spells for a small donation to the Church. The spells available are Remove Curse, Remove Disease, Remove Blindness (if you can find your way to the tavern), Restoration and Heal. Those the Church of the Silver Flame feel are Reclaimed will be given a significant discount.
* Henda Boulderbreaker will actually pay you if you win your gambling game.
* All vendors in House Jorasco once again give price discounts for finishing the Delera's Tomb storyquest.
* Many dungeon-based NPCs will only converse with one player at a time. This will alleviate a number of quest NPCs who might toggle a door or item twice in succession due to multiple conversations taking place simultaneously.
* Any open conversations with an NPC will be closed when a player recalls out, to ensure player and NPC don't get locked.

Quests

* Party members will not be able to leave their party while in a dungeon. If you wish to leave your party you will first have to recall to a public space.
* Attempting to abandon a story arc quest will alert the player that they will be abandoning multiple quests (and will list these quests).
* NEW - Bonebite Hideout
o The ogre's kobold friends will always arrive to help defend him.
* Caverns of Korramar
o NEW - The Ability scores DCs required to complete certain objectives in Caverns of Korromar are being removed. Characters of all classes will be able to complete the main objective.
o A chest will have its loot table adjusted upwards.
* NEW - Delera's Tomb
o The Skeleton Arcii located near the omaren pugilist will no longer respawn.
* NEW - Gambler's Den
o The boss will not be able to respawn.
* NEW - Ruins of Threnal
o A particularly nasty colony of glass spider queens is moving in to the South Threnal caves and, in the process, will chase away many of the slimes that are residing there.
o The beholder objective will be clarified to indicate the beholder in the caves.
o The objectives for "acquiring the silver and jeweled keys" will be changed to "opening the doors" requiring those keys. Each door will have a lockpick skill set on it. A party with a talented rogue may advance by picking those doors, a party without may advance by finding the keys.
* Sharpwood's Warehouse
o You will have to complete all objectives in order to finish the quest.
* Sorrowdusk Island
o NEW - Hragg will have a quest chalice above his head when appropriate.
o NEW - The hellhound encounter will no longer respawn.
o NEW - The Cultist encounter will no longer respawn.
o Fane of the Six
+ Sear will no longer respawn.
o Grey Moons Den
+ Hammerfist will no longer count towards the kill trolls objective.
* Stormcleave Outpost
o Killing 50 minions is now a required objective
* Tear of Dhakaan
o The Warmage will always spawn.
o Karnat Thaar will have the appropriate quest chalices over his head.
* NEW - Tempest Spine
o An optional quest is being adjusted so that the chest will only appear once you have killed the mini-boss.
* NEW - Temple of Vol
o We are improving the graphics performance for this dungeon.
* Three-Barrel Cove
o Fixed a bug where both Red Tom and Rosie the Jinx weren't giving players the option to repeat their quests.
* NEW - Xorian Cipher
o An optional quest rune will be moved for consistencies sake. This will not change the difficulty or nature of the quest.