but what i mean is time cannot be spend on both at the same time, spending those 1-2 hours on the board game are 1-2 hours that you are not present/active/engaged into ryzom

dev-time and resources spend there could have been spend on the main attraction

Regarding the board game itself, i understand the 'fun' but not the benefit of it, the splitting of players activity/time aside, dev-time and resources spend there could have been spend on the main attraction, i also fail to see how it will attract new players besides circles of friends that likely would have already mentioned ryzom if there was interest among them (i hope), in the case of marketing i have doubts and raise the question why marketing ryzom isn't done more in stead and in the case marketing ryzom is already exhausted i fail to see why the board game would then raise new players in its place.

The person behind this tabletop rpg project is already active in the Lore Team. He is not a developer of the game. So his time wouldn't have been spent on development. Working on a tabletop rpg is a good continuation of the lorist work: it will use the existing lore and extend it.
It is NOT a marketing project too, it's a tabletop rpg that a passionate is making and wants to share it with the community.

Agenda

• Update on recent crashes
• Feedback on the Client's beta tests
• Feedback on Boss refactoring
• Progress on OP refactoring (GvG)

Let's talk a little about the recent server problems, there have been several.
The first problem, the most critical, was quite particular and could crash any Ryzom service. Indeed, a Ryzom server is composed of many services which manage an aspect of the game: the EGS which manages the entities (NPC, creatures, actions, etc...), the IOS manages texts and chats and other smaller services but whose role is also important. Now, the bug could occur in one of these services and up to 2-3 times a day, which depending on the service that crashed could cause chain reactions (and therefore a server that crashes completely). The reason of the crash is a bit technical (I could give more details if needed) but a fix was applied and since then none of the services crashed because of this bug.
Another bug has finally been fixed. This is one of the oldest known bugs in the game. We suspected that it came from the missions and we had a hunch that it only happened with characters returning to the game after a long absence. We were able to investigate this bug because we unintentionally caused it by moving occupations into Kitins' Lair. This maneuver, in fact, unknowingly caused the aliases (identification numbers saved in the character's file kept by the server) of the missions concerned to change. Now, if a mission changes aliases and a player has kept the old alias in the character's save file on his own machine, the server will crash as soon as the character in question is loaded. This is because aliases were not originally designed to be changeable... no one anticipated that some missions would be moved from one continent to another. Finally, this diagnosis made it easier to find and fix the bug and the unfortunate player who was crashing the server every time he tried to log was finally able to join Atys without a hitch.
A third bug has been identified in the IOS, which occurs quite rarely. We made the hypothesis that it occurred when a message was sent by the server on a dynamic chat channel, at the same time as one of the players disconnected and added several checks to avoid this conjunction. For the moment, no new crashes have been reported. We keep an eye on it though.
Finally, the last bugs (which cause slowdowns and huge delays in sending messages) occur when the SU crashes (SU = Shard Unifier, a service especially useful when several servers are running - like Aniro, Arispotle and Leanon - or when Ring sessions are active). We have already fixed one of them, the fixing of another is in progress. We will strengthen the part of SU code that handles database writing.
That's it for the information about the recent crashes. Are there any questions?

See forum.
We need as much feedback as possible, because the timing of the next patch depends on it: the sooner we validate the beta client, the sooner we will patch the new features.
So, are there people who have been able to play with the beta client regularly?

See forum.
What are your feedbacks, especially about the new algorithm of spawn of Bosses?
We would like, indeed, to know if its activation in all regions of Atys is now possible or if it still needs some adjustments.

The project is pretty well advanced.
We are running the last alpha tests and the tests on the test servers (Yubo & Gingo) should start soon. At the moment they are focusing on new GvG outposts in zones 50 and will allow us to determine if the NPC setting is good (it is at its minimum, but fighting a guild and NPCs simultaneously can be a bit of a challenge).
During this GvG test, we will move forward with the rest of the project. Some of the changes that are already ready, such as reducing the duration of battles to 1 hour and lowering the cost of attacks, could be implemented quickly. The rotation of materials and the taking of outposts by hostile NPC tribes would then come in a later phase of project development.
We agreed to give the project a boost over the next two months.

***DEL***

Against the CoC, see: https://en.wiki.ryzom.com/wiki/Ryzom_Code_of_Conduct


I.2. Slander or rumour about a Ryzom Team member or Winch Gate

(Major/Minor offence: depending on the degree, the Support Team will decide on each case)Spreading rumours, false accusations or lies against a member of the Ryzom Team or against Winch Gate, in order to harm them or their reputation or honour, is strictly prohibited.The Support team reserves the right to make appropriate decisions based on the seriousness of the facts.

Agenda

• Update on dev tools
• January patches presentation
• Silan refactoring
• Boss refactoring
• OP refactoring

I'm going to come back to the year 2021, which has been the year of consolidation if you will.

We have indeed updated quite a few things, on the one hand the servers, the webIG and the client code (with the merging of the code of Ryzom Core 4), but also the compilation process which is now based on Visual C++ 2019 for Windows. In addition a tool, Hunter, has been implemented by Nimetu (RT) to compile the whole more easily.

Beyond the tools, the past year has also seen the developer team update its way of working: we now use gitlab more for bugs, communication and patch management and we are very satisfied with it... Wondering why we didn't do it earlier! There is one last thing to do: joining our server and data client repositories with the ryzom-core repository, so that the development process will be even easier.

We have also worked on enriching our collection of generic or model-based systems.This is the case, for example, of the "shops" which are increasingly (and will be in the future massively) used to make items or services available in game (for example, purchases in Elyps, whether from Nations merchants, grooms or Allegory carvers NPCs). This is also the case for the Lessons, which are the basis of the information transmitted to players in-game, as well as for the Encyclopedia window (ctrl+E), which includes the Daily Missions, the Storyline, the future tutorial and, recently, the titles, all of which are (or will be) based on the same model.

As a result, we have (and will have) fewer systems to maintain, thus fewer bugs, and we will be able to concentrate our efforts on three main tasks. Namely:
• completion of the three refactoring projects (Silan, Bosses, Outposts) ;
• Storyline's ongoing and the addition of content that has yet to be completed (e.g. Supreme Tokens);
• bugs' fixing and improvement of the client (by the way, the year 2022 will start with a patch – currently in test – illustrating this point).

As Ulukyn mentioned, one of our goals for 2022 is to improve the player experience through fixing bugs or bettering the client. The first patch of January will do exactly this.

The first change we made was to the system for trading between player characters. More generally, we've tried to improve the process of item trading, because it's not the best at the moment. In addition to changing and simplifying the layout of the trade window, we added two more slots for items. It was mainly the exchanges of jewel sets that led us to this last change.

Another change we've made to the player trade window is the ability to drag and drop items into the window from all of your inventories. This way, if you want to trade items carried by your Zig, you won't have to transfer them to your bag first, thus interrupting the trade to complete it later. Note: In order not to clutter up the item selection window, this one won't show you items from other inventories and this function will only operate by drag and drop.

The final change to the trade window presented to each player is the addition of item bulk and weight indicators. In fact, a small indicator (similar to the one in the upper right corner of your inventories) will be displayed next to both offers, which will show the weight and bulk of the items given and received. All this in the hope of making the exchanges a little more fluid.

Then, stacking of items. Anyone who has fought in PvP knows what it feels like to have an inventory cluttered with crystallized spells. From now on, crystallized spells of the same stanza (or identical stanza) will automatically stack in the inventory where they are stored. As the same clutter currently occurs in the bag of working crafters, identical items produced will now automatically stack in the inventory.

Any questions so far?

Let's move on to fixes.
I have to say that this patch is quite big, so I'm leaving out some small details. You'll get the surprise when the patchnote will be released!

We have a lot of fixes in this patch, especially concerning the Zigs:
• fix of the bug that gave them the wrong status when they were hosted in bags;
• addition of their inventories as tabs in the commercial windows of merchant NPCs;
• addition of the ability to transfer items directly from their inventory to your apartment's and guild hall's inventory;
• fixed the malfunction of locking/unlocking items in their inventory.

By the way, the lock status of items will now be displayed in your apartment and guild hall inventory.

Any questions?

I redesigned the tutorial after several opinions from the first testers, and it is now more intuitive and interactive. The feedback about the first two lessons is quite positive. So I'm going to continue and I hope it will really help new players to get their bearings.

I take this opportunity to remind you that the test team is recruiting. So, if you want to test either the patch implementing the additions to the client, or the first lessons of the tutorial, you are welcome.

Boss refactoring will soon be applied all over Atys Atys. However, the work is bound to continue, though we haven't yet determined exactly what we'll be working on. But we'd love to make hunting for Bosses a most funny activity on Ryzom.

One of the ideas that has come up among us, so that players can escape routine and their tactical skills can flourish, is the one of providing each of the current Bosses their own defense mechanics. That's the idea which originated this refactoring project… and gave it its first name: "Boss in the Box".

If you have other ideas, please feel free to post them in the forum under the meeting report.

Any questions ?

We have been able to make progress on GvG, but its introduction seems interesting only if accompanied by the planned changes on all Outposts.

That's why we are planning to make several changes at the same time. Namely:
• reducing the duration of battles to one hour (already tested in Nexus);
• rotation of raw materials produced by each outpost every N days (to be determined), via server reboot;
• suppression of the production of Q50 and Q100 materials;
• addition of four outposts in level 50 regions for testing GvG battles.

After that, another patch will implement the last changes, as the project is well advanced thanks to the full-scale tests on the Atys server.

Any questions?

Agenda

• Next content patch
  • Rywards store
  • RyzHome
  • Wheel of Fortune
  • Ephemeral Enchantments
  • Storyline Content

So I'm going to talk about the Rywards store which will replace Rykea and the Ryzhome section of the special bag (there are some Ry xD).
Here is a screenshot : https://app.ryzom.com/app_web_assets/assets/694863/Clipboard%20-% 207%20f%C3%A9vrier%202022%2021%2043%281%29.png.
So it is a new page in the shift + E window.
There will be at the same time a list of apartment items classified according to the categories already known via the titles but also collections to complete.
Each completed collection gives rise to a unique reward (always from an apartment).
There will also be the list of items already obtained with a 3D preview.
And information about the number of items in our possession (so duplicates) and how many are in the apartment.

The other particularity of the store is that you will be able to know what you need to get each item.
Sometimes (as on the screenshot) they will only be available in gain via the wheel.
Sometimes as a special event.
And other times it will be indicated which type of ticket is necessary.
Rywards tickets being the most common and generic, they will allow you to buy many items, especially those of other nations.
With sometimes different colors or textures.
Finally, if you have duplicates, you will be able to convert them into Rywards tickets and thus buy items of your choice.
Thus, getting duplicates at the wheel, allows you to convert them into Rywards tickets which then allows you to buy items.
Later on, other rewards will be added to the store.
Such as wigs, outfits or other purely aesthetic items.
We are following different tracks to add cool cosmetic things, like new afk FX, animations, etc ...
Are there any questions, suggestions, remarks ?

Let's go to the next part which concerns Ryzhome and therefore the apartments.
And I will be able to give the proposal of addition.
The idea is to be able to make apartment configurations.
And thus to be able to have several item configurations and to choose the one you want to display.
For example a configuration could contain all the Christmas items.
Another one of Anlor Winn's.

Finally it will be possible to give items to your guild for the decoration of the guild hall.
And thus ... You will have to fill.
Any questions ?
If no questions, let's move on.
But first, a little clarification, it will also be possible with Rywards Tickets to buy supreme tokens for the wheel.
This is quite timely as they will be added soon.
The tokens will allow to win a reward for sure, but obviously, some will be rarer than others.
But the supreme tokens can also be used to buy Rywards tickets, thus making a cycle.
You will then have the choice between playing supreme tokens on the wheel and winning a sure reward, but not necessarily the one you want.
Or convert the tokens into a Ryward ticket and offer you a reward of your choice.
Thus the rewards will no longer be systematically pure chance.
Moreover, in the same way as the apartment items, the duplicates of the items won in the wheel can be converted.
So pieces of zig or mount, wigs, etc ... Do not throw them away, recycle, it's good for Atys !
If you have gift ideas, we are always happy to receive suggestions.
And if you do a little 3D with blender, we can help you to integrate items in the game (under CC-by-SA license with credits to your name or username if you wish).
Any questions ?

And if no question, we move on.
We have just talked about aesthetic rewards, we also have planned more gameplay content.
Starting with the ephemeral enchantments.
These are enchanted spells that can only be obtained from NPCs or buildings.
They can be stacked and will take the same space as the current ones.
When a weapon is enchanted with an ephemeral enchantment, the weapon is fully charged with sap.
And can no longer be recharged.
With each use of the ephemeral enchantment, the charge in sap will decrease without being able to be recharged.
Once the weapon's charge is insufficient to use the enchantment, it disappears.
Thus, let's take the example of an ephemeral enchantment that consumes 300 of sap.
It is applied on a weapon that can have a maximum of 1000 of sap.
The weapon is fully recharged, so at 1000.
You can then use the enchantment 3 times.
There is then only 100 of sap left, the enchantment disappears.
The 100 of sap remain.

Ephemeral enchantments will be either passive or active.
Active, it will be necessary to throw them as the current enchantments and will consume of the sap load with each use.
These are not necessarily only spells that we know, but it can also be a mini aura, an area effect, there is no real technical limitation.
Passive, they will activate themselves each time the weapon is used, like the effects of Tekorn or Vedice.
Moreover, an ephemeral enchantment will temporarily replace the effect of the weapon.
The temporary effects of their operation can be very powerful (but very expensive in sap load and thus limited in their use).
Moreover, the more powerful they are, the harder they will be to obtain.

Currently, consuming items can be quite frustrating.
I am thinking in particular of the switch of enchantments or the constant sap recharge in PvP.
In short, it hurts the hand.
We have evaluated several suggestions to solve the problem.
Today, I present the solution that we consider to be optimal.
The item bar.
Basically, it's a new inventory consisting of 5 slots.
You can put consumable items, such as potions, larvae, etc.
As well as sap recharges or enchantments.
The slots will be displayed in the current equipment window and in its own window (if you want to display it).
There will be configurable keyboard shortcuts for each slot of the bar (to consume/use the item) and the item bar will be integrated with the current item group system.
Here is a screenshot of the draft I am working on.
https://app.ryzom.com/app_web_assets/assets/694863/Clipboard%20-% 20February%207%2C%202022%205%2004%20PM%281%29.png
I took the opportunity to rearrange and center the equipment window.
This one gives you even more information.
https://app.ryzom.com/app_web_assets/assets/694863/Clipboard%20-% 20February%207%2C%202022%205%2006%20PM%281%29.png
(Note that in the second screenshot, the equipment window is not up to date).
I think I have done the tour, are there any questions ?

Let's move on to the last topic.
Before the real last topic.
The storyline will resume its course and also bring new gameplay.
In terms of high level content, as it is the storyline I do not tell more.
But it will be necessary to hurry to have the best components for the best ephemeral enchantments.
And also fill ours pockets with combat potions that do not require you to sit down.
In short, the next patches will be mostly focused on content as you can see.
They will be spread out over the next few weeks and to make it easier for us.
Don't forget the ideas section, which we will try to keep updated and if you want to help, well,
Tamarea will tell you how.

Yes, indeed I will talk about recruitment !
Specifically for the Event, Support and Translation teams.
Event team :
We are looking for volunteers who want to help write event scripts, or who want to become actors by playing a character in the events we play.
The training is assured, and the entry in the acting is done very gradually to leave time to the recruit to take its marks.
Join us to benefit from this unique experience !
To apply, contact Tamarea exclusively at tamarea@ryzom.com
Support team :
We are also looking for volunteers to join the support team to help players in various ways :
- Computer support : help to make the game work properly on Windows, Linux or Mac;
- Technical support : answering questions about the client's use and gameplay issues;
- Bug handling : help players facing a bug, check the bugs reported by the ticket system and then forward them to the Development team;
- Role of tester on the test server;
- Ensures that the rules of the game are respected;
- Moderation of discussion channels, forums and any other media used by Ryzom.
To learn more, please see this post : https://app.ryzom.com/app_forum/index.php?page=topic/view/22047/2 #2.
To apply, contact Tamarea exclusively at tamarea@ryzom.com
Translation Team :
Finally, we are looking for volunteers to translate in-game texts and official announcements into English, German, Spanish, Russian, French, and to proofread texts in
these five languages.
To apply, contact Tamarea exclusively at tamarea@ryzom.com
If you have any questions about recruitment, you can also contact me on chat.ryzom, I will be happy to answer them !
That was the last topic for today !
Thanks to all, and good game on Atys !

Agenda

• Patch on March, 7th
• OP refactoring
• Recruitment