Ryzom Forge meeting report – August 31th, 2020
1 - HD texture update
Xelios et Jelathnia (Infographics Team) – 19:38 UTC
Project description note: https://cloud.ryzom.com/f/159212
(The links on this note don't work, but you can find more comparison screenshots here: https://imgur.com/a/Kx33JTO)
At this stage we have a good baseline for texture replacement and we work mostly on specific types of textures that require special attention.
Q : Is it possible to test these HD textures on our computer?
A: Yes it is possible, but for the moment our work must remain in the team, as it is not finalized and the tests to verify its holding in the game are still to be carried out. You could download the PNG files and put them in your User folder, but they are not compressed, so the performance impact (if you see any) will not represent the final version. In addition, some have been modified locally but have not yet been uploaded to the server. Finally, they need to be converted to DDS format to be used by the game.
Q : Would the PBR textures available under Creative Commons on Texture Haven website(https://texturehaven.com/) be interesting for your work?
A: Yes and no: these textures do not fit with Ryzom's artistic direction but some of them could be useful as partial superimpositions in some cases.
2 - New billing service
Tykus (RT) – 20:03 UTC
Service description note : https://en.wiki.ryzom.com/wiki/New_Billing_Service
The new billing service, developed by Ulukyn, is implemented this week.
SirCotare contributed by creating the interface at the website level.
Q: Will all Worldpay subscriptions need to switch to Xsolla? And if so, within what timeframe?
A: Yes, within a month. Starting in October it will no longer be possible to pay your subscription via Worldpay (that's why the Worldpay option is missing from the interface of the new billing site) but current subscriptions paid via Worldpay will remain active.
b]Q: But don't we have to change the system in three days?
A:[/b] It actually depends on the end of your subscription, but you can change right away, the remaining days will be carried over.
b]Q: Does the price of subscriptions remain the same?
A:[/b] Yes.
b]Q: Nice layout... but would it be possible to have the date of creation of our account displayed again?
A:[/b] Yes, we'll add it on the next update.
3 - Multiboxing
Tamarea (RT) – 20:25 UTC
Our goal is to limit the gameplay impact of the multi-alts gaming as much as possible.
To achieve this, we will act in two steps: an update of the Code of Conduct and a progressive chanhe in the gameplay.
1 - Short-term action: updating the Code of Conduct
• Limit multiboxing to two accounts connected simultaneously during outpost battles, Bosses hunts, assaults on Marauders Chiefs and Storyline scripted events. In case of abuse, send a screenshot showing the violation to Support.
• Tolerance of multiboxing up to four accounts connected simultaneously in other cases: leveling, roleplay, etc.
2 - Medium and long term action: modification of the Ryzom gameplay
We're working on changing the gameplay little by little to limit the advantage of multi-alts over Bosses, Marauders Chiefs and Storyline scripted events.
This is the expected outcome of the two projects presented below, Bosses refactoring and Outposts refactoring, but also of the future scripted missions of the Storyline.
Q: When will the amended Code of Conduct be published (implemented)?
R : During September and you will be notified before then.
4 - Bosses refactoring
Namcha (RT) – 20:37 UTC
The main objective of this project is to reduce the gameplay impact of Boss camping, including the one practiced via multi-alts.
Project description note : https://cloud.ryzom.com/s/sHtn43WJiwtxrBN
I need to clarify or underline some of the points made in this note:
• In a given region, only Bosses of one of the species already inhabiting the region will be able to spawn (the program controlling the pop of Kings will use a file listing the species inhabiting each region). As a consequence :
– if many new Bosses will pop, some of the current ones will not pop anymore, such as Madakoo (since no "common" madakam lives in the Prime Roots ecosystem)… but other versions of the madakam Boss will pop on the surface) ;
– contrary to what the note indicates, there will be no Raguketh 270 popping since no ragus inhabits the 250 region of the Desert ecosystem.
• Bosses logically non-existent by the above rule, whether they exist (such as Madakoo, for example) or not at present, will exist later on to "animate" OOC or scripted events (Storyline). Thus, Madakoo will not completely disappear…
• … Nor, for that matter, the materials collected from these lost Kings who today fill your Guild Hall.
• The refactoring responds to the objective stated above in that it will result in a significant increase in the number of possible popping spots of Bosses per region, thus making it difficult to predict which spot in a given region (now hosting, moreover, a greater diversity of Bosses than today) will see the next Boss of a given type pop.
Q : Will there be new Bosses?
R : Yes, but they will be new variations of Kings by region rather. If a given species exists in a region, that region is likely to host a Boss specimen of that species.
Q : Will the list of Bosses in the wiki (https://en.wiki.ryzom.com/wiki/Bosses_of_Atys) be updated?
R : Yes, most likely, by the volunteer players who contribute to the wiki.
Q : What about Bosses currently popping on one one spot only, such as Bodokin, Cratchakin, etc.?
R : The particular program that manages them today will not be changed: they will continue to appear, at the same location.
Q : Will there be a frippo Boss?
R : Logically, a frippo King 120 should exist, yes.
Q : Will there be new Bosses on Silan?
R : No, Yubokin will remain the only King of Silan.
Q : Can a Boss pop simultaneously in several regions and/or several ecosystems?
R : There is little chance of this happening. Since a Boss is placed at the "bottom of the stack" when popping, it should not return anytime soon.
Q : Could two Bosses of the same name (i.e. of the same species and ecosystem) but of different levels – for example Izaketh 120 of Oflavak's Oasis and Izaketh 170 of the Dunes of Exile – pop simultaneously in their respective region of the Desert?
R : Again, it is unlikely to happen: a Boss' placement at the bottom of the stack is independent of his level and host region.
Q : Will two Bosses of different ecosystems but of the same species and level (Raguketh 220 and Ragukin 220 for example) be able to pop simultaneously in their respective ecosystem?
R : Yes, with good chances this time.
Q : What about rare kitins? Will Kidikoo disappear? Will Kizarakoo appear?
R : If we let the system work, yes. But Kizarakoo, for example, is still under discussion within the team (shouldn't such a kitin be reserved for an event ?)
Q : If a Boss of a given level (e.g. Izaketh 170) pops (and gets killed) will the next King of the same name to pop be of another level (e.g. Izaketh 120) or not?
R : Yes, the next tests should verify that the system will rotate the levels of the same King at its successive pops.
Q: What about Cratchakyo, which has been on hold for some time?
A: This one was a scripted King, yes... It will stay on hold for some more time.
5 - Ouposts refactoring
Tamarea & Namcha (RT) – 21:26 UTC
The aim of this project is to revitalize outpost battles by restoring interest in all POs, by having them change owners regularly and by diversifying the types of combat. It will also reduce the gameplay advantage of multi-talts.
Project description note : https://cloud.ryzom.com/s/pCP3JJgBrrMCgip
Some points to emphasize here again:
• All outposts, regardless of their level (which will remain unchanged), will produce either Q150, Q200 or Q250 materials.
• No guild will no longer be allowed to keep an outpost for the sole purpose of enjoyment (if any) of its possession.
• To remember: outposts will change hands much more often and regularly than in the past!
Q : "Change owners regularly"... Does this mean that we will be forced to abandon our "home" even if those who covet it are defeated in each of their attacks? With no chance for us to defend it ?
R : Yes this can happen; in this case the outpost will be taken by NPCs. But it will have begun to produce other materials anyway.
Q : In the case of GvG OP battles, is there anything scheduled to prevent the temporary recruitment in the conflicting guilds of members of their allied guilds?
R : Two solutions to address this issue are currently being studied to evaluate their respective side effects:
1 • Authorize temporary recruitment by capping the number of combatants
2 • Make the right to fight subject to a minimum seniority in the guild.
In any case a GvG battle (an option which, incidentally, will not be available immediately) must not be identical to an FvF battle.
Q : How will the type of OP battle to be fought be decided?
R : By clicking on the OP when launching the attack. But the number of GvG attacks per guild will be capped.
Q : Won't the new system only favor the big guilds by allowing them to attack in GvG the small ones that have become incapable of benefiting from the help of their allies?
R : It is true that one of the objectives of the refactoring is to prevent single-member guilds from holding OPs. But, as far as small guilds are concerned, the extent of the damage will also depend on the capping of the number of GvG battles and they will still have the opportunity to conquer OPs through GvE, knowing that OPs thus conquered will not be able to change owner again during the following two weeks.
Q : "GvE: Guild vs NPCs to win the OPs taken by NPCs"… What kind of NPCs will these be?
R : Homins for sure, but the possibility of also having kitins was evoked (and submitted to the developers for consideration).
Q : An OP may be held for its faction by a small guild that has received it as a reward for its help and then takes over the work of extracting and redistributing its materials. If the OP is taken through "easy" GvG by a large adverse guild, the faction will be the one that suffers. Shouldn't the faction, therefore, be allowed to help defend it?
R : If solution 1 above is chosen, the faction will be able to help. If not, it may indeed be necessary to review the organization of the factions.
Q : As all OPs will produce materials from Q150 to Q250, an OP in Fount, for example, will be able to produce exactly the same materials as one in Flaming Forest?
R : Each OP, regardless of its level, will indeed be able to produce materials of all three qualities, but the materials production rate of OP of a given level will be higher than that of OP of lower level.
Q : How will materials and owners rotations be done? At fixed or random intervals? All together or staggered over time?
R : All together (server reboot), at an interval of two and a half to three months IRL, but the exact date will be random. Many mechanisms remain to be specified, however, regarding rotations: they will be detailed to you in a future meeting.
Meeting closed at 22:05 UTC
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