On or near the first Monday of each month, a new Question Thread will be started.
Reply to this thread with 1 question you have for the team.
Please ask only 1 question per Q&A session. If you ask more than 1, your submission(s) may be deemed invalid.
Do not comment on anyone else’s questionin this thread.If you would like to discuss one of the questions with other members of the community please create a thread for it in the appropriate forum.
Keep the wording of your question simple and to the point. If an explanation is needed, please keep it brief.
Remember our forum rules of civil, mature and constructive feedback.
You may include links to other posts, especially if you’re asking a follow-up question to a previous months' answers.
You may include screenshots, if needed, to clarify your question.
Do your best not to duplicate questions.
Please read through the questions to see what has been asked before you post.
If someone has asked your question, asking it again will not increase the chances of it being answered, even if it's asked slightly differently.
If your question was asked in a previous month and it was not answered, you may ask it again, but understand that the team may not have an answer at this time or ever.
Question Threads will run for 2 weeks.
Generally this will be Monday to Monday, but may differ on holiday weekends or under special circumstances at our discretion. These Question Threads may be ended at any time as well, for any reason.
This thread will be locked at the end of the question session time. The questions will then be collected and submitted to the team.
If you miss submitting your question, please save it for the next month's Q&A session.
Once the thread is locked, do not start new posts for additional questions.
Please do not post new threads asking when answers will be given.
The team will try to pick 10 questions they are able to answer and will return their answers in about 2 weeks.
Please understand that due to the volume of questions and the nature of some questions, your question may or may not be answered, ever.
The actual number of questions that will be answered may be more or less depending on what the team can answer at the time.
Answers will be postedin a new Answer Thread, and a link to it will be posted at the end of the original Question Thread.
If you have follow-up questions, please ask them in the next month's thread.
You may discuss the answers in the answer thread, but do not expect further feedback from the dev team in that thread.
The next Question Thread will be posted on or near the first Monday of the next month. Rinse and repeat.
All dates are subject to change due to holidays and unforeseen events
This week we interrupt your regularly scheduled Community News to bring your the Ask a Dev a Question - May answers!
Can you tell us a little about the AA system you're creating that is supposed to be going in with Pantheon Part 2 (Perhaps with some examples)?
Basic details of the system are that it will be similar to EQ1’s AAs. The details on specific AAs and such I cannot give at this time as we are still working out the details. Here are some bullet points on the system for those of you who are not familiar with EQ1:
Earn AA points by gaining AA xp from defeating NPCs
Three tiers of AAs (General, Archetypical, and Class)
Each tier will unlock after spending a certain amount of AAs in the previous tier
Some AAs will have tiers within with varying costs
How do you justify requiring non IoD characters to spend 7+ months to get the equivalent of the Bracelet of Lucky charms while at the same time not providing any reason for characters who already have the Bracelet to invest the same time?
There is reason for players who have the IOD bracelet to get it. The new charm has slots that the original does not have. This item has potential for growth beyond what they got from IOD. Also the work in KDQ is more for the passive abilities then the bracelet.
How long, on your internal time schedule, did you estimate it would take people to reach level 55 and gain all spell upgrades?
Anywhere from 1-2 weeks to 4-5 months depending on how often someone plays and how much time they spent focusing on leveling.
Are there any plans to merge the vanguard servers in the near future?
Nope.
When will my non-IoD toons be able to get the diplo bracer without having to go to KDQ areas?
No plans for this to happen.
With the recent changes to melee DPS and the proposed changes to rogues for levels 50+, what steps are the devs taking to ensure that forcing rogues to use dual daggers will not have another reduction to their total DPS and will weapon speed be meaningful
Weapon speed is still the same and will more then likely stay that way for a while. Post 50 bonuses should help the rogue stay at a DPS value close to what they are now.
What kind of content do you have planned for Galleons or boats in general other than fishing?
None at the moment.
Will you rebalance and revamp of the classes as some tend to be rather weak such as the monk class?
We have already done numerous class revamps, some of them completely changing the class mechanics. That said we will try to take care of class issues we feel are things that need to be resolved.
What is the purpose of reducing the ranges on all styles of bows?
The purpose was to bring rangers closer in max range to casters where they were meant to be.
What are the future plans for the continent of Kojan in terms of content?
There are no plans for the continent of Kojan as it was developed ot stop at around 20. However the Ulvari, the main threat of Kojan, have spread all over the other two continents and are a key part of the Pantheon story.
If you happen to have questions or concers regarding what is allowed or disallowed on the forums we have the Forum Rules of Conduct posted in the announcements board up at the top of the forum. I've also linked it here http://forums.station.sony.com/vg/p...?topic_id=42125
These are the rules that you must adhere to if you decide that you want to post on the forums and many folks out there are able to do so.
If a rule is broken then you typically get a reason why especially if you are banned as we aren't able to suspend people without a reason.
Moonlite is actually in customer service and hasn't been in the Community Relations department. We're our own entity for the most part. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to let me know and I can help try to clear things up a bit.
Fan Faire is quickly approaching and so is the deadline for pre-registration! Pre-registration will be closing at 11:59 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 16th.
After June 16th, you will need to register at the door. Attendees who register at the door will enjoy all the same benefits as those who pre-regsiter, but the process may take a bit longer and their badges will not be pre-printed.
If you've been waiting to register because your server name is not showing correctly on the registration site, please go ahead and register and pick any (incorrect) server from your game. Then send us an email at fanfaire@soe.sony.com with the subject "Server Correction For My Badge" and include your registration info -- please include your Station ID, your name, your game and the correct server name.
If you're still on the fence, we hope you'll decide to join us! And if you have never been to an SOE Fan Faire this is the year to make the trek to Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas!
SOE is planning a big birthday bash for the EverQuest 10th anniversary, and players of all SOE games are invited to join the party! Fan Faire is a great place for SOE gamers to mix and mingle with each other, and meet some of the faces behind their favorite SOE games. Here's just a taste of some of the great activities we're planning:
Special announcements and sneak peaks of upcoming SOE titles at the Third Annual Community Address from SOE President John Smedley
Autograph signings with members of the original EQ development team and other key contributors
Lots of in-game tournaments
Live, game-themed competitions and quests
Developer forums and roundtables
Cool giveaways and other fun items!
Player of the Year Awards
And, that's just the beginning! Visit the Fan Faire website for more details at www.soefanfaire.com. If you have any questions about Fan Faire, please stop by the official Fan Faire forums.
This week the View from Telon takes a look at a video that highlights the treetop city of Ca'lel Brael. Put to a nice and serene tune you'll get a first hand look at what it's like to fly through this magnificent city.
We are proud to announce this year's Players of the Year!
The team had the torturous task of trying to choose the best out of all the entries that were submitted. It's always a tough job, since we've got so many deserving and creative players.
Our winners this year are:
From EQII:
Bownzer (alts: Bownz, Seelenschrei, Lazyone) from the Crushbone server! You can see the entry made on his behalf at TheBrasse.com!
From EQ:
Palarran from The Tribunal server! Palarran's entry:
Gather 'round the fire my friends To hear a tale of yore By Karana's hand, a druid began He changed Norrath evermore
Palarran Taurina is of whom we speak We’re here to tell of deeds Big or small, he does them all All you have to do is ask, and he helps fulfill your needs
In every guild there is dissension No matter your faction, clique or friends Love them, hate them or indifferent With Palarran’s guiding hand and wisdom friction ends
Dragon kill points need to be updated? Palarran is the man that toils away Need help to get that flag? Palarran is the man who’ll lend a hand, so that here you will stay
Who lives in a knothole in Tunare’s tree? Palarran is the man and he goes meep, meep! Our shining knight… oops druid Palarran is here for keeps
Leaders come and leaders go But Palarran's mettle n'er becomes unfurled A decade later, still playing together <Rest in Peace> will rule the world
Thank you to everyone who entered. You were all amazing! And congratulations to our winners, we look forward to seeing you at Fan Faire!
In this week's Telonian Tribune we're taking a step back so you can check out all the awesome weapons from the Pantheon in one place. In case anyone missed any of the weapons that we featured in the past, this is a great way for you to get caught up and check out all of the weaponry that you'll be able to find in the halls. Enjoy!
Stop in on this thread and submit your top bug for the Player's Choice update. The top submissions, after a vote, will be worled on for the Player's Choice update coming soon to Vanguard. You can submit your own bug in this thread.
Ask a Dev a Question - May [ Poll]
The Poll has officially closed! If you were wondering what the top vote getters were this time around be sure to check in on the vote in this thread.
Telon's Next Top Model
Diamond started up a thread to showcase some pictures of their character in game. Could this be Telon's next top model? Check in on the forums and share what you think in this thread.
Dungeon Plunder!
Remember that one forum game that had all the cities fighting against each other to see which one would be the last one standing? Well this time we're having some fun with Dungeons! Have some fun, and vote for your favorite dungeons this thread.
Are you planning any events to run in game? Be sure to let Raijinn know via PM and we will be sure to feature it in one of the upcoming Community News articles!
Advertise Your Craft in The Classifieds! Do you make the sharpest blades in all of Telon or maybe your trade involves creating finely crafted furniture? If you're a crafter in Vanguard, and are looking for a way to promote your wares, you can advertise in the Vanguard Community News!
The Classifieds aren't reserved just for traders – if you have an in-game event or something else game-related that needs promoting just send a PM to Raijinn titled, “Classifieds” with full-details!
Of course there's typically only a fraction of players who post on the forums. We've seen this time and time again across many games, however we do try to make it a point to leave the communication avenue open so we can provide information to players and also get information from players. You all, by posting, help make the game and community better and I do know that the dev team makes it a point to read over many of the threads out there to find out what else might be going on with the game.
In a poll posted not too long ago the player's decided on what they would like to see in an upcoming update. After all the votes were tallied it was decided that the Player's Choice game update would be one that focused on bug squashing!
We'd like for you to post the bug that you'd most like to see squashed in this thread, similar ground rules to the Ask a Dev a Question thread apply to this thread but here's the official breakdown.
Reply to this thread with 1 bug you would most like to see fixed.
Please submit only 1 bug. If you ask more than 1, your submission(s) may be deemed invalid.
Do not comment on anyone else’s bug in this thread.
Keep the wording of your bug simple and to the point. If details are needed, please keep it as brief as possible.
Remember our forum rules of civil, mature and constructive feedback.
You may include screenshots, if needed, to clarify your bug.
Do your best not to duplicate bugs.
Please read through the bugs to see what has been submitted before you post.
If someone has posted your bug, asking it again will not increase the chances, even if submitted slightly differently.
Player's Choice Update Thread will run for 2 weeks.
This thread will run for 2 weeks, at the end of that time we'll put up a poll so you can vote on the top bugs that you'd like to see fixed.
All dates are subject to change due to holidays and unforeseen events.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry, and it's underway right now in Los Angeles! It's a pretty big deal, and lots of companies use the occasion to make big announcements, show previews of their upcoming games, software and hardware, and talk with convention attendees and the media about their products.
SOE has a booth again this year where we'll be showcasing some of our games that are in the works, as well as some of our tried and true games that we all know and love. It's located right next to the Playstation 3 booth, so if you're one of the lucky ones who gets to attend the conference, be sure to stop by and say hello!
We'll be hosting an incredible event on Tuesday, June 2nd at 4:00 p.m. PDT! The Dares will do a live concert from our booth, which will also be streaming live in Free Realms on the stage at Snowhill! Join us at the booth or in game. It's a world first...you don't want to miss it!
The Sony E3 Keynote Press Conference will also be streaming live from gametrailers.com on June 2nd. Just follow the link to watch it at 11 a.m. PDT.
If you couldn't make it to E3 but you're interested in keeping up with the latest SOE news from E3, we have several folks up there on the scene that will be using Twitter to share what's going on. You can follow our official tweets at the addresses below. We'll be using the hashtags #soe and #e3, if you want to check in on those tags or add your own tweets to the list.
For updates from individual SOE team members, check out who's following @sonyonline and follow familiar faces you see.
Rumor has it there might also be some blog posts from our company insiders while they're at the convention. If we get wind of any SOE blog entries, we'll post them over on our Connecting the DOTS blog throughout the week.
Of course there will be lots of news on the official E3 Insider website, and all over the web at your favorite gaming, tech and industry websites, too. So keep your eyes and ears open for all sorts of news about what's coming soon to a PC, Mac, console or handheld near you! Happy gaming!
In this edition of the View from Telon you get the opportunity to check out a video that takes us adventuring through Jalen's Crossing to see some of the fantastic views from high atop a variety of bridges. Be sure to check this one out!
We'll be giving folks in-game items this year, like we have in the past. What's new, though? For every game they have an active account in, attendees will get an in-game item! So now there is no need to choose between your EQ and EQII character getting the goods. Have a SWG account and a Vanguard account? They can both claim the Fan Faire item!
EQII
SWG
Vanguard
TCGs
LON – physical deck handed out in gift bag
PoxNora – exclusive Fan Faire rune
SWG - The Dianoga Dumpster (item will be given out as loot card)
Free Realms - T-shirt with Fan Faire logo (item will be given out as loot card)
In the latest edition of the Telonian Tribune we're all set to showcase the Warrior weapon set from the Pantheon of the Ancients! Check out this axe that the Warrior's will have the opportunity to pick up and obliterate their foes with, impressive to say the least!
No mention of Vanguard. No suggestion that MXO players try it out. Might make you think SOE were trying to avoid MXO players moving from one sinking ship to another. Add that to Vanguard not being mentioned in the Free Realms email either (see this thread ) and there's either some serious neglect going on or it's a worrying straw in the wind.
Well, you can go even a step further than that. There was no mention of Vanguard at FF for the last 2 years. So, this issue "could" be stemming from all the way back then.
Anyone that knows me, knows that i am no "doom and gloom" maker. BUT, this is a serious red flag. Ok, so now what... WE are the bottom of the flagpole now that MXO is gone? that is worrysome.
Vanguard has some firm ground to stand on still. We're still looking to the upcoming year and what updates we'll be able to fit in, even more Pantheon, and a variety of other goodies.
Locking this thread down, we have to be respectful of everyone's question that was posted on the poll. The poll was created from the questions that the players wanted to see answered, and the questions that we'll answer are going to be the top 10 questions voted by you.
The questions, you've asked them. Now, it's your time to vote for this month's questions that you want to see asked to development. Be sure to vote for the question that you'd most like to see development answer and find out what they have to say in this thread.
Telon's Next Top Model
Diamond started up a thread to showcase some pictures of their character in game. Could this be Telon's next top model? Check in on the forums and share what you think in this thread.
Dungeon Plunder!
Remember that one forum game that had all the cities fighting against each other to see which one would be the last one standing? Well this time we're having some fun with Dungeons! Have some fun, and vote for your favorite dungeons this thread.
Are you planning any events to run in game? Be sure to let Raijinn know via PM and we will be sure to feature it in one of the upcoming Community News articles!
Advertise Your Craft in The Classifieds! Do you make the sharpest blades in all of Telon or maybe your trade involves creating finely crafted furniture? If you're a crafter in Vanguard, and are looking for a way to promote your wares, you can advertise in the Vanguard Community News!
The Classifieds aren't reserved just for traders – if you have an in-game event or something else game-related that needs promoting just send a PM to Raijinn titled, “Classifieds” with full-details!
You have one week to vote on which questions you'd like to see in this month's "Ask a Dev" questions list. If your questions wasn't listed in this poll then the manner in which you submitted your question did not follow the guidelines for the thread.
Note: Most commonly players submitted multiple questions within a single post, those questions have been skipped.
In this edition of the Telonian Tribune we're featuring an awesome weaponry trio for the Shaman class! The weapons are the Focus of Issvia, Issvia's Mace, and the Spirit Shield of Issvia. This weapon set, from the Pantheon, will definitely help out the the Shaman's on their future adventures across Telon.
This Monday, May 25, 2009, SOE will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is a national U.S. holiday, designated as a day to remember those who have died in military service for our country. Some also take time to honor all of their friends and loved ones who have passed on. The National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3 PM local time on Memorial Day.
The day has also unofficially become recognized as the beginning of summer, which is often celebrated with picnics, cook outs, and summer sports and acitivities. We hope everyone has a safe and pleasant Memorial Day holiday!
We're getting closer and closer to Fan Faire... Are you ready? You don't need to start throwing things in your suitcase yet, but it's a good idea to start planning. We've got some advice and tips on stuff to do ahead of time and things you might want to bring with you. (Take it from us. We've done this a few times!)
Please Identify Yourself
Of course you'll need ID for traveling, but it's a good idea to keep it on you at all times at Fan Faire, tucked safely away. You'll need it for checking in to your hotel, procuring adult beverages and gambling if you so choose, as well as for picking up your Fan Faire registration packet. Some of our larger events also require ID and your conference badge for entry, especially our 21+ events.
Another good idea, if you're planning to do any networking or you're meeting up with in-game friends, is to bring business cards. If you're meeting guildmates for dinner or before a panel, you'll probably need to exchange cell phone numbers, and business cards are a handy way to be prepared. (If you don't have business cards, you can always make some yourself and print at home!)
What Did They Say?
Of course we're all going to Fan Faire to have fun, but we're also exchanging a lot of information. Maybe you run a fansite or a gaming blog. Or maybe you're just there to represent your guild and get the latest scoop. Either way, there's a good chance you will be the designated "Information Bearer" for your guild and friends. Attendees are welcome to bring cameras, camcorders and audio recorders to the panels and events. Or if you prefer the good old fashioned way, notepads and pencils are also welcome. (Just be sure to avoid taking your recording devices into the casinos, as that's a sure fire way to draw security aggro!)
Fun and Games!
If you plan to enter the EQ or EQII tournaments, make sure you keep an eye on the EQ Players and EQII Players websites for more information and instructions on prepping for those events, if needed. Details will be coming as we draw closer to the event.
The Community Team is hooked on the Free Realms Trading Card Game! We're bringing some booster packs with us, so bring your decks and any cards you want to trade, and maybe you'll go home with some new stuff!
We'll also be having late-night gaming sessions. Although you won't really need to bring anything for these, do remember to have your Station ID and password handy if you want to log in to play on our computers.
For the truly adventurous types, we will once again be hosting Live Quests for EverQuest, EverQuest II, Vanguard and Star Wars Galaxies! We provide the adventure and gear -- just bring yourself and any teammates you'd like to play with. (Teams are usually limited to 10 people.)
Travel
If you'll be traveling by air, be sure to familiarize yourself with the latest TSA regulations. As of May 15th, they're really cracking down on ticketed names exactly matching your identification, in order to reduce security delays. Also, if you plan on bringing any foods, liquid/gel personal items (shampoos, toothpaste, and even medications) you'll want to know the rules for carry-ons and checked bags.
Speaking of checked bags, your airline might charge an additional fee to check baggage so it's a good idea to look into that ahead of time (you might even be able to pre-pay). And don't forget things like wearing shoes that are easy to remove in the security line, keeping your ID handy to show while you're checking in and going through security, and making sure all your gadgets are charged up so you don't get stuck looking for something to do at the gate.
More Tips
Over at Zam, Calthine has prepared a very helpful list of some things to remember when you prepare for Fan Faire. She has some great tips, and probably some you wouldn't have even thought of, so be sure to give it a quick read before you pack. (Thanks, Calthine!) Our EQII community shared even more advice...like where the closest drugstore is!
There will be Scheduled Server Downtime for a Vanguard Game Update at 5:00AM PDT on Friday, May 22nd. The game should be available again within 4 hours from shutdown.
We have a few emails that will be sent out soon that you don't want to miss! So make sure you're signed up to receive SOE Emails.
What's included when you sign up?
You'll receive the quarterly newsletter for whichever games you select as well as any marketing and promotional materials for those titles, such as account winbacks and special offers.
To make sure you receive the next one, do the following:
Click on My Account on the top bar of any Station page
Click on Change Email Setting
Select those you wish to receive
Click on apply. (If you aren't sure you are getting the emails, click on Make Changes even if you don't change anything, just to refresh the setting.)
There are a couple of reasons you may not be receiving the emails from SOE:
Update your Email Address: An incorrect email address is a common reason for not receiving the emails from the Station. To update your email address, click on My Account, go to email preferences and then click change next to the email address currently assigned to your account.
Email is being blocked: If your email system has a block, junk, bulk, or spam mail folder, you'll want to make sure that it allows email from soe.com [info@soe.com] and The Station@sony.com [station-mailer@sony-online.com] . You will need to check the options, properties, or preferences of your mail system to determine how to set this up, or click here for tips on how to add these addresses to your Address Book.
Options not saved: There's a chance that your options were not set correctly when the system changed over to this system. To fix this, click on the [Clear All] link and click on Make Changes. Then select your options again and click on Make Changes again. That should refresh the list.
Diamond started up a thread to showcase some pictures of their character in game. Could this be Telon's next top model? Check in on the forums and share what you think in this thread.
Dungeon Plunder!
Remember that one forum game that had all the cities fighting against each other to see which one would be the last one standing? Well this time we're having some fun with Dungeons! Have some fun, and vote for your favorite dungeons this thread.
Ask a Dev a Question - May
We recently started up a discussion thread where you can post a question to development. The Community picks the top 10 questions asked in this thread and then you'll find out what development has to say about them. Be sure to check it out and submit your own question in this thread.
First Level 55
So the over-under on the time line for the time it'll take for the first level 55's to appear has sprouted into an interesting discussion on the Vanguard Forums. Stop in and share your thoughts on when we'll start to see some of these max level players on the servers in this thread.
Are you planning any events to run in game? Be sure to let Raijinn know via PM and we will be sure to feature it in one of the upcoming Community News articles!
Advertise Your Craft in The Classifieds! Do you make the sharpest blades in all of Telon or maybe your trade involves creating finely crafted furniture? If you're a crafter in Vanguard, and are looking for a way to promote your wares, you can advertise in the Vanguard Community News!
The Classifieds aren't reserved just for traders – if you have an in-game event or something else game-related that needs promoting just send a PM to Raijinn titled, “Classifieds” with full-details!
Are you planning any events to run in game? Be sure to let Raijinn know via PM and we will be sure to feature it in one of the upcoming Community News articles!
