Q4 2023 Patch - Touchdown

[Davairus]

General

* Level gains now use the character's max stats instead of current stats to determine hp/mana/move gains.
* Static hp/level gains are now an available option at creation. Characters created prior to the patch can write a note to immortal if they want to opt-in for static gains. - grayden wish
* All cabals gained a way to deposit cabal currency. - dogran wish
* The return of HARDCORE mode (one life only for the character) with confirmation before level 10. - blackwidow wish
* A new option has been added to prompt, %e, allows the user to track whether some of their enhancements are active or not.

Background Updates

by using the new "background protect" command, backgrounds can be made private (imms only) unless the player reveals them. Exceptions are:

(a) deleting the character
(b) posting a cabal app (visible only to the senior ranks in the cabal that was applied to)
(c) "went public" (allowed a herald to interview them, making it visible to the heralds)

This update also include a new "interview" command for heralds.

Description Updates

* New command: extend - adds support for extensions to descriptions for player characters. requires a second argument to view them e.g. "look rockwort arse". it will color the word in the desc as well.

Religions and tattoos

*There's now a trickle of reputation available for being logged in 30 mins.
* Becoming an acolyte (pledging self) now requires gaining 1000 reputation i.e. friendly reputation with the deity you want to permanently follow. an easy quest has been added to facilitate this. it just requires getting your description approved by an imm (waived for reputable account) and then walking to the shrine of the god you want to pledge to.
* Once pledged, you can immediately tattoo at the shrine if you want. note however, that the tattoo is colorless at pledge level. in order for it to be colored and cast spells, the character must gain additional reputation needed to be an adherent. unlock honored and then the tattoo will start doing its thing. -- kalist wish
* Also, for those of us who do not like being fully naked. I added a new tatt parlor in seringale. you can buy tattoo for any slot, wear gear over it. so if you are fully looted, you would still have your tattoos. This needs to be fleshed out a bit more, we'll circle back over the next weeks.

Areas

* created new end-game area "The Black Pyramid" - this is suggested for at LEAST 45-50, probably need a group to push deep into the pyramid - mogu wish

Mobs

* Cityguards and certain other mobs now patrol around fixed paths. (not unlike the black wizard in grimforge, but differently implemented)
* Tweaked levels and difficulty of tainted valley archer/squire for a more stream-lined levelling experience for evils. - solmundi wish
* Added a mob named "Glorbag" that randomly appears and steals the loot from fallen Winter bosses. You have 1-2 ticks to chase him down and kill him or the loot disappears. - Arunore wish

Items

* Equipped orderly items reduce the bonus damage from wild attacks. - olyn wish
* Added warforge to warlords cabal. - ancient szrevan/tearea wish
* Updated spice effects to add a tolerance and changed the actual affect a bit. - phostan wish
* Psi enhance now appears in the codex (this might require an imm to touch the item to invalidate the ID thats in the codex). - Andrael wish
* It is now possible to brandish orbs to cast defensive spells on minions. - scrynor wish
* It is now possible to recite ALL scrolls while in combat. previously, this was just scrolls that did cures. - dalero wish
* When buying decks at magewares store in timaran, it preferentially pulls cards you havent solved. - merlandox wish
* Flat regen affect bonuses are no longer stacking, instead it will just take the largest bonus, similar to savebreak.
* High tower enchanter is now a level 25 enchant for 50 relic. seringale forgemaster is closed for refurbishments.
* There have been some adjustments to max level saves and savebreak items.

Races

* Jotun - updated the material vuln to obsidian instead of stone.
* New race jagar - its a jaguar-human hybrid. see help JAGAR. jagar camouflage patterns affect how well they can camo or hide based on terrain types.
* new race void-elf (Rangers only), more details below in the ranger's section.

Classes

Warrior

* Reworked athleticism to instead reduce movement costs in difficult terrain, instead of regen buffing.

Berserker

* Ancestry now just checks align/ethos more simply, instead of making confusing element checks to allow you to pick your primal deity. This way a storm berserker can roll chaotic but pick Sarich, for instance.
* Headbutt dizziness now prevents monks from healing themselves until it has worn off.
* Headbutt duration is now operationally round-based, (i.e. more like dirt kicks), but will strip if they headbutt their opponent twice.
* Added pixie berserker, - varliv wish

Ranger


*added a new magical fighter hybrid : void-elf ranger -- ceridwel wish

[ivindel]

I suggest for Athleticism to be moved to a lower level instead of 47, since it sounds like it works similar to pathfinding now. Getting pathfinding for the highest level skill for a warrior just feels meh.

[Davairus]

OK. I've moved it to lvl 28.

[Grayden]

Thank you.

[Xenyar]

Jotuns...obsidian? Nice buff for jotun since there isn't shit for obsidian weapons that I can recall

[Dogran]

Certain items that were other materials and made sense are now obsidian. Plus new area is a good way to introduce new items.

[BlackWidow]

The jotun vulnerability change also means that the heavy tomahawk is no longer a good anti-jotun weapon since it is made of granite.

Also, technically speaking, obsidian is a volcanic glass (according to both Google and the Britannica website). Doesn't one of the jotuns in Redhorne wear the obsidian plated arm guards???

[Davairus]

There are several ways in which Resatimm's "redhorne mountain" challenges the rest of the game's lore. As it is artistic license, I'm not deeply worried about it. They are not the same jotuns that players create. Since Resatimm is the god of ice, he gets to say he granted those jotuns the ability to withstand fire and wearing obsidian. He handwaved it. He could have come up with something else, too, but that's what he went wiht.

[Mogu]

Love this patch. So much here! Really appreciate all your hard work to keep this game continuously evolving and rather quickly at that.

Thank you, Dav, and everyone else who helped!

[Rothak]

How does the Jagar hide/camo work? Do they gain a skill for those skills?

[Ashlyn]

You have to be ranger or thief for the patterns to impact it I think

[Davairus]

The camo patterns affect hide/camouflage intuitively, and it may help or hinder. Consider whether it is going to match the terrain type. If you take plain camo, that's likely the best option for thieves.. cities and roads have fairly plain landscapes without much patterns. A stripey jagar would be standing out like a sore thumb there though. If you are a ranger, you'll probably want one of the other ones. Anyway, its not a huge factor either way. I made an action item to remind myself to add explanation into the creation screen where it is selected.

[Ozaru]

Please post what the static hp gains would be.

[Ashlyn]

Static hp gains are super amazing. Its not necessarily the same hp and mana every level. It divides it up to get to specific numbers at 50 I think. For example i've had a character that gets 12hp 14mana and every couple of levels only gets 11hp

[Dogran]

Oz it just averages it. If you choose not to use the feature, you have a chance of ending up with less hp, or more hp. It just depends on the luck of your rolls. Or you can have the same hp across the board for each same race/class combo you make etc.

[turningpoint]

The void-elf sounds neat; how does one get a reputable account? Does it take a long time? Or is it meant to be a secret?

[Dogran]

It's not hard to get a reputable account, but only a few people can assign one. If you have had a few 50's and have kept your nose clean, been consistent, etc you can post something about it in the ask an immortal section.

[Davairus]

TP you have a reputable acc.

[Ceridwel]

Epic patch! Thanks Dav.

[Rothak]

Was hoping to see Jotun warrior in this list! Oh well, it's still a great patch.