The Dragon's Neck Dev Update
Hey Everyone -
It's been a couple months since our last update and we figure now is a good time to give a status update on where we're at, and what's left to get done. Before we get started I wanted to shout out to our Internal Testers who have spent many many hours reviewing and re-reviewing content and submitting bug reports along with providing feedback on the core class & combat-focused gameplay elements of TDN to ensure that the experience is as bug-free as possible. We've still got some work to do but things are shaping up quite nicely.
Spell List & Detail Wiki Update
We'd like to extend a massive THANK YOU to JJ who spearheaded the process of updating the TDN wiki with all the spells that have been modified for TDN. If you've been curious about spell balance changes, feel free to swing by your favorite class and review the spell list. Alternatively, you're welcome to jump over to https://www.dragonsneck.com/wiki/Spell-Changes to get the details on all spell modifications.
Development Status Update
Spell Overhaul Status
Most of the last couple months have centered around the spell overhaul. At this point, we are approximately 85%-90% completed with this, bug fixes included. This has been a herculean effort to bring power-parity to spells and effectively balance the various spell levels into our TDN11 environment. Very soon we will finalize the last class that uses spells (in a manner of speaking) which is the Warlock before the final Class-related bugs are cleaned up.
What's Left?
Once Spell Overhaul and TDN11 Classes are fully wrapped, there are only a few remaining pieces for us to validate and 'certify' before we can launch, those are:
- Profession Pass (design pass is done, just need to make implementation changes).
- Pre-Launch System Validation Pass (basically: "does it work as expected?") for:
- Death/Dying
- Stealth
- Banking
- Armor/Weapon Customization
- Factions
- Fame/Reputation
- Housing
- Creature Augmentation
- One last Economy-focused examination (gold / xp rates)
- Heads/Weapon/Shield/Cloak Visual upgrades.
Paladin Oaths & Vows & Elves & Deity
In case you didn't see the update on our Wiki, Paladins now have Oaths and Vows related to their class. For more details as to the implications and benefits of these, jump over to: https://www.dragonsneck.com/wiki/Oaths-and-Vows
Here is a preview of some of the Paladin Class abilities that have had adjustments (Shout out to Lestat for the work on these!):
Call to Glory:
Also! Once upon a time we pulled Paladins back from the Elven race. Well, we've reversed course! Although this had been mentioned in passing a while back, Elves now have the ability to take the Paladin class. This change also brought about a new deity to the Elven Pantheon:
Ynaerala Nuibrar
Description
Ynaerala is said to be petite but almost blindingly beautiful, Her great mass of hair being fiery red dappled with silver. When the elves encountered Her, She wore a dress made of a mixture of autumnal and evergreen leaves and a crown of wild flowers woven with twigs atop Her head. Songbirds can be heard softly singing wherever She is, even when none can be seen.Power Level: Intermediate Deity
Alignment: Lawful Good
Symbol: Silver ring held by four slender tree roots
Serves: Corellon Larethian
Portfolio: The seasons, order, natural cycles
Domains: Good, Nature (Animal), Protection
Worshippers: Elven Paladins, Druids, Farmers, Artists
Worshipper Alignments: Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Lawful Neutral
Favored Weapon: Long Spear
For more information on Ynaerala, visit the Elven Pantheon Wiki page: https://www.dragonsneck.com/wiki/Elven-Pantheon
For specifics on Domains, Alignment, etc, visit the Pantheon page: https://www.dragonsneck.com/wiki/Pantheons-and-Patrons
Server Upgrade
In anticipation of launch, we've invested in improved server architecture to handle the possible server load we could end up seeing upon launch.
Below GHz values represent top-end CPU perf:
Old TDN CPU (Digital Ocean): Intel Xeon 2.3GHz (Used during our first launch)
In-Development CPU (Ionos): AMD Ryzen 5 3.6GHz (Used for the Battle Royale)
NEW Launch CPU (OVH based out of US Virginia): Intel Xeon-E 4.9 GHz
As always, I'd be remiss if I did not express appreciation for every single community member who continues to be patient with our long-term development cycle for TDN. We're right there with you in wanting to get this server launched and we hope to meet and exceed expectations not just with the launch of the server, but also with the speed with which we improve and fix unexpected issues post-launch.
... You didn't think we wouldn't include some eye-candy did you?
Elves
Hoods/Helmets
