A Glimpse at Production 3/25/05
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:06 pm
The glimpse of production is some space I use to bring to your attention some of the current production works - meaning, what the devs are currently working on. Read the patch release process to better know how we work afterwards to introduce the changes into the live version of the game.
Our current focus is on a general spring clean on the game; the next step when we will be finished here will be the preparation of the chapter III, which will introduce the outposts in Ryzom.
I] Inventories
Place in inventories (bag, mektoub and guild storage) are limited by two factors : bulk and slots. Each item has a given weight and size (the bulk), and the maximum you can carry is dependant on your character. The second factor, the slot limit, is the same for everyone; it is set at a little more than 250 right now. We are working in increasing this second limit, to allow you to store more items when the bulk limit is high : it will be doubled to set the limit at 500 slots. We will increase this technical limit as needed, to allow you to only be limited by bulk.
While we are at it, we are also increasing the number of items of the same type you can stack in one given slot. Right now, you can only stack 99 items on one slot; this limit will now be 999 items. That should be enough for the near future.
II] Potion-like consumables
The implementation of potion-like items has been requested for quite some time now, so we are in the process of adding them to the game. I say 'potions', but in fact it's a little more than that : it will be different types of consumable goods, from the traditional healing item to some rare types of vegetables with unkown effects... This is a semi-major feature, so it won't be implemented on one row, but the early version is already quite advanced. It shouldn't last long before you actually see some in-game.
III] Rites
Here is the current status of the rites being produced :
* On the ATS / internal tests : 12 rites are available for tests.
* On leveldesign : 17 rites are prepared for the next branch creation, while leveldesigners are still busy creating new rites. 21 rites have been added since the news from the devs article; so a total of 91 rites are currently being tested in-house.
At the first stages of the ATS tests, there was subtle bugs which were handled on a case by case basis by leveldesigners; since the launch of chapter III, coders have started to work systematically on leveldesign issues to improve the tools they use. As a consequence, leveldesigners are currently re-working six of the first rites to adapt them to a new internal structure.
IV] /random command
A new command is being added, to give you the ability to generate a random number of your choice - like what you get by rolling a dice. The main goal here is to provide you with a good way of choosing between options of equal value or ending disputes - such as "who will get that uber-loot ?", or "who will go fetching some stuff in the guild appartment?".
To use it, you will just have to type '/random <min> <max>' to get a random number between <min> and <max>, or simply '/random <max>' to use the default minimum of 1.
V] Mouse selection precision
Currently, when you face a big creature and want to select a small one behind with the mouse, you can run into some troubles, since the selection area for the big creature is overlapping the smallest one. So the mouse selection mechanisms are being modified, to make it more precise : even if you are only able to see one pixel of the small creature behind, you will now be able to target it.
VI] Event - Jena's commandements
The rumors were proved right : Jena's Commandements have been revealed by the Karavan to their followers.
Be sure to check the roleplay forums to know more.
--
Xavier.
Our current focus is on a general spring clean on the game; the next step when we will be finished here will be the preparation of the chapter III, which will introduce the outposts in Ryzom.
I] Inventories
Place in inventories (bag, mektoub and guild storage) are limited by two factors : bulk and slots. Each item has a given weight and size (the bulk), and the maximum you can carry is dependant on your character. The second factor, the slot limit, is the same for everyone; it is set at a little more than 250 right now. We are working in increasing this second limit, to allow you to store more items when the bulk limit is high : it will be doubled to set the limit at 500 slots. We will increase this technical limit as needed, to allow you to only be limited by bulk.
While we are at it, we are also increasing the number of items of the same type you can stack in one given slot. Right now, you can only stack 99 items on one slot; this limit will now be 999 items. That should be enough for the near future.
II] Potion-like consumables
The implementation of potion-like items has been requested for quite some time now, so we are in the process of adding them to the game. I say 'potions', but in fact it's a little more than that : it will be different types of consumable goods, from the traditional healing item to some rare types of vegetables with unkown effects... This is a semi-major feature, so it won't be implemented on one row, but the early version is already quite advanced. It shouldn't last long before you actually see some in-game.
III] Rites
Here is the current status of the rites being produced :
* On the ATS / internal tests : 12 rites are available for tests.
* On leveldesign : 17 rites are prepared for the next branch creation, while leveldesigners are still busy creating new rites. 21 rites have been added since the news from the devs article; so a total of 91 rites are currently being tested in-house.
At the first stages of the ATS tests, there was subtle bugs which were handled on a case by case basis by leveldesigners; since the launch of chapter III, coders have started to work systematically on leveldesign issues to improve the tools they use. As a consequence, leveldesigners are currently re-working six of the first rites to adapt them to a new internal structure.
IV] /random command
A new command is being added, to give you the ability to generate a random number of your choice - like what you get by rolling a dice. The main goal here is to provide you with a good way of choosing between options of equal value or ending disputes - such as "who will get that uber-loot ?", or "who will go fetching some stuff in the guild appartment?".
To use it, you will just have to type '/random <min> <max>' to get a random number between <min> and <max>, or simply '/random <max>' to use the default minimum of 1.
V] Mouse selection precision
Currently, when you face a big creature and want to select a small one behind with the mouse, you can run into some troubles, since the selection area for the big creature is overlapping the smallest one. So the mouse selection mechanisms are being modified, to make it more precise : even if you are only able to see one pixel of the small creature behind, you will now be able to target it.
VI] Event - Jena's commandements
The rumors were proved right : Jena's Commandements have been revealed by the Karavan to their followers.
Be sure to check the roleplay forums to know more.
--
Xavier.