Developer spotlight: AI

[Resfelm]

With the expansion release coming closer and closer, we decided to pry a couple of developers away from their desks for a few minutes and bring you some information about what they are working on.

This time it was the AI team's turn. They have been hard at work the past few months and they where quite eager to reveal some of the improvements and additions that players will experience with Darkfall's second free expansion, “Conquer the Seas”.

First, the wildlife creatures that we mentioned in a previous spotlight article will be introduced to the game with the upcoming expansion. The AI team also had quite a few things to add when talking about this new feature.

The wildlife creatures of Darkfall will be non aggressive and they will be found in every corner of Agon, thus satisfying the player request for a more alive and immersive world. While they will not be much of a challenge to kill because of their low health, they will not be sitting there idly while you pepper them with arrows or cut them down with your swords. Running away is the only defense they have, so expect to do some proper hunting.

Once killed, these creatures will provide the aspiring hunters with resources like leather and meat, essentially becoming a new resource gathering node of sorts. Also some of these animals, depending on their actual real life habits, will form packs and follow a pack leader around. Those packs will of course scatter and run away when they are attacked.

Another thing to note is that the monsters of the world will interact with these animals as well. Some will attack and kill them, while others will protect and even heal them. There will be of course monsters that completely ignore the wildlife as their only concern is ripping players apart.

Additionally, the AI team revealed some major changes in the AI system. This is something that they have been working on for quite a while and the changes will be substantial. As they told us, this is the first major AI overhaul for Darkfall and one that will change the PvE aspect of the game quite a bit. Of course they have addressed a series of AI bugs such as monsters de-spawning suddenly among others but the big news here is the changes and additions.

The first thing that they stressed is that the monsters have been rebalanced in such a way that now, players will need to use a variety of tactics, depending on what they are fighting, to be victorious. To be more specific, monsters will now have different weaknesses and strengths that players will need to figure out. Some examples of this diversification of the monsters include skeletons being more resistant to piercing damage while being very susceptible to bludgeoning damage and fire elementals being next to immune to fire damage while ice damage will do the job a lot better.

That does not mean that certain types of damage will be all together useless on specific monsters, but let's just say that figuring out the weakness of a monster and using it against it will be way more efficient.

Additionally there has been a reconfiguration of the AI that will make the monsters react differently on player actions, making them a lot harder to outsmart.

Because of these changes, the health of many monsters has been reduced so that the PvE experience will be more challenging and diverse but not frustrating. Also the loot of many of the monsters has been increased to be in accordance to the increased challenge they will pose and it will also be more random so that every kill will not provide you with the exact same items every time. The AI team hinted that, after the expansion, it would be worth trying to kill some of the monsters that right now do not have noteworthy loot, as you will be pleasantly surprised by their new loot drops.

As a final note, these changes should give a boost to the economy, as different types of weapons will be now required to defeat different monsters. With the correct choice of weapon, melee can be the preferable combat option in many cases. Additionally, these changes should encourage diversity in magic usage as well; for example de-buffing will play a much more important role in exposing a monster's weakness.

As a closing comment, they AI team told us that players will need to think a lot differently than they do now, when it comes to PvE in Darkfall.

We hope you enjoyed reading. Stay tuned for our next Developer spotlight article.

[Kasmos]

Holy shit, so much information.....

[Drefarion]

P. cool devs not afraid of anything

[ninogan]

Information is good ^^

This yet again sounds all too wonderful so I'll be a bit skeptical as to how well it actually plays out until I try it ._.

[Boldric]

Where are the wrabbits I need to roleplay Elmer Fudd???

[Kasmos]

Well, since I can't edit my post (why can't I do that again?) I just want to add that all that information sounds fucking awesome.

VERY, VERY excited that PvE is getting a complete overhaul. Can't wait to see how more intelligent the A.I. will be (hopefully a lot less exploitable too...) and how this new "weakness/strength" system is going to work.

Plus, wildlife ALL OVER Agon? Seriously guys, you're making this expansion seem like it's going to give a complete makeover of the entire game, and I for one am fucking getting very, very, very excited.

[doomahx]

awesome.

I am getting excited for this expansion.

[Tayend]

Nice...

[Merethius_Maloe]

:eek: Now all i need is a rifle! This is going to be great. This expansion seems to keep growing as the days go on

[MortalZero]

Could any of you kill a cuddly deer or some defenseless poor being who just tries to escape and run for his life ? :lmao:

[Numz dePimche]

Good news here, one more good step.

[ninogan]

I really hope they have fixed the mobs a lot because this sounds like players that bug mobs out or launch up to some high place where the mobs can't reach them will just be able to reap even higher rewards by exploiting :(

[Corp-Por]

Different types of weapons will be now required to defeat different monsters, now that idea just sux and makes inv management a pain in the ass!

[Lumanil]

Awesome news.
I can't wait to see, if monsters will be lot smarter than now.
I hope, they implemented player-looting also.

I can't wait to see a goblin-warlord in infernal armor :D, he looted from a guy who died near. ;)

[doomahx]

I really hope they have fixed the mobs a lot because this sounds like players that bug mobs out or launch up to some high place where the mobs can't reach them will just be able to reap even higher rewards by exploiting :(

I agree that bugging mobs out is a no no but launching into a tree should not be considered an exploit. If mobs can't range attack someone then that is just a weakness.

[electrofux]

And here comes the whiners. Tokk you quite some time. lol.

Nice information. I like it.

[Kasmos]

Different types of weapons will be now required to defeat different monsters, now that idea just sux and makes inv management a pain in the ass!

Why does it suck? That's the way it always should have been. You shouldn't be able to kill every monster with one weapon as easily as you can the next. Each monster type should have weaknesses and strengths, and I'm extremely excited that they're now going this route.

[Dingbat]

Really can't wait at all for this expansion!

[Rigan Pere]

Sounds awesome, bout time we see some wildlife around, will certainly make travelling a little more immersive.

[weaselmode]

Different types of weapons will be now required to defeat different monsters, now that idea just sux and makes inv management a pain in the ass!

thats been the case in a lot of the mmorpg's i have played before... why the fuck should piercing damage hurt skeletons!?

[mxking]

Awesome news.
I can't wait to see, if monsters will be lot smarter than now.
I hope, they implemented player-looting also.

I can't wait to see a goblin-warlord in infernal armor :D, he looted from a guy who died near. ;)

Now that would be hilarious. And very irritating at the same time. lol

Great news. Can't wait for when this expansion finally comes out!!!!!!!

[Lord Jenicus]

Great spotlight, I'd be hard pressed to find any fault in it, though leave it to the community, there is always a nay-sayer to play whack-a-mole with.

Love the idea of this rebalance, so many people get afraid of change, but I love that the wilderness will become more interesting and that mobs aren't going to just be livestock we slaughter wholesale for agricultural purposes. Can't wait to start hunting deer and bashing in the skulls of all those weaker creatures...


Also nice to see that not every single mob can be annihilated by 1 solo player with 75+ archery.

[Ladrann]

This is sounding very good, looking forward to the expansion!

:ohno:

[Torinar]

Awesomesauce ;).

[klawjon]

This sounds great.

[Corpsepoker]

Boooya! :D

[GRCPan]

Now this is what I call an awesome update.
I really hope that these changes don't just sound good, but they are also implemented good.

[Milo Hobgoblin]

WOW.. man this expansion sounds good. this game only gets better.

[Corpsepoker]

Nothing better than stepping on some rabbits to blow off steam after being PK'd.

Win! :D

[ScareCrow]

Thanks, updated the Unofficial November expansion patch notes thread (http://forums.darkfallonline.com/showthread.php?t=218517)!

[Milo Hobgoblin]

Any chance of seeing bludgeoning arrows in the future??


Be ncei for archers to have alternative damage types... would add a lot of variety..

[doomahx]

Any chance of seeing bludgeoning arrows in the future??


Be ncei for archers to have alternative damage types... would add a lot of variety..

That and poison arrows would be wonderful.

[empa]

Very nice i hope they will stick to their word.

[kdchan]

[...]As a final note, these changes should give a boost to the economy, as different types of weapons will be now required to defeat different monsters. With the correct choice of weapon, melee can be the preferable combat option in many cases.

You know that leveling up a single weapon is already a pain in the ass right? I'm focusing only in 1 melee weapon and bow atm, i don't want more weapons to train.
No more grind please, more sandbox elements thanks. :bang:

[Darkfiend#billy]

You know that leveling up a single weapon is already a pain in the ass right? I'm focusing only in 1 melee weapon and bow atm, i don't want more weapons to train.
No more grind please, more sandbox elements thanks. :bang:

This is a sandbox element you idiot.

[Tiak]

Different types of weapons will be now required to defeat different monsters, now that idea just sux and makes inv management a pain in the ass!

To be honest, it isn't much of a change from how thngs are now, people just never noticed. Undead are already have extremely high infliction resists, fire elementals already had damn good fire resists with no apparent cold resist, and I'm pretty sure skeletons already had above-average piercing resists.

It just happened that people mostly ignored these things in the past, because PvE in this game is easy enough that most things you kill are just as convenient to kill with something they're weak against.

[w0rm]

Nice spotlight.

Could we get some seals added in game too please? Especially on Niff.

[peertje]

another spot light looking good

[Keno]

With the expansion release coming closer and closer.



How Close? :)

[GRCPan]

You know that leveling up a single weapon is already a pain in the ass right? I'm focusing only in 1 melee weapon and bow atm, i don't want more weapons to train.
No more grind please, more sandbox elements thanks. :bang:

You won't have to skill up every weapon in the game, you will just have to live with doing less damage on certain mobs.

[Falesh]

Nice spotlight.

Could we get some seals added in game too please? Especially on Niff.

Not just seals, they have to be seal cubs that look very cute.

[Corpsepoker]

You know that leveling up a single weapon is already a pain in the ass right? I'm focusing only in 1 melee weapon and bow atm, i don't want more weapons to train.
No more grind please, more sandbox elements thanks. :bang:

Here come the whiners.

:bang:

[thuggery]

Sounds absolutely superb. Can't wait.

[Banok]

sounds REALLY good. game needs more sandbox elements. ie thing to do other than fight.

[dbmk]

WTB:
Red coats, black hats and boots and bugle.

We are going fox hunting!

[Sarphus]

That's the first ant eater I've seen in an MMO lol

sweet!

The changes sound interesting. I can't wait to see how things play out.

[L0FT]

Nice :)

[samureyed]

Siiiick! Can't wait for these changes. You guys are really impressing me with all these expansion notes.

Please please please give us a date! I can't wait!

Here's to hoping they deliver as nicely as they are advertised:)

[Banok]

That's the first ant eater I've seen in an MMO lol



LOL, are you serious?

its a badger dude.

[kdchan]

This is a sandbox element you idiot.

ehi retard kiddo, grind more is not sandbox at all.

[vanyok]

That and poison arrows would be wonderful.

There are poison arrows in game right now, as well as fire, cold and air.
Ever heard of elemental bows ?

[vanyok]

That's the first ant eater I've seen in an MMO

:lmao:

Made me think of this Family Guy piece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNhhKX0pqcg

[doomahx]

There are poison arrows in game right now, as well as fire, cold and air.
Ever heard of elemental bows ?

Well, considering that I haven't played since june and just came back a few days ago.. no, I haven't

[Kasmos]

ehi retard kiddo, grind more is not sandbox at all.

Who said you have to grind more? Why MUST you do maximum damage to every type of mob?

Quit complaining, level up the weapon you want and use it. Maybe you won't be able to solo all mobs now if your weapon skill is a certain mob's strength.

OH NOES THE HORROR!!!

[Sarphus]

LOL, are you serious?

its a badger dude.

That's not what he said to me!
http://joshinthecity.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/ant-eater.jpg

But yeah, he was probably lieing and is actually one of these
http://www.emoboyfriend.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/emo-badger-save-them.jpg

I didn't see the ears... I thought that whole neck portion was the snout.

[mechsword]

this expansion is gunna be epic, none of these have had anything to do with the sea yet wither this just extra stuff we haven't even seen what makes this expansion about the sea.

[Lexxer]

Roaming monsters and critters that aggro would have been cooler but meh, its all good.

[Kasmos]

Roaming monsters and critters that aggro would have been cooler but meh, its all good.

There's a first step to everything my friend, I would have been pleased if they JUST added the wildlife aspect of this update. It's going to be a lot more exciting running around Agon seeing deer, bears, etc all over the place.

[Mycke]

Heh, the examples on mob diversification are exactly the suggestions I made months ago.

Thanks for listening guys!!!

These changes should make PvP far more interesting and entertaining :)

[Junkaboy]

OMG This sounds too good to be true...

I wonder how much bugs and unexpected stuff we will see if they patch all this stuff together.

[Lumanil]

You know that leveling up a single weapon is already a pain in the ass right? I'm focusing only in 1 melee weapon and bow atm, i don't want more weapons to train.
No more grind please, more sandbox elements thanks. :bang:

You are really bad at Pve, if you have to grind 1h axes to kill a reindeer. :D

If you don't know already : You don't have to kill every single mosnter in game... you can choose not to kill a mob.

If you have problems to kill a skeleton with your weapons of choice, then just go on and kill zombies or something else.

[Brother Justin]

Good job guys!

I remember the wildlife threads back in beta.
Nice to finally have it implemented.

[Meldor]

FINALLY !!!

Something I will be able to kill ..... a deer *Laugh*

[xpiher]

I really hope they have fixed the mobs a lot because this sounds like players that bug mobs out or launch up to some high place where the mobs can't reach them will just be able to reap even higher rewards by exploiting :(

Launching on top of a building, tree, or other structure isn't a exploit :bang:

Oh ohes I can't use a bow to kill everythign now I'm a sad panda

Great additons.

[Patriota]

wow thats awesome, i do like to pve

[dariobrun]

wow...simply wow (no not that game :D).
Every spotlight makes me wonder if this expansion is for real or is on the list of the too good to be true things....

[blob]

great news about mobs AI, just hope they are much harder to kill than now and that they can use parry now in smart way. One thing sucks i have got myself stupid RL job :(

[Madt]

Very excited about the wandering wildlife. I can just imagine it now sneaking up on a deer with a bow then letting the arrow fly and either missing and the deer running off or hitting and killing it.

I hope the roaming wildlife will listen for sounds and such and if a player approaching makes a loud noise i runs, and if the players wearing shiny armour and is very visible the animal has a chance to see it and run

[Leg enD]

:eek: Now all i need is a rifle! This is going to be great. This expansion seems to keep growing as the days go on

x'bow ftw.

[beecherhg]

Very nice, and thank you for the continued updates!!

[Signus]

So housing love, dynamic lore love, melee love, AND PvE love, now all that's left is information about how the new sea stuff works so I can be a pirate and all my Darkfall wishes will have come true.

[nacitar sevaht]

A lot of you guys cried about wanting to specialize, and now with the monster changes you can't specialize, you have to have everything and use whatever they're weak against. Funny.

"My play style is archery! Now I have to bludgeon!"

I don't care about that change tbh, but it's just going to be a pain in the ass for the sake of "diversity". Oh, fire elementals cant get hurt by fire? Guess i get to grind water now if I want to farm them!.... stupid.

[nacitar sevaht]

erm, not "can't get hurt by fire".. but not get hurt much, rather.. no edit button.

[Tenebrion]

Cows?

[nacitar sevaht]

So housing love, dynamic lore love, melee love, AND PvE love, now all that's left is information about how the new sea stuff works so I can be a pirate and all my Darkfall wishes will have come true.

Sea combat will never be viable until they make AOEs not pass through the side of objects. A group of 10 players with AOEs can kill an entire boat in seconds if they AOE at the same time.

[Banok]

That's not what he said to me!
http://joshinthecity.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/ant-eater.jpg

But yeah, he was probably lieing and is actually one of these
http://www.emoboyfriend.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/emo-badger-save-them.jpg

I didn't see the ears... I thought that whole neck portion was the snout.

dude this is why badgers (and zebras) are awesome and not emo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifu7OphOITk&feature=related

[Black Horseman]

Yeah great, spend countless man hours and time and energy improving the PvE in a game thats driven 95% by the PvP.

FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT MATTER.

[Temko Firewing]

THIS! (http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/)

More need not be said. Thanks for yet another awesome update

[Sarphus]

A lot of you guys cried about wanting to specialize, and now with the monster changes you can't specialize, you have to have everything and use whatever they're weak against. Funny.

"My play style is archery! Now I have to bludgeon!"

I don't care about that change tbh, but it's just going to be a pain in the ass for the sake of "diversity". Oh, fire elementals cant get hurt by fire? Guess i get to grind water now if I want to farm them!.... stupid.

or you could go kill something else...

[Aristos]

Nothing better than stepping on some rabbits to blow off steam after being PK'd.

Win! :D

You are a disturbed invidual.


Great news about the update though, this Spotlight thread was really a total 180 for Aventurine, I could not be more impressed.

Can't wait to go hunting! Perhaps traps could be implemented in the future? Hunting skill is much to be desired.

[Captain Kirk]

Sounds interesting!
One of the biggest problems is that mobs cant reach you in so many places, Giving higher end mobs attacks with high knockback and/or comehither/begone might solve that issue.

I like the wildlife thing it sounds awesome! :D

[Aristos]

A lot of you guys cried about wanting to specialize, and now with the monster changes you can't specialize, you have to have everything and use whatever they're weak against. Funny.

"My play style is archery! Now I have to bludgeon!"

I don't care about that change tbh, but it's just going to be a pain in the ass for the sake of "diversity". Oh, fire elementals cant get hurt by fire? Guess i get to grind water now if I want to farm them!.... stupid.


Then farm something else.

This is a very, very good thing. If certain items/resources are easier to come by for some players and harder for others, the economy gets a huge boost. So in other words, players who don't have high water magic might want to buy elemental cinders from players who do have it and have farmed lots of fire elementals.

If anything, this promotes specialization.

[Jeronimoo]

Could you please, please, please do something about the 'drop rate' of Astrolabes (ie increase it substantially).

Unless that is already in the 'pipeline' ofc, in which case I will stfu.

[thedrumchannell]

These changes sound simply amazing. Great job!

[fatgit]

all I can say is..



BADGER!

[Nizur]

Oh wow! This sounds like it will greatly improve the game! Getting excited! :ohno:

[Kasmos]

Yeah great, spend countless man hours and time and energy improving the PvE in a game thats driven 95% by the PvP.

FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT MATTER.

Uh, shut the fuck up? This game is only primarily driven by PvP right now because it lacked so many other aspects at launch.

Let me give you a little hint buddy, this game is an MMORPG, finally they're adding in the much needed RPG elements. This was a much needed update and I think I can speak for a LOT of Darkfall players when I say that we welcome this and are very excited about it.

Sorry your "FPS pew pew" mindset got hurt by this update :lmao:

[Makgyver]

Imma kill me some deers, the kind of thing dey be lovin' in the us of a

[Makgyver]

Yeah great, spend countless man hours and time and energy improving the PvE in a game thats driven 95% by the PvP.

FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT MATTER.

Complain more! Are you complaining just for the sake of complaining? Shit man, just leave

[xpiher]

Yeah great, spend countless man hours and time and energy improving the PvE in a game thats driven 95% by the PvP.

FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT MATTER.

Which they are also doing with balancing?

[Khayr]

Yes Yes we need a badger badger badger badger mushrooms and OMG snakes!

While..... 90% of the current spawns are still bugged, dumb or exploitable.

Introducing massive new things to an already broken game. Reminds me of several other mmorpg's, wich failed.

[Kimoshu]

I just saw this thread...

I jizzed in my pants... :o

-Andrew

[Yakamoz]

Could any of you kill a cuddly deer or some defenseless poor being who just tries to escape and run for his life ? :lmao:
I am going to create Greenpeace clan and kill you all animal abusers.

[Jango1337]

P.E.T.A. is now recruiting.... :p

haha this sounds epic should be awesome to see the fire dragon hunting deer

[Crulty]

Yes Yes we need a badger badger badger badger mushrooms and OMG snakes!

While..... 90% of the current spawns are still bugged, dumb or exploitable.

Introducing massive new things to an already broken game. Reminds me of several other mmorpg's, wich failed.


you don't read btw the lines

[Alberton]

Starts wondering how to corral 100 deer into one spot before throwing a single aoe. BBQ time. ;)

You blokes have done a great job with releasing expansion news this week, well done.

[Naljeja]

i'll be listening to this now when im out doing some hunting: http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/

[Settra]

Why does a pack of Wolves run away etc? or maybe they dont. But it just says that all animals will run away..even packs.... Hmm.. Maybe there are only packs of rabbits....

[nisco17]

I agree that bugging mobs out is a no no but launching into a tree should not be considered an exploit. If mobs can't range attack someone then that is just a weakness.

This.

But somehow getting the AI to hide and get out of LOS if they realize they cannot attack you would be good.

[alfar1]

I only need to know one thing: when?

FFS, it's mid November already.

[Tenebrion]

Yes Yes we need a badger badger badger badger mushrooms and OMG snakes!

While..... 90% of the current spawns are still bugged, dumb or exploitable.

Introducing massive new things to an already broken game. Reminds me of several other mmorpg's, wich failed.

Hi September 2009. Your opinions matter.


p.s. - go back to WOW.

[kingkongbanana]

Sounds awesome. So far there has only been one thing about the expansion that Ive been sceptic about. Keep communicating and keep up the good work.

[Kasmos]

This.

But somehow getting the AI to hide and get out of LOS if they realize they cannot attack you would be good.

I think the cool thing to do would be, like someone previously suggested in this thread (sorry for not quoting you whoever you are), make mobs be able to pull players to them.

So, you're on top of a house spamming magic at a mob trying to "exploit" them (whatever you want to try to call it), and all of a sudden BAM, the mob casts a spells and you're right next to them.

Now, THAT would be fucking awesome.

[Elmi]

I hope, they implemented player-looting also.

I can't wait to see a goblin-warlord in infernal armor :D, he looted from a guy who died near. ;)

Oh man, that'd be soooo cool!

[Lumanil]

A lot of you guys cried about wanting to specialize, and now with the monster changes you can't specialize, you have to have everything and use whatever they're weak against. Funny.

"My play style is archery! Now I have to bludgeon!"

I don't care about that change tbh, but it's just going to be a pain in the ass for the sake of "diversity". Oh, fire elementals cant get hurt by fire? Guess i get to grind water now if I want to farm them!.... stupid.

Did you think about killing earth elementals instead of fire elementals then ? Or maybe air elementals ?
Did you think about killing zombies instead of skeletons ?

[Aristos]

I think the cool thing to do would be, like someone previously suggested in this thread (sorry for not quoting you whoever you are), make mobs be able to pull players to them.

So, you're on top of a house spamming magic at a mob trying to "exploit" them (whatever you want to try to call it), and all of a sudden BAM, the mob casts a spells and you're right next to them.

Now, THAT would be fucking awesome.

Fight shadow knights sometime. They use come hither quite effectively. Ghosts and elfshades use it as well, but it doesn't seem to be quite as strong with them.

[ColonelTEE3]

Information is good ^^

This yet again sounds all too wonderful so I'll be a bit skeptical as to how well it actually plays out until I try it ._.

Same. I wish i could be excited and optimistic, but i dont want to have my heart broken by AV again.

[stingerII]

...Another thing to note is that the monsters of the world will interact with these animals as well. Some will attack and kill them, while others will protect and even heal them. There will be of course monsters that completely ignore the wildlife as their only concern is ripping players apart...

...monsters will now have different weaknesses and strengths that players will need to figure out. Some examples of this diversification of the monsters include skeletons being more resistant to piercing damage while being very susceptible to bludgeoning damage and fire elementals being next to immune to fire damage while ice damage will do the job a lot better...

...That does not mean that certain types of damage will be all together useless on specific monsters...

...monsters react differently on player actions, making them a lot harder to outsmart...

...As a closing comment, they AI team told us that players will need to think a lot differently than they do now, when it comes to PvE in Darkfall.

Awesome news!!

Dying to see some of these things in-game!!

|| Sorry you held back on that point though. A fire elemental shouldn't take damage from a fireball :(

A lot of you guys cried about wanting to specialize, and now with the monster changes you can't specialize, you have to have everything and use whatever they're weak against. Funny.

"My play style is archery! Now I have to bludgeon!"

I don't care about that change tbh, but it's just going to be a pain in the ass for the sake of "diversity". Oh, fire elementals cant get hurt by fire? Guess i get to grind water now if I want to farm them!.... stupid.

You are a REtard! It's not like we can specialise atm anyway, plus this only relevant for PvE.
And besides, wtf do you think is the point of specialising other than being good at killing a type of mob and worse at killing others? If it counted for players as well it would be great but it doesn't

You don't need water though it would help, buy an ice sword or something.
But don't come bitching about a GREAT post! ffs!!


Btw ... I was a bit sceptical about how fast a badger could run until I saw this vid xD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApHJx2oMWqQ

[ISVRaDa]

More awesome news, good work AV!

[Dasea]

yeah, shadow knights scare the hell out of me when the come hither me straight into their spawn...talk about scary heh.

either beguilers or whatever the other thing in a black knight spawn also can use begone, and knock you off of rooftops when you try to perch them.

As said before, most of this already exists tbh. A lot of mobs are really difficult, but once you figure them out easily exploited. I can hit an iklit to the front for 35 with a firebolt, and with the same staff hit a doom spider for 15. The resists/weaknesses already exist in the game. Of course, perhaps they'll do physical damage love with larger boosts to match this difference. Maybe my 20 damage greatsword will hit a mob for 40 if its weak, that would rock.

Changing the loot into random loot is...blah. It's too hard to tell if the mob is actually profitable to kill moreso then another. I don't wanna do a lot of math to make money...

wandering scaredycat animals...those could be fun, unless they run like twice as fast as I do and can see me long before I can see them.

[chokke]

Just let me continue to melee down the elfshades and I'm happy.

[Dumuss]

Could any of you kill a cuddly deer or some defenseless poor being who just tries to escape and run for his life ? :lmao:

I get killed all the fecking time :( I suck at this game!

[neon sheild]

this sounds sooo good!

[bongloads]

Awesome

[Cuelda]

Lots of people planning to hunt some deer,
don't forget this is still Darkfall we're talking about. ;)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ynOlmkpsf8U/So8Bk8Kl6qI/AAAAAAAAAjo/eRdZts4GBy4/s1600-h/Dimfall019MED.jpg

[bongloads]

Yes Yes we need a badger badger badger badger mushrooms and OMG snakes!

While..... 90% of the current spawns are still bugged, dumb or exploitable.

Introducing massive new things to an already broken game. Reminds me of several other mmorpg's, wich failed.

you don't read btw the lines

he's too busy not owning/playing the game and trolling these forums. Love these subscriber forums.

[raffraff]

I love badgers!

[Thanateros]

Will the skill gains be the same as mobs? Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit...

[Narcowski]

Anyone else wonder if new cooking recipes will accompany the meat from animals?

[neon sheild]

I'm sooo excited for this!!

[Yoda]

we should then be able to build fires. it would be fun to never need to go to town.

[Laxe]

Neeed walking onions asap!

[AStormofShadows]

I want a badger for a pet...

[AStormofShadows]

we should then be able to build fires. it would be fun to never need to go to town.

and this...

[Killamu76]

Now I just really want to see a Wildlife Preservation clan... That'd be neat.

[Khayr]

Hi September 2009. Your opinions matter.


p.s. - go back to WOW.

Hi November 2009. Only tears matter on this forum

[forestchild]

Why does it suck? That's the way it always should have been. You shouldn't be able to kill every monster with one weapon as easily as you can the next. Each monster type should have weaknesses and strengths, and I'm extremely excited that they're now going this route.

It increase macro even more this expansion and it kill solo player and small clans.

Again as usual AV manage to reward those who macro 24hrs and have all schools of magic and at least 3 weapons to 100.

They just make sure you keep grind grind grind that means macro macro macro like crazy.

The legit players who dont macro and wanne lvl every skill or school ingame fast(only way macro again 24/7) have been punished:(

This game was never ment to play normal from beginning it was tailor made for macroers/exploiters (and devs listend to wrong people thats why you have OP magic)thats obvious and clear now shame could have be such an awesome game.

I just play becouse nothing else on market that intrest me but DEVS are blind to fact that this whole policy of how game should be and listend to players that play it sinds launch have cost them many many players and they dont even see this that also go for most subscribers.

Well have fun guys in game, that should have been for normal gameplay instead macro/exploit all:(

[Shadow Runner]

explain yourself forestchild, I don't see the connection between upcoming wildlife and macroing :confused:


Well I'm looking forward to it,
it's time for poaching :)

[forestchild]

explain yourself forestchild, I don't see the connection between upcoming wildlife and macroing :confused:


Well I'm looking forward to it,
it's time for poaching :)

First read this topic then hopefully you undertsand what i mean and agree or not agree:)

[Azorius]

It increase macro even more this expansion and it kill solo player and small clans.

Again as usual AV manage to reward those who macro 24hrs and have all schools of magic and at least 3 weapons to 100.

They just make sure you keep grind grind grind that means macro macro macro like crazy.

The legit players who dont macro and wanne lvl every skill or school ingame fast(only way macro again 24/7) have been punished:(

This game was never ment to play normal from beginning it was tailor made for macroers/exploiters (and devs listend to wrong people thats why you have OP magic)thats obvious and clear now shame could have be such an awesome game.

I just play becouse nothing else on market that intrest me but DEVS are blind to fact that this whole policy of how game should be and listend to players that play it sinds launch have cost them many many players and they dont even see this that also go for most subscribers.

Well have fun guys in game, that should have been for normal gameplay instead macro/exploit all:(

OMFG, you gain 3x melee more and 6x magic from PvE. What a fucking whinner, QQ little slut.

[Caaahl]

It increase macro even more this expansion and it kill solo player and small clans.

Again as usual AV manage to reward those who macro 24hrs and have all schools of magic and at least 3 weapons to 100.

They just make sure you keep grind grind grind that means macro macro macro like crazy.

The legit players who dont macro and wanne lvl every skill or school ingame fast(only way macro again 24/7) have been punished:(

This game was never ment to play normal from beginning it was tailor made for macroers/exploiters (and devs listend to wrong people thats why you have OP magic)thats obvious and clear now shame could have be such an awesome game.

I just play becouse nothing else on market that intrest me but DEVS are blind to fact that this whole policy of how game should be and listend to players that play it sinds launch have cost them many many players and they dont even see this that also go for most subscribers.

Well have fun guys in game, that should have been for normal gameplay instead macro/exploit all:(

Stop fu***** whining already, this is embarassing to read.

It gives players who have already their main weapon very high additional goals and brings more diversity into the gamepleay and so on...

Sorry, but they WONT patch the "win button" into the game; instead they make Pve more interesting.

Maybe the whiners are used to play console games, where you have to push repeatedly "X" in order to accomplish the game... :rolleyes:

[abey]

now the only question is 'when'.

[Tengil]

I can't understand why people can't at least wait complaining until they've seen how it will work.

[Temko Firewing]

now the only question is 'when'.

this.

"Mid-November"

means this week or next week... unless it'll be delayed. again.

[Ooli]

Lots of people planning to hunt some deer,
don't forget this is still Darkfall we're talking about. ;)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ynOlmkpsf8U/So8Bk8Kl6qI/AAAAAAAAAjo/eRdZts4GBy4/s1600-h/Dimfall019MED.jpg


would be awsome if such nice deers would come after you overkilled a spawn :)

[Lictor]

Amazing stuff! :)

[weaselmode]

Successful animal farming can be with AOE i reckon. Gonna train an AOE up for this now :D

[PsyMike3d]

thnx AV :)

[day day]

theres 9 diffrent types of weapons, times 3-4 skills in each, 10 hotbar slots, 10 scools of magic.....


Will the hotbar limitations be darkfalls skill cap?

LOL

[kozzmozz]

Very good news, Altough im still subbed i havent played for a month now but am gonna start again when it comes out ! Go AV! Well done!

[Fugean]

With the expansion release coming closer and closer,

so, can we have an eta? please?

also, awsome stuff comming with this new expansion i cant wait.

[metaman]

For those who havnt figured it out yet, what the new AI will do is it u launch yourself up on the tree and try to range the mob down, it will run away from u...

[chaOxz]

Soooooo


Are they going to introduce this with the expansion:
http://img.moronail.net/img/7/6/376.jpg

[Drathe]

Soooooo


Are they going to introduce this with the expansion:
http://img.moronail.net/img/7/6/376.jpg

luls

[Darkfiend#billy]

so, can we have an eta? please?

also, awsome stuff comming with this new expansion i cant wait.

This. ETA dev's? :ninja:

[Suncross]

Honestly I think the way PVE farming works now, is just fine - I love the idea of the traveling creatures though. The less thinking people have to do when farming in darkfall the better. I don't want to have to devote a lot of mental processing to what the mob is doing, because there are a lot of things already that you have to devote thinking to: chat channels (and whispers), reading the load spikes, stat points, weapon durability (regs, ammo, food, etc, as well), and time. All these you have to take into account when farming in order to kill the mob, and not get killed by it or other players.

I just hope that its not too much more complicated. I don't want to have to have to stand on one leg and sacrifice a chicken just to kill an elf shade or something.

[Dawkinson]

Successful animal farming can be with AOE i reckon. Gonna train an AOE up for this now :D

6 months of AoEs completely dominating PvP wasn't enough reason :lmao:

[Kasmos]

Honestly I think the way PVE farming works now, is just fine - I love the idea of the traveling creatures though. The less thinking people have to do when farming in darkfall the better. I don't want to have to devote a lot of mental processing to what the mob is doing, because there are a lot of things already that you have to devote thinking to: chat channels (and whispers), reading the load spikes, stat points, weapon durability (regs, ammo, food, etc, as well), and time. All these you have to take into account when farming in order to kill the mob, and not get killed by it or other players.

I just hope that its not too much more complicated. I don't want to have to have to stand on one leg and sacrifice a chicken just to kill an elf shade or something.

I would have to disagree here. I think the more indepth a PvE encounter is and the more strategy it takes to kill it, the more fun and rewarding the experience is. Plus, it may help decrease the amount of exploiting that happens currently.

[Gray Fox]

Hell YEAH! They deliver! Each patch, expansion is getting critical. Darkfall is going for the top so faast!:D

[Fugean]

Hell YEAH! They deliver! Each patch, expansion is getting critical. Darkfall is going for the top so faast!:D

i would agree and all this stuff on the spotlight is great, i love the communication, dont get me wrong. i am, however, starting to think that they are just relleasing this info to distract the DF community while AV pushes the expansion date further and further away. in the mean time, there are issues that should have been addressed back in october and earlier that have not been. mor or less we are in the middle of november now... wheres the patch? "drawing ever closer..." and "soon" is getting old. i was talking with some of my clan mates last night who told me they said the came would be comming out "soon" back in the year 2003.

i would normally agree that patience is a virtue... but there is a limit to how long somone can wait patiently before their, well, patience wears out...

a more solid number or date would help tremendously with this regard.

[stingerII]

... i am, however, starting to think that they are just relleasing this info to distract the DF community while AV pushes the expansion date further and further away...

well theoretically its already been delayed, and its not secret many of are a bit on edge. I think that's enough reason without making too much of it

[Tenebrion]

I'd rather it be done right than done on time.

[GRCPan]

These updates are cool. But shouldn't we be getting some news on the date of the expansion too? In 3 days is the mid of november, so the expansion in theory should be coming in 3-8 days.

[Reddog]

I'd rather it be done right than done on time.

Always this.

[Banok]

better come out soon... or I will kill muchos kittens

[Dami]

Thanks for these updates and posts. Im actually excited again!

[Song7]

I was pessimistic when I bought this game. Got burned so many times by mmos lately. And let me put it this way...

Darkfall is the only mmo subscription I have active from about 5 in the last few months. And a lot of it has to do with this dev team and their actions with the community and their game.

[starshine]

huuja give it to os!!!:sly:

[pete the pirate]

I love badgers!

Man that guy third right must feel special,hes the only guy with hair on his head.:lmao:

[Temko Firewing]

I'd rather it be done right than done on time.

why either?

I'd rather it be done right and done on time. you know, planning, deadlines, the stuff normal companies get to be held for and we pay them to fuck up?

[Azdul]

For those who havnt figured it out yet, what the new AI will do is it u launch yourself up on the tree and try to range the mob down, it will run away from u...

No, you've got it wrong.

Goblins with new AI will launch themselves on buildings, and shoot arrows from there. They will also send tells to all reds in the area that there are newbies at the spawn.

[Temko Firewing]

No, you've got it wrong.

Goblins with new AI will launch themselves on buildings, and shoot arrows from there. They will also send tells to all reds in the area that there are newbies at the spawn.

now that'd be awesome.

Tree Deathless Mages sending tells to warred targets!

[Az_]

No, you've got it wrong.

Goblins with new AI will launch themselves on buildings, and shoot arrows from there. They will also send tells to all reds in the area that there are newbies at the spawn.

I think they will be bunny hopping with archery and send you tells like "U GOT SHIT ON!".

Deathless mages will cycle nukes...

People will whine and moan and the devs will have to change them again :D

[Az_]

First read this topic then hopefully you undertsand what i mean and agree or not agree:)

I could understand where you are comming from if this would be a no-PvP game.

Go and kill those so called "evil macroers" and take their loot, which is a lot more profitable then killing mobs btw. You have the freedom to do that.

On the other hand I don't understand you at all. I have Water magic at "5". I will get it to 100 probably this weekend with regs worth ~25K gold. And that by shooting mobs. I could understand if this would be pre magic patch, where it would have taken you 200K of regs over a 240hour period or more.

But right now? Takes you 10 hours of straight shooting mobs to get to 100 from 0. Or 4 hours per day till sunday evening. Whats your problem?

[Tengil]

I raised WC from 0 to 50 in three-four hours. But that is also that I've basically given up on all ideas of 'just playing the game' and are maximising my skill-gains by all means available.

[Funkadoodle]

Omfg, best thread ever. So, so, so happy to see PvE changes in the works. Can't wait for adjusted loot tables and a use for my greatclubs!

[Floyd]

Yeah great, spend countless man hours and time and energy improving the PvE in a game thats driven 95% by the PvP.

FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT MATTER.

What does the AI team have to do with pvp?

Cry baby.

[someone else]

awsomeness

[lkx]

Yeah great, spend countless man hours and time and energy improving the PvE in a game thats driven 95% by the PvP.

FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT MATTER.

It's a sandbox dude. Well, actually it's supposed to be a sandbox.
So every enanchement which get it closer to a sandbox matter.

[Arbosh]

:D

good news i think!

[Goreham]

Nice one

[smackyou]

God i cant wait!!

[Zarenos]

bring on the hippi clans.

[Yatenkaiohu]

I am going to PK everybody who hunts the animals.

[Machinistlol]

give us the patch already lol

[the Excuseme]

Someone is going to make a PETA guild and defend the animals?

[incognit0]

patch plz :confused:

[Varner]

I just think they need to force Magic specialization, you only get to use 1 elemental and a 1 non-elemental other than lesser and greater. And heres how it'd work, you can train up anything you want whether it be fire, water, earth, spell chanting, etc. The catch is that you can't use them all at the same time and have to go to a mage or some special npc to switch back and forth. I could care less about global cool downs just restrict people to one elemental and non-elemental spell school.


It'd level the playing field even more and force players to a use their wits more than their reagents. Yeah you'd have to actually think, you know who you are :sly:

[Tenebrion]

Yeah great, spend countless man hours and time and energy improving the PvE in a game thats driven 95% by the PvP.

FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT MATTER.

Short-sighted douche bag.

[Paranoia21]

Short-sighted douche bag.

agreed

[Sack]

we touch on this topic in this week's mmoSmackTalk.com: http://blog.mmosmacktalk.com/?p=601&cpage=1#comment-7468

[Brazlar]

There's the clincher, i'm coming back!

[Drool111]

What about dynamic mobs that migrate after being killed for so long, or build small villages for not being killed?

hm?

Where did that feature go?

[Daggermaniac]

What about dynamic mobs that migrate after being killed for so long, or build small villages for not being killed?

hm?

Where did that feature go?
You ask of too much. I believe you're looking for a thing I call LIFE.

[Drool111]

You ask of too much. I believe you're looking for a thing I call LIFE.

It was in the features page.

[Caaahl]

It was in the features page.

It will be in. One day.

"Expansion X: Conquer the features list"