Best Of
Re: Lusternian Divine AMA
I'm currently unstudied on the False Gods, so I am going to let better informed admin answer those questions!Luce said:The False Gods are back, but this time they are impersonating rather than replacing Elders.
1. Who do you think would do the best job pretending to be You?
2. What 'tell' gives away the game to Your (dis)Order?
3. What trophy do You take from Your doppelganger?
Unrelated to that scenario,
4. What's your favorite room/mob/item description that you've seen?
5. Was there a quest or area whose documentation you saw after taking on the Godrole that made you go "Oh, that makes more sense now."? (no need to say which if its spoilers, but I'm also asking about quests where the solution makes more sense now, or if there was a connection that we can see that you didn't know about beforehand.)
6. If You were given a monument, idol, or gift by Your Order, what would it be?
4. I just love Sparrow Longfellow, the Sowers guild tutor. I also really love the newest rooms recently introduced to Serenwilde.
5. I wasn't huge into questing as a player, so I don't have any quests that made more sense after coming up. There are some really neat tricks to tracking and organizing quests, though, that make the general structure of our quests make a whole lot more sense!
6. The hearts of twelve very particular gods. It wouldn't kill them, I'm pretty sure. Not forever.
1. Seeing player reactions to the things that I've created, both in character and out of character!Uzriel said:Another couple of questions here!
1. What is it you enjoy most about being godadmin? Ie, what got you through ephhood/keeps you logging in still?
2. What's something you've found unexpectedly difficult (could be behind the scenes in general, transitioning to ephhood from mortal, or transition from eph to godmin)?
3. Maybe too close to Ayisdra's question but what's something that really caught you off guard but couldn't help but laugh about (that you're allowed to share). I'm thinking along the lines of weird bugs, events going off rails, etc.
2. Related to the above, it's a little hard sometimes to not be able to point at something and say 'I made that!'
3. Besides the surprise you always feel when something that has been perfectly tested, for some reason you cannot fathom, decides to not work when it's live - I'm not sure I can think of anything that's caught me off guard in a negative way. I'm always VERY pleasantly surprised when players opt not to spam the thing I had anticipated them spamming, but roleplay instead. It can sometimes catch me off guard and require some quick thinking and maybe quick building on my feet, but don't be discouraged if you're roleplaying something we'd initially planned to be simpler interactions and are getting a few long pauses - we're probably flying to adjust our plans because we love it!
Maiden answers 1, Mother answers 2, Crone absolutely answers 3.Kalliope said:"While in town the baker gives you a sweetroll. Delighted, you take it into an alley to enjoy, only to be intercepted by a gang of three kids your age. The leader demands the sweetroll, or else he and his friends will beat you and take it."
- Act like you're going to give him the sweetroll, but at the last minute throw it in the air, hoping that they'll pay attention to it long enough for you to get a shot in on the leader?
- Give him the sweetroll now without argument, knowing that later this afternoon you will have all your friends with you and can come and take whatever he owes you?
- Drop the sweetroll and step on it, then get ready for the fight?
Lisaera
5
Re: Lusternian Divine AMA
Another couple of questions here!
1. What is it you enjoy most about being godadmin? Ie, what got you through ephhood/keeps you logging in still?
2. What's something you've found unexpectedly difficult (could be behind the scenes in general, transitioning to ephhood from mortal, or transition from eph to godmin)?
3. Maybe too close to Ayisdra's question but what's something that really caught you off guard but couldn't help but laugh about (that you're allowed to share). I'm thinking along the lines of weird bugs, events going off rails, etc.
1. What is it you enjoy most about being godadmin? Ie, what got you through ephhood/keeps you logging in still?
2. What's something you've found unexpectedly difficult (could be behind the scenes in general, transitioning to ephhood from mortal, or transition from eph to godmin)?
3. Maybe too close to Ayisdra's question but what's something that really caught you off guard but couldn't help but laugh about (that you're allowed to share). I'm thinking along the lines of weird bugs, events going off rails, etc.
Uzriel
1
Re: Lusternian Divine AMA
"While in town the baker gives you a
sweetroll. Delighted, you take it into an alley to enjoy, only to be
intercepted by a gang of three kids your age. The leader demands the
sweetroll, or else he and his friends will beat you and take it."
- Act like you're going to give him the sweetroll, but at the last minute throw it in the air, hoping that they'll pay attention to it long enough for you to get a shot in on the leader?
- Give him the sweetroll now without argument, knowing that later this afternoon you will have all your friends with you and can come and take whatever he owes you?
- Drop the sweetroll and step on it, then get ready for the fight?
Kalliope
2
Re: What are your "Quality of Life" tips and tricks for new and returning players?
Only just realized how new this is, but LINK <node/nexus> <#> is baseline now, and will automagically unlink you from the thing after a given number of links!
Wonderpie is underappreciated, in my opinion. The third power doubles your cooking output and stacks with the spatula and the spectral measuring cup. A later power gives increased gold rewards from turnins, one gives a crit buff, and one gives an experience boost. It's not a bad option for your second or third wonder item depending on how often you hunt, cook, influence, etc. The 3 crystal dip for chefs is a must.
Why is it second or third? Because as a returning player, WONDERCORN CLAIM will net you a crystal for every tenth level you've earned. Technically you only get the crystals, but the wonder cornucopia gives you a herofete's benefits by 8 crystals, plus the tonic power which can give you some fun fluids, and at 10 you get 500 free goop or a free wonder crystal each in-game year.
Speaking of underappreciated, if you get curios from presents or the wheel, check CURIOMARKET before rubbing them to see if you can get a quick credit or two per piece.
And lastly for now, if you haven't melded since the mage rework, you can now <whatever>CAST CLEAR NODE <#> to release just that room from your meld, letting you move meld rooms around in hunting areas or Astral without needing to reraise the effects.
Wonderpie is underappreciated, in my opinion. The third power doubles your cooking output and stacks with the spatula and the spectral measuring cup. A later power gives increased gold rewards from turnins, one gives a crit buff, and one gives an experience boost. It's not a bad option for your second or third wonder item depending on how often you hunt, cook, influence, etc. The 3 crystal dip for chefs is a must.
Why is it second or third? Because as a returning player, WONDERCORN CLAIM will net you a crystal for every tenth level you've earned. Technically you only get the crystals, but the wonder cornucopia gives you a herofete's benefits by 8 crystals, plus the tonic power which can give you some fun fluids, and at 10 you get 500 free goop or a free wonder crystal each in-game year.
Speaking of underappreciated, if you get curios from presents or the wheel, check CURIOMARKET before rubbing them to see if you can get a quick credit or two per piece.
And lastly for now, if you haven't melded since the mage rework, you can now <whatever>CAST CLEAR NODE <#> to release just that room from your meld, letting you move meld rooms around in hunting areas or Astral without needing to reraise the effects.
Luce
2
Update on Nexus 3.0
The Iron Realms team has been hard at work on Nexus 3.0. Shortly after our last newsletter, we started a small closed beta test in order to garner feedback as we prepare for an open beta.
The feedback has been tremendous. We realized we needed to adjust our goals and feature list for release. The testing team has been crucial to the development of the new client.
This has led to delays, but the delays will be worth it. We absolutely do not want to release a disappointing product.
Consulting with our beta testers, led to significant improvements to the main play screen. The screen is much more user-friendly. Users can create a personalized layout quickly by just dragging and dropping elements. If you're interested, you can view a video of the client, and those improvements here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-D6SElFu58
Here is a screenshot of a custom layout that took seconds to make. Just drag and drop windows how you like them.
Another issue arose during beta testing that needs to be well communicated before release. This revolves primarily around migrating your current triggers and aliases to Nexus 3. Some scripts are going to be difficult to move and will require updating. Transferring your current settings is fairly automatic, but there are problems with scripts that were created beyond the scope of what we intended with Nexus 2.
We are working with the beta team to improve this migration process and address the compatibility issues. Please note that Iron Realms has no plans to drop Nexus 2. IRE will not do new development for Nexus 2, but it will remain on the game websites. In order words, if you're happy with the current Nexus, you do not need to migrate.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at jeremy@ironrealms.com.
Iashe
2
Re: Lusternian Divine AMA
The False Gods are back, but this time they are impersonating rather than replacing Elders.
1. Who do you think would do the best job pretending to be You?
2. What 'tell' gives away the game to Your (dis)Order?
3. What trophy do You take from Your doppelganger?
Unrelated to that scenario,
4. What's your favorite room/mob/item description that you've seen?
5. Was there a quest or area whose documentation you saw after taking on the Godrole that made you go "Oh, that makes more sense now."? (no need to say which if its spoilers, but I'm also asking about quests where the solution makes more sense now, or if there was a connection that we can see that you didn't know about beforehand.)
6. If You were given a monument, idol, or gift by Your Order, what would it be?
1. Who do you think would do the best job pretending to be You?
2. What 'tell' gives away the game to Your (dis)Order?
3. What trophy do You take from Your doppelganger?
Unrelated to that scenario,
4. What's your favorite room/mob/item description that you've seen?
5. Was there a quest or area whose documentation you saw after taking on the Godrole that made you go "Oh, that makes more sense now."? (no need to say which if its spoilers, but I'm also asking about quests where the solution makes more sense now, or if there was a connection that we can see that you didn't know about beforehand.)
6. If You were given a monument, idol, or gift by Your Order, what would it be?
Luce
2
Library Rework Brainstorming
So on discord the topic of how currently subjects and assigning subjects to books is not incredibly helpful - in part due to how arbitrary they are, and how they can potentially create a backlog and as a result, many libraries simply ignore assigning subjects altogether. I'm putting this thread to brainstorm some for potential coding changes.
The goal of any changes in my mind would be: Making subjects a meaningful way to help people browsing for books on a particular subject, but without making it overly difficult to manage.
One proposal that I have is to create what I'm calling "Universal Subjects" - these are a list of subjects that are standardized in every library. Much like the design system where there are set categories or commodities, there are set subjects that are designated in this rework (not going to lie, this would be a MASSIVE undertaking just from just a sorting and consolidating perspective, ignoring any code involved.) When new books are added to the library for submission, the librarian (or aide) would set what Universal Subjects they are assigning to the book, and once published they would automatically be put into that universal subject across all libraries. Once published, a book cannot have its universal subject changed except by republishing it as a second edition, similar to how books cannot be edited without republishing.
For organizations that want to further fine-tune subjects with additional niches, I would suggest annex/library-wide subjects which would work as the current subject system works. Librarians may arbitrary create new subjects and assign books to them for their own library/annex. They may be freely changed but only exist in their own library (similar to how subjects currently are). Personally, I would not utilize this feature, but it allows those that want it additional fine-tuning.
An unrelated addition that somebody else suggested on discord, I'm going to include here: letting us add blurbs to books. This would be a field that a librarian can optionally set before publishing (possibly limited to 255 characters to keep it from getting out of hand), which would then show in the book when somebody checks LIBRARY INFO. You could think of it as being like the back or inside flap of a book that gives a high-level summary of what it is about. If possible, letting us search for books by text in the blurb would be especially amazing.
In summary, there are so many books in the library that finding things on a given topic can be quite difficult. The arbitrary nature of subjects at current makes it difficult to manage, and with no standardization across libraries, it creates a large amount of work on a single librarian to even attempt to manage, leaving most of us to just not bother. Some code changes could really help with that burden, and while I acknowledge the difficulty of dealing with the existing backlog of books to be brought into any sort of system - can at least start brainstorming ideas here.
The goal of any changes in my mind would be: Making subjects a meaningful way to help people browsing for books on a particular subject, but without making it overly difficult to manage.
One proposal that I have is to create what I'm calling "Universal Subjects" - these are a list of subjects that are standardized in every library. Much like the design system where there are set categories or commodities, there are set subjects that are designated in this rework (not going to lie, this would be a MASSIVE undertaking just from just a sorting and consolidating perspective, ignoring any code involved.) When new books are added to the library for submission, the librarian (or aide) would set what Universal Subjects they are assigning to the book, and once published they would automatically be put into that universal subject across all libraries. Once published, a book cannot have its universal subject changed except by republishing it as a second edition, similar to how books cannot be edited without republishing.
For organizations that want to further fine-tune subjects with additional niches, I would suggest annex/library-wide subjects which would work as the current subject system works. Librarians may arbitrary create new subjects and assign books to them for their own library/annex. They may be freely changed but only exist in their own library (similar to how subjects currently are). Personally, I would not utilize this feature, but it allows those that want it additional fine-tuning.
An unrelated addition that somebody else suggested on discord, I'm going to include here: letting us add blurbs to books. This would be a field that a librarian can optionally set before publishing (possibly limited to 255 characters to keep it from getting out of hand), which would then show in the book when somebody checks LIBRARY INFO. You could think of it as being like the back or inside flap of a book that gives a high-level summary of what it is about. If possible, letting us search for books by text in the blurb would be especially amazing.
In summary, there are so many books in the library that finding things on a given topic can be quite difficult. The arbitrary nature of subjects at current makes it difficult to manage, and with no standardization across libraries, it creates a large amount of work on a single librarian to even attempt to manage, leaving most of us to just not bother. Some code changes could really help with that burden, and while I acknowledge the difficulty of dealing with the existing backlog of books to be brought into any sort of system - can at least start brainstorming ideas here.
Uzriel
6
Re: Descriptions: From Divines to Mortals, and Beasts, and Items, and Mobs, and Places!
Zaps zaps zaps!!!
The strangest feeling of being watched overcomes you, yet before you can investigate you are met with an abrupt chill. Wet warmth follows as you look down to see crimson spreading across your chest, blossoming out from the forearm that has emerged from a tear in the aether to pierce your flesh. Then, the numbed shock is broken as you hear something wet sloshing against the ground. You stare forward as the world begins to dim, torturous pain the only thing keeping you conscious to see your heart crushed into shredded tatters. Your knees crumble at last, and your body falls lifeless to the ground in a growing pool of your own blood. Your final memory before death is the voice of Malmydia, laughing in derision.
You have been slain by Malmydia.
And the favour, to boot:
The strangest feeling of being watched overcomes you, yet before you can investigate you are met with an abrupt chill. Wet warmth follows as you look down to see crimson spreading across your chest, blossoming out from the forearm that has emerged from a tear in the aether to pierce your flesh. Then, the numbed shock is broken as you hear something wet sloshing against the ground. You stare forward as the world begins to dim, torturous pain the only thing keeping you conscious to see your heart crushed into shredded tatters. Your knees crumble at last, and your body falls lifeless to the ground in a growing pool of your own blood. Your final memory before death is the voice of Malmydia, laughing in derision.
You have been slain by Malmydia.
And the favour, to boot:
Essence surges beneath their skin, and the air surrounding them shimmers with a faint glittering light as the truefavour of Malmydia, the Chiurgeon dances about them in a nearly translucent fog.
Eritheyl
1
Re: Lusternian Divine AMA
1. Funny story, I had the start of a whole big story planned for my release. I REALLY wanted to release Lisaera in November 2021 before FFXIV Endwalker released (and then they went and delayed the expansion's release anywayAyisdra said:1. Why did you choose the release event that you did? Did you have any other ideas that you decided against for your release?2. What is your favorite way to describe a voice?3. Is there something you regret not doing as a mortal before you became an admin?4. What is something that surprised you when you first moved over to the admin side (that you can share)? What is something that still surprises you about being an admin (that you can share)?
) I initially planned to have my release event(s) happen mid-late month. And then Serenwilde announced a several-week festival for exactly the time frame I was hoping for. I'm very happy with the event - it was a really fun way to interact with current Seren characters and get a feel for how I wanted to write Lisaera without the stress of being in God-form (or officially confirmed to be Lisaera, even, with a conveniently unnamed NPC interacting during a year when we had lots of unnamed NPCs attending various player events).2. When she isn't fully manifested somewhere, Lisaera's voice is gossamer - light, insubstantial, soft, ethereal, etc. Easy to mistake for the wind, or for a spirit.
3. Nothing comes to mind! I would have liked my particular ephemeral call to have happened a month or two later than it did maybe, but I can't say I have any regrets at all. Maybe not winning Beauty?
4. Goodness, there is a lot I absolutely cannot share that surprised and still surprises me. I'm going to pass on this one, sorry!
Lisaera
3
Re: Lusternian Divine AMA
Ayisdra said:1. Why did you choose the release event that you did? Did you have any other ideas that you decided against for your release?2. What is your favorite way to describe a voice?3. Is there something you regret not doing as a mortal before you became an admin?4. What is something that surprised you when you first moved over to the admin side (that you can share)? What is something that still surprises you about being an admin (that you can share)?
1. Death and undeath mean a lot to Magnagora, especially. With the release of a healer goddess who would be aligned with the city, I thought it would be much more fun to have them examine it from a more scientific and medical perspective (in-universe) and get to experience a little bit of a murder mystery. What other ideas I may have had are documented for potential future use, so I'm afraid mum's the word on that.
2. Voices are a little difficult for my role, as Malmydia is historically described as a plain, unassuming Goddess. I use the measure of her voice, how fast/slow she speaks and reacts to things to indicate what her soft, measured voice may otherwise hide.
3. Much like Malmydia, I, the player behind her, have no regrets on past actions, accomplished or otherwise.
4. How wildly different colour configs are between people! I didn't realise some people changed say and emote colours. More in line with the present, something that surprises me (which I love to include) is what question a player will ask when given an opportunity to ask anything. The panic and freedom combining usually result in some very interesting combinations.
malmydia
6
(c) Iron Realms Entertainment 2012.