Dev Update: Dyes, Item Stacking - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

02 Nov 2006 at 23:04 - 1

Hi, there,

Here's are a few updates from various members of the dev team:

Black Dyes: I'm sure you know that black dyes were tweaked on Halloween, and I'm hearing from players that they're really pleased with the look, now.

Dye Recipes: I'm told that any combination you attained with the earlier dyes should be attainable now. Yes, it's true there is no Dye Remover any longer, and obviously grey dye doesn't offer the same function. But you really should be able to find a new combination that attains the same appearance.

Stacking Issues: It turns out that nearly all items in Nightfall have a special "flag" on them, and that flag has been preventing the stacking of items. Now, I told Jeff this morning that this isn't a universal situation, because, for instance, my Tanned Hides and my Cloth are stacking just fine. (He responded that perhaps not all items have the flag, which would account for some items remaining properly stackable.) The issue has been discovered and a fix has been added to an upcoming Live Build. I believe you may see the update on this as early as today. We apologize for the inconvenience with this. What a relief to be able to tidily reorganize our vaults and bags, huh?

Special Dye: The "To Dye For" mission (which you obtain in Kamadan) gives you a special dye, one is spawned differently, and this dye will not stack now or in the future. However, you will get that single dye just the one time, so if you keep it, you'll have just that one unstackable square. (I used mine right away, to avoid using up a space.)

AI Issues: We're addressing AI issues in the here and now, as reported in this thread. I will probably have more to share on that later.

This is not an all-inclusive list, so please don't despair if there is something about which you're concerned that didn't make this informal list. The list is just a "fly-by update" on a few issues that we know are concerns, and I'll post more as I am able.

Selena_Lionheart

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Nova Alliance [Nova]

R/

02 Nov 2006 at 23:07 - 2

Thank goodness your working on the AI, if I have to chase another enemy mesmer for 12 minutes I'm going to lose it...

Finn

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jun 2005

Imperial Fist

02 Nov 2006 at 23:32 - 3

Gaile, is there anything being done about the odd camera behaviour? It is literally making people sick while playing characters that are targetting many different things in a short period of time.

Clawdius_Talonious

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Screwston, Tejas

KOS

N/Me

02 Nov 2006 at 23:33 - 4

Good to know, my guildmate who holds all our dyes will be quite pleased when this update occurs

Sir Skullcrasher

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

California

15 over 50 [Rare]

W/Mo

02 Nov 2006 at 23:40 - 5

Thx for the update Gaile. I can't wait to get started on the Double Dye Weekend!

Cherno

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

Stars of Destiny

E/

02 Nov 2006 at 23:41 - 6

Thanks Gaile, nice to see the updates. For the next update could we perhaps get some info on the Grey Giant problems? (missing, originating character being deleted while it was a quest item and unable to get quest again when quest item given to another character, non-elonians, etc) and the autocamera?

Sergio Leone

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

Dallas, TX

The International Terrorists [USA]

W/Mo

02 Nov 2006 at 23:41 - 7

Thanks for the post Gaile, the update is pretty cool in my opinion. A few things here and there but I can't complain =)

Narutoscryed

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

In the woods

Elite Crew

W/E

02 Nov 2006 at 23:50 - 8

Awsome nightfall release btw.. i actually realize that now.. but man what in gods name possesed you guys to release an update that you obviously knew would spawn a ton of contraversy, almost at the same time as the game release..

did you guys plan it that way.. or did you just not think it through or what?.. if i had been you i woulda waited till like 1 or 2 days into release cause with that new update i know A TON of folks that chose not to buy nightfall..

not trying to cause an arguement or anything.. just lookin to see what your devs thought process was at the time..

all and all i guess it can be assumed that you people have a TON of faith in your fanbase.

VitisVinifera

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2005

Northern California

HoTR

N/Me

02 Nov 2006 at 23:53 - 9

fix the non-stacking imperial commendations/equipment requisitions/etc from factions

if it isn't too much of a hassle (which it is for me)

Naruto: the answer is that they never playtest anything (example: every update and holiday event)

edit: I just read the link that Gaile put up, and she has a bit more info, but basically, she's denying that there are any major ai problems, in fact, she's claiming it's acting the same way now as it ever did before 10/25, despite universal disagreement. The funny thing is she's soliciting ai complaints and bug reports while *simultaneously* denying there are any problems, that this is working exactly as intended.

lol

Amity and Truth

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2006

W/N

03 Nov 2006 at 00:14 - 10

About the AI targetting.
Negative. Not true.

I send Koss in, waited until every mob was attacking him and then came closer with my monk. The enemies stopped attacking koss and went for me - not a single AOE Spell came from my side, not a single spell. Just instant aggro the second my bubble slightly touched them.

Prior to 25 update, they would have kept on attacking Koss.
Tested, myth busted. I can now only guess that there is a bug in the system causing this behavior. But it is NOT working as was said it would in that thread.

[sarcasm]
I've explored 10% more of Elona just by chasing casters all across the map. Now that's great!
[/sarcasm]

Sir Skullcrasher

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

California

15 over 50 [Rare]

W/Mo

03 Nov 2006 at 00:19 - 11

This is one weird AI behavior. I was farming Grawls last night with my Wammo. As soon as i got a huge group upon me. I started to attack the healer grawl first. I don't use AoE Spells or AoE attack but they keep running away from me.

Irongate

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

03 Nov 2006 at 00:42 - 12

Thanks Gaile, that's awesome.

Count to Potato

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

Imagination Land

I Swear She Was Eighteen [Gwen]

W/

03 Nov 2006 at 00:42 - 13

AI was big problem for me in kourna, was running the whoel map after a priest, even with sprint he wouldn't stop

Cherno

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

Stars of Destiny

E/

03 Nov 2006 at 00:44 - 14

Yeah, I'm sure it's been mentioned in the countless other ai threads, but the healers kite like hell now.

How can gaile say that ther is no ai difference when they specificially mentioned in an update note that there was an update to monster ai in regards to aoe effects. Is it possible, just possible gaile, that with that change, some unintented ai problems/changes occured? You can report the denials of the devs all day long but all it takes is to go outside and fight some monsters to figure out that there is definately a change.

Whether or not it is the intended behavior of the change you made should be the issue, obviously the community (not just the vocal minority) don't like it. We don't want stupid AI that just stands there and lets us beat on them, we want a challenge, but there also needs to be a bit of predictability to how to deal with mobs. Teamwork, which the game seems to encourage so strongly goes out the window when there is utter chaos with every mob. It's hard enough sometimes fighting things with Henchies, worse with PUGS when not all the players are the same experience level or know how to cooperate well.

Anyway, don't want to encourage this to turn into another one of those threads and I am sure you have heard the same arguements coutless times, so we'll hopefully just continue on with the thread.

Narutoscryed

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

In the woods

Elite Crew

W/E

03 Nov 2006 at 00:53 - 15

I was just in pohgan passage mission.. where you have to protect that lvl 16 lady.. i went as a boon prot but i threw life bond in there for protecting here against the spike. prot spirit + life bond = tank.. anyways.. every mob targeted her first and every spell went her way.. so it is almost impossible to keep her alive because she gets the enchants ripped off her.. and then shortly after get spiked to death..

im not saying that its impossible.. its just bullcrap that no one else in the party is getting hit and she is the only one..

dansamy

Chasing Dragons

Join Date: May 2005

Lost in La-La Land

LFGuild

Mo/Me

03 Nov 2006 at 00:59 - 16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narutoscryed

I was just in pohgan passage mission.. where you have to protect that lvl 16 lady.. i went as a boon prot but i threw life bond in there for protecting here against the spike. prot spirit + life bond = tank.. anyways.. every mob targeted her first and every spell went her way.. so it is almost impossible to keep her alive because she gets the enchants ripped off her.. and then shortly after get spiked to death..

im not saying that its impossible.. its just bullcrap that no one else in the party is getting hit and she is the only one..

At least you know who to heal.

Sidra

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2006

CT

NITE

R/

03 Nov 2006 at 01:00 - 17

I was under the impression... that people were unhappy with the new black dye...

Thallandor

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Singapore

Seers of Serpents [SoS]

R/

03 Nov 2006 at 02:59 - 18

Thanks for the update, appreciate it.

unknown1

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

Mo/

03 Nov 2006 at 03:15 - 19

Thats good, i just recived the live update but my scrolls are still not stacking is that a thing that will be fixed later on or is Elona scrolls "flagged" and the flag will not be removed?

BurningFeetMan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

Sydney, Australia

OCAU

W/R

03 Nov 2006 at 04:40 - 20

Good to hear the dye/items stacking issue is being fixed! I'll be able to test in an hour or so.

xXa1

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2006

03 Nov 2006 at 05:30 - 21

gaile claims that the AI is working as intended ... i guess anet wants to simply frustrate and annoy everyone in pve.

"Away with you ..." said the Lich.

Feminist Terrorist

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

Oh Noes! The 'burbs!

03 Nov 2006 at 05:33 - 22

Heck, I'm still waiting for my ele's milk moustache to be fixed. *taps foot*

Moist Muffin

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

Running for my life because some idiot El aggro'd the beasties and then ran by my monk

GamerzUnlimited [gu]

Mo/W

03 Nov 2006 at 05:52 - 23

I guess you all want the healer monsters to sit down and die for you. I like the challenge. Just dont chase the healer into more agro. Maybe change yours or your hero's build to slow down the kite or speed up your attack. To much of a thought process. huh!

BurningFeetMan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

Sydney, Australia

OCAU

W/R

03 Nov 2006 at 06:07 - 24

W00t! My dyes are now stacking! All but one, which I suspect is the dye I got as a reward from the mission "To Dye For".

Cheers fella's!

garethporlest18

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

[HiDe]

W/

03 Nov 2006 at 06:12 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moist Muffin

I guess you all want the healer monsters to sit down and die for you. I like the challenge. Just dont chase the healer into more agro. Maybe change yours or your hero's build to slow down the kite or speed up your attack. To much of a thought process. huh!

To bad hero's don't use all their skills the right way huh?

SFlames

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2006

Final Strike

03 Nov 2006 at 06:59 - 26

I think there's a problem with the AI not being able to keep certain enchantments on themselves. For example, I set Vital Blessing on Koss for him to have extra health since I'd want him to be my meat shield. However, when I go out of an outpost/town, he doesn't cast it at all. I tried manually clicking the skill, but once the spell was finished casting, I'd see the icon on the bottom of his task bar for a split second, but disappears right away. Could you guys possibly fix this? Thanks in advance.

Sarevok Thordin

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Scotland

W/N

03 Nov 2006 at 07:26 - 27

Gaile, what about preorder items not being modable? >_> (it seems to happen with every preorder item now)

The Great Al

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

ALOA

E/Me

03 Nov 2006 at 07:39 - 28

Gaile - I love how we can preview dye before we use it, do you think in the future we will be able to preview dye (and armor!) BEFORE we buy it? I really want to know how my armor looks in white dye before I shell out the money for it

trielementz

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Spectra Sg [SpcA]

W/Mo

03 Nov 2006 at 07:44 - 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFlames

I think there's a problem with the AI not being able to keep certain enchantments on themselves.

Ugh. Was hoping this was fixed with the update:

Quote:

Fixed a bug that caused skills requiring upkeep to be removed whenever cinematics began.

This bugfix doesn't concern heroes then? The enchantments don't even stay on until whatever cinematics the update is referring to.

Ruby Lightheart

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Clan of Elders

R/Mo

03 Nov 2006 at 07:45 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narutoscryed

I was just in pohgan passage mission.. where you have to protect that lvl 16 lady.. i went as a boon prot but i threw life bond in there for protecting here against the spike. prot spirit + life bond = tank.. anyways.. every mob targeted her first and every spell went her way.. so it is almost impossible to keep her alive because she gets the enchants ripped off her.. and then shortly after get spiked to death..

im not saying that its impossible.. its just bullcrap that no one else in the party is getting hit and she is the only one..

I am having a simular problem with the Down the Bayou mision..they go right for Vidja and wipe him out first and totally ignore everyone else till he is dead and you fail the misson.

As much as I like Nightfall and love the challenges in it..I do have to say the AI needs some serious adjusting...AOE has been pretty much made useless and thats not fair to the casters out there.

Sol_Vie

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Boston, MA

Blood Of Orr [BoO]

03 Nov 2006 at 07:48 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clawdius_Talonious

Good to know, my guildmate who holds all our dyes will be quite pleased when this update occurs

Heh I'm that person for my guild, and I can say that yes I'm looking forward to seeing that the dyes are stacking properly again.

Hand of Shiva

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Phoenix, AZ of the USA

Exalted of the Unconquered Sun

W/Mo

03 Nov 2006 at 08:13 - 32

I'll save my issues with the AI for other threads, I'd like to thank the Devs for fixing what they have though. It was getting a little precarious with the amount of dyes i had stacking up all over the place.

However, I'm still having problems with the imperial commedations stacking. I noticed 1 other poster said they were having problems with this, is anyone else having this issue or should i like burn em and try getting more?

Also that camara thing is getting to be a problem. Myself and a friend are getting extremely dizzy from the way it whips around, and with the inclussion of "improved" AI the camara is whipping around in every which direction now as my party members scatter to handle it. Please ANet a fix for this if you will, even if its a little switch that turns it on and off.

THANK YOU!

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

03 Nov 2006 at 08:23 - 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hand of Shiva

I'll save my issues with the AI for other threads, I'd like to thank the Devs for fixing what they have though. It was getting a little precarious with the amount of dyes i had stacking up all over the place.

However, I'm still having problems with the imperial commedations stacking. I noticed 1 other poster said they were having problems with this, is anyone else having this issue or should i like burn em and try getting more?

Also that camara thing is getting to be a problem. Myself and a friend are getting extremely dizzy from the way it whips around, and with the inclussion of "improved" AI the camara is whipping around in every which direction now as my party members scatter to handle it. Please ANet a fix for this if you will, even if its a little switch that turns it on and off.

THANK YOU!

Could you please PM me the name of your character(s) having trouble stacking the imperial commendations after the update? This should be fixed, and if you're still finding items not stacking, we'd like to investigate further. Thanks!

Firebaall

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

03 Nov 2006 at 08:29 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Could you please PM me the name of your character(s) having trouble stacking the imperial commendations after the update? This should be fixed, and if you're still finding items not stacking, we'd like to investigate further. Thanks!

This is also happening for Monastery Credits.

PM sent with my character name that can demo this for you.

Anarkii

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

-None-

R/Me

03 Nov 2006 at 08:35 - 35

Quote:

On 10/31/06, we fixed that bug, and now the AI targeting system once again works the same way it has ever since the release of Prophecies.

That may have been the intention, but it is blatantly obvious for any observant person that it is not so.

(a)
Earlier: Tank runs in; everyone else stays way out of aggro bubble. Mobs start attacking the tank; everyone else moves in to heal/nuke/etc; tank KEEPS aggro, unless there is an AoE scatter caused

Now: Tank runs in; everyone else stays way out of aggro bubble. Mobs either ignore the tank and head straight for the backlines or, attack the tank TILL the backline goes in range, wherein they head for the casters brushing off the tank.

Quote:

The true AI change on 10/25/06--which some players may be finding unsettling or annoying and may be calling a "bug"--is a change to melee monsters that causes them now to back off. That is new

That isnt happening. The enemy monk runs off wildly if anyone looks at him funny. The melee mobs run around hitting whoever they feel like.

I've been a firm supporter of GW and ANet policies and changes, and thats why I'm still playing this game since release. But the current AI makes the game too frustrating.

For simple testing try out two things

(a) A 3-man group consisting of tank, monk and nuker. Aggro any group of level 24 mobs. See if its possible for the tank to hold the aggro of the whole group.
(b) Take 7 henchies/heroes and go outside Gates of Fear and aggro a group of demons. Watch the melee mobs head straight for your casters.

It is obviously not unplayable.If this change is intended, some players will quit while others adapt. But claiming that this is not happening at all is out of line.

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

03 Nov 2006 at 08:47 - 36

I've sent over notes to QA and the Design Team, and they tell me they are tracking each to find out if there are bugs in the programming that might cause some of the odd behaviors that have been reported.

Again, thank you for letting us know, and we'll keep looking into this.

explodemyheart

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

Indiana

Gui1d War스 P01ic트 [Pr으]

Mo/

03 Nov 2006 at 09:42 - 37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Special Dye: The "To Dye For" mission (which you obtain in Kamadan) gives you a special dye, one is spawned differently, and this dye will not stack now or in the future. However, you will get that single dye just the one time, so if you keep it, you'll have just that one unstackable square. (I used mine right away, to avoid using up a space.)

This quest appears to be broken now.

Kais Vivelame

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2005

W/Mo

03 Nov 2006 at 09:44 - 38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Could you please PM me the name of your character(s) having trouble stacking the imperial commendations after the update? This should be fixed, and if you're still finding items not stacking, we'd like to investigate further. Thanks!

PM sent. Doesn't work yet for me, my old Equipment Requisitions have the label "quest item" and not the new ones, and I can't stack them.

(screenshots taken this morning *after* the last game update)

korcan

noobalicious

Join Date: Jun 2006

03 Nov 2006 at 09:56 - 39

im having similar problems with requisitions, totems, & commendations being unstackable.

Amity and Truth

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2006

W/N

03 Nov 2006 at 12:37 - 40

Thanks for atleast acknowlediging that there might be a problem with the AI.
There is another question though (one which is off topic but of concern to the community).

Is the Elite Mission of Nightfall included and working as intended?
Furthermore, is it possible to meet the requirements for it as of currently? (as in, no bug preventing that)
I'm not asking where it is or how to reach, but simply if it is there at all - people are having doubts about it being included and with all those titles, explorers and questers there should have been atleast one who discovered the entrance to it.
(i know this question is off topic here but i don't know where else to ask with hopes of getting an answer on it)

A short "Yes, working" or "No, not yet included" would be great. Thanks in advance.