2012

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07-27-12 08:29 am
BB_Katealyst

Dev's Diary 7/27/2012

We’d like to give you an update regarding the current and future development of the Settlers Online.
The graphics and design are not final and may change.

August 16th Update!

DAILY GUILD QUESTS
On August 16th, the first part of the new guild quest feature will be implemented: The daily guild quest.

There will be a new guild quest available every day. It consists of a main task for the entire guild and of a personal sub-quest for each member. The main quest is the same for all guild members. Every active guild member (active means: logged in during the last 2 days) gets a personal task. This personal sub quest may differ between the members. When a player fulfils his personal tasks he gains a personal reward. The guild quest is active until the overall main task is completed or until the guild leader cancels it. When a specific percentage of the guild members finished their personal sub quests, the main quest is completed. If the global quest is done, all pending personal sub quests become obsolete and the players are rewarded with experience points depending on their personal level. The guild quests are a new opportunity to gather XP. Simultaneous daily guild quest are not possible, there can only be one active daily guild quest. A guild needs at least 20 members to be eligible for this new feature.

• The daily guild quests are only the first part of this new feature. Further types of guild quests will be implemented later on.

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/...mpire/1-11.jpg

QUESTBOOK REDESIGN
The players who visit our test server probably already know that the quest book has been redesigned. If you have no idea what the test server is, click here to get access! One very important change is that all quests need to be finished by pressing a button.
We also have a rather handsome NPC who will guide you through your quests!

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/...pire/quest.png

MOVE BUILDING
Besides your Mayor’s house, warehouses, gem pits, fields and wells, it will be possible to move buildings on August 16th. You can decide whether to use gems or resources to move buildings. The amount needed depends on the building and its level. Compared to the test server the amount of gems needed has been reduced for the live version.

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/...Empire/3-7.jpg

GARRISON: ASSIGN TROOPS
Assigning troops to a general will become more convenient. When adding troops the slider automatically stops as soon as the maximum amount of military units is reached.

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/...Empire/4-6.jpg

Economy overview (approx. Aug)
Can be tested on tsotesting.com (7/27/2012).
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/...re/ecoover.png

Further outlook
• New trade system (approx. Sept)
As with every feature, this feature had to surpass several QA stage gates. Our tests showed that the new trade system produced some issues if under heavy server load. Therefore we had to delay the new trade system. This new trade system should now be available in September.
• Combat prediction (approx. Sept)
• New tutorial and quest chains for all levels & new help window (approx. Sept)
• Fix for the online display of friends
• New info window including change log, in game news, events, etc. (approx. Nov)
• Mercenaries (approx. Oct)
Mercenaries will be troops that you can purchase and use on an adventure island. They are “disposable” which means that they will not return to your homeland once used.
• Facebook feature (approx. Oct)
• Economic adventures (approx. Nov)
• Features for Level 50+:
Level cap raise + science system + new buildings (approx. Nov + Dec)
• Halloween event (Oct)
• Christmas event (Dec)
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/...Empire/5-6.jpg

Estimated for the end of 2012 / 1st quarter of 2013
• Weekly guild quests
• New mail window
• Filters for the star menu – that will put things in order, finally you can filter away all that stuff you don’t care about.
• PVP

Please keep in mind that the dates are estimations and may differ. The features have to fit our needs in terms of quality and technical aspects and they have to pass several test phases (one is the pre-staging test which you’re welcome to participate in).
07-27-12 08:50 am
Nadeem

Too cool.... You guys working so hard...
07-27-12 09:03 am
adadoftwonunn

Love it
07-27-12 10:21 am
dburgd

I have to agree that this is something to look forwrd to. Awsome and thanks
07-27-12 10:28 am
bombcar

Very nice. More quests look good, and I can't wait to move some buildings.
07-27-12 10:56 am
Psilo

This is all AMAZING!
07-27-12 11:12 am
TheSource

The layout looks alot better. Can they put a auto feature for putting tools into mines. I dont want to be asked would you like to throw tools in for each mine I do it to.
I also prefered clicking on a mine or building and being able to destroy it instead of the little bomb icon from the roads icon. just suggestions for things that made the game more quick.
07-27-12 12:31 pm
BEERBELLY

Zero mention of PVP until the very end....then its just a footnote it MIGHT happen Q1 2013. If it comes at all it will be a let down and sounds OVER 6 months away still...sad. Kinda lame that guild quests are coming before the new trade system. BTW adding a Facebook feature is a negative...adds no value.
07-27-12 12:52 pm
FuzzyKittenMeow

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEERBELLY

Zero mention of PVP until the very end....then its just a footnote it MIGHT happen Q1 2013. If it comes at all it will be a let down and sounds OVER 6 months away still...sad. Kinda lame that guild quests are coming before the new trade system. BTW adding a Facebook feature is a negative...adds no value.

No value from facebook? You understand what the goal of a business is, right?
07-27-12 02:32 pm
ShuttlePilot

Looking good and nice to look forward to. My only hesitation is about the guild quests and the Guild Leader being the only one who can cancel the quest. Because BB is still (to my knowledge) not allowing the transfer of Guild Leader permissions and status to another player in the guild -- those guilds whose Leaders have given over leadership to other players (in name -- please see "current guild leaders" thread in the Guilds section of the forum) and have for all intents and purposes left their guilds, are really going to have trouble with this. Their "active leader" (as opposed to their original leader) will not be able to cancel any Guild Quests if the need should arise. Kate, would you please bring this issue up to the devs?

Thank you so much,
ShuttlePilot
07-27-12 03:05 pm
Xenith

Any update on Guild Bank/Guild Castle?
07-27-12 05:34 pm
Lora

ShuttlePilot is so right about the guild quest and only the leader being able to cancel it, that needs to be fixed so maybe the nexted rank down, or 2 others appointed by the leader could do it.
I do love all that is coming.
07-27-12 05:42 pm
Kingdom-Emperor

The Best Update (so far...)!

This is the Best Update. Keep it up, Ubisoft & BlueByte!!
07-27-12 11:05 pm
MANIAK

Any hints on what we'll be able to buy with the pumpkins and gifts during the halloween and xmas event ?
07-28-12 06:49 am
Magic_Vergil

im gona buy gems soon keep up u guys i love it the new coming so cool
07-28-12 08:08 am
ACEFOOK

I Hate Facebook!!

NOooooo . . . Not Facebook!!! :cool:
07-28-12 11:44 am
Wujcio

i'm not too worried about PvP - as expected (at least by me) PvP in this game needs to be approached very carefully. Basically any form of "pay to win" will be ultimately a failure, if the outcome somehow reduces other players ability to play (by destroying their island in any way for example)....

proposed/upcoming changes look great tho! oh...no Olympics event? oh well cant have it all...
07-28-12 05:38 pm
barbergirl

excelent game !
07-29-12 11:20 am
Castler

pvp last...sigh!
07-29-12 07:04 pm
Ssvossk

You just can't please some people....
07-29-12 07:36 pm
bombcar

I would like to see an "unload troops" button on each general, clicking it would remove all troops from that general.
07-29-12 08:28 pm
Carcator

I had my doubts about the long-term viability of this game, but if the developers can stick to the schedule that has been outlined I will be happily playing this game for quite some time.
07-30-12 11:02 am
kellar

upgrades

this all looks so awesome can not wait for this to take place its going to be a long wait.
not looking forward to pvp played thos types of on line games before didnt care for them thats y i came to this game i hope u change your mind and concentrate on the bigger picture thanks so much for all u do.
07-30-12 12:15 pm
Whitereign

it's a shame to have a price on moving buildings, considering that as u learn the game the realization of where placement is becomes apparent. just saying, re locating should be expected.
07-31-12 03:04 am
Hannahlv

In real life you cannot move (rebuild) without paying :P
07-31-12 10:15 pm
Allestra

all is awesome...I play on the test server and am very much looking forward to the changes going live....my only wish would be that the storage buildings be movable also....oh well can't have it all I guess...:)
08-01-12 06:05 am
LadyTerra

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShuttlePilot

Looking good and nice to look forward to. My only hesitation is about the guild quests and the Guild Leader being the only one who can cancel the quest. Because BB is still (to my knowledge) not allowing the transfer of Guild Leader permissions and status to another player in the guild -- those guilds whose Leaders have given over leadership to other players (in name -- please see "current guild leaders" thread in the Guilds section of the forum) and have for all intents and purposes left their guilds, are really going to have trouble with this. Their "active leader" (as opposed to their original leader) will not be able to cancel any Guild Quests if the need should arise. Kate, would you please bring this issue up to the devs?

Thank you so much,
ShuttlePilot

Not only that, but if the reward are guild buffs, who is going to be able to place them? Right now, only the guild leader can receive the memberships, which is the only "buff" currently.
08-06-12 04:47 pm
lordGrevis

yea this game is getting more involved which is very good for the like of me and other people
08-07-12 07:48 am
Chipmunks

awesume
08-07-12 07:50 am
Chipmunks

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEERBELLY

Zero mention of PVP until the very end....then its just a footnote it MIGHT happen Q1 2013. If it comes at all it will be a let down and sounds OVER 6 months away still...sad. Kinda lame that guild quests are coming before the new trade system. BTW adding a Facebook feature is a negative...adds no value.

the answer to your post is ( LEAVE THE GAME )
no 1 stopping you! :D
bye - bye!
08-16-12 04:40 am
Nutria

Nice new features, but it would be nice to have some sort of expansion to other islands (not necessarily conquering other players) with some randomness in resource settings. Perhaps after level 45 a quest that brings you on a journey to another island that needs conquering. I will say the new interface is much nicer, but the flashy twinkling stuff makes it look a little Disneylandish.
08-16-12 04:47 am
Day_Walker

wtg shuttle . if a guild leader has to leave the game for whatever reason he should be able to transfer leadership to another and keep the guild growing. without that option the guild is left with a leader who don't have the power to do what a leader can do,
08-16-12 10:08 am
Jason0627

edit put this in the wrong place
08-16-12 04:50 pm
schumi

• "New trade system (approx. Sept)
As with every feature, this feature had to surpass several QA stage gates. Our tests showed that the new trade system produced some issues if under heavy server load. Therefore we had to delay the new trade system. This new trade system should now be available in September." I know with all new systems bug's need to be worked out, and the game is doing a good job. Many people are really looking forward to a more user friendly trade system. Would like to see this at the top of the list. Thanks for the improvements, moving buildings is great.
08-19-12 06:46 am
KeyMaster

MOVE BUILDING

Besides your Mayor’s house, warehouses, gem pits, fields and wells, it will be possible to move buildings on August 16th.

To be a little more clear, I think this should read "Except your Mayor’s house, warehouses, gem pits, fields and wells, it will be possible to move buildings on August 16th.
11-10-12 02:55 pm
ZBest

Any chance we get a new diary? We've seen some things (new trade, online display), and other things tested (new quests). But mercenaries and economic quests are falling behind schedule.