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Thread: [Dev's Diary] Christmas 2016

  1. #1
    Community Manager BB_Aeyline's Avatar
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    [Dev's Diary] Christmas 2016

    Details about the upcoming Christmas Event 2016

    Oh dear, it's that time of the year again! With a huge Christmas tree, reindeer and snow on your island you can help save Christmas (from the Croaker) and assist the villagers decorating their homes (in the Scenarios). Open all doors in the event calendar and win one of three new generals from Anteria.
    EVENT SCHEDULE
    Event Start: December 15th, ~00:01 GMT
    Start of removal phase: January 5th, ~00:01 GMT
    Complete deactivation: January 12th, ~00:01 GMT

    Event Widget: The small widget icon always shows you the remaining event time
    Resource conversions: Planned for CW 03/CW 04 - 2017
    Minimum requirement: Level 16



    QUICKLINKS TO FEATURE TOPICS
    Santa brings you features from previous years, but also glittering new content.
    New aspects & changes are highlighted in blue.




    Let the feedback bells ring in this dedicated discussion thread.



    Let it snow & Hohoho!
    BB_Aeyline
    Last edited by BB_Aeyline; 11-30-16 at 06:19 am.

  2. #2
    Community Manager BB_Aeyline's Avatar
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    Event Basics



    Presents
    The event resources can be used to acquire special items from the event shop.
    Your presents are listed in the "Event" tab of your storehouse.
    There are many opportunities to get event resources:
    • Rewards for Christmas Scenarios (Buff Adventures)
    • Two combat based Christmas Adventures (chance to get presents as additional reward)
    • Special Christmas Daily Quests and Event Quest chain rewards
    • Explorer treasure searches (chance to get presents on top)
    • Conversion of the Christmas collectibles in the Mayor's House
    • Event Calendar
    • Trade with players
    • Present packages in the Shop





    Once again, the Christmas event brings special event collectible items. Christmas collectibles will spawn on your island until the removal phase of the event. Up to ten collectibles, or in rare cases even more (random), each containing one or two items spawn on your island with every collectible item refresh.
    The Christmas collectible items can be converted into Presents in your Mayor's house until the complete deactivation removal phase of the event. Trading is possible until the complete deactivation removal phase of the event as well.







    Gifts, gifts, gifts...even buildings are waiting for you in the famous Event Calendar again!
    Accessing it is quite simple: Just click on the star icon floating next to your avatar.

    4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF DOORS
    After the event activation, you can open one door a day. There is a total of 21 doors.
    The calendar shows you the remaining time to open the current day's door.
    We removed the final reward. Instead, the calendar contains more valuable rewards in general.


    Type: Regular door
    Description: Can be opened on the specific date displayed or for gems afterwards
    Requirement: It doesn't matter if previous doors are still closed or not



    Type: Buff Adventure door
    Description: Can be opened anytime for free once the respective date was reached
    Requirement: It doesn't matter if previous doors are still closed or not



    Type: Special bonus door
    Description: Can be opened on the specific date displayed or for gems afterwards.
    Requirement: All previous doors need to be open



    Type: Celebration day door
    Description: Can be opened on the specific date displayed or for gems afterwards.
    Requirement: All previous doors need to be open
    Rewards: Very special rewards




    SPECIAL CALENDAR REWARDS
    Instead of a final reward, this year's calendar provides more valuable rewards in general. But that's not all: Behind one of the special doors, one of Three new Anteria Generals can be chosen!



    Name: Anslem
    Description: Beware of this warrior monk. He may call down lightning when grumpy.
    Skills: Attacks weak first, deals splash damage | Capacity/HP: 150 units/150 HP
    Trait: Dazzle - Reduces the accuracy of enemies to 0%.


    Name: Nusala
    Description: You don't want to mess with her extremely high archery skills.
    Skills: Attacks weak, first strike, deals splash damage | Capacity/HP: 165 units, 150 HP
    Trait: Explosive Ammunition - Your Bowmen, Longbowmen, Crossbowmen, Marksmen and Armored Marksmen deal Splash Damage and attack the weakest targets first.



    Name: Vargus
    Description: This particularly strong mercenary, but honorable man was betrayed by his brother.
    Skills: First strike, deals splash damage | Capacity/HP: 180 units, 200 HP
    Trait: Intercept - Enemy units deal 5% less damage and cannot attack your weakest units first.

    The rewards from last year are slightly different, but the Gingerbread house is still part of the calendar. An Arctic Iron Mine has been added to one of the doors, and the special Gold mine was removed.


    2 x Gingerbread House
    • Description: Residence for 40 settlers.
    • Upgrades: Can be upgraded to level 6 (see picture). Each upgrade increases the population space by 15 up to a total of 115.
    • Recurring: Tearing it down will return it to your Star Menu.



    The Arctic Iron Mine
    • Description: The Arctic Iron Mine produces Iron Ore at the same rate as a Level 5 Iron Mine.
    • Upgrades: Cannot be upgraded
    • Recurring: Depletes when the deposit is empty, tearing it down destroys it (will not return to Star Menu).


    You can get a huge variety of special items for presents in the event shop category.
    The buildings available for presents are listed here, recipes are posted here.
    All event shop offers are available until the final event deactivation.


    Specialist: Quartermaster Claus
    Type: Transporter General - cannot fight, but transports up to 1000 units
    Travel time: Reaches adventures in 2 minutes. Takes 90 minutes to return home.
    Price: 695 Presents
    Limit: 1*
    *: New limit 2016!



    Name: Krampus
    Effect: Use on a workyard producing coal (not epic) to increase the output to 400%
    Duration: 12 hours
    Price: 40 Presents

    Name: Grout (200)
    Effect: Resource required to upgrade buildings to level 6
    Characteristics: Acquisition is not limited, item is not tradable, but the resource is tradable as usual
    Price: 200 Presents

    Name: Christmas feast
    Effect: Speeds up the process of getting new settlers into your village to 600%
    Duration: 2 hours
    Price: 50 Presents

    Name: Cookies
    Effect: Boosts the production of a workyard up to 300%
    Duration: 32 hours
    Price: 80 Presents

    Name: The fermentation accelerator
    Effect: Boosts the production of a brewery up to 400%
    Duration:24 hours
    Price: 60 Presents

    Name: Hot Lemon Tea
    Effect: Boosts the speed of a village school up to 300%
    Duration: 24 hours
    Price: 60 Presents




    Name: Winter Paint
    Effect: Covers your island with a light coat of frost
    Duration: 7 days
    Price: 25 Presents
    Name: A Thousand Snowflakes
    Effect: Covers your island with snow
    Duration: 7 days
    Price: 50 Presents

    Name: Granite Transformation
    Effect: Converts Presents and Marble into Granite
    Minimum requirement: Level 7 (for Provision house)
    Available in: Provision house(s)


    Last edited by BB_Aeyline; 01-06-17 at 05:17 am.

  3. #3
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    Adventures




    Presents: The adventures provide Christmas presents during the event until deactivation.
    If you play them after the final event deactivation (see deactivation steps), adventures won't reward Presents anymore.


    2 CHRISTMAS ADVENTURES (COMBAT)
    Name: Save the Christmas Feast
    Minimum requirement: Level 26
    Description: The Croaker has stolen all the presents. Defeat the Croaker and retrieve the missing presents.
    Price: 95 Gems

    Name: The Stolen Sleigh
    Minimum requirement: Level 36
    Description: The Christmas Feast is in danger. The Croaker has stolen Santa’s sleigh. It is up to you to get it back.
    Price: 95 Gems



    Similar to last year, several Event Calendar doors contain special Christmas buff adventures.
    The main task of the "Buff Adventures" is to play Santa by delivering gifts to houses on multiple islands.
    The buff adventures are balanced for the following level groups, which are checked once you open a door: 16-25, 26-35, 36+. There are 6 special adventure doors in the calendar. Similar to the special adventures you already know from the "Summer event", camps on the map need to be "defeated" by using special buffs instead of troops.




    UNIT TYPES
    Special buffs are needed to spread joy, which turns sad people into happy ones.

    Unit nameBuff alternative 1Buff alternative 2Adventure levelIcon
    Sad childSimple toysSimple decorations16-25
    Worried adultChristmas sweetsSimple decorations16-25
    Upset childSophisticated toysSpecial decorations26-35
    Grumpy adultGift wrapped beverageSpecial decorations26-35
    Impatient childPony rideExpensive toys36+
    Bitter adultArt giftJewelry36+




    BUFF TYPES
    You can produce the required buffs in your Provision House(s).

    Buff nameResource 1Resource 2Icon
    Simple toys30 x Pinewood20 x Stone
    Christmas sweets14 x Wheat24 x Water
    Simple decorations10 x Marble20 x Hardwood
    Sophisticated toys10 x Bronze15 x Marble
    Gift wrapped beverage25 x Brew20 x Simple paper
    Special decorations5 x Nib2 x Gold ore
    Pony ride5 x Exotic wood20 x Tools
    Expensive toys12 x Gold ore

    Art gift10 x Iron Ore4 x Intermediate paper
    Jewelry12 x Gold ore

    Last edited by BB_Aeyline; 11-30-16 at 06:21 am.

  4. #4
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    Recipes unlock new permanent production options for your Rarity Provision House. Each recipe can only be acquired once.
    During the event, all Recipes can be obtained with Presents. You simply need to apply a Recipe on your Rarity Provision House to unlock the new permanent production option.




    Recipe name
    Recipe description
    Shop price
    Blueprint
    Production cost
    Buff
    Kitty lureArea buff (4x4) for up to 4 (Impr.) Farms, (Impr.) Silos and Mills
    Production x2 for 24 hours
    180 Presents450 Fish
    600 Meat
    50 Wool
    Forest OfferingsArea buff (4x4) for up to any 4 Woodcutters, Foresters and Sawmills
    Production x2 for 12 hours
    90 Presents200 Fish
    150 Bread
    75 Sausage
    Grilled SteakProduction x2 for 48 hours300 Presents500 Meat
    Aunt Irma's feastProduction x2 for 24 hours60 Presents150 Fish
    100 Bread
    50 Sausage

    Enrollment campaign

    Buff for the Combat Academy
    Production x2 for 6 hours

    300 Presents50 Coins
    10 Banner

    Double-time

    Buff for the Combat Weaponsmith
    Production x2 for 6 hours
    300 Presents50 Coins
    10 Kettle
    Marble mountain (Marble refill buff)Adds 50 to a non-depleted marble deposit180 Presents20 Herbs
    20 Scarecrow
    Paper millConvert: 250 simple paper to 50 intermediate paper180 Presents250 simple paper
    Small glueSpeeds up the production of the bookbinder by 20%90 Presents5 Bronze Cauldron
    100 Water
    50 Flour
    A trader's gift (Stone refill buff)Adds 100 to a non-depleted stone deposit120 Presents5 Barrel

    Stop Buff

    Removes the current buff

    120 Presents100 Simple paper
    100 Water

  5. #5
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    IMPROVED WATERMILL

    Description: Generates water three times as fast as a normal watermill.
    Star Menu: Goes back to your Star Menu when demolished
    Limit: 3 per player*
    Price: 595 presents
    Tradable: Yes
    Giftable: No


    CHRISTMAS TREE (SMALL)

    Description: A very nice Christmas tree that can be used to decorate your island!
    Star Menu: Goes back to your Star Menu when demolished
    Limit: Unlimited
    Price: 40 presents
    Tradable: Yes
    Giftable: Yes


    CHRISTMAS TREE (ANIMATED)

    Description: If you would like to decorate your city a little bit more, you can use this animated Christmas tree!
    Star Menu: Goes back to your Star Menu when demolished
    Limit: Unlimited
    Price: 60 presents
    Tradable: Yes
    Giftable: Yes


    SNOWMAN

    Description: Decoration item.
    Star Menu: Goes back to your Star Menu when demolished
    Limit: Unlimited
    Price: 40 presents
    Tradable: Yes
    Giftable: Yes


    DEERSTALKER HUT

    Description: Produces unlimited meat without consuming any resources or deposits.
    Star Menu: Goes back to your Star Menu when demolished
    Limit: 2 per player (new limit)*
    Price: 495 presents
    Tradable: Yes
    Giftable: No


    RECYCLING MANUFACTORY

    Description: Produces unlimited coal without consuming any resources or deposits.
    Star Menu: Goes back to your Star Menu when demolished
    Limit: 2 per player (new limit)*
    Price: 295 presents
    Tradable: No
    Giftable: No


    ARCTIC IRON MINE

    Description: Output like a level 5 level Iron Mine, doesn't use a building license. It needs to be placed on a free iron deposit.
    Star Menu: The building does not go back to the Star menu when demolished/depleted.
    Limit: Unlimited
    Price: 295 presents
    Tradable: Yes
    Giftable: Yes


    RARITY PROVISION HOUSE

    Description: A new Provision House that allows you to produce special refills and more.
    Star Menu: Goes back to your Star Menu when demolished
    Limit: 1 per player in total (if you already own one, you cannot buy another)
    Price: 995 presents
    Tradable: No
    Giftable: No


    *: New limit 2016: If you gathered this item last year, you can grab another one this year
    Last edited by BB_Aeyline; 11-30-16 at 08:47 am.

  6. #6
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    Achievements



    2016 Christmas event Achievements will become available with last year's tasks.
    You can unlock them during this event only.
    Presents are rewarded for successfully completing achievements.
    The amount depends on the difficulty of each task.



    The Achievements deal with many aspects of the event:
    • Finding presents during Explorer searches
    • Succeeding in Christmas quests
    • Crafting in your Mayor's house
    • Helping friends with buffs
    • Opening Calendar doors

  7. #7
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    WHAT HAPPENS AT THE START OF THE REMOVAL PHASE?
    (January 5th ~00:01 GMT)
    The core mechanisms of the Event are turned off with the start of the removal phase.
    • Info Widget/Countdown
      The event countdown gets replaced by a new countdown.
      The new counter indicates the remaining time of the removal phase until the event gets completely deactivated.
    • Christmas adventures
      Event scenarios from the calendar are canceled and cannot be started.
      Event scenario buffs cannot be produced anymore and can be reimbursed by being applied on the Mayor's house.
      You can still play the two shop Christmas adventures.
      If you finish an adventure before the event gets completely deactivated,
      special event related items like Presents are still rewarded.
    • Quests & Achievements
      The event Quest chains and Achievements will be deactivated.
      New Christmas event related tasks will no longer be triggered.
      Only completed Christmas event achievements remain visible.
    • Collectibles
      All event related collectibles stop spawning.
      Christmas collectibles spawned before the start of the removal phase can be collected.
      The respective resources (Bells, Candy and Gingerbread) will be hidden from the storage and trade.
      The resources get converted to gold coins later (see event resource conversion).
      The related Mayor house collection (Basket of Presents) will also be removed.
    • Treasure Search (Explorers)
      All treasure searches started before the start of the removal phase and returning before the deactivation have a chance to reward event currency. All treasure searches started during or after the start of the removal phase will not reward event currency anymore.
    • Misc
      The option to convert Marble and Presents to Granite inside the Mayor's house is no longer available.
      The event shop remains active and Presents can be used to get special items until complete event deactivation.
      The event calendar will no longer be accessible.
      Event related loading screen, Reindeer, UI skins, the giant Christmas tree, and music will be removed/set to default.







    WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DEACTIVATION?
    (January 12th, ~00:01 GMT)
    • Trade
      New trade offers containing event currency or Christmas collectibles can't be set up anymore.
      Active trade offers containing event currency or Christmas collectibles are set to invisible.
    • Shop/Event currency
      The Event shop category is not available anymore.
      Event currency is not visible in the Mayor's house anymore, and will be converted into Coins later.
    • Christmas Adventures & event buffs
      Event currency rewards from adventures are deactivated.
      • This applies to Christmas adventures from the shop. During the event, these adventures drop either buffs or Presents (on top of other loot). With complete deactivation, the chance to get Presents is removed from loot tables. As a result, buffs will always be chosen.
      • Christmas buff adventures from the Event Calendar are changed, too. They reward gold coins instead of Presents. With event resource conversion, the Christmas buff adventures will be deleted because you cannot finish them anymore.
      • Buffs needed for Christmas buff adventures can no longer be produced.
        Remaining buffs can be applied on your Mayor's house for a full refund of production resources.




    EVENT RESOURCE CONVERSION
    (planned for calendar week 3 or 4 (with the first game update in January)

    As usual, all event related resources will be converted into gold coins.
    No event resources are supposed to remain in the game.

    A script will run during the game update downtime to replace all event resources (especially Presents) with gold coins.
    The conversion applies to all items of that type, such as:
    • items in your warehouses and in your Star Menu
    • items included in public trades and friend trades
    • items attached to in-game mails, such as loot from adventures or explorer searches


    Conversion rates: The final amount will be rounded up.
    1 Present = 0.4 gold coins
    1 event collectible = 0.04 gold coins


    There is no action needed from your side, you will receive an in-game message with the corresponding amount of gold coins.
    The Christmas Scenarios from the calendar will be deleted during the conversion.


    Last edited by BB_Aeyline; 01-05-17 at 04:06 am.

  8. #8
    Community Manager BB_Aeyline's Avatar
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    Dev's Diary Update December 16, 2016.

    Dear Settlers,

    Thank you for spotting an information mismatch in the Dev's Diary. You were right, the amount of Christmas Collectibles that are being spawned on the home island is not always 9, and they do not always provide 2 resource items.

    With this in mind, the Dev's Diary has been adjusted so it reflects the actual mechanics:
    With each spawn of collectibles, you can find up to 10 (in rare cases even more) Christmas Collectibles providing resource items.

    We'll keep investigating this with upcoming events in mind.


    Have a great weekend!
    BB_Aeyline
    Last edited by BB_Aeyline; 01-06-17 at 04:55 am.

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