UnderlightSOT Press Release

Below is a log of the press release for Tuesday September 11th @ 7:30PM PST / 10:30 PM EST, just in case you missed it. This log was taken from irc://irc.ixios.net/ShadesOfTruth

Chat Log

• Python* Welcome to the Shades of Truth press release discussion!

-->| Tary (~Harrr@902E2698.66121D8E.6FECDC7A.IP) has joined #ShadesOfTruth

<Acerbity> First, i'm going to have every GM introduce themselves, and what they do here on the team.

<Pylon> Hello! I am Pylon, I am on the teaching team.

<Acerbity> I am Acerbity, I am the roleplay lead and manage most general operations. In the absence of Rabbit, Rabbit is the Teaching Lead.

<TeeZer> Teezer here, representing the teaching team and various ill s**t :)

<Crescendo> Hello. I am Crescendo, the quiet one (apparently). I'm on the Roleplaying team.

<Python> Hello! I am Python! I am your friendly neighborhood tech team member!

<Lycaon> I'm Lycaon, or Lyc-AFK usually. I am the spokesman monkey for the thousands in the basement that are cranking out the new server code.

<Cardamom> Hello, my name is Cardamom and I have been with the GM team for a long period of time. I look forward to meeting you all at some point in the future.

<Pyramid> Hello. Pyramid here! Roleplay Team and somehow suckered into Public Relations. Oh, and Pylon's arch nemesis! A pleasure to serve you all!

* Pylon glares at Pyramid

<Acerbity> This is our complete GM team, everyone made a special effort to be here tonight, because tonight is probably the most important night in the development of Shades of Truth.

<Acerbity> As I have been saying for six weeks, we went into a crunch time for all teams, and all of us have been hard at work, some even night and day, to come as far as we have gotten in such a small amount of time.

* Lycaon slaps ChanServ around with a bit of Lyra code.

<Acerbity> Tonight, I am proud and absolutely ecstatic to announce that on October 12th at 9pm EST, we will be launching Shades of Truth.

<Cardamom> Let that sink in.

<Acerbity> I'll allow a moment for cheers of joy.

* Python boos

* Spex holds back a tear

<cookihomework> joy, i'll be in class

<Mydnight> Joy, I'll be writing papers haha

<MaximII> QRP.....finally

<Cypress> Woot!

* Pylon cheers

<Spex> lol

<mrmcshade> Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Woot!!

<Devin> woot, I wont

<DiscoWay> Hehe ditto, just in time for fall term =p

<Kelli-Lynn> so we can start thumping mares then too?

<Jared> VOTE FOR PEDRO

* Flagg twirls his fingers around enthusiastically =P

<Jantoc> why a friday night? man. i'll be gone

<Socks> Whatever, SAVE FERRIS first, dude.

<cookihomework> that's tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan

<Jared> o rite

<Kelli-Lynn> thanks lyc and your other victims

<Kirtes_omathear> YOU ARE MY FANTASY!

<Flagg> Nice reference, Socks

<Jiovanni> What happened? I missed it.

* Jantoc slaps cookihomework around a bit with a moldy agoknight tentacle

<Jantoc> OCTOBER cooki

<Socks> Thank you, Flagg. :-)

<cookihomework> oops

<cookihomework> what I get for doing three things at once ;x ok

<Flagg> And, if I have my schedule right

<Flagg> I'll be out of town that week for a music competition.. heh

<Flagg> oh no.. wait.. that's november 12

<Acerbity> I hope that everyone else is as overjoyed as we are to have been able to announce this tonight.

<Acerbity> Each team has a bit of a teaser for everyone tonight before we enter the Q and A session.

<Acerbity> Or should I say, a TeeZer.

<Acerbity> Oh, ho, ha... bad joke.

<Acerbity> I'll begin with the roleplaying team announcement.

<Acerbity> The Roleplaying team has worked long and hard to create a plethora of new systems, most relating to houses, for players to enjoy.

<Acerbity> Unfortunately, we lacked the tools to rename all of the rooms that we wanted to, and so there are still remenants of days long forgotten laying around. However, we have added in some fun new concepts to make up for these flaws that I believe will be exciting and add a greater level of depth to Shades of Truth.

<Acerbity> We hope to offer a depth of roleplaying that has yet to be defined in any online game, and we will do our best to ensure that we come through for you on that.

<Acerbity> Our GM team did the coding and set up some systems, but only YOU can define what Shades of Truth truly becomes.

<Acerbity> As a final note...

<Acerbity> I would like to mention that we will be supporting the launch of the game with what we hope will be an enjoyable, entertaining, intellectually stimulating roleplay that will span on all through the wee hours of the night!

<Acerbity> And now, I will hand it over to the technical team.

<Lycaon> I'm going to keep my announcement short. As the server coder, there isn't a whole lot I can tell you other than it's going well, and the performance of the new server program is amazing compared to Lyras. I'd like to see how the dialup people fight versus broadband users now :p Python is doing all the magic with the client, so I'll let her have the floor.

<Python> Hello!

<Python> Quiet crowd!

* Lycaon butts in for one more comment.

<Lycaon> For those of you that don't know, using the code Lyra provided for the server required extremely specific configuration of an extremely specific operating system with (you guessed it) very specific tools installed. So after months of futile efforts at getting it to run, we decided to code the server from the ground up. It's been going very well.

<Python> Would anybody like to hear a few of the gameplay changes that have been made with the client?

<Flagg> No!

<Pylon> Yes!

<Kahage> No

<Cypress> blade changes?

<Python> The 'no's have it.

<Python> On to the teaching team!

* Crescendo laughs.

<Acerbity> I want to know, Python!

<Crescendo> ...and it was implied that -I- am a b*tch!

<Pyramid> Pylon doesn't have a vote in the matter, just for your information.

<Python> Alright! I will spill some beans!

<Python> First and foremost the one I am most excited about!

<Python> Drain Self has been altered to once again be a most useful art, however, it is our feeling it will be very balanced in its uses.

<Python> Just remember there is a common theme in Underlight, risk versus reward.

<Python> Next! Dreamstrike will be an art once again! It will, however, be a complete roleplaying tool with potentially severe consequences for failure.

<Python> Rejoice!

<Cardamom> Uh oh, risks galore!

* Pyramid feigns a smile at Pylon. "You're first!"

<Python> Well, rejoice quietly because I am not finished!

<Lycaon> Can I just have an exp=absed slot machine in Threshold?

<Python> Have you ever wanted an art to be a major art? Or maybe an art to be a minor art?

<Python> Well, you might have your wish!

* Lycaon signs Python's name up for Carnival Barker at the next fair.

<Python> How about arts that you feel were underpowered? Or perhaps unfair to the evoker?

<Python> Several of those have also been altered!

<Python> Do you wonder if we are capable of adding new arts? Well fatesenders will love their newest toy!

<Python> And guess what!

<Python> It is the only truly useful uncounterable effect art in Underlight!

<Python> Do you like to use a blade?

<Python> I am sure you will be very pleasantly surprised!

<Python> Also! Have you made a suggestion for Shades of Truth? If you have it may have been one of the many player suggestions that have been implemented!

<Acerbity> And now, Teezer representing the teaching team will tell us what they have been working on!

<Lycaon> Comments, suggestions, and the like can be sent to support@ixios.net

<Python> Finally! I have been given permission to give the full scoop on one art change! Make sure to ask later!

<TeeZer> the advancement system in Shades of Truth will be recognizable to old players of Underlight. It is still player driven and GM controlled, to some extent, however changes has definately been made, and we believe, for the better. some TeeZing as follows

<TeeZer> There is now more structure to the process of apprenticeship for halo, which should eliminate a lot of misunderstandings and grief while at the same time keeping the standards of rp inventive teaching at a very high level

<TeeZer> have you felt that foci alone is not enough to make your character stand out from others? new things will be introduced, to further diustinguish one character from another, and specialize them even further

<TeeZer> tired of your power gaming neighbourhood art junkie passing you in levels? inShades of Truth, your roleplaying skills should directly impact your advancement rate

<TeeZer> what this all means, you will have to find out in game. starting the 12th of the next month * TeeZer grins teezingly

<Pyramid> Such a teeZe...

<Acerbity> It is now time for the Q and A session.

<Acerbity> Please PM me if you wish to speak, and I will direct the question to the appropriate team and give you voice priveledges

<Acerbity> To clarify, PM me the question.

<Lycaon> Before the Q&A, I'd like to announce to you all that once again, there will be a beta test of the new software in approximately two weeks. This isn't a tenative announcement date that will be puched back repeatedly. There will very definitely be a chance to see the new stuff before we go live :)

<Lycaon> Pushed, not puched o.0

<Lycaon> PUCH!

<Acerbity> Randar, Technical Team.

<Randar> Will there be a prelaunch character creation available a few days before the 12th so the server doesnt get all jammed up when everyone tries to create a character at the same time?

<Lycaon> There will be, although I'm not worried about server performance. We're working with hardware a little better than what Lyra had, according to some of their documentation. On a side note, I'd like to stress that Shades of Truth is a clean slate. Using your old Underlight name, or being X dreamers descendant/grandson/granddaughter, etc, is an absolute no-no.

<Acerbity> Jared, Technical Team

<Jared> LOL HAI

<Jared> [21:15] <Jared> I would like to know what the plans are for the PP system. It has been stated that RP will be as equally rewarding as powerleveling, but most of the "powerlevelers" towards the end were actually "powerPPers" who had hollow RP's.

<Lycaon> While we haven't set in stone how we're going to handle PPs, we're currently considering giving players PPs as an RP reward to spend as they see fit, instead of just getting experience rewards like Lyra used to.

<Lycaon> There may be special cases where we may give players PPs to give to others, but for the most part, they will not get the daily PP pool to give to others. Also, although we don't see players collecting hundreds of PPs in this manner, the ability to Sphere with them has been removed, as several players proved how unbalancing it is.

<Jared> Sweet. <Acerbity> Technical team provides the answer, teaching team provides the solution

<Acerbity> Actually, both teaching and roleplaying provide the solution, I apologize

<Pyramid> Speak!

<Kirtes_omathear> oh sorry question of mine was answered....

<Acerbity> Roleplaying team

<mrmcshade> I was wondering how many house will be open at launch.. and which ones?

<Acerbity> Unfortunately, we can't clarify on either question due to fear of compromising roleplaying quality.

<Lycaon> In other words, it's a secret ;)

<Acerbity> Roleplaying team.

<Prall> What kind of changes to the house structure or system have been made?

<Acerbity> I'm glad you asked.

<Prall> and hi. changes sound good so far :-)

<Acerbity> There will be some distinct differences between houses in Underlight and houses in Shades of Truth.

<Crescendo> Note: please have your question ready to copy/paste when your question is announced.

<Acerbity> First and foremost, alot more emphasis will be placed on houses in Shades of Truth.

<Acerbity> As we stated in the prior IRC discussion...

<Acerbity> It will be alot harder to play as a freespirit than as a house member, and alot more dangerous.

<Acerbity> Something that we felt was an issue in Underlight was the lack of diversity in house structure.

<Acerbity> We did our best to rectify this, by placing in guidelines that, when followed, will ensure that every single house is not only run differently...

<Acerbity> But also has a built-in means for house members to oust their own leaders.

<Acerbity> To put the icing on the cake, every single house should work differently. IE, have different terms/ways to oust leaders.

<Acerbity> Roleplaying team

<Kelli-Lynn> since rp is the focus and ulitmate goal... will it be finally enforced?

<Acerbity> Underlight was an intense graphical roleplaying game, and Shades of Truth will be the same. Roleplaying will be further enforced in Shades of Truth by gearing systems less towards "collect this and combine it with that..." and more towards gearing systems primarily towards unique and creative roleplaying.

<Crescendo> In other words, yes.

<Python> I agree with yes.

<Acerbity> Teaching Team.

<Rexxile> I heart kirtes!

<Rexxile> I was curious about the process in which one will go about receiving train and how will train be introduced to players in its very beginning.

<TeeZer> train is still obtained from GMs. however the apprenticing process will still be in the hands of the players. we feel that the mentor/apprentice relationship is a greatasset to the game, and although some rules have changed, that isstill in place

<Rexxile> That didn't really answer my question :)

<Acerbity> That is as specific as we can be

<Lycaon> I guess the issue is, how are the first players going to receive Train.

<Acerbity> Technical Team.

<kahage> Are items still going to be gened as they were or is there going to be a new way to gain items

<Lycaon> They're still genned. Forge in the game will still have it's place, but it will be restricted to it's original purpose as a roleplay tool and not an item factory like so many players made it.

<Lycaon> Well, I should say enforced rather than restricted.

<kahage> Thank you

<Lycaon> Many have been changed as far as location, quality, and cycle times. Mares will still have their own goodies, but nonhunters will find that genning isn't quite as laborious any more.

<Acerbity> The next question which I received in large quantities is...

<Acerbity> Python, give them the details on that art!

<Python> What art?

<Python> I do not know anything about an art!

<Pyramid> The Art.

<Acerbity> You know what art you scaly witch!

<Python> Oh THAT art!

<TeeZer> he means push, right?

<Python> Would everybody like to know exactly what has changed with Drain Self?

<Pyramid> You know, you keep it up and you'll be next to be auctioned of on Ebay.

<Python> Speak up!

<Crescendo> I think she's already passed that point and made it to "sold into slavery."

<Python> Alright! We have listened to your discussions on the art of Drain Self and we believe we have found a happy medium!

<Python> First of all and most importantly, the ability to Force Restore has been returned to the art!

<Python> With this, the base elemental points for the art have been increased to give the target a chance if they are being force restored. In the old Underlight, you would be given a base of one focal point plus one per plateau.

<Python> This has been altered to be a base of ten plus two per plateau.

<Python> So if you are force restored, you at least have a chance to survive unlike before!

<Python> Also, my favorite part!

<Python> A recharge element has been added to Drain Self! When the art is unplateaued, you have a 10% chance of losing all of your focal points in the selected element and giving them to your target. This backfire chance is reduced by 1% per plateau.

<Python> So, if you have an unplateaued Drain Self, be extremely careful when you force restore another dreamer or you may be floating while they are restored!

<Python> Rejoice!

<Pyramid> Sounds exciting!

<Pylon> YAY!

<Crescendo> W00T!

<kahage> Whooo!

<Cypress> Sounds good to me

<Crescendo> I wonder how many characters are going to be SM now?

<Fireball> IS blast still going to suck?

<Acerbity> Who knows?

<Kelli-Lynn> now i want to be an sm for some reason

<Prall> I'm excited.

<Pyramid> No inserting rogue questions!

<kahage> hehehe

<Acerbity> Lycaon has one last thing before we wrap it up, being as how I have no more questions in the que.

* Crescendo shakes her head. "Rogues."

<Jantoc> queue

<Cypress> lol

<Lycaon> Well, keep in mind that all of the focii have been reworked to make each one a bit more unique. The lines between each focus have been solidified and it's now a bit more important to consider which one you choose to be.

* Kelli-Lynn snickers at jan

<Acerbity> I know how to spell it.

<Jared> Will GK's still have their damage bonuses?

<Kelli-Lynn> acer he does that to everyone... i think bad spelling drives him insane, right jan?

<Acerbity> Who knows?

<Jantoc> sometimes

<Jared> You do, stfu

<mrmcshade> Question: Will all the four classes be simi-balance. (( remember way back when, when everone was rushing to be dreamseer, just to not be blinded when mares busted into rooms)) ?

<Acerbity> And now, you will notice a mass exodus of GMs here as we have been meeting and working for the past 7 hours.

<Prall> you people should have asked through acerbity like he told you to.

<Prall> lol

<TeeZer> yeah adios! and remember....when you sleep, you never know when the Teezer might strike <Kelli-Lynn> bleh GKs still rock, seers still blow, sms are all wet, and fs.. well are fs

<kirtes-sexo-mathear> If its in the form of a whip, leave me out of your dreams, TeeZer.

<Acerbity> You don't know the half of it, wait and see.

<Jared> Yeah we don't know the half of it cuz you won't tell us :P

<Crescendo> That's the point. :P

<Lycaon> mrmcshade: That's partly answered by what I mentioned above. Some minor arts have been changed to major, so while Dreamseers may have the same advantages that they used to, they'll need to rely more on other focii that have arts that are no longer accessble to DS's

<Kelli-Lynn> meanies

<mrmcshade> hehe agrees with jared :)

<Crescendo> Who of you honestly want to know everything that is implemented for SoT before launch?

<Crescendo> I wouldn't.

<Kelli-Lynn> as long as gks aren't broken, i'm happy

<kahage> Man hats gona suck

<Fireball> Shhh don't tell us.. we might not pay the subscription fee if we know :x

<kahage> thats

<Python> I want to know everything!

<Lycaon> Fireball: There isn't one :p

<Jared> I do.

<Fireball> I know :(

<Jantoc> 42.

<Jared> I think we should impliment hex-editing, so Fireball can own again * Fireball looks for the hex editor

<Fireball> AXE!

<Lycaon> For those of you still here: Development would go a lot faster if my laptop worked. I am looking to trade a 300GB desktop hard drive for a 40GB+ laptop hard drive. If you or anyone you know would like to take me up on that deal, let me know

<Pyramid> On behalf of the entire Shades of Truth GM Team, thank you for attending this evening. It has been our distinct pleasure spending time with each and every one of you tonight.