Changes - Version 5 Will Have Them

**Tynian** · June 11th, 2011

Originally Posted by Tynian

All of the races will face change in version 5, including Half-Ogres.

Originally Posted by Anduin

^ that scares me. If stats change, I really hope there's some sort of training session refund/exchange program. Or that we're given whatever the difference is.

Ah, change. It is scary.

And not just for you. I worry about it too. But here's the deal. For the past few years, I have felt effectively trapped. I cannot make substantive change while simultaneously leaving the current characters unaffected. So, I've kept my changes relatively small, while our player counts have plummeted.

So, with version 5, I'm breaking out of that. It would be so much easier if I didn't need to worry about how to transition existing characters. It would be nice if I had a blank canvas to paint upon. But I don't. So, I'll transition existing characters as best I can. They are certainly on my mind with every change I make, and I'll try to bring them along in such away that they aren't left behind. That said, it is a tricky balance. If version 4 characters migrated into version 5 overpower version 5 native characters, and newer characters are at too much of a disadvantage, that's bad for the future of the game. If version 4 characters are too much weaker than their version 5 counterparts, I risk alienating current players.

I'll do the best I can. Risk is inherent to change, and not always easy to predict. For example, I still believe that version 3 was superior to version 2 from a game play perspective. Yet, version 3 was unpopular, and we lost quite a few players in the first few months of 3.0 going live.

I believe version 5 will improve on version 4. Will you agree? I don't know. But I certainly hope so.

Version 5 will be Different. The Differences will impact characters. And I'll do what I can to ease that transition.

BTW, I use "I" a lot in this post. The wonderful Natilena and I are working together on version 5 coding, and I have no doubt her contributions will be invaluable. When it comes right down to it, I'm the person to blame if you don't like what we've done. Not that it'll be an issue, of course.

I don't have a timeline for when version 5 will be ready, nor do I have any specifics to share about the changes at this time. I'll be able to share more once we're closer to completion. There's still a lot of work left to do.

The overall goal is generic, and more difficult than it sounds: To retain and energize our current players, while attracting and retaining new ones. Both are necessary, and we will only be successful if we're able to do both.

Thank you for playing!

**Sagan** · June 11th, 2011

I know there are some players who would inevitably feel alienated regardless of what happens, but if it betters the game, I'm fine with whatever happens - eq wipe, level changes, what have you.

**Anduin** · June 11th, 2011

I don't think adding changes to races is a bad thing necessarily - it can add a lot of fun and new elements to things (like the 2h weapons for big races idea).

I'm just concerned, as a player who's got level 40's and 50's, with how natural stats are going to be in version 5. If they change, fine - but I think for each stat that goes up 1, a character of level 40+ (for example) should be given a train to make up the difference. Also, if a stat goes down by 1, they should also be awarded a train because they probably used one in the first place to max that stat. In the end, they're going to end up with the same amount of natural stat points (equivalently) as they had before, so the balance remains the same for them.

I know a lot of people probably considered race/class combinations when they made a character and that can't be helped - but natural stats I think can and should. I'm sure you've considered ways to make the transition better for us Tyn, and I think that's a relatively easy-ish and fair way. Thanks for all the hard work.

**Krouk** · June 11th, 2011

I've been part of TFC for a very long time. I am extremely excited to see version 5 - No matter what the changes, I will enjoy them to the fullest. Thanks for taking chances.

Krouk

**Kylor** · June 12th, 2011

I'm eager to see the new TFC. No matter what the changes I'll be around. My biggest fear is that new characters will rock and I will have to XP a new character. Not that I wouldn't do it, but man I HATE XP!! :P One thing I would like though is to see Thor's area writer updated and have the bugs worked out before version 5 because if we can put in a whack of new zones WITH version 5 then how awesome would that be. Very awesome that's how awesome.