[2023] Development Update with Cyclops Combat - 11AM PT Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | Ashes of Creation Dev Tracker

Transcript (by Youtube)

2s	[Music]
9s	thank you
18s	hello and welcome glorious as a creation
21s	Community we hope that you are having a
24s	wonderful month of course this is our
26s	May development update it has been a
29s	wild month for us I feel like I say that
31s	every single time but it's just like we
33s	do say it we say it every time and then
35s	we also say after we say it every time
37s	that we say it every time
39s	the wild thing to me is that we're
41s	almost halfway through the year which is
44s	nuts
45s	that actually is crazy I'm sure everyone
47s	else is feeling that way as well almost
49s	everyone I talk to feels that way but
52s	um of course with me as always is Steven
54s	Sharif our creative director and I am
57s	Margaret Crone your director of
58s	communications we hope that you are
60s	excited for today I know we've been
62s	teasing a little bit of what's what's to
64s	come but as always what we're going to
67s	be covering today is reminders we will
69s	also be showing off our Cyclops combat
73s	we also have a guest star the kitty cat
75s	yes this is George George is literally
79s	floating on a cloud he's lounging I know
82s	I got Cloud Vibes over here I have Lucy
84s	on this side she's oh she's Lucy Lucy
88s	they've been over to our house a few
91s	times for the love for the live streams
93s	she's purring yeah oh
96s	um trying to get her to not stand in my
99s	my monitor way because she keeps doing
100s	that
101s	um and then we'll have our art update
103s	and Studio update and of course a little
105s	q a from our forums because y'all have
108s	been sending us some great questions but
110s	before that we will be talking a little
113s	bit about reminders and we've got our
117s	Spotlight today for our YouTube comment
120s	so if you would also like to be
121s	spotlighted as a YouTube uh comment you
124s	just need to subscribe to our YouTube
125s	channel make sure that you have um your
128s	subs visible so that we can see that
129s	you're a sub and then
132s	um leave us a comment on our development
134s	updates so for Maze development update
135s	we will be selecting somebody for our
137s	next development update live stream but
140s	this one is from nice gaming who has
144s	actually been making some oh yeah
145s	YouTube videos which were like oh that's
148s	cool
149s	um I've never been watching those
150s	they're great and you know thanks nice
153s	we appreciate it uh they also do a lot
155s	of other MMO content as well but their
158s	question is can there be leaderboard
159s	stats our leaderboards stats tracking to
163s	uh track miscellaneous player stats such
166s	as dungeons completed PVP kills Caravans
169s	raided Caravan raids Caravans rated
173s	there we go trees chopped Etc and would
176s	these achievements be visible by other
178s	players that is a great question
181s	um so first to give you a little bit of
184s	context on the development side uh from
187s	our perspective we track all of those
190s	things and we track many more things
193s	um very granularly uh from a logging
196s	perspective because it helps to inform
199s	the activities that players enjoy doing
202s	the things that they tend to stay away
204s	from how long they tend to do those
206s	things and a lot of companies use just
209s	that data to kind of inform Direction
211s	Over design choices I am very much a
214s	believer that you need to have
217s	correlating data that is essentially
219s	feedback directly from the player base
222s	in addition to the logging and metrics
227s	that you can find from player activity
229s	to create a navigational array moving
232s	forward now to your question which of
235s	those stats will we expose to the player
238s	side I think we have a lot of intention
241s	to to and we've talked about this in the
244s	past to have a lot of these things shown
247s	to the players and be able to uh for
250s	those players to choose to share them or
252s	not through their character page on the
254s	website that we've talked about in the
255s	past as well and those will include a
258s	lot of what you mentioned there I think
260s	it's a really cool component that as a
262s	player I get to see how I stack up
264s	against other players and the
266s	achievements that I've that I've
267s	accomplished in game
269s	um and you know there's ways to make
271s	that
272s	um that a bit more time focused so where
275s	you're not just getting the gross data
276s	but you're also getting like seasonal
278s	essentially seasonal data or partition
280s	via time
282s	um I think that's something that's super
283s	cool and and it helps provide motivation
286s	for players to achieve things in game so
288s	yes we will be embracing uh those types
291s	of leaderboards and stats exposed to the
293s	players
294s	um for ashes
295s	yes it will be a lot of fun we have we
298s	have many dreams that we want to do with
301s	game to web and game to Mobile in
303s	regards to showing stats and being
305s	making things shareable for you
307s	um we know how social media Works how
309s	sharing content with friends Works
311s	um but you know those things will come
313s	in due time and just a fair warning on
315s	that front
317s	um and of course if you have things that
318s	you'd like to see I think we did do a
320s	Dev discussion in the past regarding uh
322s	kind of like what features you'd like to
324s	see in a mobile app or things like that
327s	um those things would be super helpful
328s	so if you want to head back over there
330s	and give us some comments we would
331s	appreciate it and of course we have been
333s	doing Dev discussions our latest one was
336s	on the Mage so if you have not gotten a
339s	chance to toss your feedback in there I
341s	know we already started compiling all of
343s	that feedback but you're welcome to
345s	still pop in there even if the
347s	discussions have already been wrapped up
348s	we don't want you to stop the
349s	conversation please continue our next by
351s	the way I I just I just do want to
353s	comment real quick yeah for those of you
356s	who have been participating in that
360s	discussion uh along the made showcase
363s	from last month
364s	really exemplary job I mean that
368s	discussion was well done I was reading
371s	through the responses it was well
374s	articulated from very from a lot of you
376s	around the things you enjoyed the things
378s	you'd like to see improvements on the
379s	examples from other games that you
380s	enjoyed like that thread was a treasure
384s	Trove of player feedback and I just want
386s	to say you guys those of you out there
388s	who participated in that discussion
390s	kudos to you thank you very much it is a
392s	very instrumental tool that the
394s	community team has an opportunity to to
396s	concisely bring together and provide the
398s	developers
400s	um it is very helpful and those of you
402s	who didn't participate in those
404s	discussions totally fair but I would
406s	encourage you in the future uh to get
408s	engaged because uh there's nothing more
410s	valuable than hearing from you guys what
412s	you enjoy and what you'd like to see uh
414s	done differently and I would I would say
417s	today's demonstration is is not going to
419s	be any different so as you guys kind of
420s	watch what we show you today I it's
423s	going to be very helpful for you to jump
424s	back in on the forums and and across
426s	social media and give us your thoughts
429s	because that's why we are doing this
431s	transparent development process is to
433s	collect that feedback yeah and we've
436s	also been doing in office hours uh we
438s	recently started advertising that on our
441s	social medias as well and
444s	um you know fakner and Roshan have been
445s	doing a great job with that pilot
447s	program so if it's something that you're
449s	interested in where you can actually
450s	like come in and talk and and answer
453s	some of the questions as well instead of
454s	just posting on the forums you have that
456s	Avenue we know not everybody wants to
458s	type up a forum post so if you'd rather
461s	talk and speak that's another
462s	opportunity for you as well yeah and and
464s	one of the last thing you know forgive
467s	me if I stand a little bit on a soapbox
469s	um but I you know as a player of MMOs as
471s	well as we all are here at Intrepid
475s	um I get excited about announced
477s	projects and upcoming games that are
479s	coming out and um you know sometimes
483s	through normal development
485s	um
487s	there is not a level of transparency or
491s	insight into the moment-to-moment
493s	gameplay that's being expected on behalf
496s	of the player's side and I think that
499s	that's a really missed opportunity
502s	um and I would speak to to the
504s	executives out there to other developers
506s	who have a voice in the projects that
508s	they're participating in
510s	um to try to Champion this thought of
513s	engaging with your community earlier on
516s	and the reason for that is because it's
519s	very difficult to Pivot away from a
522s	direction when that direction has been
524s	manifest has been created is ready to
526s	ship
527s	um and and it's it's it's I know there's
530s	downsides to it and there's a level of
532s	investment that's required
534s	um but if something
536s	gives you an opportunity to early on
539s	understand what the customer wants that
543s	is a golden Holy Grail available to you
546s	and it is it is doing nothing but
549s	servicing the genre and
553s	um the people the Beloved Gamers who who
556s	spend their free time their hard earned
558s	free time enjoying these games for them
562s	not to be surprised when the game comes
564s	out nobody wants to be surprised by what
567s	they're looking forward to and a lot of
569s	time the the hopium that we have
572s	um around something we haven't seen
574s	before or what we're expecting is it
577s	lives up to our you know highest
579s	mountain peak of hope uh in our minds
582s	and then when we see that thing
585s	um sometimes it's a bit deflated but if
588s	you provide Insight during development
591s	so that players have an understanding of
593s	what to expect when that game launches
596s	is then you mitigate a significant
599s	portion of the risk that's entailed in
601s	the creation of these massive projects
603s	because you can identify where your
606s	approach resonates with a consumer base
610s	um and and you know I again I I know
612s	it's a soapbox but I just feel recently
615s	you know my I had hopes as well and and
618s	I feel like it's a good point to make
621s	um yes the hopium I like that I know
625s	um yeah I mean and this is one of the
627s	things that I have loved loved about
630s	working at Intrepid and working for you
631s	and you specifically Stephen is that
634s	I've worked at a lot of companies where
635s	Community is not respected and you know
639s	what a community team does and the
641s	feedback that they can relay and the
642s	social media team what their feedback
644s	can provide to the development team
646s	developers don't take that I mean you
648s	don't have to take every like you don't
649s	have to take it word for word like just
651s	because people think something is
652s	overpowered doesn't mean you have to
653s	take action and make it more pop make it
655s	underpowered right it's kind of thinking
657s	about that feedback and reflecting on it
659s	and making better decisions about what
661s	you're doing moving forward not
663s	necessarily saying you have to do
664s	exactly what the players want it's
666s	analyzing and assessing that feedback
668s	yeah and you know I see in chat some
671s	people are saying oh shots fired you
672s	know they're they're mentioning some of
674s	the other games I it is not in any way
676s	shape or form my intent to shoot shots
679s	if that's what the proper phrase is my
682s	my desire is to help the genre and the
687s	executives that make this these
689s	decisions because you know a lot of
690s	times we think oh it's the developers
692s	well it's not really the developers it's
695s	the executives or you know the
698s	executives that kind of make these
699s	decisions and for you know they're
700s	constrained they have to produce your
702s	responsibilities to shareholders they
703s	have you know projects and they need to
705s	keep track of like the you know
706s	proprietary information and designs and
709s	the kpis of these all those things
710s	understandable but if one thing can be
713s	demonstrated through ashes of creation's
716s	development process it's that we have
719s	garnered a large community of interested
723s	and resonated uh Gamers who want to play
727s	this game and we have a very clear
729s	picture of where that interest Lies We
731s	Know Who who doesn't want to play it we
734s	know the negative feedback we receive we
736s	try to act on that negative feedback
737s	right but without the lines of
740s	communication being open
743s	all of that is in the dark
746s	and it's just not a place where a
749s	development that can take five six seven
752s	eight years should ever be before launch
756s	is to be in that dark place it's just
759s	it's so antithetical to this concept of
763s	made for gamers by Gamers like that is
769s	the core philosophy behind the
771s	development of a game like this and and
773s	to keep those doors shut just doesn't
775s	make sense and it creates an an
778s	insurmountable mountain of risk uh when
781s	that game eventually launches so I you
784s	know I'm not shooting shots yeah oh
786s	absolutely no totally weird open
789s	development too they're you know to be
791s	and to be perfectly honest like we don't
793s	show gray box levels and like our you
795s	know fundamental prototyping like
798s	because it's just it doesn't convey
800s	something that we can elicit a good
801s	response from right we want to show the
804s	things where we can collect actionable
806s	feedback that we can parse through right
808s	and that we can say okay this is the
810s	direction we were already on good thing
812s	it resonated or wow we were really off
814s	base here we need to change some things
815s	up and we better do that because the
818s	life cycle of our game and the longevity
820s	the the lifetime value of the customers
822s	at stake for that reason
824s	um so you know I just I want to take
826s	this opportunity because it's not often
829s	that I have the opportunity once a month
831s	here to speak with you guys but also to
833s	potentially speak with any executive
835s	that might be listening this is not a
837s	bad thing to engage the customer earlier
840s	these players MMO players understand to
843s	a degree what development entails and
846s	especially if you invest a bit in that
850s	conversation you have the directors
852s	participating you have an investment in
855s	community teams earlier on before the
857s	community is actually playing something
858s	to help Garner that feedback and to
861s	parse it for the developers like there
864s	is a treasure Trove of information to be
866s	had amongst your consumer base engage
868s	with it and then you can mitigate the
871s	risk
872s	yeah so I'm not trying to shoot shots
873s	this is not a me shooting across the bow
876s	in the industry I have love and respect
878s	for my fellow developers and fellow
880s	companies I am just trying to offer what
882s	I feel is constructive feedback to help
885s	ensure that the genre gets the games it
887s	deserves
889s	you know developers want to make a great
892s	games like Steven said it's not always
894s	you know on the individual sometimes
897s	you're doing what is asked of you so it
899s	is a struggle on both sides of the front
903s	um but of course we have so much more to
906s	show you and I'm sure we'll we'll have
908s	many more soapboxes in the future as
911s	well
912s	um but my last I think we will we have
915s	thoughts we have things that we want to
917s	do and uh I think that we want to
920s	you know make the industry better as
922s	best as we can and you know like Steven
924s	said right now this is our platform that
926s	we have but you know we'll we'll be
929s	doing more streams in the future as we
931s	get closer and closer to launch and post
933s	launch
935s	um but my final reminder is that we do
939s	have our Legion of the Rose it's
941s	scheduled for June 14th at 11 A.M
943s	Pacific we'll be swapping it over with
944s	the next set and of course these are all
947s	things that you'll see as NPCs creatures
950s	buildings in the world they help us
951s	build out the world of Vera we'll have
953s	different variants of them and actually
954s	you're going to see some stuff in our
956s	this week which is really exciting
959s	um that is similar to some of those
961s	things and with that let's talk a little
965s	bit about Cyclops and if you want
967s	Stephen I know you wanted to kind of do
969s	a little preface I do want a preface
972s	this and I think guys uh and gals out
974s	there
975s	um it is very important that you help uh
979s	convey this message to those who might
982s	discuss what they see here and
985s	um across social media and discords
989s	the purview of this demonstration is the
992s	first world boss you will encounter in
995s	the riverlands area there are four
997s	starting areas in ashes of creation as
999s	you're well aware
1000s	um but this is a level 30 Cyclops raid
1003s	boss which means it's intended and
1006s	counter design is between levels like 22
1009s	and 34 35.
1011s	um and
1013s	you're going to see a host of abilities
1016s	you're going to see
1018s	um and try to keep an eye out for this
1020s	right you're going to look you're going
1022s	to try to find some tree strikes some
1023s	kicks and tree slams a totem charge uh
1027s	the root Shear some Spore sprays a
1029s	Stomps and call Spirits the enraged root
1032s	prisons and the root fissures and the
1035s	enraged phase with his Roar and stop
1037s	frenzy and the totemless charge you know
1040s	there's there's calling of dire Spirits
1042s	there's a lot of different
1045s	actions that can be taken by this raid
1047s	boss what we want to elicit from you is
1050s	when when you've encountered The Raid
1053s	bosses in other games what did you enjoy
1055s	most about those where do you see that
1057s	occurring in this demonstration and
1060s	where do you see room for improvement
1062s	um one thing I do want to convey these
1064s	three points is earliest raid boss you
1067s	see two is we're all GM's uh it's it's
1070s	intended for a full raid but we have two
1073s	groups that are fighting it because it's
1075s	a little bit difficult for us to Corral
1076s	all of our developers internally to jump
1079s	in and and uh yeah I know right to jump
1083s	in and take away time from the
1084s	development so so we use a little bit of
1086s	overpoweredness there
1087s	um but then the third thing is uh is the
1090s	ambience the how this boss moves around
1092s	the world right it's not just in a
1095s	centralized location that's its Arena
1097s	per se like this is a roaming monster so
1100s	take those those three things as you're
1102s	watching think about uh what to do
1105s	because people are saying GM we're not
1108s	using GM hacks though
1110s	he's just saying we're GM says and all
1112s	of these are developers that are going
1114s	to be like we're all game Masters we're
1116s	not uh players
1118s	and we're powerful very powerful but not
1120s	too hacking no we just know all the
1122s	mechanics so it's yeah exactly we know
1126s	what because we know what we're coming
1127s	outside yeah exactly
1129s	um so we had a lot of fun uh I think you
1131s	guys are gonna enjoy it and um yeah
1133s	we'll be on after to chat with you about
1135s	it all right see you in 20 minutes
1139s	[Music]
1143s	[Applause]
1144s	[Music]
1158s	foreign
1160s	and welcome to another live stream in
1164s	the world of Vera I am joined today by
1167s	three glorious developers actually we
1169s	have quite a few of our developers are
1171s	participating in today's live stream I'm
1173s	not going to go through everyone you'll
1175s	see their uh usernames their game
1177s	handles on the top left side in our raid
1179s	UI but I have three amazing developers
1183s	who are joining us today that have all
1185s	taken part in helping to design the
1187s	Cyclops and the combat that goes around
1188s	it I know you guys in the community have
1190s	been very excited to kind of see uh
1192s	today's demonstration We're not gonna
1194s	get too elaborate in the designs of the
1197s	Cyclops right because we don't want to
1198s	spoil it for you but just as a
1200s	disclaimer this is one of the very first
1203s	world raid bosses that'll be available
1205s	for players to participate in so this is
1207s	not super end game uh but it is going to
1209s	give you some insight into how we're
1211s	designing these encounters and first up
1213s	we have one of our senior designers Mr
1215s	Doug how are you doing Doug
1218s	ah good evening I am doing pretty well
1220s	I'm excited to show this off uh we've
1222s	been working on it for a while and so
1223s	yeah I'm super excited for you guys to
1226s	show it off too I know you guys have
1227s	been hard at work on this one and a lot
1228s	of other creatures and this is your
1230s	first time joining us on the stream
1231s	isn't that right that is correct so I
1232s	have not streamed before super exciting
1235s	we have a stream virgin with us very
1237s	cool
1238s	um we also have with us uh one of our
1241s	glorious uh senior technical designers
1244s	uh Mr Jason how you doing Jason hey
1247s	how's it going and you are the uh this
1251s	one's your baby right this Cyclops it
1253s	was kind of your design
1254s	yeah been plucking away at him for a
1257s	while
1258s	I remember the first time we we chatted
1260s	about this guy you had such a a great
1262s	kind of uh uh premise for his backstory
1265s	and and his the design elements of it I
1268s	was I thought it was super cool I love
1269s	the detaching tree which our viewers are
1271s	going to see in a little bit so I'm
1272s	super excited that you have an
1273s	opportunity to kind of talk with the
1274s	community about this and get their take
1276s	on on some of these designs
1278s	um and then we have a one of our
1280s	regularly occurring uh senior designers
1282s	on the combat side Mr tradd how you
1284s	doing Trad
1285s	doing great great good to be back as
1287s	always yes welcome so we find ourselves
1290s	here
1291s	in the riverlands and it appears to be a
1296s	winter time it's beautiful actually I
1299s	really like it so one of the first
1301s	things I would love
1302s	um to chat with you guys about is kind
1304s	of how you set up this particular raid
1308s	boss the Cyclops
1310s	um in the riverlands talk to me a little
1311s	bit about his pathing like where does he
1313s	live in the world what's his backstory
1314s	just tell me things about him
1319s	yeah I think you could take this one
1320s	Jason
1321s	all right um so yeah like um the Cyclops
1325s	his name is tumak and
1327s	um
1328s	a long time ago
1330s	um he you know is from the land of
1333s	sujoma and that's where like all the
1335s	cyclopses are from
1337s	um he decided it would be a good idea to
1340s	try to align himself with the the
1342s	Ancients
1343s	um that then invaded Vera and um he took
1346s	some of his followers to fall on the
1348s	footsteps and that didn't work out so
1350s	well for him
1352s	um he's uh
1354s	he's he's the last remaining Cyclops of
1356s	of his you know his people he took to
1359s	try and uh join the Ancients and uh the
1362s	rest of his people kind of exiled him
1364s	for that and didn't want him back so
1366s	it's kind of all on his own and and is
1368s	has kind of paid for some of those
1370s	mistakes of misaligning himself and okay
1373s	so he's got a little bit of a backstory
1374s	some pain in there you know maybe some
1376s	betrayal and I guess he kind of turned
1379s	against his fellow citizens of Vera
1381s	where are you guys at by the way I know
1382s	I know we have a couple parties that are
1383s	hanging back at the camp oh there you
1385s	guys are why don't you come join me over
1387s	here I wanna I wanna talk a little about
1389s	you know kind of his pathing and I
1391s	noticed that there are also some like
1392s	winter spiders over here or something
1394s	what is going on over here
1396s	yeah so there are some giant spiders
1398s	over here and one thing that we'd like
1401s	to demonstrate today is that you know
1402s	not every enemy in Vera is going to just
1406s	behave like their simple you know aggro
1408s	immediately and beeline for you uh the
1411s	giant spider might not necessarily want
1413s	to engage these scary looking Adventures
1416s	um so he's gonna stand off and you know
1419s	hope that you
1420s	you know back away and that's so creepy
1424s	I love the atom for this so he's he's
1426s	kind of not necessarily aggering but
1428s	he's just like don't come any closer
1430s	like keep talking back off get away yeah
1434s	he is kind of peacocking I'm said to him
1436s	vulnerable because I want us to be able
1438s	to kind of walk with the Cyclops as we
1440s	see him start to path here uh but I I
1443s	wild animals just you know not every
1445s	single wild animal is gonna immediately
1447s	be lying for you and so that's the kind
1448s	of behavior we want to capture some more
1449s	ambient behaviors you might not expect
1451s	to see in MMO maybe some creatures
1453s	hunting each other you know these kinds
1455s	of you know more believable behaviors
1457s	from wild animals that's super cool oh
1461s	yeah I like them that that's awesome it
1463s	adds an element of immersion I feel like
1466s	so you know if you do stay if you do
1468s	stay within their range or get too close
1470s	to them then you know they might defend
1471s	themselves so that's super cool so talk
1474s	to me a little bit about
1476s	um the Cyclops and its path and how you
1478s	guys kind of determine
1480s	um you know where this guy's gonna Roam
1481s	and and why it's an important aspect
1483s	that the boss is kind of roaming through
1485s	the woods you know or through the world
1488s	yeah so we we work with the the world
1491s	team to to decide what that path is
1494s	going to be and we want to make sure
1495s	that that there's something of Interest
1498s	no you know in there no matter where you
1501s	go vulnerable just in case I'm sorry go
1504s	ahead you're good yeah no matter where
1506s	you look no matter what path you go down
1509s	that there's always a chance you're
1510s	going to see something you didn't expect
1512s	or you didn't see before so
1514s	I love this guy he's so massive and I
1518s	like how he kind of walks through the
1521s	trees triggering their destruction
1527s	so cool that he interacts the
1528s	environment like that
1530s	yeah definitely going to help you uh
1532s	some listen you can just listen in the
1534s	woods and if if he's patrolling around
1536s	you're gonna hear him
1538s	oh my gosh this guy's huge now right oh
1541s	oh sorry my bad I thought for a second
1544s	there he was gonna agree me but just so
1546s	you guys are aware in the Stream I've
1547s	I've set myself to invulnerable so that
1549s	we can kind of just walk near him and
1552s	see his massive nature
1555s	and Doug Jason talk to me a little bit
1558s	about the inspiration for this guy as a
1559s	character model like what were you guys
1561s	you know working with the character
1563s	teams to kind of I notice he has this
1565s	massive tree talk to me a little bit
1567s	about that element
1569s	yeah I think that was actually a little
1570s	bit improvised in the design based on
1572s	what the character came back with Jason
1573s	if you want to talk about that
1576s	yeah when the character artists were
1578s	making this they had this cool idea of
1580s	just having this giant tree weapon that
1582s	a cyclops would hold and um we took that
1585s	idea and just kind of embraced it um
1587s	make it part of this character and the
1589s	embellishments that he wears and
1592s	um using that to kind of inform what
1595s	type of encounter that he might be so we
1597s	ended up making the tree like a pretty
1599s	core part of it and informs some of his
1602s	combat abilities and
1604s	um phase transitions even in the fight
1606s	yeah I mean it's a collaborative process
1608s	sometimes it's designed asking for
1610s	something specific from art and
1611s	sometimes art is what it forms the
1613s	design so
1614s	oh he looks great the character did a
1617s	great job with this do you know who's a
1618s	character artist that worked on this was
1619s	it Keith
1620s	Urban Keith
1622s	or could have been Genty of somebody
1625s	yeah they did a great job either way I
1627s	mean it looks it looks phenomenal I know
1629s	we have a couple of parties that are
1631s	going to assist us with this particular
1633s	fight talk to me a little bit about
1635s	this encounter as a raid boss you know
1638s	what is the expectation from the actual
1641s	raid size that that you guys are
1643s	anticipating for the design
1645s	I think that's gonna that's gonna vary
1648s	depending on the level of the raid
1649s	obviously and then sort of how geared
1651s	they are
1652s	um but we're kind of aiming for
1653s	somewhere between you know 16 and you
1656s	know 32
1657s	um probably depending again on level and
1659s	equipment
1661s	very cool so this guy's a really early
1663s	kind of uh World boss and we want to
1666s	introduce players early to the idea of
1669s	these raids and by the way as we're kind
1671s	of chatting about this those of you who
1672s	are going to be helping us defeat this
1674s	guy with our uh two parties if you want
1677s	to start heading over to the arena we
1680s	are waiting here for you I will set
1682s	myself uh off of the GM and
1684s	vulnerability here
1686s	see
1687s	um
1689s	there we go
1691s	hopefully I don't agree him
1693s	um you know it's important as we were
1694s	talking about to kind of introduce
1695s	players uh into uh what rating really
1698s	means in ashes and talk to me a little
1700s	bit about kind of the general design
1702s	approach you take uh with creating these
1704s	types of encounters you know they're
1706s	obviously phases there's different
1707s	elements in those phases that kind of
1709s	change dynamically the the way you want
1711s	players to interact what are we gonna
1713s	see here a little bit
1715s	yeah this is definitely like a a more
1717s	introductory rating experience
1720s	um so it's not going to be too
1721s	complicated but I think there are some
1722s	really interesting mechanics regardless
1724s	and I think Jason can talk about those
1727s	um yeah so when I when I first started
1729s	designing this guy
1730s	um you know we had uh Trav and the other
1733s	guys on the archetype team looking at
1736s	you know forming the classes that people
1738s	have been seeing over the scene over the
1739s	live stream and you know really before
1742s	um those kind of come to fruition
1745s	um and knowing like you know what the
1747s	full abilities are and everything we I
1749s	started the design with you know the
1750s	core Trinity in mind
1752s	um so the roles are very obvious
1756s	um tanks will tank healers will heal and
1758s	DPS will
1760s	um try to take down the targets that
1761s	they need to and starting from there I
1763s	tried to
1764s	um
1765s	keep that in mind not not to uh over
1767s	complicate it so that
1769s	um they'll always have that like
1770s	individual training idea amongst the
1772s	different mechanics
1774s	um
1774s	yeah so we got some classic Staples in
1776s	here we've got you know ads that off
1778s	tanks are going to have to peel off
1780s	um and crowd control that's going to
1782s	need to be applied to Those ads we've
1784s	got priority targets are going to pop up
1786s	that need to be killed we've got you
1788s	know damage that's going to be
1789s	unavoidable so that you know even though
1791s	the expert group that could Dodge all of
1793s	his avoidable attacks you know the
1795s	healers are still going to have work to
1796s	do to keep everyone alive
1798s	very cool very cool love it I know you
1802s	guys will notice obviously on the uh the
1804s	stream that there have been some updates
1806s	to a little bit of the uh nameplates
1809s	that Colby and the UI team have
1810s	implemented as well as some of the
1812s	targeting plates as well but who do we
1815s	have as our tank today
1819s	Doug will be tanking all right all right
1822s	very cool and then we also have
1825s	um I'll be playing as a mage but
1828s	um
1829s	I will be trying to capture some good
1831s	shots of the encounter to a degree Chad
1834s	what are you playing
1835s	I am a mage as well just look at you oh
1838s	okay very cool
1840s	and then how about you Jason
1841s	I'm playing the cleric nice well Doug I
1845s	don't want to stand in the way of your
1847s	greatness so please by all means sir you
1850s	may commence when ready
1852s	all right Leroy Jenkins Leroy let's do
1855s	this try not to let me digest it yeah no
1859s	promises
1860s	uh he's an angry to muck
1865s	oh my God that looks like it hurts yeah
1869s	if you don't block that you get smooshed
1872s	I love his animation so talk to me a
1875s	little bit about some of these attacks
1877s	what what do you got going on here Jason
1879s	and Doug
1882s	um so yeah his first phase
1884s	um here he has a lot of uh physical
1887s	attacks but he also employs a lot of
1889s	attacks using his tree like we see there
1890s	with the roots hitting us and right now
1893s	you can see he's also he's he's
1896s	um pulling some fungus out of the tree
1898s	and using that to heal himself
1901s	um he has a tank Spike attack where he
1904s	smashes the the tree into the tank that
1906s	Doug was blocking earlier
1909s	and generally does a lot of like AOE
1911s	Splash damage
1913s	that other melee will want to avoid not
1916s	stand stand together yeah he's not
1919s	particularly complex uh rainbows but
1921s	he's a great example of sort of what we
1924s	want to do with large creatures and
1925s	Ashes having them interact with the
1927s	environment having that that camera
1929s	shake that you know those knockdowns
1931s	that make it feel like he is here and he
1934s	is crushing you
1940s	all right
1942s	no he looks oh my God he keeps just
1945s	charging there
1948s	I'm just barely missing him
1950s	now talk to me a little bit about kind
1953s	of the raid Boss Designs like you guys
1956s	are working with multiple stages I
1958s	noticed that right now he's just kind of
1960s	you know roaming around he has different
1963s	targets on his hate list tell me like
1965s	what's your general philosophy how did
1967s	you guys approach this
1969s	yeah so I think um I just ended this a
1972s	little bit earlier but we
1974s	designed this boss pretty early on when
1976s	a lot of the classes were still their
1977s	sort of nasic form so we really just
1979s	wanted to focus on the whole the Trinity
1982s	you know making sure that everyone has a
1984s	purpose in this read a role whether
1986s	you're someone who's focused on CC
1988s	whether you're a tank A Healer a DPS you
1991s	know giving those classic mechanics to
1993s	give everybody a job in the in the raid
1994s	like right now for instance he's put
1996s	this tree down and there are going to be
1999s	um these healing caps that appear
2001s	and those are going to be a priority
2002s	objective for DPS to take down before
2004s	they grow to full size because if they
2006s	do he's going to go over he's going to
2008s	stomp him and he's going to get healed
2009s	for a huge percentage of his health
2012s	wow
2014s	so we got to take this tree out because
2017s	he's just gonna keep healing
2019s	yeah and you definitely gotta switch
2021s	over to those healing caps when they
2023s	appear
2027s	there that's super cool so he so he
2029s	heals off of the mushrooms as well
2032s	yeah and as a player if you destroy them
2035s	or even if he Stomps on them if you
2036s	happen to be nearby when they blow up um
2039s	you can cut that heel as well so if
2041s	you're taking some damage from the
2042s	Thorns from the tree or you got hit by
2044s	one of his large uh you know stop
2045s	attacks you know you might have a chance
2047s	to get healed up if you run over to
2049s	those mushrooms before they pull up
2051s	okay we almost have this tree down come
2053s	on guys focus it down Focus major DPS on
2056s	the tree
2057s	let's try to kill this thing
2060s	it's almost done get it get it before he
2062s	picks it up
2063s	yes everything release it all
2066s	oh well done oh
2070s	oh
2071s	God why is he so mad
2075s	he does not like when you break his
2076s	weapon what the heck I mean who would
2082s	Jason where'd you get the idea for that
2084s	for the kind of tree totem
2087s	um a lot of that came from the uh
2089s	original uh design that we got from
2091s	character art in that we really enjoyed
2095s	the way the that it's energized with his
2097s	look so we wanted to employ the use of
2100s	the tree as as like a core part of his
2102s	uh encounter
2105s	um and we ended up using it as like a
2107s	magical like a magical tree where he
2109s	gets a lot of his abilities but without
2111s	that he seems to get really mad and his
2113s	more Primal Cyclops giant nature comes
2116s	back as we see here
2121s	wow that's cool so talk to me about
2123s	those kind of slams that he's doing and
2125s	also I noticed like as he's running
2127s	around the trees are falling the stone
2130s	obelisks are kind of getting destroyed
2132s	is there intent for these kind of
2135s	environmental
2137s	um hazards to exist as well as part of
2139s	the raid design yeah absolutely for our
2142s	large creatures you know Cyclops is
2143s	dragons things like that we we want to
2146s	make sure that the world feels Dynamic
2147s	and it's reacting to their big size you
2150s	know if a huge you know
2152s	20 meter tall Beast is walking through
2155s	the woods and not knocking down a single
2157s	tree that just doesn't feel believable
2159s	so we want to make sure that you know
2161s	you're gonna steer that and that's gonna
2162s	be a way you can know in the distance
2164s	there's something you want to go and
2166s	investigate
2171s	that is super cool I died but I'm on my
2174s	way back
2177s	those slams hurt really bad yeah
2182s	um one of the aspects of the the phases
2184s	in this fight is actually that uh he has
2187s	those healing abilities when he has his
2189s	totem tree his nature magic but um and
2191s	he is more Primal when he's in this
2192s	phase as a result you can take him down
2195s	a little quicker when he's enraged but
2196s	it's also going to be a lot more
2198s	incoming damage for your healers to work
2199s	through so
2201s	um depending on your raid composition
2203s	your you know equipment level you might
2205s	want to sustain longer in that earlier
2207s	phase even if it takes the while through
2210s	all that healing um because if you push
2211s	him too early uh you might just wipe
2218s	oh I love it guys
2220s	here he goes no no no no no no no no no
2222s	no no no
2227s	no oh it's getting crushed there it's
2229s	right under his fists
2232s	oh this poor guy
2236s	look at him
2238s	his little eye
2241s	wow that was very cool well done guys
2243s	that was awesome does he have any loot
2247s	can we loot him I wonder oh
2251s	sword of the Briar home a longbow
2254s	a short bow and a mace oh very nice well
2259s	that was a lot of fun very well done I
2261s	thought that that was very cool guys as
2263s	you guys are watching this remember
2265s	obviously this is one of the earliest
2266s	World bosses in ashes of creation that
2269s	you'll have an opportunity to encounter
2270s	just getting your feet wet and what the
2271s	raid boss system is going to look like
2274s	we have a lot of fun designs that are
2276s	intended with a lot of different
2278s	creatures but give us your feedback what
2280s	are the raid bosses you enjoyed in other
2281s	games that you've played what about the
2283s	mechanics what about the phases uh that
2285s	you thought were were cool what did you
2287s	enjoy seeing here today
2289s	um and what would you like to see in the
2291s	future but otherwise Trad Jason Doug
2295s	thank you guys for joining us and giving
2297s	us a little sneak peek under the hood of
2299s	the encounter design particularly as it
2301s	relates to tumak The Wretched I thought
2304s	that that was that was super cool a lot
2306s	of fun
2307s	um and I look forward to seeing more
2308s	from you guys in the future but with
2310s	that being said uh I would like to thank
2313s	you all and we will see everyone back on
2316s	stream here in just a moment
2318s	bye everybody
2323s	[Music]
2327s	welcome back we hope that you all
2330s	enjoyed it it seemed like you did I
2331s	wanted to clarify a few things because I
2334s	know that there were some comments in
2335s	regards to a couple things and then
2337s	there were quite a few questions so
2338s	Stephen will answer some of those as
2340s	well but for clarifications obviously we
2342s	recorded this in 4k we will be uploading
2345s	it in 4k on YouTube I know there were
2346s	some comments regarding Graphics we were
2349s	you saw that this time we showed three
2352s	different perspectives of different
2353s	folks so we kind of had to figure out a
2355s	different recording system in order to
2358s	make sure everybody's quality was the
2361s	same level
2362s	um except different PCS so just keep
2364s	that in mind but we will upload that
2366s	after the stream
2368s	um in regards to the node GM cameras I
2371s	meant uh no we didn't use commands
2373s	during the cyclops fight not necessarily
2375s	before that because as soon as I said
2377s	that Steven you used the thing to walk
2379s	next to him well crap I didn't want him
2382s	to aggro me so yes but he turned that
2385s	off because obviously he won it he had
2387s	to be able to fight and you saw that
2390s	um you know Stephen died a couple times
2391s	there yeah and we were looking at the UI
2393s	I might have been the only person that
2394s	died but um just just to be clear uh
2398s	remember that we are still in our
2401s	journey to Alpha two and as a result of
2403s	that Journey the phase of development
2406s	that we are currently in with the
2407s	project doesn't really emphasize polish
2410s	or performance or optimization so you're
2415s	gonna see some oh I have my pen because
2417s	I was taking notes from chat um you're
2419s	gonna you're gonna see some um
2422s	you're going to see some room for
2423s	improvement there right also I'm running
2425s	this you know on a 4k monitor and 4K
2427s	stream and I'm streaming at the same
2428s	time or excuse me uh recording at the
2430s	same time so you know some of the FPS is
2433s	going to get improved it'll be it'll be
2434s	uh it'll be much better but
2437s	um yeah let's get to some of the
2439s	questions that you guys had in uh and
2441s	chat about the boss yeah yeah and also
2444s	um I know we had mentioned that we were
2446s	talking about whether Keith had designed
2448s	or designed the model and Keith did
2450s	designed the model so just wanted to
2452s	clarify in that front but the first
2454s	question we have here is tumak didn't
2455s	leave Footprints behind like our player
2458s	characters did Will Will big creatures
2460s	like that or any creatures leave behind
2463s	Footprints yeah so um uh uh General
2466s	overpopulation mobs will not leave
2469s	um Footprints however uh the larger
2471s	monsters like this and raid bosses and
2473s	and
2474s	um dungeon bosses they will have
2477s	Footprints they were just not enabled
2478s	for him uh in this showcase yet
2481s	and then what are the respawn rates on
2484s	world bosses that's a very generic
2485s	question then it yeah it depends it
2489s	depends on the world boss
2491s	um you know we want to the general
2492s	philosophy is that respawns will be
2495s	variable we don't want to have set
2497s	specific times in which uh response uh
2500s	will occur so that they can be kind of
2501s	camped and farmed but they'll be
2503s	variable location response as well as
2506s	variable time response
2508s	um and then that's kind of you know
2510s	provides opportunities for different
2512s	parties to engage at different times and
2514s	locations
2517s	cool
2518s	and then I'm also playing this in the
2520s	background so you guys are getting to
2521s	see it a little bit more while we talk
2524s	um next one here is
2526s	uh will too much destroying trees affect
2529s	the growth and replenishment of trees in
2531s	the world and also if animals hunt one
2533s	another will that affect respawn rates
2535s	of those animals astute observation
2538s	whoever asked that question
2540s	um yes the answer is yes uh there are
2543s	Land Management systems that we've
2545s	talked about in the past
2547s	um and there is certain interactions
2550s	that can occur that can affect those uh
2552s	systems so yes
2554s	and knocking down trees too long is not
2557s	going to be a good thing for the area
2558s	yeah so you probably want to as much as
2560s	he was just going for a stroll because I
2562s	saw someone in Chows laughing I told
2564s	Stephen I was like I love this comment
2565s	someone in chat was like
2568s	of course he's mad and raging he was
2570s	just going for a walk a little stroll
2572s	and you guys are killing him you're
2574s	monsters this guy is responsible for
2578s	some pretty horrific things so he's not
2580s	just an innocent Cyclops out for a
2583s	stroll let's be clear he sided with the
2585s	baddies yeah and uh the next one here is
2589s	will ground shake for large bosses
2592s	um be something that we'll see in the
2594s	future can you turn off the screen Shake
2596s	yeah you know there is something to be
2599s	had there about
2601s	um those types of screen Shake effects
2602s	we want them to be present when we're
2606s	emphasizing certain things but we don't
2608s	want them to be a nuisance or annoying
2609s	or too plentiful
2611s	um and having screen Shake apply to
2614s	every you know every step would probably
2616s	be too abundant will players have
2619s	control over those on-screen type
2621s	effects um yeah I think so I think
2623s	that's something we want to provision as
2625s	a customizable option for players to be
2627s	able to turn off because it can be be
2628s	somewhat nauseating for certain groups
2630s	of people and a distraction from what's
2633s	happening in the world
2636s	and then will World bosses become
2638s	different or higher level as a node
2640s	levels how will these World bosses scale
2642s	when it comes to player levels is it
2644s	based on players or the zone
2648s	players
2649s	so the question was sorry I missed the
2653s	first part yeah Will World bosses become
2655s	different or higher level as nodes level
2657s	yes okay so um world bosses uh are
2663s	pretty defined in their challenge rating
2667s	and we don't have an approach that is
2671s	scaling for content right we feel that
2675s	that kind of cheapens the content when
2677s	you apply a scaling mechanic so that you
2680s	know this content is is is constantly
2682s	relevant
2683s	um you know there are ways that the
2685s	world responds and changes to the nodes
2688s	development those are prescribed those
2691s	are curated we those are meaningful and
2693s	we want them to be experienced by the
2695s	players but not all content is going to
2697s	be scalable like we've seen in some
2699s	Modern MMOs and then the other part of
2702s	that yeah I guess was Will World bosses
2705s	scale when it comes to player levels and
2707s	is it based on players or the Zone
2711s	itself leveling
2714s	um they they will not Scale based on
2715s	player level no so so this is a level 30
2718s	uh boss and he will be relevant for a
2721s	nine level spread up or down from that
2723s	level 30 position okay and then people
2727s	are wondering will bosses or the Cyclops
2729s	actually get voice lines or things of
2731s	that sort
2734s	um yeah bosses certain bosses will have
2737s	audio cues um that might be in the form
2740s	of language it might be in the form of
2742s	indistinguishable uh sounds
2745s	um but yes bosses and some even
2747s	creatures will have audio cues to use
2750s	and then I do see some folks asking
2753s	um in chat regarding about you know if
2757s	this is an open world boss then that
2759s	means other players could attack me and
2762s	my and my homies and also attack the
2765s	monster that I'm attacking and how we
2767s	plan to address that situation in
2769s	regards to maybe large guilds coming in
2772s	and you know murdering people and
2774s	stealing their boss yeah absolutely so
2776s	um we've talked about this in the past
2777s	content in ashes of creation is divided
2780s	into open world content and instanced
2783s	content the ratio of content division
2786s	there is about 80 20 80 being open world
2788s	20 being instance that remains true when
2793s	we talk about the ability for
2794s	competition to exist around limited
2797s	resources or scarcity what bosses fall
2800s	into that category of scarcity and or
2803s	limited resources they are essentially a
2805s	resource that you can defeat in order to
2808s	acquire things you need for your
2810s	character progress question and as a
2811s	result of that it is healthy to
2814s	encounter potential friction and or
2816s	competition with other groups of players
2819s	who are interested in acquiring that
2820s	scarce resource and we don't want to
2823s	address that situation that is the
2826s	element of the game design that is risk
2829s	versus reward you're taking the risk and
2832s	encountering this open world content and
2835s	your reward for successfully doing so
2837s	are the resources you can acquire by by
2840s	that effort now there are mechanisms
2842s	there are tools there are
2845s	systems that allow for you to establish
2849s	reputations with these other groups of
2851s	players to pursue them outside of this
2854s	encounter to hinder them in such a way
2856s	where they might think twice whether or
2858s	not they want to engage with your group
2860s	there are avenues that can be taken both
2863s	political as well as systemic where
2866s	players can engage with those factions
2869s	and it's important to note that ashes of
2871s	creation is a non-faction based game
2873s	what that means is you're not told who
2876s	your enemy and your friend is you are
2878s	not restricted with the players that you
2880s	can participate in content with instead
2883s	that choice is left to you the players
2887s	and that is an element of the sandbox
2888s	environment that we're trying to create
2889s	with ashes of creation
2892s	all right and then the next question
2894s	here is less about the Cyclops class and
2896s	people were noticing that folks were
2899s	carrying around these blue Orbee type of
2902s	things and they were wondering what
2903s	those are
2905s	oh um I believe yeah good call I think
2907s	that's the first time we've actually
2908s	shown those yeah um so so those are um
2912s	sigils I'm sorry not sigils um
2917s	my mind is totally blanking right now
2919s	those are those are essentially
2921s	um Acumen instruments that you can use
2923s	to enhance your your spell casting they
2926s	replace a shield off hand uh uh item
2929s	that players can somebody in slack if
2931s	you can remember the name of those
2932s	things shoot it over to me real quick in
2934s	a DM
2935s	um but uh yeah those are those are
2937s	essentially offhand items that players
2939s	can use in order to enhance their
2940s	casting ability and or healing and and
2942s	whatnot they are called focuses yeah
2946s	spell focus thank you
2949s	and that is
2952s	we're gonna have a many men and by the
2954s	way okay real quick the the spell
2956s	focuses can take many different forms
2958s	you saw an orb there the spell focus
2960s	could be a book it could be a shrunken
2962s	head it could be you know something kind
2964s	of uh really interesting uh but it's a
2967s	way for uh non-shield users or non-sigil
2971s	users
2972s	um to incorporate an element into their
2974s	offhand if they want to be a one-handed
2976s	weapon user
2977s	oh cool
2979s	um and of course we could be here all
2982s	day if we answered questions forever but
2983s	we do have some other things to show you
2984s	all and we do have some other questions
2986s	to get to from the forums
2988s	um but as always we would love your
2991s	feedback we will have a combat a cyclops
2994s	combat preview a slash live stream uh
2996s	feedback thread that's going to be over
2997s	on our forums please definitely go check
2999s	it out and give us some thoughts as
3002s	Steven said this helps us ensure that
3004s	you know we're we're moving forward in
3006s	the right direction so please
3008s	please please give us some some of your
3010s	thoughts and I know sometimes it can be
3011s	hard because you're like just watching
3013s	something versus experiencing it
3016s	um but when you get into Alpha 2 you'll
3017s	be able to experience it and give us
3018s	that side of the feedback as well so
3021s	we'll we'll get we'll get both ends of
3022s	it but at least we can address some of
3024s	your concerns just from visually seeing
3026s	it as well
3028s	and with that unless you have anything
3029s	else Steven I'm gonna head on over to
3032s	our character goodies
3035s	yeah all right
3038s	moving on as you've maybe noticed we've
3042s	been doing some profession goodness
3045s	you've been seeing some trees and
3047s	lumberjacking and you know we're working
3049s	towards some good old fishing there are
3051s	a lot of fish that have been being
3053s	created some of them are very strange
3056s	looking as I'm sure you all will see
3058s	here
3059s	um but Chris Jan uh gincy and Priscilla
3063s	and Keith have been making a ton of them
3065s	so uh the Seas of Vera will be plenty
3071s	you will definitely be getting your fill
3072s	of good fishies to cook and fish up and
3077s	trade I'm excited for you all to to see
3079s	those they're gorgeous
3082s	I love the little fish they're so good
3085s	some of them are a little horrifying
3087s	as rightfully they should be
3091s	cool
3093s	a few of them I feel like the chat is
3095s	going to have thoughts about like the
3098s	Lamprey are the grossest
3101s	they say that the night is dark and full
3103s	of Terror but what they really forget is
3105s	that the the Seas are deep and yeah have
3109s	you ever gone scuba diving or anything
3111s	like that I have I have I uh one time we
3114s	had a guild
3116s	um we had a guild so my guild I always
3119s	used to have these like trips that we
3121s	would take some of our officers and some
3123s	Guild members and stuff and one year we
3125s	went to Hawaii and there was like 13 of
3127s	us and none of us had scuba dive before
3129s	except for one person I think of the
3130s	party and I charted this boat to take us
3132s	out to go scuba diving and they're like
3133s	well you have to go through this like
3134s	process you know the certification thing
3136s	I was like uh you know just take us out
3139s	somewhere that's cool and we'll just
3140s	kind of jump in the water and do our
3142s	thing and so one of one of our friends
3144s	who's a big boy
3145s	um he he got into his swimsuit and he
3147s	gets in with this with the snorkel and
3150s	they're teaching him the little uh the
3152s	little device that the buoyancy thing
3153s	that takes you up or down you press the
3154s	button and they're teaching them the
3156s	hand signals like this is swimmer's okay
3158s	this is like not okay or you know
3160s	whatever right and we're underwater and
3163s	he's like floating up here he can't get
3165s	his mask thing on very well and he's
3167s	pressing the button because he's kind of
3169s	sinking and as he's slowly sinking under
3171s	the water he's pressing the wrong button
3173s	and he doesn't know yeah he's pressing
3174s	the button to make it go up yeah he's
3176s	probably no he's pressing the button to
3177s	make him go down but he thought he was
3179s	pressing the button making him go up and
3180s	so his face is just falling like under
3183s	the water he doesn't have his mask on
3184s	and in his last words of moment he just
3187s	says I'm gonna need some help here he
3191s	goes under the water and my ear was
3193s	bleeding and like John wanted to swim to
3196s	shore where like a mile and a half out
3197s	it was just a terrible this sounds like
3200s	a nightmare yeah I had a lovely time uh
3203s	scuba diving complete opposite of that
3205s	but I think one of the things that is
3207s	because you talk about you were saying
3209s	how like it's you know dark and full of
3211s	tears but I think that the beauty of
3213s	being underwater is it's like so quiet
3215s	but there's like a lot of life going on
3219s	around you which I think is really
3220s	exciting some of which you want to eat
3222s	you
3223s	yeah there were some sharks like tiger
3226s	sharks that swim by us but the people
3228s	that we were we were with that were
3230s	taking us were they were like they're
3233s	not interested in you they have enough
3234s	food here so as long as you're not I
3236s	have a fear of like wide open spaces and
3239s	anytime I can't see what's beneath me
3242s	and it's just like darkness that scares
3245s	me and so being in the water
3248s	um out in the middle of the ocean where
3250s	I don't have a corner to back against
3251s	and just like see where my threat lives
3253s	like I just feel like at any moment some
3256s	giant shark is just going to come out of
3257s	the depths of darkness and eat me or
3259s	something and Kraken just comes up and
3261s	takes even no totally like my mind just
3263s	the amount of Fantasy games and movies
3265s	that I've watched like I just go to a
3267s	dark place immediately and thinking
3269s	about some crack and like Monsters see I
3271s	have the opposite I I think for me in
3273s	the water I think because I can swim and
3275s	move and maneuver I'm okay it's Heights
3278s	for me because I can I can see what's
3280s	down there and I can see how far away it
3282s	is to me and it horrifies me that I
3284s	might fall and to my death I'm with you
3287s	on the heights too yeah for sure all
3289s	right moving on from that uh now that
3292s	we're all horrified by underwater
3294s	creatures and and Heights um we also
3296s	have pig Lids you've been seeing sheep
3298s	cows piglets we're you know getting
3300s	getting the farm in and profession stuff
3302s	going which is really exciting I'm ex
3304s	I'm super excited for freeholds and
3307s	Farms I love farming and games it's so
3309s	fun
3311s	um next up we've got a tiebreaker
3314s	riverlands variant I love their beards
3316s	they're so cute oh they're so good
3319s	they're so cute they look like just
3322s	grumpy otters and I'm into it
3326s	um the next one here is our Hydra swans
3329s	and then we also have like a variant of
3331s	it so for those of you who have the the
3333s	regular Hydra Swan which
3335s	um you know thank you for supporting us
3336s	we also have
3338s	um the variant here and Stephen I saw
3341s	that you gave a story behind how this
3344s	thing how this came to be yeah you
3345s	talked about on Twitter I don't know if
3346s	you want to share that with folks who
3348s	maybe don't use Twitter oh I just you
3350s	know geese and Swan in general are just
3353s	wretched creatures like they're they're
3355s	beautiful but they're mean as all hell
3358s	and uh when I was a kid we used to live
3360s	on a lake uh or live near a lake and um
3364s	I would go feed these things and when
3367s	they had babies I didn't know that they
3369s	got protective and they would fly and
3372s	attack me as I'm trying to climb away
3373s	from them and Peck me in the back and
3376s	just
3376s	I vowed from that day forward that if I
3379s	ever created an MMO at seven years old I
3381s	was thinking to myself
3383s	that I would create this as a creature
3386s	no actually I made it in our ashes of
3388s	creation original
3390s	um uh Pathfinder campaign a Hydra Swan
3392s	uh that was I just took the template of
3395s	the actual Hydra monster and I gave him
3397s	a bunch of beak attacks so they were
3398s	like d6s minus two or something it was
3401s	like level two party and they're like oh
3402s	my God it's a Hydra Swan I'm like yeah
3404s	don't feed it bread
3407s	that's really funny like I love that I
3410s	might have to pull that on one of my
3411s	people in the future for one of my
3414s	campaigns we got this lovely snake boy
3419s	I love that they did the apple thing
3422s	with it
3424s	the animations that our team always
3427s	comes up with for for things is amazing
3430s	the little intricacies
3432s	and then we've got the seventh Lancer
3435s	uniform
3437s	oh it looks great yes they look so scary
3445s	I have those backwards we've got the
3448s	diadem
3450s	for our Royal folks out there
3453s	pretty sure conveyor
3456s	super cool
3458s	got some arcane garbs
3464s	oh who made the Arcane garbs uh the
3467s	Arcane garbs were by Yan
3470s	oh yeah these look great
3475s	I have all the names for everybody this
3477s	time because Stephen always asked me and
3479s	I'm like I don't know there's a million
3481s	art pieces
3483s	um who who did the uh the variant for
3486s	the um uh the Idris one no no the otter
3489s	oh the uh that's ginsy that's that's
3492s	jincey work right there love it it looks
3494s	so good the Gloom root
3498s	um we've got the Jade sigil
3502s	come into fruition
3504s	oh that looks great who did the
3506s	mercenary one looks really great the
3507s	Jade sigil one was Yan as well yeah a
3510s	great challenge same with the Merc set
3512s	here oh wow very nice and then we've got
3516s	another plate set
3519s	John's just killing it
3521s	get some yawn
3524s	and then we've got The Travelers the
3527s	part of the trailers
3529s	um outfit
3531s	oh I believe I have an empty yes
3535s	yes this set was really fun to design
3538s	can you use the Hat as the like the the
3541s	thing you carry but you just flip it
3542s	over and put all the flesh fish in it
3544s	and hold it like up I was thinking you
3546s	could either put fish in it or you could
3547s	float in it was my thought when I was
3549s	designing it because sometimes they
3550s	would use these to like get like fishing
3553s	yeah
3556s	oh yeah I know that's a good call it's a
3558s	good call will you put the you put the
3560s	fish on the net on the outside oh okay
3562s	and then you eat yeah
3565s	um yeah it's cool and then we have the
3568s	ice heart corsage being worked on still
3571s	work in progress
3573s	very nice and I believe that is it from
3576s	the art Department
3579s	by it I mean like they've got a lot of
3581s	stuff but
3583s	um that is what we'll be showing today
3584s	thank you amazing artists
3587s	killing it as per usual moving on to our
3591s	Forum questions I will also just keep
3593s	the video of a cyclops fight in the
3594s	background so you can have something to
3597s	look at Wilson I ask the questions first
3600s	question is from Nick
3602s	oh wait actually let's do
3604s	um Studio updates first oh Studio yeah
3607s	let's talk with Studios and then I'll
3608s	yeah it's an expression question what's
3611s	been our studio updates for this month
3614s	well I think our general student has
3617s	been that we're continuing to hire so we
3620s	hired a lot within the like even the
3622s	last month I know yeah I think we've
3625s	we've hired uh 20 like seven people this
3629s	year so far
3631s	um yeah great great talent added to the
3633s	team amazing individuals thank you guys
3636s	for your help out there and spreading
3638s	the word for the project and
3641s	um you know supporting us because that
3644s	obviously helps Talent get attracted to
3647s	to working on this this awesome game we
3650s	have so many people where we have to
3651s	expand we're we're getting another
3653s	correct we have another floor incoming
3656s	another 30 some odd thousand square feet
3660s	um it'll be nice
3662s	um we got some construction that'll be
3663s	starting here in the next month or so uh
3666s	that's gonna be an interesting juggling
3669s	act
3670s	um
3671s	but uh yeah I don't know help me is
3673s	there anything that I'm missing in the
3674s	month of uh
3675s	Studio updates
3677s	I think I don't know it's just been
3679s	heads down yeah it's just been hiring a
3682s	lot it's been
3684s	um Everybody working really hard towards
3685s	our Milestones I know we talk about
3687s	these and you guys don't have context of
3689s	like the timelines for them but
3692s	um we have Sprints and then we have a
3695s	certain amount of Sprints within a
3696s	milestone and so like those are these
3698s	are ways for us to track in order to see
3699s	how far we're coming along and we have
3701s	like a big milestone coming up uh end of
3704s	July yes or end of June June early July
3708s	so
3709s	um you know people are just powering
3711s	through this last Sprint working really
3714s	hard and getting prepared for it so
3717s	um you know we're working hard to make
3719s	sure that you guys get Alpha 2 that's
3720s	obviously our next Milestone that's
3721s	going to be external for you guys to be
3723s	able to play test
3725s	um and experience and you know there
3727s	will be some pre-tests before Alpha 2
3729s	that pi and you know other folks will be
3732s	able to enjoy and test out with us
3734s	probably more nda'd and then we'll get
3737s	into the more of the testing that's
3738s	expansive that everyone gets to see and
3741s	check out
3743s	student number I noticed someone said
3746s	something about a uh mug
3748s	the mug looks so small back there when
3751s	Steven put it down I was like it looks
3752s	so tiny and then he picks it up and it's
3754s	a lady mug
3756s	it's a baby mug yeah I'm really excited
3759s	for Merch I know that people have been
3761s	asking about it I think it's a balancing
3763s	act of some folks want it some folks are
3765s	like why are you selling merch
3767s	um but we're working towards it homies
3769s	yes we are working towards that and in
3771s	addition I will give
3774s	um a brief kind of
3777s	uh statement that in the near future
3781s	over the coming I would say few months
3784s	we will be discontinuing
3789s	our pre-order packages
3792s	um we'll be making that announcement
3794s	when it happens but the number of
3797s	participants that we have for Alpha 2 as
3799s	it stands currently uh is significant
3802s	and until we are certain that we want to
3805s	host additional players at some point in
3808s	the next three months I would say
3809s	probably uh we will we will be
3812s	discontinuing those packages and we'll
3813s	have updates if we want to offer
3814s	different packages at some point in the
3816s	future after the Alpha 2 testings uh
3818s	succeed so
3820s	um look forward to that announcement
3822s	we'll give you ample time ahead of time
3824s	so that if there are individuals who
3826s	still want to participate they'll have
3828s	an opportunity to do so but I did want
3829s	to give that heads up
3831s	right
3832s	um and as Steven said we will give heads
3834s	up we'll we'll make it a news post about
3836s	those things we'll make you guys clear
3837s	we always do an FAQ for those types of
3839s	things as well usually so we try to
3841s	answer the questions in advance or if
3843s	questions come up we update our FAQ to
3845s	include that so we will give more
3847s	information as those things come online
3849s	and come to fruition but we have been
3851s	hearing your feedback there are things
3852s	that Stephen and I and uh Langford Brian
3856s	Langford who you've seen on this on the
3858s	channel before and Jacob who's our lead
3860s	um producer I think I caught Margaret
3861s	off guard we didn't intend to make this
3863s	you didn't tell us okay you have enough
3866s	I want to give enough lead time you know
3868s	just saying I think preemptively giving
3870s	people expectations yes exactly yeah
3872s	it's definitely something that we're
3873s	we're working towards
3874s	um and obviously I've been bringing this
3876s	to Steven's attention for a long time of
3878s	like folks feedback in regards to it
3881s	um but there are reasons why we do have
3882s	the Cosmetic packs
3884s	um and they have been assisting us in
3886s	many ways so thank you all so much for
3887s	helping us and it's also pushing forward
3889s	a lot of the content so we'll still
3891s	probably have some semblance of
3893s	Cosmetics but maybe they'll be less
3895s	exclusive and more rotational things
3897s	like that so if you do have thoughts
3899s	feel free to you know let us know we're
3901s	always yeah interested in hearing them
3903s	we've definitely been reading your
3904s	feedback we've heard it
3906s	um and we're going to be making some
3907s	adjustments yes
3910s	all right
3911s	yes this is the thing we've been
3912s	discussing it was not prepared for that
3914s	I know I'm so sorry I mean we know the
3916s	direction we know what we're going to do
3918s	so I just thought I'd give the heads up
3919s	yeah because I know people I people like
3920s	to watch and see what the Cosmetics are
3922s	before they choose to whether or not
3923s	they want to actually purchase a package
3925s	yeah I wanted to let them know like
3927s	we're months away from that being
3929s	discontinued so if you are interested in
3931s	something you know yeah that's yeah
3934s	exactly for sure for sure
3936s	um and then next up we do have our q a
3939s	so we'll get to that
3941s	as I mentioned before I'll have the
3942s	cyclops fight in the background so our
3945s	first question here is from Nick about
3947s	party Dynamics can we hit our uh party
3949s	Mage to wake them up from Slumber
3951s	perhaps if both of us are flagged
3954s	so I guess if someone gets slept
3957s	not your party mate because you can't
3959s	flag against your party mate
3961s	um that is a restriction that's not uh
3964s	allowed however if you were not at a
3966s	party yes you could attack them to wake
3968s	them up and break the sleep in addition
3970s	there will also be uh spells that can be
3972s	cast to break enchantments and sleep is
3975s	one of the uh one of the enchantments
3976s	that can be broken through the spellcast
3977s	so if you have a cleric in your party or
3979s	a Bard they'll have an ability uh to
3982s	kind of um uh to remove the negative
3985s	debuff
3986s	yeah and
3987s	um kind of going back to the previous
3989s	discussion we had in the studio update
3991s	regarding uh cosmetic packs if you have
3993s	a Kickstarter pack you can still upgrade
3995s	that so that correct that'll still be
3998s	upgradable and as we've said in the past
3999s	before we decide to discontinue the
4001s	upgrade upgrade paths for the
4003s	kickstarters we will give ample notice
4005s	as well for that yes
4008s	um and then volts wants to know about
4010s	PVP quests will there be quests that
4013s	players can put uh that put players
4015s	against each other slash encourage PVP
4018s	for example and organization's quest for
4021s	the Traders Guild contradicted by a
4023s	Thieves Guild quest yeah absolutely
4026s	there are quests that interact with PVP
4028s	PVP is not
4030s	a secondary component of the game PVP is
4034s	an equitable component of the game
4037s	remember we are a pvx game which means
4039s	that we emphasize both PVE quest lines
4043s	and story modes and content as well as
4046s	PVP it is an intended design theory for
4050s	ashes of creation that the world is not
4052s	filled with just your friends the world
4054s	is also filled with adversaries and
4056s	because of that we will provide
4058s	opportunities to encourage social
4059s	friction and that may be in the form of
4062s	these PVP oriented questlines
4065s	all right and then our next one is about
4067s	looting from Azure well it'd be possible
4071s	to kick a player from a party or Raid
4073s	just before killing a boss or to deny
4076s	them from their share of the loot will
4077s	it be possible I'm sorry to say it last
4079s	part will be possible to kick a player
4081s	from your raid like right before you do
4084s	loot so that they don't get to be part
4085s	of the loot
4087s	um yes technically it would be possible
4088s	for you to kick a player prior to to
4091s	um acquiring loot however
4094s	again because we are a game that relies
4098s	on social interactions there are
4099s	reputations to be had and if you acquire
4102s	a reputation as a raid leader or as a
4105s	party leader of doing something dirty
4107s	like that then it's unlikely you'll be
4110s	able to Garner the support of future
4112s	party members and or raids uh to lead
4114s	efforts against these raid bosses so
4117s	keeping that in mind
4119s	and harathgar wants to know about
4122s	respawning will there be a custom
4125s	respawn or will there be custom respawn
4128s	points that can be placed by players in
4130s	the open world or only checkpoint based
4133s	respawn points like the nearest
4136s	graveyard slash City to respond yeah
4139s	there will not be custom
4142s	um respawn points that can be placed in
4143s	the world
4144s	and then garthak wants to know about
4146s	open world distractions since travel
4149s	times are important what is there to
4151s	discover that will distract you from
4153s	going straight to your initial
4155s	destination what makes traveling
4157s	adventurous in Vera
4160s	well aside from threat and opportunity
4163s	which are probably the two biggest
4165s	distractions that you can encounter
4166s	while traveling through Vera
4169s	um
4170s	you know those come in different forms
4172s	threat in the form of monsters and
4174s	events opportunities in the forms of
4177s	resources and
4180s	pois there's also achievements that are
4182s	based around exploration there's
4185s	treasure maps that can be found there's
4186s	you know there's a lot of different
4188s	things that kind of intersect with
4190s	travel
4191s	um the movement of resources the storage
4193s	of those resources in which locations
4195s	what are available to be sold and
4196s	purchased at different locations they
4198s	might make you DeTour for you
4200s	um you know all of those things kind of
4202s	contribute to why I would go somewhere
4204s	and instead uh change my direction
4208s	all right
4209s	and then cast I wants to know about
4211s	double jumping have you considered
4213s	implementing double jumping into the
4215s	game at all maybe not with player
4218s	characters but possibly with mounts
4220s	since there is already flying and
4221s	gliding
4222s	yeah we have we've considered um double
4225s	jumping for as essentially
4228s	as a mount ability uh as well
4231s	um we've considered double I think as an
4233s	option yeah exactly like frogs and
4235s	bunnies
4237s	um get a little Smash Bro actions in
4239s	there too
4240s	triple jump next up we've got Doug bug
4243s	27 which is just an adorable username uh
4247s	ranged melee is their topic after
4249s	watching the Mage yield the Greatsword I
4252s	wondered if the arrange archetype or the
4254s	ranger archetype will have melee
4257s	oriented abilities to allow for a more
4260s	balanced fighting style or will the bow
4262s	always be bae
4264s	uh so a ranger definitely exemplifies
4268s	range meaning that the majority of their
4271s	skill tree will likely be abilities that
4274s	are based on Range however that does not
4277s	preclude them from having options in
4278s	their skill Suite to spec into
4280s	melee-based uh uh ability types right
4284s	we're not creating a very
4285s	um uh singularly focused Ranger they
4289s	will have the opportunity to comprise a
4292s	skill a skill rotation set that includes
4295s	melee options utilities mobilities
4298s	ranged options as part of the class kit
4302s	and then golid wants to AOE Dynamics and
4306s	many PVP MMOs AOE spam can quickly
4308s	become the meta and be difficult to
4310s	balance with simple damage adjustments
4312s	more recent MMOs solve this problem by
4316s	not having the same layered AOE spell
4319s	stack damage at all what is Intrepid
4322s	doing to combat AOE spam
4325s	we have a few ideas on how we want to
4327s	approach
4329s	um
4330s	aoes uh there's a vein of thought that
4333s	is regarding diminishing returns maximum
4336s	number of targets I'm not a huge fan of
4338s	that there is a diminishing return as it
4341s	as it applies to damage conveyed
4344s	there is uh you know just the fact that
4348s	we're a collision based game and there's
4350s	a limited number of bodies that can be
4351s	located in a particular choke point or
4353s	in proximity
4354s	um you know there's there's there's
4356s	still things that we're testing as part
4358s	especially as part of Alpha 2 that will
4360s	likely be testing you wanted to get
4361s	player feedback on as it relates to
4364s	curbing the AOE approach of most raid
4368s	comps
4369s	um and you know a lot of different games
4371s	have done a lot of different things to
4372s	achieve that we're going to be testing a
4375s	lot of these different directions and
4376s	finding which works best for ashes
4378s	right and then sunscript wants to know
4381s	about dual wielding if the dual wield
4383s	system is flexible will there be a
4386s	reliable way to activate the power the
4388s	weapon procs of the offhand weapon
4391s	if the dual wheeled specs are say that
4394s	one more time flexible will there be a
4397s	reliable way to activate the weapon
4398s	procs of the offhand weapon
4403s	um so dual wielded weapons
4409s	I believe have a designated skill weapon
4413s	skill tree
4415s	that's based on the combination of
4417s	dual-wielded weapons
4419s	and so and so based on the type of dual
4421s	wield weapons
4423s	will determine the available procs in
4426s	the weapon skill tree
4427s	will there be a way to reliably
4431s	ensure that procs take effect is that
4434s	the question because no I would say that
4436s	you can't reliably create a sentence
4439s	yeah exactly you can't reliably create a
4441s	scenario where the proctix in fact now
4443s	that's not to say that there aren't
4445s	certain skills that you can use as part
4447s	of a rotation that might create a
4450s	scenario where you're insured your next
4452s	weapon attack will trigger a proc there
4455s	could be synergies there between the
4457s	skill rotation and the weapon skill tree
4460s	but I would say no by the very nature of
4463s	what a proc is they're not reliable
4466s	that's why they proc
4468s	that's why they cry uh and phantomimex
4472s	wants to know about crafting how close
4474s	are we to seeing a showcase on Crafting
4478s	we are pretty close yeah pretty close I
4484s	think you've been seeing kind of some of
4487s	those things coming uh we had it we had
4490s	a yeah we had like what it was like six
4491s	months ago we did a um the gatherables
4494s	one uh but the crafting one is pretty
4497s	close so stay tuned yeah we're or
4501s	platinum planning
4502s	and with that that's our last question
4504s	for today oh my goodness I know it's not
4508s	bad and sometimes we have like two hour
4511s	long streams Margaret was like don't
4513s	make an hour-long video and I was like
4515s	wait what
4517s	I'm always like try to make it like 15
4520s	to 20 minutes here's your running show
4522s	and then
4525s	it goes chaos but you guys enjoy it you
4528s	always enjoy um watching them hopefully
4530s	you've been enjoying the new format that
4532s	we've been doing recently and liking
4534s	that we always take your feedback so
4536s	please send it our way and we hope that
4538s	you have enjoyed getting a little sneak
4541s	peek at one of our boss fights we want
4544s	your feedback so definitely head on over
4545s	to
4546s	forums.ashesofcreation.com and send us
4549s	your feedback we will also have a boss
4551s	mechanic Dev discussion coming up that
4553s	will be not specific to Cyclops so we
4556s	would love love to get your thoughts on
4558s	that make sure that you read those
4560s	prompts you don't necessarily have to
4562s	gift feedback just on those prompts but
4564s	give us feedback on that so that we can
4566s	report that to the development team
4569s	um and of course we want to extend a
4571s	huge thank you to you all for coming
4572s	here and watching us live or if you're
4574s	watching us on YouTube We Appreciate You
4576s	um and of course to the developers who
4578s	joined us today
4580s	um you know Chad Jason and Doug we
4583s	appreciate y'all joining us and of
4584s	course Steven we know that your time is
4587s	very very valuable so we hope that you
4590s	all you know are staying safe and
4592s	healthy and reminder that the VOD will
4595s	be up on the 4K for VOD will be up on
4598s	our YouTube channel shortly so stay
4600s	tuned and we'll also have the full
4601s	development update over on our YouTube
4603s	channel tomorrow and if you leave a
4606s	comment on the full development update
4607s	and you're subscribed and you have it so
4609s	that we can see that you're subscribed
4611s	um you may get your comments spotlighted
4613s	so yeah you could be spotlighted on the
4616s	next stream and of course follow us on
4618s	all of the social platforms Twitter
4619s	Facebook Instagram Snapchat whatever
4621s	whatever is your jam we try to keep you
4624s	guys up to date and share lots of
4626s	goodies with you every almost every day
4629s	so if you're interested in more ashes
4631s	and varen goodness in your life come
4634s	check it out and with that we're going
4636s	to wrap up for today we hope that you
4639s	have a great rest of May it's the rest
4642s	of this day that's it we're in June you
4644s	guys it's Madness no
4647s	and we'll see you for our June
4649s	development update
4650s	bye everyone toodles
4653s	[Music]

[2023] Development Update with Cyclops Combat - 11AM PT Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Transcript (by Youtube)

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