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Jagex_Stu

Jagex_Stu



26 Sep

Some updates had a huge potential, such a shame they were never implemented like the weather one, this one would be cool af :/

Comment

Originally posted by Grovve

u/Jagex_Stu Are you allowed to comment on this? Just to say if it’s still in the plans or eta of this update?

Probably not, so to be careful I'll paraphrase what I vaguely recall from hazy memories of prior livestreams, etc, where questions about weather were answered:

Weather's definitely not in the works. As far as I know, the project didn't make it past preproduction.

I've spent the last hour or so writing a much more detailed response about the evolution of RuneFest announcements.

But rather than post it on the weekend, I'll run it past my line manager on Monday, as we're trying to be much more careful what we say nowadays.

(Since as this necro illustrates, plans change, but the internet never forgets.)

If you watch the RuneFest 2019 year ahead video on our YouTube channel, Mod Osborne mentions how we adapted from pitching fantastic ideas like this at early RuneFests toward a more conservative and pragmatic "only talk about it if we're already developing it" approach - in a more succinct and authoritative fashion than I would have.


25 Sep

Now that Curses will no longer require 29 Defence, allow players that have previously reset Defence to do so again.

Comment

Originally posted by KBMonay

Support! I only brought my Defense up to 29 a while ago because of Curses’ requirement. It never looked like this was going to change: now that its changed I’d kill to go back. u/Jagex_Stu is this anything you guys could look at? I think a lot of people would be thrilled to reset their levels again, especially since the Curses debate was a hot topic back in the day. I knew a few people that quit or just gave up on their purés because of it.

I can look into adjusting the one-time nature of the skill resets, sure.

From the comments, sounds like infinite resets would be preferred. Will make enquiries, once we've settled on a clear resolution, as to whether this change is permissible.

So if you're a pure of some kind, I'd welcome your feedback on the comments in this thread so we can decide on a consensus solution.


22 Sep

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by googy_boogey

The new Dark Wizards seem really off, are they textured correctly?

Same as the player outfit, yes, as far as I'm aware. The basic robes are very plain.


15 Sep

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by Nerevaryjczyk

Now that all Lumbridge guards have been updated and standardised, maybe you can help solve a little mystery I stumbled upon when working through them on the wiki last month (good timing to archive them, it seems). I noticed that, depending on the account I used, all guards except the one with the dog and the one patrolling west side of the river could have either rune or iron equipment (the ones on the bridge and the named ones in the castle). Additionally the bridge guards completely changed their name and dialogue (Elite Lumbridge guardsman for rune and Lumbridge guard for iron) and this dialogue dependency was shared with the one with the dog on the other end of the bridge. Now it seems they all agreed to use the same, new, shiny equipment for every player and the bridge guards are also consistently named Lumbridge guardsman now, however their dialogue variance still remains in-game. From what I (and another person interested in this) was able to gather, it seems to be dependant...

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That's very kind of you!

The guards and dark wizards are all Mod Daze's work, though, so I can't take credit for it. He developed You Are It and the clue scroll rework prior to it, which proved handy familiarity.

As for BoL and the Lumbridge guards...

Those who engaged in the Duke's Dilemma events during the Battle of Lumbridge https://runescape.wiki/w/Battle_of_Lumbridge/The_Duke%27s_Dilemma decided by majority vote how to spend Duke Horacio's treasury.

We chose to recruit more guardsmen, improve their weapons and train them, and train guards. Which in combination resulted in upgraded elite Lumbridge guardsm...

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14 Sep

Noob question about The Death of Chivalry quest

Comment

Originally posted by IvarRagnarssson

It really is a great quest. Shame that ahem we never got a sequel to it ahem

To be fair, I'm happy I was given the opportunity to describe the key beats via creative writing.

And in some respects, the scene conjured through prose will be timeless, and it's a closer reflection of what I had in mind for character resolution than likely would've been practical through interactive gameplay.

I'm also glad Sir Owen is now available to get more directly involved in the ongoing story, and even got to feature in Azzanadra's Quest.

Noob question about The Death of Chivalry quest

Comment

Originally posted by IvarRagnarssson

Damn props to you for even popping over to answer a question about a 5+ year old quest lol

Aww, thanks!

The Death of Chivalry is my Candyman Candyman Candyman.

It's like spicy catnip to a hellcat. Can't get enough.

Display bug with slayer tasks

Comment

Fix in the works - currently it's displaying the name of the example NPC for that task, used to get the monster weakness.

I deved the fix last week and it's finishing off QA this week.

As you noted, it doesn't affect Slayer task progression - just the heading text for the task.


13 Sep

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by KobraTheKing

For the varrock guards the edge cases probably take some work, like the River of Blood armor upgrade for Rovin and the guards.

Some existing asset use you can use for Varrock Guards:

If you want a alternative look for some guards to stop them all being identical, using Crunchy's helmet give a natural look. Wiki link.

What do do with Hartwin is also interesting, he should look different from the normal guard. Maybe colour swapping Guardian of fortitude hood? Wiki link.

Thank you for the answers Stu, great as always!

Much obliged!

There's a superior Varrock guard outfit that I believe Daze used for Captain Hartwin, so he's got you covered.

But yeah, IIRC one of the asset dependencies for the Varrock guards is we need a hand from an artist to replace the River of Blood sprite billboards, used to make an army of Varrock guards on the horizon without tanking the frame rate.

"Do an epic human vs vampyre army scene that looks amazing in NXT", they said. "Also make it run well in Java", they said. :D

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by king_giovas1

dark wizard robes are not like a fire cape for example. You could totally update the robes and people would be happy.

That's reassuring, thank you!

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by TheSmallIceburg

The value provided from the Yak Trak is that the appearance of the object in game would require a keepsake key, while the Yak Trak version doesn't, so for completing the Yak Trak, the player essentially receives an outfit's worth of dope keepsaked, modern looking armor. That provides value to them, but also provides the ability to achieve the appearance of the new stuff without completing the yak trak or buying skips, instead by buying keepsake keys. Either way, as long as it is the cosmetic part that is valued, and is used as an override, the player wins and Jagex profits.

Only question remaining is, does changing the appearance break fashion scape? I would probably say it does not.

Also, legendary replies to this thread. This is the most j-mod interaction I have personally ever seen on reddit.

Well said! Thank you for your feedback.

Well, time will tell if I get in trouble for it. ;) It's generally advisable to only post on our social media accounts during core hours, where we benefit from CM's support and coverage.

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by Trewavas_

Are there any areas that are liable to be updated in the future? Would be more likely to see such updates alongside a wider project (EG, a Karamja update coming along with a skilling/quest bundle, Seers' Village with a quest/event), or might we see them as standalone updates again?

I personally think there's more value in releasing them with content (Archaeology demonstrated that), but I think there's a case for investment in improving the aesthetic of some small areas of the game as 'mini' updates, in the same vein as the Dwarven Mine building or Draynor Manor's garden. Off the top of my head, this could include things like the Crafting Guild, the rift entrance by Senntisten, or some of the buildings by Manor Farm/Ikov, such as the Ranging Guild and Sorcerer's Tower.

Whilst I am aware that they would need their own environment artists, is there a case for updating them on a purley aesthetic basis, or would you prefer to see a small amount of content added to ...

To be honest, your question seems like the sort of "strategies for the future" our RS leads prefer to directly communicate with you, so I'd best steer clear.

Personally, I'd like to be in a position where aesthetic graphical area reworks, modernising old content and systems, tuning the core loops of established skills, improving the early to mid game, were appreciated on their own terms, and "counted" as being worth your membership fees.

I don't know if player perception has changed in recent years, but in the past it seemed that graphically updating areas tended to be dismissed as a "no update" week, especially if updating an area rarely trafficked by high-level players.

Despite it being considerably more effort to upgrade existing content and retain its functionality (accounting for all the fringe behaviour of decades of additions), than to make new content from scratch elsewhere.

For example, we were required to spend 2 sprints making the temporar...

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The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by KobraTheKing

Since everyone is talking fairies, I'll ask about some of the other yak track pets that can be used as base.

Will we get giant rat update using Target?

Scorpions using Pinchy?

The deer of Enchanted Valley using Buck?

Baby dragon (both pets and enemies) using Mollik?

Also, for varrock guards I can point out that Captain Rovin that should get guard captain outfit and not the normal one, and that in the quest "River of Blood" Rovin and two guards gets extra armor as part of the quest so it might need some extra graphical work.

What do do with Hartwin is also interesting, he should look different from the normal guard.

I can't offer any statement of guarantee that you'll get anything. ;)

What I can say is Daze and I've created backlog tasks for each of these, to investigate and apply what we can update elsewhere with the current available assets.

The first of those completed tasks went live today (Yak to Basics outfits on Lumbridge guards and dark wizards).

We have to prioritise the projects we have currently been assigned above our backlog tasks, though, so I can't offer you any ETA or any certainty.

It's also possible that another team might get to it before we do.

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by [deleted]

what about bwanas at karamja, when will they get an update

The bwanas? The bwanas split.

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by Taste_Zaros

It's very good to hear about older NPC's getting some much needed modernisation!

I was wondering what ever happened to the dragon model rework. IIRC the Red Dragon model was ready to be released with ED2. has this been shelved because they never got around to update the other dragons?

I really liked those designs and it's a shame we never got to see them ingame

I'd have to investigate the current status of dragon models/textures that got as far as being released.

Mod Orion or Sova probably have a more informed answer, since they worked on EDs.

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by Trewavas_

Ooh, I didn't expect such an explanation! Many thanks for taking the time to write that.

I guess in one way it's a shame that they can't all be done in one go, but I fully agree that they should be used if you have them ready to go. I personally always thought it was a waste not to see such models used in-game. It reminds me a little of the Zamorakian models from the Battle of Lumbridge. I always thought they might have been a nice replacement for the chaos mobs that are dotted around. Perhaps they're showing their age now, though! Anyway, I'd rather see some updated rather than none (particularly as things like unicorns and bears are also located near areas that HAVE been updated recently). I suppose the list would include giant rats and scorpions as well?

Going forward, could we expect to see the models released alongside the update (EG black unicorns, potentially Ardy guards etc)? Would it be something that saves time, or would it work out to about the ...

The trouble is that every project has to be mindful of scope.

Most deadlines are decided about a year in advance, so that you're getting regular beats of game updates. So if any production risks arise, descoping is usually the first weapon we unsheathe.

(Which is rather nice, because crunching tends to be the weapon of last resort we keep in the bottom of the backpack.

A refreshing philosophical difference from a lot of the gaming industry.

Jagex recognise we have to keep on trucking week after week, so it doesn't do us any favours to crunch. They recognise tired people don't do their best work and it's a greater long term cost than the short term gain.

And even if I say work double shifts for a few days to squeeze a bunch of extra features into a project, that doesn't mean the impacted staff that have to test it, etc, have the capacity to do the same. So if I overwork, that can create a crunch cascade that hurts those adjacent to me.)

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The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by dandroid126

So as a content developer, right now my only option available would be to make every fairy look like Snowflake

Really ironic, considering all snowflakes are unique.

I know, right?

This tin-foil hat is itchy, but I have to wonder if the developer named her that with his tongue wedged firmly in his cheek.

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by ErikHumphrey

Unlike city guards, fairies mostly tend to be uniquely named characters with specific defining visual traits. Making every fairy an identical Snowflake probably wouldn't be considered acceptable.

Time to add respawning enemy fairies you can slay!!

Is prettier fairy snow-snow in the short term worth the loss of special snowflakes?

No

Time to add respawning enemy fairies you can slay!!

You're a monster, and I admire that.

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by Wahisietel

How about imps (and snow imps)? Mephisto's model can be used for regular imps (although they'll have to go without weapons), and Violet is Blue Too's snow imp models can be used for all the still in-game snow imps (scarfless model used for Marvin, Marius, Benny & one version of the ice amulet follower, scarfed model for the other version of the ice amulet follower). The imp champion can use the Howie pet's model.

Banner carriers and Zimberfizz would have to go without new models unfortunately.

We created a backlog task for red and blue imps too. :)

As you say, there'd be edge cases that need props or certain anims we'd have to defer 'til later when artist resource is available/outsourced, but using the newest generic model where we can is a win in my book.

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by Kadem2

Tell whoever did this update that they look phenomenal!

Mod Daze, my team lead did it.

Thank you, I'll pass on the message to him. :)

Hearing the value you put on cosmetically improving old content - even if it means less time spent on new playable content - is really helpful to us.

The Lumbridge guards and the Dark wizards were graphically upgraded today, using their Yak to Basics models. I hope future Yak Tracks also continue to roll out these much needed regional graphical reworks!

Comment

Originally posted by UnwillingRedditer

First of all, your level of communication is legendary and can't be praised enough.

Is there any internal thoughts about the fact that the 'dark wizard robes' dropped by dark wizards don't match their appearance? I realise they probably can't just be updated to match since the yack track override becoming a copy of al ow level magic armour would suck. Probably just one of those things we have to put up with.

Thank you! Hmm, that's a tricky one.

From our perspective, we certainly could update dark wizard robes worn by players to use the same assets as the dark wizard outfit cosmetic override.

The only thing that'd give me pause is player sentiment.

Would it irrevocably mess up player FashionScape if dark wizard robes no longer had their current look?

Would it be perceived poorly if an appearance acquired as a Yak Track reward also was available from wearing dark wizard robes?

My gut says it'd be no big deal and the value of Yak Track providing a cosmetic override remains whether or not there's an object version.

But again, would welcome your feedback. Do any of you consider updating wearable dark wizard robes unacceptable?

I'll point Mod Daze towards this thread, so he can take it into consideration. :)

(He's pretty gosh darn amazeballs, so I imagine he already has a follow-up plan for dark wizard robe objects.)

I'...

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