Tea Time with Ryme: It's that Thyme Again

[Ryme]

Next Tea Time tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, approximately at 8 p.m. US Mountain time.

Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, if you can't make it and you have a question, you can post it here.

[Cristiona]

Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, if you can't make it and you have a question, you can post it here.

How much wood would a wood-chuck chuck if a wood-chuck could chuck wood?

[Muhandes]

Some questions, since I probably wont make it:

1. Seeing that new content was published, and the skill points not yet fully implemented, is the completion of skill point implementation now a lower priority to other things, or is it still at the head of the queue?
2. Are we expecting a return of frusion foes any time in the future? The storyline suggested a return every year.
3. Long time since we saw Buzzkill's Army (last visit was 11-07-08). Are they still around?
4. Planning ahead for retcon, is transmog still going to be available?

[Ryme]

No, but it you could remember me to one who lives there, I'd be much appreciative. (She once was a true love of mine, you see.)

[blackmatter615]

In case I am not there (will update this post as I think of more questions)
Will the mines, and more importantly the rubble fields, ever make a return?

[Harry Dresden]

In case I am not there (will update this post as I think of more questions)
Will the mines, and more importantly the rubble fields, ever make a return?

Pretty sure Ryme has said in one of the earlier Tea Times that it would not return. He could always change his mind, of course.

[TheK3vin]

Thanks for telling us early this time

Now I'm more likely to remember.

[Patojonas]

In case I am not there (will update this post as I think of more questions)
Will the mines, and more importantly the rubble fields, ever make a return?

Pretty sure Ryme has said in one of the earlier Tea Times that it would not return. He could always change his mind, of course.

I think there was something about building a subway for the city mentioned (as possible new threats from those creatures) at the end of that quest according to the wiki though...

[Ryme]

Just confirming that Tuesday at one hour before rollover is the official time. See y'all there, I hope.

[Harry Dresden]

SYSTEM MESSAGE: Hello, and welcome to Tea Time with Ryme ...
SYSTEM MESSAGE: an online chat session with me, the guy who puts all the bugs into the game.
[N] blackmatter615: Muhandes posted 4 questions on the forum
[N] blackmatter615: 1. Seeing that new content was published, and the skill points not yet fully implemented, is the completion of skill point implementation now a lower priority to other things, or is it still at the head of the queue?
[N] Ryme: It's still up there. Basically I stopped when I couldn't figure out what to do with the remining few. Still working on them.
[N] blackmatter615: 2. Are we expecting a return of frusion foes any time in the future? The storyline suggested a return every year.
[N] Ryme: I'd say an occasional frusion outbreak is likely. Probably not as big as the initial one, or as long. Likely roughly once per year.
[N] blackmatter615: 3. Long time since we saw Buzzkill's Army (last visit was 11-07-08). Are they still around?
[N] Ryme: I keep meaning to bring them back out. They're very likely to make an appearance this year. Didn't want to wear them out by usign them too often.
[N] blackmatter615: 4. Planning ahead for retcon, is transmog still going to be available?
[N] Ryme: yes, always. Transmog's a nice "oops, I picked the wrong thing and want to change" option.
[N] SpockYoda: That's interesting. Always assumed it was going away.
[N] Ryme: Transmog was designed with a lot of limitations that make it intentionally not very optimal except for those situations.
[N] Ryme: That's why it resets level and such, so that even if you switch mid-run, it's too much of a burden, and you can't still be "competitive" ... whatever that will mean.
[N] blackmatter615: How will it work with different "runs" will it let you jump runs?
[N] Ryme: nah, it'll do what it does now -- just change class, reset XP/level, and clear out buffs.
[N] Antikythera: I always thought the 20k was daunting so I put off switching from my corrupt amulet
[N] Ryme: Heck, it used to be 10%, with no cap.
[N] SpockYoda switched talismans the first time a few days before the change happened
[N] blackmatter615: will the rubble fields return (merit badge question)
[N] Ryme: Not sure about the rubble fields. Very unlikely the badge will be obtainable in the future, but that theme may come back.
[N] blackmatter615 grumbles and mutters disliking of unattainable beta badges
[N] Ryme: I feel your pain, blackmatter, but in some ways unobtainable badges are a better way to reward dedicated players than any other unobtainable object, like an item or skill.
[N] Ryme: While it's early, I want to take a moment to place a plug for next month's Item of the Month. It's very content heavy. Not just the most extensive one ever, but truly massive in scope.
[N] Ryme: And of course I've made sure there's a way for non-donators to sample the experience.
[N] Zillow: It sounds fun =)
[N] SpockYoda: Awesome. Definitely going to get it.
[N] Nycteris: Color me intrigued
[N] Ryme: May's IotM may also be the "tide the game over until retcon" donation lure. The few after that may be more basic equipment so I can focus on the big stuff.
[N] Trog: So, I'm guessing that Tea time is postponed then?
[N] Trog: Chat dying sucks.
[N] Ryme: um, Tea Time is now, Trog.
[N] SpockYoda: Awesome. So do you think retcon may come at some point in the summer?
[N] blackmatter615: or before christmas even?
[N] Ryme: Well, I have to start by saying at one time I thought retcon would come last summer. But ... sometime this year would be nice. Possibly late summer.
[N] Ryme: It really is becoming top priority, and even though my recent contributions don't necessarily show it, a lot of the last few major updates have been leading up to it.
[N] Zillow: Like NCI?
[N] Ryme: NCI is definitely a teaser for bigger things to come.
[N] AldenteVonTino: ie: possible pre-programming?
[N] Ryme: more like just getting components streamlined, and putting in parts that will be expanded, Aldente.
[N] blackmatter615: are the nci live building and the castle eventually going to have associated quests?
[N] Ryme: Castle was always meant to have a quest, but that'll probably be outside the scope of retcon. Not sure what to do with later-level quests like that, if they'll be optional or become included.
[N] SpockYoda: Any hints on how skill points will work with skill perming in retcon?
[N] Heather Robinson: ...assuming that's even finalized yet..
[N] Ryme: I think the forums skill points discussion has always had a pretty consistent explanation for my intentions.
[N] Ryme: Skills will be permed. Skill points will never be. But there will be ways to get extra points, beyond the 2/level given now.
[N] Zillow: What are your views on one day runs?
[N] Ryme: I have no real opinion on what a run "should" look like. I don't really even know fully what a run will entail.
[N] Ryme: I do tend to think that a few days seems like it would be a more satisfying accomplishment than something that could be pushed through in a single day. Just in terms of repetitiveness, or size of the accomplishment.
[N] blackmatter615: assuming there will be runs, you could say a more difficult run requires x number of quests completed, so you could pick from like castle, and space bots and clock stuff if you arent going for 100%
[N] Ryme: blackmatter, there's a LOT still to be decided about types of runs, and requirements. I'll be posting more in the forum thread soon to re-instigate that discussion.
[N] Ryme: I'm 99.5% sure I wouldn't want to ever require space robots or the clock quest, though. Those are just bonuses with their own rewards. Potentially they might add a small bonus to the "score" for a run if done within a set of restrictions (ronin, hardcore, equivalents, say.)
[N] The Supernaturalist: are we having any more bounties of the month?
[N] Ryme: SN, I kind of ran out of bounties. Haven't had anything to really ask people to do. If I think of one I'll do it.
[N] Trog: Will leader boards reset if someone goes through retcon?
[N] Ryme: Trog, I've always intended two sets -- one for current run, one for lifetime, or something along those lines.
[N] Trog: Makes sense. Thanks
[N] The Supernaturalist: though you've run out of bounties, that *doesnt* mean (merit badges aside) that there isnt anything else in the game left to be discovered though correct?
[N] Ryme: Of course not, SN. There are secrets. Definitely a lot of spading left. Plus a few other random mysteries.
[N] Heather Robinson: will the space station remain unlocked for anyone who unlocked it prior to retcon?
[N] Ryme: I think space station will require re-unlocking every time. If the current setup gets too tedious, it may be streamlined a bit.
[N] The Supernaturalist: how much new content are you planning for the initial release of retcon to include?
[N] Ryme: I don't have an answer for that, really, SN. Definitely one final showdown quest with The Mick. Ideally a bunch of extra flavor around the types of runs, and leaderboards.
[N] Ryme: Beyond that ... I may try to just get it done, and then fill in more. I don't want to get too sidetracked, with a massive playstyle shift waiting for release.
[N] Ryme: I really expect retcon to be something that changes how a lot of people play, and boosts their enjoyment of the game tremendously. I also think it will help keep people longer, and bring them back more often. And also draw more from KoL's crowd.
[N] Ryme: In fact, I'm counting on it generating a bit of critical mass for growth, rather than staying mostly flat for two years.
[N] SpockYoda: I like that leveling will be a necessary part of any optimal aftercore playstyle because skill points aren't permed. It makes for another interesting dimension of the game.
[N] Ryme: True, Spock. More so than just leveling, I'm hoping there will be a lot of variety in the choices. Different types of runs may lead to investing skill points in wildly different skills.
[N] SpockYoda: Absolutely. Much more strategy involved.
[N] blackmatter615: strategy==doubleplus good
[N] Ryme: At least I hope that's how it will work.
[N] AldenteVonTino loves strategy
[N] Lichen: how will implementation take place, as an all at once or piece by piece?
[N] Ryme: retcon? I think it's just got to go in all at once.
[N] Ryme: Which is to say, the pieces I could do on their own, I've done. Like skill points.
[N] blackmatter615: whats the next biggest piece of implementation after retcon?
[N] Ryme: oh, don't ask me that. There IS no after retcon, yet.
[N] The Supernaturalist: retcon wont be finished per se for a looong while though right
[N] Ryme: somewhere between two months and never, I suppose.
[N] Ryme: Retcon's going to be a massive, slow, error-prone process. After the coding and testing and implementation, the release will probably keep me busy for weeks just patching stuff. After that I'll need a break, and time to regroup and get philosophical before deciding what's next.
[N] AldenteVonTino: Can't Fight, Gotta Work: Will there ever be a chance to quit one's job and own a business if one gains X chips or something?
[N] SpockYoda: Ha. It would make me laugh if the long-awaited mall could only ever be reached in a KoL-Valhalla equivalent, and never in the normal game. Wouldn't make much sense, but it'd be funny.
[N] Malk-a-mite: Dead Heroes Knick Knacks and Outlet Spock?
[N] SpockYoda: Something like that, Malk.
[N] Ryme: Yeah, Aldente, I always meant to have a way to quit your job. It's possibly part of the leagues thing that's been in the wings forever. Also possibly a retcon option/upgrade.
[N] The Supernaturalist: will retcon limit the items players can use past their level requirements?
[N] The Supernaturalist: (such as a hagnks)
[N] Ryme: that's still up in the air, SN, and may vary depending on the type of run.
[N] Lichen: will there be class specific quests as part of retcon?
[N] Ryme: I'd like some class-specific quests, but that's the sort of thing that may get pushed off until afterward.
[N] SpockYoda: Are any old IotM's going to be changed with Retcon? For balancing, or whatever.
[N] Ryme: Very unlikely, unless we discover it's absolutely unnecessary. I don't like to touch things people have donated for.
[N] Ryme: One possibility is requiring the "passable pilot" skill to operate the VHF-1 fighter in jet mode.
[N] Ryme: So, anything else? We've got just a couple minutes left to wrap up.
[N] Lichen: how will sidekick skills transfer into retcon?
[N] Ryme: Sidekick skills may need a little ironing out, but the rough plan is you'll earn it the first time through, but have them from the start on future runs.
[N] Zillow: Oh, I have a question. Why do trades disappear so quickly while some stay for a long time?
[N] Ryme: They should have a fixed duration.
[N] Ryme: Like 7-ish days from completion.
[N] Zillow: I have one from 02/05/2009 and some from 04/19/2010
[N] Ryme: all are completed?
[N] Zillow: Ya
[N] Ryme: Hm.... I'll look into it.
[N] Cristiona deletes Zillow's account, "Problem solved!"
[N] Ryme: Permanent records take up a lot of space. If you want permanence, a spreadsheet may be your friend. I don't think most people need more than a week as evidence of a trade, and won't clean them up if it's not automatic.
[N] SpockYoda: What about a feature that would allow you to loan something to someone and then give it back to you after so long.
[N] Ryme: Loan system is a definite no-go.
SYSTEM MESSAGE: Okay, I'm gonna wrap this up. Thanks to everyone for your questions. Seeya next time.

[Ryme]

Thanks, Harry, for the capture and the quick post.

[Muhandes]

Thanks for answering my questions when I wasn't there.

As always, looking forward to all the great stuff.