Editing Announcements - 2002/09 - Verdict (section)

== Letter to the Players ==

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEletter0902.asp</nowiki>
 |  Date = September 19, 2002
 | Title = Letter to the Players
 |  Text =
September is another exciting month for players of Asheron's Call! Here is a summary of the changes and additions for September.
<br><br>
Greetings fellow adventurers! I'm Tim Holman, the new Asheron's Call Producer. I've taken over for Ken Troop, who has moved on to Asheron's Call 2 and is pouring his high level of talent into the upcoming release. Being a player of Asheron's Call for over two years, I'm very excited to join the talented and dedicated teams at Turbine and Microsoft. In continuing the tradition of fresh and exciting content delivered each month, I'm very proud of what the team has created for you in September. Most changes this month are pure content, and while I won't spoil it for you here, let me assure you that September brings danger to Dereth that threatens the very existence of all life!
<br><br>
I'd also like to take this opportunity to invite you all to check out two new AC forums. The first, <font color=#FFFFCC>
<nowiki>http://www.accmty.com/</nowiki></font>, is where you can find official news on the state of the code and the state of the network. The second, at <font color=#FFFFCC>
<nowiki>http://forums.turbinegames.com</nowiki></font>, has been established as a place to ask the odd question, share tales of heroics, and connect with your fellow AC players in a friendly environment.
<br><br>
Before I address some of the changes that have been made, I'd like every player to read the following:
<br><br>
<font color=#FFFFFF>'''Doubled Hooks/Storage--VERY IMPORTANT!!!'''</font>

As you know, we have had an issue with duplicated housing objects--hooks, storage chests, and covenant crystals--off and on for several months. In certain server conditions, it is possible for your housing objects to be doubled or even tripled, leaving you the proud owner of two or more identical copies of your hooks or storage. These copies are confusing, often do not behave correctly, and carry the risk of item loss.
<br><br>
In our continuing effort to deal with this problem, we are introducing new code this month that will both lessen the incidence of doubled house objects and help correct the situation if it occurs. However, because there is some small risk associated with this situation, we want homeowners to be aware of the following:
<br><br>
If you find multiple copies of your housing objects--especially your hooks and storage chests--in your residence, please remove all items from the hooks/chests and let the house reset. Once you are back to one copy of each hook/chest, they are safe to use again. IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS, YOU RUN THE RISK OF LOSING YOUR STORED ITEMS.
<br><br>
<font color=#FFFFFF>'''How do I tell if I have doubled hooks/chests?'''</font>

You can determine if you have doubled housing objects by using the [ and ] keys on your keyboard to select the items near you. If you have two or more storage chests, for instance, you will be able to flip between selecting both chests by using the [ and ] keys, even though you can only see one chest and select one chest with the mouse. Once you have selected one of the doubled housing objects with the keyboard, use the R key to open the object so that you can remove the contents.
<br><br>
<font color=#FFFFFF>'''How do I let my house reset?'''</font>

In order for a house to reset, the landblock containing the house needs to be empty of all players for about 10 minutes. You can tell if the house has successfully reset because it will no longer have multiple copies of its housing objects. At that point, it is safe to return your items to their places in your hooks or chests.
<br><br>
<font color=#FFFFFF>'''What if I'm not around when my hooks and storage doubles? Will I lose everything?'''</font>

The primary risk of item loss from doubled housing objects occurs when you are transferring items to and from your hooks/chests while they are doubled. If you are not around to access your storage, then the risk of losing items due to doubled housing objects is very small. Get into the habit of checking for doubled hooks/chests whenever you are transferring items to and from your storage, and you should be fine.
<br><br>
Now, on to some of the other changes this month:
<br>

'''Residential Quarters:''' This month, we've added new Residential Quarters to Dereth. We're continuing to make improvements to lag in these areas and to resolve storage issues.


'''Elemental Spawns:''' The tide of the invasion has changed and the elementals have been driven deep into Dereth. Players will find that Dereth is still a very dangerous land, but the threat of last month has been abated.


'''Hollow Missile Weapons:''' Unfortunately, these did not make it into the update this month. Despite our best efforts, we were not happy with the results at the time of code freeze and decided it best that we hold off. Direct all hate mail to me.


'''Creature Spells on Armor:''' We have altered what spells can appear on what pieces of armor. It should be a bit easier to get full coverage of Creature Spells on loot armor.
<br><br>
<font color=#FFFFFF>'''The Future'''</font>
<br>
This month's event is promising to be one of our biggest yet, providing players with quests and content unlike any seen before in Asheron's Call. We'll see you next month, and thanks for playing!

__________

}}