Editing Announcements - 2002/10 - Festivus (section)

== Release Notes ==

{{Microsoft Games Insider
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://microsoftgamesinsider.com/AC1/devnotes1002.htm?nc=1</nowiki>
 | Title = October Dev Notes
 |  Text =
Thank you for your continued feedback and bug reports. They are a valuable tool in our pursuit of making the world of Dereth a stable and fun place to play.  Please submit any such bug reports to <font color=#FFFFCC><nowiki>http://bugs.zone.com</nowiki></font>.
<br><br>
'''New Functionality and Content'''
:* With Gaerlan defeated, the people of Dereth can devote themselves to enjoying the festival season!
:* Hollow and Phantom missile weapons make their debut. Get out your Hollow armor!
:* Three new Tinkering effects have been added, including the unique Ivory Tinkering. See the [[Announcements - 2002/10 - Festivus#Letter to the Players|<font color=#FFFFCC>Letter to the Players</font>]] for more details.
:* Mana Conversion now provides additional benefits as the character's skill increases. To complement this change, the treasure system will now be generating casting wands that provide a percentage bonus to mana conversion.
:* The benefits of skill specialization have been increased. For more details, please see our previous [[Announcements - 2002/10 - Festivus#Letter to the Players|<font color=#FFFFCC>Letter to the Players</font>]] regarding this change.
:* An additional 500 Residential Quarters are available for purchase and can be found in the towns of Khayyaban, Lin, and Samsur.
<br>
'''Miscellaneous Improvements and Changes'''

:* Gaerlan's fallen citadel has been modified, and players will find the quest easier to start. However, beware--some of the Citadel's challenges have been made more difficult! For more details on the changes, see this month's [[Announcements - 2002/10 - Festivus#Letter to the Players|<font color=#FFFFCC>Letter to the Players</font>]].
:* Specialists in the field of crafting have founded a small community near Glenden Woods and have opened their doors to those who seek to enhance their trade skills.
:* The mask makers have expanded their abilities and are offering a host of new items.
:* Banderlings had been pestering us for an upgrade to their appearance. Well, they finally got it!
:* The Player Killer delayed logoff has been enhanced and changed. Player Killer characters will now log off normally unless another player has attacked them within the last two minutes. If a Player Killer character has been attacked, he/she will still go through the 20-second log off timer. In addition, if a Player Killer has been attacked in the last 20 seconds, he/she will be unable to use any portal or recall spell; however, the Player Killer will be able to use these again normally after the 20 seconds have passed.
:* Last month, a bug appeared that prevented hooks and storage chests in housing dungeons from being updated with the new homeowner information. This bug has been corrected. Any housing dungeon that was affected should now have the correct homeowner information.
:* Level 126 characters that had previously reached the maximum amount of experience possible in their level will find that they can now earn 8 million more experience points in that level. This is the result of removing the previously unreachable level 127 from the experience table. Players should see no effects on the amount of experience these characters can apply to their skills.
:* In the past, spells native to a casting implement--such as Heal Other 6 on the Healer's Heart-were not checked by the common spell--casting error routines. This omission allowed these spells to be cast in a number of unintended ways. We've corrected this imbalance, and the spells cast by wands and orbs now go through the same checks those found in your spell book do.
:* A host of existing Tinkering effects have been enhanced to be more effective. However, these enhanced effects are not retroactive, so existing Tinkered objects will not display these new, more pronounced effects. See the [[Announcements - 2002/10 - Festivus#Letter to the Players|<font color=#FFFFCC>Letter to the Players</font>]] for more information.
<br>
'''Minor Details'''

:* Through the use of certain quest items, characters had been able to raise their specialized skills above the maximum level allowed. We have corrected this bug. For more details on this fix, please see our previous [[Announcements - 2002/10 - Festivus#Letter to the Players|<font color=#FFFFCC>Letter to the Players</font>]].
:* A few of the quest rewards given out by Gaerlan's Phylactery have been modified and enhanced. The [[Announcements - 2002/10 - Festivus#Letter to the Players|<font color=#FFFFCC>Letter to the Players</font>]] has more information.
:* Scarecrows and Pumpkins dot the landscape again.
:* The Aun Tumeroks of Marae Lassel have stumbled across a new Olthoi Hive.
:* A few trophy items can now be dyed. These items are old style Olthoi helms, new style Olthoi Helms, old style Mattekar Coats and Armoredillo Hide shirts. In the future, more trophy items may receive this upgrade.
:* Weapon damage is now displayed to two decimal places. This will allow a better display of the effects of Tinkering on these items.
:* Creatures will no longer drop components such as herbs, powders, and tapers as treasure. In place of these components, they will drop scarabs. It should be noted that those creatures that dropped as treasure component peas (of various kinds), still do so.
:* Items that cannot be enchanted by Item Magic will now display this property when examined.
:* We've corrected an error that prevented fire staves from being Tinkered. Players should now be able to improve these items.
:* Female allegiance titles are being displayed properly again. You can be a Duchess again!
:* The town of Xarabydun is more accessible to players of all levels.
:* The people of Dereth are evolving--they have thumbs now!
}}