Sever and client update 14 Sept 2005

[mihaim]

Yes . The big update is now running. What is new in this update is outline below:

 

 

The server SHOULD also be stable and exploit free, BUT you will have to realize that a LOT of new features and changes were not tested properly, so this means that the first week after the update it will be a TEST WEEK. That means that, if we find some nasty bugs we might have to do rollbacks from just before the update. I hope we won't have to, but if necesary we will, so do not complain if it happens, ok?

 

Due to some protocol changes, some of (well, most of) the bots will be unable to operate, until their owners implement those changes. The client sourcecode is open to everyone who wants to inspect it (as you already know) so the bot owners can look at it for additional implementation details. We are sorry for this problem as well, but that's what the progress is: breaking up the compatibility with some outdated or inneficient things.

 

Additions:

 

A new continent with SOME maps (it's not finished yet) will be included in the client, but it will NOT be activated yet. However, when we will activate it, a new download won't be necesary. And to preemtively answer your question, it will be activated when it will be activated. A few weeks is probably a good guess, but don't take my word for it.

Note: Actually, you can go there, via a secret entry. However, this secret entry will be removed once we add a ferryman that will take you to/from the new continent for a fee.

 

5 new animals/monsters will also be included in the client, some of them being also activated later on.

 

A few new items (nothing really fancy, mostly newbie stuff).

 

For admins only: statistics about maps usage (how many players each map) and items usage (how many items enter and leave the game every day). While we do not know yet wether or not we'll make those stats public, they will greatly help us fine tune the game more.

 

 

Client changes:

As some of you know, by using the latest CVS client, there are a LOT of improvements from the old client. So many it would take forever to enumerate here. But here are the most important ones (please correct me if I miss any)

 

# Animations are a lot more smooth due to the use of Cal3D

# All fires will now be lightable

# All 3D objects have descriptions

# Better music support (in buildings as well)

# Buddy list & better buddy interface

# Configurable item quantities (rightclick on the quantity, then write the new quantity)

# Configuration window

# Drag'n'drop based trading

# Fog

# Health / Mana points Items modifiers support added

# Help window

# I18N support on Windows

# Loading window

# Load actor definitions from XML files

# Map area effects

# More 3D objects

# More NPC portraits?

# Multi-channel chat

# New character creation interface

# New visual effects (experience over head, marker on the ground, damage fade-in/out, smoother healthbar coloring)

# Optional perspective view

# Optional chat window and chat tabs

# PNG screenshot capture support on Linux

# Serverside interguild-messaging

# Several 2nd continent maps

# Smaller items interface when in resolutions of 800x600 or less.

# Spell quickbar

# Storage interface

# Storage to storage trading

# Tab based windows

# Updated maps with new God temples

# Updated encyclopedia

# Updated rules

# Visual interface for books

# Visual interface improvements

# You don't have to drop/add non-stackable items once at a time - it will use the amount in the items window

# 200 storage slots

# 3D rain & different rain strengths

# New swear filter

# alpha textures for static 3d objects

 

 

Here is a list of people who made this update possible:

 

Programmers:

Entropy

Grum

Mihaim

mikeman

Learner

Corun

Malaclypse

Crusadingknight

Labrat

iostr

Vegar

The_Piper

ttlanhil

Zeplin

Lachesis

Wytter

Lhibou

Sadez

 

Artists:

Roja

ks_copy

 

Map makers:

Moonshadow

Roja

sistema

kedan

Tiras_Hazor

Daxon

Lord_Vermor

Derin

Lotharion

Ravenod

Choris

 

Stories and quests:

Lyanna

Derin

Lord_Vermor

Jezebelle

Crannog

ttlanhil

Quinticus

 

Help window/Newbie FAQ/Skills FAQ/Rules window:

Aislinn

Soldus

 

Encyclopedia:

Jamesvm

Crusadingknight

 

 

Music:

Koriolan

 

Music mapping:

Zeplin

 

Sound FX:

Joakim Forslund

 

And a big thanks to all bug testers!