We’ve been thinking deeply about recent issues with our Free to Play (f2p) version and wanted to give our new players a more complete full loot extraction experience. After careful consideration we have decided to test the removal of the item restrictions in the Normal mode, allowing players to bring in any of their loot into the dungeons up to 'Legendary' grade.
In order to protect new users from being completely run over by fully geared players, we will be utilizing a gear based matchmaking system in the Normal mode. We still feel that matches where most players start off on a similar footing is extremely fun and fair. The default Normal mode will have a maximum gear score limit set to 25, basically restricting players to mostly ‘Common’ grade gear. This default matching pool should feel like the previous gear restricted Normal mode from before.
Players with higher gear will be matched into a separate matching pool where almost everything goes. We expect the addition of this matching pool will help the Normal matches feel similar to the previous playtests from times yonder with much chaos and destruction. We do have some concerns regarding pub stomping, but we’d rather give players this choice of play. We have also made the game a little more forgiving when it comes to engaging in combat and escaping, which should make the above situations more avoidable.
We are excited to see how the community accepts the new Normal mode. We’d like to reiterate that it was never our intention to mislead our players and we are learning from your feedback. If you are curious on our motivations for releasing the game as free to play, we invite you to check out our extended thoughts on our website at https://darkanddarker.com/news/58. Finally, unless we encounter major issues, the Platform Link feature that allows players to link their previous account to a new platform is scheduled to be completed within the week. We thank you for your patience.
IRONMACE
Changes:
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- Fixed an issue that could occasionally cause the server to crash.
- Fixed an issue where Ignite was not applied properly to weapons.
- Fixed an issue where the sound that occurred when hitting the Thorn Barrier with a weapon was set incorrectly.
- Fixed an issue where Frost Wyverns could sometimes take damage without waking up.
- Fixed an issue where the rope escape would not work properly.
- To allow all players to experience the full loot extraction experience, we will begin testing an updated Normal mode.
- The gear cap for Normal mode dungeons has been increased from ‘Common’ to ‘Legendary’ grade items. (Keep in mind the gear cap can and will be adjusted in real time to a rarity that best suits Normal dungeons.)
- Gear score matchmaking is enabled for Normal mode dungeons.
- Normal mode dungeons are now split into two matching pools. The default matching pool is set at a maximum gear score of 25 to most closely match the previous Normal game experience where players were restricted to ‘Common’ gear. Players or teams with anyone having a gear score above 25 are placed in a more difficult ‘Normal' matching pool.
- Updated the gear score for Poor and Common items to have a lower gear score.
- Updated the gear score for Poor and Common Utility items to no longer provide any gear score.
- Healing potions and Bandages provided by Squire now have a quantity of 2.
- High Roller dungeon is available as soon as you reach ‘Legendary’ status.
- Trade must be available 72 hours after 'Legendary' status is activated.
