A Look Ahead: Producer's Letter from Tolero!

[Xaul]

Everything here looks great! I'm excited for what 2026 will bring us!

DDO brings a lot of great memories for me. Perhaps my favorite though was when I was running Acute Delirium with the guild. We struggled through the entire quest, finally pushed our way to the end fight. Inside the beholder, I decided to drink a potion of wonder. This was during the time the potions could drop demolition charges... yeah, you can guess what happened. You can imagine, we had a pretty bad time, but I imagine the beholder had it worse.

 

[fiwabar]

Read more about the year ahead in Dungeons & Dragons Online in a new Producer's Letter!

Since the new expansion will refer to the Underdark and the Drow will get a revamped look, and the plan for the year isn't too tight, why not revamp the entire Underdark, Shadowfell Conspiracy, and two packs for the Harpers (Netherese Legacy) while you're at it? I'm thinking in particular of the equipment, which is already very outdated. Teleports from NPCs/Q-givers for quests, especially distant ones like Unquiet Graves or In the Belly of the Beast(a named drop in this quest in the form of a dagger/short sword and a greatsword Earthcraver would be great), or those with random jumping in the demonweb would also be a great idea. I know it's a lot of work because there are a lot of items, but for most of them it would be enough to increase the damage dice, effects dice, maybe add or replace something (e.g., Shield of Morning from Small to Large Shield, add Sunburst guard or something similar, or add light damage dice to Forgotten Light, just to give a few examples) and get rid of those stupid random attributes in weapons and their scaling based on the difficulty level of the quest (and replace them with new, fixed effects, examples above). I believe that many of these items have potential, if not in their current form, then in a slightly improved one.
Thanks

 

[Sophie The Cat Burglar]

Congratulations for 20 years! Very exciting.

I really, really like the idea of beating up super monsters from the Underdark. Since the game store does not work for me it will be years before I gain access to the expansion but I sincerely look forward to playing those quests, some day. I really like when the quest writers go big and serious.

Most of the planned stuff is not for me and that is fine. The Myth Drannor Armor Box, Tomes, and Raid Box are great. Very thankful for all of those opportunities.

 

[Pilbie]

While there are quite a few people complaining about the live event scheduled and no Hardcore season I do have to point out what I think is the flaw in their complaint. Currently there is no 64-bit to 64-bit transfers which is a foundational aspect of Hardcore season. If people agreed that instead of moving toons of the Hardcore server that instead they are lost at the end of the season then I could see SSG bringing the Hardcore season back sooner. As I can't see people agreeing to that since they would complain even more then it will just have to be a wait until they complete all the upgrades needed.

I'd be more than happy with that since I am not playing non-HC servers nor do I plan to.

 

[Krell]

For me it really started with playing Turbine’s Asheron’s Call in 1999 which lead to being part of the AC2 test server group to preview new content. As part of that group I was offered a chance to join the DDO pre-alpha test group and continued testing until game launch. I’ve played ever since along with my kids who are now adults. I spent some time on the players council and still enjoy playing the game and grouping with other players as much when I started. Good times!

 

[ideal_insomnia]

Been playing DDO for almost 10 years now (which is kinda scary...), and wishing the game many more years to come! I hope all hardships will be left behind!

I have to say though. I am VERY concerned about the Drow & Elves visual update. I don't like the new Elf model (used for Wood Elves), I hate it with a passion. I think they look nothing like DnD Elves, they look like weird pointy-eared Humans. I am very attached to the way my main looks, and if she suddenly turns into THAT, I... think it might actually kill my desire to play the game for me. Please, make it optional at least!

 

[Strommburg]

Favourite memories. Casting magic missile for the first time. Made DDO feel like pen and paper online! Running the subterranean with Ancient Civilization guild to then run the Hound. The night the tent came down!

In reminiscing I also liked the video contest we once had. Here was my submission:

Tried looking for the winner's video but looks like it is unavailable now? Was by Theuf and called "DDO's Cry"

 

[Cmecu]

Read more about the year ahead in Dungeons & Dragons Online in a new Producer's Letter!

I was thinking, I was reading about infrastructure and improving game performance reference that was made showing Map lag spikes. I havent played in quite a while and the game still lags like it did back then. Maybe a little less. But I wonder, if the REAL reason there is less lag spike is because player population is dying off. Because I can tell you this, when the server is full of people, there is still plenty of lag.
This game will always be plagued with lag. 20 years and its still here. Just learn to accept it will be a game lag no matter what they say they think it is, because reality is.. they have no clue.

 

[Kyrr]

I was thinking, I was reading about infrastructure and improving game performance reference that was made showing Map lag spikes. I havent played in quite a while and the game still lags like it did back then. Maybe a little less. But I wonder, if the REAL reason there is less lag spike is because player population is dying off. Because I can tell you this, when the server is full of people, there is still plenty of lag.
This game will always be plagued with lag. 20 years and its still here. Just learn to accept it will be a game lag no matter what they say they think it is, because reality is.. they have no clue.

I can speak from experience. This lag was not as bad as it was in October and only appeared due to 20th anniversary release.

 

[Mornyngstar]

I can speak from experience. This lag was not as bad as it was in October and only appeared due to 20th anniversary release.

And of course there is no way any of the other changes made would ever cause any issues. . . . . .

Blame the ladder bug for lag!

 

[Igognito]

And of course there is no way any of the other changes made would ever cause any issues. . . . . .

Blame the ladder bug for lag!

Lag used to be really bad. To the point the game was not payable.
Now we get lag on public areas when you have many instances of that area. And at the airship. Personally, I don't care for any of those. Neither is lag that will kill you.
Some quests, do have a spot that lag or under performance occurs.
For example: wpm gets to under perform when you arrive at the glass box area.
The anniversary party under performs when you are passing by a giant in the kitchen.
But in both cases, it feels that the client PC under performs and not that the server is causing lag. I don't have a powerful computer to try it out, maybe someone can tell me if it is the client or the server that under performs there.

Cheers

Cheers