Posted by Binky on Stratics:

Publish 39 Candidate 1 Release Notes

Here is a list of our currently planned changes, additions, and fixes for Publish 39. This will be a “living document” that will be updated and changed as the testing process moves from candidate to candidate and from Test Center to Origin and finally to the Production Shards.

Please note that NOT everything on this list will make it into the final Publish build and some things not listed here may.

Please note that the development team will only comment to Publish 39 questions, comments, and suggestions in this thread.

New Player Improvements

• New Player Guided Tour System: Guided New Player experience added in conjunction with the release of the Japanese “Starter Kit”. Will be available (and skippable) to all new characters upon initial log-in.
  
• Font Improvements: Two new English fonts that make the text easier to read.
  
• Default layout: A new default layout that will make it easier for new and returning players navigate the interface.
  
• LOHAS housing decoration items: This is a set of house decoration items to be included in the Japanese “Starter Kit” available in February. These items will be available to other territories through uogamecodes.com beginning in March.
  
• Quest updates and additions: 12 new quests that help the new players get familiar with the game.

Interface and Art Additions/changes

• Added new artwork for Dragon Armor and the Helm of Swiftness.
  
• Changed the character status screen artwork to make it more streamlined.
  
• Added new Login screen artwork for the 2D client.
  
• Added sticky health bars!
  
• Mouse wheel scrolling support has been added for the 2D client .

Bug Fixes – Crashers

• Addressed the three known causes of server instability.

Bug Fixes – Exploits

• Players will no longer be able to attack mirror images to gain skill or cause harm to other players in Trammel.
  
• Travesty will now cause damage when mimicking a player with a non-weapon (fishing pole, candle, etc.).
  
• Energy field will no longer cause players to be flagged as aggressive in Trammel.
  
• Players will no longer be able to area of effect rez ghosts inside houses with Noble Sacrifice.
  
• Players will no longer be able to provoke pets on other players in a guard zone to get them guard killed.

Other Bug Fixes

• Fix the direct damage cap not working issue
  
• Lethal Dart and Broken Shaft quest will now work properly.
  
• Ossian Grimoire can no longer be “blessed” by leaving in a secured bag overnight on Siege.
  
• Helm of Swiftness can now be repaired.
  
• Helm of Swiftness obtained from a Peerless can now be worn by Humans and has been assigned the correct resists.
  
• Changed two areas on Dreadhorn Island so they no longer teleport players out of the dungeon.
  
• Mondain’s 300th anniversary coin is now movable
  
• Damage from all archery weapons has been adjusted Some underpowered bows have been enhanced and some overpowered bows have had power reductions.
  
• You can now trade regular blessed items. Personal blessed items still may not be dropped in the trade window.
  
• Changed the way the Aminia Werewolf Quest spawns creatures.. This should eliminate problems with duplicate spawns.
  
• Animal form now has a recovery time of 2.5 seconds. FCR 6 will reduce this to 1 second.
  
• Animal form now costs 10 mana to cast.
  
• Combat using Blood Oath and Damage Reflect armor has been balanced.
  
• “Streakiness” in the random number generator should be improved. As a side effect “8x8” will no longer work.

Gender and Name Change

• Warning text and a link to the uo.com information pages were added to Name and Gender Change gumps.
  
• When changing gender to male, players will now have the ability to select a facial hair style.

Never thought I would see the day...
I wonder how that is going to work with loot. Did they change the RNG as far as the "Streaky" loot I always seem to get?

I too am very curious as to any replacement system for RNG without 8X8, or are we going to need rl luck to get any gains besides ggs ones?
I wouldn't mind RoT ala Siege for gains.

Another big concern in the release notes relates to Name and Gender Change Tokens. There just seems to be too big of a possible scam factor from unscrupulous players. For this reason I'd ask if a character is only allowed ONE change, and the previous name and sex of the character be displayed in the character's paperdoll. I'm loathe to the likely scams from identity thieves in game.

Hmm that's a good point abracadabra...I never thought about people using the tokens in that way. Hmm...