Zombies Everywhere - Unreleased Design Notes from 4/20/3012

The thing about progressive releases is, it's hard to write Design Notes without giving away spoilers about the revealed storyline.  So you should log in and go to Romero and be sure you're up to date with finding out whether there is a cure for Artix! 

Now I will just regale you with the pitfalls and crazy stuff that went into this week's release.

Funny story: so, I was the one who sent off the request for the new cutscene - and I forgot to send the art for a couple of the NPCs who feature in it... I guess it won't spoil anything to tell you - so the first iteration of the cutscene basically had Dr. Johnson & Dr. Johnson obviously having sampled some of the Fountain of Youth Elixir - mfg of course by EbilCorp (TM)

bzzt  crackle zap ttttyl 

And MQ exploded and broke when I rolled the release, and I forgot to ever come back to finish writing you Design Notes!

You know what I like to say about that... #BlamePractel!  

Seriously, though, we had been working on some engine changes that Vivi wrote up, to get the Zombies working right, So when I rolled the code, there was also some stuff that Korin had been working on ... that ... wasn't quite ready. I put the engine back to its previous version so that we could all stop blackscreening, and Korin got it all fixed up & rolled the shiny new version - and for that, I definitely #BlamePractel - but in the sweetest way possible, of course! 

Today and Soon:

I got up at an hour that I call "stupid-early" this morning ... yes, I'm crazy enough to start work at 4am - and that was awesome because I went chatting around the globe! Started off checking in with Gibby over in Australia, who is the Head Moderator of MQ's Q&A forum and a great asset to the MQ team.  He pointed me to a thread reminding me that it had been ages since I put up Design Notes for you.  Then I got to check in with Arklen, who is on the West Coast of the US.  He is animating the Maypril mecha that Thyton drew for us.  Arklen also vectored and colored it.  Then a bit later I got to chat with blues over in Germany, and circled back to the US later to talk with Korin & Vivi.  Of course I wasn't just chit-chatting - I was working on some bugfixing and some setups for upcoming releases, and most of the chats were in relation to coordinating elements of those releases. Fun stuff!

We're working like madmen - and madwoman - to get you the Maypril mecha! Did you see the countdown on the homepage?? Shop is scheduled to open at midnight April 30 and stay open for 48 hours and when it closes at the end of Mayday (May first) this mecha will go rare forever!

All of these models are level-with-you style.  The Nova Gem models are all 1000 NGs.  

NG Levels

• 11 (to 20), 
• 21 (to 30), 
• 31 (to 40), 
• 41 (to 50)  

The credits models are priced the same as last year's Mayprils, at the same levels.  Pricing in credits

• 10 (to 14)  30000
• 15 (to 19) 180000
• 20 (to 24) 240000
• 25 (to 29) 300000
• 30 (to 34) 360000 
• 35 (to 39) 420000
• 40 (to 44) 480000
• 45 (to 50) 540000

zccheng97 on the forums noted that it would be helpful if the scaling mechas that are set up as non-Star Captain but with SC-exclusive specials could be labeled somehow with a note that if you are a Star Captain, the HP and EP values of the chassis will be as stated on the mecha equip and shop window - and they will change to lower values if you are not a Star Captain.  I'm hoping we can find a workaround to it this year. It's my dream to give those of you who haven't been able to upgrade yet not only a taste of Star Captain damages but also the survivability boost that SC HP and EP chassis provide. If it's not possible, I guess that being able to that perk would just be an incentive for people to upgrade!

You should definitely log in on the first of May this year, because there is something happening... I'd say to expect that to go Live sometime around 6-ish or 7-ish server time but it could end up being earlier or later.  So keep an eye on things!

So we've been asking you for your suggestions - this week new at Tek's Mechs is a Back Arm weapon brought to you by a suggestion from .R.M. of the forums! Congratulations and many thanks! Minar drew and animated these Scissors series - blues was inspired on his specials design by .R.M.'s suggestion. Vivi coded them & I did the setup.  There are several levels in each of the three Arm shops - mainly focused on the lower-to-low-mid levels as that is Tek's specialty.

Specials details are in the weapons' descriptions, I believe!

bugfixes:

• Braddock Steele should now stop talking about Rainbows (thanks for the messages)
• The Egg mechas should (in theory) now scale properly as described
• The Crow's Cannon now scales as intended
• Wasn't there something else? ...might have to get back to you on that haha - there was more I wanted to fix so we'll just keep plugging away at that list

One more thing: What's Warlic's password?

Ok - I had better go for now. It has been a long day! Thanks for playing MechQuest and have a great weekend!  

The Prices Are Both Great AND Greaqt!**

As promised, here is the advance-notice rundown of the pricing for the One-Day-Only Maypril Mecha Models for 3011 

Credits models - Star Captains get exclusive specials! 
L10 (levels with you to 14) - 30000 credits 
L15 (levels with you to 19) - 180000 credits 
L20 (levels with you to 24) - 240000 credits 
L25 (levels with you to 29) - 300000 credits 
L30 (levels with you to 34) - 360000 credits 
L35 (levels with you to 39) - 420000 credits 
L40 (levels with you to 44) - 480000 credits 
L45 (levels with you to 49) - 540000 credits 

Nova Gem models are deeply* discounted!  These Maypril NG models are priced at 10% below the cost of a normal, non-scaling mecha model of the base level! So for example, a normal, non-Holiday, non-scaling Level 41 mecha is priced at 2050 Nova Gems. The Maypril NG version is ten percent lower than that!!

(Normally, a rare levels-with-you model that goes all the way from L41 to L50 would be... the price of a rare L50. See for example the Shadowwolf DX41 / Shadowhawk DX41 / Shadowraven DX41 - which price out at 3000 NGs.)

Nova Gem Models - Discounted! 
L11 (levels with you to 20) - 495 NGs 
L21 (levels with you to 30) - 945 NGs 
L31 (levels with you to 40) - 1395 NGs 
L41 (levels with you to 50) - 1845 NGs

So, stock up on those Nova Gems and "farm" those credits!

**Korin and Vivi and I had a discussion to set these prices.  After we hammered out the details, and I set up a chart for us with the pricing schedule, I asked Vivi to proofread.

Vivi says (4:00 PM)prices look greaqt***

great even

Korin says (4:02 PM)let it be known. the prices are both great AND greaqt

Maegwyn AE says (4:02 PM)HAHA

I shall let this be known > : D

...as promised... 

Korin and the entire MQ team would like to thank you for making the Maypril release a wonderful day for MechQuest!

*X-Boost on facebook - This was the topmost dire Gremlin on the list, and it is now fixed! Your X-Boosts work again when you log in via facebook - I tested this myself.

*Witch Launcher Series - Some of the Witch Launchers mysteriously became invisible recently. They are visible again!

*Maypril Fools Front Arms - Before the midnight release, we made a small change to the extra shot on the Front Arm - unfortunately the change was a little flibberty. We read on the forums that some models were still capable of doing a whopping 500 damage in one turn! This arm was intended to be powerful... but not quite that powerful.

Now. The question is: how is it now? The Maypril Fools mechas were intended to be powerful with all the defaults equipped, and of course you can customize them by equipping something different in the equippable slots - but we do want this front arm to be nice. While these will not be restored to their former overpowered glory, your input will be taken into consideration as we are always open to your feedback in the Game Balance Discussion section of the MQ Forums.

What? You fixed... 3 things?
Yep! Normally on Sundays, I go over the spreadsheet and determine what Gremlins are the most dire of all. Then on Monday, I start giving the list to Korin and whomever can code fixes. And we go down the list and get as much fixed as possible.

So... this Sunday I didn't follow my usual routine. My friends and family got a little Maegwyn-attention.

I got up extra-early this morning to prep for Buggy Monday. I believe the Gremlins felt slighted by their Sunday neglect! First they invaded the AE servers (some of you experienced downtime) - then they wandered into how my antivirus program was interacting with my browser, tinkered with my router, and it seems that they even tried to take on The Google! After hours of changing settings and disabling/enabling things, finally I can has The Google again! And my confusing and colorful spreadsheet!

Being as it was rather late in the day when I finally got my system to behave... we .. got a few things fixed. Which is good! I know some of you have been waiting for other fixes which are also high-priority, and these are coming S.O.O.N. (that's Soon Ohyes Oh-indeed-not Never). We will be bringing you a much larger bugfixing day. Soon. (Which does not mean Someday Or Otherwise Never!)

Anyway! Thanks for playing MechQuest. If you haven't registered for the forums yet, please check out this link http://forums2.battleon.com/ for a friendly environment where you can talk with your fellow players and even Korin himself!

Maypril Fools! The Maypril Fools Day Mecha is rockin'!!! Log in at midnight Eastern Standard Time (server time), until Saturday at midnight, Eastern Standard Time to get one of your own!

Here are the specials: Numbers are NG, (SC, NSC)

Head: 2 hits CD=5
- +30 general damage boost (25,20) - lasts 6 turns
- +30 BtH (25,20) - lasts 6 turns
- 1.5 times damage (1.4, 1.2)
- possible crit on one hit

Body: 3 hits CD=5
- +30 defense (25,20) -lasts 6 turns
- -30 enemy damage (25,20) - lasts 5 turns
- 1.5 times damage (1.4, 1.2)
- possible crit on one hit

Front Arm: 1 hit CD=3
- 1.5 times damage (1.4, 1.2)
- chance for an extra hit
- chance for -20 enemy defense, stacking with Back Arm - 3 turns

BA: 4 hits CD=3
- 1.5 times damage (1.4, 1.2)
- chance for a double HP DoT
- chance for -20 enemy defense, stacking with FA -3 turns

Shoulders: 4 hits CD=3
- 1.5 times damage (1.4, 1.2)
- First "Biff Box" usage compensates for enemy stun resist, and then second "Biff Box" usage stuns enemy for 1 turn. (All are intentionally named "Biff Box" in the popup; "Beat Box," and "Bap Box" do the same)

May Day weapons are in the shops for one week: I will get a list of their specials up for you probably before the weekend is over. These specials started as a collaboration between blues and me because he was going on vacation, and then Korin made them even better and also I should tell you that we had some amazing assistance on this release: Koi (who is AQW's wonderful bug tester) helped by writing most of the descriptions of everything and Kalanyr (who many of you will recognize from Adventure Quest) coded the Maypril Fool mecha! So applause to them, three cheers and hooray - and enjoy your weekend!

May Day Weapons: Specials!
Charfade created these and even did most of (if not all of) the animations! I can't decide which one is the coolest. I do wish I had a real-life Weed Killer Shooter to combat a particular Evil Force - I would name it the Euonymus Eradicator. (Euonymus fortuneii, or Wintercreeper, is this insane groundcover that is creeping relentlessly and aggressively from the neighboring apartments into our backyard...) I do believe it is plotting to take over the Universe! But I digress.

Here are the specials for the May Day Weapons:
Front Arm - Leaf Blower (NG)
Hits 1, 2, and 3 each have an increasing chance to do a critical hit
Hit 4: A good chance to nerf enemy accuracy -40 hit bonus for 3 turns. On hit. (No popup.)

Front Shoulder - Liquid fertilizer rifle (NSC)
Hit: Good chance for a 3-turn HP DoT on hit.

Back Shoulder - Seed shooter (SC)
Hit 1: Good chance to nerf Immobility Resistance by 70. On hit.
Hit 2: Good chance for stun. On hit.

Front Shoulder - Weedkiller shooter (NG)
Hit 1: Good chance of a critical hit.
Hit 2: Good chance for Defense nerf of 40. On hit.
Hit 3: Good chance crit.
Hit 4: Good chance for Energy Damage over Time. On hit.

Front Arm mecha-equippable energy blade - Maypole (all)
Numbers read as : NG/SC/NSC
-Damage increased 50/40/20.
-Hit Bonus increased 40/30/20.
Hit: Good chance for EP DoT. On hit.

Swordfighting blade: Maypole (SC, NG)
No specials - just a swordfighting blade. A very pretty one!

These weapons will be in the shops for a week.

Don't Forget: The Maypril Fools Mechas will go Rare Forever at Midnight Tonight, Server Time!

Temporary Shortcut to Necryptos:
FACT: The New Release button is the way to Necryptos temporarily, while the Maypril Fool mechas are in town.

Why? Fact: Because you need a way to get to Necryptos. FICTION: Because trying to walk East in Soluna when the Great Wall of Buttons becomes too large causes insanity (and concussions). And because you can already get to Lagos via the Star Map, but you can't get to Necryptos that way yet. And why is that? Well, the... er... Stellar United Intergalactic Planetary Cartographers' Association (SUIPCA) is really really busy ... attending an in-depth workshop on the breakthrough technology known as the String-and-Silly-Putty Method! And trying to come up with a better acronym. Why? Because SUIPCA means "preposterously non-existent" in Ancient Zargonian! (Disclaimer: this completely whimsical explanation having nothing to do with actual in-game storyline is officially unofficially pure Maypril Foolishness.)

Thanks for playing! Happy May Day! And have a wonderful weekend!

Maypril Fools! No foolin' - we're working overtime to get the Maypril Fools Day Mecha ready for excitement on May 1st! (Does Korin ever sleep? Do I? The entire MQ team has been putting forth an enormous amount of energy and devotion into MechQuest's upcoming releases.)

This mecha is another amazing design by Thyton, with specials by blues. The Maypril mechas will be available for ONE DAY ONLY - May 1st, starting at midnight. This means, beginning Friday at midnight Eastern Standard Time (server time), until Saturday at midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Here is a sneak peek at the pricing, so that you can save up for the one you want:

Level 3 = 16500 credits
Level 8 = 41000 credits
Level 13 = 143000 credits
Level 18 = 198000 credits
Level 23 = 253000 credits
Level 28 = 308000 credits
Level 33 = 363000 credits
Level 40 = 440000 credits

Level 3 = 165 Nova Gems
Level 8 = 440 Nova Gems
Level 13 = 715 Nova Gems
Level 18 = 990 Nova Gems
Level 23 = 1265 Nova Gems
Level 28 = 1540 Nova Gems
Level 33 = 1815 Nova Gems
Level 40 = 2200 Nova Gems

Maypril Weapons! Charfade has been working on the art for these, and I must say they're looking fantastic! I don't have any art sneak-peeks to share, so I'll just tell you that they have a springtime theme and you can imagine what that might mean. They will be an asset to your arsenals for sure - blues and I had a fun chat about specials for them this morning - he'll be on vacation this month so we've done a ton of pre-planning. Anyway, the weapons will be available for a week, beginning May 1st.

*Rixty Bazook for Nova Gems! - You may now use your Nova Gems to purchase a Rixty Bazook for your character! As a special treat for those of you who were unable to take advantage of the Rixty Card promotion, we have made new versions of these shoulder weapons: the N1 and the N2. These will be in the shop for two weeks. Log in to MechQuest now to find the shop in the button menu in Soluna City.

Come say hello on the forums, please invite your friends to play MechQuest, and in general, enjoy your day!

P.S. - I just corrected the month. Maypril is May 1st! Pesky time-gremlins!