The Second Step To The Future

[Danny 2232]

Greetings communityers and communityesses,

 

So, in accordance with our Returning to Our Roots plan - we’ve taken the second step towards our goals. We’ve also got a few cute things as well. If you don’t want to read in-depth, there is a TL;DR at the end, but then you wont get to see Susan Boyle.

 

Firstly, is something I briefly mentioned with the forum update: we’ve removed Application Team applications and Beta Tester applications. The way both processes will now work is: when we need new people, we’ll make a thread containing the application in the news forum and you apply in it. This is the method we used to have and it means you don’t have an application sitting for months, but also that we’re more likely to get active people on the team.

 

Secondly, we’ve removed the Guide Team. When I first introduced the Guide Team it was a fantastic concept - however, it has never really done what it was intended to. They became a bit of a spare limb as time went on - and whilst they are very good at helping people, writing guides, etc - the team itself isn’t necessary. Those people who were Guides I hope will continue to be beneficial and help the server, but no longer as a Guide. The Mentors remain - however, as always - they’re not a staff group, but instead are solely player run. We’d like to thank the Guides for the massive amount of time and effort they put into their roles, and wish them the very best. Ever’s left them all a wee message:

I'd like to personally thank all of you for the work you put in: 

 

For the guides that made up the original team with me: 

Cyndikate, Hiebe, Panda, Acaele, Soresan, Booger, Vekrus, Telanir, and Enyahs

 

Thanks a ton. We had a sort of rocky start trying to figure out what we're honestly doing but I think we did a pretty good job!

 

For those that came after: 

Jistuma, Skyy, Cleaningcrew, Darkjames, Aislin, Sparrow

 

You guys have done an amazing job. I was quite excited to lead a team and, while I didn't do the best job ever, I'm still happy having had worked with you guys.

 

So really, IDK. Thanks a ton guys. Really. I think we all knew from the start that the Guide team wasn't really going to work out in the end yet you all gave it your best.

 

 

Thirdly, we’ve returned ‘Blogs’ to the website. Whilst not in their original form, it’s quite similar. If we were to return to the old version which was an actual piece of software for Blogs specifically, we’d have to fork out more money into it - however, I managed to find a feature in our current ‘content’ software that I played around with and made into a Blog system. It works as a blog system, so there you have it. Check it out here: http://www.lordofthecraft.net/index.php?/blogs. As with other areas of the site, the FMs will be the guys keeping an eye on it, so don’t go posting anything bad.

 

Fourthly, I’m sure we all saw Native’s thread about ‘4.0 Livestream’. We are indeed working on a 4.0 now - however, it ain’t gonna be released for a long time yet so please don’t panic or get any hopes up for release dates. We will not release a release date until it is just about 100% finished - we don’t want multi-month-long delays like we had with Anthos - so, we’ll not be saying any dates until we are almost finished. In terms of what 4.0 will be like, I guess it’s worth a few notes: we won't be having much prebuild - any prebuild is limited to things like tents and small wooden structures most likely (we don’t want the tiny amount of RP we had at the start of Asulon because instantly people built - with tents, etc there’s homes so people can roleplay and building can also occur), we’ll be loosening building restrictions massively (not news to most of you - but the only regioned areas will be the roads and cities - we’re not gonna say this for 4.0 and do what we did with Asulon, and not do it - we will be doing it 100%) and the map will hopefully be designed solely to encourage more roleplay (it’s roads, cities, locations of places will all be so roleplay is centralised but so there is much more to explore and see further out). That’s all I’m willing to talk about for now, but when we actually get further into development expect a lot more - and hopefully some YouTube videos on the matter too.

 

Fifthly: a hint...

 

 

Why Susan Boyle, and not the Rolling Stones? SuBo's Scottish.

 

We’ve come to a verdict on horses literally about half an hour ago at the GM meeting. We’re going to be introducing wild horses into the map as rare findings. Breeding rates will be reduced so you can’t get a horse every single five minutes (or whatever) - so, instead, breeding will take longer. Nation leaders will also be spoken to so that we can have stables set up, where you’ll also be able to purchase some horses. This shouldn’t take too long to introduce - so expect that either this week, or next!

 

Sixthly, as part of magic loosening - domestic magic no longer needs you to have a MA! That means, anything like: clicking your fingers to close a door, waving your hands to light a stove or closing the curtains by winking at them doesn’t need you to have an accepted Magic Application. Of course, you still need to have learnt the magic in roleplay! You can’t just go from guard to magic-light-putter-outer guard. Remember: anything that can be used in combat or in a fight doesn’t count as domestic magic! 

 

Seventhly, the staff poll on Villain Applications has ended. The decision is that whilst Villain Applications won’t be removed, they will see a overhaul to remove their restrictiveness over roleplay - whether in future this will lead to removing VAs isn’t clear - however, the changes are due to be put into effect by at least two weeks from now. Some people did want complete removal, but the poll resulted in most going for the option to simplify them - please don’t fret, worry and complain that this is what was chosen - let us ride it through and see how things go! That means, no longer will you need a VA for every villainous activity, and you won’t need to go through some l33t-player-process to be able to be villainous - that’s always a plus.

 

Eightly, even more GMs and Admins now have access to the back-end in-case the server goes down. If the server collapses, it should be back up extremely quickly now - if it isn’t, you can tear our eyes out. With regards to the stability itself, Telanir is hard at work being his ‘coder-monkey’ self and finding ways to improve the server’s stability. We’ll see how that goes soon - probably well.

 

And the minor changes that’ve occurred (and :

• New rule (was previously unwritten): “You can't build farms underground! It doesn't make any sense for farms to be underground, so make sure you don't make them - even if you do include glowstone or torches.”
• We’ve updated our Minestatus page a bit following your recommendations - remember and vote daily on it!

 

The TL;DR:

• Application Team and Beta Tester applications have been removed and will now be appliable via threads when we need more people on ‘em
• The Guide Team has been removed
• Blogs are back: http://www.lordofthecraft.net/index.php?/blogs
• 4.0 is under-way
• The rule forbidding underground farms has been re-added
• Our Minestatus page has been updated
• Horses will be introduced this week or next, and can be rarely found in the world. Nations will see stables added where you can buy horses
• Susan Boyle is Scottish.
• Domestic magic doesn’t need a MA
• Villain Applications will be largely changed, but won’t be removed
• Even more people have access to the back-end than they did at my last thread! More stability!

 

Still in the discussion books:

• Magic Applications
• New Administrator(s)
• War! - much was discussed at the meeting about this, but the decision will be made via us on the forums. That shouldn’t be long either - a week, maybe two at max.

 

So, the second step in the long-line to returning to the Lord of the Craft we [all] loved. Sure, some of you may not agree with the decisions that’ve been made again - but ride them out, see how they go. As always - things go sour? We can change it, and we will change it. Until next time, farewell.

[Rhia 936]

First! 

 

And i'm rather excited :3

 

freya was here

1st by proxy

 

ever was here

2nd by proxy

 

Voldemort was here

Vol2k9

 

wtf are these lads doing ^

love, hael

 

Telanir was here too ok?

 

I'M RITTSY AND I'M A TREE

Cappy was eventually here

[Ever 2648]

2nd

[Quavinir_Twiceborn 1050]

Wait, domestic magic doesnt need a VA?

[mmat 7460]

I like it when gears start turning like this.

[Danny 2232]

Wait, domestic magic doesnt need a VA?

 

Typo, well spotted.

[Lego XBOX 915]

What about teaching magic? Does that still need an MA?

 

Nevermind! Only domestic magic doesn't need it~

 

Otherwise, I read through everything, it's all nice :3

[LaCabra (Soda) 1519]

PRAISE NED LUD! Thank you staff, this is a step entirely in the right direction. The cogs are in motion, the floodgates are opening, let the golden age of LotC begin!

[Redbaron™ 690]

Yay VAs are staying ^^

[iTzShambo 135]

I like the domestic magic change.

[Thatpyrodude 2008]

I like that atleast some changes are being done to VA's

[Lefty 1696]

Does that mean anyone who knows how to close a door by clicking their fingers can fight with RP default? Cos they're technically still a mage....

[Aislin 4354]

Good work staff. I would've liked to see VAs completely removed, but it's a step in the right direction, I guess.

 

I hope donkeys are common. They should be common.

 

The new administrator should be Viper or Ever. Viper seems to have a clearer head so maybe him but what do I know.

 

I hope that war claims lose the conquest aspect to them, so that players can no longer seize other settlements through warclaims. It's created an atmosphere of competition and OOC hatred on the server, it needs to go.

 

Y'all know my stance on MAs.

 

Thanks for the update Danny. keep it up.

 

RIP Guides.

[Malaise 1570]

So how does one acquire or learn Domestic magic? 

[Danny 2232]

Does that mean anyone who knows how to close a door by clicking their fingers can fight with RP default? Cos they're technically still a mage....

 

Nope. Domestic magic doesn't count towards that - only combat magic does.