FC.31.20131024.8 PTS Update

lordgar · November 2013

This build is scheduled to hit PTS at 4:00pm, 11/21/2013

Release Notes:

Preview:

Winter Event: The mission "March of the Mecha Soldiers" has been converted to a Custom Alert. Try it out! Loot is not yet final.
Auras: We have a new Aura System available through the "Auras" tab on your Character UI. Auras allow you to customize the visual effects surrounding your character by equipping Aura items into "Always On" and "In Combat" aura slots. More information will be posted in a preview blog later today.
The Debugger store has a selection of upcoming Auras, as well as unlocks for extra slots and Legacy Auras for testing.
The Debugger also has the updated Dark Aura item available for testing.

Powers:

Slotted Passives no longer have continuous aura-style visual effects. Those effects have been moved to Legacy Auras with the same names as the Slotted Passives they were originally from. A few Slotted Passives that have only brief startup visual effects are unchanged. This will allow you to choose an Aura combination that matches your theme instead of it being dictated by your passive power.
All new and existing characters are granted one Free Aura Token which may be used to purchase a Legacy Aura through the Aura Vendor in the Auras tab on the Character UI. Additional Legacy Auras may be purchased for Questionite.
Aura of Radiant Protection - The Runic Glow cosmetic advantage has been removed, and the visual effect is now part of Legacy Aura: Radiant Protection. Players with this 0-point advantage will need to visit the Powerhouse before training new powers.

Items:

Dark Aura has been converted from a toggle device to an Aura item.
Heirloom items from the Nemesis system are no longer Unique.

Alerts:

The Red Winter Custom Alert no longer applies an XP buff, and no longer counts as a Smash alert for Daily mission credit.
Cleaned up the tooltips for Alert boost rewards.

Powerhouse:

Added Regenerating Test Dummies to the rest of the Powerhouses.
Those dummies have been set to level 40 (not skull) to avoid some problems players were encountering.

Misc:

Fixed a civilian callout message that had lost the name of the villain you'd defeated.

Please format any bugs you find in the following format:
Bug
Where it happens
What happens

Please stay on topic in this PTS thread. We use bug reports from this thread to decide whether a PTS build is ready to go live, and so we need to make sure we're seeing everything in it. Please do discuss the changes, but if you find yourself writing about something that isn't specific to what's on PTS, then that should probably go elsewhere.

In particular, do not report bugs from the live game in this thread, unless they are impacted by changes in the PTS build.

soulforger · November 2013

AURAS! WOOT! Can't wait to test those out!

kenpojujitsu3 · November 2013

Say what??? DId my constant *****ing about this finally work?

lordgar wrote: »

Heirloom items from the Nemesis system are no longer Unique.

sagewithbubbles · November 2013

Wow!

I...I think I love you guys.

kenpojujitsu3 · November 2013

sagewithbubbles wrote: »

Wow!

I...I think I love you guys.

maleb666 · November 2013

YES!!! AURAS!!!!!

kallethen · November 2013

I'm VERY impressed with what I'm reading about the new Aura system. I hope it delivers as advertised.

I might be more tempted to use AoPM more after this...

bellatorrex · November 2013

flyingfinn · November 2013

*too tired for Kermit's Armsflail*

theravenforce · November 2013

Well...I've sort of stopped breathing...

Cannot wait to test these out!!!

EDIT: Just re-read OP.

lordgar wrote: »

Slotted Passives no longer have continuous aura-style visual effects. Those effects have been moved to Legacy Auras with the same names as the Slotted Passives they were originally from. A few Slotted Passives that have only brief startup visual effects are unchanged. This will allow you to choose an Aura combination that matches your theme instead of it being dictated by your passive power.

I'm on the next flight out to USA... :biggrin:

shadowzero66 · November 2013

SQUEEEEEE~!

Wow, that promise of Auras is being fulfilled. You guys keep this up and we'll run out of legitimate gripes soon enough. I'm suspecting an upcoming surge in popularity for AoPM; not sure what to make of that.

No word on addressing the botched LTS rewards?

theravenforce · November 2013

Questions:

Are you taking suggestions for possible additional auras?

Like:

Invisibility (Stealth without having to use NW but without the stealth vs NPC and players effect ofc)

Shields

Psychic Auras

NPC Auras

Astral/Ghost Auras

This idea could go REALLY far if you guys are able to take some suggestions and make them a reality.

cptmillennium · November 2013

Decoupling auras from passives is something I've long hoped for. So glad to see it happen!

radioscience · November 2013

theravenforce wrote: »

Are you taking suggestions for possible additional auras?

We are, but not in this thread. (For our sanity.)

somebob · November 2013

I am excited. Totally totally excited. Come on 4pm PST!

bellatorrex · November 2013

It's time it's time it's tiiiiiiime! *Runs throw the village tossing papers that says it's time to everyone*

beldin · November 2013

Since its already 11/22/2013 here first a stupid question : how long till the patch goes life ?

Second question : are Auras account or characterbound ? I have for example 3-4 Dark Auras that i can trade between my characters at the moment, do i have now only to use one to unlock it for all, or do i have to decide which chars get it and thats it ?

bwdares · November 2013

beldin wrote: »

Since its already 11/22/2013 here first a stupid question : how long till the patch goes life ?

Second question : are Auras account or characterbound ? I have for example 3-4 Dark Auras that i can trade between my characters at the moment, do i have now only to use one to unlock it for all, or do i have to decide which chars get it and thats it ?

I am going to guess they are account. based on the free token per "player" for the legacy auras. but that is a guess.

trailturtle · November 2013

beldin wrote: »

Since its already 11/22/2013 here first a stupid question : how long till the patch goes life ?

~5 minutes until the servers go down, maybe ~20 minutes until it's live.

bellatorrex · November 2013

*Looks at Beldin's post, goes to say something smart about asking such a question... ponders, deep breath, and...* Yeah, are auras character bound or account bound?

mrhinkypunk · November 2013

I can finally actually look like an imp!

OMG

This is too much guys... I just... Just...

beldin · November 2013

trailturtle wrote: »

~5 minutes until the servers go down, maybe ~20 minutes until it's live.

Ok .. then i will watch an episode of Futurama and retry it after that

soulforger · November 2013

If I am reading things right, than all the current slotted passive looks must be bought from the C-Store? Why don't we get those auras for free?

acgimblet72 · November 2013

By my understanding, each -character- gets one aura for free. Since no current character has more than one aura, each character can get an item to replicate their current appearance for free.

eatmores · November 2013

soulforger wrote: »

If I am reading things right, than all the current slotted passive looks must be bought from the C-Store? Why don't we get those auras for free?

You're not reading it right.
Every character (new and old) gets a token good for one free aura. So relax and enjoy the good news.

sagewithbubbles · November 2013

soulforger wrote: »

If I am reading things right, than all the current slotted passive looks must be bought from the C-Store? Why don't we get those auras for free?

Every character gets a Legacy Aura token for free. Legacy Auras are the existing passive graphics. More of these can be bought with Questionite.

Other Auras (new ones) can be bought from the C-store or found as drops (I'm presuming kinda like some costume pieces now).

Additional Aura slots (every character starts with two) can be bought on the C-Store as well.

beldin · November 2013

eatmores wrote: »

You're not reading it right.
Every character (new and old) gets a token good for one free aura. So relax and enjoy the good news.

Of course .. if they are characterbound ..

Just some days ago i wrote :

beldin wrote: »

First at all i would simply like to see all auras from existing passives as free Tailor Option.

So yeah .. i really think we should at least get all passive Auras for any char for free.

trailturtle · November 2013

soulforger wrote: »

If I am reading things right, than all the current slotted passive looks must be bought from the C-Store? Why don't we get those auras for free?

Nope, they're going into the Q-Store. This is going to allow a lot more customization, and as noted in the patch notes, we're looking into ways to make the transition to Auras easy -- right now we're testing a free Legacy Aura Token for everyone affected by the transition.

heatherbel · November 2013

I am such a happy camper.

beldin · November 2013

Here a picture how it looks .. seems we have something like a shared Bank for the Aura from where we can use them with any of our chars.

Hm .. no .. i don't see the auras from other chars in that storage, wouldn't it be good to make that a shared storage ?

beldin · November 2013

Wow .. they are indeed account bound, can't put them into my shared bank, and cost 200.000 questionite. Isn't that really very much over the top ?

radioscience · November 2013

beldin wrote: »

Wow .. they are indeed account bound, can't put them into my shared bank, and cost 200.000 questionite. Isn't that really very much over the top ?

Those are the Legacy Auras, which are character-bound, and every character gets one for free. Those are there for character continuity because we removed them from passives. Did you like the special effects your slotted passive gave you? Get the Legacy Aura with those effects for free.

The real meat of the aura system is in the new auras that are account-bound and come in a bunch of different variants.

Unknown · November 2013

This content has been removed.

malvou · November 2013

Suh-Weet!

You guys are getting better and better.

somebob · November 2013

BUG: Ice Form's 'on crit effect' Cold Snap has a visual effect around the hands whenever it goes off.

Bug? Limitation?: You can't have two auras of exactly the same type (say, Sparkle Aura: Hands) on under Always On or In Combat. You'll either see one or the other (normally the first one dropped in). However, you CAN have one under Always On and one in In Combat and both will show up.

championshewolf · November 2013

BUG: You have to have the main inventory open in order to drag a aura off your aura slot.

Reproduction: This might be related to the fact I have all four aura slots open but I am unable to drag an aura off the aura slot into my aura inventory unless the main inventory is open for this. Very inconvenient if I might say so myself.

Personal opinion... the hideousness explosion that's about to happen after this update is going to be mind blowing, though it will add a new level of items to find from bosses.

beldin · November 2013

I think removing the Auras also should put them into the aura storage and not into our bags.

crypticbuxom · November 2013

Simply brilliant for giving every character and new character a free aura token! Now everyone can start out with whatever aura we want and to enhance them we then purchase more.

soulforger · November 2013

I find it wrong that people would have to purchase something they already have access to for free. And when auras hit live, will auras be account bound, thus available to all toons, or character bound? And when it goes live, will all existing toons get a free aura token like they do on the pts?

somebob · November 2013

soulforger wrote: »

I find it wrong that people would have to purchase something they already have access to for free. And when auras hit live, will auras be account bound, thus available to all toons, or character bound? And when it goes live, will all existing toons get a free aura token like they do on the pts?

Again, as already stated, every character made past or future will get one Legacy Aura token for free. That token is used to get the look of the Passive on your character.

Want to have Ice Form's visuals? You can. For free. Invul? Same. Ego Form? Same. Etc etc etc.

kaiserin · November 2013

Bug: Defiance still has its aura attached to the buff.

beldin · November 2013

somebob wrote: »

Again, as already stated, every character made past or future will get one Legacy Aura token for free. That token is used to get the look of the Passive on your character.

Want to have Ice Form's visuals? You can. For free. Invul? Same. Ego Form? Same. Etc etc etc.

Still you only get one per character. So whats if you respec your character with another passive ? You have to pay 200.000 q to get the the look of your new passive then.

theravenforce · November 2013

I just hope that we'll get future head and shield auras like this for example..

>>Here<<

SoD's continual FX would be really great and the second largest shield in the pic would be *perfect*...alongside Invisibility as an aura :cool:

I'll have to do my testing tomorrow!

soulforger · November 2013

somebob wrote: »

Again, as already stated, every character made past or future will get one Legacy Aura token for free. That token is used to get the look of the Passive on your character.

Want to have Ice Form's visuals? You can. For free. Invul? Same. Ego Form? Same. Etc etc etc.

Yeah, but I just found out that the auras are not shared among your toons. Meaning you have to rebuy every aura for the toons you want them on. So the free thing is kinda meaningless.

On the flip side I hope they do a ghostly aura, making your toon transparent.

championshewolf · November 2013

BUG: Activating Aspect of the Bestial still produces an aura on charge up.

Reproduction: Just activate it. Always hated that effect on it, and personally with auras being divorced from powers, this should probably be done away with now.

championshewolf · November 2013

BUG: The March of the Mecha Soldiers Alert is spawning no mobs or behaving like a proper Alert.

Reproduction: Spawn into a map. The map is devoid of any mobs or ability to progress past any doorways. The objective only reads assemble your team without any other thing happening on the map.

blumoon8 · November 2013

somebob wrote: »

Again, as already stated, every character made past or future will get one Legacy Aura token for free. That token is used to get the look of the Passive on your character.

Want to have Ice Form's visuals? You can. For free. Invul? Same. Ego Form? Same. Etc etc etc.

... >.> I was going to say the same thing as Soulforger but... this part... if that's true (and I'd sincerely like dev clarification on future) then that evens things out.

200k is still a bit pricey regardless. That's the price of the travel powers, as in what once used to be CTPs and took lots of time to farm. These legacy auras are currently free, with no farming necessary. Granted, you wouldn't need more than one or two, but that doesn't change that they are currently free.

QUESTION!! Will (or can) Aura slots change per costume and/or build? If not, is it at all possible to allow people to do this if they want? If not that, then maybe a "build" like system for auras you could switch between? Some people's costumes are radically different and are based on totally different concepts. It'd be a pain for some people if they had to rearrange everything after they went from one costume to another. Although, I'm not one of those people.

...I'd probably be able to figure this stuff out if I had PTS access

Overall though, this looks very promising. My only iffy is the legacy. Just... 200k is a little much but if every character ever created gets access to a free token then that helps. But, for future players, will there ever be a place to preview those?

proudwulf62 · November 2013

First thing you need to make it so we can try them on, not all players know all the auras. It would be nice to see what we're getting before having to commit to it.

malvou · November 2013

Bug - Finkle Foundry gets stuck on "Assemble your Team"

Also, I'd like to see the Magnifer and Shrinker as Auras too. Being able to turn them on when in combat.

Remove it for pvp/duels because no one likes that.

crypticbuxom · November 2013

championshewolf wrote: »

BUG: You have to have the main inventory open in order to drag a aura off your aura slot.

Use right mouse button.

blumoon8 wrote: »

QUESTION!! Will (or can) Aura slots change per costume and/or build? If not, is it at all possible to allow people to do this if they want? If not that, then maybe a "build" like system for auras you could switch between? Some people's costumes are radically different and are based on totally different concepts. It'd be a pain for some people if they had to rearrange everything after they went from one costume to another. Although, I'm not one of those people.

You can already tie auras to specific builds aka costume changes in that way.

But the auras go to your main inventory instead.

Please tie it so that when you switch a build the auras go to the aura inventory.

nightr0d · November 2013

proudwulf62 wrote: »

First thing you need to make it so we can try them on, not all players know all the auras. It would be nice to see what we're getting before having to commit to it.

Something like a preview window where it would temporarily show our toon with the aura picked equipped. This way we could tell if we like how it looks.

This is a MUST IMO and should have been done for the Q- Travel powers as well.

FC.31.20131024.8 PTS Update

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