Live Update 24: Part II

More notes on LU 24:

New Consignment System

I at least understand why some people don't like the tradeskill changes in LU 24, even if I completely disagree. But I have trouble understanding the complaints about the new consignment system. I understand it is a minor headache to transfer your goods over for the first time, but after that I find it to be a better system.

I've seen many complaints about space. But I had two house vault slots before and now I have two broker slots. It's no difference. Actually, I now have more non-sales storage than before with the same amount of sales storage.

Now, I understand that some people sold online by leaving their computer on and loading their character up with boxes in their inn room. If you did that, you did, indeed, lose selling capacity. Plus, you can't bypass broker fees at the moment. But read on:

"With an upcoming live update we will be adding the ability to bypass the broker fee once again by allowing buying from placeable vendors or displays in your house. This was previously accomplished only if the selling character was left online in their house. These vendors will grant larger capacities than bags or boxes of the same level range. This should also resolve the complaints of those who have had reduced selling capacity from not being able to sell from their online character."

So people like me who didn't sell online (and I have to think this is the majority) will have far more sales space then we ever did before. And those who did sell online will soon have their capacity back. I don't know the details but I assume it will be a similar capacity if not a higher one. So the space complaint is only valid for the moment. Plus, it will be great to have special containers in your house like an armor rack which will make your house more fun to visit and will add immersion and roleplay elements.

So that's the sales side. But what about the new broker system for searches? Is it perfect? No, not by any means. I'd like the advance search window to be the default. And I think the searches could have better functionality. I'd also like the ability to save multiple searches (unless you can already and I'm missing something). But that can all be fixed.

One positive is the ability to save a search, even if it's only one at the moment. And another, which for me far outweighs any benefits of the old system, is the ability to search for an item you are selling with one click. That is a huge improvement. Previously I would have to look in my house vault to find the name of the item then open a broker search window and type in that name. It may not sound like a lot of work but it got old really fast. The new one-click search function is a tremendous improvement. Especially for someone lazy like me.

The new consignment system is just better. And that's not even taking into consideration the fact that its primary purpose was actually to prevent duping and exploits.

Zone Revamps

I can't really say too much on the zone revamps because I haven't checked them out fully. But some of the new stuff in the Commonlands looks better graphically and breaks up the monotony a bit. And the travel in Nek is an improvement. I also love those plants or fish you walk by in Nek which have negative status effects. That makes the environment seem more interactive and adds an element of fun. Great idea.

I do hope that when zone population changes are made, SOE takes into account what mobs are needed for what quest. I recall a quest from the scarecrow in EL which required deer. EL used to be a festival of deer. But the populations were changed a bit, probably for the better. Only now, deer are one of the toughest camps in the game which makes the difficulty of this one quest outweigh the reward tremendously. Now, obviously, this has nothing to do with LU 24. But I'm just hoping the mob population tweaks didn't have a similar effect.

I'll discuss things like the new betrayal system and the Fallen Dynasty when I have time to explore them. For now I just wanted to add this note from Archonix related to the PvP servers which has nothing to do with LU24:

"With that in mind, here are the details for the Master I Transcription Service:

Only Master I scrolls of the opposing alignments classes can be turned in (excluding neutral classes).

Randomly rewarded scroll(s) are of equal level to the scroll(s) turned in and useable by a class from that alignment (including neutral classes).

In addition to handing in the scroll, the cost for transcription services is equal to roughly twice the sellback value of the spell scroll."

I love that idea and can't wait to see it go live.