Duskruin Dig

[Amerek]

BURIED TREASURE!

Recently, adventurers discovered a lost temple beneath the streets of Bloodriven Village! We learned that a divine Arkati artifact, fashioned of amazing Moonshards, had shattered in a massive quake, its pieces scattered into the Sewers! But, the dwarven Archaeologist who shared his knowledge has more to say.

A NEW AREA of underground tunnels has been exposed! Bloodriven Village is a town always suspected to be a haven for those with roguish ways. And now it seems that these scoundrels of days gone by may have been caught in the quake, their troves of treasure lost beneath the streets!

Come to the Sunken Tomb beneath the village and help the archaeologist dig up lost treasure! Who knows what those mischief makers had hidden in their lairs! Spoils from a raid? A cache of weapons? Is it possible that some Artifact pieces didn't end up in the Sewers, after all?

Join the excavation when Duskruin Dig opens from June 17-26! More details coming in the Duskruin Arena Forums Topic!



That was quick...

[SashaFierce]

That was quick...


Simu is going to milk the cow for everything it's got.

[Wrathbringer]

So it's digging, only paying real dollars for tokens to dig instead of silvers for shovels. The sewers were already kind of like that in my opinion.

[Astray]

Just remember, they don't hire full-time programmers with any of the money that comes in.

[Nazagor]

They're basically selling items for dollars.

Then they're pocketing the dollars instead of reinvesting it into the game.

Shit like this makes me want to find another game.

[Whirlin]

So, digging only, no fun arena?

[Hazado]

Forum announcement No new info - http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/GemStone%20IV%20Announcements/Important%20Announcements/view/2497

[Methais]

Just remember, they don't hire full-time programmers with any of the money that comes in.

They don't even put it back into GS at all except maybe a little bit the GMs that worked on it so that they can buy Pizza Hut + Heineken instead of Little Caesar's + Pabst for that month.

[SashaFierce]

>>Just to confirm, will the arena and sewers not be open? This is like a variant run or in addition to?

No sewers/arena. This is a separate quest in the town.

>>Will bloodscrip be generated in the new area, or mostly not (perhaps the only creation from moonshard and some items to the archaeologist?

Only if you find moonshard stuff and sell it to the Archaeologist, if you don't want to complete a pendant (seriously, you want a pendant. They're amazing.) No new scrip otherwise.

>>And, to head off any possible outcry - this is not the only Duskruin run planned for the summer? A normal/full run will still happen? If so, could we have the month (Aug?), for proper planning and scheduling/greater attendance.

This is totally separate, and doesn't influence if/when we run Duskruin. We will get you dates as soon as we can, but the regular Duskruin run will not be announced 3 days ahead!

>>3 whole days! Killing me :)

You can't die in this event, so I had to do something, right?

>>Finally, can we get a prize list if that will be offered for this type of run?

There will be no "end of the event" type prize thing like Duskruin. All prizes will be things you find digging, similar to EG digging. There are all sorts of things that you can get, but you won't be getting tickets (like last EG) or the "throw away" super low level stuff (like in previous EGs). There's a whole lot of stuff in there!


~Liia
APM, Gemstone IV


So it's basically nothing but EG digging.

[Jarvan]

Better not be 1 buck for 1 shovel/attempt.

[SashaFierce]

I'm going to guess, 10 shovels = $1

[Jarvan]

I'm going to guess, 10 shovels = $1

more likely a 10 use shovel if they do it like that. We will see though.

[Aluvius]

I'm okay with a higher dollar to shovel ratio if the prize hopper is decent. I mean its not like we're going to get that at EG anymore going by the last run or two.

[SashaFierce]

Pickaxes will be sold in the SimuCoin store. You'll be able to buy 1, 10, 25, and 50 use pickaxes. The cost will be 10 SimuCoins per use.


~Liia
APM, Gemstone IV


.

[Schoolin']

Just remember, they don't hire full-time programmers with any of the money that comes in.

At the time of the de-ice Simu got an amazing amount of work done in a short amount of time. I'm pretty sure David Whatley did some of the coding in those days. Then there was a fellow, I can't remember his name, but he was a terrible speller, but got a lot of code done. After that they depended on the 100 buck a month GMs to work on Gemstone and moved on to MO,DR,H&Z,HJ, and those phone app games.

Really only DR did much, and they ended up laying off a lot of the onsite people. I have no idea what they got the on-site code gurus doing, but I wish they would put them to work on the 3 games that actually bring in the money. Contrary to what some folks think, Simu is in no danger at all of going under. Its not that expensive to keep 3 text based games up and running when you have so many talented off-site people working hard for peanuts.

There are many many people who rarely log in, but keep their accounts open, even Premie, because of the Premie points. I'm sure that Simu's revenues exceed a million a year, maybe several million....

I'm thinking that they are running the paid events and compensating the off-site people with the money, if that's so then more events please....

[Methais]

The GMs that create these events do get compensated for it.

And the other 99% of the money they pull in goes to cocaine.

[Fallen]

At the time of the de-ice Simu got an amazing amount of work done in a short amount of time. I'm pretty sure David Whatley did some of the coding in those days. Then there was a fellow, I can't remember his name, but he was a terrible speller, but got a lot of code done. After that they depended on the 100 buck a month GMs to work on Gemstone and moved on to MO,DR,H&Z,HJ, and those phone app games.

Really only DR did much, and they ended up laying off a lot of the onsite people. I have no idea what they got the on-site code gurus doing, but I wish they would put them to work on the 3 games that actually bring in the money. Contrary to what some folks think, Simu is in no danger at all of going under. Its not that expensive to keep 3 text based games up and running when you have so many talented off-site people working hard for peanuts.

There are many many people who rarely log in, but keep their accounts open, even Premie, because of the Premie points. I'm sure that Simu's revenues exceed a million a year, maybe several million....

I'm thinking that they are running the paid events and compensating the off-site people with the money, if that's so then more events please....

Dragons of Elanthia.

[Methais]

Dragons of Elanthia.

That project isn't dead? I thought it got cancelled for sucking too much?

[Fallen]

That project isn't dead? I thought it got cancelled for sucking too much?

I haven't heard them announce anything since, so I would imagine they're still pumping money into development. I suppose they could have moved on to a new IP at this point that they haven't mentioned.

[Taernath]

That project isn't dead? I thought it got cancelled for sucking too much?

It was shelved, not cancelled. They spent too much time and money on developing assets to just throw them out, and I'm sure Whatley is still looking to release it asap.

[Methais]

It was shelved, not cancelled. They spent too much time and money on developing assets to just throw them out, and I'm sure Whatley is still looking to release it asap.

Hopefully it won't still look like a shitty PS2 game if they ever push forward with it.

[Taernath]

Hopefully it won't still look like a shitty PS2 game if they ever push forward with it.

I don't want to scare you, but I think they're doing a TCG.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYDPDVX3edM

[Methais]

I don't want to scare you, but I think they're doing a TCG.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYDPDVX3edM

The only thing I learned from that clip is that Whatley drives an Acura.

[Ceyrin]

Poor Simu. It wants so much to be a big boy gaming company, but can't seem to grow up.

[Naelan]

http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Events,%20Quests,%20and%20SimuCoins/Duskruin%20Arena/view/3920 - Prize info per Wyrom

Seems pretty meh to me. A real jackpot would be getting a fix stat potion but I'm thinking the chances of getting any really decent gear are pretty low.

[zennsunni]

Poor Simu. It wants so much to be a big boy gaming company, but can't seem to grow up.

Maybe it's because Whatley runs his company like a Ponzi scam instead of a development firm.

[Zaigh]

The odds are juiced up. About 10x what you see at EG. And the lowest feeder has items valued at roughly the price of entry, and it scales in value from there. It won't mean everyone will find a unique pull though. But we'll have some jackpot finds that carry real dollar value (like fixstat and locker expansions).
- http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Events,%20Quests,%20and%20SimuCoins/Duskruin%20Arena/view/3922

Ok, this makes it a little more worthwhile.

[Jarvan]

http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Events,%20Quests,%20and%20SimuCoins/Duskruin%20Arena/view/3920 - Prize info per Wyrom

Seems pretty meh to me. A real jackpot would be getting a fix stat potion but I'm thinking the chances of getting any really decent gear are pretty low.

Fixstat? no.. The 100 locker Expansion would be the real big "known" jackpot. Look at it's price, and it's not available any other way.

[Naelan]

I was under the impression those expansion contracts couldn't be traded or sold. If that is incorrect then yeah...that's the big one.

[Jarvan]

I was under the impression those expansion contracts couldn't be traded or sold. If that is incorrect then yeah...that's the big one.

Well.. considering it's not likely someone capped their lockers... but it could be possible. Anything found like that should be tradeable until used. Even bound items usually come in a sack or some such so the finding player can move it to another toon of theirs at the very least.

Who knows tho.

[Zaigh]

Re: Duskruin Dig - Prizes on 06/15/2016 03:37 PM EDT
Links-arrows 3934
Reply Reply
To be clear, as of right now, the majority of items in the unique feeder are similar to stuff you might find hunting that are GM made. There are a decent chunk of "jackpot" items though. And yes, their are segments.

You will find tons of moonshards for bloodscrip. They carry their own value.


Wyrom, APM

And that makes it sound a bit underwhelming.

[Jhynnifer]

I don't know... you have a chance of getting simucoin store items for less than they actually go for, with chances at sewer-like weapons/armor/whateverelseyoucouldfindhunting and then some jackpot items (some of which are pretty sexy). Add segments and pendants to this and the fact that I don't have to go play in the sewer? SIGN ME UP.

[Zaigh]

And our unique feeder has a number of drops similar to special things you might find out hunting (altered weapons and such)...

I missed that one in the middle of the prize paragraph, but that sounds less like the sewer-like finds and more like the 5x common flaring weapons and armor that kept getting pulled at EG and had people going, "WTF? How is this a T5?"

The jackpot stuff and some of the simucoin stuff does sound like it could be rather nice. The pushdown seen at EG and now here of the low-end to what makes a T5 in a pay event game is saddening.

[Jhynnifer]

I missed that one in the middle of the prize paragraph, but that sounds less like the sewer-like finds and more like the 5x common flaring weapons and armor that kept getting pulled at EG and had people going, "WTF? How is this a T5?"

The jackpot stuff and some of the simucoin stuff does sound like it could be rather nice. The pushdown seen at EG and now here of the low-end to what makes a T5 in a pay event game is saddening.

I guess I read that as the same kind of stuff (some crappy, some OK, once in a while preeeeetty good) items, not the T5 stuff you're talking about... that's with ANY Simu event like this. Look at DMC for example. Unlimited Crystal Amulets? 3x per day Faith's Clarity items? There's always a "womp womp" prize in the barrel. It's part of what spurs people on to gamble.

[Zaigh]

DMC is a bit different, you are guaranteed a T5-type pull at the end as long as you show up and stay through to the end of the event. And looking back at those, the "womp womp" prizes definitely are not in the majority as they have already been said to be at this event.

Looking back over the DMC runs I'd say they low-end only counted for about 25% at most of the prizes going out, certainly not a majority by a long shot, especially from the two times in 2013 it ran.

https://gswiki.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/List_of_2011_Droughtman%27s_Challenge_Prizes
http://gsguide.wikia.com/wiki/DMC_2013_Prize_List
http://gsguide.wikia.com/wiki/DMC_-_2013_Holiday_Special

[SashaFierce]

The feeders have some SimuCoin Store items inside at all levels. Lowest feeder has some single-use temporary enhancive potions for non-spell knowledge items and an encumbrance charm, both lasting 30 minutes. The next feeder from that has login bridges, Guild voucher packs, locker manifest contracts, and urchin guide contracts. From there we have Lumnis schedules, spellup pills, encumbrance potions that last a few days, moonshard pendants, and 100 use gold rings. And our unique feeder has a number of drops similar to special things you might find out hunting (altered weapons and such), but there are some jackpot finds as well. We have a +10 locker expansion contract, a +100 locker expansion contract, a prismatic ether for EG, amnesty parchments, culture resets, fixskill and fixstat potions, some forging slabs, and some stuff that you might have found at a Droughtman's Maze Challenge. I believe we have s spectral butterfly pouch and a scrying crystal ball which I know we did at DMC. But there are 100 items in there. We're doing some last glances over for mostly the lower feeders (not so much the unique one) before we roll this live though. Can't promise any suggestions make it, but if you're dying to suggest something, feel free.




To be clear, as of right now, the majority of items in the unique feeder are similar to stuff you might find hunting that are GM made. There are a decent chunk of "jackpot" items though. And yes, their are segments.

You will find tons of moonshards for bloodscrip. They carry their own value.


Don't think I'm interested in spending cash for plain altered weapons and simucoin items I don't need.

The jackpot items seem mediocre.

[Taernath]

If I get urchin runners from this I'm going to shank a bitch.

[Velfi]

https://67.media.tumblr.com/e59f3de5d010518a6aa3934a93abedee/tumblr_nk9bxlQWh41t8xblso1_400.gif

[Nephelem]

Considering the minimum buy-in cost is a dime, anyone that gets ripped off is a fucking moron. Just waiting for the "I bought the $1000 dollar Simucoin chunk and now the prizes suck." rants to begin.

[Methais]

So it's pretty much just turning the loot system into a slot machine + store items.

https://i.imgflip.com/15x5oh.jpg

[drauz]

So it's pretty much just turning the loot system into a slot machine + store items.

https://i.imgflip.com/15x5oh.jpg

Slot machine wizards and now "pay" events. That seems to be the direction they are headed.

[Luxelle]

Urchin Guide passes that are so game-unbalancing that they only have a life of 30-60 minutes.

I'm a huge GS fan and there are some things I don't understand why they cost real money. I don't even think those have a value in silvers...

[Methais]

I've yet to give the first fuck about any time I've found an urchin pass or locker token or whatever they're called.

It will be epic if those are part of this dig game that people are paying money for.

I'm sure tons of morons will still dump hundreds of dollars into it anyway, because they're stupid as fuck and Simu knows they're stupid as fuck.