Pegasis Travel ..Gone...Chronomage Travel..Go! [Archive]

Fallen

05-17-2006, 02:49 PM

Pegasus Travel System - R.I.P. · on 5/17/2006

A couple of years ago, we announced that we were planning a cross-realm travel system, based around the mythical pegasus creature, to allow players to go long distances more quickly. The idea was that by riding a pegasus for several minutes, a player could travel across the DragonSpine, over to/from Teras, or to/from River's Rest in a fraction of the time that is normally required. The pegasi would be costly, but to many players the time savings would be worth the cost.

Since that announcement, the project has shifted hands many times, growing in scope and features (training steeds, mount familiarization, numerous special breeds, encounters while flying, the possibility of flying off course, working to ensure the rider is actively engaged while travelling rather than creating another ride like our cart rides, etc.) until it arrived at my team with the recent reorganization.

In our review of the project, we came to the conclusion that it had grown into an overly ambitious design, and that the design wasn't really meeting the overall objective. Ultimately, we see that players want a low-effort means to travel long distances, and we try to balance that player desire with our objective to maintain the separation of the realms for the many players who find that the smaller, remote communities better fit their play style. As a result, we decided to change direction on the cross-realm travel design, and for the past couple of months have been working on a new concept (which does not include pegasi or any other mounts) that will meet the low-effort objective while still maintaining our separation of communities.

More details on the new concept will be provided in a following post in the Town Systems folder.

Warden

Fallen

05-17-2006, 02:50 PM

Chronomage Teleportation System

After long negotiations, the towns of Elanthia have agreed to allow the Chronomages, masters of the magical domains of travel and time, to operate within each town. As a result, the Chronomages are pleased to offer cross-realm travel services for the low, low price of 100,000 silvers per trip. Every 90 minutes, the Chronomages will transport their customers to any town in their network. Due to concerns that the towns have with possibly unscrupulous individuals rapidly moving through the realms, however, each individual may only travel once every 48 hours.

* Similar to the way that the Glaesen Star operates, characters may purchase tickets for a trip and go do whatever they like in the meantime until the Chronomages actually perform the teleportation. Players can READ the tickets to see how much time they have before they need to be back in the porting area. This should free players up so there is not a lot of dead time waiting for a trip.

* Also similar to the Glaesen Star, characters may purchase a ticket and log off in the porting area. If, upon their return, the Chronomages have operated the transport in the interim, the characters will log in at their destinations.

* Being somewhat less than passionate in adherence to the law themselves, the Chronomages have been known to provide... possibly unscrupulous individuals... with additional teleportations within a given 48 hour period. However, the cost for these 'off the books' deals is rumored to be 3x the normal transport price.

** The Chronomage teleportation system is not yet released. It will be released this quarter. It will not be released in Platinum, as it is obviated there by Platinum's current Chronomage portal system. **

Warden

Makkah

05-17-2006, 02:56 PM

Thank fucking God.

Daniel

05-17-2006, 02:59 PM

What he said

Asha

05-17-2006, 03:00 PM

Buries his leather rune book.

StrayRogue

05-17-2006, 03:00 PM

Load of shit. 100k. I'd rather pester a sorcerer or use my script. I was looking forward to trainable mounts too.

Lazy fuckers.

Daniel

05-17-2006, 03:01 PM

Good for you.

Parkbandit

05-17-2006, 03:04 PM

I never really understood why they chose to make so many realms so damned difficult to travel to and from. If they are still clinging to the belief that it fosters roleplaying.. I think it's been proven it doesn't help.

Jolena

05-17-2006, 03:11 PM

Load of shit. 100k. I'd rather pester a sorcerer or use my script. I was looking forward to trainable mounts too.

Lazy fuckers.

I don't mind the cost of the chronomage transportation, but waiting 90 minutes is a crock of shit in my opinion.

However, that being said, yes I was looking forward to the trainable mounts as well and this system lacks ANY incentives for RP, which makes me irritated. Yet another system that WOULD enhance RP (ie. Pegasi or some other type of trainable mount) goes to the wayside.

Daniel

05-17-2006, 03:13 PM

Lets be serious. It would be a matter of days before someone came out with a script to "train" your mount and it would foster RP kinda like the new jail system does...right.

DCSL

05-17-2006, 03:14 PM

I just wanted a horse. Even a sissy winged horse. Is that so wrong?

Aaysia

05-17-2006, 03:23 PM

I just wanted a horse. Even a sissy winged horse. Is that so wrong?

:yeahthat: :(

Jolena

05-17-2006, 03:23 PM

Lets be serious. It would be a matter of days before someone came out with a script to "train" your mount and it would foster RP kinda like the new jail system does...right.

Perhaps so, and that's their perogative. But for those of us who WANTED to foster RP and didn't plan to utilize a script, the RP potential is still there for pegasi or any kind of trainable mount.

Not only that, there are tons of items in the game, including stables, that give reason to have trainable/ridable mounts in the game. Its just a silly hope of mine, I realize. But damnit, I wanted a horse! :(

Praefection

05-17-2006, 03:25 PM

I think I'd still use 740 and save myself half the cost of a trip.

Fallen

05-17-2006, 03:29 PM

Yep. This system means exactly DICK to sorcerers over 40. Go go Planar Shifting!

Shalla

05-17-2006, 03:49 PM

I certainly hope they make the inter-planar chalks more affordable, since it's not unique anymore.

Drew

05-17-2006, 03:54 PM

I like this system better than Pegasi, I know there are many fantastical creatures in Gem but pegasi always seems... just... stupid.

Drew

05-17-2006, 03:55 PM

I don't mind the cost of the chronomage transportation, but waiting 90 minutes is a crock of shit in my opinion.

I like the waiting period, otherwise this would just be the snert transportation system. The reason towns are seperated isn't because of the good players, it's because of the bad ones.

Atlanteax

05-17-2006, 03:57 PM

A positive development in regard to GS-wide transportation.

Snapp

05-17-2006, 04:13 PM

I like this system better than Pegasi, I know there are many fantastical creatures in Gem but pegasi always seems... just... stupid.
Totally agreed.

Overall though, for 100k, I'll just walk to another town.

Skeeter

05-17-2006, 04:20 PM

way to screw over sorcerers.

your 740 spell is now just a coupon for this bullshit

Sean of the Thread

05-17-2006, 04:21 PM

I certainly hope they make the inter-planar chalks more affordable, since it's not unique anymore.

Agreed.

Praefection

05-17-2006, 04:22 PM

What I find ironic is how this was announced as there was a discussion on the officials about how people WANTED to see something involving the Chronomages. Give the small majority of the masses what they wantED!

zhelas

05-17-2006, 04:28 PM

Yep. This system means exactly DICK to sorcerers over 40. Go go Planar Shifting!

Speaking of that any major failures with a release of a demon?

Sean of the Thread

05-17-2006, 04:28 PM

Praefection

05-17-2006, 04:30 PM

I wouldn't be surpised. :)

Fallen

05-17-2006, 04:47 PM

Speaking of that any major failures with a release of a demon? >>

None that have been posted about, or to my knowledge.

Gan

05-17-2006, 05:01 PM

The below and the fact that 740 is instantaneous really nerfed the whole chronomage design.

* Similar to the way that the Glaesen Star operates, characters may purchase tickets for a trip and go do whatever they like in the meantime until the Chronomages actually perform the teleportation. Players can READ the tickets to see how much time they have before they need to be back in the porting area. This should free players up so there is not a lot of dead time waiting for a trip.

Its a damn portal, it needs to be available whenever someone needs it for that price, not at set points along the clock.

Why would I drop 100k and wait 2 hours for a chronomage portal when I can just use my travel script and blow 35 minutes getting from Illistim to the Landing, or 60 minutes going from Vaalor to the Landing. Using this chronomage for travel across the dragonspine, across the bay to Teras or over to Rivers Rest is the only reason why I would consider using it at all.

740 still FTW unless you're not a sorcerer, then you're FTL.

Latrinsorm

05-17-2006, 05:10 PM

The being able to log off and show up is nice. Scripting is dead time unless you go AFK (something of which I'm not a fan). It's a decent change, but now my awesome pegasus name (El Pimpularo) won't see the light of Elanthia. :(

Czeska

05-17-2006, 05:11 PM

Get a premie house, get a pet, name him that. If you must.

Drinin

05-17-2006, 05:13 PM

I love it. Screw those winged horsies.

Stanley Burrell

05-17-2006, 05:22 PM

Script ya lazy mooks.

SellerOfSouls

05-17-2006, 05:59 PM

Want a steed, go to AoH ... Simple really.

SOS

Fallen

05-17-2006, 06:18 PM

There are some things people have been BEGGING to have for as long as I have been playing.

1. The ability to learn other languages.
2. Horses/Mount mechanics.

Why they wont do either is a mystery to me.

Mighty Nikkisaurus

05-17-2006, 06:21 PM

I don't mind the cost of the chronomage transportation, but waiting 90 minutes is a crock of shit in my opinion.

However, that being said, yes I was looking forward to the trainable mounts as well and this system lacks ANY incentives for RP, which makes me irritated. Yet another system that WOULD enhance RP (ie. Pegasi or some other type of trainable mount) goes to the wayside.

I agree entirely with you.. this doesn't foster RP at all. That's why I liked the Pegasi and the trainable mounts.. it gave you more to do than just travel late at night by logging out your char. once you get your ticket and leaving them in the boarding area (a la Glaesen star). Feh. I'll just stick to scripting I guess, and use the four hour long travel guides for my little characters that can't make the scripted journey.

Sean of the Thread

05-17-2006, 06:23 PM

I still can't believe anyone still pays for this game.

Makkah

05-17-2006, 06:28 PM

Frankly, I would have been severely pissed if they would have wasted DEV resources coding that dumb ass system. With the amount of time it was taking in pre-code, I can only imagine how long it would have taken to actually implement.

Bobmuhthol

05-17-2006, 06:30 PM

Transport System
Time to get to EN: 90 minutes
Cost: 100k

Walking
Time to get to EN: 60 minutes
Cost: 2010 silver

Makkah

05-17-2006, 06:34 PM

Transport System
Time to get to EN: 90 minutes
Cost: 100k

That's incredibly misleading. The "pulse" hits every 90 minutes, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'd have to wait a full 90. You could potentially hit it perfect and only wait a few seconds.

Bobmuhthol

05-17-2006, 06:36 PM

Well, 1/3 of the time it's going to be faster to walk, and it will always be less expensive.

Mighty Nikkisaurus

05-17-2006, 06:41 PM

Well, 1/3 of the time it's going to be faster to walk, and it will always be less expensive.

A lot less expensive by a LOT at that.

Makkah

05-17-2006, 06:44 PM

You all realize it's not a system meant to be used ALL the time, right?

Nilandia

05-17-2006, 07:26 PM

It must also be kept in mind that until you enter the portal, you'll be at your starting point, where you can possibly get another hunt in, get a drink, listen to the amunet, kick back with friends or whatever. It's not time completely lost to boring travel, as you would have if you scripted walking.

Gretchen

Tannious

05-17-2006, 08:16 PM

Amen...I hate staring at the walls of that fucking cart. I'd rather get a hunt or two in or bs waiting for the portal to activate than sit in the cart most of the time. 100k is worth it to me the once or so I go from one end of Elanthia to the other.

Jolena

05-17-2006, 08:26 PM

Want a steed, go to AoH ... Simple really.

SOS

Or we could continue to petition with Simutronics, whom we pay to play their games, to put the system into GS which allows us to have trainable mounts. This is how many things have become implimented into the game in the past, and it would be incredibly silly to forget that.

I would have expected you to remember that, Finiswolf.

Suppa Hobbit Mage

05-17-2006, 08:43 PM

it doesn't take a full 60 minutes to walk either. I've done it in 26 minutes if I remember right, maybe 36 minutes. Something like that.

As far as 740 not being unique anymore, welcome to the familiar / companion issue, IMO. But I just hate how fairly useless familiars are, except for gate, which incidently can't go cross realms either.

DCSL

05-17-2006, 08:48 PM

As far as 740 not being unique anymore, welcome to the familiar / companion issue, IMO. But I just hate how fairly useless familiars are, except for gate, which incidently can't go cross realms either.

I kind of prefer familiars, because at least they can watch things and communicate. Being able to control them to such a degree opens up a lot of RP opportunities. If you care about that sort of thing, heh.

thornhappy

05-17-2006, 08:57 PM

I love my wizard's familiars, being able to pick them up and RPing with them has been a blast. They've definitely improved immensely.

I would have been excited to see a trainable mount system, (or ANY sort of animal husbandry for that matter..) preferably something less exotic then pegasi.. horses/yierka/etc.. I'm sad to see the undertaking scrapped, and I hope that we'll have it resurface in the future.

Look on the bright side.. at least we got SOME sort of cross realm travel system. They could have just ixnay'd it in it's entireity.. though I get the feeling when the NewbLords escape from Vaalor the shit is gonna hit the fan..

It'll be like the Breg invasion, only with idiots, and you won't be able to tell if they're 'tards by looking at them..

Daniel

05-17-2006, 09:09 PM

So, what stops you from rping with chronomages?

Artha

05-17-2006, 09:14 PM

I thought pegasi were mostly so newbies could travel from Ta'V to the Landing without risking lots of death/wasted time before you start having 'fun'? This system seems like it misses that.

mgoddess

05-17-2006, 09:47 PM

I thought pegasi were mostly so newbies could travel from Ta'V to the Landing without risking lots of death/wasted time.

No, that would be the Travel Guide system....at least, they prevent death for newbies...they still waste time. heh

Gan

05-17-2006, 10:21 PM

it doesn't take a full 60 minutes to walk either. I've done it in 26 minutes if I remember right, maybe 36 minutes. Something like that.

35 minutes from Landing to Illistim, a little shorter if you employ haste in the bog'ish areas in Vipershroud, before the rope bridge, rope bridge, ladder, bog'ish area after the boulder, and the mountian, trail, path at the trading post. You cant haste the cart rides, nor can you haste the damn vipershroud ferryman when he takes a meal break. :(

Add another 25 minutes to that from Illistim to Vaalor unless you manage to get to the dock when the lake fear ferryboat is there.

So yea, ~60 minutes from Landing to Vaalor.

Shari

05-17-2006, 10:27 PM

I'm with Bob, I think the system is a waste.

I DID want a pony though, goddamnit!

Makkah

05-17-2006, 10:36 PM

I don't think you all realize how very easily this can be developed, coded, and QC'd relative the Pegasus system (which you all REALLY don't know how it would have come out...)

Shari

05-17-2006, 11:16 PM

Look...maybe you just don't *get* it.

I have my GSBarbie.

Now I want GSMyLittlePony.

:D

Bobmuhthol

05-17-2006, 11:18 PM

<<I don't think you all realize how very easily this can be developed, coded, and QC'd relative the Pegasus system>>

Which is exactly why Simu made a mistake, not a brilliant decision.

zhelas

05-18-2006, 12:07 AM

Eh Sorcerery is still the way to go. 740 is in no way hurt by this. If you have the chalk and the rune for your destination. Wait time maybe 8 seconds. Base cost for a round trip ticket sure it can be 100k but who pays that much.

I think the Chronomages, whomever they are, were jealous of we who study the art of sorcerery. Since we uncovered this form of travel first.

Speaking of which I wonder how close the coding is to 740.

Artha

05-18-2006, 12:18 AM

They're probably not much at all alike.

Tannious

05-18-2006, 12:55 AM

<<I don't think you all realize how very easily this can be developed, coded, and QC'd relative the Pegasus system>>

Which is exactly why Simu made a mistake, not a brilliant decision.

Hahaha this is how 1040 was decided on.

Mighty Nikkisaurus

05-18-2006, 01:37 AM

So, what stops you from rping with chronomages?

Probably the fact that most of my characters will have little to no interest in a chronomage. Up until I read people on the official boards talking about them I had no clue what they were even, and even then I can't say that they really mean a whole lot to my characters. *shrug*

Shari

05-18-2006, 01:40 AM

Okay, so since I avoid the officials like the plague, can someone clue me in on what a chronomage is?

Jolena

05-18-2006, 01:41 AM

That and the personal belief I have that the chronomage system will be pretty much 'hand money to chronomage', 'get ticket from chronomage', 'listen to some words from chronomage as to when to be back'. The end. No real interactive RP available like there would be with pegasi or other trainable, ridable mounts.

Makkah

05-18-2006, 01:47 AM

<<<<I don't think you all realize how very easily this can be developed, coded, and QC'd relative the Pegasus system>>

Which is exactly why Simu made a mistake, not a brilliant decision.>>

You'd rather them blow a few good coders to spend another 6 months developing and coding the idea for something that's only used by a handful of people with an equine fetish? Not to mention the fact that the idea, frankly, came from no where with little support by the population and NO in game lore to justify it? Oh, okay. Good call.

SellerOfSouls

05-18-2006, 04:01 AM

AoH is a SIMU game, with steeds already implemented, not as mentioned for travel, but as a locker system. Use that code for the outline (seeing as it is already their code), and start adding features.

:shrug:

SOS

Or we could continue to petition with Simutronics, whom we pay to play their games, to put the system into GS which allows us to have trainable mounts. This is how many things have become implimented into the game in the past, and it would be incredibly silly to forget that.

Drew

05-18-2006, 04:13 AM

Steeds would suck in Gemstone. Putting them in combat in a meaningful way would be basically impossible without rewriting the whole combat system. Having them as fluff things people could ride around would, A. add to the animal zoo that are TCs these days and B. annoy people because they couldn't take their horses in combat.

StrayRogue

05-18-2006, 04:21 AM

AoH is coded differently from GS I am sure.

Drew

05-18-2006, 05:09 AM

They probably both use GSL, but would be much different otherwise.

Stanley Burrell

05-18-2006, 06:54 AM

::puts on his chronomage's robe and hat::

Now that there is no denying such masters of magic existence, I wonder if it would be possible for me to sneak "chronomage('s)" into the base description of an alter... Hmmm...

Sean of the Thread

05-18-2006, 08:40 AM

Bottom line is it will be a silver sink.

Fallen

05-18-2006, 09:49 AM

Any sorcerers talking about 740 ecroachment need to shut up. Planar Shifting destroys this proposed system, clear and simple. Instantaneous travel to a room you have specified at a time of your choosing with a minimal chance of failure that can be trained away... You can get chalks for as low as 44k if you have the hook-up.

740 FTW.

peam

05-18-2006, 10:16 AM

Horses suck. Good on, Simu.

I'm curious if the Navigators could've been put into this system, rather than the Chronomages. For all the time I've wasted in game, I know surprisingly little about the Navigators' role.

Latrinsorm

05-18-2006, 11:16 AM

Chronomages *are* Navigators. "Navigator" is an ICE term, like "shaalk". Simu can't use ICE terms anymore, so they call "Navigators" "Chronomages" now. It's a shame, because Navigator is about a bazillion times cooler-sounding.

Chronomages are the ones in charge of gold rings. "Nav" (as in "navved") is a derivative of "Navigator". They're supposed to be very powerful and secretive and whatnot. Like the Undeath to Undead switch, there are probably scads of neat plotlines of which Simu can no longer make use.

peam

05-18-2006, 11:21 AM

Oh, gotcha.

Navigator is a million times cooler sounding. Chronomage reminds me too much of something involving your avatar.

Latrinsorm

05-18-2006, 11:25 AM

It's funny you should mention that, as PCs could take the job of Time Mage (more a functional description than an actual translation) in FF5 (though my avatar is the lovely Miss Terra from FF6). They had a number of cool spells, but atrocious outfits. It would be pretty sweet if we could multiclass that in GS. Demi + Stun + CMAN Coup de Grace = WIN.

Drew

05-18-2006, 03:11 PM