Ildran: Moving on

[Fallen]

IOI: 4

Hey everybody.

First off, I apologize for being out of contact for so long. I appreciate the concern for my well-being; rest assured, I haven't been laid off or anything like that, though I have switched projects at work. My absence has mostly been related to that new project and taking a short break after training a new set of GMs. At least, it started out as a short break, but once you're not doing much, it's very easy to continue not doing much for another day, and then another, and so on.

Unfortunately, being on break has really shown me that I'm no longer in a good position for doing significant work around here. My life outside of GemStone is full of people I want to spend time with and things I'd like to do, as well as commitments I've made in other areas, and I can't do all of that and keep up a full workload around here.

As a result, I'm transferring to CGM status, probably permanently. I'll be handing the reigns of Rogues and Premium Homes over to another member of the team, though exactly who hasn't been decided yet. I'll still be maintaining ownership of the infrastructure pieces I've historically been in charge of, which includes user visible systems like speech and titles as well as a number of internal tools and libraries, but those are stable and thus won't take up a lot of my time. If any significant work needs to be done on them, it'll probably get done by someone else.

In general, this means I'll still be around and available, but I won't be standing in the way of progress any longer. I really should have done this a while ago, but I tend to have an overstated view of how much time and energy I actually have available.

Of all the things I've worked on while here, the Rogue profession has certainly been dearest to my heart. You guys have always been the best, and it's been a privilege to be able to build things for you. I hope you guys are kind to my successor, whoever that might be ;)

Thanks for all the good times. While I'll still be around and posting for hopefully a long time coming, this is farewell from Ildran the Rogue Guru.

- Consigliere Ildran, Shizlock Holmesplice

[Stunseed]

Maybe you Rogues will get a GM who is looking to improve em.

[Fallen]

Agreed. Here's hoping Ildran's replacement kicks ass.

What do rogues want?

- Stunmanever Improvements
- Group Hiding Improvements
- Evasion Mastery
- ...?

[Allereli]

I think it's just disappointing to lose another development GM. Like what he did or not for rogues, he was productive in other places, was probably one of the most communicative and answered questions clearly. No matter who the rogues get, he will be stretched thin.

[Amaron]

And premium homes get passed off again.

[Stunseed]

And premium homes get passed off again.

This :(

[The Ponzzz]

I want brawling adjustments. 2/1. Period.

[Fallen]

Heh. Haven't premium homes been slated for updates since their release? I was talking it over with a few people, and Premium home updates are probably the oldest failed expectation Simu has to date.

[Amaron]

Whoever takes them over will be the 4th GM I think.

The ideas Ildran had last summer at the con were so cool.

I can understand his position... THERE IS A WORLD OUTSIDE GS.

[The Ponzzz]

I know Ildran doesn;t say it was GS, but it feels like Premium Homes are the GM killer.

[Tolwynn]

CHE is a repeat offender, too.

[Some Rogue]

Ildran was the man. :(

[Back]

IOI: 5

[kookiegod]

Adam done some exceptional work over the years, and was a great one when you needed help.

A regretable loss of a great talent.

~Paul

PS - And premium homes have lost more than anyone. Heh.

[DaCapn]

In my experience, Ildran was great. Sometimes you get the feeling that GMs refuse to talk about certain things for one reason or another. I always found him to be direct, clear, and to give meaningful explanations where warranted (if something wasn't going to happen, he'd usually give his reasons).

Also, Ildran said that the premium homes are pretty much a finished product and consumed next to none of his time. I doubt that had anything to do with this. Consider that he was given this along with a profession to manage. A profession is a pretty major project. One would assume that his other project is a pretty minor one.

It is too bad that he hung on for so long when he didn't have time (as he said). It added around 6 months of rogue stagnation. But it is hard to let go of something that you like which you think you'll have time for soon.


Agreed. Here's hoping Ildran's replacement kicks ass.

What do rogues want?

- Stunmanever Improvements
- Group Hiding Improvements
- Evasion Mastery
- ...?

More on this note, of the things mentioned on the officials...

Stunmans - Maybe the only people who are upset here play elves. Stunmans are great and they've saved my ass countless times.
Group Hiding - Yeah, it pretty clearly needs fixing. For the most part, it's more trouble than it's worth for people to hunt with rogues and for rogues to hunt with people. But part of that is also related to the fact that rogues are the slowest attackers. They could take the hide/ambush benefits and give them to ambushers while out in the open and grouped (like an enhanced flanking bonus, which FoF is supposed to account for)
Evasion Mastery - Yes. Block for warriors, evasion for rogues, and parry for both has been a suggestion (and a good one at that).
Weapon Finesse - Swap DEX for STR when calculating AS with a light melee weapon.
Disabling Cmans - Terrible when compared to just about any disabling spell.
Smastery - Re-fix this cman. It's the most expensive to train in, has a high activation cost, has a long cool-down, and has the highest cooldown violation cost. Other than RT, the benefits are not clear. Just compare it to something like berserk. That's pretty much the warrior flagship duration-based enhancement maneuver, and smastery is pretty much supposed to be the rogue one.
Armor - Plenty said about this lately.
Brawling - I don't know about it but in general the weapons suck. Maybe it needs a review, I don't know.

Tied for 1st place concern for me are:
Smastery, group hiding, and probably disabling cmans.

2nd place:
Armor, evasion mastery, weapon finesse.

Some things that I would consider to be frivolous changes (not necessary):
Lock/trap review, new titles, flare-activating maneuvers (they already exist), pickpocketing review (maybe just because I don't do it, I don't care about it).

[Kembal]

Premium Homes whacked a 4th GM? Jeez.

He was very good about answering questions. This is a definite loss to have him move to CGM status. (but good on him focusing on life outside of GS too)

[crb]

Thanks for all the good times. While I'll still be around and posting for hopefully a long time coming, this is farewell from Ildran the Rogue Guru.


WTF! FUCK YOU SIMU. Rogues had a guru? WTF. I've been told for year sorcerers had no guru because simu didn't want gurus anymore! Oscuro and Estild are always like "we're not cleric gurus, ut uh" WTF. I'm going to go make a petition!


In my experience, Ildran was great. Sometimes you get the feeling that GMs refuse to talk about certain things for one reason or another. I always found him to be direct, clear, and to give meaningful explanations where warranted (if something wasn't going to happen, he'd usually give his reasons).

Seriously though, I agree with the above. Ildran was a really good GM, especially in the communication area, but also attitude and ability.

[The Ponzzz]

Are you being serious about the guru statement, or is that sarcasm?

[Warriorbird]

Virilneus is always serious.

[crb]

Don't call me shirley.

[Rolton-Sammich]

Virilneus is always serious.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/tumorous/angryman.jpg



Sorcery is serious business.