Okay guys and gals, here's the skinny. DLDS is going to happen this weekend, starting on Friday and ending on Monday. We have a long weekend (here in the US anyway for a holiday on Monday), so that's when we plan to do it.
And, as everyone has been asking about it, and I know you all are anxious for it, here's a list of stuff that's going to be in the DLDS:
New features:
--A global arena channel to be used when arenas are running
--Coins can now be stored in any container
--Items can be mailed to other players
--Complete lock system overhaul (see below)
--New 'knock' command to knock on a door
--Change to the emote command (see below)
--Semi-realistic weather messages (snow, sandstorms)
--Semi-realistic fire (see below)
--New 'introduce' command (see below)
--Portals can now be closed with the 'close' command
--Wizlock does not last forever on doors
--Automated MPP redeeming (levels, stats, etc)
--Fishing, complete with bait and fishing poles
--Jails and citizens that arrest (see below)
--Fighting stances and combat forms (see below)
--Crests and containers can now be repaired
--Ability to recover all money from sold consignments
--Ability to toss items (see below)
--Context-sensitive help file lookup (see below)
New spells/skills:
--'Improved Haste' spell
--'Gateway' spell (two-way portal spell for mages)
--'Retreating' skill (flee in specific direction)
--Change to 'barkskin' spell
--'Identify Magic' now available for druids
--A whole mess of new martial arts skills (see below)
--'Sweep Kick' skill for ninjas
--'Advanced Balance' skill for thieves
--'Advanced Stealing' skill for thieves
--'Elemental Shield' spell for druids
--'Peek' skill for the stealthy types
--'Phantom Armor' spell for illusionists
--'Blur' spell for illusionists
--'Hypnotic Pattern' spell for illusionists
--'Horror' spell for illusionists
--'Negative Space' spell for illusionists
--'Simulacrum' spell for illusionists
--'Programmed Image' spell for illusionists
--'Projected Image' spell for illusionists
--Change to 'Magic Missile' spell
--'Nondetection' spell
--Addition to 'affects' to see # of mirror images
--Special skills/spells for each class at level 200:
----Barbarians: Feral Rage skill
----Clerics: Divine Shield spell
----Cavaliers: Summon Mount spell
----Mages: Shockshield spell
----Illusionists: Shapeshift spell
----Paladins: Divine Wrath spell
----Monks: Hasten skill
----Thieves: Fade skill
----Assassins: Critical Strike skill
----Rangers: Airshield spell
----Druids: Summon Wind spell
----Bards: Restoration Hymn song
----Ninjas: Shadow skill
Bugfixes:
--Non-RP players now can't cast on RP players
--Barbarians can now drink con/level flasks
--'Antimagic Shell' spell is now more practical
--'Dispel Magic' now erases only 1 mirror at a time
--'Dispel Illusion' now erases ALL mirrors
--Ambidex chars can now practice 'Dual Wield'
Now for the explanations...
Mailing items: You can mail items by purchasing a postage box from the postmaster and putting stuff in it. The cost is 10 coins per pound (of the box). However, containers cannot be mailed due to a weird bug that I haven't been able to figure out just yet.
Lock system overhaul: DL will now have removable padlocks that can be set on doors and items (if they're flagged to accept the locks.) Lockpicks will be REQUIRED to pick a lock. A locksmith will be in Turien to sell padlocks (with a key) and lockpick sets. Keys can also be duplicated (only padlock keys and house keys - NOT zone keys.) No more having to wait for staff to create a duplicate key for your house: Just go to the locksmith and make a copy!
Emote command change: A simple change to the emote command allows 's to be inserted so it looks cleaner. For example:
> emote 's hair stands straight up!
Vulsin's hair stands straight up!
Notice how there's no space between the ' and the name
Realistic weather messages: Depending on the room's sector type (desert, forest, mountain, etc), specific messages will be sent when the weather changes. Also, the 'weather' command has been changed to include wind speed and direction, which currently has no effect other than looking neat. Also, different weather will occur for different times of the year: Snow in the winter, rain in the summer, etc.
Item tossing: You can toss items into containers on the ground, to other players and even into adjacent rooms.
Semi-realistic fire: This one is pretty mean. Combustible items (paper, hide, etc) will catch fire if an area fire spell is used, though it won't always happen. This applies to items in the room and items on players/mobs (only for players if they're both RP or consented.) The fire has a chance to spread to other combustible items. You can also manually set things on fire with the 'burn' command, provided you have some kind of fire source in your hands. Liquids have an effect on fire (water quenches (as does summon rain), alcohol intensifies it.) Also, jumping in a lake (literally) will quench fires. You can 'stomp' on items to try and put the fire out. You can also stop, drop and 'roll' to put yourself out. Area-effect cold spells will put out fires (ice tempest, etc.)
Introduce code: You can introduce players to another player or to the entire room.
Context-sensitive help: If you type a ? after a command, the helpfile will be displayed (if it exists - we're working on that!). Such as if you type 'att ?' it will show the helpfile for the 'attributes' command.
Closing portals: If you create a portal, or if you know the portal spell and are at least the same level as the caster, you can use the 'close' command to close a portal. If you cast the spell, enter the portal and use 'close' on the other side, the portal will close.
Automated MPP redeeming: You can use the 'wish' command to turn in MPPs for levels, stats, favored hand and alignment changes. Any other requests (see help Redeeming MPPs) will have to be mailed to staff.
Fishing: If you have a fishing pole and are in a room that has been flagged for fishing, you can 'cast line' (or pole) and 'pull line' (or pole) to do fishing. Fish that are caught are edible.
Jails, arrests etc: New flags are in place that will allow citizens flagged as such to arrest criminals rather than just kill them. On the same note, there's also a flag that will make some citizens not attack at all, but instead run and get help. Players who are arrested will be dragged to prison and locked up. After their sentence is over, the criminal flag is removed.
New martial arts skills: Monks and ninjas get a bunch of new martial arts skills, each with their own pros and cons. You can use the 'form' command to change combat forms. More will be explained in the help files for each one.
There's more, and some stuff I probably forgot (but wanted to post), but you'll have to wait and see for that. There's also some new tools for staff to make their time on DL easier and more enjoyable. There's also changes to some classes that will also make life easier for players as well.
This is open for discussion, but I can't give exact details about the stuff (as in how much hp this does, or how that exactly works) but I can give the basic gist of it. Helpfiles will be written for all new spells and skills, so when DLDS comes up, keep an eye out for those.
Remember: DLDS is this Friday through Monday (September 1st through 4th, 2006)!
good job man good job