New Info on Warhammer Beta

Kevin over at The Server is Down has some information on the Warhammer Beta Update – Part 2. One of the most interesting things to me is the loot itemization that they are talking about. For example;

What does itemizing a chapter entail?

Well we go through every quest that gives rewards and create 24 quest items for it. Every quest in WAR gives you a choice of reward when you complete it, and those rewards are filtered to only show items that are specific to your career. Then we do the same thing for influence rewards — influence rewards are also filtered in a career-specific way.

Then we figure out all the monsters in that chapter and make sure that they drop loot, and that the loot is level appropriate for that monster. We also make sure that players will also drop loot when killed in RvR when we do this. Then we hook up all the stores in that chapter, including the renown stores – where all the great RvR items can be found.

Afterwards we create all the loot for the three PQs in that chapter. Each PQ boss can drop some very-rare unique items, and some rare and uncommon stuff too. PQ bosses also drop most of the armor-set pieces. If there’s a set piece noted for a PQ in this chapter, we add those items to loot that can appear in the chest. We’ve also been looking at how we give out loot in PQs this week – But that will be in an Update later on by the PQ Team.

So, as well as just churning out items for the elf chapters we’re also putting in new stuff. We have our first iteration of the Trophy system in testing right now. We’ve been doing all our testing using an in-game Witch Hunter model, and it’s been fun trying out all the combinations of placement points.

-Item Team

For the uninitiated in WAR, PQ’s are Public Quests. Public Quests in WAR are quests you can join into just by being in the area where they are happening. There are typically 3 per chapter it appears. You don’t have to be invited to a group or shout for help. Everyone that is nearby can help or leave at their convenience. I think it’s a really good idea, especially since the events are open and seem like a good way to get to meet people as you work the PQ together.

It looks like the UI is getting some love as well.

Most recently we just overhauled the main map from the ground up. Until this point, we had only zone level maps and then a long list of names of all the zones. Now we have a World map and a Pairing level map, as well as the Zone maps, and a method of navigating between them that should feel very intuitive.

These changes to the system has allowed us to integrate many things into the maps that weren’t there previously, such as the quest tracker (allowing for more fluid waypoint toggling), filters to turn on and off various pieces of information, and by far my favorite, map coordinates. Hooray! Coordinates have actually been very useful to the development process though they were originally designed only for player use, so it just goes to show you how good designs can be pervasively beneficial.

Oh, the maps are now larger so that you can get a much clearer visual picture of what you’re doing, and where you need to go at any time.

Overall the maps are very indicative of the style that we’re going to be using in all of the UI, in particular the parchment graphics, and we’re using the maps in other places that they can help to provide more information to the player. In fact, we’ve just begun integrating the map system into the Tome of Knowledge, so you’ll be able to see a visual representation of your Main map in special key locations in the Tome as well.

-UI Team

I’m excited to see EA Mythic getting some information out to the public, even at a time when the actual beta is on “pause.” The news on itemization is particularly exciting. I hate carrying around a bunch of stuff I can’t use just in case it has value. More targeted drops and quest rewards will certainly be welcome and something that sets them apart in the market.