It’s been a while since we have done one of these, so we thought we would dive back into it with some new questions players have posted for us. I wanted to start with a question I see appearing more recently-
What is being done about the (I assume) server instabilities that lead to frequent black boxing and crashing?
Just wanted to first thank everyone that sends in bug reports and follows up with us when we reach out afterwards as I know it can be a thankless task and seem like it does no good, but we really appreciate it, and it allows us to keep track of which bugs are causing the most havoc, along with tracking down and fixing them. With that said there has been a spike of reports of de-syncs/crashes. While these are happening on our server side code we believe, it is not related to the server size or server stability itself as of checking today we are only using about 5% of our server capacity. We have been looking into this issue and have a few leads, but nothing solid enough to put a fix in yet as it looks like its a few different bugs causing the problems, so not one “silver bullet” fix that we can implement to fix it all (like a bigger server). We will be making a post later on this week to try and get some 100% reproducible cases, along with trying to get the issues more clearly identified on whats happening and when, to break it down into a more thorough cases as opposed to the general “de-sync” that we have been using. One note though while trying to track down some of these errors we were able to fix 2 long outstanding bugs on our backend, along with making progress on the “invisible monster” bug we were tracking.
Is it at all possible that we’ll see some extra game modes or party sizes to battlegrounds to spice it up a little?
Yes you will see some changes coming to the battlegrounds in the coming months. We are looking at creating a new battlegrounds environments (we will be taking suggestions for the type/place of environment), along with doing a general balance pass on the classes inside the battlegrounds to prevent some of the classes from being able to 1 shot players (only in battlegrounds we will not be modifying anything in the overworld PVP). As far as party sizes, with the current size it takes a little while to get a match going, so we would not want to increase the party size any, if anything we would look into bringing back the free for all that was in pre-born, but that would require a larger re-work of the current battlegrounds then we currently have planned.
What’s next for Orbus after these hard mode raids?
Since the Citadel Raid has been released, along with the hardmode version, Marko’s has hit the ground running, wasting no time in making up for the years he has been imprisoned, wanting to bring Highsteppe out of the darkness it has been in. More information will be coming out in the next few weeks talking more about it, along with the release date, but here is a little teaser image before then.
What is the eta on the new mute/block features?
We just released a new QOL feature last week that we wanted in game before finalizing the block feature, where there was a better visual indicator of the players speaking around you and their volume level so you can better identify which players around you are speaking, in the case of needing to report someone. I am hoping to have the block feature in the coming months.
Hey devs… how are you doing?
While I don’t speak for the entire dev team on this question, I am doing great!
Could we add Capes to the list of things that can go into the furniture trunks so we can display them?
The way the capes are currently set up for players and how our furniture chest works the current answer is no, and we don’t have it planned for right now, but it is possible in the future but not going to make that promise now.
What’s the devs favourite npc?
Randel, the tutorial NPC.
How do the devs feel about the state of endgame content and gear progression, and what players are supposed to do after experiencing all the content in Orbus?
That is a good question. Currently a player would need to complete all 6 dungeons, Guild city normal and hard raid, Shard dungeons 1-15, and Citadel normal and hard raid to complete all the end game content in game. I know the long term players have been accomplishing this, and are currently burning through the Citadel Hardmode raid as we speak to get the gear and the new level of weapons. Once you have completed that you have reached the current end, congrats, but there is still much to do. One example is getting new players to experience that same content as you mentor them along, or playing with your fellowship trying for that perfect clear, leveling up an additional class while running through the content also. While we are currently planning for some new content coming out late this year, it is more based on horizontal progression VS the upward gear progression from the endgame community, so it will be fun/new content but would not be limited to the “endgame” community necessarily.
Are scavs really bad guys in orbus or are we the bad guys to them?
I’d say at one time they were not the bad guys, just those that refused to retreat to the safety of Highsteppe, but through the years of raids and attacks have turned into the bad guys. But there have been some attempts at bridging the gap between the societies inside the Flooded Rainforest by the Scav Ambassador
Do you have any money sinks planned aside from what you have now (Dragon mount and Dram mount)?
Getting the Orbus economy working, and in good condition has been an ever-evolving project for us, and I think it has been improving with the changes we have made from the feedback from the community. I think this is an area where the players know what they would like to see, and what they would be willing to spend their dram on, so I’d be interested in knowing what types of things the players would like to see as dram sinks. The server bombs have been popular, and are a re-occurring sink that players can buy that not only helps themselves, but the server as a whole, which I really like.
Have there been any thoughts on adding any new over world legendaries?
Yes. That is all.
Have you considered adding new in game shop items? It’s a bit surprising that this hasn’t been utilized more, as I’m sure plenty of players are willing to support the game with in game purchased cosmetics.
Yes we will have more items coming to the cosmetic store this year. If there is anything specifically you want to see be sure to post and let us know.
Looking ahead we have the Summer Fest starting in less then a week, so be sure to get those Spring Fest quests completed before the 29th!
I demand justice 
