This patch addresses some issues caused in the last patch. We added some new anti-cheat checks and some new options for servers. Additionally we have raised the latency cap on Official PvP servers to 400ms. Official PvE servers remain at the default 800ms.
We will continue to look for ways to track, find, and ban cheaters, hackers, and exploiters on Official servers.
Added bUseLatencyHardCap=false config variable. By default servers use the new soft cap checking. Enable this for hard cap detection which will boot any player who exceeds server latency cap. Leave disabled to use soft cap which checks for unusual ping activity. To disable anti-cheat measures on your server, set bDisableDD=true in config.
Added new methods and checks to prevent latency manipulation
Fixed an issue where Admin /mute /unmute commands were not working
Tweaked the server disconnection detection settings for clients
This patch fixes a few bugs and also implements methods to prevent network exploits.
Official PvP servers now cap latency to 250ms. Players who exceed 250ms latency(ping) will be disconnected. PvE servers are now capped to 800ms allowing international players or players with WIFI or Satellite to connect to the Official US PvE servers, however, we highly recommend choosing a server close to your location and/or with low latency for the best player experience.
Added iMaxLatencyMS=800 config variable. Range 100-1000. Default 800. Allows servers to cap the max ping per player. Server autokicks if ping exceeds allowed value. To disable, set config bDisableDD=true
Added methods and checks to prevent latency manipulation and other network hacks
Added additional server log entries to better track server crashes
Fixed an issue where egg shells would sometimes never despawn
Fixed an issue where hatchlings would lose growth progress when safelogging (for realz ːsteamhappyː)
Greetings Dragons, today's patch fixes a critical server lockup/growth progress-loss bug that we felt was too important to wait until the 1.M Update. Due to upcoming 1.M code changes that could not be undone, this patch will also include a Clan data wipe.
It is strongly recommended that server owners delete the Clan folder in your server after updating. The correct file path is "Installation directory"/Dragons/Saved/SaveGames/Clans. After updating, please delete said "Clans" folder as old clan data is no longer compatible going forward.
This update also includes changes to Player Saves for upcoming content, however, we tested player saves for compatibility and no player data wipe is needed. ːsteamhappyː
Also included in this update is the new emote previews for the Acid Spitter Drake. Owners of the Acid Spitter DLC will have access to 3 new emotes, "Care" "Mourn" and "Challenge." Patreon Lifetime Rewards members will have 1 additional emote called "Rage." New emote keybinds were also added, and eventually we will add an emote wheel for controllers.
Also included in this update is a fix for Clan Name/Tag capitalization issues which some clans have been asking for along with the ability for server owners to limit the number of clans on their servers or even disable clan creation.
We hope you enjoy the patch. Don't be surprised if you see a Fire Breathing Dragon flying around on Official servers!
Fixed a server lockup/crash
Fixed an issue where growth progress was lost after safe logging
Fixed an issue where clan names and clan tags would not capitalize properly
Updated clan saving data, we recommend servers delete clans folder after updating. Clan Chieftains will need to recreate their clans. We apologize for the inconvenience but it had to be done for future-proofing the clan system.
Added iMaxClans=255 config variable. Range 0-255. Default 255. This config allows server owners to limit the max number of clans on their server, set to 0 to disable clan creation. A complete server config guide can be found on our Discord in Support Docs channel or on Steam here
Added 3 new Emotes for the Acid Spitter Drake DLC
Added 1 new Acid Spitter Emote for Lifetime Rewards Members
We hope you are enjoying the New Year and our latest content update featuring the Bulbous Spined Scrab. Thank you all for the feedback! We will be working on some bug fixes and changes based on what you have all said. While we work on the next patch, please enjoy this blog filled with what our different teams have been working on!
Animations
The Flame Stalker and Inferno Ravager are currently in their animation stage of development. This is the longest stage and takes some time to complete. We appreciate your patience while we work hard on bringing these awesome dragons to life. Please keep in mind, all of the animations you see in these blogs are a work-in-progress and not yet finalized. The animations (new and currently in-game) will be perfect in a polishing stage further down the development line.
Anywho, take a look at what our awesome animation team has been working on!
Flame Stalker
Flame Stalker Roar
Karly is back from her holiday and working once again to bring the Flame Stalker to life. With all the locomotion (aka flying and walking) animations completed, we are now focusing on his last action animations, including the calls! Check out some of the awesome animations Karly has created so far.
Flame Stalker Eating
Flame Stalker Drinking
Flame Stalker Swimming
Inferno Ravager
The newest addition to our team, Anton, is now working on the animations of his first dragon, the Inferno Ravager. As with every dragon, we start with the land locomotion (walk, trot, etc) animations first and then move to the flight locomotion. Since our last dev blog, Anton has completed all the locomotion (excluding swimming) and is moving onto the actions. Check out what he has created so far!
Inferno Ravager Walk animation
Inferno Ravager Trot animation
Inferno Ravager Run animation
Inferno Ravager Hover animation
New Emotes
As some of you know, for Anton's trial period we had him working on future emotes for the Acid Spitter and Shadow Scale. These emotes will be for a future DLC emote pack and include a Love, Taunt, Rage, and Mourn emote. There will also be a Rage emote which will be included in the Patreon Lifetime 100 rewards pack. Please note, the remaining animations and the emote pack are on hold while our animators focus on the two fire dragons.
Acid Spitter and Shadow Scale Taunt
Acid Spitter Rage
Acid Spitter Love
Acid Spitter Laughter
Models
Our model team consists of Jia Hao, our creature modeler, and DragonBrigade, our environmental asset modeler. Each are hard at work creating content for future updates. Here are some of the interesting things they have been working on...
Feathered Zygovo Model
Feather Crest at resting position (top) and aggressive (bottom)
Arguably the best dragon (I'm not biased), the Feathered Zygovo model is currently getting ready for game-play. It's had a complete wing makeover along with some some edits since its concept art. Being feathered, its model is very complicated and will take some time to finish. We hope to show you further progress on it next month!
Feathered Zygovo wings and body
Dune Weaver
Jia Hao has also finished the in-game model for another AI critter. This one is the Dune Weaver. This little slug like creature will be endemic to the Dangerous Dunes Biome and come later in development. Since his concept art, he has gotten cute little eyes and a mouth on his underside. What a good like slug bug.
Dune Weaver AI Model
Updated Thornback Nest
We are changing the Thornbacked Crawler nests and how they work. With this new model, hatchlings will be able to discover a new yummy food source; Thornbacked Crawler eggs. Dragons will be able to dig out the mounds and uncover the eggs in the center. This new food source will help hatchlings to survive now that the bugs have gotten smarter and will likely be added to the game in one of the next updates.
Thornbacked Crawler Nest
Nest Morph Targets
VFX
Over in our Visual Effects department, Flicker is working on some effects for further in development. She has been developing an amazing smoke plume for the upcoming Lava Lands' Volcano and some effects for the Blitz Striker.
Volcano Smoke Plume
The Blitz Striker will be a lightning based dragon and will be able to perform a stun attack as its special ability. We have been experimenting with different looks to the electrical attacks and this is what we have come up with so far.
Blitz Striker Bile Attack
Blitz Striker Stun Attack
Dev Q&A Livestream
Our next Q&A livestream has not yet scheduled. Stay tuned and watch for updates to find out when the next one will be!
From the Community
Each blog post, we pick some of our favorite screenshots and artwork posted by the community to showcase here. Want a chance for your submission to be showcased on our next blog? Post it in the appropriate channels on our discord!
Some of our favorite recent screenshots...
by Adam ^-^#0997
by MemoryMaze7#0210
by Feral#3855
Some of our favorite artwork from the community...
by Prenser#3321
by Astalaga™️#6699
by AtaR3xia#3922
Thanks again for reading!
~The Day of Dragons Development Team
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In this content update, we are introducing the Spined Scrab AI along with new and updated AI behaviors, Shadow Scale charge shot, dragon carcasses, critical hits, combat balance changes, new skins recipes, projectile improvements, quality of life improvements, bug fixes, and more!
AI
There's a new creature roaming about the Forgotten Forests and it is pretty feisty for its small size. The Spined Scrab is a class 1 AI creature that makes its home in the forests. It is slow and easy to catch, but is not afraid to stand its ground and fight, though it may also try to hide from larger predators. The addition of the Scrab provides hatchlings with a sure meal, if they manage to survive. With this new creature inhabitant, the Thornback Crawlers have begun acting differently, if injured, the Thornbacks will now flee to their nests where they may find refuge.
Added Spined Scrab class 1 creature
Changed Thornback Crawler behavior
Updated AI spawners and spawn locations
Fixed various AI bugs (no pun intended) ːsteamhappyː
ABILITIES
Shadow Scales now have their charge shot. While aiming, hold your attack button until you see the bile meter go up. The higher the charge, the more damage and higher bile cost. A fully charged shot (meter will be glowing) will deal 300% damage and use all your bile putting you in bile exhaustion. In addition, we have also greatly improved projectile hit detection and syncing when targeting fliers and moving targets. We've also added critical hits for melee attacks only. If suffering a critical, your RPG hud will flash red. You can increase your base critical chance, evasion, damage, and protection with various mutations.
Added Shadow Scale Charge Shot
Mutation Survival line now provides Critical Chance, Critical Evasion, Critical Damage, & Critical Protection
Mutation Movement line now grants Attack Cooldown Reduction, Critical Chance, & Critical Evasion
Mutation Breeding line now grants Critical Damage & Critical Protection
Projectile hit detection has been greatly improved
Plasma Shot now does small AOE damage allowing players to kill small creatures if the impact of the blast was very close to them but missed their hitbox
Class Level Differential Damage Bonus has been nerfed reducing the bonus damage incurred from fighting classes above or below your own class
We've added a unique dragon carcass in this update. No longer will dead dragon gore piles look like dead drake gore piles.
Added unique Dragon Carcasses
Greatly improved shadows on Very Low and Low video settings
Relocated Thornback Crawler mounds
Added swamp to "4 ponds" area of map
Relocated some player spawns
Tweaked certain areas of the map
UI
You asked for it, and we did it. Players can now keep the compass on their screen without their character panel. We also reduced the distance players see admin tags so as to prevent people from using the tags as a locator and changed the way the reticle works.
Added Static Compass game option, players can now have a static compass on their HUD at all times
Added a Static Compass opacity option, to adjust how visible the new compass is on your HUD
Admin tags no longer show up on spectator's dragon body when server config has persistent admin tags disabled
Admin/Dev tags now only render when under 50 meters
Reticle now turns red on valid targets that are within projectile range and black when in bite mode
Critical Hits now flash red on the RPG hud
Added a bile charge bar to the bile meter that glows when charge is full
Added tooltip on growth bar which will show % grown to next stage on mouse hover
MISCELLANEOUS
Added new skin crafting recipes
Camera no longer sinks into the body mesh while looking up allowing players to look up in the sky in third person
Added /steamid chat command for players allowing players to see their steam id in game and automatically copying it to the Windows clipboard making it easy to share it with friends or admins
Players who logout now go to sleep
Adjusted food values of corpses
SERVER ADMINISTRATION
Admins now see a unique 4 digit steam ID on player names in chat to prevent users impersonating one another
Admin Panel "Copy" button now automatically copies the user's steam id to Windows clipboard
Players with very high ping will now be kicked from servers unless DD config option is disabled
Removed Reset AI admin command and replaced with Spawn AI command allowing admins to spawn food in front of starving player anywhere on the map
BUG FIXES
Fixed bug where eggs would timeout and not hatch a player if player waited too long to hatch
Fixed Shadow Cloak not showing as cloaked for a few seconds when another player renders them into view
Fixed missing projectile hit detection on certain parts of the body
Fixed a movement desync when carrying a hatchling long distances
Fixed an issue where dying while flying caused the eaten carcass to spawn in the air
Fixed an issue where players could safelog while swimming
Fixed an issue where the underwater audio loop would play forever for the player after dying underwater
Fixed an issue where players who logout while in motion or flying would continue moving, they should now stop moving and go to sleep
Fixed issue where Elder dragons would jitter
Nametags should be less choppy when player is moving