Some nights you just don't feel like a fancy title:

Q: Now that subclassing allows casters to use slash weapons, can I start looking for the Malice Axe & scrolls?

A: Even though Darkness Rising will allow casters to spec in weapon types, it does not follow that those weapons have to be artifacts. We decided a while back that we would not widen the access to artifacts (artifacts having quite enough impact on the game, if you know what I'm saying), and that includes this new expansion. If you didn't have access to an artifact before DR, you still don't have access. That includes weapons and shields.

Q: (Insert question about cross cluster guilding)

A: It is in the works. I haven't been saying much about it publicly because I don't know when or how, but the reason it wasn't on the poll was because it's already scheduled. There's always a chance we won't be able to implement cross cluster guilding, but it's one of the most popular requests we have, so we're trying to make it happen. Just watch the patch notes and cross your fingers along with me.

Q: What are your thoughts on buying Plat?

A: Well, as it happens, my opinion is unprintable, but may be loosely translated as "it is lame." I think the people who have a vested, i.e. million dollar, interest in convincing you that you can't compete without purchased gold are slime. Most importantly, I think it's against our EULA for many excellent reasons, and that we have banned for it whenever possible. Account trading is acceptable, but item selling (which includes game currency) is… lame. Game currency derived from encounters by a gold farmer (instead of someone playing for, you know, "fun") represents an opportunity denied to a real player to enjoy that encounter, and perhaps convinces a player to buy gold because he could not get it in the game because of gold farmers! And that's why gold farmers get banned. Because of a certain unmistakable resemblance to roaches, they just keep on coming in the face of everything including nuclear assault, but we try.

But hey, those are just my thoughts. All that's really important is that it's against the EULA because it harms the game.

Q: Does Purge work while sitting on a ram?

A: Since you can't cast while sitting on a ram, one would hope Purge doesn't work either. Let us know if it does.

Q: My guild and I have been debating about the mechanics of debuff spells. Testing this is difficult with /duel for obvious class balance reasons.  Can you explain how debuffs affect realm enemies and if/when they can be debuffed beyond 0% resist? 

A: From the Code Warrior: " The way debuff "delve" values translate into actual debuffed statistics is actually fairly complex, and as part of 1.81 we will be redoing the delve so that it gives a value closer to how they actually work. Right now the values serve as a comparative guide between debuffs, but don't actually correspond to how they affect targets."

Obviously I need to revisit this topic after the 1.81 patch next month…

Q: I have an advanced horse. I cannot see the advanced horse, it appears as a regular chestnut horse. I cannot see any barding or saddle bags etc, not only on my horse, but anyone else's.

A: I asked the Content Queen, and she replied "Players have the option to see either the full glory of their horse or the stripped down version.  From the character select screen, choose Options, Configure Figure Versions, and you'll see the last line is for Horses.  The Classic option will change the horse to display as just the standard chestnut model with no gear." So, you'll need to change from "Classic" to the version you want to display.

Q: I have the Armsman Satago Mattock (crush/polearm) for my champion weapon.  I chose the Perfectly Balanced enhancement for it's 2nd ability from the Weaponmaster.  Why is it proccing a slash debuff rather than crush debuff for a crush polearm? Is this a bug?

A: Yes. The fix is currently being tested, and you should see a patch note in the near future.

Q: If you buy darkness rising off of paybycash.com, is that for the cd-key? Or just the game? Also, does this apply to catacombs too? Is it a cd-key? Or the game?

A: With digital distribution, what you're buying is the access key. The game files are available all over the place and are free to download, though I for obvious reasons will only recommend going through the official website: http://www.darkageofcamelot.com/

Q: I have heard that if you find and report an exploit / bug then you could get a "free of life" account...  details please?

A: The free account is for being the first to report a major bug, on the level of a gold dupe or something equally horrible. The decision as to whether or not the bug is sufficiently dreadful is totally up to my overlords. Being the first to report other exploits get you a shirt or a keychain, and a permanent invitation to beta test - dupe/'sploit reporters being our favorite kind of beta tester.

Q: How does a puddle of mud (ie noxious oozing slime and other such mobs) have the physical capability to move and/or attack some one? Furthermore what are they doing with bags of coins?

A: That's not what bothers me. What bothers me is where they KEEP those coins before they drop them.

***

This is old news to most of you, but I wanted to add my own little note to all of those already posted. Keith Parkinson, one of the greatest fantasy artists of all time, passed away on October 26th. Those of you who love MMORPGs knew him from his work on EQ. Those of you who cherish fantasy novels and games knew him from his work at TSR, and book covers for authors like Anne McCaffrey and Terry Brooks. I never knew him personally, but along with pretty much everyone into fantasy AND video games, I admired his artwork tremendously. It's safe to say his was one of the modern defining influences of this genre that means so much to all of us. If there's a heaven, he's there, making it look more magical. (Thanks to Zato for the heads up.)

We've picked the Calendar Contest winners, and now we're just waiting to hear back from them. As soon as everyone responds, we'll announce the names of the artists. Thanks to all who entered.

Mark your calendars, Seattle players - I'll be there along with the Moderately Evil Overlord next week! http://roundtable.darkageofcamelot.com/Nov_05_Seattle.php

Don't forget to log in this weekend, even if you don't have time to play, to take our "set the priorities" log in poll. We are planning to work on ALL categories, and throughout the year, so don't feel as though the world hangs in the balance. Just pick your favorite category, and watch for followup polls.

You all have a wonderful weekend.