Purnay, I have never ever read a post of yours that was so...solicitous? So beseechingly polite? Did "Lord Sithix" curse you or something? But I would love to add my curiosity to yours, Purnay. So Lord Sithix, would you please comment? Or, horrible thought, are you the GM lost in Siberia? ::shudders::

Zinaca and her young raccoon, Shadow (see Purnay, I CAN raise a companion!)

Unfortunately there's not too much of a substantive update that I can share. Much of the work that has been done in recent weeks has been in areas where there's not much I can say; I could say "back-end mechanics" as a generalization but that means about as much to you as if I were to say I've been working on mashed potatoes (yum).

But I don't like not responding to requests for status. I can say that right now I'm finishing up GM tools that will make troubleshooting, repairing, and, under special circumstances, restoring companions pretty easy as compared to now. Having a problem with a companion is incredibly unlikely in the new system, but just in case... because going from your current companion you've had for 10000000000 hours of development time to a new one is just unacceptable. Again not something that I can share too much about, obviously, but there it is anyway.

After that there's still a good chunk of functionality to implement and of course a month or so of simply tons of writing messaging.

I may shorten the time by releasing only raccoons at first and then slowly adding more and more types, unless some folks have a particular desire for the wolf etc.

Rewriting a system so broken and so involved is quite an undertaking, you are right, but it will be worth it in the end.


- GM Sithix

If you'd stop finding bugs I could code Companions 2.0.

I have to say first thank you for the update! I personally would feel like I was missing a part of me without my wolf. I definitely use him a lot to track people down. I am ALL for GM tools that help you fix buggy companions. I seem to have a lot of bugs with mine... I guess because I use him so much. and if someone is going to have a bug with their wolf... I'm sure it'll be me. (no that does not mean killing my wolf, unlike some people ::whistles innocently::)

If releasing Raccons would increase the time it would take for wolves to come out I'd say no, but if it causes no increase (and doesn't take away my wolf until I can get a new one) then I'd say bring on the raccoons (unless you can get wolves out first...)

I also had an idea for if (when) we get a bird companion of some type... since the birds fly, instead of tracking them, could we see what room they're in ( possibly in the familiar window) since you can see a bird flying from pretty far away. maybe not see everything that happens in the room. but just the description of the room they are in? anyone else have thoughts on it?

~Purnay
"The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his."

Raccoons... If I dont get my Falcon, there will be hell to pay. HELL, I SAY - HELL!!! DUNDUNDUN!!!

Falker

Shark.

-Raesh

"Ever notice that B.A.'s flavor text swells in direct proportion to how much one of our characters is getting screwed?" - Brian Van Hoose

I was really hoping falconry wasn't going to be just rangers, was hoping for something like the horses (well how well hopefully some day they'll work).

_____________________________________
Victory Over Lyras, on the 397th year and 156 days since the Victory of Lanival the Redeemer.

<<What will happen to the old ones? I'm not tellin'.>>


I love a mystery!

Pretty much figured the systems wouldn't match up, but I thought I'd have it clarified for myself.

Thanks!
L.S.

>I am NOT getting all the old companions to kill.

:: goes back to the drawing board ::

(not really)

- GM Sithix

If you'd stop finding bugs I could code Companions 2.0.

>Having a problem with a companion is incredibly unlikely in the new system, but just in case... because going from your current companion you've had for 10000000000 hours of development time to a new one is just unacceptable. Again not something that I can share too much about, obviously, but there it is anyway.

Awesome!

Thank you very, very much for putting in the extra time to make it they can be restored/recovered. That was one of the major reasons I was loath to deal with the current system, given all the serious bugs. It would be one thing if getting restored was just an assist away, but always getting reset to the beginning? No thanks.

-pete

I don't think death of a companion is a bad thing. Things die it is part of nature. I do however like the idea of choosing a companion and having uniqueness tied to the Ranger that has that companion. I would also hate it to be tied to specific circle for companions but more around specific types of skill.


Arct

You won't be choosing the age of your companion.

They will never permanently be destroyed. That is, they won't die. Other things might happen to them rendering them unusable for a time. That's all I'm saying about that.

There will be a way to release a companion regardless of how much time you've put into the thing. At that point you can go through the same process to acquire another.

There will be some level of physical and mental uniqueness (more so than now) in the same sense that characters have unique eyes or markings or whatnot, but it's possible multiple companions of the same kind could be produced. Of course you'll be finding more than just two kinds out there too.

I'm not discussing requirements for being able to acquire a companion; there will probably be a circle requirement; there will probably be other requirements as well. If it's a "can I try this yet" it will probably more of the former and minimal; if it's more of a "can I do this" it will probably be more of the latter and substantial.


- GM Sithix

If you'd stop finding bugs I could code Companions 2.0.

Will it be of any benefit to continue training up my young wolf then, or it is a wasting time?

Do, or do not, there is no try." -Yoda

>fams look is linked someway to each individual player...so now she has a golden dog, a golden raven, and a golden goose

Can't say if it currently works that way or not with familiars as I'm not too familiar (hah) with them.

As much as it pains me not to give Zinaca a golden raccoon, nothing about companions' aesthetics will be linked in a similar fashion.

Broken limbs, maybe. (Sadly, just kidding.)


- GM Sithix

If you'd stop finding bugs I could code Companions 2.0.

My wolf currently likes to find and pester Coenrad... when she's not on super secret missions to the outcast King... though she seems to keep not delivering messages....

~Purnay
"The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his."

Time will have to invested. I can't say how much, but you probably won't be tracking to him on day 1. That time will not be petting and feeding over and over though (not that those actions won't do something). I wouldn't worry too much about this; certainly not at this point.

Foraging + AL = Outdoorsmanship. I'm not ready to say what skills might be used in the new system overall but I'm sure at least this and Scouting will be.


- GM Sithix

If you'd stop finding bugs I could code Companions 2.0.

Sithix, I am profoundly grateful you aren't giving me a golden raccoon. Bleh and gold is my second least favorite color (pink is first and don't give me a pink flamingo either please).

As for the rest of what we will be able to do with our companions, I trust you. I would like to be able to train the companions to do things and I think you have said we could train them to many things...just not attacking critters/player : ( .

As for when companions will be done--sigh--we have waited about 8 years so far...what's another 2 or more.

Zinaca and her fully-grown raccoon, Shadow

PS Sithix, you joked about the broken limbs being available...is there thought about having our companions get hurt and us rangers and empaths could fix it? Rangers could set bones and bandage and empaths could heal? Be nice.

<<somehow zin, I know you'd find a way to hurt your wolf in a way that would be unfixable... ::ducks and runs away::

~Purnay>>

::signals raccoon to find Purnay, crawl in his breeches and start shredding::

She just loves to shred things.

Zinaca and her fully-grown raccoon, Shadow

<<well... the wolf does love coon meat....>>

::ponders:: ::signals raccoon to find Purnay and WATCH FOR WOLF. If no wolf, climb into Purnay's breeches and begin shredding:: ::When scents wolf, run like hell::

Zinaca and her fully-grown raccoon, Shadow

> Second, and just a passing thought, I'd love to see my new generation companion able to track someone, be able to hide and some how inform me, its counter companion, things are good for me to track it down. Just a thought.

dunno bout all that, but would be neat if one's companion COULD actually hide when signaled to. or have it stalk people in hiding, and leave prints to track it...

~Purnay
"The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his."

>pink flamingo

Ahh, good idea!

>please drop another hint promising I wont invest more time in my wolf and see it disappear whenever the new system comes out

It has been said many times. You should be penalized for feeding old things to your companion, but it will not die. You should be, on some minor level, be penalized for paying zero attention to your companion for hours on end (that it is "out"), but it will not run away, at least not permanently. I've said it many times, but as a general idea, nothing you spend this amount of time with will permanently go away.

>hiding

Yeah... I can't talk about abilities of companions quite yet... but feel free to keep discussing...


- GM Sithix

If you'd stop finding bugs I could code Companions 2.0.