Changes to the combat system

chilko · 09-11-2009, 08:20 PM

Hello everyone,

After a long time we finally had resources to address one of the most important issues in the combat system.

As you may know, in Regnum (as in most MMO games with simulation based movement) the client moves and he server just makes the appropriate corrections.

This implies that your position on your client is not necessary the same as the position perceived by other users.

We have tried different approaches to this such as client side prediction or lag compensation among others, the last iteration that its currently available offers higher fidelity (this means more network information) depending on priority (selected character has higher priority and then it goes from nearest to farthest character)

Although this new positioning system is a lot better than the ones we used before, melee classes are still having trouble nailing hits on their targets, why?

Well, it has to do with the fact that users see their opponents in the past (because of normal network lag) AND their actions are decided on the server. The server checks if it the user is in range or not, and users may think that they are on range but they are actually not in range (they are just seeing their future position in the server and the past position of their opponents).
After this, the server sends the attack result and the attack animation starts in the user client. This means that the whole action is held back artificially until the attack animation is complete desynchronizing everything.

We have now implemented a system in certain ways, reflects the movement system:

If you start moving when you press a key, you should be able to start attacking when your client thinks that you are in range.
Then, the server will validate and (by the time the attack animation is almost over) you will have the result of the attack (in much better synch).

This is the same solution used in most MMOs out there.

Now that all classes are more responsive we had to fix the following for balance reasons:

We fixed a bug in which ranged classes didn’t have to wait until the end of the round of their weapon (depending on weapon’s speed) to launch a power (Some archers have been using this bug in order to do a power and a normal hit in the same round).
Ranged classes will have to stay still during an attack if the user moves the attack will be canceled
Weapon speed for ranged classes is 100% faster to make game-play more dynamic (not having to stay still for a long time).
If a power has casting time the casting will start immediately regardless of weapon speed
Weapon speed for warriors is 100% faster only for powers (the ones with casting time 0)
Some Powers that should not be affected by the weapon speed (such as some buffs) will Cast immediately.
Base attack damage for ranged classes will be reduced to maintain the same Damage per second ratio (the amount of this reduction has not been decided yet).
Health and Maná regeneration speeds will be increased in all classes while resting and out of combat mode.
A global cooldown has been added for all powers to balance between fast and slow weapons. This cool down may be different per class and will allow us to add faster weapons in the future (such as dual wielding).

We know that we were trying not to make big adjustments like this, but this is the only way to re-balance base characteristics of melee and ranged classes one and for all. This change is also VERY important in order to provide better synchronicity that (along with the new animations) will provide for a more realistic and immersive experience.

We will soon upload this changes on Amun to try them out… please remember it is still work in progress,

Best regards,

Chilko

Mattdoesrock · 09-11-2009, 08:25 PM

I hope for the future of Regnum that this is the fix once and for all.

I've done more than my fair share of bitching, but this sounds like good work.

I just hope we have plenty of testing time for this, as it's such a massive change.

UmarilsStillHere · 09-11-2009, 08:28 PM

I love you.

However if archer attacks will be faster, but less powerfull then arrow cost should be cut by a lot, its to much as it is, with this it will bankrupt archers in a month.

And can the server handle +100% speed archer hits, fast bows will be like miniguns wont they?

-Edge- · 09-11-2009, 08:31 PM

Finally looks like something I can look forward too.

Thank you very much for sharing this much.

Pizdzius · 09-11-2009, 08:42 PM

Ranged classes will have to stay still during an attack if the user moves the attack will be canceled

hunter zergs will end \o/

ArchmagusArcana · 09-11-2009, 08:55 PM

OMG! WOOOOOOOT!!!!!!

Kick ass. This is the best news i have heard in a long long time.

The global cooldown.....meaning that all powers will CD on same time regardless of wepaonspeed? So i can use my nice slow 30 staff and still cast at the same speed as either fast or medium? Thats interesting. I cannot wait to try this all out.

Thank you so very much for this post and the serious attempts to make this a more balanced experience.

Saryad · 09-11-2009, 08:59 PM

Apologies for the wording but there is no other way to put this:

FUCK YEAH NGD!

However:
This +100% attack speed on ranged.
Is it gonna mean we fire insanely fast and hit like little girls?

With the staying still i think that archers are gonna suffer seriously at the hands of warriors now, since we have a lack of CC spells compared to mages.

Anpu · 09-11-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilko

Ranged classes will have to stay still during an attack if the user moves the attack will be canceled

The most retarded thing on the whole list. Especially with new base speed.
rest is ok. Lets wait and see.
Thanks for updating us about changes.

Vulture@Victorious · 09-11-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Ranged classes will have to stay still during an attack if the user moves the attack will be canceled

I'm sorry, what? .... no no, wait , let me read this again ...ok i did
now seriously, WHAT? why not just tell archers to leave the game?

i started a hunter because marks were so badly nerfed in 1.0.7 that i couldn't play with my marks anymore, so now the good news: ALL archers -hunter and marks alike- are non-playable!

i won't start a warlock, coz the way things look, it will probably be F-ed up too before i get a chance to play with it

kamax · 09-11-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Ranged classes will have to stay still during an attack if the user moves the attack will be canceled

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulture@Victorious

i won't start a warlock, coz the way things look, it will probably be F-ed up too before i get a chance to play with it

Warlocks are ranged class too

09-11-2009, 08:20 PM	#1
chilko NGD·Studios Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 892	Changes to the combat system Hello everyone, After a long time we finally had resources to address one of the most important issues in the combat system. As you may know, in Regnum (as in most MMO games with simulation based movement) the client moves and he server just makes the appropriate corrections. This implies that your position on your client is not necessary the same as the position perceived by other users. We have tried different approaches to this such as client side prediction or lag compensation among others, the last iteration that its currently available offers higher fidelity (this means more network information) depending on priority (selected character has higher priority and then it goes from nearest to farthest character) Although this new positioning system is a lot better than the ones we used before, melee classes are still having trouble nailing hits on their targets, why? Well, it has to do with the fact that users see their opponents in the past (because of normal network lag) AND their actions are decided on the server. The server checks if it the user is in range or not, and users may think that they are on range but they are actually not in range (they are just seeing their future position in the server and the past position of their opponents). After this, the server sends the attack result and the attack animation starts in the user client. This means that the whole action is held back artificially until the attack animation is complete desynchronizing everything. We have now implemented a system in certain ways, reflects the movement system: If you start moving when you press a key, you should be able to start attacking when your client thinks that you are in range. Then, the server will validate and (by the time the attack animation is almost over) you will have the result of the attack (in much better synch). This is the same solution used in most MMOs out there. Now that all classes are more responsive we had to fix the following for balance reasons: We fixed a bug in which ranged classes didn’t have to wait until the end of the round of their weapon (depending on weapon’s speed) to launch a power (Some archers have been using this bug in order to do a power and a normal hit in the same round). Ranged classes will have to stay still during an attack if the user moves the attack will be canceled Weapon speed for ranged classes is 100% faster to make game-play more dynamic (not having to stay still for a long time). If a power has casting time the casting will start immediately regardless of weapon speed Weapon speed for warriors is 100% faster only for powers (the ones with casting time 0) Some Powers that should not be affected by the weapon speed (such as some buffs) will Cast immediately. Base attack damage for ranged classes will be reduced to maintain the same Damage per second ratio (the amount of this reduction has not been decided yet). Health and Maná regeneration speeds will be increased in all classes while resting and out of combat mode. A global cooldown has been added for all powers to balance between fast and slow weapons. This cool down may be different per class and will allow us to add faster weapons in the future (such as dual wielding). We know that we were trying not to make big adjustments like this, but this is the only way to re-balance base characteristics of melee and ranged classes one and for all. This change is also VERY important in order to provide better synchronicity that (along with the new animations) will provide for a more realistic and immersive experience. We will soon upload this changes on Amun to try them out… please remember it is still work in progress, Best regards, Chilko

09-11-2009, 08:25 PM	#2
Mattdoesrock Count Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England, UK. Posts: 1,055	I hope for the future of Regnum that this is the fix once and for all. I've done more than my fair share of bitching, but this sounds like good work. I just hope we have plenty of testing time for this, as it's such a massive change. __________________ MattdoesJOKE_#40_NOT_FOUND RA / Hor... Haven?

09-11-2009, 08:28 PM	#3
UmarilsStillHere Marquis Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: England Posts: 2,419	I love you. However if archer attacks will be faster, but less powerfull then arrow cost should be cut by a lot, its to much as it is, with this it will bankrupt archers in a month. And can the server handle +100% speed archer hits, fast bows will be like miniguns wont they? __________________ Faith 50 Barb Faithless 50 Lock Umaril 45 Conju Kailas 45 Marks Pel 45 Knight I N Q U I S I T I O N Last edited by Umaril; 09-11-2009 at 08:48 PM.

09-11-2009, 08:42 PM	#5
Pizdzius Baron Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Polish Side of RA Posts: 779	Ranged classes will have to stay still during an attack if the user moves the attack will be canceled hunter zergs will end \o/ __________________ Pizdzius Swedzioszek Leader of CBA Regnum Comic <- my Regnum Comic , RSS version -> RSS (if you wish to contact me on my other realm character: Ignis - Josephine)

09-11-2009, 08:55 PM	#6
ArchmagusArcana Master Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 357	OMG! WOOOOOOOT!!!!!! Kick ass. This is the best news i have heard in a long long time. The global cooldown.....meaning that all powers will CD on same time regardless of wepaonspeed? So i can use my nice slow 30 staff and still cast at the same speed as either fast or medium? Thats interesting. I cannot wait to try this all out. Thank you so very much for this post and the serious attempts to make this a more balanced experience. __________________ Alsirian Legion Horus: Wulfgar Heartsfang 50 barb: Arcan Heartsfang 50 Lock RA: Drakonklenok 50 Knight

09-11-2009, 08:31 PM	#4
-Edge- Banned Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Łódż, Poland Posts: 1,506	Finally looks like something I can look forward too. Thank you very much for sharing this much.

09-11-2009, 08:59 PM	#7
Saryad Initiate Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Posts: 199	Apologies for the wording but there is no other way to put this: FUCK YEAH NGD! However: This +100% attack speed on ranged. Is it gonna mean we fire insanely fast and hit like little girls? With the staying still i think that archers are gonna suffer seriously at the hands of warriors now, since we have a lack of CC spells compared to mages. __________________ Saint Saryad Last edited by Saryad; 09-11-2009 at 09:17 PM.