As was noted above, we did move game servers to our new datacenter last year. 

It takes a lot more than game servers to keep DDO up and running. Over the past several months we've been moving and preparing to move many of our non-game server support components to the new location. Most of those moves happened behind the scenes and were seamless with no visible impact. This is a complex and difficult process - like trying to change the oil in your car while driving - but we've made great progress and are nearly done.

The final steps of the project include moving some of the underlying systems such as billing and authentication which are causing today's downtime. While those services are down for the move it's impossible to log into the games, but today's effort has very little to do with the game servers and should not in any way impact real or perceived performance of the games.

All of this is a long way of saying that no hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, or space pixies have been harmed in the making of today's downtime. Thanks for your patience as we complete the migration.

With Greater Reincarnation slated to appear in the Store the first weekend of March, I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not I want to take the plunge with my original character.

Post Script Edit: One other thing I should definitely mention is before you Greater Reincarnate, you need to have access to 32 point builds. If you haven’t unlocked the favor already, there is a sale on 32 point builds going on in the Store this week.

With his one level of multiclassing amid his levels of bard, I can’t decide if I should just upgrade him to 32, or scrub out that level of fighter while I’m at it with the Greater +1. There are some considerations before you just let Kruz burn your body to ash to feed to his tree, so to speak.

Going Greater

The main reason to go “Greater” with a reincarnation is upgrading him from the old 28 point character to a 32 point character. Back when I was a player, this is a day I never imagined would actually come! I always had a note of sadness thinking that my poor faithful little bard, the first character I ever made, would always be sub-par compared to those characters that would come after him. Now it’s like a reunion in a way. I’m not sure that I’ll change much about him… except that one level of fighter that still haunts me.

Scrubbing Out Mistakes

Back when the level cap was only 10, I remember being vexed by that level of fighter I took. I would forever always be out of reach of the final level of bardicness. With the Greater +1 I’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone it seems: upgrading to 32 point build, and removing that level of fighter. I need to be careful though, because the level swap provided by the +1 in theory could be used to multiclass another level of my choosing… but my intent would be to convert the level of fighter into just bard to be straight bard. I was tempted to replace it with a level of Sorc, but I think I’ll dabble with that on an alt some time.

Careful Planning

I’m pretty happy with my bard, but in the event I felt like changing some stuff around while I was at it - besides just getting the extra ability points - it’s a good idea to think ahead. I mean effectively this lets me completely and utterly redo him, and without fear of changing something that was handy at mid level, but grew less so at high level. I can completely spec him around my current game play style. I should probably be careful because since there is always new stuff being introduced, something that seemed “useless” to me at this level may come back around and I might regret getting rid of it… but I guess that’s what re-reincarnating is for heh. At least now I won’t feel “stuck” no matter what happens in the future.

There are many great resources for such purposes, but there’s no better resource than your fellow players. Talk to other players who have characters in the style you’re thinking of is an excellent way to find out if that aspect of a character will be something you’ll like. But there’s nothing that says you can’t just experiment and do something because you “feel” like it. Customizing a character can be challenging but also rewarding, so do what works for you! For me, I continue to banter with the other Bards seeing what they like (and dislike) about the way they play theirs vs the choices they made to end up that way. I’m particularly interested in talking with other Bardic friends who plan on reincarnating to hear what they plan on “fixing” (or “changing”) about themselves.

It’s funny, but a long time ago Reincarnation was foretold by an unusual community prophet. Though it’s not 100% the same, I can’t help but think back to this very interestingly worded suggestion. I’m glad to see we now have something that is a shade of this old idea, to not let an old character go to waste! I’m interested in hearing about how you plan on preparing for your greater reincarnations!

Nice work, Tolero, as always.

Server Population?

DDO player Cedwin has done some pretty interesting work to try to get an idea of just how many people are playing DDO.  We'll discuss this on the show this weekend, but I wanted you to take a look at his work first if you'd like to HERE.

Valentine's Day Screenshot Contest Winners!

Turbine has announced the winners of this year's Valentine's Day Screenshot Contest HERE.  Here's the winners:

Congratulations to the winners of our Valentines Day Screenshot Contest! There were many great entries and many wonderful stories of in-game couples (both real and fictional)! We'd like to thank all participants for their entries, they were fantastic! Alas not everyone could win however, so it's time to reveal the winners!

In the Cupid's Arrow category, we're pleased to announce the winner: Grimmsie!

 

In this image, rather than the traditional bow and arrow, Grimmsie explains that "Cupid decided to bring out the big guns!" We have a feeling that if you're smitten by Cupid's balista, there can be no saving you from the urges of love!
 

The Perfect Pair category always brings many entries from couples throughout DDO! The winning entry for this category was submitted by: Rachel and Cody!

 

In this scene, Golgathoth the halfling cuddles with human CVW beneath the shade of a tree on Korthos Isle. Rachel explained in more detail about their shared enjoyment of DDO: "We have always played together - if one of us is not online, the other will not quest. The reason for this is that we are engaged in the real world, and the game is not nearly as enjoyable if we are not fighting at each other's side."

The Romantic Individual category had many interesting entries. Our winner is: Borut!
 

Borut had an interesting description of how one is bitten by the love bug: "It's that time of the year when there is something in the air, and that is the feeling of love. Even in the gaming world of Eberron love spreads its message, and a particular drow elf, known to the world as Shikage gets so affected by it she starts dancing by the moonlight, enchanting all of the nearby commoners with her power of love."
 

Everyone expresses their love differently in the I <3 DDO category! The winning entry comes from: Roger!

Is there really anything better than finding loot? Finding treasure chests is a big part (no pun intended) of DDO. After finding this one, Roger does a happy dance, professing"Nothing is more lovely than a dragon's treasure chest so large that you can fit inside it." 

In our final category, Most Romantic Guild, Kirra and the Storm Lords guild sent us this fun scene:

Dusting off the snows of winter and basking in the tropical climate that Xen'drik is known for, the men of Storm Lords took the girls out for a day trip... but little did the girls know what was in store for them: "The men took the women to the beach on Valentine's Day... we wondered why. Triple marriage proposal!!!" In this scene, the men admire the ladies from afar before springing the big question!

Congratulations to all our winners, you'll be receiving 500 Turbine Points, and will be contacted shortly for your choice of forum title "Hopeless Romantic" or "I <3 DDO"! Great job to all participants! As always, your entries are so wonderful that you make it hard for us to pick just one favorite! Thanks to everyone who participated!

Self-promotion or just a really bad idea?