The Project's Future

[Shenna 1135]

Dear friends!

 

First and foremost, I want to apologize to PvP Community for having forbidden cross-fraction transfer. I know how important it is for you to actively play on the Battlegrounds without having to wait for 40 minutes on end due to imbalances in Alliance/Horde player numbers. I also know how worried and willing to help our GMs are. 

 

However, there are reasons for this restriction. First, we can't perform the transfer automatically, and manual transfers take too much time that we currently don't have. Second, we cannot break a promise we've made: to leave this world untouched from outside, let it develop naturally, without artificial modifications from the staff. Finally, allowing transfers now would have created issues in the future, when we would have to finally restrict transfers. That would be unfair to players who wouldn't get the chance for a transfer because they missed the opportunity.

 

We might consider a limited form of transfer in the future (i.e. a single bi-monthly transfer per player), but I highly doubt the possibility that it will be implemented. We'll let the community decide when we have the resources and the need to implement this feature. 

 

We hope you understand and share our concerns about not interfering with the server's development.

 

I want to make a separate apology for failures in honor calculation. Implementing automated recalculations is a serious step for a classic server (due to difficulties in predicting what may possibly go wrong). Still, we had to go through the update as soon as possible so as not to affect the raiding prime-time of Saturday evening. Starting with next week, all honor measures should even out and work correctly. The update will take place on Wednesday morning, at 03:00 GMT+4.

 

The project's future

 

The World of Warcraft as we remember it from 2004 is impossible to forget. Our adventures are still one of the brightest memories for us, and we'd very much like to bring back that same mysterious world full of fun and complicated adventures. Many say that the game is outdated, but we disagree. This experience is valuable to us, so I want to share the Elysium Team's goals with you.

 

We are the people who spend their free time on the project. Some are nostalgic for the old times, some are irrationally driven to recreate that very same game. Some have been developing emulators for 10 years, some just like to help others, and others just like the thrill of competing with other projects. We still have one common goal: create a good server that people will play on. 

 

When we first launched Elysium, we used to boast our 8-year experience in server development. We realize now that this was the wrong way to look at things,  because Elysium is only the FIRST time we've gone international. We are a team of about 30 people from all over the world, yet united by a weird, irrational goal of creating the best vanilla WoW server. We exchange experience, learn form our past and current mistakes and take every issue to heart. I know the English-speaking community doesn't always get proper feedback from our Russian-speaking developer team, but that doesn't mean we don't care. This is not a hobby: I can safely say that we live for this project.

 

The situation is complicated in the emulation community today. One such issue is that we launched in the same month as Legion. Now, the players await wonders from Blizzcon, and yet more people can't choose a server due to trust issues after Nostalrius shut down. We all have the right to hope for something. All our team can do at the moment is continue development — mechanics issues, raid content issues, pathfinding bugs. I believe our weekly patch notes speak for us: we actually care.

 

In the past, the Valkyrie administration acted apart from the player community, but right now I see that we can't rely only on ourselves. So I ask you, the players, to listen to our worries in the same way we pay attention to yours. The player count is dropping daily. I believe that if we want to work on a playable server for people who actually need it, we must work together. Please don't expect to see expensive advertising,... we're a non-commercial project; we don't have a shop and we will never have one.

 

For our mutual future, only you can influence the online rates. Tell people about Elysium, invite friends over, spread the word in general.

 

Of course, we still have to pay the server costs. Our first transfer went wrong, so we're currently expecting the refund from the hosting center in order to finally migrate to a better machine (this week). After we migrate, the server will be able to handle really high online numbers. Once it happens, we'll be happy to hear any advertisement proposals, both commercial and non-commercial.

 

We've made a lot of mistakes since launch, but I can tell you one thing: the Valkyrie server was online for 8 years and has never been forcibly shut down. This is our firm belief that will never change. I hope to have your support. Only by working together we'll be able to build a truly welcoming and hospitable world that no-one will want to leave.

[Summer 26]

Thank you for this great announcement. I like this server so much, it is so sad it is not blessed with a 4k population because it deserves it! You guys did a great job fixing bugs in the last two month. Of course, there is still the big pathfinding problem. Just today we pulled mobs in UBRS because our tank got thrown out of the map while fighting the beast. If you would be able to resolve this last big issue this server would be even with nostalrius - if not better - in terms of raw mechanics. Sadly, the launch was two month ago and many vanilla players already moved on and probably won't come back. I don't know how to change that but I and my guild - Limited Edition - will keep on playing and we hope to experience a great time in BWL at the end of this year

Edited October 14, 2016 by Summer

[j9a2per1990 32]

Right, Summer. Project is new and for another two months will be still new. Players must understand that. For me and my guild is Elysium still much better option than Kronos and his market with characters and items. They make from our game just their good business. And we must all help, guys. How? Maybe first stops to ask stupid questions at public channel like "server is dead?", "only 750 ppl online?" No, no. Forget at nostalrius, finally and his 10k+ ppl online. Enjoy this game, share this project at FB, tell friends about Elysium and see you in game!

[levran 146]

I think we had good experience with remote battleground registration on Valkyrie and we need it for Elysium long time already. If possible try remote registration for one faction to remove disbalance at level 60, but at low levels this is very need for all. Please dont say - this is non blizzlikeness, in my opinion non blizzlikeness this is useless battlegrounds.

[Hoof 4]

Keep the good work up!

[Xadas 1]

i'm leveling with a few friends here. just hit lvl 20 and we are already seeing alot of things turning us away from the server. ranged/caster mobs aren't synced to where their avatar is displayed on the world map. vmaps and mmaps seem to be pretty iffy.

 

would love to see crucial things like this being worked on b4 Dire Maul and endgame stuff.

Edited October 15, 2016 by Xadas

[Motorbreath 923]

I think we had good experience with remote battleground registration on Valkyrie and we need it for Elysium long time already. If possible try remote registration for one faction to remove disbalance at level 60, but at low levels this is very need for all. Please dont say - this is non blizzlikeness, in my opinion non blizzlikeness this is useless battlegrounds.

Hello. I know little english but no agree. Want hear again why?

[levran 146]

Again? You really no agree now? What do you disagree, with useless battlegrounds or useless battlemasters? Yes, i`ll hear, maybe in english i can understand you. But to be honest, I don't think there's a place for this doublewhining. I just wanted to show a very serious problem, as I believe, and suggest possible ways out.

[That Druid 6]

 

The player count is dropping daily.

 

The problem is not in lack of ads or legion release, the problem is that you can't even make the very basic things right and smooth so far. Pathfinding doesn't work correctly and some mobs reset for different reasons so it's impossible to solo them. Pretty often I can see desync in different forms between an npc on client and server sides, which is especially noticeable for druids and rogues when they see their target facing wrong direction. And these are just the part of the simplest pve mechanics, not pvp or some advancing raiding technology. And there are many more examples. But when I read any update log I see things like

 

 

Missing In Action fixed (Keeshan now really does not like orcs).

Minor Azuregos & Kazzak tweaks.

Multiple missing gossip text fixes.

Wailing Guardsman will now silence less often.

Removed some extra spawned rare world creatures.

Multiple fixes for positions and looks.

 

Fix something important ffs. Who needs some unpopular lvl25 quests or minor tweaks while overall gameplay is frustrating. I could understand project's politics right after release when you were busy with server stability and approx one month ago when you fixed important quest chains for raid attunement and some abused bugs. But it's been more than two months already and players still deal with the same top priority problems that should have been fixed during the open beta. Meanwhile instead of doing what should be done you are busy with DM and some adjustments.

 

it's a private server, I don't pay money and nobody owes anything. But what I'm trying to say - people leave because of bad server management. It's not about size of the team or whether the project is rushed or not. You just seem to have a wrong approach right now

[Motorbreath 923]

What do you disagree, with useless battlegrounds or useless battlemasters?

Well, with useless people and their useless attempts to make the server "better" actually.

 

Yes, i`ll hear, maybe in english i can understand you.

After our multiple discussions on the topic in russian I really doubt, that you will. Most blind is the one, who doesn't want to see.

 

But to be honest, I don't think there's a place for this doublewhining.

Wait, do you mean, that only your whining is alowed here? I appreciate the honesty.

[levran 146]

Ok. But "better" please take out from the quotes because i still waiting your rogue at 40-49 and 50-59. https://elysium-project.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=21823

 Good luck to do this.

[Shenna 1135]

j9a2per1990, Summer, Hoof, thank you.

 

Many players have said this post is a "Scream of desperation", but it is not. This post is about honesty and trust. This is a post explaining what we are going through and working on so that you will understand where we are presently. It would not have been posted to begin with, but many players asked for us to explain the problems we faced and how they could help. This october is a difficult time for any emulated server. Elysium is not dying, as many think, and be sure it will be up for years to come. We have many plans, but foremost we require help and support from the community.

 

Xadas, That Druid, well, we have developers that work on different levels. Some work on difficult problems like pathing, and some work on easier things, such as minor NPC fixes and database issue. Minor bugs still need to be fixed, and by being fixed do NOT take time away from the more difficult things. So comments such as, "The devs are ignoring the players and fixing minor things while big problems exist!" are not really valid, because the issues are being tackled seperately by two seperately skilled devs.

 

That aside, pathfinding is always being worked on, and you will see an increase of it's quality this week.

[killerduki 54]

Here is my reply for this Topic

 

https://elysium-project.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=22565&p=239003

 

Written on wrong topic >.<

 

1# Pathfinding ,2# not properly scripted Mobs/Quests/Bosses

 

 

Main problems are Pathfinding and Quest scripts for newcomers , many of the Quests around are Take/Complete by default without some sort of Blizzlike "Action" and "Events" (Example is Missing Diplomat,The Attack and many more chain or solo Quests/Scripts).

 

Edited October 16, 2016 by killerduki

[Rakesh 2]

Pathfinding is an overly complex thing there can be all kinds of wrong starting from vmaps and so on and it will take a lot of time to fix therefore community should be understanding even nost took around half year to get it semi working however it was still ways off like it was on bliz.

[killerduki 54]

Ok , now since Pathfinding was improved in lovely stage.

 

Another issue i have found very annoying :

 

NPC "Synchronization" is also an issue.

 

Example : I see Caster standing in "B" position, but in reality the Caster standing in "A"  position which is far away from position "B".

 

I can't pull or dps the Caster , if he see me then he is shooting me and i am dead.

 

Big problem and another #1 issue after Pathfinding.

 

/Kind regards Killerduki

[iwcham1979 4]

i just came here, old ever casual WoW player since the vanilla, tired of Harley bikes running around Elwyn forest, rediculpusly looking pets, personal vendors, garrisons and other nonsense. Among many other things, my biggest desire is to visit Soutshore once more, and make sure it is still there, untouched by cataclysm, and all its dwellers alive and well. There is dedication,  warmth and friendliness here that can not be felt on other vanilla forums... Cling to that, both players and the dev team. That's the most important thing... There will always be bugs to fix. Cheers!

[Queeky 58]

All I can do is wish you guys luck and keep following the project so that I may, one day, see, and take part in its definite success. Initially, I joined the "Valkyrie" project in hopes that I might play an important role in the restoration of the version of the game that you guys all know and love, and once Elysium opened, I could do nothing but concentrate my efforts on improving the server and work towards making WoW great again. Ever since my unfortunate depature, I witnessed the degree of staff-to-player cooperation and professionalism that I always wanted to bring to the scene, and that is truly great.  I would like to congratulate the Administration for doing its best to connect with the players and fix its past mistakes, and the players as well for being so supportive.

[AnuniteV 0]

Dunno if you guys have checked this out yet, but definitely something worth to consider a lot of good ideas!

 

https://elysium-project.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=22565

[Aures 9]

Problem is server technical backwardness:

1. No clustering.

2. No phasing.

3. No dynamic respawn timer

4. No macros 2.0.

[killerduki 54]

1- Clustering is not needed if server is not populated with more than 5k .

2- Phasing is not needed if server doesn't lag.

3- Dynamic respawn is not needed if server is not populated with more than 5k .

4- This is not TBC for 2.0 Macro.

 

/Kind regards Killerduki

[Aures 9]

1- Clustering is not needed if server is not populated with more than 5k .

2- Phasing is not needed if server doesn't lag.

3- Dynamic respawn is not needed if server is not populated with more than 5k .

4- This is not TBC for 2.0 Macro.

 

 

Conclusion: server is not prepared to be populated and never will be full.

Edited October 24, 2016 by Aures

[killerduki 54]

Conclusion: server is not prepared to be populated and never will be full.

 

Nostalrius did not have Clustering and had already 14k population .

 

Nostalrius did not have Phasing and had already 14k population.

 

(they was preparing for that , but they never had).

 

Nostalrius implemented for the first time Dynamic respawn and Phasing 3 months before server Shut Down , but only because they had more than 10 000 population.

 

Your conclusion is not based on realistic ways.

Server Cap will be over 6k if i am not wrong, therefore does not need such things implemented to handle the population.

 

In case they add them is just bonus but nothing to affect the gameplay and blizzlike spirit .

 

Potu can maybe produce more info about it regarding Nostalrius in case i am wrong

 

/Kind regards Killerduki

Edited October 24, 2016 by killerduki

[Aures 9]

Everything was on Nost. 

 

 

Clusting and Phasing

https://forum.nostalrius.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35310

 

DRT

https://forum.nostalrius.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5260

 

And read ppl comments.

Edited October 24, 2016 by Aures

[Chunass 14]

Everything was on Nost. 

 

 

Clusting and Phasing

https://forum.nostalrius.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35310

 

DRT

https://forum.nostalrius.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5260

 

And read ppl comments.

You are extremely clueless. The clustering system was never implemented since they didn't finish it before shutting down, and there is no need for dynamic respawn times on a server without an extremely high population. The base game was intended to support realms with max 2.5k players online and most private servers before Nost did not even have those numbers. Factor in how much faster people finish leveling now compared to 10 years ago and there's even less competition for respawns.

[killerduki 54]

https://forum.nostalrius.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35310&start=170#p272877

•  

• Re: Clustering development insight

by Lifealert » Sat Mar 19, 2016 8:40 pm

If this system isn't released for raids before aq then the server is actually doomed and noone will be able to raid.

 

 

This is info to make him clear that Clustering was never implemented in Nostalrius . (it was about , but it went shut down before).

 

/Kind regards Killerduki