Outlands Patch January 21, 2023

Outlands Patch December 15, 2022

2022-12-15

Outlands Patch December 15, 2022

Released

2023-01-21 - 2 years ago

Outlands Patch January 26, 2023

2023-01-26

Outlands Patch January 26, 2023

Outlands Patch January 21, 2023 is the initial launch update for the Factions system on Outlands.

This patch introduces the Factions system, including joining/participation rules, flagging mechanics, Castles, Wayposts, Flags (Stealing, Purifying, Securing), Tabula Rasa weekly reset, scoring, rewards (Faction Silver, Titles, Aspect Triumphs), Faction Dungeons, Faction Hues/Dye Tubs, and the new Mount Gear customization system with Mount Tacks and Dyes.

Factions

Factions on Outlands is a persistent PvP system with four factions:

• The Andarian Legion
• The Golden Banner of Cambria
• The Prevalian Order
• The Terran Rebellion

Global War

• Existing Global War system for Guilds removed.

Factions Menu

• Requires Guild membership to participate.
• Access via Guild Menu -> Factions Tab, or `[Faction` command.
• *(Note: During first 30 days, Join/Leave Guild cooldown reduced to 5 minutes, was 1 hour).*

Joining a Faction

• Guild aligns with one Faction (optional).
• Officer/Guildmaster sets Faction via Factions Menu (Page 3).
• Cooldown: Join/Leave Faction max once every 7 days (Note: Reduced to 24 hours for first 30 days).
• Own Faction text = Green, Others = Orange.
• Leave Faction via Leave button.

Allied Guilds

• Cannot join Faction if any Allied Guild belongs to a different Faction.

Last Week Tally

• Weekly ranking (1st-4th) based on previous week's Waypost/Flag control.
• Guilds cannot join the Faction ranked 1st ("strongest" from previous week).

Participate in Factions

• Individual players in Factioned Guilds must enable "Participate in Factions" (Page 1 of Menu).
• Cooldown: Change setting max once every 24 hours (Note: Reduced to 2 hours for first 30 days). (Note: Changed to 1 hour later)
• Cannot change setting while: Flagged PvP, inside Faction Castle, within 50 tiles of Faction Flag/Waypost.
• Players with setting disabled: No Orange flagging, cannot enter Castles, cannot engage in Faction Activity, no overhead Faction Tag.

Faction Restrictions

• "Participate in Factions" enabled for only ONE Faction across all accounts/IP.
• Attempting to enable for a second Faction is blocked.
• If Guild changes Faction causing player to be in multiple Factions across accounts, participation disabled on ALL characters (must re-choose one). Offline players notified on login.

Faction Flagging

Criminals and Murderers

• Faction Murderers always flag RED to other Faction players.
• Faction Criminals always flag GREY to other Faction players.
• Murderer/Criminal flags take priority; Beneficial actions on them still Criminal Action.

Ships

• Players on Ships NOT Faction Participants (no Faction flagging, no Faction Kills).

PvP Events and Special Events

• Players in PvP Events (Town Struggle, CCC, Flashpoint, Rifts) or Special Events (Strangelands, etc.) NOT Faction Participants while in event zone (no Faction flagging/kills).

Opposing Factions

• Active participants flag Orange to opposing Faction participants. Freely attackable (except in PvP/Special Events).

Same Faction

• Active participants flag Green to each other by default.
• Exception: If in same Faction but different Guilds at WAR, flag Orange.

Parties

• If in same Party and target has "Flag Green to Party" enabled, displays Green regardless of Faction.

Harmful Actions

• Cannot harm Same Faction players UNLESS:
  • Both in same Guild.
  • Both in same Party + target has "Flag Green to Party" ON.
  • Belong to different Guilds currently at WAR.

Beneficial Actions

• If NON-participant performs Beneficial Action on active Faction Participant (or Follower):
  • Non-participant becomes attackable (Orange) by ALL OTHER Factions for 2 minutes.
  • Exception: Does not apply during PvP/Special Events.

[PreventFactionHealing

• Command toggles blocking Beneficial Actions on Faction Participants if self is NOT active participant (avoids flagging). Default Enabled.

Faction Commands and Settings

• Faction-specific toggles/hotkeys available via Paperdoll -> Help -> Commands -> Faction.

Area of Effect (AoE) Spells in Factions

• Cannot harm Same Faction members by default (unless Guild/War/Party exceptions apply).
• Damage Penalty: For each Friendly Faction Player in AoE radius caster cannot harm, spell damage reduced cumulatively by 20% vs ALL targets hit (max 80% penalty).
• *(Note: Intended to encourage careful AoE usage near friendlies).*
• *(Note: Targeting rules changed later based on location).*

Player Faction Score

• Weekly score tracked per player, resets during Tabula Rasa.
• Increases via Faction activities.
• View Current/Last Week/Seasonal Score and Last Week Silver Earned on Page 1 of Menu.

Faction Castles

• Each Faction has a Castle in their respective town.
• Requires Faction Participation to enter any Castle.
• Cannot Recall/Gate/Hike into opposing Faction's Castle region.

Wayposts

• Control zones representing conflict points between Factions.
• 18 total, organized into "Chains" of 3 between each pair of Factions.
• View layout on Page 2 of Menu or via `[FactionMap` command (also shows Castles, Purification Pyre).

Waypost Markers

• Show controlling Faction banner and Control Progress % bar overhead. Single-click for exact %.
• Neutral: No control.
• Partial Control: >0% but <100%.
• Full Control: 100%. Required for Flag Steals.

Waypost Region

• Area around Waypost; must be inside to contest. System messages on enter/leave.

Traveling to Waypost Regions

• Faction players can only Recall/Gate/Hike if region is Neutral OR their Faction has Control.
• Non-participants cannot travel to Waypost Regions.

Waypost Control Ticks

• Occur every 30 seconds (Note: Changed to 15s later). Checks for Valid Contestants:
  • Alive, Visible, Inside Region, "Participate" Enabled, Not in House/Ship within 100 tiles in last 2 min, Faction controls prerequisite Wayposts in chain.
• Control Progress: If all Valid Contestants from one Faction:
  • If Opponent controls: Opponent loses 10% progress.
  • If Neutral: Contesting Faction gains 10% progress.
  • If Self controls: Gain another 10% progress.
• System message shows new %, status changes, Potential Score.

Potential Faction Score

• Increasing Control Progress adds Potential Score (1% Progress = +1 Potential Score) (Note: Max Potential Score changed later).
• Awarded only when Waypost reaches Full Control under player's Faction.
• Lost if Waypost becomes Neutral.

Waypost Full Control

• Reached at 100% (takes multiple ticks). (Note: Time changed later).
• Players contributing in last 10 min earn banked Potential Score.
• Waypost becomes "Locked" (uncontestable) for 2 minutes (sparkle animation). Single-click shows remaining lock time.

Waypost Chain Control Order

• Must capture in specific order relative to own Castle: Nearest -> Middle -> Farthest.
• Cannot contest out of order (requires Full Control of previous step).

Waypost Summaries

• View status via:
  • Page 2 of Menu (all Wayposts, progress bars).
  • `[FactionHotbar` (relevant Wayposts only).
  • Page 1 of Menu (compact summary: counts per opposing Faction, Crown icon for full chain control).

Orb Buttons

• Clicking Orb icon (Menu, Hotbar, FactionMap) shows Waypost location on map, lists coords, starts Tracking Arrow.

Faction Flags

• Each Faction has a unique Flag, starts in their Castle Flag Room.
• Goal: Steal enemy Flags, Secure in own Castle.

Flag Status

• View current location (Secured in Castle or Carried) on Page 1 of Menu ("Flags in Castle") and Faction Hotbar top section.

Qualifying For Stealing Faction Flags

• Requires Full Control over all 3 Wayposts in chain to Flag's Faction.
• If Flag is in an Enemy Castle: ALSO need Full Control over all 3 Wayposts in chain to the Castle's Faction (total 6 Wayposts needed).
• *(Note: Makes securing multiple flags difficult).*

Faction Doors

• Destructible doors impeding foot travel into Flag Room.
• Opposing Factions double-click to attack (destroys after enough damage). Respawn 30 min. Auto-repair if undamaged 30 min.
• Owning Faction double-clicks to teleport through (5s cooldown).
• Likely need to destroy some doors for Flag Room access.

Initiating a Flag Steal Attempt

• If Qualified, player moves within 2 tiles of Flag, double-clicks.
• Initiator becomes "Stealing Player" (important role, announced, light beam).
• Only one Steal Attempt per Flag active at a time.
• Individual players can only attempt one Steal at a time.

Flag Steal Status

• If Faction under attack: Crossed Swords icon on Page 1 Menu, "Under Attack at X Castle" status on Hotbar.

Flag Steal Control Ticks and Steal Progress

• Occur every 30 seconds (Note: Changed to 15s later).
• Steal Progress increases 10% IF Stealing Player is: Alive, Visible, Inside Flag Room.
• Failure resets progress.
• *(Note: Losing qualifying Waypost control AFTER starting does NOT cancel attempt. Failure requires requalifying.)*
• Light beam appears over Stealing Player on tick.
• Single-click Flag shows Stealing Player name, Steal Progress %.

Potential Faction Score (Steal)

• During Steal Tick, participating players (Alive, Visible, In Room) get message, gain Potential Score (1% Progress = +3 Potential Score) (Note: Ratio changed, then Potential Score from Steal removed later).
• Score awarded only after Steal + Purify + Secure complete.

Successful Flag Steal

• At 100% Steal Progress: Flag "equipped" by Stealing Player, who becomes Flag Carrier.

Faction Flag Carriers

• Status shown in Menu/Hotbar ("Flags Carried").
• Orb button tracks Flag location (map, coords, arrow).

Faction Flag Carrier Restrictions

• Can ride Mounts, Teleport, most movement.
• CANNOT: Enter Houses, Board Ships, Recall/Hike/Gate/Moongate, Enter Dungeons/Non-Overworld, Hide/Invis.

Flag Returning

• Flag auto-returns to last Secured Castle IF: Carrier enters invalid location (House, Ship, Dungeon, etc.).
• Clears associated Potential Score.

Flag Steal Expiration

• Flag auto-returns if 30 minutes pass since Steal without being Secured.
• Clears associated Potential Score.

Flag Carrier Death

• Flag Drops at location. Single-click shows remaining return timer (30 min total).

Picking Up a Dropped Faction Flag

• Double-click within 1 tile.
• Requires player's Faction has Full Control over 3 Wayposts in chain to the Flag's Faction.
• *(Emphasizes maintaining Waypost control throughout).*

Purifying Faction Flags

• Required before Securing stolen Flag.
• Bring Flag to Purification Pyre (center of Daemon Keep - Grey Zone). Use `[FactionMap` Orb for tracking arrow.

Flag Purification

• Carrier must stay within 2 tiles of Pyre for 60 consecutive seconds (Note: Time changed later).
• Moving too far / Hidden resets process.
• Control Ticks occur every 10 seconds (Note: Changed later), show progress.
• Successful Purification: Firestorm graphic on carrier, Flame graphic on Flag item/icons.

Securing a Faction Flag

• Bring Purified Flag to own Faction Castle Flag Room to attempt Secure.

Flag Secure Control Ticks

• Occur every 30 seconds (Note: Changed to 15s later).
• Secure Progress increases 10% IF Flag Carrier is: Alive, Visible, Inside Flag Room.
• Failure resets progress, but can re-attempt immediately if still carrying flag.
• *(Note: Waypost control NOT required for Secure attempts).*

Potential Faction Score (Secure)

• During Secure Tick, participating players (Alive, Visible, In Room) gain Potential Score (1% Progress = +3 Potential Score) (Note: Ratio changed, then Potential Score from Secure removed later).

Successful Flag Secure

• At 100% Secure Progress: All banked Potential Score (Steal + Purify + Secure) awarded to participants.
• Flag appears in "Flags in Castle" list for that Faction.
• Newly Secured Flag becomes "Locked" (unstealable) for 10 minutes (sparkle animation). Single-click shows remaining lock time.

Faction Handicap Bonus

• Based on "Last Week Tally" rank (1st=Strongest, 4th=Weakest). Persists for the week.
• Bonus % = Chance for Control Ticks (Waypost, Purify, Steal, Secure) to grant double progress (20% instead of 10%).
• Bonuses: 1st=0%, 2nd=10%, 3rd=20%, 4th=30%.
• Double progress grants more Potential Score if applicable.
• *(Intended to help weaker factions catch up).*

Heat of Battle

• 2 minute Heat of Battle flag applied for: (Note: Duration changed later)
  • Valid Contestant during Waypost Tick.
  • Purifying during Purify Tick.
  • In Room during Steal Tick.
  • Damaging Faction Door.
  • In Room during Secure Tick.
• *(Intended to make players commit).*

Heat of Battle Removal

• Removed for players within 50 tiles when Faction takes Full Control of Waypost OR Secures a Flag.
• *(Allows immediate travel after successful objective).*
• *(Note: Removal on Waypost 100% control regardless of switch added later).*

Player Kills

• Player inflicting most damage credited with Faction Kill.
• Base Faction Score = 5 (Note: Value changed multiple times later).
• Upgraded Kill Score = 15 if near Waypost/Flag (50 tiles), in Dungeon (Classic/Faction), or Faction Castle (Note: Value changed later).
• Victim killed within last 5 minutes = 0 Score (Note: Time changed later).
• Victim killed >= 5 times that day = 0 Score (resets daily) (Note: Replaced by KTG system later).
• Inflicts Faction Death Penalty on victim.

Faction Death Penalties

• Applied for 2 minutes to ALL characters on Account/IP after Faction Kill death.
• Effects while penalized:
  • Do not count as valid for Contesting/Stealing/Securing (still get banked score).
  • Cannot initiate Steal or pick up Dropped Flag.
  • Cannot cast Field or AoE Spells.
  • Damage Dealt vs Players/Creatures -50%.
  • Healing Amounts Dealt (Self/Others) -50%.

Faction Ghost Gates

• Located near each Waypost.
• Visible/Usable ONLY by Dead Faction participants.
• Teleports ghost (and nearby followers) to random spot in own Faction Castle courtyard.

Faction Moongates

• Inside each Faction Castle Flag Room. Usable ONLY by members of that Faction.
• Allows travel to Wayposts in that Faction's chains. Destination text hue matches opposing Faction.
• Follow standard Moongate restrictions (no Criminals, no Heat of Battle).
• Teleports player/followers to random spot near destination. Arrive Revealed (not Hidden).

Tabula Rasa (Weekly Reset)

• Occurs Fridays at 7pm EST (Note: Time changed later).
• Resets:
  • All Flags return to home Castles.
  • All Wayposts become Neutral.
  • Faction Doors fully repaired.
  • Potential Faction Scores cleared.
  • Faction Dungeon rotates.
  • Scoring/Rewards resolved.
• *(Intended to provide clean slate each week).*

Faction Ranking

• During Tabula Rasa, "Last Week Tally" calculated based on Waypost/Flag control, ranks Factions 1st-4th.
• Determines next week's Handicap Bonus and prevents joining 1st place Faction.

Faction Silver

• Earned during Tabula Rasa based on individual Faction Score Rank % within own Faction.
• Rank % = (Score higher than X% of faction members).
• Silver = (10000 * (Faction Score Rank / 100)).
• Account-bound, shared by all characters.
• Only character with highest score on Account/IP considered for calculation.
• Example: 25th highest out of 100 = 75% Rank -> (10000 * 0.75) = 7500 Silver.
• View Last Week Score/Silver Earned on Page 1 Menu.

Faction Silver Capping

• Amount received capped at player's Faction Score for the week.
• Example: Rank 75% (7500 base Silver), Score 4000. Receives capped 4000 Silver.
• *(Intended to prevent high silver with low activity on sparse factions).*
• *(Note: Silver calculation and capping overhauled later).*

Battle Commendations

• Receive 1 Battle Commendation in Bank Box per 500 Faction Silver (rounded down) earned during Tabula Rasa.
• Double-click to consume for random reward (Gold, Loot, etc.).
• *(Note: Delivery method changed later).*

Aspect Triumphs

• Required (1 per Aspect) along with Cores/Distillations to upgrade Aspects to Tier 15.

Earning Aspect Triumphs

• Receive 1 Aspect Triumph in Bank Box per cumulative 40,000 Faction Silver earned.
• Progress Meter on Page 4 of Faction Menu. Can earn multiple over time.

Faction Dungeons (i.e Classic Dungeons)

• 1 Classic OSI dungeon active per week, Faction players only. Rotates during Tabula Rasa.
• Current Rotation: Covetous, Deceit, Destard, Shame.
• Creature spawns thematically similar but balanced difficulty progression.
• View active dungeon on Page 2 of Menu.

Travel Restrictions

• Requires Faction Guild + "Participate" Enabled to enter.
• Cannot Gate Travel or Chivalry Moongate into/out of.
• Can Hike (Camping) into/out of freely.
• Can Recall into freely.
• Can Recall out of, but casting time increased to 4 seconds. Max 5 successful Recall casts allowed per entry (cursor appears = success). Prevents Recall-camping.

Faction Moongates

• Active Faction Dungeon listed as destination. Warps player/followers to Level 1 Entryway.

Gameplay Mechanics

• Mounts allowed.
• Cannot activate Echoes.
• Cannot disable "Participate" setting.
• Cannot leave Guild.

Faction Dungeon Ejection

• Killed and ejected if: "Participate" forcibly disabled, removed from Guild, Guild disbands.
• *(Prevents escaping PvP / warping out with loot).*

Tracking

• Cannot Track players inside.
• Entering with Player Hunting Mode enabled disables it.
• Automatic Tracking bonuses (Damage/Barding) apply inside.

Creature Spawns and Loot

• Creatures inflict 25% Less Damage (Note: Removed later).
• Creatures have 25% Less HP (Note: Removed later).
• Additional 25% penalty to Gold Loot / Special/Rare Loot chance (Note: Removed later).
• War Aspect Cores/Distillations drop as uncommon Loot.
• Earn War Aspect Experience (+50% bonus) for kills inside while wearing War gear.

Faction Spawns

• Occasional spawns indicated by Orange overhead text.
• Killing rewards Faction Score = 20% of Gold Value (divided by Damage Dealt %). (Note: Score value changed later).

PvM Bonuses

• Primary (Skills/Equip) and Secondary (Aspects/Codexes) PvM bonuses work normally (all Aspects apply).

Ghost Gates

• Numerous Ghost Gates placed throughout, usable only by Ghosts. Teleport out to Towns.

Dungeon Exits

• Can Recall/Hike out.
• Can exit via Level 1 Entrance (warps player/followers to Daemon Keep center).

Faction Titles

• Earned Seasonally based on `[ServerRank` for Factions.
• "Display Faction Title" toggle overrides Achievement Titles. Managed in Factions Menu.
• Per-character basis. Determined by Faction Title Tier earned from seasonal Rank %.

[ServerRank

• New category tracks cumulative Faction Score per season.
• End of season: Rank % calculated vs all other Faction players.
• Example: 50th highest out of 500 = 90% Rank.

Faction Title Tiers

• Assigned based on seasonal Rank %, determines displayed title. Persists through season even if Faction changes.
• Tiers: 1 (0-25%), 2 (25-50%), 3 (50-75%), 4 (75-95%), 5 (95-99%), 6 (99-100%).
• *(Note: Title calculation changed later to weekly based on Combined Score).*

Faction-Specific Titles

• Displayed title = Current Faction + Earned Title Tier.
• Example: Andaria Faction + Tier 4 = Andaria Tier 4 Title. Switch to Prevalia -> Prevalia Tier 4 Title displays.

Faction Hues

• Each Faction has unique Hue. Equipable only by participating members of that Faction.

Faction Dye Tubs

• Craftable via Tailoring ("Faction Dye Tubs" category).
• Dyes items normally dyeable.
• Equippable item dyed with Faction Hue requires participation in that Faction to equip.

Faction Reward Items

• Purchased with Faction Silver (Account-bound) on Page 4 of Menu. Placed in Bank Box.
• Check "Info" button for item details/use info.
• Most rewards usable by any player unless item has Faction Hue.

Mount Gear System

• New Faction Reward allows customizing Mounts (Horse-types initially, others planned).
• Purely cosmetic. Works on Tamed/Bonded and Mount Tokens.

Mount Tack

• Required item, purchased with Faction Silver. Blessed.
• Install Mount Gear into slots (Head/Neck/Body Barding, Caparison, Saddle Pad, Saddle).
• Double-click Tack in backpack to open Menu. Starts empty.

Installing Mount Gear

• Purchase individual gear items (Head Barding, etc.) with Faction Silver.
• Double-click gear item, target Tack (both in backpack) to install permanently.
• "Remove" button returns item to backpack. Cannot lose installed gear otherwise.

Displaying Mount Gear

• Ride valid mount with Tack in backpack -> installed gear marked "Show" automatically appears.

Dismounting

• Visuals vanish on dismount. Gear remains installed in Tack.

Mount Gear Hues

• Each slot (except Saddle) has own collection of unlocked Hues.
• Starts with Hue 0 and all Faction Hues unlocked.
• Use Left/Right arrows to select Hue. Applied automatically on mount.
• If Faction Hue selected but player not participating, displays Hue 0 instead.

Mount Gear Dyes

• Used to permanently unlock dye's hue for a specific Mount Gear slot in a Tack.
• Click "Add" button for slot, target Dye in backpack (consumed).
• Can unlock hues even if base gear item not yet installed. Cannot remove unlocked hues.
• Each slot has individual collection; need dye for each slot for full set.

Loadouts

• Save/manage multiple Mount Gear settings (up to 25). Create via "New Loadout".
• Current Loadout applies automatically when mounting.
• Navigate/Delete Loadouts via buttons. Deleting resets slots to Hue 0/"Show" if last loadout.

Acquring Mount Gear Dyes

• Available from various systems: PvP Events (Reward), PvP Legacy Faction (Reward), Strangelands (Reward), Societies (Reward), Aspect (Craftable), Ore Hue (Craftable), Dungeon (Loot), Thieves Guild (Black Goods), Shimmer (Prevalia Market).
• *(Note: Arena currently excluded due to hue rendering issues).*

Purchased Mount Gear Dyes

• Available from Reward Systems, Prevalia Market (Shimmer Hues, limited availability).

Craftable Mount Gear Dyes

• Aspect Hue / Ore Hue craftable via Blacksmithing (Mount Gears Dyes category).
• Requires Aspect Triumph + large amounts Cores/Distillations or Ingots.
• Crafted in Bundles of 5 (full set).

Faction Mount Tokens

• Purchasable with Faction Silver (Horse, Llama, Ostard types).
• Not tied to specific faction initially (unhued).
• When used by Faction participant: Summoned Mount adopts user's Faction Hue.
• If used by non-participant: Summoned Mount is Hue 0.