Community Q&A: January 22

Welcome, ark hunters! You’ve asked, we’re answering. We’re back with another action packed Defiance Dev Q&A!

Source: http://forums.defiance.com/showthread.php?196419-Community-Q-amp-A-January-22

Questions:

• When will the Alcatraz update make it to PTS?
• When can we expect to be able to view the synergies of the mods installed on our weapons?
• Could we get more details on the "hub"?
• Are there still plans to expand the Bay area, after the Alcatraz hub?
• Are expeditions explorable (with no or little combat, or at least solo) or are they more like traditional instances like this games co-ops?
• Are you working on a fix for the non encrypted legendary weapon bug?
• Is there going to be an update in the future to allow us to replay side missions alongside the main storyline?
• Could we get a letter tab for the clan and friends list so we can look up more people?
• Will there be any more character customization options coming out in the future? It would be great if you could purchase multiple hairstyle slots without redoing customization!
• Is a personalized post event screen still something that is coming?
• Why was the decision made to have what are considered some of the best guns in the game with the Longshot Cannon, Ground Pounder, and Invader to be granted the Radiation Nano for the Solstice event? Why weren’t the lesser weapons from those weapon categories chosen to be the weapons selected for the event and granted the Radiation nano?

Continue reading for the answers or hop on over to the forums to read it directly from the source and to see other players reactions.

1. When will the Alcatraz update make it to PTS?

   We’re working on Alcatraz currently and making great progress. It’s still rough, but our internal playtests of Expedition content have been a blast and we can’t wait to get them out to PTS to start gathering player feedback. We don’t have a hard ETA on when that will be, but we’re getting close. Besides, our next event –Colony Courtship – is on PTS right now. Go check it out!

2. When can we expect to be able to view the synergies of the mods installed on our weapons?

   It’s something we want to do, but it’ll be a future enhancement and we don’t have an ETA.

3. Could we get more details on the "hub"?

   Alcatraz Island is the landing point for Expeditions. Everyone that exits an expedition will find themselves dropped onto the docks at Alcatraz next to some of the standard vendors. Nearby, they’ll find vendors for each of the factions as well as stations to enter matchmaking for a variety of activities. Additionally, Alcatraz is a non-combat area. Weapons cannot be drawn there and no hostile actions can be taken on its shores. We’re also updating contracts which require players to enter matchmaking to point to locations on Alcatraz island where players can enter matchmaking for those events.

4. Are there still plans to expand the Bay area, after the Alcatraz hub?

   Not currently. We’re focusing on Expeditions at the moment and plan to continue adding additional types of Expeditions post-Alcatraz.

5. Are expeditions explorable (with no or little combat, or at least solo) or are they more like traditional instances like this games co-ops?

   Expeditions are filled with difficult combats designed to test the limits of player skills. While they can be entered alone, they thrive on drop-in cooperative combat for four players. When fighting against them alone, the deck is stacked against you. However, whenever a player is eliminated, they can be quickly replaced. There is no waiting for a full group; when you sign up for an Expedition it works to get you into the action as soon as possible.

6. Are you working on a fix for the non encrypted legendary weapon bug?

   Yes, in fact server update 2.505 fixed it! On top of that, we will soon be retroactively encrypting anything affected by this bug so you do get the Encryption bonus.

7. Is there going to be an update in the future to allow us to replay side missions alongside the main storyline?

   There may be, but such an update is not planned.

8. Could we get a letter tab for the clan and friends list so we can look up more people?

   We found an issue where all online clan members were not passed to players when they viewed the clan screen. We’ve resolved this issue, and that fix will be in the Alcatraz update.

9. Will there be any more character customization options coming out in the future? It would be great if you could purchase multiple hairstyle slots without redoing customization!

   That would be really cool, but we are not currently revamping character personalization.

10. Is a personalized post event screen still something that is coming?

    Indeed. You’ll see it on PTS when the Alcatraz update goes live.

11. Why was the decision made to have what are considered some of the best guns in the game with the Longshot Cannon, Ground Pounder, and Invader to be granted the Radiation Nano for the Solstice event? Why weren’t the lesser weapons from those weapon categories chosen to be the weapons selected for the event and granted the Radiation nano?

    Our goal for special events is always that the items dropped from them are desirable by the majority of players so we pick weapons that most players prefer when deciding which ones to use. We also attempt to not use the same base weapons too frequently, so we rotate through weapons as we make new events.