Hello Rosarians!
I'm here to announce and present to you something that we've been working on! This update will improve one of ROSE's unique and longest fun features since its launch.
We are expanding on and adding additional enhancements to the Gem and Appraisal Stats (Sub-Stats) that you can obtain or place to your equipment!
Why we're doing this is to add more depth to game play and character build potential, as well as diversity towards long term goals of game play.
Here are some cool features that will be included with this update:
- If you gem an item, an appraisal stat will no longer be lost if you remove the gem afterwords.
- This means if you take the gem out, the appraisal stat will come back!
- Unfortunately, this will only work on items after the update is implemented. Currently appraisal items are "overwritten" when a gem is added to an item.
- We're making it easier to place gems in to equipment that already have a slot.
- You will be able to easily place new gems over old ones.
- Doing this, will automatically destroy the existing gem in the item.
- There is one exception, which is if the gem is an Item Mall gem/stone, the Item Mall gem/stone will pop-out in to your inventory.
- Slots on all equipment!
- You read correctly. We will be allowing the ability to add a slot to any piece of equipment that you can equip on your character.
- Masks
- Caps
- Gloves
- Boots
- Back Items
- Shields & Magic Tools
- Read more about "Gem Cuts" to learn more about how this is going to work!
- You read correctly. We will be allowing the ability to add a slot to any piece of equipment that you can equip on your character.
Appraisal Stats - Updated & Upgraded!
Because we wanted to give equal fairness and accessibility to the stats and combinations that can be obtained, we've expanded on the appraisal stats listings. While we still wish to further enhance this particular feature and aspect of game play, this is a significant improvement and step towards allowing players to pursue their ultimate build.
We will be up-converting any existing stats that may fall slightly out of the new and improved scaling to the new design and in every case, if a stat changes, it can only become stronger.
- What this can mean to you: If you have a stat that gives STR 3, the new tier design doesn't have a "STR 3" so that stat will become "STR 5"
New Item : Enchantment Scroll
This is an extremely cool feature we've been working on that we'll be extremely excited to see enter the world of ROSE!
This item will be the first of its kind for ROSE, where it behaves similar to a gem, with a very special additional feature. An "Empty" Enchantment Scroll, when used on an item with an Appraisal Stat, it will extract the Appraisal Stat and hold it in the Enchantment Scroll to be placed in to a new item of equal or better grade.
- What this means for you!
- Let's say you found that stat combination you wanted for your class, but now your equipment is starting to hold you back and not provide the attack power, accuracy, defense, magic defense or dodge as you begin to out-level it. (Let's also say, it is Grade 3 equipment)
- Well, now you can take those appraisal stats from those Grade 3 gears, and place them in to your next armor set!
- However, there is one restriction and one limitation:
- The restriction: This tool cannot take the Appraisal Stat from a high grade equipment piece, and place it in to lower grade equipment. (A stat from a Grade 3, cannot be placed in to a Grade 1 or 2 gear)
- The limitation: appraisal stats taken from equipment pieces that are graded as "Unique", "Event", "Item Mall", "Brave", etc. (ie: not a number) can only be transferred to another item of the same grade group type.
Separation Drill Change
Because we've made the change where you can put a gem over another to replace it on an item, we've changed the mechanical function of how a separation drill works as well. No longer will a separation drill degrade or destroy a gem upon removal. Instead, we have made it behave more similarly to that of the normal drills, to add a socket. A separation drill will now be a success chance to simply remove the gem from an item successfully.
The New Gems
With so many new stats, we wanted to make sure that there was an easy way to identify what a new gem did, and where it could go.
What we've created is an easy way to learn to identify what kind of stat a gem would give, based on the type of gem (Ruby, Garnet, Topaz, etc).
We know that there has been a great amount of concern and interest in knowing how gems would change the power of characters, because we're now allowing every equipment piece to have a slot. Fear not! What we've devised will help ensure that the current gems we're all used to and love, will not change, and what we're adding is just that, adding to it.
The Gems and Stats!
As mentioned above, we have a big list of new gems that provide many of the various new stats that we have added to game play! Here's a list of all the type of gems and the type of stat that is associated to it!
The Original Gems:
The New Gems!
Where can I find these gems?
Aside from the current gems you can get from crafting. Only new gems will be able to be found elsewhere!
Here is where you can find these new gems:
Honor Shop
Valor Shop
King Drops
Game Arena
Want a Sneak peek of a few of the new gem icons?
Gem Cuts
Gems will also have a part of their name that gives indication to what kind of equipment they can be placed in to. This is referred to as the "Gem Cut."
Here's a list of all the new Gem Cuts, and we've also listed the type of Gems that you can find with those cuts.
Briolette (Face Masks)
Pear (Caps)
Cushion (Body)
Baguette (Arms)
Asscher (Foot)
Round (Back)
Marquise (Weapon)
Trilliant (Off-Hand)
Oval (Accessories)
Gem Strengths
We have chosen to ditch the "grade" (ie: [1], [2], [3], etc. ) for the new gems and use a descriptive name to help recognize how strong a gem's stats may hold.
Some examples of these descriptions:
So combining what you've read so far, what you can expect to see as gem names are things like a "Shimmering Zircon Trilliant," a "Captivating Rosasite Round," or a "Shining Hyalite Pear." Let's use the last one as an example, and if you pick it apart, it means it would give certain strength of stat, that gives Healing Power (Hyalite), that can be put in to a Cap equipment piece (Pear).
The uses of gem types and cuts are limited, and through this, we are able to prevent gross over stacking of stats, but offer stat options that can benefit your class and build, depending on how you create it otherwise. This also allows for us to have a lot of flexibility for the future, with this kind of updated enhancements put in to place.
Gems with condition requirements, what?
Yes, it is true. There were a great many concerns regarding the way gems currently work, vs the new gems and had we kept to the current style of how some high tier gems can be used for beginning players, it would throw a lot of game play out of balance. However, we wanted to make sure that we made absolutely no changes to the existing gem system and take away from current understandings of how things work.
So, what we've done is made it so that many of these new gems will have a requirement to them (typically only level). If a gem has a requirement, (again to begin this update, it will be a level requirement typically) this does not prevent a player from putting a gem in to an item. It will, however, prevent the bonuses of the gem to be used if the player does not meet the conditions.
- If you do not meet the requirement, it will grey out the gem's bonuses and display the requirement in the tooltip of the item that has the gem.
- If you meet the requirement, it will display normally as a bonus.
- Tooltips for the gems as an item, will display all information normally when viewed
Well, that just about wraps up a lot of what we have in store for this update. Now the big question!
AMAGAD WHEN??
This update is currently slated for implementation September 16, 2014.
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Gem Update Questions
Will the gems be account or character locked from Honor / Valor Shops?
They are intended to be a marketable point of consumerism from the Honor and Valor shops. No they will not have any restrictions to them.
What is going to happen to the gems in our current gear?
As stated in the announcement, none of the existing gems will be put under any additional restrictive changes and will behave just as they do now.
The New Gems
With so many new stats, we wanted to make sure that there was an easy way to identify what a new gem did, and where it could go.
What we've created is an easy way to learn to identify what kind of stat a gem would give, based on the type of gem (Ruby, Garnet, Topaz, etc).
We know that there has been a great amount of concern and interest in knowing how gems would change the power of characters, because we're now allowing every equipment piece to have a slot. Fear not! What we've devised will help ensure that the current gems we're all used to and love, will not change, and what we're adding is just that, adding to it.
What will happen to the current gem names?
We are not changing the names with this update. Though we would like to step away from the numbered tiering, we don't want to cause confusion so only the new gems will be given the new named teiring.
So does this mean all the current gems can go in to every slot?
No. As explained in the original post, only certain cuts can go in to the new locations and only new gems will be given cuts. Existing gems will remain as they are and will continue to work as they do currently.
How will this impact the gem process?
None of these new gems will be available through the current gem crafting skills, so it will not impact the current gem crafting processes.
Why aren't all the current gems listed? (Beryl)
Beryl and all of the original gems are listed under the Original Gems section. Very few of the original gems will receive cuts so they may be placed in to other new slots, which were listed in the original announcement as well. Only new gems were listed to help keep focus on what will be coming and added to game play. Again, as stated in the original post, none of the current and existing gems will be changed from how they work or behave right now. We did not feel it was necessary or relevant to include the existing gems when explaining a feature update.
Given the listing for Cushion cuts, does this mean there will only be those 4 gems allowed and what is going to happen to the existing gems in a body item?
Only new gems are being listed with where they will be able to be placed. Existing gems are going to have the same functionality as current.
So for a gem like Jade, can it be cut to fit certain slot locations?
Currently we have not included any of the new gems to the existing gem crafting system. As we have plans for the future regarding such skills, we are not able to incorrporate it at this stage of development.
Short answer: No, you will have to find/buy gem types certain cuts.
Can I gem my costume?
Yes you may, however the only bonuses that come from costumes are from the set bonus system, when stated to be a costume bonus. No stats or gems from costume equipment are taken into account for combat mechanics.
So I can put beryls in everything now and become the ultimate full support Cleric?
Sorry to get your hopes up, but that is explained in the original post. Unless you see a beryl listed under each cut, that will not be the case. Only certain cuts of gems will be allowed to be placed in to certain locations. This is done to prevent this exact issue from happening, where a single stat can be overlapped heavily to create "broken characters" otherwise known as "overpowered" easily. Though we want to encourage players to create their own builds and style, we want it to be a challenge, take effort and feel rewarding.
But I wanted to buy beryls in to everything and be a super support Cleric!
Take a closer look at the gems that you'll be able to use, you can still improve your ability as a Support Cleric, you just need the right gems for the right slots.
Will two hand weapons be able to have two gems, since one handers with an off-hand will get two gems?
At the moment, we weren't able to include this in to the update, but it is something we will work towards because we agree it is a fair aspect between the two weapon choices.
Will we get a free skill and stat reset with this update?
No. This update adds to the existing game play, it is not taking away or forcing a change on anyone in a potentially negative way. We understand this will potentially change how some of you wish to build your character given the additions, but as this is an update that is adding content to explore, your character's abilities are not being forced to change to incorporate it.
Is there a price list for Valor and Honor gems?
It is not yet finalized, so a price list is not yet available. Our goal is to have the gems need to take effort to earn, but still be within reach of a game or few, depending on performance and put in effort between PvP and PvM tasks.
What drop tier will gems be from Kings?
This is not yet established. As we wish to make the gems available, but not too rare. We want players to be able to find and utilize them with enough time and effort, granted it will still be slow to collect the set you may want at the start, we don't want to artificially inflate rates either.
We are still considering the impact of availability and drop rates, as well as the influencing mechanics behind them.
So my [equipment item] has a [gem] in it, what will happen to it?
Nothing. We are not changing existing gems from how they currently function or behave.
I don't like the new naming scheme, why can't you keep to grade 1~7?
Even though this is a fantasy game, we do like to help enrich the lore and experience and to help provide that we've given them names to display the amount of power or bonuses you would receive magically from each stone.
When are you going to open Pegasus so we can test all this?
Pegasus will be made available only to a select few for bug testing purposes, we will not be announcing open access.
- Why not?
- Because we've come to terms with the expectation of how Pegasus is actually used, versus what we need from it and those who wish to actually help and assist with bug testing have made themselves known to us and have consistently helped with feedback and testing, instead of testing for personal use and gain and not sharing any feedback with us at all.
So what is going to be the Artisan's role in all this?
Artisans are not involved in the new gems being released, their skills will remain as they are for the original and existing gems.
What about gem boxes?
Gem boxes still exist and drop mostly from the Ghosts that spawn during the night cycle of game play. The drop rates of the boxes were ultimately reduced because we found there was too high of a rate of gems being obtained through them, and not necessarily enough from crafting in the lower tiers. The farming for low tier gems was very much off scale from what was being crafted, reducing the need for the basic materials to do so.
Enchantment Scroll Questions
How are the Enchantment Scrolls going to be obtained?
As a Valor Shop purchase and through the Item Mall.
Can you give further explanation on how the Enchantment Scroll works:
- If you remove the Appraisal Stats (Blue Stats) from a grade 3 item, you may place it back on to any grade 3 item or higher. You will not be able to put the stats on to an Item Mall, Brave, Honor or other named grade gear.
- If you remove the Appraisal Stats (Blue Stats) from an Unique item, you may only place a new stat on to a Unique item. You will not be able to place it on to a grade 1~9, or any other named group.
Why did you put these restrictions?
We've done this to prevent power ramping from being an easy task. If there were no restrictions, high level equipment that yield high level stats, could be transferred to low level equipment, just as when you open certain equipment chests, the chances of a high tier stat is good, and then it could be passed along to low level equipment. In fairness, this backwards powering, is not what the intention of the feature is for. It is intended to encourage and help allow players to take existing stats they enjoy, and pass them up to their next tier of equipment so they don't have to experience a power loss just for changing gear as they level.
Are there any restrictions to what the Enchantment Scrolls can extract stats from?
No there are no restrictions to what you can use it on to extract a stat, however as stated above, what you take a stat from will restrict you from what you may put the stat back in to.
After this update, you will notice that every equipment now has a grade or grade name, associated to it. This is all based on its level requirement to wear the item. Every 25 levels is 1 grade tier, if it is not in a group type (Unique, Item Mall, Event, etc.)
So I can take the stats off one gear to another?
Not just any or all stats, only the stats that come from being appraised or are attached on to the equipment as a bonus. Natural stats are tied to that piece of equipment and cannot be removed.