Src : http://ro-challenge.blog.jp/archives/1063778541.html
JRO’s 2017 Updating roadmap has been revealed : Max level extension, server merging substitution has been clarified
This interview is mostly referred to “Weekly RO Challenge”
Persons from left to right are: Mr. Nakamura Toshinobu, Mr. Nagasawa Seigo and Mr.Yamamoto Kanehiro respectively
(Thanks Mr.キャンパー for re-checking my reading of Japanese names)
January 17th, 2017 : New cards from Biolab. Nightmare and Verus + Minievent (held)
Within February : New instance dungeon ”Mazy Dream”
Since February : Monsters’ location and EXP adjustment, Random Option System applied.
Before Summer : Corridor of Abyss
Before summer : Achievement & Title System
Within summer : Expanding Base Level to 175
Within summer : Episode 16.2 [Terra Gloria]
Within autumn : America’s global project’s map “Rockridge”
New high-tier instance dungeon “Mazy dream”
An interview mentions about new dungeon called “Mazy dream (夢幻の迷宮)”, a challenging dungeon for maxed level players (Lv165), has 90 minutes restriction, able to continue when failed (All party members defeat). The dungeon has a random route which is changed every round players get in. Has 3 times number of monsters when roughly compared to “Endless Tower” can only be played by ears (臨機応変に対応する必要もあります). For example, there’s a large number of fire property monsters but at the same time, there’s also a large number of water property monsters.
Rewards from this dungeons are “Diva Equipments (ディーヴァシリーズ)” and “Mirage Equipments (ミラージュシリーズ)” with random effects (ランダムオプション) already granted.
In this example is “Diva Blade” with 5 random effects.
1. Spiritual Property
2. Str +4
3. Increases 25% more damage when physically attack “dark property” monsters.
4. Int +3
And 5. Increases 10% more damage when physically attack “dark property” monsters.
“Diva equipments” and “Mirage equipments” can be obtained from treasure chests appear in “Mazy dream” instance dungeon (around lower center of picture)
Mazy dream instance can normally be entered once per week but within the period of a special event, it can be entered once per day. Said Mr.Nagasawa
Since this dungeon makes a heavy load to the server. While the event is being held, there’s a chance of overload and the dungeon needs to close for sometimes or might need a specialized method of opening (特殊な開催形式になると思います)
Monsters’ location and EXP adjustment, Official tool for searching monsters implementation
Random effect system (ランダムオプション) is also applied to equipments dropped in normal maps. Random special effects are revealed after examined either by Magnifier or Merchant’s skill.
The team think that it would be a waste if players get undesired or unsatisfied effects. So another system which convert these into another thing is required in the future. (I think it's similar to IRO's gears eating ? haven't tried it) But there are some parts that need Gravity corp. to develop.
Each hunting spot has a unique rate of effect that come out. For example, an effect (a) can be easily found in map A, while effect ( can be easily found in map B instead.
This system encourages players to explore the vast game world just like everyone usually did in the golden era of RO.
We’re also implementing a monster search tool just like we did before for “Market search tool” (similar to ragial dot com) to help many players who maybe unfamiliar after the adjustment is done. Said Mr.Nakamura
Base level 175 expansion, achievement system and title system
Similar to PS3 trophy system (author’s opinion) players can see a list of quests that are done, 100 Porings defeated and so on. Each completed quest will have a button appended which gives reward on clicking it. The “Title System” also adapts these completed achievement to create a prefix to character’s name. For example, if 1,000 faceworms are defeat, there will be a title called “faceworm killer” before the player’s name.
Next main update will have many nostalgic characters such as Shwaldzwalt President or even Seyren Windsor
Next main update is a sequel to “Banquet for Heroes” came at November, 2016. The next update for 2017 “Ep 16.2 Terra Gloria” narrates about a collaboration with NPCs to investigate and seek for criminal who came and attacked at Prontera Castle toward republic of Shwaldzwalt.
The story is a 3 cornered battle (3つ巴) between “Rebellions”, “The Secret Wing” an organization supervised by the President and the villains. Said Mr.Nagasawa
An uncle Kronecker Heinen says "Terra Gloria has disappeared (snatched away I guess)"
Mr.Nakamura still doesn’t tell much about the mysterious cool-looking man at the top right of the picture.
New map “Rockridge” the global project of America
Rockridge is a newly added content KRO did at December, 2016. Full of western-style atmosphere like, Steam locomotive, gunner creatures or mysterious Cactuses. At first glance, they seem like enemies but they’re actually player’s ally. Still we can’t tell much about their information since we’re reviewing them. Said Mr.Nagasawa
Other new dungeons and content from Korea
There are other updates that aren’t written in this Roadmap such as “Illusion Dungeon” KRO added at the end of 2016 year. The next developing update is a dungeon connected to “Payon Cave B5F” which will have subspecies of current monsters in that cave. (既存モンスターの亜種的なモンスターが実装されているんです) Said Mr.Nagasawa.
Illusion Dungeon is similar to “Nightmare dungeon”. The example of the Nightmare Dungeon is “Clock Tower Nightmare” a dungeon with new items and story.
At first, when Nightmare Dungeon was implemented, there would be only the same looking monsters but stronger. No new cards or items were added at all. When the same dungeon was implemented in Japan, we usually added new items like “Shadow Staff [2]”. Said Mr.Yamamoto
But this time, when Illusion Dungeon is implemented, many new items, cards and story will come along.
An example of Illusion Dungeon can be the “Illusion of Moonlight” at Payon town. A next Illusion Dungeon could be “Illusion of Vampire” which will tell more stories about Dracula and the Geffen Dungeon. We will confirm again after our conclusion is settled.
A Doram race drawn by Mr.Yuuichiro. A Doram update has been recently added to Taiwan, said Mr.Nagasawa. Any concepts will remain the same in Japan. If our plans go well, maybe we could see this update implemented within this year.
A policy that substitutes the “Server merging” is to create a new place where players from different servers can meet
Mr.Nagasawa mentions about the difference of population number among servers and the original fun of MMORPG genre. Players meet and do activities together. He then came up with a new idea which is not to merge the servers but to create a new server where everyone from different servers can meet and play together.
In War of Emperium system, players prepare their gears and compete with guilds from other servers. Meeting people from different servers can also be done in PvE event like “Monster House” this reduces the difference of population problem.
A monster house event, held weekly on Wednesday and Friday (this screenshot was taken on January 18th, 2017)
Think about the “lobby room” said Mr.Yamamoto. Everyone comes here and the new special events that’s designed specially for large number of player to have fun there are prepared. Even if the number of player for each server reduces, making some events that require large number of player impossible to play, there’s still this “lobby server” prepared and welcome.
There will be another special event to support a large number of player. For instance, this week is the battle between OO server and XX server. This kind of event encourages players to have their gears better prepared if they lose and the market would be more lively, Said Mr.Yamamoto.
Mr.Yamamoto thinks further about the “lobby server” exclusive monsters. Take Poring for example, Porings in this server may have different parameters. Or even a completely new monsters/dungeons that can only be found in this server.
After the negotiation with Gravity corp. Although this plan maybe impossible, we still have a backup plan to continually create new contents that will be designed for large number of player.
Reference
- ポコさん
- http://ragnarokonline.gungho.jp/news/information/interview_2017.html
(There are 2 more websites that publish the interview, they are Famitsu and OnlineGamer which I don’t have enough time to read more than these…..)
Thank you
- Mr.Maguro Tuna for error checking
* If you have high proficiency in Japanese and see I’ve missed some important points, you can reply to add more.
** There may have been a lot of weird sentences/ inappropriate words in this time. If you see them, please teach me, I’m glad and going to learn from you!
Edited by OBBO, 20 January 2017 - 06:17 AM.