Star Date: 6 December, 3013

Cyber Someday! Who knows what day it is in these crazy times? Log in now to take advantage of Cyber Someday! All-new energy blades by Blade and Plasma Charge, plus a new back shoulder weapon courtesy of blues, Plasma Charge, and Vivi. 

The Nova Gem blade, called the "Blue Light Special," works with the Ninja uniforms to unlock its magic attack. There actually used to be a REAL  "Blue Light Special" back in the Darker Ages...

The Green Starflash blade and the Blue Light Special are both Blade's artwork. Plasma Charge did the Cyber Slasher and also spent some time teaching Blade (and me) how the special magic attack is set up for e-blades. It pulls a completely separate file for the magic attack animation and uses very specific coding to make it all work together. So it's more time-consuming than a standard blade (but less complicated than a mecha weapon) - now that more of us have some familiarity with the inner workings, we'd like to start bringing you new magic attacks. 

You're probably interested in the new shoulder specials. These are set up with Star Captain damage-per-turn (DPT) numbers, and if you are a Star Captain you unlock bonus specials. Specials designed by blues and coded by Vivi, so let's hear from blues:

Here´s the specials: All last til end of fight, everything caps at 50 

CD=2 

Hit 1: +5 BtH, +2 def, HP DoT (stacking, caps at 3 times) 
Hit 2: +7 BtH, +3 def, heals EP with damage done 
Hit 3: +9 BtH, +4 def, EP DoT (stacking, caps at 3 times) 

SC only: Hit 1 reduces immo res by 80, Hit 2 damages also EP with damage done and Hit 3 tries to stun.

Thanks, blues! Also a special thanks to Gianna Glow for helping test.

The Junk: 89.7 GJNK is now on the air at last! See Parma John to get a little bit of further reveal. There's still more to the story coming - and ACW0 (who you may know from the forums, twitter, or in AQWorlds) has been writing cutscene script with us, so you have a lot more to look forward to! Did you know that this story idea initially came from Blade, who has also worked up a soon-to-be-seen NPC along with some... modified NPCs...

Yeah, the team is having fun with this! I know it's taking longer than I feel like it really should, but we will probably pick up more speed as our momentum gets underway & we hit a new stride. 

behind-the-scenes: Getting the radio to work... it works just fine as a Starship Item, but getting it to work as a clickable radio in a town or quest file was super-problematic. Either it became unclickable, or resulted in an endless 0% loading, and even the mostly-workable solution using the standard music loading procedure still breaks the on-off toggle switch. It must just be inherently Evil somehow!

Also I just realized that after spending many, many hours fixing the replay of Turkageddons past, I did not set them up as playable for you. Better late than never, so that'll come later with more of the Winter Holiday stuff! Mogloween will leave next week, and Tek's Birthday Party will also end for the year. We've still got Flavescent Friday coming soon as well! 

Oh! before I forget: Galanoth reminded me to mention this:

Holiday Special - Ends January 5, 2014: Get 10% more Artix Points when you purchase using credit cards or Paypal on portal.battleon.com

Thank you all so much for playing MechQuest! Have a great weekend! 

It's Friday, and we had an early release today! Now, for some notes to you! We'll start off with a note from Plasma Charge:

Star Date: 28 September 2012

A transmission to all active mecha pilots!

Char has requested your presence in Dean Warlic’s office to speak to you about wormhole technology and to offer you an experimental new weapon to aid you in the battle against the Shadowscythe. The new weapon is available for all players who have completed Lagos and all previous missions.

Here’s Blues with the literally head spinning specials of the new weapon:

Numbers are NSC/SC/NG

Starts with 110/115/120% damage

CD=0

- Gains + 5/8/10% damage per use, caps at 250%

- decreases enemy defense by 5/8/10 per hit, caps at -75

- decreases enemy BtH by 3/5/8 per hit, caps at -50

- decreases enemy damage by 2/4/6 per hit, caps at -40

Thank you Blues! =D

Also be sure to check in with Tek on Monday because we’re having a party! This Monday MechQuest will be turning 5 years old, and to thank all you players who help support the game Tek has commissioned a special anniversary mecha, as well as some sweet Starship loot designed by the ever-amazing Minar!

The annual Soluna bounty hunt has final come to an end which means Captain Rhubarb has returned to Lagos and took all his booty with him, also Tek is reporting that her stock of Imitation DragonConquest Blades is running low and will run out on Monday! So if you plan on getting this ferocious blade you have until Monday when it becomes RARE for a year - until Dragon*Con season 2013!

In Gremlins news:  Vivi managed to squish the gremlins in both Ghosthunter damage and the Seppy front arm crit blade. (Sepulchure Ultimate and Sepulchure of Doom)

Enjoy your Shaking of Dimensions, watch out for Gremlins, I hope you have a good weekend and I’ll see you all on Monday!

Plasma Charge

*transmission ended*

Char says that the wormhole tech may have unseen consequences. The weapons have been thoroughly tested and they appear to be working as intended, so doesn't it make you wonder what she could be talking about? Find out as the Dragonoid Saga progresses later this fall!

bzzt transmission incoming from Nightwraith at Epic Duel!

The Chairman Has Landed!

The nefarious Chairman has landed in EpicDuel and he's come to claim Delta V for his own! To lull the populace into compliance Chairman Platinum is selling powerful Ebilcorp armors of his own deisgn. These armors have a special skill, Chairman's Fury, a one-time use, selectable skill that can be used to unleash a powerful unblockable uppercut attack that steals 25% of your opponent's rage for yourself.


As if that weren't enough "ebil" at once, Dage the Evil himself has stumbled upon Delta V to share is wares with those he deems worthy. Do you have what it takes to wield one of his monstrous creations?

Read More

Arrrr, me mateys! I'll catch up with ye scurvy dogs (just kiddin' there hearties) on the forums and will try to get me poxy pate on twitter later! Bit busy a'countin' men on a dead man's chest ... Plasma Charge has a few words for ye meantime! 

Star Date:  19th o’ September 3012

TLaPD 3012 Boneyface and return of Swashbuckler! Ahoy me ‘arties! T’day Captain Rhubarb himself will land in Soluna City with a NEW limited-time haul o’Boneyface Heads! These heads were recolored by Jemini and then animated with a NEW attack by Korin. Maegwyn also added some new "trashtalkin'" to the dialogue. They’re offered in all flavours (NSC, SC ,NG) and will leave even the best captains jumping at a chance to get one.

Read More

We are still preparing Planet Romero for you - and so for this week we have continued our Buffs and Bugfixes while we're still getting things in shape on the new planet.

Buffs!

1) In the Dropship, the "Fly This Ship" minigame that you can play (go right till you find Worsh flying the ship) got a buff. I set it up so that it now gives much better credit rewards - for example, a score of 20 used to give you 20 credits but now gives you 200!

2) Tyranno Mecha - I made NEW level 14 and level 19 versions as well as the buffed-up level 10 originals - find them in the Repli-Mecha shops after completing the Museum Jobs for Val. blues designed the buffs, and Vivi coded them and has the following info on the new specials.

Specials are NSC (SC,NG) 
Head: ---> CD=5 

- starts with 1.1 (1.3,1.5) times damage 
- general damage boost BoT of +5(8,10) per turn for 5 turns 
- frightening attack, enemy BtH reduction of -20 (30,40) for 5 turns 
- SC/NG only: Disables an equippable enemy's head 

Body: ---> CD=5 

- starts with 1.1 (1.3,1.5) times damage 
- combined HP/EP DoT (normal, 1.5 times, double) 
- Chance for double (triple,triple) EP regeneration. 
- SC/NG only: damages EP with half damage done 

Arms: ---> CD=1 

- rage attack: Damage increases by 10% (20,25) per use. Increases stack between the FA and BA. 

Shoulders: ---> CD=2 

- starts with 1.1 (1.3,1.5) times damage 
- Chance for an extra Hit with 50% damage 
- Chance for a HP Dot for 3 turns, stacking 
- SC/NG only: Chance for enemy EP regen stop for 2 turns 

3) Soluna Battle Button!!??!!

Vivi updated the encounter list:

• fewer Ghost types, so more chance of variety
• At Level 25 and up, Advanced House Mecha opponents can show up
• buffed 3 monster specials

Goliath A (flamethrower, bombs) 
Flamethrower: 120% damage with improved accuracy, inflicts a 1.5x HP DOT 
Bombs: Rolls between 10% and 50% extra damage, reduces enemy boost by between 8 and 15 per hit 

Goliath B (machine gun, ground pound) 
Machine Gun: Damage and crit chance increased, Inflicts a DOT with strength based on number of hits 
Ground Pound: Damage increase between 20 and 40%, reduces enemy bonus by between 8 and 15 per hit 

Turret (small attack, big attack) 
Small attack: Less damage than usual, first hit deals EP damage equal to half damage done, second through fourth hits each lower defense by between 8 and 10 
Big attack: Increased damage, if all 5 hits connect it attempts to stun you

Thanks, Vivi!

Bugfixes:

1) Korin fixed an issue with the menu bar disappearing from the interface and messages of "undefined" (required another engine change, so please clear your cache and reload).

2) I fixed (with Vivi's assistance) the Hazuko series weapons that were causing NaN values

• Hazuko Machete
• Hazuko Katana
• Hazuko Staff
• Hazuko Sai
• (Note: I am still working on a head fix - the Tremendous Lightning still gives NaN for now, but I'll get that fix rolled out soon too)

3) Vivi fixed a NaN issue with the Morehawk (which was actually for last week but got included with this week instead)

...and last week some fixes for which I didn't get you Design Notes written:

• NaN issues with Korin Bag head series, Subzero Gaze heads, and the AC-490 mechas
• SC Xtreme Challenges Necryptos X-A and X-B (rolled Saturday) - losing no longer takes you back to the intro & kicks you out of the quest 

I *think* that covers everything we've fixed & buffed so far!  More fixes are on my list, and we have other improvements in store - we're eager to bring you new content and it's on its way!  It's been an insane few weeks with the pre-production of the new planet getting a couple of delays, but this is actually turning out to make it better that it would have been.  Ok - I think that's all from me for now. Have a great weekend - have fun - and of course, thanks for playing MechQuest! 

News from blues! This morning, I got a transmission from blues!

Dear Players!

 

Long time no see :P

We all are pretty busy with the upcoming events and here are some news from behind the scenes.

 

Our Mecha buffing project is ongoing and next buff will go to the Hospital Mechas. Specials are ready, they just need coding and some testing. Next one on my list is the Westion Sheriff Mecha.

 

All the promised buffs for the Promo Mechas are also ready and await coding. They will be significantly better and I´m sure you´ll like them. You will see better damage, lower or even no rolls and some additional specials.

 

Next major project are the new House Mechas. I already have a plan and I´m working currently on the raw specials so that we can discuss them next week. The main themes will stay the same. Wolfs will be offensive with high damage, Hawks will be a defensive powerhouse with lower damage and Ravens are somewhere in between with more ranged attacks. Power will be around SCMM standard so quite good. It´s not possible to balance them exactly because they have different themes. So, when you love hard hitting Machines with a lot of damage, then Wolfblade should  be your first choice. And when you are more the chilling player who loves to have a good defense and nerf his enemies Runehawk is the House for you. In case your undecided, then Mystraven is always a good choice.

I talked with Vivi this week and both of us can´t wait to create the new House Mechas.

 

Aaaaand... better late than never (but I already did this via MSN) : Happy Anniversary Vivi!

I can´t believe that you are already coding for one year!

Working with Vivi is really fun and he always finds a way to get all my fancy ideas working. Kudos to him and all the best for the next Year!

 

That´s all from me for now.

Enjoy playing MQ, your weekend and as always: Have fun!

Turkageddon Updates - New Weapons & a couple of fixes!

The Turkageddon '09 shops have new higher-level versions of stuff:

NSC:

• Lethal Fried Turkey Launcher L45 fs & bs 
• Reaper Wing XL38 and XL44, fa & ba
• Pilgrim heads 32 38 44

SC:

• Baster series (FA & BA) XL 32 & XL 45
• L44 Turkey Cleaver OVER 9000 (FA)

NG:

• Pop-Missiles series (fs & bs) L43 
• Turkey Cannon series (fs & bs) L38 & L44
• Mecha Fryer series (fs & bs) L45

Vivi fixed the issue where the Perfect Ghost Trap was imperfect - the problem was actually in the ghost monster Tech Phantom 1 - now your Perfect Ghost Traps should never fail to capture all Ghosts!

Vivi showed me how to fix the problem with the persistent battle menu that was happening if you missed the '09 Mega Turk // house item Attack Turkey - so those should now be working well.  

I have made progress on the male "Punky" costume with the neck coloring issues, but I haven't been able to make it exactly right yet.  It's probably one little simple thing and if I can't figure that out over the weekend I'll probably send it to Korin.

Speaking of Korin - he'll be along shortly to add some things to the Design Notes!