The following is a summarised reproduction of something posted to my fellow wizards, that we thought you may appreciate.
I am happy for this to generate discussion, however if you prefer to be surprised by the launch of new things or prefer to discover everything new in game DON'T READ THIS POST.
For those happy for these insights, please note the disclaimer for the 2017 roadmap. Best laid plans...
KRYNN DOMAIN - 2016 year in review
A focus of the Krynn domain for 2016 was to continue the 2015 expansion of area coverage supporting the Magic Maps function.
Areas mapped in the Krynn domain included:
* dwarven caverns east of Palanthas
* Taman Busuk mountain pass
* the outer city of Neraka and the five army quarters
* path through Darken Wood to Haven town
* Haven dwarf camp
* the forest of Wayreth
* the Qualinesti elven camp
* the road to Pax Tharkas, Sla Mori, and Pax Tharkas fortress
Some changes were made to global mapping functions to allow for mapping to work for players in moving vehicles - carriages and boats - allowing for mariners of the Bloodsea to take full advantage of the Magic Map function while sailing the seas!
New content was also introduced in to the game through the opening of the temple of Chislev and the occupational neutral mage guild the School of High Magic.
Existing guilds were also a big focus.
The gnomes racial guild received some much-needed attention, with long standing feature bugs and ranking issues resolved.
The transition of the Priests of Takhisis to the new magic system commenced, resulting in a considerable recode and rebalancing of their spells. They are now under review for release.
The Secret Society of Uncle Trapspringer - the kender occupational "handlers" *cough thieves cough* guild also was reviewed and their specials re-designed. They are now also under review.
And a new neutral layman guild began development, 'the beastmasters', that provides players with the opportunity to develop a functional bond with an animal companion.
KRYNN DOMAIN - ROADMAP FOR 2017
*** DISCLAIMER!!! ROADMAPS AND PLANS ARE GREAT FOR PROVIDING FOCUS FOR A TEAM, HOWEVER RARELY END UP MIRRORING THE PROJECT REALITY.
*** IN MANAGING YOUR EXPECTATIONS PLEASE TREAT THIS AS YOU WOULD A KENDER TALE... ENTERTAINING FICTION WITH THE SLIM POSSIBILITY OF IT ALIGNING TO REALITY
***
The roadmap for 2017 starts with a focus on the finalisation of 2016 projects - the rolling out of the PoT, SS and beastmasters.
Once that is completed the domain will be focusing on some big picture stuff relating to revamping the Krynn Warfare system - improving player engagement in the system, individual participation reward system, and a review of the guilds involved with a view of there being a relatively level playing field.
We don't expect to have this all done in 2017... when broken down it is a pretty big project. So we will be 'chunking' the work and progressively rolling it out.
The Krynn Warfare guild review is probably one element that will be obviously of interest to the player base. What this means is we'll be looking at the guild balance in Krynn and looking at ways to ensure participation is supported for all the guilds involved.
For the warfare system to work, we need healthy participant guilds who actively compete against each other for control. Right now that isn't the case. The Red Dragonarmy is largely defunct following their recent transition - so it is planned that the Dragonarmy transition be reviewed with a mind to bring the RDA back to functionality.
We also plan to allow the PoT to participate in the warfare system as a bit of a wildcard. We are mindful that this may result in the balance of guilds participation being skewed towards evil guilds. With that in mind, we are planning on introducing some layman guilds to the warfare system that may support the neutral armies of the Free People or the good armies of the Knights of Solamnia - again expanding the scope of potential player participation.
Outside of the warfare system the expansion of the School of High Magic, in the form of the occupational + layman magic guild the Wizards of High Sorcery is loosely planned for late 2017 / early 2018. This opening will be in parallel with the release of a new proposed area and a new batch of spells.
The elven archers guild will be reviewed, with an aim of redefining the ranger class dynamics and converting their spells over to the new magic system - converting them from a novelty guild to an interesting and hopefully unique play style.
Other projects planned to be worked on include the creation of a new area (mentioned above) that can only be unlocked by players after the completion of certain quests - allowing a player to progress to an area at a certain point in the Dragonlance Chronicles storyline. This will also allow for something the domain hasn't been able to conceptually provide in the game due to
timeline conflicts - the return of the Gods of the Good Pantheon and a good-aligned layman cleric guild option in the form of the Clerics of Mishakal.
This proposed area is south of Pax Tharkas down to the gates of the dwarven stronghold of Thorbardin, including the cursed plains of Dergoth and the ruins of the fortress of Zhaman, in a timeframe
following the discovery of the discs of Mishakal and the freeing of the slaves at Pax Tharkas.
Magic mapping will be added to throughout the year, with Icewall and inner Neraka city high on the mapping agenda.
And then there is Gorboth's necromancers, which will be thematically based in Krynn. Will 2017 be the year for their introduction? Great question...
I know as much as you in that regard
