Update 70 Release Notes

Here are the release notes for Update 70: Lanterns in the Mists, released on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024. 

Cormyr Arrives!

The first 64 bit server for Dungeons & Dragons Online has arrived! Cormyr is a VIP access fresh start world featuring an exciting and rewarding event called Lanterns in the Mists. Read more about Cormyr on DDO.com!

News and Notes:

Ranged Combat Adjustments:

  • We have been focusing on performance issues in recent weeks, and we are implementing a change to address one of the more common community reports related to performance, specifically Repeating and Dual Crossbow attack speed. 
  • The current rate of fire is negatively impacting the game client, server, and other players when used by many players. The infamous Fusillade/No Holds Barred abilities exacerbate this performance issue, but fixing these abilities by themselves would not lead to the right performance outcome. Instead, we have taken some measures to slow down the rate of fire and reloading speed while compensating with an increase in general damage over time.
  • The Doubleshot penalties of -66% for Repeating Crossbows and -50% for Dual Crossbows has been removed, meaning both styles can now benefit from 100% of their Doubleshot score. 
  • The timing of each shot of a Repeating Crossbow and the timing in each volley before the reload portion begins has been increased slightly.
  • The baseline attack speed of Repeating and Dual Crossbows has been reduced slightly.
  • Rapid Reload's bonus for Light Repeating Crossbows has been reduced from 65% to 35%.
  • Rapid Reload's bonus for Heavy Repeating Crossbows has been reduced from 70% to 40%.
  • Rapid Reload's bonus for all Dual Crossbows has been reduced from 40% to 20%.
  • The bonus to Reload Speed from Rapid Shot for Repeating and Dual Crossbows has been reduced.
  • Repeating Crossbows now have a slight pause between each three shot volley when using Endless Fusillade.
  • Inquisitive's Tier 5 paths now grant +15% Attack Speed and +15% Doubleshot instead of the prior +30% Attack Speed.
  • Inquisitive's Core 2 Hit the Streets now grants +5% Doubleshot in addition to its other benefits.
  • Shoot First's damage is now +40%.
  • Shoot Later's damage is now +60%
  • Shoot First and Shoot Later are now area of effect ranged attacks that shoot twice with Dual Crossbows.
  • Battle Engineer's Shatter Defenses has had its damage changed to +10/30/50%.
  • Battle Engineer's Thunder-Shock Weapon's damage is now +50%.
  • Battle Engineer's Core 2 Infused Weapons now grants +5% Doublestrike and Doubleshot in addition to its other benefits.
  • The Expanded Clip Epic Feat no longer adds an additional shot, instead granting a +33% stacking Doubleshot with Repeating Crossbows.

Other changes:

  • The quest Oghma's Song has reopened.
  • The quest Partycrashers has reopened.
  • After some surgery, the Hirelings "Owlbear Defender" and "Darling" are back and ready to adventure with those who summon them.
  • The time duration of Lesser, Greater, and Sovereign Discovery Elixirs has been extended from 1 hour to 6 hours. Saltmarsh VIP Discovery Elixirs remain 3 hours and VIP Loyalty Reward Discovery elixirs remain 12 hours. This applies to already existing potions as well.
  • All Chests that drop from Champions now turn red after 3 minutes, and then disappear a minute after that (for a total of four minutes). This includes standard champion chests, as well as ones from Champions in The Night Revels, Crystal Cove, and Snowpeaks festivals.
  • Framerate should no longer drop so dramatically in the multi-level encounter room of the Sword Crest passage of White Plume Mountain.
  • Adjustments have been made to some invisible dungeon monitors in the Shroud to improve performance, particularly at the end of Part 1. Gameplay mechanics of the Shroud have not been changed.
  • Reduced the VFX that activate when a creature becomes Frozen to help game performance.
  • Adjusted VFX that activate for Alchemist Bombardier's Burning Ambition to help game performance.
  • Mounts that aren't animals should no longer claim to be animals in their Mount type (Carpets aren't animals, who knew!)