This rant describes exactly the exception #2 I stated, and it's old history (last year).  Since then, we've implemented a better updater, and a better path toward getting patches into distribution.

Before this thread gets out of hand and Neko strips it clean...

We're aware there is a bug in the experience award - give us a minute to find it and fix it.

We're aware some are not attackable - we're looking into why.
** EDIT: figured out why, and fixed it

Do NOT list anything in forum that indicates what monsters give in loot or exp or what's strong and not.

Do NOT suggest ways to hang up or jam NPC's especially not ways to run them out of the map (bilbous - edit please).

Neko: remove spoilage at your descretion...I didn't spend the last month refactoring mobs to have it all poured out here.

Bovek watches bilbous tippy toe on the edge of darkness 

For the moment I can only reply re:cooking, that it's possible the result modifiers in those transforms may need adjusted up.  The prices should track correctly, while the results should have increased quality and accordingly an increased value.

That said, shredding bread and expecting that to be profitable?  Yeah we fixed that exploit.

Most of your comments reflect a narrow view of the situation...in some cases only slivers of the whole picture.

First, new in this release is Quality-Based Pricing with the NPC's which simply calculates their offers based on the quality of the item and this applies to everything.  With that, high quality crafted stock and ingots were producing rediculously high returns, so base prices for all of these were lowered substantially.  In other areas, more price slashing is to come.  In concert with this, crafting has been thoroughly reviewed and updates will be released shortly, which will change (in a number of cases reduce) the material required to craft things.  Weapons pricing is probably safe for the moment, but if you're hording, this would be the time to sell excess stockpiles.  As material costs come down, you may find that you'll be upside down in your cost basis if you don't.

In the larger picture, yes this is a game, a game in development, and changes have happened, are happening, and will continue to happen.  For the new people, this is probably a bit baffling, and I'm sorry for that...it will get better for you and soon, just bear with us.  For the veterans, you really should be accustomed to change by now.

It should be noted that there has been no one at all attending these aspects of the game for quite some time.  I came into this only recently, found where things went wrong, rolled up my sleeves and dug in.  More of you could stand to gripe less and help more...apply to Rules if you wish to have real impact on the future.  Send me a PM if interested.

Platinum was a hamfisted over reaction to circumstances of the time, and has created a well and fully acknowldeged imbalance, which we're making efforts to correct.  Correction will take time, and in some instances initial changes may seem equally hamfisted, but they are in fact necessary.  As time progresses, and things start to naturally come in line through spending down of excessive wealth and shifts of player activity focus and diversity, adjustments will be continually made, and they may be so subtle you may or may not even realize we've done it.

The long term goals are along the lines of diversity in character advancement, such that various paths will provide progression on a fairly equal scale.  There should not be any one path that largely dwarfs the others.  Up to now, every new character quickly discovered that there was only one way to do well in Planeshift: get a rock pick and start digging...become a millionare in a week, making everything effectively free.  Exploits notwithstanding, hopefully that time is gone.  Explore the other paths to success...I think you'll find there is more to Planeshift than Mining.

Stay tuned!

1% loss isn't nearly "destroyed".  Weapons have lasted nearly forever up to now, and that has been an issue for crafters and balance-minded players for a long time.  Now they don't last forever, and here come the rest of you.

Search some and you'll see the forums will bear this out...those effected haven't been the least bit silent on this point.

Yes, we're starting in on some balance stuff, and it won't all come overnight, so as we transition, there may be some tuning to be done.

 

If you think they are, I'll look forward to one of you finding me in IRC for a chat.  Try the #planeshift-build channel.

Bovek

Items and categories were recently realigned, and while we tried to keep all the merchants in sync, we may have missed a couple...should be back to normal in a few days.