Home
Recent in Developer Diary
Update 6: Commendations Developer Diary

Commendations
By: Jared "Kelsan" Pruett
 
Summary
Create a new-universal PvMP currency to replace the role of Destiny in the Ettenmoors. The new currency (Commendations) will be the primary driver of all PvMP rewards and advancement for both Freeps and Creeps.
 
The role of Destiny will be changed to a strictly “perk” currency that will only be acquired through leveling.
 
Goals
  • Replace Destiny with a new universal PvMP currency (Commendations) for both Freeps and Creeps.
  • Make PvMP combat the primary source of Commendations, reducing the need to PvE for PvMP advancement.
  • Place a cap on Commendations as part of a move to create a “PvMP Seasons” mechanic that encourages/requires player investment with each content update.
    •  
The Short Version
Throughout Update 6 and Update 7, we will be modifying the economy of the Ettenmoors by replacing Destiny with a new capped currency called “Commendations”. Commendations will be the primary currency for both Freeps and Creeps, requiring a re-costing of all barter vendors and skill trainers in PvMP.
 
As part of this change, we will be redirecting the focus of PvMP play on PvMP combat. The primary source of Commendations will be PvMP combat, while questing and NPC kills will function as a secondary-supplemental source.
 
The Nitty-Gritty
As stated above, we will be introducing a new currency called Commendations. I will attempt to outline the function of this currency below.
 
The Cap
Commendations will be capped at 10000. All players will start with 0 Commendations. (If you still have skills that you haven’t purchased for Destiny, go do so now! Spend your Destiny!)
 
Earning Commendations
Commendations earned via questing (both PvE and PvMP) 
  • PvMP quests that previously gave Destiny will give Commendations. Quests will reward players with 20-100 Commendations per quest.
 
Commendations earned via player defeat
  • Defeating an opposing player will provide roughly 50 Commendations.
  • For launch, Commendations awarded by defeating other players will use the existing contribution system (all players in group receive the full Commendation value of the target, assuming they are within range).
  • The current Diminishing Return system will remain in place for Commendations.
 
LAUNCHING POST-UPDATE 6
Commendations earned via player defeat
  • The awarded Commendations will be divided equally between all contributing players. Contributing Players are classified as any player that does damage to the target or heals a player that damaged the target.
 
Examples:
If there is only a single contributor that player receives 200 Commendations
If there are 2 contributors, each receives 100 Commendations
If there are 6+ contributors each receives 30 Commendations.
 
  • Diminishing Returns are applied each time a player is defeated within 60s of retreating. Each defeat within 60s of retreating reduces that player’s Commendation value by 20% with a maximum reduction of 90%.
    •  
Example:
Player A is defeated within 60s of retreating and is worth 20% less Commendations.
Subsequent defeats within 60s of retreat reduces his value 20% more.
His value cannot be reduced below 90% 
His Commendation value would look like this: 200/160/120/80/40/20
 
  • Defeating a player that is lower level will also return less Commendations in a similar manner to Diminishing Returns. Each level of difference the amount of Commendations awarded is reduced by 20% to a maximum reduction of 90%.
    •  
Spending Commendations
Commendations can be spent on both Troll and Ranger session plays, Creep advancement, and on all Barter vendors in the Ettenmoors.
 
The pricing scheme below is for Free People PvMP rewards. The depreciated cost represents the changes in pricing for older rewards as new rewards are released. In the data below, "Cost" is the current set, "D1" is the depreciated cost of the previous set, and "D2" is the depreciated cost of a set 2 content updates old.
 
ARMOUR Cost D1 D2
Head/Chest  7500 5500 3500
Shoulders/Legs  6000 4000 2000
Boots/Gloves/Cloak 4000 2000 1000
 
 
MAIN-HAND & OFF-HAND Cost D1 D2
M-Hand/Ranged/Class 7500 5000 3500
Off-hand/Shields 6000 4000 2000
 
 
JEWELRY Cost D1 D2
Ring/Earring/Bracelet 4000 2000 1000
Necklace/Pocket   6000 4000 2000
 
 
CONSUMBALES Cost D1 D2
Consumables 500 250 250
 
 
For Creeps, Commendations can now be used to purchase all Delving barter items including traits, brands, and consumables. The cost to purchase skills and traits will be adjusted and unified to work with the new capped system.
 
TYPE COST
Skill 2000
Traits 1500
Corruptions 1000
Appearance 7500
Brands 5000
Consumables 500
MP Sessions 2500
 
 
FAQ
 
Q. What is the purpose of Commendations?
PvMP was in need of a unified currency system that allowed PvMP players to progress in Monster-play without needing to PvE. Destiny was always intended to be the PvMP currency, but due to easy accrual and limited sinks we have ended up with extremely bloated Destiny pools. In order to accomplish our goals and not impact the PvE experience, we need to create a new currency specifically for use in PvMP.
 
The intention of this change is to create a sustainable currency that prohibits exploitive behavior, encourages active participation with each content update, and places the primary source of PvMP advancement on PvMP combat.
 
Q. Why cap Commendations?
The cap is designed to limit exploitive behavior and encourage player participation with each content update. Additionally, by applying a cap, we are able to relax the restrictions placed on PvMP rewards, namely the rank requirements. 
 
Q. What can I spend Commendations on?
Commendations can be spent on all PvMP rewards and advancement for both Freeps and Creeps. Since it is a currency that is shared amongst all characters on your account, you will be able to spend your currency on any character you wish.
 
Q. Why remove the rank requirements from gear?
Rank is not a sustainable mechanic. Once the requirement is met, it can never be used again. Additionally, we’ve found that it is impossible to properly compensate a player for the time investment required to meet the rank requirements. This ends up discouraging new players from participating in the system.
 
The capped currency, combined with a wider breadth of rewards (refreshed on a regular basis) should create a ‘fill and flush’ economy that always has something to offer. There will still be some rank exclusive rewards associated with PvMP (and more to come in the future), but we feel that PvMP armor is more of a necessity than an achievement.
 
Q. Aren’t I limited on how many pieces of gear I can buy at once?
Yes. You will be able to two buy 1 or 2 pieces of gear at the Commendation Cap. There should be a consistent flow of Commendations as long as you are participating in PvMP combat, providing players with incremental goals (“I’m saving for my helm… only 20 more kills!”). 
 
Q. Are these values set in stone?
Absolutely not. These are the initial values and they will likely go through a series of changes as we enter the testing phase.
 
A prime example: Ensuring that at cap a Creep can purchase all skills, racial traits, and corruptions available at their current rank.
 
Q. Are the Consumables listed referring to stacks? 
Yes. All consumables are referring to stacks and, as stated above, the estimated cost is subject to change.
 
Q. Will Commendations be in the Barter Wallet?
Yes.
 
Q. If Commendations are account shared, are they usable across servers?
No. Commendations are a per-server, account shared currency.
 
Q. If you remove the Rank requirement from armour, what's the purpose of Rank?
Rank requirements will remain on Jewelry, Weapons, Off-hands, Mounts, and Cloaks. As stated above, we see armour as a necessity instead of a luxury.
 
Q. Will PvMP gear be usable outside the Ettenmoors?
Yes, the PvMP can be used outside the Ettenmoors. The new season mechanic, associated with the new PvMP stat, will make the PvMP items more effective in PvMP than in PvE, thus preventing the undesirable overlap.
 
Q. What happens to the existing Ettenmoors/Ettendeep barter tokens?
All of the existing barter tokens will be converted over to Commendations upon Update 6 launch. The conversion rates are still being decided, but they will be small to avoid exploitation. These tokens will no longer drop in the game. 
 
Enemies in the Delving of FrĂłr that previously only dropped barter tokens now have a chance to drop consumables for both Freeps and Creeps. All vendors that previously bartered for these tokens have been converted over to Commendations.