RIFT 1.9 Hotfix #8 – 7/18/12

This is quite a large hotfix with most of it focusing around Conquest with a lot of changes to it as well that will change how you play Conquest, yet again. I think this is for the good, too.

You can read the rest of the patch notes by clicking read more.

CONQUEST

• The rewards and structure of Conquest have been modified, with the goal of increasing the fun and rewards from the core gameplay of objectives and map wins. Wholesale PvP slaughter can be fun, but there are other activities available in Conquest!
• When an Extractor is taken by a team, it now grants Shards of Conquest to players in range of the Extractor when control flips.
  You can’t just tag an Extractor and leave the area to receive these Shards.
• Shards of Conquest can be combined to create Marks of Conquest.
• The chance of receiving a Mark of Conquest for destroying an Extractor has been slightly increased.
• When an Extractor is taken by a team, it now grants Favor, Prestige, and Experience to characters in the area of the Extractor when control flips.
  You can’t just tag an Extractor and leave the area to receive this bonus!
• Teams are now granted bonus Favor, Prestige, and Experience at the same time that Conquest Power is paid out throughout the match. The value is based on the number of Extractors your team holds.
• Bonus Colossi no longer spawn at the time the map begins – these planar menaces now spawn after a match has run for at least 30 minutes. Colossi hit points scale based on the number of participants in the Conquest match.
• The added capture speed bonus for having multiple characters around an Extractor has been decreased slightly.
• The Planar Foci that spawn in the end phase of Conquest have had their hit points increased.
• The Archlich no longer spawns immediately at the start of the bonus phase. It now spawns only after all Planar Foci are defeated.
• Be warned – the Archlich’s hit points increase depending on the population of enemies in the map during the end phase. It may be beneficial to remove opposing players before the Archlich spawns.
• The Archlich has relocated closer to Zareph’s Return.
• The Archlich awards 5 Marks of Conquest on death.
• The number of Marks of Conquest granted for winning a match has been increased.
• The number of Marks of Conquest granted for losses or ties in Conquest has been reduced.
• Marks of Conquest granted from wins/losses/ties now go into the Rift Loot UI.
• The amount of Favor and Prestige granted for killing players in the open fields of Conquest has been reduced; Experience remains unchanged.
• Players that return Empowered Sourcestone to their resource depots at base now receive Shards of Power, which grant small amounts of bonus Favor. Shards of Power can be received for returning up to 70 Empowered Sourcestone at a time.

CONQUEST QUEUING

• Factions that are full now allow you to queue to join them – and if you’re queued for a full faction, you have the option to leave that queue and select a different one.
  Once you enter a Conquest match, however, you will be committed to the joined faction and cannot leave the map and join as a different one until the match ends.
• Selecting a faction on the Conquest UI now either immediately gives you a Conquest entry invite or put you in the queue, instead of using a second enter-Conquest selection.
• Group leaders now select a faction – either for queue or immediate joining – for their entire group when joining Conquest.

RIFT 1.9 Released

RIFT 1.9 has been released! You can find entire release notes in this post or over at the RIFT forums.

== FEATURES ==

• RIFT 1.9, packed with new features to go check out!
• For massive 3-way cross-shard PvP, take a look at CONQUEST!
• New MENTORING system allows you to play lower-level content with your friends or solo.
• A brand new set of INSTANT ADVENTURE comes to Freemarch, Silverwood, Gloamwood, and Stonefield.
• Give your character a whole new look with the BARBERSHOP!
• PRIMEVAL FEAST is a new 10-player Sliver featuring Fae Lord Twyl and his plans for Lord Greenscale.
• The Prestige rank cap has increased to 50, and along with it comes all new PvP Armor sets!
• Summer comes to Telara and the Ascended are encouraged to enjoy the outdoors with SUMMERFEST!

Friendly Reminder: World Event Merchant changes for Patch 1.9

This is just a friendly reminder that come 1.9; which comes out June 27th, the following World Event Currencies will be obsolete. So make sure to spend these currencies before the update comes out if you still have any left.

• Otherworldly Sourcestone
• Ancient Golden Dragon Egg Shell
• Rune King’s Seal

Also starting the next update after 1.9, Dragon Tears and Magma Opals will be obsolete.

Unique Snowflakes, Glass Beads, and Carnival Prize Tickets will always remain useful, and will have their description changed to let you know they are an annual currency.

Source: World Event Merchant changes for 1.9

RIFT 1.9 Live Stream June 20th

On Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 Trion will be live streaming the upcoming 1.9 Patch to show off Conquest and other 1.9 changes such as Barbershop (it has finally arrived!) and the new Sliver: Primeval Feast.

This episode we’ll be covering:
Conquest PvP – If you haven’t seen this yet you should really check it out

• Engage in the constant struggle for control through capturing multiple objectives and powerups
• Join one of three factions and fight for the destiny of all
• Craft your way to victory by empowering your allies with the products of new Conquest specific recipes

Other patch 1.9 items – Did you know that there are a lot of great things coming up?Take a trip to the barbershop for a new haircut, a facelift, or some leg extensions

• Keep pace with your low-level friends with the new mentoring system
• Enjoy the excitement of instant adventures in Silverwood, Freemarch, Gloamwood, and Stonefield. You can even mentor down to check it out
• Challenge Fae Lord Twyl in the newest Sliver: Primeval Feast
• Go global! You’ll be able to chat with anyone in RIFT regardless of shard
• Summerfest is coming so be prepared to enjoy cook-outs, scavenger hunts, and more while fending off the Swarm Lord and his biting insects

You will be able to watch the live stream on Twitch.TV

Rift 1.9 Rogue fixes as of In-Progress Set #3

Here are the upcoming 1.9 Rogue fixes as of In-Progress Set #3 and previous sets.

I am sure we will see a few more fixes to Rogues when 1.9 and not just what has been mentioned below and the bug where you are immune to Wild Growth while strafing that has yet to be added.

I do wonder if Rogues will see an Energy update in 1.9 too? We could only hope.

BLADEDANCER
* Fixed a tooltip bug for Keen Strike and Quick Strike.

ASSASSIN
* Baneful Touch: Fixed a tooltip bug where tooltip indicated that this increased poison damage, when it shouldn’t.

BARD
* Virtuoso: Fixed a tooltip bug where the tooltip did not indicate that the effect only works on Codas and not all Finishers.

RANGER
* Predatory Soulstone: The Attack Power buff from Predatory Soulstone should now be triggered when Shadow Fire is cast and not when Shadow Fire deals damage to the target.
* Diffuse: Fixed a bug where Diffuse was causing damage abilities with buffs (like Shadow Fire and Annihilate) to be redirected to your pet.

RIFTSTALKER
* Rift Disturbance: Fixed a tooltip bug where the tooltip indicated the ability would grant a Combo Point when it doesn’t.
* Rift Barrier: Will no longer reflect damage after the absorption from Rift Guard has been consumed.
* Rift Barrier: Now generates threat from non-reflectable attacks received while Rift Guard is active.