Various Oddities

There's a huge amount to explore in this latest beta version, but bare in mind that not everything is complete and there may indeed be bugs, as should be expected for a beta, especially one with such substantial changes as this one.

The biggest change with this version is the re-implementation of spells. Now spells are operated entirely by the server and clients are only responsible for showing any visual effects of spells in their immediate vicinity. This has meant that for the most part any spells in existing worlds are likely to break (though not cause a crash), but an attempt has been made to update existing spells from older versions to this new system.

One of the largest benefits of this new system is the addition of the Active Spells screen, an inventory window which allows for the quick and easy management of all spells from anywhere in the world, even other dimensions and even if the spell is inside of an unloaded chunk. From this screen you can dismiss your active spells, edit their variables, and even give them a custom name for ease of memory. Spell custom names are shared with all clients, but there is a new client-side config option to disable custom name display should you be concerned about inappropriate use of this feature. Note that the Active Spells screen also displays any spells currently affecting you, which you may not have ownership of and therefore no ability to control them.

The system also allows for caster level to be locked in to specific castings of spells, rather than drawn from the owner at runtime. This means a spell cast when your caster level was lower retains its lower caster level rather than suddenly gaining your new one. A variety of spells have been updated to reflect this change, which means damage and durations have changed dramatically in some cases.

Other new additions include the Kirin archfey and its Lightling minions, a revised elven disguise for the Witch archfey, and the Entreating mechanic. Player data will track the last 8 items that were broken (either through durability or damage) by that player, and interaction with an archfey will allow them to trade a single diamond block for a random item from that list (which is returned with a random amount of restored durability, always at least 35%). Be warned that each entreating has a 1 in 3 chance of erasing the list of items entirely, and each returned item carries the ominous Feytouched enchantment.

A variety of other enchantments have also been implemented, allowing for the quick and easy addition of special elemental or type-based damages or protections to be added to your equipment. Rat problem? Time for a Vermin Bane sword. Expecting to face an avid spellcaster? Try a piece of Spell Resistance armour.

Lastly, as Various Oddities Showcase 15/10/2020 demonstrated, the companion system has been implemented allowing for a versatile and flexible mob-control method. Currently the only mobs that can be companions are the Mount spell, the Mage Hand, and the Floating Disk, however this is expected to expand to include faction mobs in the very near future.