31 October Updates - Halloween Event, QoL
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 5:27 pm
Halloween Event!
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To start the event, simply talk to Postie Pete in Edgeville. Everything should be relatively simple and straightforward. There is one tiny part that involves PvM combat, but players can purchase the necessary item from others to avoid combat.
Furthermore, a bug has been fixed that enabled players to completely freeze up the server. Two weeks ago, a player managed to - unintentionally - crash our server twice in a row using this method, but he reported it to us - despite fear of getting banned for using a bot. He ended up getting pardoned for reporting the #1 most sought after bug in PkHonor.
For those interested in the technical explanation: it was done through spamclicking flax using an autoclicker at a 1 millisecond interval, while autotyping ::empty every second. Game interaction - such as flax picking - is handled in our so-called "main thread", while all our commands are executed in a different thread. This way, slow commands (mostly the ones with database interaction) cannot cause lag in the main thread. For the past 8 years, several parts of our code have not been entirely thread-safe, and constantly refreshing the inventory through two different threads (flax picking + ::empty command) caused a deadlock in the code, completely freezing up the whole server.
Two other server freezes, one a few months ago and another one last year, were also caused by the exact same thing.
A lot of low-level code has been rewritten to make everything perfectly thread-safe, while also changing the way ::empty works. It's now also executed in the main thread, because it is in fact a command that causes 0 lag since it requires no database interaction. However, as always, there is always the possibility of having overlooked small parts of the code that can still cause a mass DC. We can never be 100% sure, but at least we always keep improving our server's stability to achieve that perfect 24/7 uptime. At least we are now certain that we have resolved the cause of every single mass DC from the last two years.
In further news:
After the release of presets a few weeks ago, we initially intended to lower several other XP rates, but taking everything into consideration, we decided there is no need, as there really aren't many other significant XP gains due to presets, other than those of Overloads and Super Combat Potions. Just less intensive clicking.
Construction did also become easier to train, but the main limitation there is the supplies. We didn't want the skill to become even *more* expensive than it already was, so we are leaving it as it is.
Starts in:
Ends in:
To start the event, simply talk to Postie Pete in Edgeville. Everything should be relatively simple and straightforward. There is one tiny part that involves PvM combat, but players can purchase the necessary item from others to avoid combat.
Furthermore, a bug has been fixed that enabled players to completely freeze up the server. Two weeks ago, a player managed to - unintentionally - crash our server twice in a row using this method, but he reported it to us - despite fear of getting banned for using a bot. He ended up getting pardoned for reporting the #1 most sought after bug in PkHonor.
For those interested in the technical explanation: it was done through spamclicking flax using an autoclicker at a 1 millisecond interval, while autotyping ::empty every second. Game interaction - such as flax picking - is handled in our so-called "main thread", while all our commands are executed in a different thread. This way, slow commands (mostly the ones with database interaction) cannot cause lag in the main thread. For the past 8 years, several parts of our code have not been entirely thread-safe, and constantly refreshing the inventory through two different threads (flax picking + ::empty command) caused a deadlock in the code, completely freezing up the whole server.
Two other server freezes, one a few months ago and another one last year, were also caused by the exact same thing.
A lot of low-level code has been rewritten to make everything perfectly thread-safe, while also changing the way ::empty works. It's now also executed in the main thread, because it is in fact a command that causes 0 lag since it requires no database interaction. However, as always, there is always the possibility of having overlooked small parts of the code that can still cause a mass DC. We can never be 100% sure, but at least we always keep improving our server's stability to achieve that perfect 24/7 uptime. At least we are now certain that we have resolved the cause of every single mass DC from the last two years.
In further news:
- When you die in the wilderness, you will now respawn right next to our ::shops room. There is a refund box, two bank booths, a Fountain of Heroes and two Altars that can be used for quick wilderness access
- All teleports from the PK'ing portal have been added to the 'PvP teleport' in the spellbook
- Regular players can now use the Fountain of Heroes to replenish their Hitpoints, Prayer Points and Special Attack Energy, but unlike Premium members, they do not receive any boost to HP or Prayer Points
- You can now make Bones to Peaches tablets at runecrafting lecterns in Player-Owned Houses, the option will be visible if you have nature runes in your inventory. They can be used to convert all bones in your inventory to peaches - healing 8 HP each - to extend PvM trips
- There is now an unfinished potion maker, who can combine vials of water with herbs for 250k coins per unfinished potion. The pricing may yet be adjusted, but we wanted to start off with a (too) high price to prevent abuse of this feature
- Combat XP lamps now also grant 4.35M HP XP, so using 3 lamps will increase your HP level all the way to 99. Same for the outdated ::pure command. Players who already used combat XP lamps (or ::pure) did not receive this bonus XP, but can enjoy a cheap alternative (see below)
- Using ::setlevel to increase any combat skill now only costs 250M coins
- Using ::setlevel to decrease any skill is now free (was already free for combat skills)
- New players now enjoy 3x combat XP in the first 10 hours of playing instead of the first 1 hour
- No more roofs are shown for any buildings in Edgeville, due to a game engine limitation
- Players that do not respond to the Sandwich Lady random event will now get instantly jailed (but not killed) instead of being attacked. However, they only need to mine 20 ore to leave
- Creating an Overload potion now grants 30,000 herblore XP instead of 60,000. Partly due to presets, but also because overloads were always intended to grant 30,000 XP. All these years, there was a bug in the code that made players receive double herblore XP from overloads, which I only noticed a few weeks ago (attentive players may have noticed a double XP drop until then). When I noticed, I decided to leave it at 60,000 XP, but with the huge time-saver that is presets, I decided to lower it to the initially intended amount after all
- Creating a Super Combat Potion now grants 20,000 herblore XP instead of 25,000
- You now need to wait at least 0.15 seconds in between picking flax - still allowing for fast picking, but preventing autoclickers from instantly filling up your entire inventory
- Fixed not being able to have a Snow imp follow you around as a pet
- Fixed the Occult Orb being listed as 'Orb' in the Grand Exchange buy screen and in ::prices
- Fixed the bugged looks of the Saradomin, Zamorak, Bandos, Armadyl and Ancient Dragonhide (from treasure trail Clue Caskets)
- Fixed the Barrows Chest not showing a popup with an overview of the loot
- Fixed the Perfect Ring effect not working for Pest Control Points when Killing WW solo (or rather, not as a clan). The effect already worked for PKP + PC points for clans and PKP solo
- Fixed the staircase from the Falador Mines not working (the one that leads into the room right next to the ::party room)
- Fixed the double message when receiving Pest Control Points from killing the WildyWyrm
After the release of presets a few weeks ago, we initially intended to lower several other XP rates, but taking everything into consideration, we decided there is no need, as there really aren't many other significant XP gains due to presets, other than those of Overloads and Super Combat Potions. Just less intensive clicking.
Construction did also become easier to train, but the main limitation there is the supplies. We didn't want the skill to become even *more* expensive than it already was, so we are leaving it as it is.
