Patch Notes

[Omni]

I've updated the description of Illusory Shapeshifting and raised the cost from 600 to 800 as it's somewhat more useful now.

Old description:
This allows you to take the appearance of any other humanoid you have seen or can think of. Your physical abilities will not be changed, and moderate pain will cause the illusion to break.

New description:
This allows you to match the appearance of other creatures (no bigger than twelve feet) and humanoids you have seen or can think of. Your physical abilities will not be changed unless you combine this with physical shapeshifting, and significant pain can cause problems with the illusion. For example, getting punched in the face might cause your face to revert or 'glitch out', revealing yourself as a fake. Without the Physical Shapeshifting Power, this will only be an illusion and not a true physical change.

[Omni]

You can now give yourself a custom user title. Yay! (UCP --> Profile)

[Omni]

The starting OM has been raised once more! It is now 5000, up from 4500! All existing members have had 500 OM added to their Earned OM. I anticipate this being the final increase.

[Omni]

The rules of conduct have been updated to clarify our position on mature content.

Sexual or violent content is permitted. We're pretty loose on what you can post here. However, sexual gratuity should not be described in extremely explicit detail. We're not that kind of site. If you're not sure on what's acceptable then ask a staff member. Sometimes it may be appropriate to put 'Mature' in the title of a topic in order to warn people of extremely graphic content, but this is up to you. Given the nature of the website, some degree of violence is to be expected.

[Omni]

More overall revisions to About The World for clarity. The largest difference is in the Balancing section, which hopefully sounds better than the old version without just saying "guns are weaker".

Old version:

The so-called 'balancing' effect of the Omniverse is one of the ways it can be observed that the Omniverse follows rules of its own, rather than the exact physics of our world. Weapons such as guns are generally far weaker than real-life, particularly those used by secondaries. Rapid-fire weapons are the weakest of all, and many are surprised to discover that they can survive a volley of hits from one without dying (though you're probably going to be in a lot of pain). That does not mean you cannot be killed by them. It's still possible for characters with low (0-1) DEF to be killed by a well-placed shot (or several shots, in the case of a rapid-fire weapon) to the head from higher (3-5+) ATK characters, just the same as a well-placed arrow. This does not mean you can godmode this happening in a player fight (see Site Rules).

New version:

In the Omniverse, two weapons summoned by the same individual that result in the same effect will always have the same strength, regardless of the weapon's mechanism. Be it steampunk technology, magically-powered or modern technology, the effect will be the same. They are linked to the user's own skill and power, and so a stronger individual can often summon a stronger weapon. As a result of this so-called 'balancing effect', summoning a weapon that is powerful in real-life such as a rifle won't be more powerful than a traditional equivalent such as a bow and arrow.

Different kinds of weapons summoned by the same individual may vary in power depending on the weapon's mode of operation. Slower weapons tend to be stronger, while quicker weapons tend to be weaker, in contrast with the real-world. This is one of the more obvious ways it can be observed that the Omniverse has its own strange brand of physics, dubbed 'omni-physics' for simplicity. As a result, people are often surprised to find that rapid-fire weapons aren't necessarily a better choice than a pistol, and may even be weaker.

[Omni]

In the name of getting more characters to buy and use communicators, I'm lowering the price of Communicators from 500 to 200. This should make them a much lower-tier purchase, as I believe currently a lot of folks are likely being put off by the cost to buy them much later on. Additionally, we're removing the item slot requirement for them. Go forth and interact over long distances! *jazz hands*

The Mobile Dataverse Device is more of an item for roleplaying fodder. I also would love to see more people using the Dataverse messageboards as there's a lot of cool potential there. So I'm lowering the price from 250 OM to 100 OM.

[Omni]

Fight Rules have been heavily revised and updated, particularly in regards to initiating fights and the rules for group fights. I've also added some example alternate rules and made the default rules a little more lax in regards to word count and time limit. Vita Compass is no longer the be-all end-all for finding people and it's more about simply what makes IC sense. As a result I'm going to be lowering the price for Vita Compass to 800 OM. I thought about introducing some anti-griefing rules but instead I've incorporated it IC in the form of 'Death Shroud', basically making you invisible when you respawn at the Nexus, see the full deets on Death and Banishment.

Feedback is welcome.

[Omni]

Additional detail regarding native secondaries has been added to About the World:

Secondaries are summoned to the Omniverse by Primes. Sometimes this is a deliberate summoning, while other times it happens inadvertently, particularly with large-scale summoning which by its very nature is more about the idea than the exact detail, leaving much room for unintended consequence. For example, many of the secondaries who fill the larger verses were created by Aragorn and Palpatine as they erected the buildings of their verses, somewhat to the chagrin of the former.

I got this idea from Proto Man after he requested that Proto inadvertently summoned the robot masters way back when.

[Omni]

You can now create 'anchors' in posts by using the bbcode [*anchor=linktext]text[*/anchor]. This allows you to link to a specific part of a post by using the bbcode [*goto=linktext]link[/*goto]. Mostly for my own use, but other folks might want to use this, for example, in profiles.

[Omni]

Courtesy of Alex, a bunch of NPC pages have been updated (you can tell because of the AWESOME LEVEL OF DETAIL). I've also updated the Factions page.

[Omni]

All of the rules pages have finally been updated and revamped. Of note is the fight page (see above), Factions, Moves (please read this as the moves system has been slowly evolving since launch and this level of detail is the new baseline), Death and Banishment (new Death Shroud) and Influence and Notoriety (with Ascendancy system, see above). If you notice any mistakes on these new pages, please let me know. As always, I will continue to revise parts as necessary for clarity, but any major changes will be logged here.

[Omni]

Vehicles section of About the World has been revised in regards to mount speed:

"Vehicles are an oddity of the Omniverse, and seem subject to the 'balancing effect'
exactly like weapons and magic. All vehicles, both flying and ground, have a top speed of around
80MPH. Horses and other mounts also seem to have a supernatural endurance, putting them on
par with vehicles. It's often quicker for speedy Primes to simply get to places on foot,
though obviously this can be tiring."

[Omni]

The Timeline has been updated courtesy of Alex. Several more NPC topics have also been updated.

[Omni]

The FAQ has been updated, notably clarifying the kind of non-combat powers we allow and the limitations on this.

[Omni]

For clarity's sake, I've listed Area Shield as a requisite for any shield larger than three feet in diameter, same as Area Attack proficiency.

[Omni]

The Whateververse rules have been updated to the OOC Rules of Conduct and are now guidelines for all OOC forums.

[Omni]

OOC Rules of Conduct have been updated:

This is more of a tip than a rule. You will have a much richer experience on this site if you use the forums, not just the chatbox. We're an international site and there are lots of different timezones, people working night shifts, etc. Folks aren't always around to chat instantly. If someone isn't online, then just post something! Consider this a rule when it comes to things that need updating and/or questions that need asking. Rather than putting your request in the queue and leaving it for the next available staffer to address, you are demanding their attention now. Please be respectful and use the Help Desk for its intended purpose.

[Omni]

The shapeshifting abilities have morphed! Here are the prior versions:

Physical Shapeshifting – 1400 OM (+1000 OM with Elasticity)
Physical shapeshifting gives your character the potential to completely shapeshift their body, gaining or losing up to double or half of their normal mass in the process. This has great practical applications for those with Physical Strength (for example you could make your fist gigantic). It can even be used to dodge by changing the shape of your body – for example by creating a hole in your chest where a sword was about to stab you! To create specific applications such as turning your limbs into weapons, you will need to purchase moves. If you wish to use shapeshifting to deceive people, you will need Illusory Shapeshifting.

Illusory Shapeshifting – 800 OM
This allows you to match the appearance of other creatures (no bigger than twelve feet) and humanoids you have seen or can think of. Your physical abilities will not be changed unless you combine this with physical shapeshifting, and significant pain can cause problems with the illusion. For example, getting punched in the face might cause your face to revert or 'glitch out', revealing yourself as a fake. Without the Physical Shapeshifting Power, this will only be an illusion and not a true physical change.

And here is what they have become:

Malleability – 1000 OM (+600 OM with Elasticity)
Malleability gives your character the potential to completely mold their body on the fly, gaining up to double or losing up to half of their normal mass in the process. Like Elasticity, it means that you can stretch to great lengths, but it also allows you to make your limbs and extremities bigger, for example in order to punch or grab someone with a gigantic fist (this would require Ranged Proficiency and Remote-Control Proficiency, respectively). It can even be used to dodge by changing the shape of your body – for example by creating a hole in your chest where a sword was about to stab you! It does not offer immunity to cutting weapons unless you can successfully use the power to 'mold' out of the way in time (governed, as with all movement, by your SPD stat). If you wish to shapeshift into other characters, you will need Shapeshifting.

Note: To create specific applications of malleability such as turning your limbs into weapons, you will need to purchase a move. Limited shapeshifts such as this do not require Malleability or the Shapeshifting power.

Shapeshifting – 1400 OM
This allows you to change your form into that of another humanoid or creature you have seen or can think of (no taller or wider than twelve feet). Depending on the difference between one's current form and the form you are changing into, and your SPD stat, a shapeshift can be almost instantaneous or take up to ten seconds (if very complicated and with a very low SPD stat). This does not change your actual stats, like an Alternate Form would. So while you may become bigger, you won't actually become stronger. Actively molding your body will require the Malleability power. Those with Enhanced Senses will be able to pick up on the fact that you are not what you appear to be. Additionally, being hit with enough pain may cause your shapeshift to 'glitch' – this won't actually knock you out of the shapeshift, but can reveal you to be a fake, for example by causing colours to flicker.

Note: Any natural weapons gained in your shapeshifted state (such as claws) will be weak against other Primes unless purchased as a move. Limited shapeshifts such as simply gaining claws or talons do not require the Shapeshifting power, only the move.

Of note: limited shapeshifts such as turning extremities into weapons no longer require the Physical Shapeshifting power.

Physical Shapeshifting has had its name changed to Malleability and has had its cost reduced by 400.

Illusory Shapeshifting has had its named changed to simply Shapeshifting. It is now the go-to power for shapeshifters and is not limited to illusory-ness. Its cost has been raised by 600.

Characters who have one or more of these powers (Shiro, Pandora, Ditto and Shang Tsung) will have their rosters updated with the new prices and be given the option to sell back these abilities if they no longer need them.

For example, Pandora only now needs one power, Shapeshifting, and no longer needs moves for separate shapes - she can shapeshift into most things not bigger than twelve feet. All she needs to purchase is the Shapeshifting power, and any 'natural weapons' that she wants to use against other players like claws, if she wants to. I've thus refunded Physical Shapeshifting and her three moves. Since you have a great deal of remaining OM now, I figure you'll probably want to just buy Flight, but you can repurchase the Bird Shape's gliding ability if you want (please get this approved as a standalone move if you do so)

Shiro no longer currently needs the power for his claws move, so I'm removing Physical Shapeshifting (now Malleability). He may repurchase this if he wants it.

I have left Ditto and Shang Tsung's powers without refunding anything (this puts Ditto's Spend OM slightly above his Earned OM until he's earned a bit more). If either of you wish to refund one of the powers, simply update yourselves as such and note it on your Log.

If anyone notices any references to Illusory Shapeshifting or Physical Shapeshifting in the rules, please let me know. I'll be going through in the next hour and getting most of the obvious ones but I may miss some.

[Omni]

In related news I have added the powers Growth and Shrink for those who wish to do these things without purchasing entire Alternate Forms.

Growth – 800 OM
(requires Physical Strength and at least 3 ATK) This allows a user to grow up to 100 metres tall without needing to use Alternate Forms. It can be used in combination with Shapeshifting to allow shapeshifts to gigantic creatures, or in concert with Malleability to remove the upper constraints on size. Like other shapeshifts, this is not a true Alternate Form and does not change your stats. While a giant size will increase your weight and reach, it will also leave you a much more vulnerable target as it does not increase your SPD nor DEF, making you a lot slower relatively speaking.

Shrink – 800 OM
This allows a user to shrink up to three inches tall without needing a dedicated Alternate Form. While your actual stats will not decrease, fighting on a small scale will require you to get a lot closer to use your abilities as your overall range and perception will be decreased in concert.

[Omni]

The Staff Page has been updated with our two new staffers. Additionally, Alex's status as the de facto NPC guy has been added officially.