Ill Omens skirmish event?

[Elflord410]

I see only 3 pets and 2 cosmetic cloaks...

Any representative from the SSG can explain where the "new equipment" is?

I was wondering this as well, are pets now "equipment"?

[Damrod_Freason]

I was wondering this as well, are pets now "equipment"?

No, but rare essences are (in a somewhat extensive meaning of "equipment").

[Thornglen]

Is the quest meant to account for player level? At level 26 I can get the quest, but it directs me to do Moria and Mirkwood instances which are just a tiny bit out of reach.

You do need to meet the requirements to do the various Skirmishes.

Understood. Do you know how many of the daily quests will be accessible for lower levels? The event quest shows up as soon as you can do skirmishes, but so far the requirements have all been out of reach for anyone too low level to have the Moria/Mirkwood skirmishes unlocked.

[Tel'aran'rhiod]

You do need to meet the requirements to do the various Skirmishes.

We've been hearing from some people who feel they are not getting proper credit for defeating Harbingers, and have been looking into it. We are wondering if it may be related to kiting? You do need to be within a certain distance of where the Harbinger spawns to receive credit, and the text indicating this is listed as "Do not retreat from combat", which, while it could be clearer, may explain what is going on.

Ah yes - this explains what I saw. Twice didn't get credit in Dannenglor, once did. The one time I did I didn't move the mob at all. The other two times I dragged him away from his spawn. Not exactly clear from the text.

[Silmelin]

We're working to get some responses to your questions, but the first we can say is that in this first 24 period there's been a bug that will be corrected shortly. The wrapper quest will update its associated daily Skirmishes every day at 3:00 AM Eastern (-5 GMT) starting this overnight (so next update is 3am Eastern 2/9/19). This quest is currently updating at 10:00 AM Eastern, but that will be corrected shortly.

Thanks for popping in to tell us that answers are coming

I'm especially hoping for replies to:
* Is this a once-only event and when will it end?
* Will those of us who can only get about 8 tokens per day really be able to earn 200 tokens before the event is over so that we can get all the pets and cloaks?

[Cordovan]

Thanks for popping in to tell us that answers are coming

I'm especially hoping for replies to:
* Is this a once-only event and when will it end?
* Will those of us who can only get about 8 tokens per day really be able to earn 200 tokens before the event is over so that we can get all the pets and cloaks?

The event runs through March 11th, shutting off at 3:00 AM Eastern (-5 GMT) on March 12th. This event is designed to return in the future, but ultimately that depends on how this event goes and what people think of it. Depending on how much you wish to play the event, you may not be able to get every pet and cloak available this time around, but it is likely to return.

[Silmelin]

The event runs through March 11th, shutting off at 3:00 AM Eastern (-5 GMT) on March 12th. This event is designed to return in the future, but ultimately that depends on how this event goes and what people think of it. Depending on how much you wish to play the event, you may not be able to get every pet and cloak available this time around, but it is likely to return.

Oh that is great news! If it is set to return regularly we won't need to be able to get all the items now, and can work on getting them all a few at a time, and won't have to grind like crazy either and can skip a day here and there

Though please give those of us not at max level a way to get a few more tokens, it looks like people who are at max level and who play stronger classes can get about twice the tokens than the rest of us?

Having an event that gives us a new reason to do the skirmishes is great, I've been planning to do the old deeds a long time now, but it's just never happened, and now I have a good reason to start working on them!

Another thing, those who haven't unlocked all the skirmishes will have a harder time, so please do repeat this event, and not only once per year, so that they too can earn tokens and get the items as they level and unlock more skirmishes

Thank you for replying to my worries! I really appreciate it!

[Arnenna]

The event runs through March 11th, shutting off at 3:00 AM Eastern (-5 GMT) on March 12th. This event is designed to return in the future, but ultimately that depends on how this event goes and what people think of it. Depending on how much you wish to play the event, you may not be able to get every pet and cloak available this time around, but it is likely to return.

Not sure it's going to remain that popular with this buggy feel to it, and less likely once classes that depend quite a bit on kiting, find out they can't kite and if they do it will very likely fail. What do we have mobile trait lines for? Removing most of the damage from them is one thing, but removing credits for moving, is just . . . something else.

Besides that, I killed the harbinger in Dannenglor earlier. Granted, I kited him, but we were quite close to his original spawn point when he fell over. How close is close enough for this new mechanic? Also, why are the harbinger deaths counting off the */60 deed, if they are being killed to far off their spawn point to tick down the quest? It all makes zero sense.

[Arabani]

The event runs through March 11th, shutting off at 3:00 AM Eastern (-5 GMT) on March 12th. This event is designed to return in the future, but ultimately that depends on how this event goes and what people think of it. Depending on how much you wish to play the event, you may not be able to get every pet and cloak available this time around, but it is likely to return.

I like skirmishes, and I like the idea of sucn an event. But it should be available to any kind, sort and level of players and thier characters. I believe the quest should require not 4 specific skirmishes per day, but any 4 different skirmishes. There could be a second/alternative daylie quest that sends you to specific skirmishes and gives more tokens that way. There should be more and better rewards, again for any kind of players and characters. More deeds as well, funnier deeds as well, secret deeds, challenging deeds. And of course skirmish soldiers need to be up to date, even in level 50 Tier 3 solo skirmish a soldier lives a few seconds at the best.

[Dadislotroguides]

I think I have everything captured here:

http://dadislotroguides.com/u23-3-sk...ent-ill-omens/

[Thornglen]

I like skirmishes, and I like the idea of sucn an event. But it should be available to any kind, sort and level of players and thier characters. I believe the quest should require not 4 specific skirmishes per day, but any 4 different skirmishes. There could be a second/alternative daylie quest that sends you to specific skirmishes and gives more tokens that way. There should be more and better rewards, again for any kind of players and characters. More deeds as well, funnier deeds as well, secret deeds, challenging deeds. And of course skirmish soldiers need to be up to date, even in level 50 Tier 3 solo skirmish a soldier lives a few seconds at the best.

Or, if they want to keep it to specific instances, have different ranges available. So a player coming in with a level 20-something character does not feel excluded from the event when the quest is offered, but the quest is only for higher levels.

Another MMO I play has dailys that change depending on the level of your characters and the areas of the game/expansions you are able to reach. I like that as it allows all players to participate.

[Arnenna]

I like skirmishes, and I like the idea of sucn an event. But it should be available to any kind, sort and level of players and thier characters. I believe the quest should require not 4 specific skirmishes per day, but any 4 different skirmishes. There could be a second/alternative daylie quest that sends you to specific skirmishes and gives more tokens that way. There should be more and better rewards, again for any kind of players and characters. More deeds as well, funnier deeds as well, secret deeds, challenging deeds. And of course skirmish soldiers need to be up to date, even in level 50 Tier 3 solo skirmish a soldier lives a few seconds at the best.

Yup, I loved the idea of this event, but alas, it's not turned out as I thought it would. I don't even bother pulling my skirm soldier out now, because when I do, he dies well within the point of being any use whatsoever. The rewards for the actual skirmish are out-dated, tier 3 relics (at level 120 t3), at a time where the only relics anyone wants are barter and involve embers. And to top it all, no kiting, but if you must, don't step too far, and nobody seems to know how far, too far, is.

Think I'll go back over to Legendary server and try this out if and when it comes back for a second run.

[Arnenna]

Or, if they want to keep it to specific instances, have different ranges available. So a player coming in with a level 20-something character does not feel excluded from the event when the quest is offered, but the quest is only for higher levels.

Another MMO I play has dailys that change depending on the level of your characters and the areas of the game/expansions you are able to reach. I like that as it allows all players to participate.

Yeah they did this the first year that they ran the anniversary event. The year after, they ended up doing a whole other event for low levels to run alongside it. I'd have thought some lessons were learned from that for future events.

[Dinara]

Yeah they did this the first year that they ran the anniversary event. The year after, they ended up doing a whole other event for low levels to run alongside it. I'd have thought some lessons were learned from that for future events.

Maybe they are using this event as a "test" and will add the lower level instances next time?

[Michaleo]

We've been hearing from some people who feel they are not getting proper credit for defeating Harbingers, and have been looking into it. We are wondering if it may be related to kiting? You do need to be within a certain distance of where the Harbinger spawns to receive credit, and the text indicating this is listed as "Do not retreat from combat", which, while it could be clearer, may explain what is going on.

I defeated the Harbinger without dying or anything unusual and got credit for the skirmish in the Skirmish Assaults quest, but the deed did not increment. Not sure how the deed would decide it didn't qualify if the quest counted it, but I didn't write the code .

[TharbadThief]

The event runs through March 11th, shutting off at 3:00 AM Eastern (-5 GMT) on March 12th. This event is designed to return in the future, but ultimately that depends on how this event goes and what people think of it. Depending on how much you wish to play the event, you may not be able to get every pet and cloak available this time around, but it is likely to return.

What you said on your stream, "This was put together rather quickly" (paraphrasing) ... sadly, it shows. If it comes back with fewer bugs, more detailed (and accurate) information, and better understanding of the outdated skirmish mechanics, I for one might do another "Ill Omen" at some point.

[Arnenna]

Maybe they are using this event as a "test" and will add the lower level instances next time?

Maybe, but then, you'd have to ask why test only at one level range? Surely a wider test audience would be a better choice. it makes no difference to me, I'm only looking to do this event on my main, and she has every skirmish open and all skirm deeds complete to date. None of it makes sense. Why have quests open up to level 20 players, then present skirms that they cannot participate in for that quest's objectives. There are only three skirms that a level 20 can take part in (Gondamon, Tuck and Storm) that's no where near enough to get this deed done within the time frame, that's for sure. There are 19 skirms and we have 32 days for the event. to fit every skirmish set in twice is not possible, but even if they fit those three low level ones in twice, it still won't be enough for lower level players to get a good bite into this event.

[Tel'aran'rhiod]

....

Besides that, I killed the harbinger in Dannenglor earlier. Granted, I kited him, but we were quite close to his original spawn point when he fell over. How close is close enough for this new mechanic? Also, why are the harbinger deaths counting off the */60 deed, if they are being killed to far off their spawn point to tick down the quest? It all makes zero sense.

I think this is the instance where it will happen the most - at least for solo players. It's just too tempting to drag the spawn over to multiple NPCs! That being said, now I wonder would what happen if you dragged him over, but got him back for the killing blow to be close to the spawn point. That would be interesting. But anyway, yeah - it's all a bit nebulous. I do like the event in that the skirms are more challenging as t3, and I tend to not even bother skirmishing that much - so in that way I enjoy it. But they really need some better rewards. Come on..give us some cool steed outfit or a pet balrog!

[Arnenna]

I defeated the Harbinger without dying or anything unusual and got credit for the skirmish in the Skirmish Assaults quest, but the deed did not increment. Not sure how the deed would decide it didn't qualify if the quest counted it, but I didn't write the code .

I got the complete opposite lol. The deed ticked down, but it didn't register against the skirmish assault quest, even though I fully completed the skirmish after taking down the Harbinger. That happened in both Necro and Dannenglor.

It seems it is so buggy, that the bugs are even getting mixed up.

[Cordovan]

We have found another bug that we expect to correct in a hotfix next week (most likely): All of the Deeds in the Ill Omens Skirmish Event cannot be completed unless you are at level cap. While the Tier 3 Deed is intended to only be able to be completed at level cap, the rest should be able to be completed by a player of any level with access to the associated skirmishes.

[gildhur]

My experience yesterday:

I joined a 120 12-man T3 Deep-way, killed that harbinger, and got credit.
I made my own 120 solo T1 Rift, killed that harbinger at the spawn point after dying a couple times, got credit.
I made a 120 solo T1 21st Hall, killed that harbinger at the spawn point, got credit.
I made a 120 solo T1 Way of Smiths, killed that harbinger at the spawn point, got NO credit.

After seeing the rewards - new colors of existing pets, cloaks I don't wear, and a single essence after a full month of grind - I'll pass on this until the bugs are worked out and better rewards added.

[Zvim666]

Yesterday I finished Battle of the Way of Smiths lvl 120 T3, but did not get anything for killing the harbinger. The quest is still 0/12...

If you try to kite that one, you wont get credit.

[dwarfThar]

I made a 120 solo T1 Way of Smiths, killed that harbinger at the spawn point, got NO credit.

Did yesterday's and today's skirmishes on level 120 T3 with a friend, we got t3-deed credit for all except this one. The problem is that it spawns after the final boss is defeated, i guess. It's the same for regular encounteres: defeating them after the skirmish is finished won't advance any deeds. So basically as long as the harbinger in Way of the Smiths spawns that late, the T3 deed will not be completeable. Hope this is fixed rather sooner than later...

Edit: to clarify: the quest advanced, the deed didn't.

[Gildoriel]

Did today's skirms with a full group and had problems with the Harbingers' adds in two of them: In Dannenglor the Harbinger spawned so badly that one of his adds aggroed on our tank but was behind an invisible wall so there was no way of killing it. We killed the Harbinger anyway and because we were far enough away, we were able to complete the Skirmish. In Assault on the Ringwraiths' lair we were not so lucky: One of the Harbinger's adds spawned inside a wall with no way for us to attack him, and we found no place where we could lose aggro so we never dropped out of combat to be able to claim the final point. So we had to leave the instance incomplete even though we did everything necessary to complete it. I am really angry about these bugs. Not to mention the useless barter items you offer. You know, when I play events and instances I want to advance my chars and not only do it for cosmetics.

[Garan]

We have found another bug that we expect to correct in a hotfix next week (most likely): All of the Deeds in the Ill Omens Skirmish Event cannot be completed unless you are at level cap. While the Tier 3 Deed is intended to only be able to be completed at level cap, the rest should be able to be completed by a player of any level with access to the associated skirmishes.

Thanks for the info Cordovan. Please keep us posted as there's still a lot of questions and confusion (and a fair bit of frustration). Just hearing from a blue name goes a long way.

EDIT: And FWIW, I bet my issue with not getting credit was also due to kiting (or at least dying and reengaging too far from the spawn point) as I do recall killing the Harbinger in Way of Smiths way over in the North East corner, pretty much as far as you can get from the spawn point.