We have deployed v1.8.13, a monumental stability and gameplay pass. This update overhauls non-functional class skills, introduces robust security protocols to prevent item duplication exploits, eliminates high-CPU thread pooling, and refines party isolation rules for a seamless multiplayer campaign experience.
Class Skills & Combat AI Realignment
- Necromancer Minion AI Attacks: fixed a critical data omission where the Necromancer's Golem and Skeleton Mage (Rune D) were completely passive. They have been successfully assigned active combat attack routines.
- Witch Doctor Skill Adjustments: resolved an issue where Mass Confusion (Rune C) failed to compute damage. The ability now accurately applies its damage scalar along its entire path. Additionally, fixed the Rush of Essence passive bug that could permanently cripple your mana regeneration rates.
- Wizard Mirror Image Spammable Cooldown: corrected a missing constraint on Mirror Image that allowed infinite, zero-cooldown spamming. The skill now strictly enforces its official cooldown window.
- Crusader Judgment Proc Fix: calibrated the Judgment "Conversion" modifier to reliably execute its authentic 20% trigger rate.
- Universal Power Guard Tracking: fortified the core skill engine. If any ability encounters an internal calculation error during execution, it will now safely abort and log a specific error signature rather than disconnecting the player from the game server.
Anti-Dupe Security & Inventory Protections
- Two-Handed Weapon Duplication Shield: crushed an inventory exploit where equipping a Shield alongside a Two-Handed weapon while having a completely full inventory caused the weapon to drop to the ground while simultaneously remaining equipped. The server now strictly rejects the action with an "Inventory Full" notification.
- Safe Dynamic World Transitions: resolved transition crashes occurring when players utilized dynamic loot-run portals whose destination worlds had already closed down or been recycled by the engine.
Server Threading & High-CPU Relief
- Eradication of 100% CPU Wait Loops: identified several high-stress thread stalls affecting Corpse Lance, Golem AI, world gates, and Rift Portal openings that were spinning threads at 100% CPU capacity. These mechanics have been completely migrated to the optimized world scheduler.
- Thread-Safe Skill Rosters: implemented thread shielding around active power script arrays to prevent concurrent network and game tick threads from causing duplicate data allocation errors.
- Robust Buff & Death Cleaning: if an individual active buff errors out, the server now cleanly isolates and drops only that specific modifier instead of locking up the entire world tick. Additionally, monsters failing to complete death payloads will be forcefully swept from the screen rather than standing immortal at 0 HP.
Multiplayer Campaign & Cinematic Isolation
- Captain Rumford Zombie Waves: localized the New Tristram gates event. The dialogue triggers and scripted zombie waves are now strictly isolated per-player, ensuring they do not bleed out or repeat for other members of the server town hub.
- Cinematic & Cinematic Cutscene Isolation: Deckard Cain and The Butcher scripted event cinematics are now exclusively transmitted to the players actively participating in the encounter rather than interrupting the entire party.
- Rift NPC Cleanup: updated dynamic maps to automatically sweep out campaign-specific story actors, preventing lore NPCs from spawning as hostile monsters inside active Rifts.
- Loading Screen Protections: expanded the player loading screen immune gate from 6 seconds up to 60 seconds. The server now safely locks your character position until your client fully finishes loading, preventing unfair player deaths.
Expected gameplay impact
- Highly Responsive Minions: Necromancer summons act immediately and aggressively to eliminate targets.
- Stable Server Environments: deep reductions in background CPU consumption, guaranteeing exceptional performance during crowded public rifts.
- Fair Multiplayer Progression: clear campaign milestones and protect your account items safely with bulletproof inventory validations.
If you notice instability, please report hero name, zone, UTC time, and whether .offline was active in Support.
- Zethrone Team
