Developer Log - January 2025

Behind the scenes as ever the Project Epoch team is steadfastly working towards a release as soon as humanly possible. However one downside of this is that the primary focus has been entirely on bugs, polish, tuning and wrapping things up with a neat little bow.

While these monthly logs have gotten less and less visual due to that we look forward to giving you these updates on key challenges we've faced and accomplishments along the way.

General State

When we last gave an update we stated we had 1,669 issues still open across a broad spectrum of the game with no development started on them. This included 50 Launch Blocking issues. This now stands at 1,571 open of which 23 are Launch Blocking. Many of the Launch Blocking bugs are also some of the hardest to resolve so we're pleased with that result. A key focus has been given to non-Launch Blocking issues too specifically high priority ones. This means that the bugs fixed this month have both been some of the most important ones and most challenging to tackle.

I once again want to express a deep thank you to our volunteer QA team who have sacrificed their personal time to confirming issues, testing fixes and finding new undocumented issues.

PvP Updates

The battlefield of Project Epoch continues to evolve, and thanks to valuable feedback from our community, we've made key adjustments to improve the PvP experience. Here’s what’s new:

Fairer Engagement: PvE to PvP Flagging Adjustments

Previously, non-Warmode players could initiate combat against flagged PvP players without being fully committed to PvP themselves. This was seen as unfair by many, and we agree. To address this, we've overhauled the flagging system:

Non-flagged players can no longer attack PvP players unless they themselves are flagged for PvP.
Opting into PvP now requires a long cast time and comes with a unique visual indicator, ensuring clarity and preventing sudden ambushes.
PvP Flags last a minimum of 15 minutes.

These changes aim to create a more transparent and fair system where players knowingly engage in PvP rather than being caught off guard.

Fixes and Polishing for Accidental PvP Flagging

We’ve also worked on refining the PvP flagging system to prevent unintended flag activations. Some of the notable fixes include:

No more accidental PvP flagging in dungeons.
Adjustments to how mind control effects interact with PvP status.
Additional refinements to ensure that PvP flagging functions as intended across all scenarios.

These changes reinforce our commitment to a polished, high-quality experience.

The Future of War: Alterac Valley Development Underway

Behind the scenes, our team has officially begun development on Alterac Valley. While we're keeping the details under wraps for now, rest assured that we are crafting a legendary PvP experience. Stay tuned for future updates as we bring this battlefield to life.

The Rise of the Horde Lorespeakers

For years, the Alliance’s Explorer’s League has been at the forefront of uncovering Azeroth’s past, piecing together ancient histories and forgotten legacies. But where was the Horde’s answer to this storied tradition? Enter the Lorespeakers, a newly recognized order dedicated to unearthing the vast and storied history of the Horde.

Founded by the Tauren and Trolls, the Lorespeakers seek to reclaim and preserve the knowledge of their ancestors. With the Forsaken now taking an interest, their pursuit of history has extended deeper into the shadows of forgotten ages. The Trolls, among the oldest known races of Azeroth, still recall the time when the Old Gods walked the land, and now, they endeavor to share their wisdom with those who would listen.

New Lorespeaker NPCs have begun to appear in Thunder Bluff, Orgrimmar, and the Undercity, offering Horde players an opportunity to engage with Azeroth’s history from a different perspective. Alongside them, a host of new quests will take players across the lands of Tirisfal, Silverpine, Mulgore, the Barrens, the Badlands, Stranglethorn Vale, Tanaris, Stratholme, and Scholomance—each revealing lost lore, forgotten histories, and hidden truths about both the Horde and Alliance's enduring legacy.

Both the Explorer’s League and the Lorespeakers will have a vested interest in a newly expanded Platinum Discs questline, offering fresh insights into the ancient past of Azeroth. This extension serves as a crucial bridge to our journey into Uldum, where both factions will uncover the deeper mysteries left behind by the Titans.

With this expansion, the Horde finally steps into its role as stewards of history, standing equal to the Explorer’s League in their pursuit of knowledge. Whether through the wisdom of the Trolls, the reverence of the Tauren, or the dark curiosity of the Forsaken, the Lorespeakers offer a new and compelling way to explore the past. The histories of Azeroth are waiting to be uncovered—where will your journey take you?

Molten Core Progress

Molten Core's overhaul is nearly complete, with all final trash spawns now in place, creating a more immersive and dynamic environment. The raid has been carefully refined with new mechanics, updated enemy encounters, and a greater level of challenge throughout. Every fight has been designed to feel engaging and rewarding, ensuring that both trash and bosses provide meaningful obstacles.

Server Core Shoutout

Over the past month, Project Epoch’s open-source core has seen substantial improvements thanks to the efforts of Zana244 and bounties awarded to SoglaDev. These contributions have tackled several long-standing issues, bringing greater accuracy and stability to core systems.

One of the most significant fixes addresses attack power calculations, which were previously incorrect and have now been properly adjusted. Additionally, major performance optimizations have been implemented, ensuring smooth gameplay even in high-population areas. These improvements will be especially noticeable in large-scale encounters, where server performance is now significantly more efficient.

Pet behavior and aggro detection have also been refined, making them more consistent and reliable. Alongside this, core combat mechanics—miss, dodge, parry, block, and critical strike calculations—have been completely overhauled to match The Burning Crusade’s formulas, bringing greater authenticity and balance to combat.

It’s inspiring to see ongoing collaboration and interest in strengthening Project Epoch’s open-source foundation. These contributions ensure the project remains well-supported, constantly improving, and firmly rooted in a high-quality gameplay experience.

Epoch Web 2.0

We’re excited to announce that our website redesign is nearly finished! The latest update includes the completion of the news post system, with all prior articles successfully ported over. As a result, we strongly suspect that the news post you’re currently reading will be the last one published on the old version of our site.

To give you a sneak peek at what’s coming, we’re sharing a couple of preview screenshots of the new design. We can’t wait for you to experience it, and we’re sure it will make navigating the latest updates and community news even easier and more enjoyable.

The Numismatist

This month, team member Kes decided to add a fun and quirky challenge for all you avid explorers! Introducing The Numismatist, a new meta collection and exploration achievement that’s sure to get you roaming across every zone in Project Epoch.

Here’s how it works: hidden throughout the game world are 40 coins waiting to be discovered. Your goal? Seek them out, collect them, and bring them to Altadena, the Collector located in Booty Bay. And what do you get for your efforts? Another coin!

It’s a lighthearted and rewarding adventure for those looking to uncover all the secrets of Project Epoch. Get ready to embark on your coin hunt, and see if you can track down them all!

When Can You Play Next?

The next opportunity to jump back into Project Epoch is coming up soon! Mark your calendars for February 15th, when the game will be available for 4 days. After that, we’ll have one more play session at the beginning of March for a final stress test.

Stay tuned for more information soon!