Wurm Client Release History

Disclaimer: This article is not an official document. It attempts to accurately describe current policy and statements made by the developers, but should not be taken as binding or otherwise limiting. If an authoritative statement is required, it should be requested directly from from staff or the development team.

2.6.8 (2009-12-25)

There's a new main client release. It contains the accumulated changes from the preceding test clients.

This update also brings winter and Christmas in the form of new pack contents.

While this update should give a small performance boost (in particular with trees) to most people, it seems to trigger really bad performance in certain cases. If this affects you, please reduce your settings and bear with it. Further performance improvements are expected in the first half of January (Valve Standard Time). But if it makes the game simply unplayable, let us know.

(The release system decayed during my absence in spring, which lead to various complications, and that's why this update is very late and very big. We'll soon be resuming the regular small-and-frequent regime of yesteryear. So don't panic at the change list this time.)

Changes in 2.6.8.1472

• Console command 'bind' can now be used with one parameter (e.g. 'bind k') to show the current bind.

• Console command 'setoption' can be just with one parameter (e.g. 'setoption chat') to search for similar option names, and showing their values.

• New keybinds: DRAG, STOP_DRAGGING, PUSH, REPAIR, TURN_CLOCKWISE, TURN_COUNTERCLOCKWISE, PULL, IMPROVE, DIG, FLATTEN, PACK, HARVEST, FARM, CULTIVATE,

MINE_FORWARD, MINE_UP, MINE_DOWN, MINE_SURFACE, MINE_TUNNEL, PROSPECT, PICK_SPROUT, PRUNE, CUT_DOWN, CHOP_UP

Bind names are not final until they're part of a main client release. If you think any of the bind names are bad, explain why and suggest an improvement.

• Client will now retry connection failures, e.g. if the server is down or restarting. Known issue: It will also retry when it shouldn't, e.g. wrong password.

• Removed some options with limited or no effect.

• Changed reflection handling. Reflections now require FBO and GLSL support, but will use less memory and have better quality than before.

• Bugfix: Workaround for mipmap crash on ATI cards. This should remove the need for disabling FBO.

• Changes to hover text here and there. If you see something, say something.

• Now using LWJGL 2.1.0. Native win64 is now supported. In theory. No other interesting changes come to mind.

• LWJGL windows can now be moved during startup. Window can now be closed during startup.

• Changes to pack updater. Now has a separate file transfer bar for people who don't trust it. Optional graphics and sound packs can now be toggled separately.

• Client will now reconnect (or at least try) when disconnected.

• Bugfix: Workaround for the "This seems to be your first time playing" quirk, a.k.a "Press tab, then enter".

• Bugfix: Client would crash if it crashed before pressing play.

• New option no_terrain_render for people who have trouble playing. This option skips terrain rendering and just paints everything green instead.

Not intended for use except as a last resort if the client won't run normally.

• IRC connections now attach to the chat window

• There's a new crash window for expected bugs. You will know it by its cheeriness. Please report all crashes.

... and potential other changes from while I wasn't around. Apparently there's a wiki search or something.

Changes in 2.6.8.1477

• Fixed non-square window reflections.

• The reflection quality can now be controlled again.

• Changed debug output some.

Changes in 2.6.8.1482

• Bugfix: Memory leak when sound was disabled

Changes in 2.6.8.1485

• Bugfix: Memory leak with cloud shadows enabled

• Bugfix: Debug timers would sometimes get confused and show wrong values.

Changes in 2.6.8.1488

• Bugfix: Crash on reconnecting

Changes in 2.6.8.1493

• Minor debug changes

• Bugfix: If the keybindings file is corrupted or empty, load the default keybinds instead.

• Bugfix: Experimental packs weren't loaded properly.

Changes in 2.6.8.1506

• Improved disconnection handling.

• Don't lock up the client when opening an IRC connection.

• Remove keyboard focus from console when closing it.

Changes in 2.6.8.1520

Large changes in model and texture loading. If you see anything weird, let us know.

• Change how models are initialized.

• Unload unused models fully.

• Unload unused textures.

Changes in 2.6.8.1526

• Change how textures are loaded and initialized. This shouldn't cause any visible changes, but if you see something weird, let us know.

• The lag when you turn around just after logging in should be gone (but the general lag from terrain being loaded is still there)

Changes in 2.6.8.1531

• Bugfix: Make sure reflections can't be enabled when not supported.

• Bugfix: Compass was sometimes displayed when it shouldn't be.

• Make compass fade out when you start moving, and fade in when you stop.

• Bugfix: Crash when logging on while embarked.

Changes in 2.6.8.1533

• Bugfix: Another check for unloaded ship models.

Changes in 2.6.8.1535

• Bugfix: 2.6.8.1526 made bloom crash the client, fix that.

Changes in 2.6.8.1545

• Bugfix: Memory leak in the new texture handling

• Bugfix: Double-clicking an item group would sometimes activate the wrong item (or none at all)

• Bugfix: Use the normal screenshots/dumps/logs folders when a test client goes to the main server

• Bugfix: Really fix the glow crash this time.

• Improved feature detection. If you've ever had to change FBO, VBO, Multidraw or similar in the compatability tab because the java would crash, please try the following:

- Go to the compatability tab, set everything to "core". - Run the test client. - If it crashes, post console.log and HS_ERR_PID. - If it doesn't crash, post console.log and say that it didn't crash.

Changes in 2.6.8.1548

• Improve the tab bars. Only show close button on active tab bar, only color the active tab bar.

• Bugfix: Rightmost tab in tab bar was cut off.

• Extra error checking for FBO.

Changes in 2.6.8.1556

• Basic support for making MrB happy

Changes in 2.6.8.1562

• Small speed optimization in texture loading.

• Bugfix: Closed tabs will now remember their contents when reopened.

• Bugfix: Compatability is now spelled correctly.

• Bugfix: Non-power-or-two textures were used even if not supported.

Changes in 2.6.8-1587

• Bug detection for weird picking crash.

• Bugfix: Client crash if splash image was missing.

• More debug overhauls...

• Bugfix: Wiki search now remembers its position.

• Bugfix: Client crash on goblin 'ready' animation.

• Bugfix: Make ircsay work with the new irc windows.

• More general support for compressed textures.

• Move/rename some options to make the settings more understandable.

• Removed old browser launch code.

• Some fixes to boat movement

• Scrollbar fixes. Let us know if this breaks something else.

• Various changes behind the scenes.

Changes in 2.6.8-1591

• Bugfix: Scrollbar crash

• Bugfix: Fight window crash

Changes in 2.6.8-1596

• Improve wiki search window a tiny bit

• Bugfix: Make scroll panels sticky again.

• Bugfix: Display disconnect reason from the server when available.

Changes in 2.6.8-1598

• Bugfix: Make scroll panels less sticky.

Changes in 2.6.8-1608

• Improve tile selection in caves

• Improve keyboard focus handling

• Bugfix: Window would sometimes not respond to input until clicked

• Improve wiki search some

Changes in 2.6.8-1612

• Bugfix: Various popup bugs

Changes in 2.6.8-1619

Please enable color picking (now in the compat tab) and try it out. It will become the default soon.

• Bugfix: Some windows were invisible in an empty profile.

• Bugfix: Healthbar and target window would sometimes reset positions

• Improve color picking. Make color picking with FBO work.

Known issue: Popup windows will sometimes disappear or duplicate themselves.

Changes in 2.6.8-1629

• Preserve unknown keybinds (won't help until this becomes the main client, though)

• Support holding stuff in hands (but it's all backwards, so not enabling it yet)

• Bugfix: Trade windows were invisible on new profiles

• Improve keyboard focus some more, e.g. rename windows now autofocus the text field.

• Improve inventory prefetch. It now prefetches nested containers as well.

• Some changes to console command processing. If you use weird binds or commands and notice something, speak up.

• Don't do tile transitioning between tiles of the same type.

• Bugfix: Spell compatibility even more properly (when will it end?)

• Bugfix: All the known popup issues are fixed. Let us know if there are any remaining.

Changes in 2.6.8-1658

• Make crash handling a bit more robust.

• Bugfix: Bug with houses made lots of stuff render when it shouldn't.

• Attempted bugfix(es) for time warp issues after disconnection.

• Bugfix: Clean up HUD state properly after reconnection

• Bugfix: Another timekeeping issue, should solve wobbly action timers.

Changes in 2.6.8-1735

• Internal changes of various sorts. Make the minimum feature support checker more specific.

• Bugfix: Some text was cut off

• Bugfix: Flat tiles would sometimes be bumpy if adjacent to bumpy tiles.

• Bugfix: Crash if IRC window wasn't active.

• Internal changes to sky, terrain and water.

• Improve the light algorithm, for real this time. The switchlight command is gone now.

• Make icons look different.

• Bugfix: Do not wait several weeks to retry connection if the server is restarting

• New keybinds ACTIVATE, TAME, LEAD, STOP_LEADING, TRACK, FEED, TARGET, ABSORB, BREED, GROOM, DREDGE, FORAGE, BOTANIZE, PICK_FLOWERS

• Another feature for making MrB happy

Changes in 2.6.8-1755

• Bugfix: Waves should not stalk the player

• Bugfix: Water should not be opaque

• Bugfix: Mouse and keyboard was not released on disconnection

• Bugfix: Remove a Java 1.6 call

• Same procedure as last year, Mr. B?

• Compass now shows some slightly useful text on hover

• Bugfix: Chat panel input field cursor didn't blink

• Bugfix: Clicking outside input field should stop typing

• Enabled equipment attachment, with all the backwardsness that follows

• Bugfix: Crash related to broken models

• Bugfix: Crash with negative clock drift

Changes in 2.6.8-1762

• Handle broken models better.

Changes in 2.6.8-1772

• Bugfix: Tile hover text wasn't showing for the right tiles.

Changes in 2.6.8-1780

• Automatically reuse old packs when possible.

Changes in 2.6.8-1784

• Ugly trees are now less bright.

• Ugly trees should no longer hover in the air.

• Ugly trees should now be the same height as pretty trees.

Changes in 2.6.8-1792

• Improve the pack updater GUI

• Make distant trees be properly lit by sunlight.

• Make ugly trees be properly lit by sunlight.

Changes in 2.6.8-1793

• Bugfix: Reflections only appeared near the center of the server

Changes in 2.6.8-1799

If you have enabled the java console popup window, the game will not start until you close it.

• Bugfix: Reflections only appeared on the upper left parts of the server.

• Change how list windows are colored. Color wounds by damage.

• Change client thread stuff.

Changes in 2.6.8-1800

• Actually, cascade the wound color upwards so it's used on the closest visible node. Now back to work on other stuff.

Changes in 2.6.8-1805

• Bugfix: Prevent popup menus from going outside the screen.

• Bugfix: Malformed property files crashed the client.

• Bugfix: Hardware sound broke.

Changes in 2.6.8-1831

• Bugfix: Compass would crash client if you moved without stopping for too long

• Dragging now drags entire stacks of items. Holding shift when dragging lets you choose the amount.

• Bugfix: Workaround for a Vista/Win7 bug in the installer.

• Bugfix: Input fields in popup windows should now respond to the enter key.

• Bugfix: Reflections were not always disabled when they should.

• Bugfix: Color picker crashed client when alt-tabbing.

• Changes to tree rendering. Should run faster than before.

• Changes to texture handling. This should remove the general slowness seen since September.

• Known issues: Wound coloring is broken on test. Client is not updated for latest test features overall.

Changes in 2.6.8-1835

• Bugfix: Crash with VBO disabled if there were treeless regions nearby.

• Bugfix: Loading screen was not displayed.

Changes in 2.6.8-1843

• Bugfix: Distant gates and doors used random textures.

• Change the shift-drag window some.

• Change BML/XML handling. If you see any broken dialogs, let us know.

Changes in 2.6.8-1851

• Bugfix: House wall naming was inverted

• Workaround for buggy BML in writ management window.

Changes in 2.6.8-1879

• Bugfix: Don't display skill updates for favor

• Bugfix: Avoid flashing water with reflections disabled.

• Disable equipment attachment for now until we can fix it properly.

• Don't wait forever for AWT to shut down before starting.

• Bugfix: Crash when interacting with "Loading..." entries in inventory.

• Compass change (again). Compass is back to fully reliable, quality determines how fast the compass fades out, and how soon it reappears when you stop.

• Bugfix: Don't display skill updates if the value doesn't actually change.

• Bugfix: Skill decrease amount should be a positive number.

• Skill window now displays affinities gained and lost.

• Unify fight windows, make icons bigger and better, move stuff around, expand the coloring and display of stance changes, display current stance, etc. This is a work in progress.

• Force a disconnection before closing the client. This might help people who can't make the game shut down.

Changes in 2.6.8-1890

• Support for christmas theme. Support for non-darkened terrain.

• Added a new level to skillgain notif which enables favor updates.

Changes in 2.6.8-1897

• Farming tooltip now includes the crop name (starting at 15, age is still at 30)

• Gardening now enables flower name tooltips for those who can't tell them apart. Smiley

• Non-slope tooltips will now appear with all tools, except shovels. Shovel still gives slope tooltips.

• Improve crop rendering.

Changes in 2.6.8-1906

• Add a context menu to the fight window. This enables resizing and inverting.

• Add FISH keybind.

• Add BUILD_HOUSE_WALL, BUILD_HOUSE_WINDOW, BUILD_HOUSE_DOOR keybinds. These both start the wall and continue building it. The type of wall depends on whether you have a hammer/mallet or a trowel activated. These keybinds are high risk, as they might introduce issues with transforming wall types and accidental destruction of finished walls. If they don't work out, we'll remove them until a better solution is available.

• Bugfix: Client would crash if the maximum texture size was too small.

• Add farming tooltip for untended fields.

Changes in 2.6.8-1908

• Add BUILD_STONE_WALL, BUILD_TALL_STONE_WALL, BUILD_PALISADE, BUILD_FENCE, BUILD_PALISADE_GATE, BUILD_FENCE_GATE keybinds. See notes about house walls.

• Add FINISH keybind for unfinished items. Add CONTINUE keybind for complex items.

Changes in 2.6.8-1914

• Add keybind CONTINUE_BUILDING for building walls, was left out in previous version.

• Add a 'force reconnect' button to the connection screen.

• Ugly hack to make christmas trees work.

Changes in 2.6.8-1921

• Improve the spell effect window, in particular the duration display.

• Disable wall and house building keybinds while underlying issues are worked out.

Changes in 2.6.8-1927

• Bugfix: Can't stop, can't stop the disco (water)

• Bugfix: Roofs should now be where they should (be)

2.5.2 (2008-11-01)

• Stability fixes

This should help people who got X Error BadMatch or BadWindow when trying to start. It also solves the problem where a new install on mac os 64 (or other platforms that don't support LWJGL) would crash. Also fixed is the crasher on new installs because of missing icons in the file chooser.

• New display option widget

Mostly the same as the old one, but with a few new features. JOGL now supports maximized mode, and both renderers support custom resolutions in windowed mode. It also disables most options you don't need to concern yourself with, so it should be easier to use. Being a new widget, please stay alert for regressions.

• Working scroll bar arrows

The arrows on scroll bars should now work. Clicking on the scroll bar itself is still on the todo list, so no need to tell us about that.

• Window manager improvement

The window positions are now saved and loaded based on the actual canvas size. So if you resize your window during play you won't overwrite your normal-size settings.

• Wiki viewer now supports redirects.

• New splash screen handling and new wurm logo. No more downscaling and stretching.

• Bugfix: Trade windows will now remember their size and position properly again.

• Custom resolution input is now limited to digits (and at most 4). If you get a screen with width/height above 9999px, let us know.

• The client will no longer syn flood the server with library updates.

• Separate console log files for each character.

• Preventing accidentally closing crash windows

The close buttons on crash windows are now disabled for 3 seconds.

• Mine door improvements.

They no longer have tile transitions, and the tile is flat instead of bumpy

• New command "toggle fightspam" toggles spam mode

• New keybinds EXAMINE, TAKE and DROP perform those actions on the current mouse target

• (Hopefully) fixed an issue with non-current GL contexts on Mac OS 10.4

• Typo fix in the crash window.

• EULA is now stored locally

2.4.3 (2008-04-02)

• Ogg sound support (Will be used for music and now we could replace some of the old wav files in the packs)
• Preparations for the upcoming mounts/vehicles code
• Multiselection functionality for stacks by Kilean

2.4.0 (2007-11-22)

Featured changes

• Crafting toolbelt
• Customizable font sizes
• OpenAL support
• No more getting stuck in trees while logging in or respawning
• On-the-fly changing of some game options
• New key binds
• Crash bug on Mac OSX fixed

Minor changes

• Experimental threaded model loading
• Experimentally optionally enabling antialiasing and anistropic filtering
• Stats window always shows statistics down to the minute
• No more rainbows at night
• Various underlying library updates

Details

Crafting toolbelt

The crafting toolbelt is a floating window with up to five slots that can be assigned to anything in your inventory for single-click or hotkey access. During testing, everybody has one. It shows up always, in the upper left corner, and is just large enough to accommodate 5 Wurm item icons. It can be moved around by dragging it, like the compass image. After testing, it will be a craftable studded leather item, with the number of available slots depending on the quality of the belt. Crafting a belt will be required, as with compasses.

To assign an item to a toolbelt slot, simply drag it from inventory to a slot. To activate a tool in the toolbelt, left click on its icon once in the toolbelt. Double-click is not required, in the toolbelt. To activate a tool using a hotkey, press the appropriate key on your keyboard.

To enable hotkeys, add the following to your autorun.txt:

bind 1 activate_tool1
bind 2 activate_tool2
bind 3 activate_tool3
bind 4 activate_tool4
bind 5 activate_tool5

This will bind keyboard keys 1 through 5 to slots 1 through 5 in the toolbelt. Slot 1 is the left-most slot in the window and numbering proceeds sequentially.

OpenAL

OpenAL is the Open Audio Library. Enable it by choosing the option from the Sound tab in the launcher Options. You will also notice a new volume control in the Sound tab, which only affects OpenAL. OpenAL provides support for hardware surround-sound, up to 7.1, and provides reasonable positioning even with only stereo hardware.

Set rendering options on the fly

For now, setting rendering options while inside the game is done in the console using the setoption command. The currently supported options are:

• reflections
• trees
• structure_render_distance
• render_glow
• terrain_bump
• tile_transitions
• use_tree_models
• gui_opacity
• censor_chat
• setting_timestamps
• glsl_enabled
• shadow_level
• cloud_shadows
• log_level
• inverse_mouse
• sound_al_gain

These options should be recognizable vs. their names in the launcher Options. Those which are checkboxes, such as GLSL Enabled, accept true or false as options. For example, you could enable GLSL shaders by typing in console:

 setoption glsl_enabled true 

Those which are drop-down lists of choices accept numbered options, from 0 in sequence up through the number of options in the list. For example, you could select Short rendering distance for structures by typing in console:

 setoption structure_render_distance 1 

To set Extreme rendering distance for structures:

setoption structure_render_distance 4

The one slider supported is the new volume control, which accepts integer values from 1 to 30, with a default of 10 being no change in default gain. Values higher than 10 can result in nasty scratchy noises. Use at your own risk. (This is expected to change.)

Additional options which may or may not have a visible effect:

• cavedetail
• skydetail
• render_distant_terrain
• fast_yield
• release_context
• hint_fog
• hint_mipmap
• hint_linesmooth
• hint_perspective
• hint_pointsmooth
• hint_polygonsmooth
• use_smooth_points
• use_smooth_lines
• use_smooth_polygons
• use_anisotropic_filtering
• use_weather_particles
• outline_picking[/list]

New bindables

There are 7 new bindables:

• toggle_climb
• toggle_faithful
• toggle_lawful
• fight_aggressively
• fight_normal
• fight_defensive
• fight_spam -- Currently broken

Sample binds you can add to your autorun.txt:

bind u toggle_climb
bind i toggle_faithful
bind o toggle_lawful
bind h fight_aggressively
bind j fight_normal
bind k fight_defensive
bind l fight_spam

You may of course choose any other keys that aren't already bound.

Before anybody complains, yes eventually both these options and the key bindings will have their own GUIs inside the client to customize them without having to type long ugly formulas into the console. Baby steps.

2.3.0 (2007-06-25)

• New jogl and lwjgl jars
• Only supports java 1.5 so you may have to upgrade
• Animations for emotes and actions should now play. The have to be implemented, tested and added to the packs by the Sunsplash guys first though.
• The bug where light sources didn't work on logon fixed
• The bug where the contents of a container sometimes disappeared during drag and drop fixed

2.2.0 (2007-02-20)

• IRC logging, timestamping and censoring, just like the normal chat.
• Fixed a bunch of bugs.
• Animations are supported on models now. There already is a walking animation for the male character, and it will work as soon as the packs are updated.
• Flowers. Note that the flowers you get now are just test flowers, and will be replaced with prettier and more varied textures later on.
• Added "toggle gui" to the console. You might want to bind it to a key. (Default for new players is F10.)

2.1.10 (2007-01-23)

• New console commands:
  • wiki <topic>: (opens a wiki window about the topic)
  • irc [server] [port]: (default is irc.heavenlyplace.net and 6667)
  • ircsay: (sends a message to the topmost irc window, can be used to bind a key to identify your nick)
  • dump skills: (dumps the chosen argument to file. Only skills right now)
• If the server denies your login request, you get a "crash"-window telling you why, instead of just wurm quitting as it did in the past.

2.1.9 (2007-01-03)

• Rocks in grass and dirt are back in.
• Lava emits occasional puffs of smoke.
• Support for painted creatures, both like items are painted, and a simple rgb multiplication.
• Support for creatures of non-standard size. This can be used to make, for example, Emperor Spiders which are four times as large as normal ones, without requiring new art.

2.1.8 (2006-12-30)

• More butterflies from grass
• Birds in the sky
• Fish in the water
• Made smoke particles lit by the surroundings
• Tweaked fog particle generation a bit for "mistier" fog (pretty weather required)
• Particles fade out when close to the screen to avoid blinking when a particle passes the player
• New console command: "refresh". Rebuilds most display lists and textures. Use if your terrain starts looking weird.
• The spyglass works again now, and is more useful than ever!
• New option: Sky Detail. Set to high for more detailed clouds, but much less fps. Set to low for very crude clouds, but heaps of fps.

2.1.7 (2006-12-29)

• Support for transparent creatures. Only used for spirit guards now.
• Fixed the picking (mouse-overing) so walls won't block things behind them and so. There might be a small fps drop when hovering the screen because of this.
• Rewrote the collision detection to allow cylinders as well as polygons, and to get rid of the "snags" when following a wall.
• Made trees block movement again.
• Tweaked the fires. Smoke will now drift with the wind.
• Trees near the player now sway in the wind again. The effect is very subtle when there's little wind.
• Added basic support for stone houses. Major server work is needed for this.

2.1.6 (2006-12-05)

• Even darker mines and nights without torches
• Better light from torches
• Natural light from cave entrances
• Fixed rain! It should show up correctly again
• You can now finally mouse-over Sol and the moons again
• Support for items and players tied to the ground layer. This means players and items shouldn't float or get stuck under ground anymore. If the server tells the client something is as height "0", the client always renders them on the ground.
• Visible tools (if performing an action that requires a tool) or weapons on players! See screenshot below.
• Added options to adjust structure and item/creature rendering distances.
• Tweaking terrain/cave picking to make it easier to hover items partially embedded in the ground

2.1.5 (2006-11-30)

• The floors in caves are much flatter now, to make losing things in there harder.
• Caves are WAY darker. I might actually make them even darker in the next client update once I add natural light from entrances
• No more free torch at night
• The client supports light sources attached to models and players. The server will send this information for lit torches and lamps.

2.1.4 (2006-11-27)

• Fixed time synching. The sun should be in the right position now
• Fixed light sources not working right
• Fixed the volume problems in the sound engine
• Fixed the insane slowdown when hovering the game area (not gui) with the mouse.
• Fixed the annoying popup reset for right click menus. You should be able to use them without waiting for the refresh now.
• Added visible player model (male only for now, needs a protocol change for female)
• The client now remembers window positions
• New wurm logo! Should be replaced in the web page as well some day. Wink
• New loading screen.
• The client saves keybindings to a separate file, so if you bind a key ingame, it's remembered the next time you run the game.
• Added an option to not download optional packs. This reduces the initial patch from ~90 mb to ~9 mb, but you (obviously) won't see all models.
• New console command: say. Sends a message to :Local. Example: say /time
• New console command: reallyquit. Quits the client without asking if you're sure.