Author Archives: Berek

Berek

About Berek

Senior Community Manager for Shroud of the Avatar.

Richard Garriott Hi-jinks: AMA! Dragon Con Wedding and Storytelling

reddit-logoReddit AMA: Richard had one of his busiest schedules at Dragon Con ever this year, with 9 different events to preside over. Despite that, he still found time to do a Reddit AMA Sunday night where he answered questions about everything from how he got the name Lord British through what languages can he speak to how he celebrates Halloween.

Check out the entire AMA on Reddit.reddit

Speck’s Wedding: Not one to stay idle, after the New Britannia Round Table on Saturday, Richard presided at the wedding of a community member, Speck, who was given away by her childhood friend, Shooter Jennings. It was a true Dragon Con wedding with the groom dressed as Deadpool and a Jedi cutting the cake with a lightsaber. MJ Guthrie at MassivelyOP even covered the wedding!dcon wedding4

dcon wedding1dcon wedding3

Storytelling Interview: Richard had just landed in Austin from Dragon Con when he was interviewed by Unseen Dragon about storytelling.

Many from the community also attended Dragon Con to meet with Richard Garriott, Tracy Hickman, and to celebrate their presence in the game with each other. Enter the forums to see more photos of their adventures, and to post your own if you attended Dragon Con as well!


Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 33 Postmortem

Join us Friday, September 9th at 3:00 PM Central (20:00 UTC) for our monthly Hangout of the Avatar! The team will be chatting about Release 33 and looking ahead to Release 34.

As always, we will be giving out rare Lord British artifacts of immense power and glory, and answering your latest questions. For a chance to win an artifact, be in Discord chat during the livestream. There will be multiple chances to win throughout the broadcast!

UPDATE! Livestream has concluded. You can now watch the archived recording on YouTube here:

You will also be able to watch directly on YouTube: www.youtube.com/portalarium! The final recording will be archived on YouTube after the event as well.

If you wish to win prizes, be in Discord or IRC chat during the livestream! Post your questions in the comments below. Only one post submission allowed, and keep questions to 3 or less. This will allow us to get to as many players as possible.

Questions and feedback related to this release’s specific topics will be given priority and really verbose questions may be skipped, as they can be a challenge to shorten and summarize live on the air. In brief… please keep your questions… brief.

Tweet with us @ShroudofAvatar during the Hangout!



Free Raffle Tickets in Release 34 Raffle

UPDATE: Because the many users had already purchased tickets and the release of these free tickets will change the odds we are port_Lottery_Ticket_POT_Lot_Deed_icondelaying the free tickets until Release 34. See updated text below.

As mentioned in the Release 33 instructions we have begun the distribution of in-game Lot Deeds via Raffles. The raffles will be monthly and for this first month’s raffle we will be handing out 75 Place Anywhere Deeds and 600 Player Owned Town Deeds. Raffle Tickets can be purchased from Home Decoration merchants in various locations throughout the game.

For those backers who do not yet own property we are going to automatically enter you into both Raffles in port_Lottery_Ticket_Place_Anywhere_Lot_Deed_iconRelease 34! Anyone who has game access to Shroud of the Avatar, but does NOT yet own property at the beginning of Release 34 (September 29, 2016), will automatically be given a gift of 1 Raffle Ticket of each type to the First Raffle. To claim your tickets simply login to the game, go to the nearest bank and claim your rewards. The drawings will be held on October 27, 2016 and winners will be announced shortly thereafter. Deeds will be delivered in Release 35.

Backers are not eligible for this gift if they meet the following criteria on September 29, 2016:

  • Own an Ancestor Pledge or above
  • Own a Viking 2-Story Row Bundle or above
  • Own a Kobold 2-Story Row Bundle or above
  • Own any quantity of Add On Store Deeds
  • Own any deeds won through previous drawings, contests, etc.SotA_Row_Lot_Property_Deed

‘Dawn of New Britannia’ Trailer Contest Results!

Wow! We had an outstanding community trailer contest this month. All submissions were truly fantastic and a pleasure to watch. Our team struggled mightily in narrowing it down to only three winners, as each entry was done well and were quite unique from each other. In fact, the debate over first and second place continued until the very last moment!

Well done participants! We present to the community the winners of the contest:
  

1st Place goes to Ember for ‘New Britannia Awaits’:

Ember receives: $1,000 Store Credit, SotA signed t-shirt, Sword of Midras hardcover book, SotA COTOs coin, and a specially signed congratulations letter from Richard Garriott.
  

2nd Place goes to Net for ‘Experience Shroud of the Avatar’:

Net receives: $500 Store Credit, SotA signed t-shirt, Sword of Midras hardcover book, SotA COTOs coin
  

3rd Place goes to Selene for ‘Welcome to New Britannia!’:

Selene receives: $250 Store Credit, SotA signed t-shirt, Sword of Midras hardcover book, SotA COTOs coin

You can view all entries in the contest in a playlist at youtube.com/portalarium. Note that the order of the trailers in the playlist is not in order of those we selected, except for the top 3 winners placed at the top of the list.

Congrats again to the winners, and to all that created a beautiful Shroud of the Avatar trailer for the community! For more about the contest, visit the Contest Announcement Article.


The Summer Telethon of the Avatar Part 2

Summer Telethon Part 2Avatars! Are you ready to continue celebrating with us the biggest event to hit New Britannia since the great cataclysm?

At Midnight CDT (5:00 UTC) on August 22, 2016, we are expiring ALL remaining pledges, including: Adventurer, Founder, Royal Artisan, Explorer, Ancestor, Edelmann, Knight Marshal, Lord Marshal, Duke, and Lord of the Manor 2. To commemorate the final expiration of all remaining pledges, we are holding the 12-hour Summer Telethon Part 2, starting at 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) and running right up to the Final Pledge Expirations at Midnight CDT (5:00 UTC).

You can pre-post your questions right here in the article’s comments section, or post questions during the telethon in Discord chat.*

What exciting events can you expect throughout the day? An array of fun activities and engaging content, many of which you can directly participate in with us in-game! We will also be giving away a ton of fabulous prizes*, and if the following stretch goals are met, we will be adding amazing new content into the game.

Did you see what was unlocked during last month’s telethon? Let’s make it happen again in Part 2!

Help us to achieve the following goals during the telethon!QuestionMark_

As a special bonus, we are offering Telethon Funding Stretch Goal Rewards to any backer that pledges a minimum of $5 from the start of the telethon, until Midnight (Spending Store Credit to make $5 minimum purchase does not apply). The Summer Telethon of the Avatar Funding Stretch Goal Rewards are:Exclamation_Point

  • Achieved!  $10,000: /aeroplane emote
  • Achieved!  $25,000: ? and ! Hats
  • Achieved!  $35,000: Aeronaut Outfit
  • Achieved!  $50,000: Accordion musical instrument
  • Achieved!  $65,000: Mini Automaton Pet
  • Achieved!  $80,000: Baby Clockwork Dragon Pet
  • Achieved!  $100,000: /camera emote with Tin Type Camera (takes tin type black & white screenshots)
  • Achieved!  $130,000: Clockwork Armor (helmet has built in radio)
  • Achieved!  $150,000: Flaming Bagpipes (musical instrument) with Metal and Leather Kilt
  • Achieved!  $175,000: Weather Changing Clockwork Umbrella
  • Achieved! $200,000: /firedance emote with Leather Outfits

Aeronaut Outfit


Read more…


Richard Garriott Attending Dragon Con 2016

Richard “Lord British” Garriott will be attending the Dragon Con convention in Atlanta from Friday to Sunday this coming September 2-4, 2016! He will be available at certain times for autographing, as well as on a number of exciting panels you won’t want to miss!

Read more…


Weekly Lot Selection Report – Developer, Navigator, and Ancestor Groups

Lot Selection is coming up on the last week! We continue to see more beautifully decorated houses going up each day across all of New Britannia. Jump in the game to tour the cities!

This is your group-by-group weekly update on which pledge tiers have already claimed lots, and which groups are about to be able to secure a lot yet this week.

Check the list below to see if your group is coming up!

Interested in upgrading your pledge to claim sooner? You can! Just go to your Account settings and click on the Pledges menu tab.

NEW GROUPS SELECTING LOTS THIS WEEK

DEVELOPER – Groups 64-72:

  • Royal Founder – Group 64: August 16 at 03:00 CDT (08:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 65: August 16 at 08:00 CDT (13:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 66: August 16 at 13:00 CDT (18:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 67: August 16 at 18:00 CDT (23:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 68: August 16 at 23:00 CDT (August 17 at 04:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 69: August 17 at 04:00 CDT (09:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 70: August 17 at 09:00 CDT (14:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 71: August 17 at 14:00 CDT (19:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 72: August 17 at 19:00 CDT (August 18 at 00:00 UTC)

NAVIGATOR- Groups 73-81:

  • Royal Founder – Group 73: August 18 at 19:00 CDT (August 19 at 00:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 74: August 19 at 00:00 CDT (05:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 75: August 19 at 05:00 CDT (10:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 76: August 19 at 10:00 CDT (15:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 77: August 19 at 15:00 CDT (20:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 78: August 19 at 20:00 CDT (August 20 at 01:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 79: August 20 at 01:00 CDT (06:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 80: August 20 at 06:00 CDT (11:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 81: August 20 at 11:00 CDT (16:00 UTC)

ANCESTOR – Groups 82-90:

  • Royal Founder – Group 82: August 21 at 11:00 CDT (16:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 83: August 21 at 16:00 CDT (21:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 84: August 21 at 21:00 CDT (August 22 at 02:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 85: August 22 at 02:00 CDT (07:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 86: August 22 at 07:00 CDT (12:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 87: August 22 at 12:00 CDT (17:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 88: August 22 at 17:00 CDT (22:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 89: August 22 at 22:00 CDT (August 23 at 03:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 90: August 23 at 03:00 CDT (08:00 UTC)

FINAL GROUP!

  • Secondary Lots – Group 91: August 24 at 03:00 CDT (08:00 UTC)

After all group times have passed, anyone will have a chance to place a lot. Lot selection details and all the group times are listed in the Lot Selection announcement on the main website.

To get daily lot selection updates, follow the game on Twitter at www.twitter.com/shroudofavatar, or keep the above Lot Selection announcement bookmarked for easy access!


Weekly Lot Selection Report – Knight and Knight Marshal, Edelmann, and Citizen Groups

Lot Selection is underway! This is your group-by-group weekly update on which pledge tiers have already claimed lots, and which groups are about to be able to secure a lot yet this week. Check out the list below to see if your group is coming up!

Interested in upgrading your pledge to claim sooner? You can! Just go to your Account settings and click on the Pledges menu tab.

NEW GROUPS SELECTING LOTS THIS WEEK

Knight and Knight Marshal: Groups 37-45:

  • Royal Founder – Group 37: August 8 at 03:00 CDT (08:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 38: August 8 at 08:00 CDT (13:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 39: August 8 at 13:00 CDT (18:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 40: August 8 at 18:00 CDT (23:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 41: August 8 at 23:00 CDT (August 9 at 04:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 42: August 9 at 04:00 CDT (09:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 43: August 9 at 09:00 CDT (14:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 44: August 9 at 14:00 CDT (19:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 45: August 9 at 19:00 CDT (August 10 at 00:00 UTC)

EDELMANN: Groups 46-54:

  • Royal Founder – Group 46: August 10 at 19:00 CDT (August 11 at 00:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 47: August 11 at 00:00 CDT (05:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 48: August 11 at 05:00 CDT (10:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 49: August 11 at 10:00 CDT (15:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 50: August 11 at 15:00 CDT (20:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 51: August 11 at 20:00 CDT (August 12 at 01:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 52: August 12 at 01:00 CDT (06:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 53: August 12 at 06:00 CDT (11:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 54: August 12 at 11:00 CDT (16:00 UTC)

CITIZEN: Groups 55-63:

  • Royal Founder – Group 55: August 13 at 11:00 CDT (16:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 56: August 13 at 16:00 CDT (21:00 UTC)
  • Royal Founder – Group 57: August 13 at 21:00 CDT (August 14 at 02:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 58: August 14 at 02:00 CDT (07:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 59: August 14 at 07:00 CDT (12:00 UTC)
  • Founder – Group 60: August 14 at 12:00 CDT (17:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 61: August 14 at 17:00 CDT (22:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 62: August 14 at 22:00 CDT (August 15 at 03:00 UTC)
  • Benefactor – Group 63: August 15 at 03:00 CDT (08:00 UTC)

More group times are listed in the Lot Selection announcement on the main website. The last group will be Group 91 on August 24 at 03:00 CDT (08:00 UTC). After all group times have passed, anyone will have a chance to place a lot.

To get daily lot selection updates, follow the game on Twitter at www.twitter.com/shroudofavatar, or keep the above Lot Selection announcement bookmarked for easy access!


‘Dawn of New Britannia’ Community Trailer Contest

Get those eye popping trailer ideas ready, Avatars! This is your chance to show that Shroud of the Avatar is both the game, and community, that new players will want to experience next! The ‘Dawn of New Britannia Community Trailer Contest’ kicks off today!

You have from August 4, 2016 (Now) to August 21, 2016 (11:59 PM CDT) to design a video trailer for all New Britannians to see and admire. Glamorous city districts, creative player-owned towns, luxurious housing, intense combat, majestic outdoor areas, and so much more is available to proudly show off. There’s a nearly infinite potential in creating a trailer that makes even the most hardy New Britannia cry in joy, and to want to share the video with others.

Below are the details of this contest, including what you can win when creating an amazing video!

WINNERS & PRIZES

Trailers will be judged by a team at Portalarium on the following merits:

  • Keeping to the Shroud of the Avatar world (Only SotA footage, audio, or your own (free/non-copyrighted) assets)
  • Overall originality and artistic flair (Don’t overdo it! Simplicity can work wonders)
  • Diversity of in-game areas presented (Outside scenes, inside homes, dungeons, etc.!)
  • Overall flow from opening scenes, buildup of in-game footage, and end scene
  • Seamless transitions, consistency, and smooth gameplay throughout
  • Will it make a fan shed a tear in joy? Brownie points here!

Check out these great prizes for designing a great trailer!

  • Grand Prize: $1,000 Store Credit, SotA signed t-shirt, Sword of Midras book, SotA COTOs coin, and a specially signed congratulations letter from Richard Garriott.
  • 2nd Place: $500 Store Credit, SotA signed t-shirt, Sword of Midras book, SotA COTOs coin
  • 3rd Place: $250 Store Credit, SotA signed t-shirt, Sword of Midras book, SotA COTOs coin

All Other Submissions: Everyone else that submits an eligible and feature complete trailer will have theirs included in a contest playlist on the official Portalarium YouTube channel for proudly submitting their work.

Final entries and winners will be mentioned and possibly shown in the upcoming summer telethon on August 22nd! Keep watch on the main website for details on the telethon.

Read more…