Avatar’s Update #324: R64 on QA, Arch Lapin Livestream Today


Greetings Fellow Avatars! Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

News Announcements

Community Updates


Release 64 on QA (Live next Thur)

An early version of R64 is on the QA server. R64 is full of new content and fixes, some of which is now on the QA server for early testing. An early version of the R64 Instructions are also available for review. We could really use everyone’s help to test all of this amazing content before it goes live next Thursday Mar 28!

  • Arch Lapin Returns with new loot!
  • Spring Equinox Items
  • Food Decoration Items (beyond just fruit and veggies)
  • Universal Trade Channel
  • POT MOTD
  • More Pirate Items
  • Gothic Dungeon Set
  • More Player Dungeon Encounters
  • R60 & R61 Livestream Items
  • Performance Improvements
  • More Bug Fixes
  • and more!

Please join us in testing on the QA server (instructions are posted each release in the bug forums) so we can make each release the best it can be. By helping us test prior to the release we can insure there are less bugs, more stability, and more balance.

Participating qualifies you for the Testing Incentives Program! We will reward you for your efforts because we do understand that time spent on QA is time lost on advancing your character on live. Each release we will randomly reward the following rewards (one prize per player):

  • 500 Gold Crowns (4 prizes)
  • Ant Farm (4 prizes)
  • Antennae (4 prizes)
  • Bug Cloak (4 prizes)
  • Set of Bug Paintings (4 prizes)
  • Bug Sprayer with emote (1 prize)
  • Insect Leg Table (1 prize)
  • Corpion Chair (1 prize)

In order to qualify you must meet the following requirements:

  • Install the QA version of the game
  • Login and play on QA for at least 4 hours per release
  • Report at least 1 bug in the QA section of the forums
  • Note that players will only be submitted for the lottery once per QA cycle. Continued bug reporting will not count toward additional submissions into the lottery.

Thanks Avatars!

 


Arch Lapin Livestream Today

Another content packed weekly Community Livestream is this Friday March 22 at 4 PM CT on Twitch!

Spring is in the air and brings with it the smell of death! The smell of Death Bunny that is! This week we are going to show off the return of the dreaded Arch Lapin! Rumors abound of the return of this nasty foul creature who can only be slain by the fabled Sacred Orb of Obliteration. The Arch Lapin was our first seasonal boss and was inspired by the Monty Python “death bunny”. This year we have added two new loot items to this side quest: Confection Bunnies and Confection Eggs!

If we have time we will also show off some of the new Spring items Scottie has made.

You can earn Release 63 Darkstarr stretch goals by making a purchase or by participating in the Rewards program!

  • ACHIEVED! $15K: Darkstarr Wand
  • ACHIEVED! $30K: Darkstarr Throne (Reverse Colors)
  • ACHIEVED! $45K: Darkstarr 1h Sword
  • $60K: Darkstarr Clock Tower (Reverse Colors)
  • $75K: Darkstarr Coronated Leather Helm and Darkstarr Longbow
  • $90K: Darkstarr Dungeon Room with Clock
  • $105K: Darkstarr Trident and Darkstarr 2h Axe
  • $125K: Darkstarr Black Leather Armor

As usual we will be giving out prizes at 4:15 and 4:45! To be eligible all you need to do is either make any purchase in the store or log into the game and type “Happy birthday Darkstarr” in the chat window (no purchase necessary).

Watch on Twitch this Friday at 4 PM CDT

Are You a Livestreamer?

Get this exclusive in-game Streamer Camera for being a veteran of our Livestreamer Program!


Portalarium Resuming Worldwide Support and Publishing

Effective immediately Portalarium is resuming worldwide support and publishing for all territories. This means that all customers formerly serviced by Black Sun will now be supported directly by Portalarium. We feel this transition will allow us to better serve our worldwide customer base directly. This follows on the previous transition last year away from Travian Games.

Black Sun customers will just need to login to the shroudoftheavatar.com website and change their email for the transition to be complete.


After Purchase Gifting on Web Going Away with R64

Starting with Release 64, we are eliminating the feature from our webstore that allows the gifting of items after purchase. Items purchased on the webstore are now automatically delivered in the game, and therefore are not available to gift to another account.

Please note that “Send as Gift” will still be available as an option at the time of purchase. Also use of the in-game mail system for sending items is always an option.


Darkstarr Recurring Items

It is the Regent Darkstarr’s (aka Starr Long) birthday on March 12th! In honor of his birthday the recurring rare Darkstarr items are in the Crown shop for a limited time! They will only be available this year until May 3rd and then you will have to wait for another full year before they become available again!

Here’s a list of those recurring items:

Darkstarr Fur Collared CloakLord British vs Darkstarr Battle BannerDarkstarr Shield & Darkstarr Shield Pattern Pack Darkstarr Basement Entrance Eternal Pattern


Lord of the Isle Episode 2 Bundles

As one of the biggest and earliest supporters of Episode 2 you will be granted the largest lot deed in the land (Castle), the title Lord (or Lady) of the Isle, a tour of the Portalarium Offices, and dinner with the game leaders including Lord British himself! Only 24 of these unique bundles will be sold! 

Complete List of Rewards:

  • UPDATED: Lord of the Isle Place Anywhere Castle Lot Deed: Tax Free Forever (when placed in a POT) and Tax Free for 1 Year (when placed outside of a POT). Placeable on water as well as land!
  • Title: Lord of the Isle or Lady of the Isle
  • NEW: Unique Lord of the Isle Home (to be revealed later)
  • UPDATED: PLUS Choice of any 1 House currently available in the store
  • Castle Basement currently available in the store of your choice
  • Castle Wall Set currently available in the store of your choice (with enough for Castle Lot)
  • NEW: Unique Lord of the Isle Dungeon Room (to be revealed later)
  • 1400 Crowns
  • 999 Bank Slots
  • Pick 12 Prosperity Tools
  • 2 Unique in-game items (to be revealed later)
  • Early Access to Episode 2
  • Episode 1 Box and map signed by the team
  • 1 hour one on one with Chris for design discussion (via video-conference)
  • One real silver ring crafted personally by Lord British: Numbered 1 – 8
  • In-game version of the Lord British ring: Numbered 1 – 8 (including a place-able decoration version)
  • Tour of Portalarium Offices
  • Fine dinner and drinks with Lord British, Darkstarr, & Atos at a location TBD in Austin or NYC.

NOTE: Digital items that are currently available will begin delivery as soon as Release 62 (Jan 31). Other items will be delivered at a future date TBD.

NOTE: Travel costs NOT covered by Portalarium for Tour & Dinner.


Row Homes Livestream (YouTube)

Last week’s Row Homes livestream was beautiful! We showed off some amazingly decorated Row Homes by our players and demonstrated how to decorate. As a reminder every player who finishes any of the Outskirts (roughly 2 hours of gameplay) receives a free Row Lot Deed and Row Home!

We also made a ton of progress on the Darkstarr stretch goals!

  • ACHIEVED! $15K: Darkstarr Wand
  • ACHIEVED! $30K: Darkstarr Throne (Reverse Colors)
  • ACHIEVED! $45K: Darkstarr 1h Sword
  • $60K: Darkstarr Clock Tower (Reverse Colors)
  • $75K: Darkstarr Coronated Leather Helm and Darkstarr Longbow
  • $90K: Darkstarr Dungeon Room with Clock
  • $105K: Darkstarr Trident and Darkstarr 2h Axe
  • $125K: Darkstarr Black Leather Armor

In case you missed the fun times here is the stream on YouTube:


Shroud of the Avatar Rewards Program

The Shroud of the Avatar Rewards Program lets you earn the best rate on purchasing Gold Crowns, AND receive rare stretch-goal items from our monthly livestreams! This program automatically enrolls you in the monthly livestreams (counts as the $5 minimum purchase) along with other perks.

For the low price of $9 USD per month you will receive the following:

  • 900 Gold Crowns of the Obsidians every month
  • Automatic Participation in the Monthly Livestream Stretchgoals (counts as the $5 minimum purchase)
  • Exclusive Title every 3 months
    • 3 Months: Keeper of the Faith
    • 6 Months: Keeper of the Word
    • 9 Months: Keeper of the Vow
    • 12 Months: Keeper of the Flame
  • Pick any Dye 12 Pack every 6 months
  • Pick any three of the 7 Obsidian Potions every month, including:
    • Potion of Capacity: Increases carrying capacity
    • Potion of Conservation: Reduces reagent use chance
    • Potion of Expedience: Swift gathering on all gathering skills
    • Potion of Precision: Increases Meticulous Collection to all gathering skills
    • Potion of Preservation: Reduces armor and weapon damage
    • Potion of Reclamation: Increases Salvage and Repair to all production skills


Upcoming Events Calendar

Mar 28, 2019 – Release 64
Apr 5, 2019 – Release 64 Livestream (Dark Spring)
Apr 6, 2019 – Release 64 Dance Party
Apr 25, 2019 – Release 65
May 3, 2019 – Release 65 Livestream
May 30, 2019 – Release 66
June 7, 2019 – Release 66 Livestream
June 27, 2019 – Release 67
July 25, 2019 – Release 68
Aug 29, 2019 – Release 69


Meretz: Win a Circle of Stones Dungeon Entrance

Win a Circle of Stones Dungeon Entrance & earn free SotA in-game items daily!

Whether you move a little or a lot, as a Meretz user you rack up valuable Meretz Points (MPs). The more MPs you have, the more stuff you can buy!

Think: in-game SotA goodies, Sweepstakes entries, Relics by Rild giveaways, and tons more. With Meretz, we launch several sweepstakes every month. This month, we’re giving away the Circle of Stones Rift Dungeon Entrance Plus 125 Point Dungeon – valued at $100! You can also enter to win a Relics By Rild $50 Gift Card and other cool prizes. AND, use your MPs every day for in-game items like potions and emotes.

What’re you waiting for? Download Meretz TODAY!


Project to Support – Avatars Radio

Avatars Radio is a community run and community funded radio station founded by community member Amber Okhan (formerly Amber Raine). They air plays, music, sermons, speeches, and they organize the monthly release dance parties. You can listen to Avatars Radio on their website or through one of the Aether Amplifiers inside Shroud of the Avatar. Consider helping this community endeavor by supporting their Patreon!

“This station was created with the love of our community and fellow citizens in Lord British – Richard Garriott’s new world of Shroud of the Avatar. Our dream desire is to serve and share (simply by airing) communities work through the moon towers. We have an open welcoming of all submissions from our community. Talented musicians (be it instrumental, vocal, or mixer), poets, designers of station identifications and other sound bytes, or perhaps you have the face and voice for radio and would like to try your turn behind the desk as a DJ? This station shall always welcome the creative works of the community weighed over that of earthly!”


Resources – Players Helping Players

SotA_NewPlayerWelcome_Forum

The official SotA New Player Welcome Forum and the Player Created Resources Forum have the best player created resources for Shroud of the Avatar, whether it’s a Player Written Guide, a Video Walk-through, or a Wiki-type Website.

Visit the official Community Resources page for a complete listing of all things community.