Avatar’s Update #380: Gathering & Meticulous XP Rewards Update! Latest News Q&A Friday Livestream!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Check out what’s new this week! Gathering XP has received a HUGE update! A new Vault round has arrived — Riding Outfits & Pack Animals! New one-time and recurring community events have been announced! Also, be sure to also review the Players Guide and Known Issues list for additional information on recent changes and upcoming fixes. Now, let’s see what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

News Announcements

Community Updates

Gathering & Meticulous XP Rewards Update!

Gatherers of New Britannia… Rejoice! Experience awarded for gathering has been significantly increased at various tiers. This change was implemented to ensure players could obtain crafting XP in a more efficient manner. The more efficiently players can increase the amount of XP in their crafting pool through gathering, the more quickly they can raise their refining and production skills. New players might find crafting to be a little less daunting, and veteran players will be able to increase their crafting skills even further! Experience from Tier 4, 5 and 6 gathering nodes were affected in the following way:

  • Tier 4 Nodes: Increased from 600 to 1,000 per node
  • Tier 5 Nodes: Increased from 1,000 to 2,500 per node
  • Tier 6 Nodes: Increased from 2,000 to 5,000 per node

Currently, Tier 6 mining nodes only reside in Tartarus, so be sure to delve downward into the more dangerous levels of that adventure scene to reap those increased rewards!

Also, there has been a significant change to how meticulous results award experience while gathering. For each and every meticulous success within a single gathering attempt, you’ll now be awarded an XP amount equivalent to that node’s tiered reward. For instance, if you are mining a T5 Iron Node, which results in a Meticulous x3, the player will receive 7,500 XP. This is just one of the many exciting changes to arrive this year. Happy gathering, Avatars!

Latest News Q&A Friday Livestream!

Another weekly Community Livestream is this Friday, May 8th at 4PM CT on Twitch! Join Chris “Atos” Spears and other development team members for a community 1 hour livestream!

Expect a little extra fun and prizes this time around. While we answer questions from the community, Atos will teleport around the world displaying subtle views of various scenes. The first player to find him in-game will win a prize! This is IN ADDITION TO the prize drawings normally present during the Friday livestream.

To enter the prize drawings, type “may the fourth be with you” into any in-game chat channel OR make a purchase on the website add-on store. Please submit questions into Twitch Chat by inserting !question at the beginning of your text. Watch on Twitch, Friday at 4 PM CT!

Riding Outfits & Pack Animals Vault Round!

 The current round of Vault items are available until Thursday, May 21st at 10:30 AM CST. At that time, the next round of 9 items will be available for two weeks, and then the next, etc.

  • Saddlebags Decoration
  • Grey Donkey
  • Cria (Baby Llama)
  • Saddle Stand Decoration
  • Lady’s Riding Outfit
  • Gentleman’s Riding Outfit
  • Black Foal
  • White Foal
  • Adobe Brick 2-Story with Roof Access Village Home

Latest Store Items: Dark Shogun Armor, Electric Katanas & More!

Exciting new additions which arrived lately to the Crown Store are the Electric Katanas coming in three colors (Pink, Red and Green). These “electrifying” new 2-handed swords, if salvaged, will yield eternal patterns which can be applied to player-crafted 2-handed swords. Also recent to arrive is a pack of English ivy to adorn the deco surfaces of building sides — perfect for making that knight’s keep a little more rustic! Last but certainly not least — plants! Many plants! The Cherry Pie Plant, the Potted Banana Plants (3-Pack) and the Potted Chusan Palm Plants (3-Pack) will all offer much more variety to the plant-type deco throughout your homes and gardens.

Recently, the Dark Shogun Armor Set boldly strode into the store! This armor set will yield plate armor Eternal Patterns if salvaged, which can be applied to other plate armor to apply the style. These new decorations and gear were inspired by “May the Fourth,” Japan’s Golden Week and Greenery Day!

  • Dark Shogun Armor Set
  • Pink Electric Katana (Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Item)
  • Red Electric Katana
  • Green Electric Katana
  • Ivy Wall Decoration Set
  • Cherry Pie Plant (Heliotrope)
  • Potted Banana Plants (3-Pack)
  • Potted Chusan Palm Plants (3-Pack)




May Login Reward: Greenery Day Potted Plant!

In celebration of Greenery Day, this decorative potted plant is yours simply by logging in during the month of May. It’s a perfect addition to your home or garden, and in the spirit of this celebration, players can express their love of plants and nature. Happy gardening, Avatars!

Release 77 Reward Program Login Reward Items: “May the Fourth” Theme!

Avatars! Rewards Program login reward items for Release 77 are “May the Fourth” themed! Reward Program members will receive these items immediately upon logging in during Release 77! “May the fourth be with you!”

  • Electric Sword Training Orb Pet
  • Electric Sword Training Helmet
  • Blue Electric Katana

NOTE: You must login during the release to receive each release’s rewards.

The Shroud of the Avatar Rewards Program lets you earn the best rate on purchasing Crowns, AND receive monthly reward items!

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

    • 900 Crowns of the Obsidians every month
    • Monthly Login Reward Items (~ 3 per month)
    • 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
      • 15 Months: Keeper of the Oath
      • 18 Months: Keeper of the Pledge
    • 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

Packaging Items for Trade in Player Test Environment (QA)!

Just arriving to the Player Test Environment (QA) server is a very useful new feature with which allows players to trade formerly no-trade Heritage items by packaging them for trade. Simply right-click the item, then select “Package Item for Trade” which will spawn an option window requesting a Crowns payment for the packaging. Once packaged, the item can be freely traded to another player, who can then unpackage it for use simply by double-clicking upon the item.

Allowing for the trade of formerly no-trade Heritage items is just one of many useful new features to arrive this year. Read more about what’s on the horizon in the Shroud of the Avatar 2020 Vision!

Streaming the Player Test Environment (QA) Now Permitted!

Streamers of Shroud of the Avatar are now welcome to stream gameplay of their Player Test Environment (QA) experiences! We hope this new option will inspire increased new feature testing before these features go to the live server. When streaming from QA, please be sure to notify your audience that you are testing new and unfinalized features on the test server.

Are You a Livestreamer?


Soon, the Streaming Reward Program will be returning. As the details are getting reworked, we’ll reveal more information. Traditional streaming rewards included an exclusive in-game Streamer Camera for being a veteran of our Streaming Program! Expect the camera reward to return! More goodies will come to your way as the program fully develops. Thank you for streaming Shroud of the Avatar!

Recent Shroud of the Avatar Livestreams

Atos and other members of the Shroud of the Avatar development team go live very frequently on our TWO Twitch Channels: twitch.tv/shroudoftheavatar and twitch.tv/communityoftheavatar — be sure to get these channels on follow and get the latest information right as we go live! Also, if you’ve missed our latest streams, check out our archive of content at our YouTube Channel (complete with “Mojito the dog” cam). Like! Follow! Subscribe! Prizes!!!




Don’t forget to also join the Shroud of the Avatar team and community over at our other social media venues:

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 Lord British’s property, and dinner with the game leaders including Lord British himself! Only 24 of these unique bundles will be sold!

Complete List of Rewards:

  • 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
  • Unique Lord of the Isle Home (pictured above)
  • NEW – Town Size Upgrade (if a town is not owned by the LOTI supporter, they may gift this size upgrade to another town owner. Maximum possible town sizes will be taken into account, but the Megalopolis size just became available!)
  • Choice of 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)
  • Unique Lord of the Isle Dungeon Room
  • 140,000 Crowns
  • 1000 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 Lord British’s property
  • 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, 2019). Other items will be delivered at a future date TBD.

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

Upcoming Events Calendar

Be sure to check out the Upcoming Events page for spotlighted events plus links to various areas to post or find events on our forums:

2020 Events
May 28 – Release 78
June 25 – Release 79
July 30 – Release 80
Aug 27 – Release 81

Meretz: Win a Giant Lich Statue (No Trade)

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 and tons more. With Meretz, we launch several sweepstakes every month. This month, we’re giving away a Giant Lich Statue (No Trade) to FOUR lucky winners! AND, use your MPs every day for in-game items like potions and emotes.

What’re you waiting for? Download Meretz TODAY!

Community Event: Catnip Games Weekly Fishing Tourney

For the Anglers of New Britannia, a weekly developer run fishing event has arrived! These weekly tournaments start at Noon CT every Friday and will last until Noon CT the next Friday. Players may register towns to be put into a registry list which will dictate most of the venues available for the fishing competition. Every week, the venues shift to the next 3 towns from the registry. Also each week, a new spotlighted PvE and PvP scene cycle into the contest. Each category (POT, PvP, PvE) features different prizes and goals. All fish must be caught within the timeframe of the contest. Here are some of the details:

Largest Saltwater Fish (Town):

  • Prizes: Player Owned Town Row Lot Deed, Large Gold Fishing Trophy
  • Rules: Must be caught from one of these towns

Largest Fish (PvP):​

  • Prizes: 2 Chained Obsidian Shard 3-Packs, Large Silver Fishing Trophy
  • Rules: Must be caught in Verdantis Shardfall

Largest Lava Fish:

  • Prizes: Fishing Rod of Prosperity, Large Bronze Fishing Trophy
  • Rules: Must be caught in Blackblade Foothills

Consolation Prizes:

  • Prizes: Small Bronze Fishing Trophy
  • Rules: Everyone who submitted an entry that did not win an above prize

Prizes provided by the Community Manager will be available for attendees, but governors, guild leaders and players are welcome to sweeten the pot by providing additional prizes based on objective criteria entirely of their own design. In fact, please consider planning events to overlap the duration and chosen weekly locations of the Fishing developer events. Please post these events in the in-game events forums and the Community Manager will promote accordingly. Expect a constant stream of weekly events, each to feature new locations and new objectives. Head on over to the Fishing Event Forum Thread for more information. Happy adventures, Avatars!

Community Event: Riptown Creek Rat Race

[Forum Post by Mhtic]
​
Mhtic and friends are very glad to announce Riptown Creek Weekly/Monthly Events! This week’s event is a Drunken Rat Race! Head on over to Riptown Creek at the City Lot in the town center on  Saturday, May 9th 2020 (time pending, contact @Mhtic and @Bee Striker).

Future Events will include:

  • Parkour/Rat Race  <== Saturday, May 9th 2020
  • Treasure Hunts
  • Mazes
  • Gustball Tournaments
  • Dance Parties
  • Music Performance
  • PvP Tournaments
  • Fishing Contests

Feedbacks and ideas are always appreciated, and if you’d like to reserve the central City Lot for your event, simply contact Mhtic! For more information, please visit this forum post by Mhtic.

Community Event: Black Sails Saga – From the New Lands

[Forum Post by CatherineRose]

Another chapter of the Black Sails Saga has begun, Avatars! When the creative minds of CatherineRose and friends start writing a new chapter, it can mean only one thing — adventure awaits thee! Typically, these stories start as forum story writing and role-play, which then work their way into the game as role-playing adventures. Upon the chapter’s end, a giant battle between players usually takes place, so be sure to get involved now. Ready thine quills and ink, oh pirates of New Britannia, for a grand player-made adventure awaits thee! For more information, please contact CatherineRose for an invite to the planning conversations on the forums.

Months before this day ………..

A spy for our Black Sails had given a message to one of the guards to warn us that as the great leader @Antrax Artek was leaving his headquarters with his army and as he made his way toward the battle which was underway in Blood Bay, a strange purple mist began to overtake the army.

As the spy looked on with horror he saw one by one of each of the soldiers fall to the ground. Their bodies began to shake as if a great monster were picking each up and violently throwing each into the air.

Upon falling to the ground they did not move from any position whether arms were out stretched or bent into grotesque shapes.

All succumbed in like manner even the great Antrax himself as well.

The next strange and frightening thing to happen was that each of the soldiers beginning with Antrax woke. They stood up at attention as if ready for orders to be given. Yet they were in some kind of stupor or trance.

Antrax turned, in this trance as well, and shouted orders to his army.
“We are to battle in Blood Bay. You will kill all living avatars except for any in our own army, Antax Army.

You will kill all Pirates as well as all Obsidians.
Let their blood reach from the edge of the cursed water’s of Blood Bay across the battle ground
until it flows and touches the mountains .
Let no one escape your sword.”

“Show no mercy.”

Antrax and his army did just that. Blood ran deep from all this death. The deadly purple mist affected all who marched through it. No one was spared. Mass confusion took place as well. No one that day had the ability to think like a fighter. No one that day could distinguish allies from enemies.

In time the purple mist cleared from the survivors bodies. Antrax and his army returned to his headquarters.

The Black Sails and Allies who survived, that were able, began to train for the next battle. We knew we would never retreat.

We would never give up the goal of having peace.

The evil Obsidians had again used the powerful knowledge they possess to continue their quest to control and then to destroy all of Novia.

However,we knew our purpose would l not be thwarted.
We repaired our ships, bandaged our wounded.
We also, sadly buried the many dead.

I received, from one of my guards this message
which was intercepted by one of our spies:

“I, Lord of a Obsidians, Master of all the World, now order you bring together our most feared fighters as well as the strongest of the trained animals which are scattered about Novia. Bring them to the Underworld under the purple mist in Blood Bay where the four rivers of Lava meet. Antrax and his army along with The pirates and allies are working to becoming again. Ha! They will not be strong enough to go against the mighty Obsidians.. We will go to the place called Malus and stop them from crossing into their new lands… (continues on the forums)

Community Event: Fish Finder Contest

[Forum Post by Phamyns]
​
The Fish Finder Contest is 5 weekends of fishing splendor in 5 different towns and will change towns every Saturday. Anglers! Ready your poles! Ready your bait! Fish like you’ve never fished before!

Location: Crossroads Estates
Date : May 9, 2020
Start Time : Noon CST
Duration : 8 Hours
Water Type : Fetid
Prizes: 1st 150,000 Gold, 2nd 100,000 Gold, 3rd 75,000 Gold, 4th 50,000 Gold, 5th 25,000 Gold

Rules : Each contestant will turn in one fish, the largest fish they caught during the timeframe of the contest.

At the end of the 8 hours, 5 winners will be awarded based off of the size of the fish they chose to submit. Once a fish is submitted the contestant is done for that day. Each contestant must provide a single fish entry Phamyns in game via trade window or in-game mail by Noon CST on Monday. For more information, please visit this forum post by Phamyns.

Community Event: Podcasts & Poetry on Virtue Radio

[Forum Post by Asclepius]

Attention Avatars! The Shroud of the Avatar community is INCREDIBLY creative, and over the last five years, many community members have composed short stories, poems, and other creative works. Asclepius, along with a number of other narrators have had the privilege of rendering them into audio form. There is a huge vault of podcasts on the Caverns site with well over 200 amazing creative contributions.

So after fiddling with the broadcast software, Asclepius now offers to share them with you. This is planned to be a regular WEEKLY segment, about an hour in duration. Listen in and you will hear a curated selection of short stories and poems, interspersed with some great community music.

When: Wednesday Evenings at 7 PM CST
How to Listen: There are two methods to tune in to Virtue Radio

  • Utilize your in-game Aether Vibration Devices for Avatar’s/Virtue Radio (radios, clockwork pets, clockwork helms, etc.)
  • Simply point your browser to Avatar’s/Virtue Radio: https://zcu.io/jXP8

For more information about these reoccurring broadcasts on Avatar’s/Virtue Radio, please contact Asclepius on his forum post about this topic.

Community Event: Lunch With Laz & Jack

[Forum Post by Lazarus Long]

Bringing you the latest news and entertainment, Laz & Jack report on hot Shroud of the Avatar topics every weekday, 12PM – 1PM CST! Players can tune-in at Twitch.com, at WRFB.rocks or using in-game devices such as Clockwork & Aviator Helmets, Clockwork Pets or Aether Vibration Amplifiers! Visit their main forum post to learn more about tuning in to WRFB broadcasts.

Interested in becoming a DJ on WRFB? Send a PM to @Lazarus Long on the forums.

Community Event: Virtue Radio Weekly Schedule

[Forum Post by Alleine Dragonfyre]

Avatars! Here’s the latest and greatest line-up from those DJ’s over at Virtue Radio! Players can tune-in using their website or in-game devices such as Clockwork & Aviator Helmets, Clockwork Pets or Aether Vibration Amplifiers!

  • Podcast and Poetry with DJ Asclepius, Mondays 7pm NBT
  • Radio Oz with the Doctor DJ Asclepius, Every 4th Wednesday 7pm NBT
  • DJ Jarkith Chaotic Country, Thursdays 10PM NBT
  • DJ Alliene Dragonfyre: The Beat Of Novia, Fridays 8PM NBT
  • DJ Mick Foley Holds the Rocking Power Hours, Saturdays 2PM NBT
  • DJ Stryker: Lost in the Spaces, Sundays 9AM NBT
  • DJ Celith Wraine: Faster and Louder, Sundays 12 Noon NBT

Interested in DJ’ing on Virtue Radio? Send a PM to any of our staff members @Alleine Dragonfyre @Celith Wraine @Stryker Sparhawk, @Asclepius for help!

Project to Support – RodasurfAvatars! Yet another news outlet has spotted Darkstarr on a RodaSurf board. Be sure to check out this latest sighting in this latest Austin360 news article!

Darkstarr and the Rodasurf team also dazzled us with another interview which aired on Spectrum News not too long ago! The RodaSurf board is an accessory to the Onewheel XR device. Simply snap and lock the Onewheel into RodaSurf’s latching system, and you’ll be surfing the streets before you know it! For the full article PLUS a fantastic video, be sure to head straight over to the Spectrum News Website and see our beloved Lord of Chaos show off his latest venture!

Project to Support – Jar Wars


While you are delving into Virtual Reality (VR), be sure to check out this exciting and hilarious new game, Jar Wars! Our very own Darkstarr has been busy on some side projects, one of which is Jar Wars, a slapstick multiplayer game made just for VR enthusiasts. Battle your friends with wacky weapons and intriguing gadgets for total domination of the Moon! Available for free on Steam!

Project to Support – Dragon Fight

Darkstarr has also been hard at work with the team for Dragon Fight VR which recently went live on Steam! Dragon Fight VR is an internal experiment to capture the “essence” of a dragon fight, the classic penultimate experience of every fantasy story. We wanted to create a short visceral, realistic experience stripped of user interface, lobbies, scores, levels, and other visual intrusions that might distract. There were some key elements of fighting a dragon that we wanted to capture and we felt VR was uniquely qualified to convey:

  • Face to face with a large scale hostile creature trying to kill you
  • Using a sword and a shield
  • Fire!
  • Nowhere to run!

This started out as an internal experiment to learn some things about VR’s capabilities, be reductionist in our designs, etc. We felt that the experiment was successful enough to release as a free experience to share. Enjoy! Available for free on Steam!

Project to Support – Crowfall

Be part of shaping the next great MMO by becoming a Crowfall Backer! Crowfall is the first and only online Throne War game. You can win. Join intense PvP battles that demand strategy, survival and a fierce competitive spirit. Reap the spoils of war as an Eternal Champion!

Claim virtual territory on behalf of your guild or faction. Capture mines, mills, and quarries to secure resources, build castles, and besiege your neighbors. Scavenge artifacts and relics from the Dying Worlds and install them in your temples to grant blessings to your vassals. Capture lost spirits to do your bidding — or bind them into your weapons to infuse them with sorcerous power!

Project to Support – Avatar Express

[Forum post by Vladamir Begemot]

I’m pleased to report that The Avatar Express is clacking away furiously. News is being delivered and we have established systems to deliver it directly to your brain. You can use one of those systems by following us on Twitter at @avatar_express. Even more reliable due to its fully automated nature is joining us on the Discord server. News items are posted there via RSS. Or you can subscribe to RSS directly on the site.

If you run an event, quests, etc, please consider helping out by self reporting. The Shroud community is big, and many things are happening that are never seen by others. With 10k monthly users, we would need a full time staff to track down everything that is happening.

You can fill out the contributor form, message @that_shawn_guy here or post in the Discord server that you would like to help. There is no committment once signed up, you can post as much or little as you like.

Writing up your own events has several benefits beyond the immidiate exposure. It serves as a record for others to see the history of New Britannia as we create it, in an attractive format. Publishing in the Express also has a higher chance than the forums of being seen by search engines and random readers, thus bringing more eyeballs and new players to the game.

It will even make posting in the forums easier! You can upload images to your news item, and then link to those images in your forum post. No more need for 3rd party image hosts!

So if you have something going on in your guild or town, or want to be a Reporter, Cartographer or Historian, please join us!

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.