Update of the Avatar #173 – 2016.04.22: Armor Revamps, LotM Dinner, Leostorm’s Church, 10 Day Expiration Countdown, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

• Male Cloth Armor Revamps
• Reconnecting with Underground Scenes
• The Halls of Artifice (A Work In Progress)
• Final Lord of the Manor Dinner and Tour
• Richard Garriott in “Streets by VICE: Austin (6th St.)”
• Leostorm’s Church of the Darkstarr
• New Home Decorations
• 10 Day Countdown for 15% Bonus & Spring 2016 Pledge Expirations!
• In-game Community Events
• Upcoming Events
• Backer Shipping Addresses
• Recommended Projects to Back

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Male Cloth Armor Revamps

As part of our rework of the Avatars we are steadily progressing through many of the clothing and armor items to improve their visual quality. We periodically update the progress of this effort.

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Fletcher “Skullmuncher34” Kinnear]

Hey everybody! More revamps! This time I worked on cloth outfits.

Here is the Epic Cloth Chest Piece, Gauntlets, Leggings, and Boots:

Epic Cloth
by fletcherkinnear
on Sketchfab

Here is the Fortified Cloth Chest Piece and Leggings:

Cloth Outfit
by fletcherkinnear
on Sketchfab

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Reconnecting with Underground Scenes

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Keith “Sannio” Quinn]

Hi, all! Every so often, Shroud of the Avatar adds a new underground area to visit: dungeon, sewer, mine, etc. They’ve mostly been stand-alone scenes, seemingly filled with random resources and randomly connecting to other underground scenes. As of this release, the randomness begins to go away as we start embracing a “grand underground plan.”

Below are the core elements of the plan:

1. Travel Within Underground Sectors: All shared, general-purpose underground areas will be grouped in “small” sectors. Many underground areas within a sector will connect other areas within the same sector. Travel across these connections is free and uninhibited.
2. Travel Across Underground Sectors: Connection passages between sectors are rare and always behind a locked door. Each door can only be opened by a key obtained from a single “key bearer” somewhere else in the scene. (Currently, these keys are reusable but, eventually, they will be single-use objects.
3. Cross-Sector Connection Passages: Connection passages will be underground scenes all their own. Although moderately sized, each will have a bounty of resources.
4. Smarter Resources: Distribution of harvestable resources is important, and what is common in some regions will be rare in others. This is true for both surface and underground areas.

Here are some changes related to our underground areas coming with of Release 29:

• Two cross-sector connection passages are being added to the game: Spindrift Passage and Paladis Passage. More such passages will be added in future releases.
• The Rise has moved to its permanent home under the Forsaken Vale in Verdantis. Its temporary connections to the western Novia underground scenes have been replaced with access points in Superstition Canyon, North Varisalla Foothills, Verdantis Mines, and Resolute Sewers.
• Underground resources have shifted a bit as we improve where resources can be found.

Spindrift Passage (shown below) tracks underneath the vast Spindrift Bay.

Paladis Passage (shown below) lies just below the surface of the Paladis Plains.

Keith Quinn
Level Designer
Shroud of the Avatar

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The Halls of Artifice (A Work In Progress)

This is the continuing update on the progress on Artifice, scheduled to go live in Release 31.

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Scottie Jones]

Wait! What is this?!?!? Having delved even further into Artifice, and sampled several other (somewhat more heinous) paradises (and the denizens that seem to enjoy them), proceeding through yet another golden doorway has caused you to materialize within a cobweb-covered dungeon corridor filled with the strewn bones of seemingly hundreds of poor, lost souls. The architecture here is confusingly reminiscent of so many of the ancient stone passageways that litter the underworld of the realms of Novia, and as you begin to wander through them you realize that every turn and twist feels like the last, and yet seems to lead to more and more such paths, winding away in every direction like some labyrinthine hell. The only lights here, except perhaps your own, are torches emitting pale blue flames and the ever-present profusion of even more golden doorways that now seem to taunt you, taking you to places you may not wish to go… As if to add to the confusion, tarnished mirrors that provide little in the way of reflection hang forlornly on the walls at every turn, and soon you begin to realize how so many could have come to die here,…alone,…in the perpetual twilight of this haunted place…   

Just as it seems this torture might never end, you suddenly find yourself back again in a place of relative comfort and refinement. What was that terrible maze,…someone’s twisted paradise? Surely not! Why would such a thing exist in the glorious Halls of Artifice? Perhaps it was just a fevered waking nightmare after all… Merely the result of too much euphoria in so little time. But what does time mean in a place such as Artifice?

Along the periphery of the comfortable chamber before you, chairs are arrayed around small tables, a few books rest on small shelves, and here and there a few bowls of fruit tempt the observer to come, sit, and rest. At the room’s center, beneath a recessed ceiling lit by an ornate chandelier, is a desk littered with books, scrolls, and an inkwell. Beyond the desk another set of bronze doors lay closed before you, but no locks seem to bar your way. Here you will be greeted by a functionary of this mystic place, and an apparent servant of he who occupies the royal hall beyond those waiting doors.

As you enter the lavish throne room beyond, you immediately realize something is wrong. Debris from the ceiling above litters the floor, several of the great columns which support that ceiling have fallen to ruin, and cobwebs formed by years of neglect cover almost every surface, creating the look of aged veils that drape the stained glass windows like ghastly shrouds. At the far end of the hall, a figure sits on a regal throne, ancient rot having left nothing behind of him except his very bones. This grand hall was meant to house hundreds of members of this apparent monarch’s court, and yet he sits alone, contemplating the crown that lays on a footstool before him, his empty sockets gazing out at you as you approach.

Regardless of anything else that might transpire in this chamber, you could wonder if this is what becomes of someone’s personal paradise when life has passed you by. Here this once mighty ruler sits, ruminating on the culmination of his reign, and the meaning of such power, for all time,…while the remains of his grand accomplishment rots and crumbles around him. Behind him, at the top of a small flight of stairs, yet another set of doors await, and beyond them, yet another golden portal beckons,…always beckons,…as you travel deeper and deeper into this place of eternal desires fulfilled…

Ah yes,…glorious Artifice… Why would you EVER want to leave…

I hope this finds you well…

Scottie ^_^

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Richard Garriott in “Streets by VICE: Austin (6th St.)” 

Richard Garriott has a brief segment in this VICE video about Austin where he talks about how Origin’s first artists were actually rock and roll poster artists from the Armadillo World Headquarters (and Shroud even gets shown!). Richard’s segment is at 6:40.

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Final Lord of the Manor Dinner and Tour

On Friday April 15 we had the final Lord of the Manor dinner and tour of Britannia Manor in New York. Lord and Lady British (aka Richard and Laeticia Garriott de Cayeuex) along with Regent Darkstarr (aka Starr Long) hosted 8 Lords of the Manor along with 2 of their guests for a night of feasting, revelry and of course touring through the assorted curiosities and marvels that Lord and Lady British have collected. Those marvels include meteorites, automatons, suits of armor, swords, space suits, fossils, vampire hunting kits, mummified hands, Fiji mermaids, quack medical devices from the Victorian age, and the list goes on!

Here’s the group amassed before dinner, including Prince Ronan and Princess Kinga.

Lord British describing the discovery of the unmarked area beneath the street during renovations that is now the “dungeon” aka wine cellar.

The group poses in front of the “History of the Universe” display cabinet.

“Sit in the throne”, they said. “No one will stab you” they said.

Lord British describes some of the many ancient weapons and armor in his arsenal.

Delightful conversation and delicious food over dinner in the Hall of Automatons.

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Leostorm’s Church of the Dark Star

The original Church of Chaos existed in Ultima Online on the Catskills shard, “Serving to bring awareness to the greatness of Blackthorn and what he had to offer us”.

From a post by community member Amber Raine:

September 28th 2014, the Church of the Dark Star (a church founded on the principles of Chaos) opened its doors to the Avatars of Shroud of the Avatar, in Valemark (at this time the township of PaxLair had taken residence here). The topics discussed within the walls each Saturday have covered various topics that would help enlighten Avatars no matter what side of the rift they found themselves currently on. In each topic High Priestess of Chaos Amber Raine would deliver a connection between how the founding father of this path set out upon them and how our current lives can benefit from such.

Topics ranging from putting your past behind you to looking into the future. From change being a positive to keeping the hope that all things are possible no matter what they are. The Church of the Dark Star has been there to help guide and support our fellow Avatars.

November 2014, Kazyn Phoenixfyre joined the church and our focus became that of “Equality”. This was a pivotal point in the life of the church. As we began to focus on all paths, Chaos, Order, Balance. Wether you followed a virtuous path or a more questionable one. All were welcome and all were spoken and appreciated. When we can all come together in one place, even for an hour a week, it is proof that anything and everything is possible.

Today, almost a year and a half later. The church now sees buildings flourishing in a multitude of different Player Owned Towns in its name. From PaxLair (where the main base shall always be) to Berans Reach (and 8 other towns in between). 

The most recent Church of the Dark Star was created by Leostorm in Port Phoenix and is made entirely of Stone Building Blocks. It took almost two and a half months to complete! From Leostorm’s post:

As some may know I had previously built a church for @Amber Raine and @WrathPhoenix to host their weekly service at. Well Ive finaly finished my second just in time before wipe. In total It took around 25k granite to craft the blocks needed and 5 add on store sets. Id like to thank everyone that helped support and donate granite to the cause. It was a lot of work to get it all to match up but was fun and worth it in the end, I learned a lot in process in which the next one I can make even bigger! anyway pics~

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New Home Decorations

We’ve added a set of Vintage Red Velvet furniture as well as several new potted plants and trees to the Add-On Store. Check out these samples:

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10 Day Countdown for 15% Bonus & Spring 2016 Pledge Expirations!

As we march toward the Final Wipe and Lot Selection milestone this summer, we are permanently expiring almost half of all pledges during the Spring 2016 Pledge Expiration Event, at 10:30 AM CT, May 2, 2016. The remaining ten pledges, as well as new Player Owned Towns, will be expired during the Summer 2016 Expiration Event. The pledges expiring May 2 include: Immortal Adventurer, Virtual Collector, Collector, Citizen, Knight, Lord, and Baron.

If you were thinking of purchasing (or upgrading) a pledge before they expire, or purchasing an add-on item, player owned town, service voucher, or Make A Difference item, then now’s a great time to do it! Thru 10:30 AM CT, May 2, 2016 we’ll add an additional 15% bonus to your Store Credit!

[More Spring 2016 Bonus & Expiration details…]

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In-game Community Events

Our amazing community has another great lineup of in-game events planned for this weekend. Special thanks to community member SpookyJenny (aka Jenny Phoenixfyre in-game) for her help in compiling the schedule of player events from the Avatar’s Circle Community Events calendar and the Events of the Avatars community calendar:

Recurring Events

• April is Adopt a Greyhound Month!!! – Screenshot Contest
  • In the US, April is National Adopt a Greyhound Month! With many racetracks closing due to changes in gambling legislation, this year there are even more retired racers looking for homes. To raise awareness for these former professional athletes and amazing pets, community member SeleneNoctua is sponsoring a Greyhound screenshot contest! (details)
• RPOTA Monthly $170 Writing Contest
  • Here ye! Here ye! Biographers, Historians, Diplomats, Journalists, Story Writers, Quest Designers and Videographers! RPOTA is in dire need of your amazing talents! Role-Players of the Avatar is hosting a monthly contest to award those most famous with their quill or camera! (details)
• The Unreliable Travel Guide
  • The Unreliable Travel Guide, created at the SotA Writing Round Table, is not an event, but a collection of hilarious short stories published by two drunken layabouts who have nothing better to do than try to derive a dishonest income from newly arrived avatars. (details)
• Avatars Radio (Daily Programming)
  • Welcome New Britannians to Avatars Radio – Radio of the Avatars. Rocking your socks off from the town of Radio City with the Terrestrial and New Britannian bards together under one roof through the power of the Moon Towers.  Check out their daily program of amazing DJs:  http://avatarsradio.info/schedule.php
• NBNN Lunch with Laz & Jack (Weekdays, 12pm CDT)
  • Join NBNN every weekday for Lunch With Laz & Jack. They will be covering the daily goings on in SOTA. Calendar updates, Relevant issues happening in the days news. Come chat with us about upcoming events and general information. http://nbnn.info
• “The Tavern Respite” RP Event (Mondays, 8pm CDT)
  • The tavern door opens before you, and the scent of pipe and stew waft outwards with a wall of warmth from the hearth. Join in with the patrons of the Bear Tavern as they share tales of their adventures amid endless mugs of ale, legs of mutton, and merriment unbounded.The first Monday of each month, the event returns to Bear Tavern, where it all began. If no locations are scheduled, the event will take place at Fire Lotus Tavern, by default. (teleport to Elgarion De’Khali; details)!
• Order of Vengeance Guild Meeting (Mondays, 9pm CDT)
  • Held at the Guild Hall in Vengeance
• Challenge Dungeon Run (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am & 7pm CDT)
  • This is a self-host event that meets at the Braemar Cemetery (map). Join whoever can make it for a dungeon run, adventure or something along those lines. Come prepared for combat. Learn how to set up your combat system if you need help.
• PaxLair Town Manager Hour (Tuesdays, 2:00pm CDT)
  • Join PaxLair’s Town Manager, Sean Silverfoot, to ask questions about PaxLair, being a Citizen, holding a lot and any other questions concerning PaxLair or any of it’s boroughs: Dragons Watch, Tenakill, Lockbrier, Island of Wonders, Knowhere, Sea Nymph Grotto & Serentiy Isle. (map)
• EVL Monster MashDungeon Crawl (Tuesdays, 7pm CDT)
  • Every Virtue is Lasting will be holding a dungeon crawl every Tuesday to provide fun and experience for our members and guests. All are welcome! The meeting point is in Owls Head at the center of town near the trainer (map)
• EVL Virtue League PVP Tournament (Wednesdays, 7pm CDT)
  • Looking to break into the PVP scene but don’t want to be placed against established god-like players? We have you covered with two divisions, one for the newer, less experienced player, and one for the cream of the crop who have something to prove! (The Underworld at Aschfahl Festung; details)
• Stryker Sparhawk’s Happy Hour Wednesdays (Wednesdays, 8pm CDT)
  • Stryker will travel to one of the local Novia taverns for an hour to open a bar tab for drinks in hopes of sharing stories, news, critique of the arts, music, dancing, and otherwise unplanned mayhem. Teleport to Stryker Sparhawk (details)
• Phoenix Republic PVE Nights (Thursdays & Fridays, 7pm CDT)
  • Join the Phoenix Republic as we send our weekly foray into the control points, dungeons and other of the most dangerous locales. Each week we will depart to a different PVE locale to help train our combatants. Contact Kazyn Phoenixfyre or Malakas for more info!
• Novian Academy – Role Play Courses (Fridays, 4pm CDT)
  • Luka Melehan is hosting RP classes and practice sessions. (teleport to Luka Melehan)
• Shardfall Madness (Fridays, 6pm CDT)
  • A PvP event. Contact Wind Silvermoon for details.
• Astronomy Event (Fridays, 7:30pm CDT)
  • Interested in New Britannia Astronomy? Just enjoy gazing at the stars? Join us every week as we explore the night sky above New Britannia. (Player Town of Caer Dracwych, teleport to Bowen Bloodgood; details)

Friday, April 22

• 7pm CDT Phoenix Republic PVE Nights
  • Join the Phoenix Republic as we send our weekly foray into the control points, dungeons and other of the most dangerous locales. Each week we will depart to a different PVE locale to help train our combatants. Contact Kazyn Phoenixfyre or Malakas for more info!
• 7pm CDT Vengeance Madness PVP
  • This is an Open PvP event where everyone fights it out in a royal rumble to see who the ultimate death dealer is! An hour of PvP madness that you cannot miss. The person who ends up with the most kills will be the champion! This is an opportunity to test skills, templates, items, and strategy, but most of all to have fun! An hour full of madness you cannot miss out on! Whether you are a usual PvP’er or not… Anyone is welcome to come out and join us. Winners may win entries into the BMC-Grid Iron. (City of Vengeance; teleport to Bambino LudoVate; map).
• 7:30pm CDT Friday Night Astronomy
  • For anyone interested in Astronomy in New Britannia or just like looking up at the stars and hanging out. I host an astronomy course every Friday night at 7:30pm CST to 8:30pm CST. Whether it’s a crowd or just one person I will be happy to be your host at Caer Dracwych. Teleport to Bowen Bloodgood. (Caer Dracwych, map)
• 10:00pm CDT Longfalls’ R28 End Of The World Party (Falling For Doc)
  • From the People that brought you: r25 End Of The World Party (Doc’s Cotton Pickin Party). Teleport to Sand, Roper Docholiday, Minerva, or Night Fury. Run down the road and party is on the left! (details)

Saturday, April 23

• 6:00am CDT Wake Up New, Britannia!!! With Woftam and Selene
  • Woftam and Selene Noctua broadcast on AvatarsRadio from the Wake Up New Britannia Studio in Owlshead (right behind the crafting pavillion). Includes Interviews with the Community, Contests for in-game Gold, What’s new for the week in New Britannia, and your Best Bets for SotA weekend events! (details)
• 9:00am CDT PaxLair Working Hours
  • Come to PaxLair and see what’s happening! For two hours (more or less) we work together on projects, create ideas and have fun together. It’s sort of a weekly time to gather and do things together. Everyone in Novia is welcome! (PaxLair, map; or teleport to Winfield or Sean Silverfoot)
• 11:00am CDT Church of the Dark Star – Saturday Service
  • High Priestess of Chaos, Amber Raine, and the Dean of the Novian Academy, Kazyn Phoenixfyre, welcome you to the Church of the Dark Star. A shared project, built upon equality, where all are welcome. Services range from what is Chaos and Order to how they affect different aspects of our life. The path you choose is yours. (Alternating locaions; details)
• 2:00pm CDT Beran League Construction – Harvest & Craft
  • A weekly craft & harvest event for the purpose of supporting all towns, guilds and player run establishments within the Beran League! All harvested materials, crafted items and decorative items purchased will be collected and sorted in a specially designated warehouse. Town owners, guild leaders and proprietors of the Beran League (and those designated by them) will have access. (Meet at the Bear Tavern in Beran’s Reach, map; or teleport to Bowen Bloodgood; details)
• 4:00pm CDT Bear Tavern 3rd Anniversary Party!
  • The Bear Tavern is very excited to be celebrating our 3rd anniversary as a guild in April! Please join us for some ale, happy conversation, dancing, and general merriment! From the Beran’s Reach entrance follow the left lighted path into town towards the moon tower. As you enter the town center the Tavern will be on your right with ivy fences. More information when available here. (Location: Beran’s Reach at The Bear Tavern or Teleport to Vallas Tellen)
• 6:00pm CDT Port Phoenix: Social Nights
  • Come out and join the republic in one of many potential events (chosen new each week). Each week we get together for everything from fishing, to music, to gustball to PVE duneoneering and adventuring. (Contact Kazyn Phoenixfyre for details)
• 9:00pm CDT Podcasts and Poetry from TheCaverns.net
  • Join Avatars Radio and TheCaverns.net as we share wonderful community poetry, stories and music! We have great talent in our community. Join us as we celebrate these wonderful artists! (details)

Sunday, April 24

• 8:30am CDT PaxLair Meeting
  • Come see what PaxLair is up to in Novia and other town areas! Many people also attend from towns and guilds for a bit of a weekly wrap-up and what’s happening. Good discussions! (PaxLair, map; or teleport to Winfield; teamSpeak: 43.245.163.15:10099)
• 11:00am CDT Hospitaller Weekly Voice Meeting
  • Everyone is welcome to our player community’s weekly Hospitaller meeting. It is open to anyone and everyone, not just Hospitallers. We talk about many things and work hard to find ways to help new players. This meeting is one hour long and we have additional sidebars after the meeting. (Soltown; Discord Chat Channel: https://discordapp.com/channels/158859164490137601/158859164490137601)
• 2:30pm CDT Gustball Training
  • Want to learn how to play Gustball? Need some tips on how to improve your deck or hone your skills on the field! Join Coach Sheamus McGuinness of EVLs for a 30 minute Gustball lesson and practice session just before the big game at 3pm (Owl’s head, map; or teleport to Sheamus McGuinness)
• 3:00pm CDT Gustball
  • The game of Gustball is a great community event, not dissimilar from soccer or football, where Avatars of all levels & skill can compete in a fun, friendly game that uses the Gust skill (1st level Air Magic spell) to blow a Gustball into your opponents goal. (/whisper or teleport to Sand, Sheamus McGuinness, or Bambino Ludovate, details)
• 5:00pm CDT BMC Grid Iron Feast and Registration
  • Register to compete in the BMC Gridiron and mingle with other participants and spectators before the big fight! (Blackrock Cove on Novia near Etceter Crag Mines, map; see forum post for details)
• 5:30pm CDT BMC Gladiator’s Grid-Iron
  • The BMC is proud to present the nastiest, the foulest, the most feared arena in all of New Britannia! The Grid-Iron is equipped with a pit-style arena, locker rooms, a VIP round-table, betting & vendor booths, and all the blood-sport you can handle. (Blackrock Cove on Novia near Etceter Crag Mines, map; see forum post for details)
• 5:30pm CDT EVL Team vs. Team Tournament
  • EVL is putting the call out to any and all PvP’rs. Form a team of 3 and sign up for our first ever Team vs. Team tournament. The event will be held in The Underworld (same location as The Virtue League) at 5pm, March the 27th. Zone point for the night is Jar Laxle. We will be pitting teams of 3 vs. 3 against one another. The winning team will get a $10 add-on store credit for EACH member of the team. Get out there and get your teams formed, practice and prepare, we will have healers on hand for those that don’t make it to the end. If you have any questions or want to sign up before the day of the battle just send a whisper to Jar Laxle. (The Underworld at Aschfahl Festung)
• 7:00pm CDT PaxLair Meeting
  • Come see what PaxLair is up to in Novia and other town areas! Many people also attend from towns and guilds for a bit of a weekly wrap-up and what’s happening. Good discussions! (PaxLair, map; or teleport to Winfield)
• 8:00pm CDT Fishing with Winfield
  • Come sit with Winfield on a log or rock to hear some fish tales or tell your own. Chat about anything from the moons to the earth worms. Spend a relaxing day in nature near a stream or lake — bring insect repellent or a sword.  (some fishing spot or pond, teleport to Winfield; details)

Be sure and check out the Release 28 Events thread in the SotA forums for additional events that may not be included here.

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Upcoming Events

2016.04.28 – Release 29
2016.05.13 – Final Duke Roundtable and Portalarium Office Tour
2016.05.26 – Release 30
2016.06.01 – The Hearth of Britannia: Legends of the Hearth III
2016.06.30 – Release 31
2016.07.28 – Release 32

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Backer Shipping Addresses

In preparation for shipping backers’ physical pledge rewards later this year, we have added Shipping Address fields to your Account Profile page. To enter your shipping address, log in to the SotA website, select “Account” in top right corner, then select “Edit Profile” located in top left corner, beneath your Avatar image:

For country and regional tax assessment purposes, our tax accountants have requested that we start collecting a buyer’s physical/shipping address for all purchases, whether digital or physical. We’ve tried to streamline that process as much as possible, such that once you’ve entered a physical address we will pre-populate the address fields with your default address.

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Recommended Projects to Back

The Bard’s Tale IV

From the creators of Wasteland 2 and Torment: Tides of Numenera comes The Bard’s Tale IV. Thirty years ago, The Bard’s Tale put Brian Fargo and Interplay on the map and launched a storied career crafting some of the most beloved cRPGs in gaming history.

Today, we return to Skara Brae for the long-awaited dungeon-crawling sequel to the Bard’s Tale trilogy — the games that helped define the genre. The Bards Talke IV it is a single-player, party-based cRPG with dynamic phase-based combat, challenging puzzles and riddles, and a game set to beautiful Gaelic music, where the Bard’s songs and melodies affect gameplay.