Updates

Release 2 Access Extended an Extra Day

Thanks to all of you for the great feedback we’ve received on Release 2 since it launched Thursday morning. Based on that feedback, we’ve released 3 new versions during the weekend, and are now up to version 60. Outlined below are the Release 2 Patch Notes describing the various bug fixes and feature enhancements across all the platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux).

As a special thank you to all our backers, we’re extending the Early Access period for an extra day! So, if you haven’t had a chance to play yet, please log in, patch to the latest version 60, and let us know what you think.

If you’d like some crafting hints, head over to sotawiki.net and check out their growing list of crafting recipes.

Hurry and join us in playing Shroud of the Avatar while Release 2 access is open! If you have not backed the game yet, you will need to register and login on www.shroudoftheavatar.com, select the “Pledge” button in the right side-bar, and purchase a pledge at the $45 Adventurer level or above.

(click here for more complete instructions on downloading and playing Release 2)

 

Release 2 Patch Notes

v55

  • Several fixes were implemented to reduce memory usage.  This should help reduce random crashes and make the game playable for people on 32bit operating systems.
  • NPCs will bark less often so that they are less spammy.
  • Some NPC conversation text updates.
  • Top right icon that brought up a bug submission form will now redirect to the Release 2 bug forums instead.
  • Admin and whisper messages should now pop up your chat window when received if it was not visible already.
  • You should no longer see a naked male avatar briefly after making a new character.

v57

  • Added option to invert mouse look
  • Added a sheen to items placed on the crafting table to make them easier to see.
  • Fixed missing textures in Kingsport waterfront castle

v60

  • Improve right-click rotate camera controls.  Should be more consistent and fix players for whom it was too slow.
  • Fixes for a few exceptions that were occurring.
  • Fix for inventory icons being offset incorrectly at high window resolutions.
  • Fix for inventory icons not fading properly on bag close
  • Fix for an inventory list visual glitch.
  • Fixes for some plot loading issues.

Update of the Avatar #57 – 01/24/14: Play Release 2 Now, BotA Chapter 6, Founder Bow, Ankh of Virtue, Silver Serpent Necklace, Scissors of Prosperity, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • Come Play Release 2 Now!
  • Blade of the Avatar Novel: Chapter 6
  • The Spoony Interviews
  • Early Founder Royal Artisan Starter Bow
  • Immortal Adventurer Ankh of Virtue Necklace
  • Lord British’s Silver Serpent Necklace
  • Scissors of Prosperity

Come Play Release 2 Now!

SotA_Release2_

Release 2 successfully launched yesterday, January 23, with thousands of backers downloading, patching, logging in, and exploring the content! We need all your help with stress-testing the servers and testing the game systems, so please join us in playing Release 2.

In this release we’ve added the second town of Kingsport, a list inventory, increased character customization, recipe books, jumping and the very first stages of crafting. Crafting will initially focus on refining and production for smithing, tailoring and carpentry. There are more than 100 recipes with chests full of crafting resources spread throughout the land.

[Note: This early release is single player online only. Release 2 access will end on Saturday, January 25, at 10:00 PM Central Time]

Hurry and join us in playing Shroud of the Avatar while Release 2 access is open! If you have not backed the game yet, you will need to register and login on www.shroudoftheavatar.com, select the “Pledge” button in the right side-bar, and purchase a pledge at the $45 Adventurer level or above.

(click here for more complete instructions on downloading and playing Release 2)

Read more…



Release 2 Instructions

SotA_Release2

[Starr Long posted this on the forums today]

Hello Everyone,

Thank you to our loyal backers of Shroud of the Avatar. Release 2 access for all backers at First Responder / Adventurer level and above begins this Thursday, January 23, at 10:30 AM Central Time. Release 2 access will end on Saturday, January 25, at 10:00 PM Central Time. Starting today you can begin installing and patching (see instructions below), but login will not be enabled until Thursday morning.

We are happy to say that not only are we are going to deliver just about every single Release 2 item (except for Shopping) but that we also were able to put in some extras. Here are those deliverables again, along with some extra notes and the bonus deliverables in italics.

RELEASE 2: January 23 – January 25 2014

  • Crafting: We will be opening up crafting for testing with more than 100 recipes. Chests full of crafting resources will be provided. Crafting will initially focus on refining and production for smithing, tailoring, and carpentry.
  • Shopping: Shopkeepers will be open for business for selling and buying.
  • Town 2: An additional municipality (likely village sized) will be open for business! Entering the swirling blue portal in the ring of stones will take you from one town to the other. We chose Kingsport for Town 2.
  • List Inventory: For those who prefer spreadsheets to immersion. The inventory battle royale continues! Setting this option will change all containers into lists except for crafting tables (coming in R3).
  • Character Customization++: Characters from R1 will be wiped, but you will now have even more options when creating your character! Now there are even more ways to look unique, including: facial features, scaling, and more content (hairstyles, head shapes, skin tones, hair colors, etc.) We were also able to include helmets and offhand items (torch and shield).
  • Jumping: Tired of not being able to jump that fence? Well tire no more as we now have jumping. And not just any old jumping but player controlled height jumping. A quick tap on the spacebar barely lifts the player but holding down the spacebar allows the player to clear those pesky walls with a high jump. Long term jumping will use focus and will likely be affected by weight carried.
  • Run Speed: Many of you commented on the slow run speed so we increased it by 50%, which feels much more satisfying. We will continue to tune this and balance it with an upcoming Dash skill that uses Focus as well as the Sprint buff in the Light Armor School of combat.
  • Mac & Linux: OSX and Linux support is now working (with a few caveats). The game currently requires a two button mouse and while a trackpad technically works we are not fully supporting it yet. For Linux, Unity only officially supports Ubuntu so if you are running other versions it may not work.
  • Recipe Log: We had originally planned to put crafting in R2 without a recipe log but quickly discovered how amazingly not fun that was. Discovery is great but not having any record of that discovery is just punishing. So we got in a recipe book that will track your recipes.

So now that it is clear what you can expect we should also be as clear about what you should not expect:

Read more…



Community Spotlight ~ The Mad Hermit’s Shroud of the Avatar Video Guides

For this week’s Community Spotlight, I had the privilege of sitting down with The Mad Hermit.  Many of you may already know of him though his exceptional Shroud of the Avatar Home Walk-though series.

When asked what kind of NPC The Mad Hermit would be in New Britannia, his response was:

I would be hold up in a secret underground lab experimenting with magic and tesla coils attempting to create new hybrid technologies like:

  • ·         Electrically generated magic that could be used by non-magic-users
  • ·         Electrically rechargeable wands
  • ·         Magic amplification techniques using tesla coils

I would be a wealth of information but consumed by my research and understanding of how things work, so getting the information out of me might be hard. That’s the “madness” I guess.

Read more…


Update of the Avatar #56 – 01/17/14: $3 Million Milestone, Release 2 Countdown, BotA Chapter 5, Edelmann Cabana, Founder Weapons, Cooking Pot, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • Lord British Hosts Hangout to Celebrate $3 Million Milestone
  • 6 Day Countdown to Release 2 Launch!
  • Blade of the Avatar Novel: Chapter 5
  • The Spoony Interviews
  • Founder Edelmann Village Waterfront Cabana
  • Founder Melee Weapons
  • Cooking Pot of Prosperity
  • Village Lots Make A Comeback
  • 80 Days Remaining for Early Founder Pledge Prices

Lord British Hosts Hangout to Celebrate $3 Million Milestone

Shroud of the Avatar has crossed the $3M milestone thanks to your generous support! The team and I would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of our Backers for your belief in both our team and our vision for New Britannia!

To celebrate our $3 Million milestone, and the launch of Release 2, I’m hosting a late night Video Hangout next Thursday, January 23. We’ll post more details about the video hangout next week.

Your Humbled Servant
~Lord British

6 Day Countdown to Release 2 Launch!

We’re only 6 days away from the launch of Release 2 and the team is working feverishly to get it ready! We’re all looking forward to another great turnout from our backers, so please come check out the new features and content, and help us find bugs and provide design feedback! Stay tuned for a special update next Wednesday, January 22, providing all the details about Release 2.

Release 2 is only available to backers starting at the $45 Adventurer Pledge Tier (and $25 Early Founder First Responders), so if you want to play and haven’t backed the game yet, then please make sure you have registered on our website and made your pledge.

Read more…



Update of the Avatar #55 – 01/10/14: BotA Chapter 4, SotA #1 on Indie MMO Top Ten, More Spoony, Citizen Waterfront Cabana, & More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Welcome to another edition of Update of the Avatar! The team is working hard to get Release 2 ready for this month’s launch, and the excitement is mounting! Stay tuned for more Release 2 launch information in an upcoming update. Here’s what we have for you this week:

  • Blade of the Avatar Novel: Chapter 4
  • SotA on More Top Ten MMO Lists for 2014
  • The Spoony Interviews
  • Founder Citizen Village Waterfront Cabana
  • Founder Royal Artisan Taming Creature Call
  • Carpentry Hammer of Prosperity

SotA_Blade_ofthe_Avatar_Title

Blade of the Avatar Novel: Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of the serialized SotA novel, Blade of the Avatar (BotA), written by Tracy Hickman & Richard Garriott, is now available for download! If you are an Early Founder, or you purchased BotA in the Add-On Store, then you will find a download link for the current installment of the novel on your personal SotA account page (log into SotA website and click on “Account” in the top-right corner).  If you are a Kickstarter backer you’ll need to have your Kickstarter account linked to the SotA website (click here for instructions to link your Kickstarter account).

Here is a brief excerpt of Chapter 4 (illustration by Denis Loubet):

Chapter 4: Messages

“Captain Bennis!”

Aren awoke with a start, sliding his feet over the edge of the cot and coming to sit in the familiar gloom of his tent. He was awake at once, though noted he was feeling a few aches and pains that were unfamiliar to him. He still wore the tunic and the breaches from the previous day. He reached for his nearby boots, dragging them on even as he spoke.

“I am here,” he called out, his voice still a little hoarse. “What is it?”

“General Karpasik requests that you come at once!”

The captain stopped what he was doing immediately, dropping the second boot and then running his hand back through his untamed hair. The cascade of actual emergencies that had suddenly flooded into his mind along with each of their dire and immediate responses fled from him. “And did the general say what it was that he wanted?”

“He… He would like to inquire as to just how soon the Victory March might begin.” The voice from beyond the tent flap was young and high-pitched. Aren felt some sympathy for the young warrior. Few soldiers in the Army of Conquest received a message from the general with politeness.

“The Victory March?” Bennis shook his head in disbelief. “Is the general in some particular hurry?”

“The General has received orders from the Obsidians,” came the muffled voice beyond the canvas of the tent. “We are to leave a garrison force, but the bulk of the Army is to strike the encampment and prepare to march.”

“So the General has received orders to move the Army, but he still insists on having his parade,” Bennis muttered, shaking his head once again. He raised his voice slightly so that the messenger could hear him clearly. “Please inform the General that I will report to him shortly.”

“Yes, sir! And… Err…” “What is it, boy?” Aren could hear the hesitance in the voice outside.

“The General asks that you bring the tribute that you discovered in the ruins yesterday,” the warrior said, tripping over his words.

Download your copy of the latest installment of BotA to read the rest of this exciting chapter!

Read more…


Community Spotlight ~ Cave Fables: An Unofficial Writing Contest

Greetings Community and welcome to the latest edition of the Community Spotlight!  One of our very talented users, grnarrow (who has also submitted some awesome art assets) is holding an an unofficial contest for aspiring writers and fans of storytelling.  His goal is to generate a series of fables for The Dev Team to collect and put in a book called “Cave Fables” that will tentatively show up somewhere in-game! These fables would be ones that would have been written during the time that humans who survived the cataclysm were forced to live underground.  Here is a sample written by grnarrow:

The Mouse and the Toad

There was a mouse and a toad who lived near each other in the same cave complex. Each day when the mouse went out to forage for food he returned carrying not only food, but also a rock, which he deposited in his cave. When the toad, sitting in his own cave, would see the mouse pass by carrying a rock, he would call out and make fun of the mouse. “Why do you waste your time and energy carrying rocks? Silly mouse, we are surrounded by rock!” The mouse ignored the jibes of his neighbor and continued to collect a rock on every trip. One day a cry went up across the cave complex, “Weasels have entered the caves! We are under attack!“ The mouse ran into his cave and pushed the rocks he had collected up against the entrance, sealing himself in. The frog hopped frantically around the tunnels searching for enough rocks to seal his own cave, but before he could collect any the weasels were upon him and made a meal of him. The mouse stayed safe in his cave until the weasels moved on.

The contest will run through Noon CST on Monday, January 13, 2014, so if you have a gift for storytelling, you should definitely check out the full details and submit your Cave Fable on our forums.  I, for one, look forward to reading everyone’s entries!