Category Archives: Update of the Avatar

Avatar’s Update #271: The Making of South Boundless Forest and the New Observatory Home

March 16, 2018

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

Game Development

News Announcements

Community Updates

The Making of South Boundless Forest

South Boundless Forest is a Tier 3 adventuring area in the North Paladis region far north of Yew, along the road to the Kas Ruins. This forest of ancient redwoods is the site of a major Kobold logging operation that is supplying lumber to Kobold locations as far away as K’rul. Stag clan barbarians have also taken up camp here in the ruins of an ancient colosseum from pre-cataclysm times.

[From a A Dev+ Forum Post by Chris “Sea Wolf” Wolf]

Hey folks, I have a few screenshots to share of South Boundless Forest. The forests are home to a group of native barbarians, who have made their home in the ruins of an ancient amphitheater. A kobold mining operation has moved in, and is slowly devouring the barbarian’s homes. The new look for this map is inspired by the giant redwood forests of California, The ruins of amphitheaters such as the Colosseum, and scenes from the movie, the 13th warrior.

This scene is still a work in progress, and you can expect a few more screenshots next week, showing off the underground “Halls of Eating,” and the Kobold logging camp.

The Forest

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Avatar’s Update #270: The Companions of Truth, Love, and Courage

March 9, 2018

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

Game Development

News Announcements

Community Updates

The Companions of Truth, Love, and Courage

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Starr “Darkstarr”]

In Release 30 we introduced the first companion, Fiona Fitzowen, who was the archetype of the principle of Love. Our intent has always been to follow her up with at least two other companions to represent the two other principles of Truth and Courage. It has also been our intent to create unique art for these pivotal characters.

We are excited that in Release 52 not only will we finally be adding the companions of Truth and Courage but we will also be giving these characters unique art! The companions support avatars in the Offline mode by accompanying them along their adventures. They comment on where the player goes during the main quest and will even talk to each other on occasion.

Companion of Courage: Conrad Dupre, Knight of Norgard.

Conrad’s lineage is that of a soldier’s soldier. He has fought under the banner of Valhold for his entire life, from his childhood as a squire to a dissolute noble to the years of struggle against the Kobolds (a race which he both respects and despises). In addition to his mastery of swords, shields, and heavy armor, he has a veteran’s knowledge of Life magic, as well – not a great deal, but enough to keep himself and those around him fighting when others would fall.
Most who know him respect him, for he has little tolerance for cowardice or fear. But if he has any failing he also has little of a knight’s respect for those under his care. Norgard is at war, and he will brook no weakness in its time of greatest peril. Conrad knows much of the martial arts, but unlike his impeccably forged sword Silverthorn, the heart of his courage still requires tempering.
Avatars will meet him early on in their journey through the Path of Courage, in the fortified garrison of Resolute.

Avatar’s Update #269: Trophy Room Contest Winners and R51 Postmortem Results

March 2, 2018

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

Game Development

Spring 2018 Items (cont.)

News Announcements

Community Updates

Spring 2018 Items (cont.)

We continue to build Spring 2018 items and this week we made the Sacred Orb of Obliteration a decoration item and the 2018 Easter Basket.

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Starr “Darkstarr”]

Greetings Avatars,

For Spring 2018 we are once again creating two rare items to celebrate, a lepus mask and easter basket. Rumors also abound concerning the return of the dreaded Arch Lapin!

Sacred Orb of Obliteration

2018 Easter Basket

Avatar’s Update #268: Play Release 51 Now!

February 23, 2018

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

Game Development

News Announcements

Community Updates

Play Release 51 Now!

Release 51 successfully launched yesterday, February 22, with thousands of backers downloading, patching, and logging in to check out the changes! There’s lots of new content to explore, including:

Framerate Improvements
Scene Rebuilds: South Fetid Swamp, South Midmaer Way
Lost Vale
Story Polish
More Side Quests
Player Vendor Customization (Cash Registers, Shopkeepers)
Skill Specialization
New Recipes & Patterns
More Virtue Armor
Combat Balance (Rage Effects, Armor Set Bonuses)
New Bears
New Harvestable Trees
New Decorations (Elven Guard Tower, Ornate Dual Wax Cylinder Phonograph)
R49 Telethon Items
R50 QA Testing Incentive Winners

Avatar’s Update #267: Vendor Variations and Improvements

February 16, 2018

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

Game Development

News Announcements

Community Updates

Vendor Variations & Improvements (cont.)

This week we added images for the new Male Shopkeepers, Female Vendor variations, and Male Vendor variations.

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Starr “Darkstarr” Long]

Male Shopkeepers: These player vendor outfits are based on Victorian shopkeeper wear and early concept sketches Denis Loubet made. They come in several outfit colors and face options. In Release 52 we will get female shopkeepers as well based on similar concepts.

Avatar’s Update #266: The Making of South Midmaer Way and South Fetid Swamp, and New Bears!

February 9, 2018

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

Game Development

News Announcements

Community Updates

The Making of South Midmaer Way

South Midmaer Way used to be the location of a thriving city with lovely canals on the shore of a large lake in an otherwise arid region. The city grew rich on trade through the area as it sat astride the main road. The rulers of the city built tombs to themselves amongst the cliffs and hid their treasures in them, defended by traps of course! However the lake dried up and the town was abandoned. Now opportunistic Satyrs have set up a bazaar in the ruins and Plunderers raid the tombs.

[From a A Dev+ Forum Post by Chris “Sea Wolf” Wolf]

Hey folks, I have a few screenshots to share of our updates to South Midmaer Way. The visuals are inspired by African grasslands like the Kalahari, as well as the ruins and rough terrain of the Valley of The Kings. A Satyr bazaar lies at the heart of the grasslands, nestled within the canals of an ancient city. In the mountainous ravines, plunderers and Satyrs alike are raiding the tombs of ancient kings which are scattered throughout the map.

Satyr Bazaar

Avatar’s Update #265: The Making of The Lost Vale

February 2, 2018

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

Game Development

News Announcements

Community Updates

The Making of The Lost Vale

“The Lost Vale” is a new adventure area (originally promised during the Kickstarter campaign) that is accessible only during special astronomical alignments. Note this is not to be confused with the Hidden Vale which is an entire island of both adventuring areas and towns that is accessible at all times.

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Travis “Vas Corp Por” Koleski]

Lost Vale

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Avatar’s Update #264: Play Release 50 Now!

January 26, 2018

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

Game Development

Play Release 50 Now!

News Announcements

Community Updates

Play Release 50 Now!

Release 50 successfully launched yesterday, January 25, with thousands of backers downloading, patching, and logging in to check out the changes! There’s lots of new content to explore, including:

Framerate Improvements
Story Polish
More Side Quests
Starter Scene Polish
Scene Rebuilds: Yew, Sunless Barrens, South Drachvald Spur
Refining Skills
New Recipes & Patterns
More Virtue Armor
UI Polish (Item Locking, Target Highlighting)
Combat Balance (Ransom Polish, Torch Weapon)
Wild Boars & New Wolves
New Female Peasants
New Houses (Watermill, Log Cabin, Hollow Log Home)
New Decorations (Viking Crafting Pavillion, Obsidian Obelisk)
R48 Telethon Items
R49 QA Testing Incentive Winners

Avatar’s Update #263: New Wolves Attack!

January 19, 2018

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

Game Development

News Announcements

Community Updates

New Wolves Attack!

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Starr “Darkstarr” Long]

The wolves throughout New Britannia are getting a makeover! We originally purchased our wolf from the Unity Asset store to save time and money, but it was not visually competitive. To address this shortcoming, Kevin @UglyFist Wells completely rebuilt the wolves for Release 50, including all the variations, the wolf hat, wolf mask, wolf trophies and the wolf clan barbarians. The wolf trophies will be updated in Release 50 with the updated Timber Wolf and in R51 we will add all the variants!

Timber Wolf

Avatar’s Update #262: The Making of Sunless Barrens and South Drachvald Spur

January 12, 2018

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

Game Development

News Announcements

Community Updates

Making of Sunless Barrens

As we wrap up rebuilds of all the Tier 1 and 2 scenes we are now moving on to Tier 3 scenes like Sunless Barrens. This area is located west of the Hellfire Rift between the Jade River and the Blackblade Mountains in the South Paladis region. It’s sunless name comes from the smoke and steam coming from the lava of the Hellfire Rift as it cuts through the rock of Novia and pours into the Bay of Storms. Geysers, lava flows, Ebon Dawn Cultists, Fire Elementals, and Plunderers are amongst the dangers, and potential rewards that await travelers to this perilous area. Even before the Cataclysm this area was rich in mineral deposits and efforts to extract those continue to this day despite the many obstacles.

[From a A Dev+ Forum Post by Chris “Sea Wolf” Wolf]

I have a few screenshots to share of the uncloning of Sunless Barrens, a volcanic tier 3 adventure scene. Cultists have taken refuge in an ancient geothermal facility in the upper geyser fields, which overlooks lava flows infested by Fire Golems, and Plunderer settlements nestled in forested mesas. The look for this scene is inspired by sulfurous hot springs throughout the world, including Yellowstone, as well as the magma flows in Hawaii.

The Lowlands

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