Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

• The Coconut Horse and Too Hot in the Hot Tub!
• Release 4 Perspectives
• Duke Castle Home
• Baron Rewards
• Easter Goodies
• Rustic 2-Story with Balcony Village Home
• Wood & Plaster 2-Story with Great Hall Village Home
• Blade of the Avatar Novel: Chapter 16
• Alienware R5 Weekend Access Keys and $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupons
• Upcoming Events
• This Week In The News
• Only 3 Days Remain to Purchase/Upgrade/Gift Founder Pledges

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The Coconut Horse and Too Hot in the Hot Tub!

It all started innocently enough with the question “Should we do anything for April Fool’s?” That simple question spun out to an incredibly fun and elaborate “not” prank where we made real stuff then pretended it was real, but fake at the same time. We wanted everyone to wonder for several days if we were pranking them for April Fool’s or if the items were real. It was meant to be the ultimate head fake, where at the end (which is now) we could reveal that it was in fact all real, and not a prank. We went so far as to create a new movement mode in the game that is activated by equipping items. In this case it was coconuts that would trigger a skipping animation. This is a real system that we can expand later. We also built the hot tub. The story was that the coconut horse was to be a thank you for the fundraising and the 1-Year Anniversary gift while the hot tub was to be an Add-On Store item.

We realized if we announced an Add-On Store item, but didn’t actually put it in the Add-On Store, that you would all almost immediately realize it was a prank. So we put it in the Add-On Store as a limited quantity and marked it sold out, before the update even went out! The update also went out very late in the day on April 1st whereas most April Fools pranks occur early in the day. It went out so late that most our European backers didn’t even see it until April 2nd.

When it went out, we got lots of complaints about not being able to buy the hot tub. Complaints ranged from “I was at work!” or “My username starts with an “L” so I was too far down the mailing list to get it in time.” Some folks seemed truly angry about the hot tub being sold out before they got to buy one. Darkstarr, being the Lord of Chaos, reveled in this pandemonium. The team heard Starr yelling things like “I feast on their outrage!” or “My chaotic powers grow with each complaint!” We continued to poke at this prank by mentioning the hot tub when we launched the Add-On Store Credit Conversion, as well as during our video hangouts.

With this update, we can reveal that this was an April Fool’s prank, but not really, because both the coconut horse and the hot tub are real! There is now an unlimited supply of Ye Olde Hot Tubs available in the Add-On Store, and we’ve added the Coconut Horse as a basic reward for all SotA backers!

Thank you all for having a sense of humor about the entire thing.

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Release 4 Perspectives

From Lord British:

Release 4 seemed to be the most challenging to date, at least internally. We had more than the usual last minute scramble, and plenty of debates about what was ready, what wasn’t, and what we still needed to fix before we went live. But once again, I am VERY proud of the team, and that they pulled off so much of what we had hoped to accomplish. Even more importantly, everyone seemed to have a great time playing throughout the weekend, and…

[Read the full post in the forums]

From Starr Long:

I was more nervous about Release 4 than our previous 3 releases combined. It contained the most content we had ever pushed live (ex: jumping from 3 maps to 10!) and it was the first pass at multiple major systems: combat, harvesting, scene types, parties, the overland map, swimming, etc.. All of those were still in various undone and rough shapes the Monday before going live. I did have a panic moment that Monday morning but thankfully my compatriots calmed me down and we pulled it all together for release! My favorite R4 moment was…

[Read the full post in the forums]

From Chris Spears:

So R4 for me was an absolute blur because my wife and I proved that one pregnant woman can have a baby in 9 months and that patience always pays off as we welcomed our first child, Maxine, a healthy little girl into the world. I can now confirm that having a newborn is a lot like being a lead engineer in game development. You don’t get to sleep much, it’s a LOT of work, but it’s super satisfying and you see visual progress on pretty much a daily basis if you pay attention closely….The number of players was up again, this time to over 8000 with around 80% returning players and 20% new players. Also as expected, total play time was way up with more than half of the players having a single session longer than an hour in length. Also, 87.5% of the people who played on the first day, came back for at least one more day and just over 40% logged in each and every day of the session. Total number of play sessions was up as well, but unfortunately that appears to be due to some crashing issues from some memory leaks that snuck in, but overall mean playtime continues to climb each release.

[Read the full post in the forums]

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Duke Castle Home

Our Parade of Homes continues with the Founder and Benefactor Duke Castle Homes, available in the Duke level pledge. This sprawling, three-story castle, designed by Bob Cooksey and Michael Hutchinson, has 14 rooms, with an expansive roof-deck (Founder version has an enclosed roof-top room with a deck accessible with a ladder)!

Originally Duke Founders only received the island castle as their house reward and there was no house reward for Benefactors. After creating the Duke Island Castle we realized we could take that same castle and create a land version that could be placed on any City lot (not just a water lot). Then in turn we decided to create a Benefactor version as well.

Here are images of the Founder Duke Castle Home:

 

 

 

The Benefactor Duke Castle Home has identical square footage with the Founder version (except for the roof-top room), with a reversed floor plan, and constructed of different materials:

 

Here is a side-by-side of the front of the Benefactor (left) and Founder (right):

 

And here is the back of the Founder (left) and Benefactor (right).  We also upgraded the Founder Duke Waterfront Castle (as originally presented in Update #53) to include the same large picture window on the first floor and ladder to the deck of the roof-top structure as shown here on the Founder Duke Castle:

 

 

Here are some interior images of the Benefactor Duke Castle Home (see Update #53 for interior views of the Founder Duke Castle):

 

 

 

 

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Founder Baron Rewards

Founder Baron Bed

Included in the Founder rewards of the Baron 1/2/3 pledge tier is this regal 4-poster bed, an in-game decoration for your home, uniquely identifiable as Founder:

 

Founder Baron Imp Pet

This unique Imp pet is included in the Founder rewards for the Baron 1/2/3 pledge tier:

 

Founder Baron Servant

Included in the Founder rewards of the Baron 1/2/3 pledge tier is your very own, unique, house servant, appropriate to your stature as a Baron!

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Easter Goodies

Easter Bunny Pet

Easter is almost upon us and what would an Easter be without your very own Easter Bunny Pet, now available for a limited time in the Add-On Store:

 

Replenishing Confetti Eggs Basket

This magical Easter basket of 50 confetti eggs regenerates annually during the Easter holiday, available for a limited time in the Add-On Store:

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Rustic 2-Story with Balcony Village Home

Continuing our line of rustic homes, we’ve added this quaint, 2-story, 2-room village home to the Add-On Store (you may have seen this house in Braemar):

 

 

 

 

Get Your Rustic 2-Story with Balcony Village Home Now for 50% off!

For a limited time we’re offering 50% off this home!  Reserve yours (or send as a gift) at the Add-On Store!

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Wood & Plaster 2-Story with Great Hall Village Home

First in our line of Wood & Plaster homes is this 2-story, 3-room village home (second story room is a Great Hall), now available in the Add-On Store (also used as the government building in Owl’s Head):

 

 

 

 

Get Your Wood & Plaster 2-Story with Great Hall Village Home Now for 50% off!

For a limited time we’re offering 50% off this home!  Reserve yours (or send as a gift) at the Add-On Store!

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SotA’s One-Year Anniversary Events

We kicked off our One-Year Anniversary Events this week with our One-Hour Daily Developer Hangouts! 10 Founder Adventurer Pledges and 10 Weekend Access Passes to Release 5 were given away during each hangout, randomly selected from all New Britannians! Be sure to tune in to the daily hangouts to see who our next winners are!

Here are the events for the remainder of the week, so be sure and mark your calendars:

• One-Hour Daily Developer Hangouts from March 31st thru April 6th
  • 4:00 p.m. CST Monday, March 31st: Combat, Magic, & Affinity
  • 4:00 p.m. CST Tuesday, April 1st: PvP & Death
  • 4:00 p.m. CST Wednesday, April 2nd: Crafting
  • 4:00 p.m. CST Thursday, April 3rd: Housing
  • 4:00 p.m. CST Friday, April 4th: Single Player Offline
  • 3:00 p.m. CST Saturday, April 5th: Multiplayer & Instancing
  • 3:00 p.m. CST Sunday, April 6th: Fishing & Character Customization
• Noon to Midnight Video Hangout Telethon on April 7th
• Allow Backer Access to SotA Release 4.x from Morning to Midnight on April 7th
• Assorted free prizes to be given away during the final week, including:
  
  • April 7th Drawing for one (1) Alienware Gaming Laptop
  • April 7th Drawing for one (1) trip to Austin, Texas for a tour of the Portalarium Studios and some design brainstorming with the SotA Dev Team (flight & 1 night hotel expenses covered)
  • Ten (10) Founder Adventure Pledges given away during each daily hangout
  • Ten (10) Weekend Access Passes to Release 5 given away during each daily hangout
  • One (1) Plantronics headset given away during each daily hangout, and once per hour during the April 7th Telethon

All New Britannians are eligible for the drawings, no pledge or purchase required, just make sure you are registered on the Shroud of the Avatar website.

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Blade of the Avatar Novel

The latest installment of the serialized SotA novel, Blade of the Avatar (BotA), written by Tracy Hickman & Richard Garriott, is now available for download! If you are a 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 the latest installment (illustration by Denis Loubet):

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Chapter 16: Dispossessed

Aren was quite suddenly not where he had been.

He was still running, but his surroundings had changed in an instant. The dark alleyway had been replaced by a brilliantly lit hall of white marble, polished floors, and alabaster walls rising to an arched ceiling overhead. The wall of blue light that had overtaken him in the alley was now in front of him. It had washed over Aren and was rushing away from him down the hallway. Confused and disoriented, Aren tried to stop but his boots slipped from under him on the gleaming surface underfoot. He tried to recover but it was too late. He lost his footing, stumbled and then came crashing to a rolling and sliding stop in the middle of the hall.

Painfully, he picked himself up and, per his training, looked around him. The wall of blue light had come to a stop at the end of the hall about thirty feet from where he stood. Aren watched it warily for a few moments. With some trepidation, Aren turned around, suspicious that it might chase him once more, but it remained where it had come to rest.

Aren slipped his sword back into his scabbard. The hall down which he had just run had two enormous doors set on either side. Beyond those, the hall opened up into a rotunda. At three equally spaced points around the circular room, statues stood against the walls, each one bowing slightly inward as though the overhead dome were supported on their backs and it’s apex were too low for them to stand. One of them was of a muscular man with his hand raised in a defiant fist. The second was of a different man, this one with his hand raised palm open as though swearing an oath. The third was a remarkable woman with her hand placed over her heart. In the center of the room, on a raised pedestal, stood eight smaller statues that appeared to be facing outward in a ring but each of these was covered in black cloth.

Aren stepped up to one of the draped figures. He reached a tentative hand upward toward the shroud.

“Aren Bennis.”

Aren had heard the voice. It was a deep tone, so quiet that he might have questioned hearing it if it had not penetrated his bones. It seemed to come from every direction at once.

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

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Map Reveal

For your map puzzle collection:

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Alienware Sponsors 1000 Release 5 Weekend Access Keys

Every week for four weeks, starting March 24th, 250 members of the Alienware Arena Shroud of the Avatar Group will receive Weekend Access Keys to SotA Release 5, scheduled for April 24-27.

Access Key Giveaway Periods (does not reflect game availability dates):

• March 24 – 30 (completed)
• March 31 – April 6
• April 7 – 13
• April 14 – 20

250 members of the Alienware Arena Shroud of the Avatar Group will be able to gain weekend access to SotA’s Release 5 during each giveaway period. For more details, jump on over to the Alieware Arena site and make sure you’re registered in their Shroud of the Avatar Group!

[Note: Weekend Access Keys are non-transferable and primarily for use by non-backers to check out the game; Make sure that your SotA account uses the same email address as your Alienware Arena account in order to utilize the Weekend Access Keys]

Alienware Sponsors $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupon

Alienware’s powerful gaming rigs are a perfect match for Shroud of the Avatar! To show their support, Alienware is sponsoring $20 SotA Pledge Upgrade Coupons to members of their Alienware Arena community!

These coupons can be used to start a SotA pledge account (for new backers), or to add $20 to an existing pledge account. If, for example, you have a $90 Royal Artisan Pledge, you can use the Alienware coupon to bump you up to a $110 Virtual Collector Pledge.

Pretty sweet deal, right? So, hurry over to the Alienware Arena website and get your $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupon now!

[NOTE: Only one Alienware Pledge Upgrade Coupon can be used per account. Coupon does not apply to Add-On Store items]

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Upcoming Events

2014.03.31 – Beginning of SotA’s One-Year Anniversary Events
2014.04.07 – SotA’s One-Year Anniversary Telethon
2014.04.07 – End of One Year Founder Pledge Promotion
2014.04.18 – Duke & Lord of the Manor VIP Design Roundtable with Lord British and Portalarium Tour
2014.04.24 – Release 5 Access
2014.05.22 – Release 6 Access
2014.06.26 – Release 7 Access
2014.08.29 – SotA at Dragoncon

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Only 3 Days Remain to Purchase/Upgrade/Gift Founder Pledges

Until the promotion ends on April 7th, 2014, Founder backers will be able to purchase and/or gift additional Founder pledges containing all the original Founder rewards, as well as upgrade any of their pledges at original Kickstarter prices. After April 7th, prices for upgrades, gifts, and purchases will increase to Benefactor prices and no new Founder pledges can be created. Don’t miss out!

Referral Bonus for Gifted Pledges!

Early Founders who wish to act as patrons to their family, friends, guildmates, or members of the SotA community, will also continue to receive the $25 Referral Bonus for every additional pledge they purchase as a gift for others. Not only are you helping out others to become Founders, but you are also growing your own pledge account by $25 every time you do! Win-win for everyone!

Community member, The Mad Hermit, has a great video walkthru explaining all this, called “How to Become A Founder Through ‘Gifting’“.  We highly recommend you check it out!

We’ve created the Player Marketplace area in the forums to help facilitate these transactions between our community members and we ask that you keep these transactions in that section.

Hurry and take advantage of this tremendous offer as there are only 3 days remaining until the Early Founder Pledge Promotion ends on April 7, 2014.

[NOTE: Any pledge payment plans started prior to April 8, 2014 will remain in effect at the original Early Founder price until that plan is completed or cancelled. Until we automate the process, you can send a request to support@portalarium.com to have your pledges merged.]

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