Updates

Update of the Avatar #112 – 2015.02.13: Underworld Dark Elven Kinsman Buckler, Necropolis Dungeon, Verdantis Shardfall, 50k Backers, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • Necropolis: The Halls of the Dead
  • Underworld Ascendant: The Dark Elven “Kinsman” Buckler
  • Verdantis Shardfall
  • Novia Overworld Work-In-Progress
  • Help Us With Your Positive Recommendation on Steam
  • Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 14 Postmortem
  • SotA Reaches 50,000 Backers!
  • Massively Kickstarter Success
  • In-game Community Weekend Events
  • Last Chance Exclusives
  • Receiving Pledge Rewards and Add-On Items in Release 14
  • Changes to Store Credit Conversions
  • Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
  • How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
  • This Week In The News
  • Upcoming Events

SotA_Necropolis2a

Scene from the Necropolis Dungeon

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Update of the Avatar #111 – 2015.02.06: Help Support Underworld Kickstarter, Bank Slot Rewards, Carnival Mask, Time.com Top 50, $10 for $10 Bonus, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • Raise the Underworld
  • New Pledge Rewards: Bank Slots
  • Receiving Pledge Rewards and Add-On Items in Release 14
  • Time.com includes SotA in Top 50 Most Anticipated Games of 2015
  • The Release 15 Grand Tour Silver Jester Carnival Mask
  • Limited Edition Jester Carnival Mask
  • Massively Overpowered Kickstarter
  • $10 for $10 Bonus Promotion
  • Novia Overworld Work-In-Progress
  • Changes to Store Credit Conversions
  • In-game Community Weekend Events
  • Last Chance Exclusives
  • Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
  • How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
  • This Week In The News
  • Upcoming Events

underworld_ascendant

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Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 14 Postmortem

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Thou hast been invited to the Release 14 Postmortem!

release14

A special thank you to redfish for the R14 screenshot!

Yes, we know that Release 14 is still alive and kicking, but it’s become a tradition for our team to review each release and celebrate it’s successes, while reflecting on what still needs to be improved! So, please join us Wednesday, February 11th at 3pm CDT for our next Hangout of the Avatar! Richard, Starr, and Chris will be chatting about Release 14, recounting their favorite moments while also looking ahead to Release 15. And as usual, I’ll be taking your questions and feedback live in the chat-room and also in advance right here in the comments section.*

*Please keep in mind that questions and feedback related to Release specific topics will be given priority and really verbose questions may be skipped, as they can be a challenge to shorten and summarize live on the air.  In brief… please keep your questions… brief.  ;)

And this just in!  We will be giving some really awesome prizes during the 90 minute extended Hangout, and all you have to do to qualify for one is to come hang out with us in the IRC chatroom during the broadcast.  See ya then!


Update of the Avatar #110 – 2015.01.30: Underworld Kickstarter, Play R14 Now, $10 for $10 Bonus, Novia WIP, Denis Loubet Patreon, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • Raise the Underworld
  • Play Release 14 Now and Get Your Grand Tour Hennin Hat
  • $10 for $10 Bonus Promotion
  • Standing Stones
  • Novia Overworld Work-In-Progress
  • In-game Books
  • Elven Tents
  • Support Denis Loubet on Patreon
  • New Britannia Theater Troupe: Live Double Feature Videos
  • Pledge Rewards, Add-Ons, and Banks in Release 14
  • Changes to Store Credit Conversions
  • In-game Community Weekend Events
  • Last Chance Exclusives
  • Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
  • How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
  • This Week In The News
  • Upcoming Events

Raise the Underworld

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Release 14 Instructions

[A SotA Public Forum post by Starr Long]

Darkstarr

Greetings Avatars,

Thank you to our loyal backers of Shroud of the Avatar. Release 14 access for all backers at First Responder level and above, as well as those who signed up at CES and PAX South, begins this Thursday, January 29 at 10:30 AM Central Time (16:30 UTC).

Please read this entire message, as well as the linked instructions and known issues.

This far from launch, we are in a constant state of change and we do not yet have in-game systems to inform players of these changes, or to share ways to help them to explore new content and systems. This means we rely entirely on this message, and the linked instructions and known issues to convey the current game state. We regularly have to answer questions or filter bug reports because players elect not to read this valuable information. By taking a few moments to read through this information, a great deal of our time and efforts can be redirected to focus on new “unanswered” questions, and addressing critical issues impacting each release. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to review this post, and for all the truly valuable feedback you continue to provide.

Release 14 is our first release of 2015 and represents several major new features (Banking, Pledge Rewards, Encumbrance, Enchantments) as well as overhauls to existing features (Crafting). It is also a milestone because now more than half of the Adventuring schools (magic and combat) are complete! Of course, with new content comes new bugs and balance issues, so help us out by posting bugs and feedback in our official forums.avatars-circle-logo-concept-7[1]

Also, remember that while we are providing new content with each release, our community is also working overtime to make new events for you to enjoy, so be sure to check out the Community Events Calendar (via in game book or the player run website Avatars Circle).

Without further ado, here are the R14 deliverables.
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Update of the Avatar #109 – 2015.01.23: SotA at PAX South, Banks, In-Game Backer Rewards, Novia Overworld, Game Informer, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • SotA at PAX South
  • Banks in Release 14
  • Changes to Store Credit Conversions
  • First Glimpse of Novia Overworld
  • SotA in Game Informer Magazine
  • MMORPG.COM – Release 14: Strong Start to a New Year
  • Shack News: CES Interview with Starr Long
  • GDC Next – Crowd Sharing: Crowd Sourcing + Crowd Funding
  • In-game Community Weekend Events
  • New Britannia Theater Troupe: Live Double Feature
  • Last Chance Exclusives: The Axe and Wood & Plaster Homes
  • Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
  • How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
  • Upcoming Events

SotA at PAX South

SotA_PAXSouth1

Richard Garriott, Starr Long, and Finn Staber are at PAX South, demonstrating the game and talking to the press. You can find them in the Texas Indie Game Lounge presented by Microsoft (booth 1343) at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.

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Update of the Avatar #108 – 2015.01.16: Mad Hermit’s Lay of the Land, PAX South, R13 Postmortem, Duke’s Basement, Flesh Flayer, Steam Catchers, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • The Mad Hermit’s Lay of the Land Video
  • SotA at PAX South Next Week
  • Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 13 Postmortem
  • Duke Pledge Reward: Upgraded Basement
  • Benefactor Knight & Knight Marshal Stonework Refinements
  • Flesh Flayer
  • Geothermal Steam Catchers
  • Boreas, The Titan of Truth
  • The Avatars Chronicles I – Return of the Avatar: Special Developer Edition
  • In-game Community Weekend Events
  • Last Chance Exclusives: The Pickaxe and Wood & Plaster Homes
  • Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
  • How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
  • Upcoming Events

The Mad Hermit’s Lay of the Land Video

Need a high-level overview of where the various cities, towns and villages are in Shroud of the Avatar? Jump in the Mad Hermit’s hot air balloon as he surveys the land from high-up above! Although most of SotA’s Pre-Alpha content is confined to the “Hidden Vale” at this point, boats and Lunar Rifts allow access to some of the cities and points of interest that exist on the Island of Novia (where the core part of the story will eventually take place).

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Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 13 Postmortem

SotA_12-31-14_22-03_3 r13 player shot Sot_A_12_30_14_14_37_1 Please join us Wednesday, January 14th at 3pm CDT for our next Hangout of the Avatar! Richard, Starr, and Chris will be chatting about Release 13, recounting their favorite moments while also looking ahead to Release 14. And as usual, I’ll be taking your questions and feedback about R13 live in the chat-room and also in advance in the comments section!


Update of the Avatar #107 – 2015.01.09: SotA #1 in TTH Readers Choice Awards, SotA at CES, 2014 Year in Review, R14 Grand Tour Reward, Air Elemental, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • SotA #1 Most Anticipated Game of 2015 in Ten Ton Hammer Readers Choice Awards!
  • SotA at CES
  • Shroud of the Avatar- A Year of Portalarium: 2014 in Review
  • Release 14 Grand Tour Quest Reward: The Hennin
  • Air Elemental
  • Dragon Pass Progress
  • The Avatars Chronicles I – Return of the Avatar: Special Developer Edition
  • In-game Community Weekend Events
  • Last Chance Exclusives: The Sickle and Village Ring of Stones
  • Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
  • How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
  • This Week In the News
  • Upcoming Events

SotA #1 Most Anticipated Game of 2015 in Ten Ton Hammer Readers Choice Awards!

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Wow! Our amazing community demonstrated to the world just how passionate and supportive they are by casting their vote for Shroud of the Avatar and making it the #1 Most Anticipated Game of 2015 in Ten Ton Hammer Readers Choice Awards! And this followed closely on the heels of all of you driving SotA to the #1 spot in the Massively Readers Choice Most Anticipated MMO of 2015 and Beyond!

Thank all of you so, so much for your passion and your support!

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Going for Three! – Vote for SotA for MMORPG’s Players Choice for Most Anticipated MMO of 2015!

MMORPG’s Players Choice for Most Anticipated MMO of 2015

First, you helped SotA win Massively’s Reader’s Poll for Most Anticipated MMO of 2015! Then, you kept the mojo going by driving SotA to a commanding lead in Ten Ton Hammer’s Most Anticipated Game of 2015 (voting for the TTH poll ends at 11:59 pm EST tonight, Jan 6).

It feels like we’re on a roll, here! You’ve knocked it out of the park for SotA twice in a row, so what do you say we go for three? These Reader’s Polls help new players learn of our awesome community and this awesome game that we are all building together! Please help keep the winning streak going and follow this link to go cast your vote for Shroud of the Avatar in MMORPG’s 2015 Players Choice Awards!