Updates

Shroud of the Avatar Creature Spotlight ~ Elves


Elves were created during the Obsidian Wars by Obsidian Sorcerers as powerful chaotic leaders with very destructive tendencies. They were created as tools to dominate the natural world and the creatures within it. When the Obsidian cause failed, all of the creatures created by these Obsidian Sorcerers became leaderless, wandered away, and were mostly driven to extinction. Few survive today, and those that do find themselves hunted and hated.SotA_Combat_Elves

In the intervening two hundred years since the Obsidian Wars, some elves, specifically those known as Vertas Elves, have reemerged with a new outlook on life, somehow they have turned over a new leaf, and found new purpose in life. These elves, while just as smart and powerful as their historic cousins, are masters of their own fate. While still often shunned or hated, they work to improve their own lives and come to peace with their warmongering past.

Outlanders that manifest in New Britannia, often take on a familiar human form, though many have noted their new Avatar manifestation differs significantly from their home world form. It is not uncommon to be taller, shorter, thinner or wider when an Outlander manifests in New Britannia. Even a change of gender is common when an Avatar manifests.SotA_StretchGoal_Elves_Armor

Rarely, very rarely, for reasons yet unknown, human Outlanders may manifest as Elves in New Britannia. So few such Outlanders exist, that any Elf claiming such heritage is likely to be disbelieved.


Update of the Avatar #89 – 2014.09.05: PAX vs Dragoncon, R9 Perspectives, Dev+ Asset Pack, Nature to Nutrition, Clockwork Pet, and More!


Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • PAX vs Dragoncon: And the Winner is…
  • Chris Spears R9 Perspective
  • New Developer+ Asset Pack
  • Hangout of the Avatar: Nature to Nutrition
  • Pledge Rewards: Clockwork Pets
  • Pen of the Avatar: Character Armor Variations
  • Through the Lunar Rift
  • Alienware Sponsors $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupon
  • This Week In The News
  • Upcoming Events


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And the Winner is…

In celebration of the PAX and Dragoncon conventions last weekend, we re-opened Release 9 for the duration of those conventions. In the spirit of friendly rivalry, we renamed the opposing teams in the PvP Castle Arena to PAX and Dragoncon.

The combat was intense, with some really awesome combatants on both sides. PAX is the larger of the two conventions based on number of attendees, so you might expect PAX to have the advantage. But that’s not how it turned out. Dragoncon put some serious hurt on PAX and was the undisputed winner with 34 wins to PAX’s 14 wins!

Congratulations to all the Dragacon combatants!

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Hangout of the Avatar ~ Nature to Nutrition


A Community Roundtable with Lord British

GarriottCurious about consumables?  Want to craft delicious delicacies or mix up creative concoctions? Then you should join us this Thursday, September 4th at 3 pm central for our Roundtable Discussion; From Nature to Nutrition.  Richard “Lord British” Garriott will host an in depth discussion on the reagents and recipes that will be used in creating food and drink in Shroud of the Avatar.  Several of our very own community members will join Richard live during the hangout as I, FireLotus, share your questions and feedback live from the chat room!  We’ve also got a few other surprises in store, so be sure to tune in!


Update of the Avatar #88 – 2014.08.29: R9 Re-Opens This Weekend, R9 Perspectives, R9 Player Events, Duke Waterfront Lot, Lord Rewards, and More!


Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • Release 9 Re-Opens Aug 29 – Sep 1 for PAX versus Dragoncon
  • Release 9 Perspectives & Release 10 Preview
  • Release 9 Player Events
  • Expanded Duke Waterfront Lot
  • Lord Rewards: Royal Scepter and Royal Orb
  • Galactic Inquiry: Starr Long Talks Persistant Worlds [full interview]
  • Pen of the Avatar: Character Armor Variations
  • Alienware Sponsors $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupon
  • Upcoming Events


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This combat from earlier today was a draw between PAX and Dragoncon (no thanks to me with my zero kills!)

Release 9 Re-Opens Aug 29 – Sep 1 for PAX versus Dragoncon

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Pen of the Avatar: 2014.09.02 ~ Character Armor Variations


Please join us for next Tuesday’s Pen of the Avatar! Concept art lead, Stephen Daniele , will be exploring some new character armor variations. We’ll be taking your feedback and questions in the chat room as he talks about shape psychology and incorporates ~your~ ideas into his designs. So, if you care about what you wear, you will definitely want to be there!

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Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 9 Postmortem


Join us Wednesday, August 27th at 3pm CDT for Hangout of the Avatar! Richard, Starr, and Chris will be chatting about Release 9, recounting their favorite moments, and reflecting on R9 Team PvP and the latest additions to the SotA combat experience, while also looking ahead to Release 10. Don’t forget, I’ll be taking your questions and feedback about R9 live in the chat-room and right here in the comments if you would like to post them in advance.  We’ll see you then!

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Update of the Avatar #87 – 2014.08.22: Play R9 Now!, Team Combat is Here, Player Hosted Events, Island of Choice, Streaming Radio, and More!


Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • Team Combat Is Here – Play R9 Now!
  • Release 9 In-game Community Events
  • PaxLair Player Town in Release 9
  • Release 9 Welcome Quest
  • Player Hosted PvP Tournaments
  • Developer Pledge Reward: Aether Vibration Amplifier (aka SotA Wireless Streaming Radio)
  • The Island of Choices
  • Alienware Sponsors $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupon
  • This Week In The News
  • Upcoming Events


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What is it about Chaos that attracts the best PvPers?

Team Combat Is Here – Play R9 Now!

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Update of the Avatar #86 – 2014.08.15: 6 Days till R9!, MMORPG Sweepstakes!, Lord’s Cloak, Ice Elemental, Barrel Mimic, Ardoris, Mini-Maps, and More!


Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • Shroud of the Avatar Opening Cinematic
  • Only 6 Days Until Release 9!
  • MMORPG.com Release 9 Weekend Access Sweepstakes!
  • Lord’s Cloak
  • Darkstarr Training Montage
  • Galactic Inquiry: Starr Long Talks Persistant Worlds
  • Call for Lore: Player Written Books
  • Obsidian Cloak
  • Alienware Sponsors $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupon
  • World Builder/Level Designer Job Opening
  • Upcoming Events


Shroud of the Avatar Opening Cinematic

The opening moments of Shroud of the Avatar where first you learn of the mysterious lands of Novia, and you feel the alluring pull of your destiny…


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Update of the Avatar #85 – 2014.08.08: MMORPG.com R9 Sweepstakes, R8 Player Events, Duke’s Cloak, Lord Marshal Hearth, Call for Lore, and More!


Greetings Fellow Avatars!

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

  • MMORPG.com Release 9 Weekend Access Sweepstakes!
  • Player Run Town Welcome Quests
  • New Britannia’s First Player Run Theatrical Production
  • Duke’s Cloak
  • Lord Marshal’s Great Hearth
  • Hangout of the Avatar: R8 Postmortem & R9 Preview
  • Call for Lore: Player Written Books
  • Through the Lunar Rift!
  • Alienware Sponsors $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupon
  • World Builder/Level Designer Job Opening
  • Upcoming Events


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MMORPG.com Pre-Alpha Release 9 Weekend Access Sweepstakes!

We’re excited to announce that MMORPG.com is sponsoring an exclusive sweepstakes where they are giving away 1000 Release 9 Weekend Access keys to MMORPG.com members. The cut-off date for eligibility is August 16th, so hurry over to MMORPG.com and get signed up for the sweepstakes!

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[http://www.mmorpg.com/contests/sota_beta_sweeps.cfm]

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