Herein Ye shall find the writings of the Dev Team! Come, listen and be informed! Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:26:55 +0000 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:26:55 +0000 Shroud of the Avatar Forum https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?forums/developer-work-and-blog-posts.2409/ Sun, 08 Feb 2026 05:16:17 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/ravalox-dev-work-blog.181150/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/ravalox-dev-work-blog.181150/ invalid@example.com (Ravalox) Ravalox
So rather than trying to resurrect something half-finished, I’m starting fresh for 2026.

My goal with this new blog is simple: to share what I’m working on, what I’m planning, and occasionally what I’m wrestling with behind the scenes. Some posts will be technical, some creative, some operational,...

Ravalox' Dev Work Blog]]> 2 Mon, 06 May 2024 21:23:19 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/nimronds-wooden-lion-chair.175987/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/nimronds-wooden-lion-chair.175987/ invalid@example.com (Scottie) Scottie
I'd meant to post this a bit earlier, but alas life seems to get in the way (honestly, I've had my nose pressed onto FAR TOO many different grindstones, and it's been difficult juggling everything)! But I've been wanting to create THIS particular item for quite some time! Back in the days when a lot of local player events were going on in Austin, I was honored to host quite a number of our players at my own humble home! As a result, they were able to get a gander at some of the...

Nimrond's Wooden Lion Chair]]> 12 Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:10:46 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/new-darkstarr-metronome-2024.175639/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/new-darkstarr-metronome-2024.175639/ invalid@example.com (Scottie) Scottie
It's been a bit since I've had the chance to reach out and post about stuff I'm working on! And there are a few things I'm working on that I need to wait for a bit before I can reveal the coolness! But lucky for me I just finished something that, though not incredibly elaborate of a task, is delicious enough to present! Of course, this post is just about me and my workflow, as well as my creative thoughts about the task, so I can't really conjecture about...

New DarkStarr Metronome 2024!]]> 12 Sat, 02 Mar 2024 09:20:48 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/a-follow-up-to-the-r123-livestream.175503/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/a-follow-up-to-the-r123-livestream.175503/ invalid@example.com (Ravalox) Ravalox
During the stream I described the source of the issue we found for Pets and NPCs either not moving around, de-spawning or not being able to be placed, along with a range of other symptoms, like not being able to use a bed or chair and even not able to cast an AOE spell/skill.

I wanted to go into this a little more: Many hours and the sacrifice of at least one fully decorated lot went into isolating the symptoms. I want to thank Bug Brigade and all the players involved in...

A follow up to the R123 Livestream]]> Sun, 22 Nov 2020 05:03:29 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/public-stats-api.89186/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/public-stats-api.89186/ invalid@example.com (Undone) Undone
HOWEVER, you should first understand what this API is, and what it is not....

Public Stats API]]> 517 Sun, 05 Apr 2020 14:06:26 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/ravalox-old-dev-blog.162913/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/ravalox-old-dev-blog.162913/ invalid@example.com (Ravalox) Ravalox
This is the start of my Developer's Journal. I've been active both visibly and behind the scenes in a few areas, and I feel it's time for me to keep the playerbase up to date on what I'm up to. This may be boring, or it may be entertaining. At minimum, I hope my blathering on is educational.

Most of you know who I am as being an active part of the community since before persistence. But an introduction for the newer Avatars out there surely is warranted.

I learned to code...

Ravalox' old Dev Blog]]> 2 Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:42:38 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/batch-crafting-improvement.159900/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/batch-crafting-improvement.159900/ invalid@example.com (wizardsmoke) wizardsmoke
While speaking with some players at SotACon 2019, an issue with batch crafting was brought to my attention. (A few issues, actually, but I'll be addressing one of them here.) When a failure occurs during batch crafting, the remaining unused ingredients are cleared off of the crafting station and sent to the player's inventory, only to be immediately replaced with identical ingredients from the player's inventory. Since many players prefer to keep crafting ingredients in a...

Batch Crafting Improvement]]> 1 Tue, 01 Oct 2019 20:39:40 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/some-new-crossbows.159155/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/some-new-crossbows.159155/ invalid@example.com (Scottie) Scottie
Just a quick update to show you some new crossbows I've been recently working on. One is already in the game (the Ornate Norgard Crossbow) and another I just recently completed, which is being added even as I type (the Ornate Shogun Crossbow)... There is a third I'm in the midst of as well (the Ornate Kobold Crossbow), which I'm hoping will show off visual elements of their culture once I have a chance to refine the aspects and details I'm drawing from the Kobold Culture's...

Some New Crossbows!]]> 13 Sun, 19 May 2019 23:21:30 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/construction-decoration-set-as-promised-from-the-r60-livestream.154911/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/construction-decoration-set-as-promised-from-the-r60-livestream.154911/ invalid@example.com (Scottie) Scottie
Spring is well under way of being "sprung", so-to-speak, which means it's time for Spring cleaning and building! At least, that's the lame excuse I'm going to use for why I've only recently finished all these lovely construction deco pieces that we promised folks from the R60 Livestream...

Honestly, though, I know it's been awhile, not only since R60, but also since I last had a chance to create a fun post! The last post was full of little delicate...

Construction Decoration Set! (as promised from the R60 Livestream)]]> 84 Wed, 20 Mar 2019 15:52:45 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/things-ive-created-for-the-spring-equinox.152958/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/things-ive-created-for-the-spring-equinox.152958/ invalid@example.com (Scottie) Scottie
Here's another post to share what I've been working on over the last week and a half!

Well, it's Spring again, and WOW has this year been flying by .... It's already mid-March!!!

And whether you call it Easter, or Ostara, or Eostre, or even just the Spring Equinox, it's time for me to make stuff related to some kind of Springtime Festival! That means cool stuff that I am hoping will be made available to you in some way as decorations in Shroud of the...

Things I've Created for the Spring Equinox!]]> 33 Wed, 13 Mar 2019 20:41:27 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/piles-of-treasure-decorations.151382/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/piles-of-treasure-decorations.151382/ invalid@example.com (Scottie) Scottie
I decided to make a post because it's been awhile since I've done so, and because I just made some stuff that will soon be available as part of the whole set of "Pirate Themed" stuff in our Store!

I present to you all, my Piles of Treasure decorative objects!


I'm really excited by them because of the way they look, and I'm so glad we got around to making these as player...

Piles of Treasure Decorations!]]> 56 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 17:06:30 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/chris-daily-work-blog.85584/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/chris-daily-work-blog.85584/ invalid@example.com (Chris) Chris
I'll keep the thread locked and pinned so feel free to Discuss in another thread. Discuss here if you want: https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/f...ndom-discussion-about-chris-daily-blog.85583/

Plan is basically to try as often as possible to post...

Chris' Daily Work Blog]]> 163 Sat, 22 Sep 2018 01:35:02 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/dungeon-basements-sneak-peak.138252/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/dungeon-basements-sneak-peak.138252/ invalid@example.com (Vas Corp Por) Vas Corp Por
Here's some work in progress screenshots of some of the dungeon pieces we're working on for the upcoming dungeon building feature.


Blue Chapel Room


Ancient Stone 2Entrance Room...

Dungeon Basements - sneak peak]]> 70 Thu, 09 Aug 2018 06:07:55 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/sneak-peak-of-solace-bridge-redo.135162/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/sneak-peak-of-solace-bridge-redo.135162/ invalid@example.com (Vas Corp Por) Vas Corp Por



(House will be on fire)...

Sneak Peak of Solace Bridge Redo]]> 14 Fri, 20 Jul 2018 11:05:18 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/sneak-preview-of-the-first-obsidian-trials-map.130803/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/sneak-preview-of-the-first-obsidian-trials-map.130803/ invalid@example.com (Vas Corp Por) Vas Corp Por



...

Sneak Preview of the first Obsidian Trials map]]> 17 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 23:20:20 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-east-vauban-foothills.129955/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-east-vauban-foothills.129955/ invalid@example.com (Sea-Wolf) Sea-Wolf
Cavern Scout Camp


Cavern Laboratory...

The Making of East Vauban Foothills]]> 9 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 20:33:10 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-norgard-fens.129152/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-norgard-fens.129152/ invalid@example.com (SorcerousSteve) SorcerousSteve
A large inspiration for certain areas of the Norgard Fens came from the dark swamps featured in movies such as The Nerverending Story and The Princess Bride. This particular area featured below is dark and musty, vegetation has stopped growing, and it is littered with quicksand pits.


The home of the...

The Making of Norgard Fens]]> 10 Wed, 30 May 2018 14:53:15 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-westend.123527/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-westend.123527/ invalid@example.com (SorcerousSteve) SorcerousSteve
Westend is located on the western end of Verdantis in close proximity to the Verdantis Shardfall. Alongside this it is in close proximity to Norgard, so for this particular uncloning we decided to bring in our Viking style architecture and improve the theme of the area as a coastal swamp biome.

The NPC center and cluster of shops in the heart of town have now received a major makeover with multi-level...

The Making of Westend]]> 13 Tue, 29 May 2018 19:43:00 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-eastmarch.117325/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-eastmarch.117325/ invalid@example.com (Sea-Wolf) Sea-Wolf
The Devotional Shrine...

The making of Eastmarch]]> 10 Fri, 18 May 2018 19:04:31 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-shaminian-hills.124546/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-shaminian-hills.124546/ invalid@example.com (Sea-Wolf) Sea-Wolf
The Cathedral

...

The Making of Shaminian Hills]]> 8 Fri, 11 May 2018 17:13:03 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/upper-tears-preview.124543/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/upper-tears-preview.124543/ invalid@example.com (Vas Corp Por) Vas Corp Por
Upper Tears Preview]]> 6 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 00:36:48 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-tenebris-harbor.117554/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-tenebris-harbor.117554/ invalid@example.com (SorcerousSteve) SorcerousSteve
Tenebris Harbor was until recently a productive shipbuilding town until a large band of pirates swarmed into the area with the goal of looting and stealing some of the finest galleons in Novia. Their onslaught was so unexpected and aggressive that many of the guards and civilians perished. Parts of the city now lay in flame and the plunderers have made themselves comfortable happily looting and killing any strangers...

The Making of Tenebris Harbor]]> 37 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 16:19:39 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/penmawr-island-sneak-peek.117539/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/penmawr-island-sneak-peek.117539/ invalid@example.com (Vas Corp Por) Vas Corp Por
Here's some screenshots of our current progress on this tier 4 adventure zone (It will be full of raucous pirates and other ghoulish baddies):



...

Penmawr Island Sneak Peek!]]> 45 Wed, 28 Mar 2018 06:17:20 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-quel-shardfall.115020/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-quel-shardfall.115020/ invalid@example.com (SorcerousSteve) SorcerousSteve The culmination of a month long meteor shower has ended with a cataclysmic impact in the Quel Region!

In designing the Quel Shardfall we wanted to illustrate the idea that a recent catastrophic event had just occurred, it is this idea that differentiates this shardfall from all the others.
The sky has grown dark, lightning storms rage around the impact site, pieces of obsidian float as though the exact moment of the...

The Making of Quel Shardfall]]> 2 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 16:56:48 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/northwood-uncloning-sneak-peek.112138/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/northwood-uncloning-sneak-peek.112138/ invalid@example.com (Vas Corp Por) Vas Corp Por (Before and After shots)

I liked a lot of the look and feel of Northwood, and tried to keep to the 'sleepy forest village' vibe while still trying to make improvements.

Before: South Entrance

After: South Entrance...

Northwood, Uncloning! - Sneak Peek]]> 27 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 15:31:29 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-south-boundless-forest.112608/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-south-boundless-forest.112608/ invalid@example.com (Sea-Wolf) Sea-Wolf
The Making of South Boundless Forest]]> 11 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 01:01:05 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-blood-river-forest.112220/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-making-of-blood-river-forest.112220/ invalid@example.com (SorcerousSteve) SorcerousSteve
Located in Verdantis along a tributary of the Blood River the Blood River Forest is a lush area inhabited by wary elves. Located within its forested trails there is a fish hatchery and an open pit copper mine alongside some other mysteries to be revealed in the coming weeks.


The Blood River...

The Making of Blood River Forest]]> 24 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 11:10:08 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/concept-art-character-armor.14658/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/concept-art-character-armor.14658/ invalid@example.com (caravaggiosWolf (Dev)) caravaggiosWolf (Dev)

They painted over a static male character provided by the character team. As with all armor each type will be available for male and female. As I finish each of the ideas I'll be posting them here. These are the turnovers to the character team so they include color variations...

Concept Art: Character Armor]]> 39 Wed, 14 Mar 2018 01:20:03 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/vendor-variations-improvements.109392/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/vendor-variations-improvements.109392/ invalid@example.com (DarkStarr) DarkStarr UPDATE Feb 9: We are going to be using patterns for visual variations so I've updated the post to reflect this. Using this system will keep the number of CF vendors exactly the same and provide the most visual options to every player. Also we have scrapped the "NEW" tab in favor of a "Date" column.

In Release 51 we will begin improving Player Vendors through a series of technical and visual improvements. The first thing we will try to improve is visual...

Vendor Variations & Improvements]]> 102 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 02:18:35 +0000 https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/lost-vale.109282/ https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/lost-vale.109282/ invalid@example.com (Vas Corp Por) Vas Corp Por






...

Lost Vale]]> 59