Greetings Friends and Fellow Avatars!

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

• The Making of Shores of Malice – Really Excited for This!
• The Entrance to Artifice
• Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 26 Postmortem
• New Greenhouses

The Making of Shores of Malice

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Esteben “SorcerousSteve” Zaldivar]

Hey guys, once again its SorcerousSteve here with my latest map: The Shores of Malice entrance to the Malice Dungeon (final love quest location)!

The Shores of Malice are located on the banks of Stormwater Lake on the northern section of Drachvald bounded by the treacherous peaks of The Sirens.

Players on the love quest line will arrive by boat from Spite.

Inspiration for this location was drawn from the Washington State Coast.

Utilizing Gaia, our new water system, improvements in our lighting systems and our ever present attention to detail all come together in an effort to create the most natural organic looking scenery possible.

Ruins dot the ancient mountain range just up the trail from the Entrance to Malice.

Many of you who have visited Ravensmoor may be familiar with an island not too far off shore where a troll lurks and countless players have bravely fought to their deaths. Well many of you will be pleased to know that the Shores of Malice will have another such island where fellow Avatars can come test their wit.

That’s it for now folks, be sure to check out the Shores of Malice, coming soon!

Esteben Zaldivar
Level Designer

The Entrance to Artifice – Part 2

Last week we shared the opening comment and teaser image from Scottie’s Artifice Dev+ forum post. This week we’re sharing the rest of Scottie’s post, along with a repeat of the opening comment from last week (for descriptive continuity).

[From a Dev+ Forum Post by Scottie Jones]

As most travelers and pilgrims to Xenos know,…across the rolling plains of Elysium,… several day’s journey beyond the River Fall,… and perched in a crook of the craggy northern arm of the aptly-named Rumor Peaks,… lay the mysterious and legendary destination known as Artifice. Though there are a variety of tales that claim to know the truth behind why it was created, and by whom,…the only rumors that draw hopeful visitors from across the world to gather with needy abandon in the halls of Xenos are the stories told of the dreams and wishes that can come true for those lucky enough to win the lottery granting permission to enter Artifice’s secluded depths.

This lottery, open to the rich and poor alike, grants the holder the power to pass beyond the glimmering golden door, and to feast one’s eyes finally upon those things which are close to any pilgrim’s heart. The lame, it is said, will be healed. The hungry, it is said, will be fed. The lonely, it is said, will find love. There are some who complain that those who are wealthy and affluent seem to win the lottery more often than those who are poor and in need of its miracles… But, honestly, who can truly judge the mercurial whims of whatever powerful forces created this mystical place? Surely, only the MOST worthy can hope to share in the miracles offered in Artifice, and if the groveling masses are kept at bay, allowing only the best of us to pass within its walls, then one can be assured that the rewards within must be truly fabulous,…and justly deserved.

Here is a little teaser of my work on the entrance of Artifice… My goal is meant to be a mix of the mythic gardens of Babylon and some ruined garden of earthly delights… Based loosely on an early concept by Stephen, and composed of existing props and set pieces,… the views of waterfalls, crumbling columns, and lush plants contrasted with the sparse and somewhat barren scenery below should make this place a fun little area to explore, and an interesting enigma to experience once players gain access to the marvels within.

Having travelled across the Elysian Plains, those lucky enough to have won the fabled lottery of Xenos will eventually discover a narrow cleft in the massive rocks that line the foothills of the northern Rumor Peaks. Through this craggy entrance, beyond a winding path overshadowed by looming rocky walls, a lonely road leads uphill toward a strange source of light in the distance. The terrain here is reminiscent of other mountain paths, with dry scrub and grasses washing over boulder-strewn hills, and dotted with tall sparse conifers and smaller pines.

There is an arid, somewhat dry quality to the environment here, and the trails leading up to what appear to be some kind of ruins are dusty and strewn with loose rocks and pebbles. The closest trail ascends in a series of small switchbacks toward what must be the entrance to Artifice itself. As one climbs this trail, the landscape to the right begins to fall steeply away into a small scrub-choked ravine at the base of a tall stone wall above.

Approaching the top of the trail, what had appeared to be a wall has resolved itself into an ancient dam of sorts, built long ago to contain a small yet idyllic pool that has formed at the base of a grand stone structure rising higher onto the mountain’s steep face. It is here, strangely, that some subtle art has changed the very nature of the place. Dry scrub and barren pines give way, as if by magic, to lush grasses, green ivy, and sculpted topiary junipers that appear to be carefully tended. From the moment one approaches the path across the dam, flowers grace the edges of the trail, and potted plants dotted with colorful blossoms adorn the tops of columns rising on either side.

Seen from a bird’s-eye view, the opulence of this place shines through, despite that fact that some of its features have fallen into ruin. (I’m told that satyrs and fauns will eventually tend this place, speaking briefly to travelers that have come so far to sample its beauty). Multiple tiers of decorative stonework rise higher and higher to a shimmering archway above, and sumptuous growths of plants both deciduous and tropical lace the terraces on all sides. There is a quiet, powerful decadence here that seems beyond even the presence of clear mountain water and the hands of its devoted keepers to possibly maintain.

As one climbs higher and higher, looking back across the small, hidden valley reveals a breathtaking view of the distant peaks to the west, and the rolling plains to the south stretching all the way to the River Fall and far Xenos, where the journey to this place began. A flock of birds that gladly nest in the high cliffs, so close to such verdant riches, wheel and swoop on the upper winds. Though the panorama seems peaceful enough, the valley below (assuming one explored its perimeters) has many dangers in the form of wild beasts that now wander the lower hills, likewise lured in by the abundance found here.

Upon reaching the top, small stone footbridges lead across the swiftly-rushing waters that feed the falls below. Here a balcony hangs over the pool, where eventually will be found a satyr who’s task is to formally greet those who have come to enter the magical gateway leading to the inner Halls of Artifice. He will explain that only those who have been blessed with winning entrance through the lottery will be allowed inside, while all others will be barred from entry by the powerful magic of the golden gateway itself. Of course, there is no rush, and visitors can feel free to wander the nearby overlooks.

Yet…the shimmering portal beckons, as do the promises of all the wonders supposedly contained inside. No amount of outer beauty, no abundance of mere flowers and crystalline falls could possibly compare to the treasures and rewards for those lucky enough to have won entrance into what certainly must be one of the most coveted destinations in the world… As anyone will tell you, “Everything’s better in Artifice!”…

Enter, and enjoy the rewards you so richly deserve…

Scottie ^_^

Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 26 Postmortem

We had a great Hangout of the Avatar this week, with Richard, Starr, and Chris chatting about Release 26 and providing a sneak peek at Release 27. FireLotus fielded lots of questions and feedback live in the chat-room and from the original post! Here’s the video in case you missed it live:

New Greenhouses

In Release 26 the dev team introduced the “Greenhouse Effect”, wherein growing plants in greenhouses speeds up their growth rate. Currently, the Flexible Placement Stretch Goal Greenhouse is the only one in the game, and this greenhouse, along with all the Stretch Goal items, are expiring on February 29th at 10:30 AM CST (so ya better hurry and get the ones you want while they are still available).

The team is introducing two new “Rusted Iron” style greenhouses, crafted by Bob Cooksey. This first greenhouse, adapted from the stretch goal greenhouse, will be available on in-game vendors for gold:

Rusted Iron Large Greenhouse

Rusted Iron Small Greenhouse

This small Rusted Iron Greenhouse is currently available in the Add-On Store.