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{{Getting Started Links}}
[[File:Archive Turbine 2013 center image.png|right]]
 
[[File:Asheron's Call Logo.png|320px|right]]


== Asheron's Call ==
== Asheron's Call ==
Asheron's Call (AC) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy fantasy] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game Massively multiplayer online role-playing game] delevoped by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbine,_Inc. Turbine, Inc.] released on November 2, 1999.
Asheron's Call (AC) was a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy fantasy] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game Massively multiplayer online role-playing game] developed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbine,_Inc. Turbine, Inc.] released on November 2, 1999.


* Please visit our [[Home|Home Page]] to explore everything our wiki has available.
* Asheron's Call 1 and 2 services ended on January 31st, 2017. [https://www.asheronscall.com/en/forums/showthread.php?73423-Asheron-s-Call (source: forum post)]
* New to Asheron's Call? Check out the [[New Player Guide]].
* Asheron's Call private servers were not released. [https://www.asheronscall.com/en/forums/showthread.php?73423-Asheron-s-Call&p=753848#post753848 (source: forum post)]
* See the [[Returning Player Guide]] if you have to decided to come back.
[[File:AC_Tod_Logo.gif]]


=== Game Info ===
=== Game Info ===
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|-
|-
| [[File:Balance of Power Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Balance of Power]]
| [[File:Balance of Power Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Balance of Power]]
| '''February 2013: "Tier 8 Loot and a New UI"'''
| '''February 2013: "Big" Update'''
* New UI
* New UI
* [http://acpedia.org/wiki/File:Teaser_20130205.jpg Legendary] Cantrips were introduced.
* Legendary cantrips introduced
* New [[Summoning]] skill introduced.
* New [[Summoning]] skill introduced
* [[http://acpedia.org/wiki/Loot#Tier_8 Tier 8 Loot]] Introduced
* [[Loot]] Tier 8 introduced
* Creature Loot Tiers adjusted
* Creature loot tiers adjusted
|-
|-
| [[File:Emotions Unbound Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Emotions Unbound]]
| [[File:Emotions Unbound Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Emotions Unbound]]
| '''August 2013: "Tier 8 Loot and Weapon Tailoring"'''
| '''August 2013: "Big" Update'''
* New Tier 8 Loot Hunting Area Introduced - [[Rynthid Infested Plains]]
* [[Tailoring|Weapon Tailoring]] introduced
* [[Tailoring#Weapon_Tailoring|Weapon Tailoring]]
* New [[Loot]] Tier 8 hunting area, the [[Rynthid Infested Plains]], introduced
* [[Black Market]]s were updated.
|-
| [[File:Forces of Nature Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Forces of Nature]]
| '''January 2014: "Tier 8 Area Released"'''
* [[Viridian Rise]] - New High Level Hunting Ground Released 
* New level VIII Ring Spells Released - [[Infused_Amber_Collection#Items|New Ring Spells]]
|-
| [[File:Spring 2014 Splash Screen 1.jpg|250px|link=Spring 2014]]
| '''February 2014: "Spring 2014"'''
This as indicated by Turbine will be the last Patch for Asherons Call.
<br>
* [[Enlightenment]] - A system designed for our most dedicated players, Enlightenment allows a character who has reached the pinnacle of levels and Luminance to let it all go and start over. The process of Enlightenment is certainly not for the faint of heart, but enlightenment will provide an avenue for players to prove that they are some of the most hardcore players of the game.
* [[Gauntlet]] - A brand new coliseum to challenge players and top end characters has been added.
* [[Paragon Weapons]] - A weapon upgrade system that creates Paragon weapons has been added to the game. Characters can slowly enhance their favorite weapons by forging them into Paragon weapons.
|}
|}


=== Rules ===
=== Rules ===
By playing Asheron's Call, all players agree to the following documents:
By playing Asheron's Call, all players agree to the following documents:
*[http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=463 Asheron's Call Code of Conduct (CoC)]
* [http://support.turbine.com/link/portal/24001/24047/Article/4063/AC-Code-of-Conduct-COC Asheron's Call Code of Conduct (CoC)]
*[http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=481 Asheron's Call End User License Agreement (EULA)]
* [http://support.turbine.com/link/portal/24001/24047/Article/4456/Asheron-s-Call-End-User-License-Agreement-EULA Asheron's Call End User License Agreement (EULA)]
*[http://www.turbine.com/news/56 Turbine Terms of Service (ToS)]
* [http://support.turbine.com/link/portal/24001/24047/Article/5494/Asheron-s-Call-End-User-License-Agreement-United-States Asheron's Call End User License Agreement (United States)]
* [http://asheronscall.com/en/content/asherons-call-terms-service-united-states Asheron's Call Terms of Service (ToS)]


== History of Asheron's Call ==
== History of Asheron's Call ==
:[[#top|Back to top]]
:[[#top|Back to top]]


=== 1995 - 1999 ===
=== 1994 - 1999 ===
==== Game Development ====
==== Game Development ====
* Development of Asheron's Call began in 1995 after Turbine and Microsoft had entered into a developer/publisher agreement where legal ownership of the property and subsequently-developed properties were owned by Microsoft.
* Development of Asheron's Call began in 1994 after Turbine and Microsoft had entered into a developer/publisher agreement where legal ownership of the property and subsequently-developed properties were owned by Microsoft.(source?)
* All of the games [[Servers]] and the initial beta testing were also hosted on Zone.msn.com as part of the publishing agreement with Microsoft.
* All of the games [[Servers]] and the initial beta testing were also hosted on Zone.msn.com as part of the publishing agreement with Microsoft.
* "Empyrean" was the code name Microsoft used to refer to Asheron's Call in 1997 when the game was still in development. <ref>1997/07 ZDNet - [http://web.archive.org/web/19990921232852/http://www1.zdnet.com/familypc/content/9706/e3/03online.html Let the Online Games Begin]</ref>
* "Empyrean" was the code name Microsoft used to refer to Asheron's Call in 1997 when the game was still in development. <ref>1997/07 ZDNet - [http://web.archive.org/web/19990921232852/http://www1.zdnet.com/familypc/content/9706/e3/03online.html Let the Online Games Begin]</ref>
''Click image for full size version.''
''Click image for full size version.''
<gallery caption="Early Development Screenshots" widths=200px heights=200px perrow=4>
<gallery caption="Early Development Screenshots">
File:Alpha - Player Screen 3.gif|
File:Alpha - Player Screen 3.gif|
File:Alpha - Player Screen 2.jpg|
File:Alpha - Player Screen 2.jpg|
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=== 2000 - 2003 ===
=== 2000 - 2003 ===
==== Microsoft Gaming Zone ====
==== Microsoft Gaming Zone ====
* In addition to the hosting of the game [[Servers]], all AC announcements including patch teasers, rollout articles, letters to the players and patch notes were released onto the AC section of the Microsoft Gaming Zone.
In addition to the hosting of the game [[Servers]], all AC announcements including patch teasers, rollout articles, letters to the players and patch notes were released onto the AC section of the Microsoft Gaming Zone. Some announcements were also made on the Microsoft Games AC site.
** See the ACCWiki's [[Microsoft Zone Archive]] to take a look back at the site.
* See the ACCWiki's [[Microsoft Zone Archive]] and [[Microsoft Games Archive]] to take a look back at the sites.
** See also [[:Category:Microsoft Zone Archive]] and [[:Category:Patch Announcements]].
* ''See also: [[:Category:Microsoft Zone Archive]], [[:Category:Microsoft Games Archive]] and [[:Category:Event Announcements]].''
 
==== Solclaim server goes live ====
The first Asheron's Call server to be added since the game's release goes live on 6th of June 2000.<ref>05/25/2000 Microsoft Zone - [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/A New World Soon to Open in Asheron's Call|A New World Soon to Open in Asheron's Call]]</ref>
 
==== Wintersebb server goes live ====
The second server goes live on January 24th 2001 to accommodate the ever increasing population of Asheron's Call.<ref>01/24/2001 Microsoft Zone - [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/Wintersebb Opens!|Wintersebb Opens!]]</ref>
 
==== Microsoft announces the AC expansion pack: Dark Majesty ====
Microsoft announces on June 25th 2001 that the Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty Expansion Pack will be available later in the year. The expansion pack would include the original Asheron's Call, new additions such as housing and storage, and the new landmass [[Marae Lassel]] including many new creatures, dungeons and quests.<ref>06/25/2001 Microsoft Games - [[Microsoft Games Archive/Dark Majesty|ASHERON'S CALL: DARK MAJESTY EXPANSION PACK AVAILABLE THIS HOLIDAY]]</ref>


=== 2003 ===
==== Turbine buys Asheron's Call license back ====
==== Turbine buys Asheron's Call license back ====
Turbine bought back all franchise rights from Microsoft in 2003<ref>12/17/2003 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20031220175022/http://www.turbinegames.com/news/article.php?article=25 TURBINE TO BUY ASHERON’S CALL FRANCHISE FROM MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS]</ref> and consequently took responsibility for server hosting. The servers remained at a facility in Washington State until 2008 when all server hardware was replaced and relocated to a facility in Massachusetts near Turbine headquarters. Due to various quality of service issues that caused extended downtime the servers were moved to a new facility on March 30th, 2009.
Turbine bought back all franchise rights from Microsoft in 2003<ref>12/17/2003 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20031220175022/http://www.turbinegames.com/news/article.php?article=25 TURBINE TO BUY ASHERON’S CALL FRANCHISE FROM MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS]</ref> and consequently took responsibility for server hosting. The servers remained at a facility in Washington State until 2008 when all server hardware was replaced and relocated to a facility in Massachusetts near Turbine headquarters. Due to various quality of service issues that caused extended downtime the servers were moved to a new facility on March 30th, 2009.
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Turbine announces that all Dark Majesty content will be available to every subscriber regardless of whether they have purchased the expansion pack in the past or not. <ref>02/04/2004 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20040406001532/http://www.turbinegames.com/news/article.php?article=27 TURBINE UNLOCKS ASHERON’S CALL: DARK MAJESTY® FOR ALL AC1 SUBSCRIBERS]</ref>
Turbine announces that all Dark Majesty content will be available to every subscriber regardless of whether they have purchased the expansion pack in the past or not. <ref>02/04/2004 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20040406001532/http://www.turbinegames.com/news/article.php?article=27 TURBINE UNLOCKS ASHERON’S CALL: DARK MAJESTY® FOR ALL AC1 SUBSCRIBERS]</ref>


==== Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack ====
==== Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack: Throne of Destiny ====
An announcement is made that fans of the award-winning online role playing game Asheron’s Call® will receive a new expansion pack (Throne of Destiny) in early 2005.<ref>04/13/2004 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20040602230359/http://ac.turbinegames.com/index.php?page_id=229 Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack]</ref>
An announcement is made that fans of the award-winning online role playing game Asheron’s Call® will receive a new expansion pack in early 2005.<ref>04/13/2004 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20040602230359/http://ac.turbinegames.com/index.php?page_id=229 Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack]</ref> The name of the expansion is announced at a later time.
 
==== Turbine Jolts Asheron's Call® and AC2: Fallen Kings® in Europe ====
Turbine Entertainment Software Corp., a premier provider of online subscription entertainment, announced today that it signed a deal with Jolt Online Gaming Ltd., Europe's largest independent online gaming network, to operate the company's critically acclaimed Asheron's Call® franchise games in Europe.<ref>08/30/2004 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20041016101748/http://ac.turbinegames.com/index.php?page_id=37&pagebuilder%5Bmodule%5D=article&pagebuilder%5Bdisplay_item%5D=150 Turbine Jolts Asheron's Call® and AC2: Fallen Kings® in Europe]</ref>
 
=== 2014 ===
==== Turbine ends updates to Asheron's Call ====
Once this next update is in the hands of the players, the updates to Asheron’s Call will be limited. We intend to fix critical bugs and continue maintenance and support on the game. While there is always a chance we will put out a small update if time permits, players should have the expectation that updates will be limited to maintenance, bug fixes, and perhaps balance iterations of February content such as the new Coliseum.
<br>
Let me reiterate that we have no plans to close Asheron’s Call. We plan to keep the game open and the servers running.
<br>
Although this change of focus is necessary for our company, we love the Asheron’s Call games and we want them to live forever. We understand that players who have been enjoying our monthly updates will be disappointed at the change to Asheron’s Call. Our long term plan is to make the game free to all active accounts. We are working on a date in the not-to-distant future where all active accounts will be able to play the game for free. Asheron’s Call and Asheron’s Call 2 will be a gift to our loyal players.<br>
[https://www.asheronscall.com/en/forums/showthread.php?62779-News-about-the-next-update Link to Original Article]


=== History Articles ===
=== History Articles ===
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== Archives ==
== Archives ==
=== Main Archives ===
* [[:Category:Turbine]]
* [[:Category:Turbine]]
 
** [[Microsoft Games Archive]]
=== Microsoft Archives ===
** [[Microsoft Zone Archive]]
* [[Microsoft Games Archive]]
** [[Zogblaster Archive]]
* [[Microsoft Zone Archive]]
** [[:Category:Event Announcements]]
 
** [[:Category:Featured Articles]]
=== Turbine Archives ===
* [[Zogblaster Archive]]
 
=== Patch Announcements ===
* [[:Category:Patch Announcements]]
 
=== Turbine Archive Index ===
Informational Pages on Turbine's Official AC Website
*[[Index of Turbine Pages 1-300]]
*[[Index of Turbine Pages 301-600]]


=== Developer Chats ===
=== Developer Chats ===
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* [[Developer Chat - 2000/06/15]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/06/15]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/07/18]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/07/18]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/08/16]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/09/20]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/09/20]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/10/18]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/10/18]]
|
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/11/21]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/11/21]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/12/20]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/01/17]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/01/17]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/05/07]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/03/28]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/05/02]]
|
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/07/05]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/07/05]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/07/17]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/07/17]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/09]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/09/25]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/02/06]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/03/12]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/03/12]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/05/01]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/05/01]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/06/06]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/06/06]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/06/20]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/06/20]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/08/13]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/09/23]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/11/01]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2003/01/28]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2004/01/14]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2006/04/18]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2007/03/16]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2008/09/30]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2008/09/30]]
|}
|}


=== AC News Archives ===
=== AC News Archives ===
* [[News Archive - 2014]]
* [[News Archive - 2013]]
* [[News Archive - 2013]]
* [[News Archive - 2012]]
* [[News Archive - 2012]]
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== Images ==
== Images ==
Click image for full size version.
Click image for full size version.
<gallery widths=200px heights=200px perrow=5>
<gallery>
File:AC_Tod_Logo.gif|
File:Asheron's Call Logo.png|
File:AC 10th Anniversary.jpg|
File:AC 10th Anniversary.jpg|
File:Acannibanner.png|
File:Acannibanner.png|
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File:Teaser 20130702.jpg|
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File:Teaser 20140101.jpg|
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File:Teaser 20140201.jpg|
File:Teaser 20140202.jpg|
File:Teaser 20140203.jpg|
File:Teaser 20140204.jpg|
</gallery>
</gallery>
[[Category:Turbine]]


== References ==
== References ==
<references/>
<references/>
 
[[Category:Turbine]]
[[Category:Getting Started]]
[[Category:Getting Started]]

Latest revision as of 08:10, 13 November 2020

Asheron's Call

Asheron's Call (AC) was a fantasy Massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Turbine, Inc. released on November 2, 1999.

Game Info

See also: List of Categories

The following list is not exhaustive.

Asheron's Call Updates

Game Release and Expansions

1999
Release 		2001
Dark Majesty 		2005
Throne of Destiny

Major Monthly Updates

  • See Patches for a list of all the regular monthly updates made to Asheron's Call.
Event Main Content/Features
August 2008: 100th Update
October 2009: 10th Anniversary Update
April 2010: "Big" Update
December 2010: "Big" Update
May 2011: "Big" Update
  • New level 180+ hunting and questing area
  • Contracts
  • Prismatic Ammunition
  • Shield Tailoring
  • Alternate Currency Exchangers
February 2012: Skill System Overhaul
August 2012: "Big" Update
February 2013: "Big" Update
  • New UI
  • Legendary cantrips introduced
  • New Summoning skill introduced
  • Loot Tier 8 introduced
  • Creature loot tiers adjusted
August 2013: "Big" Update

Rules

By playing Asheron's Call, all players agree to the following documents:

History of Asheron's Call

Back to top

1994 - 1999

Game Development

  • Development of Asheron's Call began in 1994 after Turbine and Microsoft had entered into a developer/publisher agreement where legal ownership of the property and subsequently-developed properties were owned by Microsoft.(source?)
  • All of the games Servers and the initial beta testing were also hosted on Zone.msn.com as part of the publishing agreement with Microsoft.
  • "Empyrean" was the code name Microsoft used to refer to Asheron's Call in 1997 when the game was still in development. [1]

Click image for full size version.

  • Early Development Screenshots

1999

Beta Testing and Release

  • The AC Beta consisted of three phases which spanned from May until October of 1999.
  • Other important events that occured before and during beta testing:
    • Turbine's beta page, http://www.zogblaster.com/tweb/asherons-call, goes live.
    • Microsoft's Asheron's Call page, http://www.microsoft.com/games/zone/asheronscall/, goes live.
  • November 2, 1999 - AC goes retail, it is the third major MMORPG to be released at this time.

2000 - 2003

Microsoft Gaming Zone

In addition to the hosting of the game Servers, all AC announcements including patch teasers, rollout articles, letters to the players and patch notes were released onto the AC section of the Microsoft Gaming Zone. Some announcements were also made on the Microsoft Games AC site.

Solclaim server goes live

The first Asheron's Call server to be added since the game's release goes live on 6th of June 2000.[2]

Wintersebb server goes live

The second server goes live on January 24th 2001 to accommodate the ever increasing population of Asheron's Call.[3]

Microsoft announces the AC expansion pack: Dark Majesty

Microsoft announces on June 25th 2001 that the Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty Expansion Pack will be available later in the year. The expansion pack would include the original Asheron's Call, new additions such as housing and storage, and the new landmass Marae Lassel including many new creatures, dungeons and quests.[4]

Turbine buys Asheron's Call license back

Turbine bought back all franchise rights from Microsoft in 2003[5] and consequently took responsibility for server hosting. The servers remained at a facility in Washington State until 2008 when all server hardware was replaced and relocated to a facility in Massachusetts near Turbine headquarters. Due to various quality of service issues that caused extended downtime the servers were moved to a new facility on March 30th, 2009.

2004

Turbine unlocks Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty for all AC subscribers

Turbine announces that all Dark Majesty content will be available to every subscriber regardless of whether they have purchased the expansion pack in the past or not. [6]

Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack: Throne of Destiny

An announcement is made that fans of the award-winning online role playing game Asheron’s Call® will receive a new expansion pack in early 2005.[7] The name of the expansion is announced at a later time.

History Articles

Game Awards

Related Articles

Gaming Website Articles

Reviews

  • Computer Games Online - 4.5/5

Previews

Interviews

Other

Developer Diaries

Archives

Main Archives

Developer Chats

AC News Archives

Images

Click image for full size version.

References

  1. ↑ 1997/07 ZDNet - Let the Online Games Begin
  2. ↑ 05/25/2000 Microsoft Zone - A New World Soon to Open in Asheron's Call
  3. ↑ 01/24/2001 Microsoft Zone - Wintersebb Opens!
  4. ↑ 06/25/2001 Microsoft Games - ASHERON'S CALL: DARK MAJESTY EXPANSION PACK AVAILABLE THIS HOLIDAY
  5. ↑ 12/17/2003 Turbine Games - TURBINE TO BUY ASHERON’S CALL FRANCHISE FROM MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS
  6. ↑ 02/04/2004 Turbine Games - TURBINE UNLOCKS ASHERON’S CALL: DARK MAJESTY® FOR ALL AC1 SUBSCRIBERS
  7. ↑ 04/13/2004 Turbine Games - Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack
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