Announcements - 2009/05 - Secrets of the Apostates

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Original Link - http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=477


Secrets of the Apostates


Magaritta du Jacquette was sitting at her desk in the Arcanum’s collegium of researchers, drafting a new advisory for travelers headed to Moarsman Isle, when there was a loud crash outside her door. There was the distinct sound of fragile glass breaking, and the sound of round metal things rattling around on the stone floor of the building. She sighed, put her pen down, and went to her door.

Opening it, she found her research assistant on his hands and knees, sweeping up the shattered remnants of some fabulously esoteric device. It may once have been a standard-issue theodolite that was commonly used by all the researchers in this wing of the Arcanum complex, but her assistant, the aptly named Ned the Clever, had spent the better part of the last two months modifying it with intricate, hand-tooled parts made from crystal, glass, and rare metals. The requisition forms she had had to fill out to get him all the resources he needed had been fearsome.

“What happened, Ned?” she asked him.

“Ah, I was just on my way to see you, director…” Ned replied, distracted. He had pushed all the broken glass and tangled metal rods into a rough pile, and was now collecting a bundle of scrolls that had gone flying apart in the chaos.

“Yes, Ned?”

Ned straightened up, scrolls hugged tightly to his chest. “I’ve made a breakthrough!” he announced proudly.

Magaritta opened the door wider and gestured for him to come inside. Ned looked uncertainly at the pile of broken theodolite in the hallway, then back at her. “We’ll have one of the junior assistants clean it up.” She whistled down the hallway and gestured at one of the bright-eyed young students who poked their heads out of their shared study room. “Come on in, and tell me what you’ve found,” she told Ned.

After he’d settled himself in a chair and arrayed his scrolls on her desk, Ned began speaking.

“I went out into the Direlands, on a hunch, and took some readings myself with my modified theodolite. Or what once was my modified theodolite, anyway… “

Magaritta interrupted him. “I thought I’d asked you to stop risking yourself on these field excursions?”

Ned looked a little defensive. “Well the readings I needed to take were really quite complex, and I don’t think any of the other assistants has had the proper training or experience with some of the variables I track with my equipment…” His gaze flicked back to the door, behind which they could hear the sounds of the theodolite being cleaned off the floor.

Magaritta nodded, smiling in spite of herself. “I know your old instincts as a tracker and mapper are hard to overcome. But really, it’s gotten quite dangerous out there, and you have a research job now, a job I think you do quite admirably, so I think it’s the best use of your time to stay here. But let’s leave that aside for now.”

Ned nodded, happy to be done with the subject. “I think I’ve found where the Apostate Virindi are stockpiling Aetherium!” he said, beaming.

Magaritta rocked back in her seat. “How did you ever do that?”

Ned gestured at the scrolls on the desk. “I’ve documented the research there. In short, I identified some resonances between pyreal and Aetherium, and cross-compared them against data on Virindi resonances…”

Magaritta stopped him again. “But all the data we gathered on Virindi resonances was for the older Virindi, the ones who still follow the original Directive.”

Ned nodded. “Well, that’s what I had to do the field research for. I had to get some readings on Apostate Virindi.”

Magaritta sighed. “Ned, we may never civilize you.” She favored him with a smile. “Nevertheless, you continue to amaze me with your resourcefulness and dedication. I’ve long felt that you have surpassed me in research techniques, especially in work that’s relevant to the hostile parts of the island.”

Ned blushed from the compliment. “Well, I’m just trying to do what seems best. But as I said, when I factored in the resonance data from the Apostates and conducted a thorough geomantic survey of the Direlands, I found a particularly strong emanation of both Aetherium and the unique signature of the Apostates... And in the unlikeliest source, actually. In fact after I was done presenting my findings here, I thought I’d get my Mattekar coat back from the armorers and -”

“No, Ned. No more field research.” Magaritta put on her most serious expression.

“Well I’ve just found the stockpile, I don’t know what they’re doing with it yet. I need to get down there and observe it for myself before we can figure out what they’re doing with all that Aetherium.”

“Ned, that’s not a proper use of your time. Put the lust for adventure aside. Do what Aliester does and send some intrepid scout out to do what you need. Do you hear me? You’re in research now, not field applications.”

Ned looked disappointed. “As you say, director. But can I at least go out to recruit the scouts myself?”

Magaritta laughed. “As you will. Clearly I can’t keep you cooped up in the collegium too long, can I? Just… wear Arcanum robes, eh? Your Mattekar coat and that dented purple helm must remain in the armory. I don’t want you tempted to go haring off into the wilderness after any more Virindi.”

“As you say, director,” Ned repeated with a mischievous smile.

Rollout Article

Original Link - '


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Release Notes

Original Link - http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=474


May 2009 Release Notes


Hello there and welcome to the Release Notes for the May 2009 event, Secrets of the Apostates! This month we see some changes to existing quest experience and some new quests have appeared as always. An old friend has put up his tent in Zaikhal, who players will want to go speak with. So lets see what’s new and exciting this month in Asheron’s Call!


  • The Core Jester has had his interactions reorganized so that the gives are the first action, this should help reduce the number of people losing cores from dragging monsters through the GY and then needing to heal while trying to turn in the core.


  • The xp reward for the following quests has been increased:
Fiun Healing Machine
Abayar's Laboratory
Gaerlan
Prodigal Mosswart
Prodigal Olthoi Egg Turn In


  • Pookie should work as before, where he won't agro unless attacked or ID’ed.


  • The Fiun Spellcasting Gloves are now enchantable.


  • A new PK dungeon has been added to the game, head over to Baishi to check it out. Just make sure you are a Player Killer before you try to enter!


  • The NPC for the Dreams of the Hopeslayer quest now makes you wait 13 days on turn ins. Also the pickup has been changed from a static flag to a 13 day timer.


  • The skeleton jaws have had their drop rate increased.


  • A new level of crystalline crag has opened up.


  • The Dereth Explorers quest has been updated.


  • The Monthly kill task has been updated.


  • There is a new person in the town of Zaikhal who some might recognize. Make sure you go say hello to him.


  • Based on player feedback, Spell Component Exchangers have set up shop at the Mana Forges.


So there are just some of the things we have in store for Asheron's Call in May. Please remember that along with everything listed here, there are several new quests and exciting things going into the game for the May Event.

Letter to the Players

Original Link - '


'


Developer Comments

Spell Component Exchanger

5/15/2009 - Link

The spell component exchanger was something we had been talking about since the 100th update. We had been discussing on if a system like this was necessary and how we would implement it. Strong support of this idea from our players, both on the forums and in game, led to the decision to add this feature.

This was the most requested feature when players were asked in game across all servers, I wouldn't count that as spam.


For those who asked, this will work just like the rare exchanger but without the casino key. The cost is 1 MMD per trade, and all components have essentially the same chance of showing up (due to the math a few components have a .05% difference in chance).


We do listen to the requests of players. Some we agree with some we do not. A particular player spamming the forums with his particular idea wouldn't sway our decision.

NoWorries
Re: May teasers sent out