Design Notes

May 31, 2016

Last Chance for Tempus Mori

The May Package Bonus Gear Leaves Friday!

Through this Friday, June 3rd, buy any AdventureCoin or Membership package of $10 USD or more to unlock your exclusive May upgrade bonus items! The package leaves at 6PM, to be replaced by the June Bonus Gear!

12000 AC or 12 month membership packages: 13 items + Boosts

Get more gear and save more of your real-world gold with our largest upgrade packages! Unlock the following gear with our 12000 AdventureCoin or 12 month membership packages:

• 2 Tempus Mori Armors (one floating, one walking)
• 2 helms (Hood and Skull face)
• 3 weapons (2 scythe, 1 staff)
• 4 winged capes 
• 2 minion pets (one regular pet, one member-only battle pet)
• 7 Rep/XP/Gold/Class Points boosts added straight to your inventory

2000 and 5000 AC or 3 and 6 month membership package: 6 items + Boosts

• Tempus Mori armor (floating version)
• Tempus Mori Skull Face
• Dark Wings of Time and Blooded Wings of Time
• Infinita Mortem Scythe
• Tempus Mori Minion pet
• 5 Rep/XP/Gold/Class Points boosts added straight to your inventory

All packages will also come with the Tempus Mori character page badge, so you can show all your friends that YOU are the master of death and time!

* You can see what time it is on the server clock in your options menu)

Also leaving Friday

The Friday the 13th event and rare gear will leave this Friday, June 3rd!

May 31, 2016

Bacon Cat Force vs Laser Shark Brigade

On June 6th: Enter the Bacon Cat Force HeadQuarters!

Heroes of the Bacon Cat Force… UNITE! The Laser Shark Brigade’s invasion of the flying Bacon Cat Fortress is about to begin, and Ziri needs every adventurer’s help to drive them out. 

It is vital that we get as MANY heroes possible to attack the waves of invading LaserSharks. That's why ALL heroes will get to:

• Take on some of the LaserShark Brigade's finest warriors* as you explore the BaconCat Force HQ
• Unlock the BaconCat Force gear by farming the new BaconCat Force rep
• Quest for the key to open Kitty Boo Boo's secret and super-secret boxes

SECRET: If you are not an AdventureQuest worlds, do not read any further!

Well, hello! As an AdventureQuest Worlds member, you are eligible to join the Special BaconCat Forces Unit (SBCFU), an elite group of heroes with the skill and ability necessary to take on the heart (and the boss) of the LaserShark Brigade!

You'll have access to exclusive quests and the BaconCat Lair Underground (which... doesn't make sense now that I think of it, since the Force HQ is in the sky, but... hey. It is Ziri the Daimon's world and delusions, so we go with it!), plus member-only gear!

* Though the Great White Cyborg LaserShark may not recognize them once they've triggered the security magic!

May 28, 2016

Ziri's Magical Rares Shop

Rain down a Flying Golden Pig Bacon Hailstorm upon your enemies!

A few years back, we released an "animated item" shop full of really cool gear with an added kick! If you have one of the animated items equipped, every so often, a super-crazy animation would fill up your screen. We have shadowbursts, comet storms, whirlwinds, and more... and you can find them in your Game Menu shop. But with Ziri's release coming out, we saw this as an opportunity to add in a few NEW animations:

• Golden Flying Pig Bacon Hailstorm
• Grumpy Rainbow Cat Smash
• 1 Million Gold Storm
• Undead Horde Flood

Though the gear in Ziri's Magical Rares Shop will leave, the animations may be used in the future. There are a also a number of animated items you can get right NOW from the Animated Item shop in your game menu!

How animated items work:

• Animations ONLY appear to you (to reduce lag for other players)
• Every time you use auto-attack or any skill, there is a chance for the animation to go off
• Some items will also have a boost (rep, XP, class points, gold) or racial bonus attached (undead, dragons, human, orc, chaos)

New Animations-in-Action Screenshots

Grumpy Rainbow Cat

One Million Gold Shower

Undead Horde Flood

Golden Flying Pig Bacon Hailstorm

May 27, 2016

Ziri and the Flying Bacon Cat Fortress

Return to the Throne of Darkness Saga this weekend!

Oh man, you guys! We have an INSANE RELEASE for you... right now! This weekend, we're returning to the Throne of Darkness Saga with Ziri the Daimon's Flying BaconCat Fortress! Read on for what to expect!

Thanks for your patience... I know it was a late release, but we have SO MUCH for you tonight!

• A new zone with TWO boss fights
• 8 new cutscenes
• 17 new monsters
• Parodies of your favorite classic arcade games... with a twist
• Non-member armors and gear dropping from several monsters plus a new rewards shop
• A super-crazy ending that will make you feel all the feels
• PLUS a villain with a magical wish-granting amulet that

May 26, 2016

AE Panel at MegaCon is THIS Saturday

Join us for the official AdventureQuest 3D panel is Saturday, May 28th!

I walked into Artix's war room yesterday and saw his table PILED with candy, prizes, and craziness. That means only one thing here at the lab* - convention time!  If you've never been to an Artix Entertainment convention panel... we'd love to see you there!   MegaCon is a HUGE convention happening in Orlando, Florida next weekend, so if you're in the area (or could get nearby in time), I hope you'll join us for the official AdventureQuest 3D panel!

"AdventureQuest 3D Video Game with Artix"

WHAT: AQ3D Panel at MegaCon (www.MegaConvention.com) in Orlando, Florida
WHEN: Saturday, May 28th @ 3pm
WHERE: West Building Room W300

This is our first year running a panel at MegaCon and I am really excited. I really hope you can join us, and if you can make it please let me know in the comment section below.

May 26, 2016

New News for AQW: May 26th!

This week's news in one convenient place!

Do you get our weekly newsletter? If not... now's a great time to start!  All you need to do is confirm your email address and we'll deliver what's new and noteworthy into your inbox once a week. That way, YOU can keep up to date with what's going on in the world of Lore on your phone, tablet, or computer...without having to log out of the game!

Click here to see the rest of the newsletter!

May 24, 2016

Friday: Ziri's Magical Rares Shop

Rain down a Flying Golden Pig Bacon Hailstorm upon your enemies!

A few years back, we released an "animated item" shop full of really cool gear with an added kick! If you have one of the animated items equipped, every so often, a super-crazy animation would fill up your screen. We have shadowbursts, comet storms, whirlwinds, and more... and you can find them in your Game Menu shop. But with Ziri's release coming out, we saw this as an opportunity to add in a few NEW animations:

• Golden Flying Pig Bacon Hailstorm
• Grumpy Rainbow Cat Smash
• 1 Million Gold Storm

Though the gear in Ziri's Magical Rares Shop will leave, the animations may be used in the future. AND if you can't wait until Friday, there are a number of animated items you can get right NOW from the Animated Item shop in your game menu!*

How animated items work:

• Animations ONLY appear to you (to reduce lag for other players)
• Every time you use auto-attack or any skill, there is a chance for the animation to go off
• Some items will also have a boost (rep, XP, class points, gold) or racial bonus attached (undead, dragons, human, orc, chaos)

* This shop is full of permanent content, but the shop disappeared from the game menu a while back... and now it's returned!

May 23, 2016

Summer Art Contest Ends Sunday

Last Chance to get in on this Beachin' Art Contest Action!

Our summer themed art contest has prizes including AQ3D Keys, Badges, and Artix Points... but it ends THIS SUNDAY!  At first we thought, “Wow, this is a really dangerous idea for an art contest...” but WOW have we seen some amazing art! Draw your favorite AdventureQuest characters, items, scenes on an epic summer/beach/vacation adventure.

 

 

“Prizes for winners include AdventureQuest 3D Beta Keys, Badges and Artix Points!”

For this contest, create an original piece of Fan Art showing your favorite AdventureQuest (Any version… AQWorlds, AQ3D, or the original AQ... or if you really want, you can use EpicDuel, MechQuest or other AE games too) character having some fun in the sun. Be sure to sign and date your original drawing and submit it using the rules below.

 

A few questions for inspiration!

PRIZES! (The future looks bright)

 The prizes for this contest are from a pool that includes multiple games! You can win badges from AQWorlds, Artix Points to spend in any game, and access and cool stuff in AQ3D!!

The Grand Prize Winner will receive:

HOW TO SUBMIT? 
Tweet your entry to the @AE Contests Twitter page 


Tanning Rules (apply sunscreen!)

May 23, 2016

Friday: Conquer the Flying Bacon Cat Palace

The Throne of Darkness continues this Friday with Ziri's story!

This Friday, travel to what is hands-down the CRAZIEST zone in the entire game - the Flying Bacon Cat Fortress! (It was constructed single-handedly by Ziri the Daimon, using his magic wish-granting amulet). He wants to be your BEST FRIEND… He ALSO wants to kill you. This should be a really interesting trip into insanity.

Throne of Darkness Saga

Artix's Throne of Darkness Saga is our new main storyline, and it's happening RIGHT NOW! If you haven't started the story yet, begin the adventure by battling your way through the Bone Castle to take on Vaden, the DeathKnight! (/join bonecastle to start!)

The battles will be difficult... enter at your own risk!  The Darkness is Coming.

Chapter 2 of the Throne of Darkness Saga takes you through space and time in Xevenx's Story of the Paradox Portal!

Chase Xeven, the Time-Traveling Assassin, through our past, future, and altered present (?!) before we take on the ultimate annihilator: Vorefax the Devourer!

May 20, 2016

Chrono Assassin Class is HERE!

Two Ways to Unlock the New Class Variant!

Xeven is an Assassin... of TIME! She's also one of the main villains in our new Throne of Darkness Saga, and if you haven't played through her story yet -- WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! It's mind-breakingly, time-bendingly awesome, and you can start the adventure when you /join portalmaze!

How to get this Class

• All players: Fnd a version of the Class for 2000 AdventureCoins in the Tachyon Gear shop in your Game Menu*
• Members: YOU can farm for a gold version of the class! 

The member quest is not a daily, so you can farm as much as you want to unlock the class as fast as you want!

Chrono Assassin Class Breakdown

Heya guys, it’s Sync. I’d like to thank Arklen for helping me with the Class, especially the animations and skill icons. They’re awesome! Now knowing me, I try to make variants as new and fresh as possible while still being intact with the original Class design. This is a variant of Thief of Hours, with a lot of stacking abilities as you manipulate time as the fight goes on.

Mana Regeneration: Chrono Assassin’s Mana Regen is majority of the evasives, gaining mana when they dodge. (Also restores HP as well)
Stats: This Class is an Evasive so it depends on Dexterity more than any other stat as a whole.

Auto Attack: Strike Blades 

1 second cooldown

You wield Strike Blades. Manipulating time allows you to attack incredibly fast, but sacrificing speed for power. This is similar to your normal auto attack, except it’s the fasted Auto Attack in the game right now. Attack incredibly fast but you lack power as you do so.

Rank 1: Shift

12 Mana, 5 Second Cooldown

Push time forward with your next strike dealing Light Damage to your opponent. Applies Push Time, increasing your Dodge and Haste by 8% for 12 seconds, stacks to 5. If Reverse Time is in play, Strike Blades will replace it with Temporal Blades, increasing your Damage Output by 20% and applies Pull Time, lowering the opponent's Haste and Dodge by 15% for 12 seconds.

This is your first stacking skill, similar to Steal Seconds, it increases your Haste and Dodge the more you stack it. If Reverse time is in play, as you flow time backwards you apply a debuff that’s the opposite of the buffs you applied. 

Rank 2: Relapse

12 Mana 3 Second Cooldown 

Relieve time with your next strike dealing Moderate Damage to your opponent. Applies Deadlock to yourself, stacks 4 times. Once max stacked Deadlock will consume itself and apply Reverse Time, granting you a Moderate HoT for 10 seconds. This is VERY similar to Sonic Piledriver and your second stacking skill, also this is your main source of damage on the Class so use this as often as possible. Stacks Deadlock, at max stacks it consumes itself to apply Reverse Time, granting you a Moderate DoT. When this happens, you can apply one of the other skills to apply an additional effect while your Strike Blades turn into Temporal Blades, granting you a huge Damage Output buff for a solid amount of time.

Rank 3: Convert

12 Mana 4 Second Cooldown

Generate time with your next strike dealing Moderate Damage to your opponent. Applies Cause, increasing Critical Strike Chance and Critical Strike Damage by by 10% for 12 seconds, stacks to 5.  If Reverse Time is in play, Strike Blades will replace it with Temporal Blades, increasing your Damage Output by 20% and applies Depress Time, lowering the opponent’s Critical Strike Chance and Critical Strike Damage Damage by 15% for 12 seconds.

This is similar to Timestream and your third stacking skill,  increasing your Crit Chance and Crit Damage per stack grants more damage over time the more you Crit. If Reverse time is in play, as you flow time backwards you apply a debuff that’s the opposite of the buffs you applied.

Rank 4: Prediction and Anticipation

Increases Hit Chance and Crit Chance by 10 Increases Dodge by 12%

You’re a Time Assassin, wouldn’t you be prepared for the Past, Present, and Future? Increases your overall Hit, Crit, and Evasion to better the Class as a whole.

Rank 5: Hysteria

30 Mana 20 Second Cooldown

Sever your foes mind in time making them go insane. Causes the target to hit itself when they try to hit you for 6 seconds. Applies Enhance Time, increasing your target’s Damage Resistance by 15%. If Reverse Time is in play, Strike Blades will replace it with Temporal Blades, increasing your Damage Output by 20% and apply Corrupt Time, increasing the damage they take by 15% for 12 seconds.

This is VERY similar to Temporal Insanity, throwing back 100% of the target's damage done on you back at them. Although, this gives them a Damage Resistance for the duration to force players to be prone to use this at random times. When you have Reverse Time in play, that’s when things start to get real. You increase the damage they take WHILE they throw the damage they done back on themselves WHILE you apply Temporal Blades increasing your overall damage.

Rank 10: Regenerate Rebirth

Rarely, when your hit points drop below 10% and your life is in danger, your health and mana will be restored to full and all damage taken will be significantly reduced for 10 seconds.
This rarely happens but is VERY rewarding when it does. Especially in PvP.

Enhancements

I recommend Thief and Luck enchants for this Class. This Class is an Evasive, getting the most out is by stacking DEX and LUCK stats to increase its survivability and it’s damage. Note this Class does VERY little Damage, but at a VERY high rate.

Thief: Having the most Dexterity means having the most Hit, Crit and Dodge one can have from a Physical Class, allowing you to be more persistent in your core stats.

Luck: Having Luck in your Build really compliments Revert, increasing your overall Crit Damage even more can be deadly. Even more brutal if Temporal Blades is up.

Overall Summary

In Conclusion, Chrono Assassin stacks to win. Start off with Shift to increase your Dodge and Haste to stack faster and live longer. The core of the Class is Relapse, so stack then whenever it’s up. Compared to Thief of Hours, I always believed you stack for a purpose not just for spamming. Every 4 stacks of Relapse, You have to choose what your debuff will be to give the Class variety and give it a higher skill cap. Convert will allow you to increase your overall Damage dealing with Crits if you need more Damage. Hysteria can be a game changer, remember if Reverse Time isn’t up you will give them a Damage Resistance and in PvP, they DON’T have to hit you so use this wisely. Once you figure out the stacking you can create your own combos and master being a Chrono Assassin!

Had fun with this variant. Even though two skills can’t be modified to my liking, it still came out an awesome Class. I want to know your thoughts on the Class. https://twitter.com/Sync_AE. :)

* Plus the rare, wicked NechoTech gear from Axeros! NechoTech gear will be available until June 1st!

May 20, 2016

The Hunt for the Tachyon Blades Begins

Members: an all-new, exclusive mission waits for you!

Xeven, the Time Assassin, wields two VERY powerful blades -- their edges can cut through space and time itself. BUT in the last chapter of our Throne of Darkness Saga... her blades went missing! Members: It's up to you to battle your way through a maze of portals and spacetime to recover them! 

Defeated the devourer of space and time to unlock the quest to begin repairing the blades. Once you've gathered all the pieces of the Tachyon Blades, you'll be able to equip and dual-wield them! Talk to Kairos in /portalmaze to begin!

• Battle Svelgr the Devourer to collect all the pieces of the Galactic Assassin set
• Find the Time Assassin armor set in Kairos' merge shop in /tachyon

Not a member, but want to get in on the action? Upgrade your AQWorlds account to unlock exclusive zones, classes, pets, and more!

May 18, 2016

Wish Zereldo a Happy Birthday

The Pirate Mage levels up in real life today!

Zereldo the Pirate Mage, aka Zereldo the AQW Class Designer and all-around doer of stuff, has a birthday in real life today*! To celebrate, we've opened up the /blazebeard and /manacannon maps for you to battle throught... and you'll be able to find the Platinum Pirate Mage armor and helms in the merge shop!

All players can start battling to earn the merge resources for this super-shiny gear. The armor, helms, and both maps will be available for the next two weeks. Then they'll return again in September for the next Talk Like a Pirate Day event!

Wish Zereldo a happy birthday on Twitter or in-game, if you catch him!

Message from Zereldo

Hey everyone it’s Zereldo here and I just want to thank you all for all the birthday wishes and support over the years. I’ve been a volunteer at A.E for over 2 years now and hugely enjoyed it thanks to all of you. Even before that you guys are what motivated me to play a bigger part and help out more in the A.E community. During my time here I have designed over 10 classes and gotten to write an awesome Talk Like a Pirate Day event, as well as having loads of fun along the way. I hope you enjoy the Platinum Pirate Mage armor, it’s the colour you all voted for. Consider it a thank you for everything you’ve helped me to achieve.

* He lives in the future, across the world from the Lab. For us, technically his birthday is tomorrow. For HIM, though, it's today. TIMEY-WIMEY!

May 17, 2016

Hunt for the Tachyon Blades This Friday

Upgrade to unlock an exclusive new Throne of Darkness release!

This Friday, May 20th, members can log in to unlock an all-new bonus mission: to recover Xeven's Tachyon Blades! Once you finish the release, you can begin farming for the Time Assassin's very own, super-charged red and blue Tachyon Blades!

Chronos Assassin Class!

The Chronos Assassin Class -- a variant of the Thief of Hours Class -- will also release next Friday!

• ALL players can purchase the class for 2000 AdventureCoins to begin battling with it immediately
• Members can farm for a gold version of the class (the quest will send you through space and time slaying different monsters and merging the trophies you take from them.)

Keep an eye on the Design Notes for a class skills breakdown coming later this week!

May 13, 2016

Friday the 13th Starts... NOW

Boldly Go where No Hero has Gone Before this Weekend...

It's time for LoreTrek XIII: The Unluckiest Quest, our newest Friday the 13th event! THIS time around, it's In SPAAAAAAAAAAACE! Being so isolated and traveling through an airless void, it's really important that nothing go wrong. But since it's a Friday the 13th event... you know something's going to happen!

Voltaire has been booked to perform a huge Friday the 13th concert on the cemetery planet Necronus! Unfortunately, on his way there, he broke down near the cursed Bermuda Wormhole. Now, he's stuck on an abandoned space station that is being devoured by a swarm of terrifying (yet adorable) Trobboliers! It's up to you to help Voltaire escape in time to make it to his show – and before this fluffy hive-mind consumes you both!

Starting tonight, log in to:

• Answer the distress call being sent from Voltaire's spaceship
• Avoid the Bermuda Wormhole (NO REALLY DO NOT GET CLOSE)
• Battle the furriest face-eaters the galaxy has EVER seen
• Test your memory (and luck) to avert a critical mission failure
• Resist being blown out into space!
• Unlock the event rewards merge shop
• Check out the Event Rare gear in your game menu

Test your luck with the Replicator Quest!

After you've completed the event, talk to Deady to unlock the Clone-o-Lier quest! Each time you complete it, you'll have a chance to collect one of the following Trobbolier pets (or a resource to use in the event rewards merge shop)!

• All 4 common pets are 0 AC, member-only
• All 4 "Hard to Find" pets are 0 AC, but can be used by all players
• The Ultra Rare Rainbow Mustache Trobbolier pet* has a 1% chance to drop, and is also 0AC

*Thanks to AQW player Shadox for the new name!

May 13, 2016

Limited Time Friday the 13th Event Items

Your luck is in  ... but not for long!

It wouldn't be Friday the 13th without new rare gear to commemorate the event -- and this week, our artists have gone intergalactic with their inspiration! 

Starting tonight, find Axeros' Undead Space Marine set in your rares shop along with 2 new NON-MEMBER event-themed helms from Boxer, the Cursed Guardian Bank Pet, and more!

Rare Gear Leaving Dates

Friday the 13th event rares leave on May 27th, along with the May Rares shop gear, the Nolan the Holy Goldfish pet (in Aria's pet shop to celebrate Pisces birthday), and the Abyssal Angel Class!

May 12, 2016

PTR Bug Reports: A How To Guide

New Bug Tracker Section for Server Rewrite Testing!

Greeting from the Asylum once again. Cemaros here with some tips to help everyone know how to make the best report possible for the PTR, since the next phase of the server rewrite testing is about to begin!

What makes a good bug report?

A good bug report contains all the information needed for us to know exactly what you are reporting.  If it’s about a shop not opening, the we would need the name of the shop (if possible) and the location of the shop (NPC name, game menu, map, etc).  For an item, we need to know the item name and exact details of what is wrong with it.You can never give us too much information.  You can give too little though.

Got it!

How do I report PTR bugs?

PTR reports will be handled almost exactly the same now as reports have always been handled, so for those of you who know how, you can skip this section.  For those who don’t here’s a nice little walk through of reporting a bug.

First you need to get to the right place.

Start by clicking that link. This will open a new tab on your browser.  Go there.On that page, you will begin the very short process of making a bug report.

Choose AdventureQuest Worlds as the game being reported.

Then use the drop down menu to get to the right type of report. In this case, we want the AQW Server Rewrite. Click that and it will bring you to the report form.

Some of you will notice this form is much more open on the fields than other forms. That’s because this form will be in use for the rest of the PTR now and there will be times that we ask you to look at specific things. 

Please don’t skip your name.  We really do want your name!  REALLY!  It’s incredibly important to me to know who is reporting in case I need to ask for more information.  Or other reasons.  

It’s equally as important to know if this is on the PTR or PTR2 server.  

So, Bug Info!

The examples are just that, examples.  We are interested in anything that you think is not working right.  So if you don’t see a heading that is a perfect match, just fill in what you think it should say.  

We’ve left you a LOT of room for describing the bug.  Use all of it if you can.  The better description we have, the faster we can track things down to get fixed.  It’s also vital to know if it caused a disconnection or not.  Things that throw you out of the game go to the top of the list.

Screenshots are always welcome and at times we simply cannot determine the bug without them.

Since they are so vital …

How do I link a screenshot?

You can’t embed the screenshots into the forms sadly.  So you need to put them on a public hosting site somewhere and then copy the link to the form.  

So how do you even take a screenshot?  Here’s a very handy YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bnAoJXJXpY

I am incredibly partial to LightShot. With a very quick download, you can take the shot, make basic edits to it, and upload it directly to the internet with just a few easy clicks.  There isn’t even any need to save the screenshot on your computer if you don’t wish to. All of the screenshots used in this doc were made with LightShot and copied directly to the doc.  Nice tool huh?

Another really handy site is Imgur.

We prefer you not use Facebook and Twitter please.  Facebook often will not allow us to view the shots because of privacy settings, and Twitter pics are just too small.

If your screenshot link starts with  C:\ or Users:\ or file:\\, this means you have not placed the screenshot where we can view it.  These are files on your computer, and we do not have access to them.  Please upload them!

Thank you all for taking the time to read this, and I know the reports I will be reading will be the best ever. Right?  RIGHT!

May 12, 2016

Server Rewrite Update: Member PTR Test

Next Phase of Server Rewrite Testing Begins TODAY!

Hello all! If you're just joining us, you've come at a pretty exciting time -- we are completely rebuilding the core game engine of AdventureQuest Worlds! That will let us add in more new fucntionality and make the gameplay even better... but we need a LOT of testing before we can launch the new version of AdventureQuest Worlds. 

Over the last year and a half, Yorumi (and lately his assistant, M) have made great strides, and we are sliding towards the finish line. The biggest, most important thing we have left to do is test the new code they've built. 

We have PTR (that stands for Public Test Realm) servers where you guys can try out the new code, but up until today, nothing you did on those servers has been saved.*

Starting today, on the member PTR server, we are turning on player data saving, which means that any time you complete a quest, kill a monster, buy an item from a shop (aka all the things you do on normal servers) that information will be saved to your account on the PTR server.**

Starting VERY soon (but not before next week), we will turn on player data saving for the free player PTR server, as well.

And to give you all a reason to log on that server and play the game like you usually do, we are going to start having PTR server exclusive boosts PLUS more rewards... and testing missions! 

Boosts, Rewards, and Testing Missions?!

You heard me! Starting today on the member PTR server, you'll get a 15% XP boost. The types and amount of boosts will change over the course of the next few weeks, as testing continues. Once testing missions begin, we'll give you specific in-game systems to test out, then report any bugs you find. 

Heroes who help us during these testing missions will get exclusive rewards (possible rewards include character page badges, items, and more)!

Keep an eye on the Design Notes next week for the details of what testing missions will be, how they will work, and what the rewards are.

What do I do right now?!

If you're a member, log onto the member-only PTR testing server and play the game like you normally do. If you encounter any bugs while playing, report them on the Bug Tracker. (And check out Cemaros' handy guide for reporting bugs on the PTR).

Yorumi built a more robust backup system JUST to make sure that what you do during this Player Data Save test will not affect your account. 

As soon as you log into the member PTR server:

• a new backup of your character/account will be created
• Every 5 days, a second backup of your character/account will be created (which will overwrite the first backup)

NOW... If you're the kind of person who likes having a to do checklist, the list below will help direct your testing efforts over the course of the weekend!

Here's how to help test!

1) Log onto either Testing Server (all players can still help test on Testing Server 2) at www.AQ.com

2) Keep your handy, dandy "New Server Testing Checklist" (shown below) next to you as you play so you know what to do. Test out as many things as you can from the list

3) Report any issues you find HERE

4) Log back in and FIND MORE BUGS! /cheer

New Server Testing Checklist

Maps:

• Joining Maps, does this ever fail?
• Joining instance(/join name-#####)
• Are new instances properly generated? Are new instances destroyed?
• Do monsters load properly? 
• Do monsters respawn properly?
• Do clickable items for quests appear and disappear as they are supposed to?
• Do all special functions work? (Think wars, clickable items, unique effects, etc)
• Do players appear/disappear from the map properly? 

Chat:

• Test all chat channels (say, whisper, party, guild)

Combat:

• Test skills, effects, buffs, debuffs.
• Do monsters fight back, drop gold, exp, cp.
• Do items drop and get added to inventory? 

Player Saving:

• Check that your player's data saves properly after completing quests/killing monsters, etc (it will not save after you log off the testing server...YET) 
• Check that your items, gold, exp, etc are what they should be each time you kill a monster, complete a quest
• Do items equip and unequip properly? 
• Do Factions get added, and do points properly save?

Guild:

• Check that all commands work: add, remove, promote, demote

Party:

• Check that all party functionality works
• Check that players are removed from list when logging out

Quest:

• Do quests display properly?
• Check description, rewards, end text
• Check to make sure your Quest progress is saved as you complete stories/quets 
• Check to make sure story quests are completable

Shops:

• Test both shop types: regular and merge. 
• Check to see that Gold/ACs are gained/lost in correct amounts
• Check to see if items added to inventory
• Check to see if merge requirements removed. 
• Are Shop location checks working?

Inventory:

• Items display properly including preview (name, desc, enhancement, etc).
• Items can be equipped and unequipped properly.
• Items sort into the correct tabs
• Regular items can be removed 
• AC items should prevent deletion

Bank:

• Items show in bank correctly
• Items sort to correct bank tabs
• Items can be moved between bank and inventory. 
• Add to bank, add to inventory, and swap two items work
• Items are recognized as in bank when dropping.

Thank you so much to everyone who has, is, and will help us test! We say that we build our games for and with you, and it's TRUE! We could not create AdventureQuest Worlds' weekly updates or its server rewrite without you, and I'm so excited that we are all building this together.

* This prevents potential issues from affecting your game account.
** This also means we are turning OFF /item loading. Otherwise, you could load any item you wanted to and it would carry over to normal servers. 

May 10, 2016

Voltaire Returns for Friday the 13th

LoreTrek XIII: The Unluckiest Quest begins... Friday!

Every year, we celebrate Friday the 13th in AdventureQuest Worlds… and VERY BAD THINGS happen around (or to) special musical guest star, Voltaire. This year, his luck runs out… IN SPACE! This Friday the 13th, join the Voltaire, Deady, AQW team, and tens of thousands of your fellow heroes for LoreTrek XIII: The Unluckiest Quest!

Being so isolated and traveling through an airless void, it's really important that nothing go wrong. But since it's a Friday the 13th event... you know something's going to happen!

Starting this Friday at sundown, log in to:

• Answer the distress call being sent from Voltaire's spaceship
• Avoid the Bermuda Wormhole (NO REALLY DO NOT GET CLOSE)
• Battle the furriest face-eaters the galaxy has EVER seen
• Test your memory (and luck) to avert a critical mission failure
• Resist being blown out into space!
• Unlock the event rewards merge shop
• Check out the Event Rare gear in your game menu

This Friday, boldly go where no hero has EVER gone before!

May 06, 2016

Throne of Darkness: Paradox Portal

The Next Chapter of Artix's New Main Storyline continues!

Travel through time and space as we chase Xeven, the Time-Traveling Assassin through our past, future, and a very different alternate present before we take on the ultimate annihilator: Vorefax the Devourer! 

• Jump through time and space... and portals!
• Battle the Vorefax to save time itself!
• Learn one shocking truth and confirm another!

The Buy Back Shop is HERE!

May 06, 2016

Main Saga Soundtracks: Paradox Portal

Listen to the soundtrack for this week's release before it is live!*

Xeven's themesong from the new www.AQ.com Throne of Darkness release was written and performed by Ghost. You may recognize his style... he did most of the music in DragonFable too! I am really excited to see you reaction to tonight's new story release. The map looks crazy, but the actual adventure is a fun, daring, and often deadly chase through time and space. Who are you chasing exactly? Xeven the time traveling assassin of course! After the first release, a lot of players commented that Xeven was too cute and nice to be a villain. As usual, I rewrote the script for this week's release to intertwine our player's comments into it. Be sure to let me know how you feel about her *after* you make it through the Paradox Portal. Her attempts to kill you may be offset by the promises of cake. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TldT2LB9BuA

* MAN, time-travel is cool!

May 05, 2016

New May Bonus Gear Arrives Friday, May 6th

Unlock the Tempus Mori gear when you buy select upgrade packages!

Starting tomorrow (that's Friday, May 6th server time* for everyone living in the future) at 6 PM EST, buy any AdventureCoin or Membership package of $10 USD or more to unlock your exclusive May upgrade bonus items! The package arrives at 6PM, replacing the April VoidCaster bonus gear!

12000 AC or 12 month membership packages: 13 items + Boosts

Get more gear and save more of your real-world gold with our largest upgrade packages! Unlock the following gear with our 12000 AdventureCoin or 12 month membership packages:

• 2 Tempus Mori Armors (one floating, one walking)
• 2 helms (Hood and Skull face)
• 3 weapons (2 scythe, 1 staff)
• 4 winged capes 
• 2 minion pets (one regular pet, one member-only battle pet)
• 7 Rep/XP/Gold/Class Points boosts added straight to your inventory

2000 and 5000 AC or 3 and 6 month membership package: 6 items + Boosts

• Tempus Mori armor (floating version)
• Tempus Mori Skull Face
• Dark Wings of Time and Blooded Wings of Time
• Infinita Mortem Scythe
• Tempus Mori Minion pet
• 5 Rep/XP/Gold/Class Points boosts added straight to your inventory

All packages will also come with the Tempus Mori character page badge, so you can show all your friends that YOU are the master of death and time!

* You can see what time it is on the server clock in your options menu)

May 04, 2016

May the 4th be With You

It's Not a Trap... It's a Holiday Shop Update!

Here at the Secret Underground Lab, we are all game developers but also HUGE nerds, and I have to say... these ARE the Mog Wars-themed pets you're looking for! Head into AQWorlds now and help us celebrate May the 4th with all-new holiday rare pets! The Cinco de Mayo items are also in the May Holiday Rares shop in your game menu! 

Now available in the May Holiday Rares shop:

• Leia Mogana
• Maz Mogata
• Mawa
• and the Cinco de Mayo gear 

Why IS May the Fourth a Holiday?

Well... it's not, really. Unless you're a particular breed of nerd. As the Intergalactic Space Wiki (run by wookies, of course) tells us:

"May 4 is considered a holiday by Star Wars fans to celebrate the franchise's films series, books, and culture as well as strict religious rituals.[3] The date was chosen for the easy pun on the catchphrase "May the Force be with you"—"May the fourth be with you". Even though the holiday was not actually created or declared byLucasfilm many Star Wars fans across the world choose to celebrate the holiday."

May 03, 2016

Friday the 13th Returns NEXT Friday!

Voltaire Guest Stars in LoreTrek XIII: The Unluckiest Quest!

Another Friday the 13th event is on the horizon... and THIS time around, it's In SPAAAAAAAAAAACE! Being so isolated and traveling through an airless void, it's really important that nothing go wrong. But since it's a Friday the 13th event... you know something's going to happen!*

Voltaire and Deady are on their way to play a huge Friday the 13th concert on the cemetary Planet Necronus. Unfortunately, unlucky shenanigans occur RIGHT IN FRONT of the cursed Bermuda Wormhole. (Man, what are the odds?!)

Do NOT ask questions about the furry, fuzzy balls of teeth-and-death Deady is holding in the picture above. You REALLY do not want to know... but you'll find out next Friday, because it's up to you to help Voltaire escape in time to make it to his show!

* Man, Voltaire should really stay home and lock himself up inside his recording studio every Friday the 13th... but then he wouldn't be here to battle alongside us!

May 03, 2016

Last Chance for VoidCaster

The April Package Bonus Gear Leaves Friday!

Through this Friday, May 6th, buy any AdventureCoin or Membership package of $10 USD or more to unlock your exclusive April upgrade bonus items! The package leaves at 6PM, to be replaced by the May Bonus Gear!

12000 AC or 12 month membership packages: 14 items + Boosts

Get more gear and save more of your real-world gold with our largest upgrade packages! Unlock the following gear with our 12000 AdventureCoin or 12 month membership packages:

• 2 VoidCaster Armors (one version with animated lightning, one without)
• 4 helms 
• 2 weapons 
• 3 capes 
• The VoidCaster Orb pet WITH quest (quest will reward a Floating VoidCaster Sword pet)
• Member-only VoidCaster Minion Battle Pet
• 7 Rep/XP/Gold/Class Points boosts added straight to your inventory

* Darkblood BattlePet is exclusively available in the 12 month membership package

2000 and 5000 AC or 3 and 6 month membership package: 6 items + Boosts

• 2 VoidCaster Armors (one version with animated lightning, one without)
• 2 helms
• 1 cape 
• 1  weapon 
• VoidCaster Orb pet WITH quest (quest will reward a Floating VoidCaster Sword pet)
• 5 Rep/XP/Gold/Class Points boosts added straight to your inventory

All packages will also come with the VoidCaster character page badge, so you can show off your battle prowess!

May 02, 2016

Enter the Paradox Portals this Friday

Artix's Throne of Darkness Saga Continues with Xeven's Story!

Travel through time and space in the latest chapter of Artix’s Throne of Darkness Saga as we chase Xeven, the Time-Traveling Assassin, through our past, future, and altered present (?!) before we take on the ultimate annihilator: Vorefax the Devourer!

Don't miss this week's other events

MAN, we have a lot happening this week! Don't miss any of the gear, events, or new features!

• The April Upgrade Bonus gear (the VoidCaster set shown above) leaves at THIS FRIDAY at 6 PM EST!
• The May Upgrade Bonus gear (the Tempus Mori set) arrives!
• May the 4th be with you on Wednesday as we release the May 4th shop!
• Cinco de Mayo gear returns on Thursday, May 5th!
• Mother's Day gear arrives Friday, May 6th!
• The team is preparing for next week's Friday the 13th event - keep an eye on my Twitter for previews!

The Buy Back Shop is LIVE!

If you missed the excitement last week... GOOD NEWS! The Buy Back Shop is LIVE for everyone! Get ALL the details in the Design Notes post here.

Buy Back Shop Details

What: A way for AQWorlds heroes to buy back AC items they owned in the past, but sold or deleted

Who: ALL players

When: RIGHT NOW!

Where: The AQWorlds account manager web site

Why: This is something tens of thousands of players have asked for since the game began... and now we can DO it!

How to Buy your AC items back

1. Log in to your Account Manager
2. Go to the "Buyback Shop" tab on the left-hand Menu
3. Scroll through your items to see which ones you'd like to buy back
4. When you find one, hit the "Buy" button!