Design Notes
November 13, 2024
Player Support Reminder
Botting Can Break Your Account... or Get it Banned
Earlier this week, we began getting bug reports about players not able to load when they tried to join a server. Captain Rhubarb found the cause after some digging -- while botting, each of the accounts attempted to save data that the game is not currently set up to accommodate. This broke their characters so completely, they could not join any server. Only about 40 players were affected -- this time -- but this is a good example of why you should not use bots or third party programs.
What is a "Bot"?
Players get banned for botting every week; this tells us a couple of things.
Many players don't know what a bot IS.
- A bot or "third party program" is a program built by someone else that plays the game for you.
- ALL massively multiplayer games have a problem with them, and they are, and always have been against the rules.
Many players don't know that botting is not allowed.
Our goal is to keep the game fair, safe and fun. NOT to ban players. We are all human, we all make mistakes. If you did not know before... that's why I'm posting! If you're not sure why we don't allow them, read on.
- It is unfair to other players who put the time and effort into playing the game / achieving goals
- It takes time away from building the game to deal with botting/cheating/hacking issues
- It can seriously hurt your account -- either because it gets banned... or breaks, like in the example above.
We want you guys to enjoy playing AdventureQuest Worlds. Play right. Play fair. Play the game the way it was intended. Using third party programs is a good way to get your account banned or broken.
November 12, 2024
Game News: November 11 - 17
Read on for the latest news and information
Stay up to date with details on the new releases, server boosts, daily login gifts, art previews, balance updates, and more in this week's game digest post.
Monday: Double Reputation Boost
Get double Rep from completing quests until Wednesday!
Tuesday: Midweek Update
Head to the /Oasis and talk to Fabyo Loso, iconic NPC designer. Complete his quests to gather resources, then craft Ballyhoo's armor, helms, axe, and a house guest.
Get more details in the full Design Notes post.
Wednesday: Double Class Points Boost
Get double Class Points from battles until Friday!
Thursday: Celestial Dungeon Resource Boost
Get double rewards as you battle to create your Greatblade of the Entwined Eclipse. Head to the /TempleShrine map and talk to Empress Ai no Miko for more information.
Celestial Dungeon: Read the full post for more details.
Friday Update Details
Read on for news about this weekend's new updates.
Story: New Harvest Fest event with Tara, Oishii, and all your friends
Rewards: A bounty of new items to collect and unlock
Sales: Quibble Coinbiter's 2024 Black Friday Rares
Weekend Daily Gifts & Boosts
Server Boost: Get double EXP until Monday!
Saturday: Battle the Turdrakolich in the /eventhub to get the 0 AC rare Dead Aim Bow.
Sunday: Defeat the Leaf Painter in the /eventhub to collect new seasonal Harvest house items.
Stay up to date with new release plans and boosts on the Artix Calendar and see what the latest Bug Fixes and Balance Changes are in their patch notes.
November 11, 2024
Chaos and Shadows
Chaos and Shadows - A Peek at Defeat
What would have happened to Zhoom and the Sandsea if you had lost the war with the Umbral Chaos?
Hello all, this is Cylisse - the lead writer of AQWorlds! Last year, you fought and crushed the Invaders looking to destroy Battleon. In doing so, Gravelyn was saved, and that steered the story towards a brighter route.
This year, Zhoom and the Sandsea's fate were on the line. The fight was a lot tougher, and a bunch of the devs expected a defeat. But, you beat the odds, and I won't lie - some of us threw our hats on the ground. It was so funny, and I hope that's fun for you to hear!
What would have happened if you had lost the war against Apophis' forces? What would have happened to your friends and enemies? Click the link to this post to have a peek at that what-if scenario!
November 09, 2024
A Feast of Bonus ACs
Get 50% more ACs with any Membership or AC Pack
If you're gearing up for the holidays, this is the best time to check out our Holiday AC bonus so you don't miss a thing. Get 50% more FREE bonus AdventureCoins with any AC or Membership pack while our holiday AC bonus is on.
Keep an eye on the Design Notes, because we've got a bounty of rare items heading your way this Holiday Season!
- Next Friday: Harvest Fest + Quibble's Black Friday 2024 rare gear (1st shipment)
- Friday, November 22: Hollowborn Saga + Black Friday rares (2nd shipment)
- Friday, November 29: Hollowborn Farming, Black Friday rewards + Black Friday rares gear (3rd shipment)
Get 60,000 ACs while our Holiday Bonus is on!
During our Holiday AC bonus, get 60,000 ACs for $99.95 (that's 20,000 ACs more than normal!) and unlock your choice of upgrade bonus pack, 15x Rep, Gold, Class Points, and XP server boosts, and the Mythic Item of Digital Awesomeness (IoDA).
Wait...AdventureCoin Bonus?!
That's right! Several times each year, we have bonus AdventureCoin offers (example: Summer, Back to School, and during the holidays). Bonus amounts and dates may change from year to year, so keep an eye on the Design Notes and social media for more news of future bonuses.
Mythic Item of Digital Awesomeness?!
The Mythic Item of Digital Awesomeness (or MIoDA for short) is a miscellaneous item you will get by purchasing the 40k AdventureCoin pakage. Like the other IoDA items, it allows you to choose any item in the game when you redeem it through your Account Manager.
How to Claim your MIoDA Prize
Make sure you have a confirmed email address attached to your game account, and then follow these steps:
- Decide on the item you want
- Log into your Account Manager
- Click on the "Awesome Prizes" link on the sidebar
- You'll see a list of the IoDA tokens you have available
- Choose from a list of ALL the eligible item rewards
- You'll be taken to a verification page to confirm your choice
November 08, 2024
Secrets of the Past
Shadows Rising Saga, Chapter 2 Finale
Secrets hide in the hearts of men... and deep inside the sof the Hidden Palace of Duat. You only THINK you know what you'll find once you complete this saga finale. Log in now and battle through Part III of the Shadows Rising Saga, then check out the new reward set and rare sets from the elusive-but-incredibly-talented Kotaro!
New Game Release
- Story Update: Shadows Rising Saga: Chamber of Darkness
- New Rewards: Unlock the Apophis Medjai set + new drops
- Featured Gear Shop: new rare Soulsworn of Eos armor set
- Grand Pirate King set: available for free in the TLaPD collection chest + in the Game Menu shop
Weekend Daily Gifts & Boosts
- Server Boost: Double Gold Boost
- Saturday: seasonal Autumn Fox weapons, house guards, and pet from the Autumn Fox in /eventhub*
- Sunday: rare + permanent Axes of Grimskull drop off Binky in /binky and /doomvault
You should make sure you're all caught up with the Doom Triad Saga to REALLY enjoy this week's update.
I'm just sayin'...
No reason. 💀
Shadows Rising Saga, Chapter 2 Finale
We began the Shadows Rising Saga last October, and continued the tale of the Doom Triad last month.
In Part I: Sandsea in Darkness, the Doom Triad's focus turned to a new land, rich in gold and history. Aid Pharoah Zhoom in battling the Condemned Shadows and the spreading Chaorruption tainting his beloved Sandsea.
In Part II: Shroud of Darkness, your skill in battle was needed to defend the Sandsea against the Doom Triad's dark chaotic forces or one of your other companions may need to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Now... Part III: Chamber of Darkness awaits. Venture into the hidden palace beneath the City of Duat. Keep your allies safe and the Sandsea secure. As Zhoom faces down the secrets of the past, he needs YOU to guard what matters to him most.
Can all these things be connected? Is it just the madness of the era, or your Eternal Dragon of Time powers attracting disaster to you? One thing is for sure: the Doom Triad will not stop until they have dominated our entire world.
Hidden Chamber Rewards
/join HiddenDuat and talk to Zhoom, Pharoah of the Sandsea. Battle the Royal Mummies, overseers, and other denizens dwelling deep below the city. Defeat the boss lying in wait and complete this weekend's story to unlock a quest that will let you craft the Apophis Medjai set!
Featured Rare Set: Soulsworn of Eos
The Soulsworn are devoted to a memory they can't recall. They vow to make a mountain of bodies to reach the sun and tear it down... Will YOU climb with them, or be ground underfoot? Find the rare Follower of Eos armor set in your Featured Gear Shop until Friday, December 20th!
Find the items now in your Featured Gear Shop
- Soulsworn of Eos armor
- Soulsworn of Eos Hair, Locks, and Morph helms
- Eos' Prison cape
- Roots of Abundance ground rune
- Enchanted Roots of Abundance (color-customizable)
- Domain of the Imugi
- Staff of Strangled Light
- Sunpiercer Uisun
- Sunpiercer Uisun Blade
Grand Pirate King Set Now Available
Back in September, we announced that Kotaro's Grand Pirate King gear -- one of the sets expected to release in Quibble Coinbiter's Abyssal Fortune collection -- would be delayed. I promised that once it was ready, we'd add it automatically to the chest and make it available for everyone else to buy in a limited-time shop. At long last, the cargo has been released and the items have hit the digital shelves!
Grand Pirate King Pirate King's Hat Pirate King's Advisor Hair Pirate King's Regal Hair Pirate King's Spiked Hair Pirate King's Spectacled Beard Pirate King's Smart Advisor Pirate King's Beard Pirate King's Bearded Advisor Lightning Sea Splitter |
Pirate Queen's Side-Tail Pirate Queen's Locks Pirate Queen's Neat Locks Pirate Queen's Cap + Glasses Pirate Queen's Spectacled Locks Pirate Queen's Spectacled Side-Tail The Sea's Adoration ground rune Dark Waters ground rune Sea King's Arabella Blade The Sea's Adoration House Guard |
NOTE: If you have the Abyssal Fortune Collection Chest, you do not need to buy the items from the Grand Pirate King shop in your game menu. The items are already in your collection pet chest shop.
NOTE 2: Back in September, I retweeted a post from Kotaro and said the set would arrive in the TLaPD collection chest. That was faulty on several levels. The image was a few years old, and it was of an NPC, not an armor set. I apologize for any upset my mistake caused.
Server / Game Launcher Issue Reports: Update & Resolution
Issue 1: We have seen increased reports of server lag. We're going to try lowering the server caps as a test this weekend as we look at the analytics.
Issue 2: If you've been seeing a "Could not connect. Please try again." error when loading the Artix Games Launcher... GOOD NEWS! Captain Rhubarb was able to resolve the issue earlier this evening.
November 08, 2024
Guild Spotlight: Burzum
Burzum: A Legacy of Strength and Honor
Since its founding on July 26, 2020, Burzum has carved out its place in AQWorlds, inspired by the “darkness” that its name represents in the world of Lord of the Rings. Guided by its dedicated leader, Burguul, and a supportive guild officer team of ten, Burzum has grown to a powerful 300+ members, each with a shared appreciation for old-school AQW values: loyalty, integrity, and respect.
The story of Burzum began humbly, with just a few members and a simple mission: to unite skilled and honorable players who valued strength and kindness over numbers. A defining moment came early on when Burguul met a rival guild that challenged Burzum’s worth. Undeterred, Burguul accepted their PvP challenge, swiftly defeating three of their members, including their leader, which led to a rivalry but ultimately strengthened Burzum’s resolve to become a guild of true, steadfast players.
Today, Burzum is known for its loyalty, support, and diverse activities—from PvP battles and ultra-fights to hosting its iconic Bludrut Brawls. The guild prides itself on its vibrant Discord community, where members bond, share knowledge, and coordinate epic in-game events. Here, new players are welcomed with open arms (as long as they’re kind and stylish!), while seasoned members find a close-knit community focused on self-improvement, not just in the game but in real life too.
Guild Stats & Story
👑 Guild Leader: Burguul
👥 Guild Size: 300-350 members
✅ Guild Requirements: Just be nice, helpful and active. If you are an OG you just welcomed anyway. And it would be cool if you look good from fashion side...
📚 A “Brief” Description: Hello i am Burzum's leader. Burzum means "Darkness" in LOTR universe created by great J.R.R Tolkien. Let me tell you a story about our guild. A story that reflects our in game philosophy...
"Years ago... When Burzum was just 1 week of age, we got just 20 member spaces. I was a solo player back then and my goal is collect good and oldschool AQW players just like me. In originul map a player wanted my help and i helped him without any question. Just after that i asked him if he wanna join Burzum and he said " yeah :D" I took him in and went to my house stay afk a little. When i back to my farm i saw him again... He just went another guild... (That guild is is gonna be called "R" guild in this story) I asked him why? And he said: "They're givin giveaways!! etc. Lets stay friends!!" Meanwhile guys from "R" guild came and started to cyberbully me and my guild like "Small guild LOL", "You don't know who we are" etc. As an every oldschool AQW player i am master at PVP. I remember this guilds members from doomwoodarena a lot. I told em yeah guys i knew you all killed many of u in PVP. And then they challanged me in PVP. I said to them "If i kill all 3 of you u will join Burzum. Deal?" And they accepted it. I killed 3 of em in seconds. But as you able to guess these men refused to join me... BUT they said if you kill our leader we all gonna join your guild. I said who is he? They gave me a name that i knew very well... I saw him a lot always stayin' AFK in battleon-1 Artix. Also he was a AQW youtuber. Lets call him "J" in this story. I accepted the challange and i said "bring him to me". We met at "R" guilds headquaters. First time i saw that "J" guy moving... He sent me duel invite... I equiped my favourite PVP class... Artifact Hunter... Fight Started and just ended... He's dead in a tense of second. I came back to their headquarters and said "It's done... You all join me now..." They said " NO WAY!" HE WANTS A REMATCH!" I said theres no rematch, deal is done. Then i start to got many private bad word messages and duel invites from accounts i did not know. When i got my house i saw my house invaded by "R" guilds members... I turned off my gotos and wait a while at overlook cliff watching the beautiful view of lore. When chaos was ended that guy who i helped and went to "R" guild came back to me and said "they banned me i wanna join you again..." But i said " No you filthy rat." and ignored him.
After that i declared war to this "R" guild and I made an oath "I will grow Burzum and fill it with gentlemen players who only cares about strength and honour. Burzum's never gonna be like these other guilds." Our main goal is kindness and fun itself.
Now that "R" guild is gone but Burzum lives and its gonna be alive since end of the time
And i think i reached to my goals. I got so many great, helpful players in my guild. We can PVP, Ultras, Chat etc. We are the most versatile guild in game. WE EVEN DO BLUDRUT BRAWL IN GULD GUYS!
Our ingame activity is way more than 400-500 member spaced guilds. Also we got the most amazing discord server.
Burzum shakes this game from its deep ground. And going bigger and bigger every single day.
LONG LIVE BURZUM-ISHI!
Burzum’s Oath of Brotherhood
Burzum has grown beyond its original goal, now a guild united by ideals of honor and camaraderie that keep its members strong. While the rival “R” guild may have faded, Burzum has only become stronger, standing as a beacon of AQW’s old-school player values. To join Burzum is to join a legacy – a place where every player is respected and where strength comes from the heart of the community.
This is why you belong in Burzam – and why you belong in AQW! From the moment you log in, you enter a world of camaraderie, epic battles, and unforgettable adventures, where your journey becomes part of a story that transcends the game. Embrace the spirit of Burzum and let your legend unfold in AQWorlds ~and~ the real world, too!
Battle on,
Beleen and the AQW Team (and ofc Burzum guildmates, too!)
PS: Do you want the chance to have your Guild from AQ3D, AQW, or EpicDuel featured on the Design Notes? Click here to enter your guild, screenshots, and story!