Design Notes
February 01, 2013
Defeat the Beast
Battle Through Shattersword to Fight Graveclaw!
Imprisoned by the great King Alteon ages ago, Graveclaw the Defiler has regained enough strength to rise again. Summoning his minions deep within Shattersword Cavern, Graveclaw prepares to unleash his army against the world of Lore! Suit-up in Quibble Coinbiter’s Rare items and delve the dark depths of Shattersword Cavern to defeat the most beastly burden known to man! Wield your weapon, conjure your spells, and Battle ON to victory!
ALL players can relive King Alteon's battle against Graveclaw the Defiler by clicking on the golden statue of King Alteon in /battleontown! But you'll need to upgrade to fight your way to the bottom of Shattersword Cavern and defeat Graveclaw once and for all!
#BlameCanada for No Power and Derp Cutscenes!
If you haven't watched tonight's cutscenes... prepare for DERP! Normally, it takes 1 animator 2-3 days to finish the 2-3 cutscenes for each week's release. But yesterday night, we got a call from Ghost, who had been working on the boss monster AND cutscene animations! A severe storm had knocked his power out, so he couldn't finish the cutscenes OR the boss monster (or, y'know, even turn his laptop on to send them to us)!
At Artix Entertainment, we never back down from a challenge, or an opportunity to have fun making games, and this news was an opportunity to do BOTH! So Cysero and Samba put on their +15 Animating gauntlets, I pared down the battle scenes, and we got ready to knock out DERP versions of Ghosts soon-to-be-REALLY-finished epic cutscenes!
24 hours of frenzy led to the entire team - and parts of the rest of the game itself - getting turned upside down and inside out! But we pulled it off before release, because that's just how we roll!*
We will let everyone know as soon as Ghost is finished with THIS week's cutscenes! Until then, we would LOVE to hear your comments on the derp versions! Record your audio commentary as you watch them and send us the links!
* To make matters even MORE absurd, Ghost's power was turned back on 2 hours before the release! Not enough time to finish anything but the boss monster. He's hard at work to get you the epic cinematics you love, but for now... enjoy the DERP!
Quibble Coinbiter's Shop is live!
Everyone’s favorite traveling sales Moglin, Quibble Coinbiter, is making his way back to Battleon! Brand-new never-before-seen armors, helms, weapons, and more await the greatest Rare Item collector. Gear up in Golden Onslaughter and Darkblood rare items and show the world just how awesome you are!
Don't miss your chance to get this gear, because it's never going to return! We're not sure where he got it, and we don't really want to know. We just love /equipping it, and hope you all do, too!
This Sunday: Superbowl Half-Time Shop!
It's the biggest American Football game of the year. The 49rs and the Ravens are facing off and it's time for the halftime show. When you've had your fill of watching Beyonce do her thing on stage... head to Battleon and look for the button labled PUNT!
Come join the PUNT map to celebrate this day and these two super-teams with the Miners and Crows armors and the return of other seasonal favorites like the Spiked Pigskin and the Moglin Ref pet! Don't forget that this is the ONLY time of year that you will be able to get the Moglin Punter Character Page Achievement Badge and all you have to do kis kick Twilly the full 100 yards!
Good luck and no matter who wins we hope you enjoy the Superbowl!
January 29, 2013
Hunt for Graveclaw's Gear
Wednesday's Hunt for Graveclaw's Kamas Is On!
It may be that Graveclaw has already had contact with creatures outside his prison! The hunt for the newest version of the Shattersword Kama is on! Battle creatures throughout Lore using the clue below as a starting point for where to look, then slay anything that might fit the hint!
Decipher the clue, defeat the creature, get the prize!
The location of this weapon - and the clue - will change each day, as will the color of the wrapping on the handle! Each item is 0 ACs, so enjoy the free storage after you /party up with your friends and start hunting!
Another ally, Graveclaw's trying:
A minion who battles, never falling, undying.
In Graveclaw's shadow, warriors fall
and rise again at the Defiler's call!
Wait, Who is Graveclaw?
Graveclaw the Defiler is a monstrous beast defeated and imprisoned by a young King Alteon decades ago. Since then, he has raged inside his prison - Shattersword Cavern - deep below the Forest of Chaos.
In recent years, Empress Gravelyn began sending warriors down to battle him. That activity bled off the strength he used to enhance the powerful magic he controls. What no one foresaw was that the dark magic Graveclaw possesses would be twisted by the earth fairy magic of the caverns! Now he has an army, and he's ready to rise up against Swordhaven AND Shadowfall!
Quibble Coinbiter's Shop Returns Friday!
Who doesn't love art previews? I know I do! A lot of you have been asking to see some of the Darkblood gear that Quibble will bring, and Solrac just sent some in this morning! With this armor, you'll be able to stalk the streets of Falguard, City of Secrets, unnoticed!
Shops Leaving Monday, Announcements Coming!
Australia Day Shop and Stratos/Vokun's Birthday Shops are leaving next Monday. Next Tuesday is the SHUT UP AND TAKE MY RARES drawing! As soon as Reens is feeling better, we'll get an update from her about the in-game moderator hunt.
January 25, 2013
Chaos Lord Lionfang
Starting the AQW Power Weekend Right!
The Darkblood City of Falguard. Its great stone walls and massive oak doors have kept the secrets of the Darkblood safe for centuries... until now.
Months after mysteriously disappearing from Onslaught Tower, Archlord Lionfang has reappeard as Chaos Lord Lionfang and he is turning his chaorrupted army and startling new powers on the city of Falguard!
Join forces with Captain Madra of the Falguard Dreadwatch and safe as many of the Darkblood people from his wrath as you can. His powers are great, but if he unlocks the secret of the Darkblood weapon against Chaos then there will be no stopping him.
The city of Falguard features the Thunderforge Reputation Shop, Daily Rep Quests, repeatable rep grinding quests for Members, a Darkblood Weapon Shop, the Darkblood Armor shop and even the Darkblood Styalist for those of you who need your horns reshaped by Darkblood magic.
As always, this is just the beginning of the Reputation Shop. it will continue to be filled as the storyline unfolds before you.
AQW Power Weekend!
Welcome to new magical time we call the AQW Power Weekend!
Here's what you need to know.
- The Power Weekend runs from now until Monday around Noon, server time.
- Players can get DOUBLE XP on EVERY SERVER!
- Members can get slight MORE than DOUBLE XP on the MEMBER ONLY SERVERS.
- Members can also get DOUBLE REPUTATION on the MEMBER ONLY SERVERS.
It's as simple as that! This really is one weekend you don't want to miss out on.
MOD Birthday Shops!
This weekend it is Stratos and Vokun's Birthdays! Stratos is our Bug Hunter General as well as a holding a number of other positions in AE. Vokun is one of our newest volunteer developers on AQW's art team!
You can find Stratos's Birthday Shop in Battleon and Vokun;s in Shadowfall, but if you get lost just talk to Stratos in Battleon. His button should take you to Shadowfall!
We are getting reports that some of Vokun's birthday items are missing but we added everything that he sent us. He might have left a few items out of his show so we will add them as soon as we get them!
QUIBBLE COMING NEXT WEEK & More!
Don't forget that Quibble Coinbiter will be coming next week with a bunch of super sweet rares and items! he's always got some interesting stuff!
We added a big button to the Dragon's lair in battleon ebcause quite a few ne players had no idea that it was there. Just dropping some love on an old favorite.
The new Jade Samurai set has replaced the Golden Set that accomplanies the ONE YEAR UPGRADE. This set is ALSO Limited Time Only so grab it while it lasts!
Coming next week: Watch as a young King Alteon defeats Gravelclaw the Defiler, imprisoning him deep below the Forest of Chaos! Members will need to battle to the bottom of Shattersword Cavern to stop him from rising again!
This will be a pretty fun weekend and I have a few alts to level so maybe I'll see you guys on AQW!
Have a nice weekend.
OR ELSE!
January 23, 2013
Coming Friday
Darkblood, Treasure Chests, MOD Birthdays and More!
This Friday the new Chaos Lord Lionfang saga continues in the Darkblood city of Falguard.
Captain Madra and one of her Falguard Dreadwatch Soldiers
This week you will enter the mysterious Darkblood city of FALGUARD, whose doors have remained closed to outsiders for years. The Darkblood Scroll has been translated and a newly empowered CHAOS LORD LIONFANG plans to test out his new powers searching for the Darkblood weapon that may be able to defeat Chaos.
The City will feature the Thunderforge Reputation Shop (on Madra herself), A Weapon Shop, An Armor Shop, a Hair Shop, at least one dark alley, a few quests to grind Thunderguard Reputation (more for Members) and, of course, the storyline quests.
Can you find the secret weapon of the Darkblood before Chaos Lord Lionfang rips Falguard apart?
Other Stuff Happening This Week
- We have new treasure chest items coming for all of you who have unlocked been stocking the treasure chests up and Members who have been stockpiling your free Treasure Chest Keys from Twilly
- We have TWO Mod birthday shops coming Friday as well. Captain Stratos, Co-head Moderator and Bug Master General and Vokun, one of our newest volunteer assistant developers!
- The 1 Year Member Golden Set Member Package is going away, to be replaced by the Jade Samurai 1 Year Member Set which is exactly the same as the other package but with a different set.
Stuff Coming In The Future
We're working on some new Membership perks for you guys, in addition to the one that Alina talked about earlier. We are trying to workout a system where Members would simply get MORE ACs. If you buy the 2000 AC package and you're a Member then you would get more than 2000 ACs.
How many more? Still working on making it happen (It may never happen, but we're trying) so we'll saw for sure at that time.
Next week Quibble will be coming back to Battleon and will be bringing a host of all new, slightly used rares from the future (and past in this case). A few of you were asking if Xavier Lionfang's Silver Lion Armor would be released during the Lionfang Saga... well, it is.
Funny story: ORIGINALLY the Lionfang armor art was silver, but went back for a recolor and came out the gold version that we all know. Makes sense that Xavier would get his big brother's hand-me-downs.
Changes to Battleon will start happening soon. Things will start moving, appearing, vanishing, shifting, sliding and expanding.
The Search For New Mods Continues
Reens and Stratos are still looking for a few good players who help expand the Moderator team of AQW.
If you want to know how to apply, READ THIS CAREFULLY. I've had people e-mailing me and even trying to apply on Twitter which just proves that you either
- Didn't bother to read the directions,
- Skimmed them but didn't pay attention, or
- Can't read English well enough to be a Mod.
No matter which way you go, if you can't even apply correctly then you lacking some very necessary qualifications that we need in our Mods.
People have been asking me who "won the Mod contest?". I can't stress enough that this is not a contest to be won, it's a volunteer job to be applied for. It's a pretty serious and necessary position and we have some fairly high standards for what we expect from our Mods.
It's hours and hours of helping, reading thousands of player reports and trying your best to help other players. It's a thankless job but that's OK because we don't pay you anything. We even put restrictions on the items that Mods get. The only rewards are a gold name, the chance to test the releases before they are finished and the chance to help make AQW a better and safer game for everyone.
AQ3D
BattleGems
BioBeasts
Dragons
Undead Assault