Lost in the New Horizon

Event Teaser - From the Zone

July 6, 2001

Martine grinned as the last of the mages fell before the onslaught of the Rifts' attack. He had been following the party for quite some time, a group of Life wizards that had been much too pleased with their recent advancement in spell research.

Apparently the new spells had not been quite enough. He looked at the blood-stained clothes of the mages. Such new colors the Isparians sported these days. A little morbid but appropriate, given the circumstances.

He wished he had time to explore this new island. So much death and destruction. His spies had reported that there was unrest amongst certain groups of the Isparians, looking for more and more adventure. He remembered a time when he too, thought that he needed a new frontier, a new area for exploration. He had gotten what he had wished for. He anticipated a similar amount of pain in store for these little humans.

If only he had free time, he could pick and choose at how best to sow the seeds of chaos. His old Virindi chums here had actually assembled a sizable force, and he didn't know whether the Isparians would be up to the challenge. Martine's plans since killing Alayne had not gone exactly as intended. A new Singularity here on Auberean would not make those plans any easier to accomplish.

And on another front, his old Exploration Society friends had had the audacity to keep on going. Struggling and pathetic, yes, but still surviving. And still helping people. Information and order disseminated to the new Ispar arrivals. No, no, no, this would not do.

But, as he reminded himself, if he had free time, which he most assuredly did not, it would take many months before his plans reached fruition. If he did not ensure their success, then none of the rest would matter.

Martine smiled once more at the broken bodies as he portaled back to his sanctuary. Feazh Zhapaj, indeed.

Unlike any other gaming experience, the world of Asheron's Call continues to evolve. Last month, the citizens of Dereth fought back against the invading Virindi, defeating the Inculcator and freeing the captured town of Ayan Baqur. One can only wonder what additions -- and what dangers -- will be appear with the opening of our July event, “Lost in the New Horizon.”

Be sure to continue your part in this incredible ongoing story, and we'll see you in Dereth!

Roll Out Article - From the Zone

July 11, 2001

The dog days of Derethian summer have arrived. Temperatures rise ever higher, leaving those who wander the wilds sweltering in their heavy armor and thick robes. With the approach of Summer Solstice, the deadly Virindi accelerate their campaign against the residents of Dereth.

With the defeat of the Inculcator, their stranglehold on Ayan Baqur was broken and the beleaguered townsfolk returned. Yet only a fool would believe the Virindi so readily defeated. Surely they plan to strike again, to retaliate with powerful new servants and weapons. The question is where and when. Once again, the legions of Ispar must venture forth to stem the tides of war.

Rumors spread like wildfire of a strange new land, shrouded in mystery and swarming with never-before-seen foes. Perhaps those willing to risk life and limb can find a chance to defeat the intractable foe on this strange new land... Or perhaps it will prove but a short route to a violent and unpleasant demise.

Even in the darkest times, there has always been good news for the citizens of Dereth. Travelers of late have returned to the towns of Osteth garbed in regal new colors, and bearing weapons of devastating power. The Consortium of Archmages has finally discerned the location of the final Essence, completing the seventh circle of the Arcane. One can only hope these developments have come in time to stave off the advance of the Virindi.

Following is a list of the most interesting additions made to the game this update. However, please note that not everything has been included -- that would spoil the fun of finding out all manner of things added or changed! As usual, though, the town criers, barkeeps, and scribes may know the latest news. Also, the trades of crafting and selling are always in flux, so changes to prices and features are not always listed here in their entirety.

Highlights include:

Several new and deadly adversaries have appeared to oppose the heroes of Dereth.
As the seasons of Dereth shift, so does the crop of dye plants. Some may be found in the most unlikely places.
The battle with the Virindi continues as they look to strike back for the loss of Ayan Baqur.
To help combat the new and more deadly foes, powerful new magic surges across the land and the seventh circle of the arcane is completed.
New publications spread knowledge and information among the new arrivals to the mysterious land of Dereth.
The Bestower's Guild has expanded its selection of titles for those who have truly mastered their craft, as well as adding distinctive garb for some.

The heat of summer has claimed Dereth and our continuing saga unfolds to reveal the further machinations of the Virindi. In order to learn the full scope of July's event, “Lost in the New Horizon,” be sure to read the Developer's Notes for July. Continue your part in this incredible ongoing story, and we'll see you in Dereth!

Developer's Notes -- July - From the Zone

July 11, 2001

The Dev Notes Here are just some of the additions made in the July 11 game update, “Lost in the New Horizon.” The following list is comprised of detailed notes straight from the developers themselves. For a summary of things of most interest, be sure to consult the official event article, Lost in the New Horizon.

Detailed Notes for Build 2551 (July 2001):

Miscellaneous Improvements:

Level 7 Life Magic is in.
Advanced titles for Guild of Bestowers are in. Bestowers also give hats for advanced titles in Alchemy, Cooking and Fletching. Really, we mean it this time.
New summer dye colors available. Winter (!) dye plants removed from landscape.

Minor Details:

Component buyer values can now be changed while the vendor is open, and take effect immediately (though it won't remove items from your buy list that are already there).
Component buyer "not enough ... " error message cleaned up a little -- players can raise the number of components they want in the F6 panel and not confuse it.
Essence of Enchantment now grants Weapon Ignorance 7.
Upped the Spellcraft on Lightning Streak 6 traps. Better pull out the shockproof undies you put away when you outgrew Ash Gromnies?
Changed Quiddity Orb quest timers to seven days.
Fixed some instances where Bestowers' Guild puzzle pieces were showing up as blue casino tokens where they SHOULD have shown up as small orange orbs.
Shadow Fragments and Crystal Fragments now have unique icons, for easier differentiation of the various types, and to cut down the possibility of bait-and-switch trading scams.
Koujia armor should now sort properly with the white undies. When the undies changed to white, the new color was bleeding through improperly, ruining some people's ensembles.
Ayan Baqur is now (mostly) back to normal.
Mud Golems were dropping Muddy Towels 100% of the time due to a small typo in the % chance of not dropping Pyreal Motes. Now they should drop towels at the same rate as Water Golems.

Developer's Chat

July 5, 2001

Welcome to MSN Chat. Important: MSN does not control or endorse the content, messages or information found in chat. MSN specifically disclaims any liability with regard to these areas. To review the guidelines for use of MSN Chat, go to http://chat.msn.com/conduct.msnw

slapp_turbine says: We're happy to be here and excited to discuss the expansion pack. We've been working on it for months now, and it's great that we can finally reveal everything about it! Well, except all the secret stuff, that is. More to the point: many details of features and content are being refined as we go forward, so we can't always go into specifics. And details of our story are being withheld, because we don't want to tell you the story before you get to experience it. But enough introducing! Allez cuisine!

mrquazarr_MS says: OK, lets begin...

SockPuppet_2 in AsheronsCall asks: Do you have a set release date for the expansion pack?
slapp_turbine says: SockPuppet_2, we we're planning (oops) a holiday season release. We're not getting more specific than that at this time. But we are on schedule.

LightEmpath in AsheronsCall asks: If a person has multiple accounts will they need to purchase multiple copies for each account or can they have just 1?
mrquazarr_MS says: For every one account that you use to play Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty, you will need a seperate copy of the game.

Guest_doushikai in AsheronsCall asks: Can you say how much houses will cost?
kentroop_turbine says: While we won't discuss specific prices, we will say that most houses will require varying means to acquire and support

cannedviction in AsheronsCall asks: Are quests going to be a little more varied and different compared to the AC norm?
kentroop_turbine says: One of the really fun things about working on the expansion has been the opportunity to do a lot more in our quests than we are usually able to do in the monthly props. The quests for Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty are really going to push the edge both... in terms of quest dynamics and quest results

GuRn3y in AsheronsCall asks: will the pansion have any new graphical enchantments, such as better rendering of 3D platforms, or new 3D engines?
slapp_turbine says: Gurney, ACM uses the same graphics engine as the original Asheron's Call, but its art reflects the standards we've developed in our most recent monthly props. (oops: make that AC: DM) So the new island will be prettier!

Dugfromtheearth in AsheronsCall asks: Will there be storage available other then in the houses?
Super_Sayjn_Gohan in AsheronsCall asks: Will my friends who do not buy the expansion be able to visit my home?
kentroop_turbine says: As for Dug's question...No, storage is tied directly to housing
scrap_turbine says: Yes, people who do not own, Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty will be able to visit your home.

MichealTD in AsheronsCall asks: If it will be 'first come, first serve' situation on the 1000 Homes per server, what is to prevent the folks on the East Coast from getting all of the properties before the people on the West Coast even get out of bed?
kentroop_turbine says: We've thought about this situation a lot, and while we won't go into specifics, we have a number of things we're implementing to prevent that kind of First Come First Serve problem. In addition, while some houses will be subject to whomever gets there... first, new houses will be opening up and coming down the pipeline, creating a dynamic and fluid housing market

MericanPigdog in AsheronsCall asks: Will new types of characters be available in DM?
slapp_turbine says: There are no new player-character types planned for the game, but there'll be a few new beasties you can meet.

ElderMT in AsheronsCall asks: Please explain how we will pay “monthly rent” for houses, or at least what happens if we don’t & the house is put on the market.
kentroop_turbine says: The monthly rent will operate fairly straightforwardly...we won't reveal the exact details of housing abandonment or loss, but there will be a way for those people on extended vacation or similar events to arrange to continue to pay for their house

Ramuuh in AsheronsCall asks: What will happen to the items in your secure storage if you are unable to pay the rent?
kentroop_turbine says: The current plan is that all items will disappear if you fail to pay the rent

ZuZ_IV in AsheronsCall asks: Is the Expansion Pack going to have major updates everymonth like Asheron's Call?
crowley_turbine says: once the expansion content is in, the live team will continue its monthly process

CorpsieAutopsy in AsheronsCall asks: Why should the players have to pay just to get an extra land mass when many feel it should ba a gift to all and how would you restrict passage to this mass tothose who have purchased?
crowley_turbine says: our monthly content patches will not be interrupted, and we will continue to provide content for all. And yes, I foresee that this will include updates to the content coming in with ACDM.
slapp_turbine says: The expansion pack contains features and content that the live team could afford to do while still publishing monthly updates. We decided a second team was the best way to get the features into the game players wanted. (whoops, I mean "MORE features and content THAN the live team could afford to do..." The expansion pack lets us deliver those features to you.

Guest_Yorlik in AsheronsCall asks: Is the "new land mass" going to be on the current AC Map?
slapp_turbine says: The new land mass will be on the current AC map. It's our largest terrain update yet, though not as large as Dereth.

IrishFaerie2001 in AsheronsCall asks: What measurements are you taking to ensure that houses are "thief-proof"?
slapp_turbine says: I measured Ken Troop, but it didn't seem to help. The thief question is an important one. I can't talk about code details, but if I wasn't extremely sure about the code, we wouldn't be doing housing.

Ethangar4 in AsheronsCall asks: Will the expansion have new enviroment types (new ground textures, etc) or will it be the same old grass, obsidian, desert type scenery.
superscooper_turbine says: Asherons Call: Dark Majesty will include new environment types that will require unique textures and art assets.

Ones_7 in AsheronsCall asks: What is going to happen to the people that buy the expansion pack and don't get to own a house? Being there is only 1,000 available I know if i don't get a house I will be very mad.
slapp_turbine says: We are committed to adding houses to the game after Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty ships.

KikiJoanofArc in AsheronsCall asks: I want AC DM, but will it be worth buying if AC II is on its way out anyway? Will AC I still be played when AC II is released?
slapp_turbine says: Yes, we have no plans to shut down AC1 when AC2 ships.
crowley_turbine says: *breathes a sigh of relief*
slapp_turbine says: So get back to work, Crowley.

Guest_Grensun in AsheronsCall asks: Will there possibly be new weapons classes in DM, such as pole-arms?
slapp_turbine says: Grensun, there are no new weapon classes in the expansion pack, but we are committed to making sure that every weapon-class "gets some love."

Talajzar in AsheronsCall asks: Can people on other accounts be given permission to take things from my house? Such as a monarchy sharing items?
scrap_turbine says: Yes, people with other accounts who have purchased Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty can be granted item storage permission.

Guest_Satarian in AsheronsCall asks: Will homes in the new expansion affect monster spawn, as they did in Ultima Online?
kentroop_turbine says: Monsters will not spawn in the house area, or right around the house area, so that is taken into consideration as we place the houses around Dereth

SheerDisc in AsheronsCall asks: Will houses be located all over Dereth, or just the new land mass?
slapp_turbine says: Houses are located all over Dereth. We have a map with pushpins in the office marking our "prime real estate."

Guest_Mest in AsheronsCall asks: You said in the expansion pack each weapon will get "love" in the expansion, does that mean we dont have any "love" to look forward to in the months before the expansion pack?
crowley_turbine says: like I said before, the expansion pack in no way affects the live team's operations, so you can still look forward to weapon love in the regular content updates

Angle_39 in AsheronsCall asks: Will you be able to decorate your house in ACM?
slapp_turbine says: You'll be able to customize your house's appearance through decorations. This will involve a mixture of existing objects in the game, and some new ones designed specifically for decorating purposes.

Guest_Mike_the_Test in AsheronsCall asks: Who will develop content for the island, the XP team or the live team?
kentroop_turbine says: The expansion team is developing content for the island prior to ship. Post-ship, the Live Team will be in charge of further plot developments and quests on Marae Lassel.

merendel1 in AsheronsCall asks: Will all characters on an account have access to the contents of the house and stored items.
kentroop_turbine says: Only the character on the account who purchased the house will be have all the rights and privileges of an owner of the house...however, you can add house-using functionality to other characters of yours in the same way that you can add it to friends of yours

AC_Zan in AsheronsCall asks: Will non expansion pack users be able to see/use new items obtained from the expansion?
kentroop_turbine says: Non-expansion pack buyers will be able to see, and in some cases, use new items obtained from the expansion. Most of the premier items to be gained from the new island though will generally only be usable by those who have the expansion

Guest_Toomba in AsheronsCall asks: It seems AC has been hampered by a lack of marketing, what is going to be done with the expansion to turn the tide and get true new players interested in the best game on the market
mrquazarr_MS says: With the Expansion Pack you can expect a very aggressive marketing campaign to accompany it. Expect more than a few surprises.

Thisky in AsheronsCall asks: Will you make a new server when the pack is released?
Ripley_VG in AsheronsCall asks: We are committed to adding additonal servers to meet the growing demand that Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty will bring.
mrquazarr_MS says: We are committed to adding additonal servers to meet the growing demand that Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty will bring. Sorry, that was not Ripley saying that
slapp_turbine says: MrQuazarr, master ventriloquist!

Fwh_Pretender0 in AsheronsCall asks: Are there going to be a community type setup for housing or all spread out?
kentroop_turbine says: For some housing sites, it will be more of a community type set up, but there will be a number of singleton and unique houses placed as well

SheerDisc in AsheronsCall asks: What is the minimum character level to using Marae Lassel?
kentroop_turbine says: There is no minimum level needed to arrive on Marae Lassel

AC_Zan in AsheronsCall asks: Will European users be able to buy and use the expansion pack on day 1 of it's release?
mrquazarr_MS says: We have not announced our plans for international distribution at this time but we expect to soon.

Guest_StayPuff in AsheronsCall asks: Are some dungeons going to have an 'Expansion' restriction on them?
kentroop_turbine says: The dungeons for Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty will be limited to those who have purchased the expansion.

Flamelord_of_Leafcull in AsheronsCall asks: Are houses going to be truly physical (ie UO) or more like AO (ie, physical house, but mult peeps can use it and have a diff house).
scrap_turbine says: The houses will be truly physical houses.

Guest_insane in AsheronsCall asks: Will most of the dungeons in the expansion set be towards higher level players , or will it be evenly distributed ?
kentroop_turbine says: There will be a number of dungeons available in the expansion for all ranges of players, from genuinely low level players to players at the upper echelons of the game

Guest_guestman in AsheronsCall asks: Are you guys making these questions up and asking them through fake aliases?
mrquazarr_MS says: These are all actual questions coming in right now...
slapp_turbine says: David Manning says, Every question you read here is real!" The glitch that happened before was due to the way messages are reposted from the "incoming question queue." To be serious for a second.

UglierPorag in AsheronsCall asks: Do you pay Extra 10$ a month to play even if your a member of the current asherons call subscription?
mrquazarr_MS says: A player will only need to pay for an Asheron's Call subscription or an Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty subscription. Never both.

Guest_Solus in AsheronsCall asks: I play on Darktide, lvl 45 UA. With only 1000 dwellings being made available to start, is it first come first server or will everyone have a chance to get one? Would clan issued be a better way to approach it?
scrap_turbine says: We already addressed the first come, first served question earlier, but do remember that there will be 1000 dwellings per world, not per server. In other words, DT will have 1000 dwellings, MT will have 1000 dwellings, etc.

JerichoSkeksi in AsheronsCall asks: For how much longer can we definitely expect monthly updates for Asheorn's Call
mrquazarr_MS says: We have no plans at this time to stop doing monthly updates. It is one of the strengths of Asheron's Call and will continue to be.

JaredKinwa in AsheronsCall asks: Do you get to pick the house that goes on your property or does one just come with it?
kentroop_turbine says: The houses will already exist on locations throughout Dereth chosen by the AC expansion team.
mrquazarr_MS says: Wanted to take a moment to clarify the how much housing will be available: Initially there will be 1000 houses in each world... we are committed to increasing that number over the subsequent months.

Guest_pistofftoe in AsheronsCall asks: Will there be low level hunting for newbies so its not a waste for them to get the expansion pack?
slapp_turbine says: There will be both low-level hunting opportunities, and low-level quests for players on the new island.

ACSage_Amatsu in AsheronsCall asks: In case this hasn't been asked as yet, how will item decay for the decorative objects in houses be handled?
scrap_turbine says: Decorative objects in your house will not decay as long as you own the house.

Batttlespire in AsheronsCall asks: Will there be differnt types of houses like Castles to cottages or will they all be same type of house?
kentroop_turbine says: Yes, there will be a variety of different styles and sizes for people to choose from. Some houses will be truly very awe-inspiring

Rhizobium1 in AsheronsCall asks: Are there any plans to extend the level cap of 126 with this expansion set? There are several players on each server that are approachin the cap, and it is discouraging to know that you will not be able to progress after that point
kentroop_turbine says: There are currently no plans to extend the level cap beyond level 126. While we are aware that a few of our players are approaching the cap, we will continue to focus our content and systems for the wide spectrum of our playerbase, for most of whom, .... the level-cap does not represent a significant or realistic obstacle.

Imterminator240 in AsheronsCall asks: If you drop an item in a house (not in a chest) will it still decay?
scrap_turbine says: Items not placed as decorations or put in storage will still decay

Yoshi_Solclaim in AsheronsCall asks: Can a player buy multiple houses (and become a slum lord)?
slapp_turbine says: A single player cannot become a slum lord, no.

Guest_Khan_of_Feh in AsheronsCall asks: Are we going to see new 'quest technology' to expand upon some of the things we saw in the shadow war??
scrap_turbine says: Quest technology is one of the great tools for the content team. We will be expanding quest technology.

Guest_Jaryn in AsheronsCall asks: Can an occasional player (not high level or extremely wealthy) get housing and therefore storage?
kentroop_turbine says: Yes, we are designing the housing system so that casual players, even if they are not extremely wealthy or extremely high level, will be able to get houses. While people who have invested the most time in AC will always see a return on that investment, housing will not be limited at all to the "elite" or professional players.

Movarl_HG in AsheronsCall asks: Can we expect to see the bases of weapons and how damage bonus is figured out changed, rather then adding hilts to rebalance everything?(Which actually balances everything the way it was before. Except dagger is much better for cost vs sword now.)
crowley_turbine says: as stated before, weapon balance is still being worked on. We recognize that certain weapon classes need some attention, and the live team is working on them. We've got some interesting ideas, which don't involve slapping bandit hilts on everything.

NedAtomic in AsheronsCall asks: Will we be given adequate notification of prices for homes before the expansion gets released? I would like to start saving..
slapp_turbine says: We're not letting people know what the prices are in advance, as that would give some an unfair advantage. We're taking steps to make sure there's a level playing field for players who want to buy a house when they become available. Can't get into more details now. (BTW, Stormy just chased KenTroop away from his keyboard with a Nerf Gun...) (which shows how tough Troop really is )
kentroop_turbine says: why are you so mean, slappy?
slapp_turbine says: it's tough love, Ken.

ToiletDuk_SC in AsheronsCall asks: Will people who have access to your secure storage also have access to your decorations?
slapp_turbine says: just without the love. Only the owner of a dwelling will have access to the decorations. The owner can grant storage access permission.

Thistledove in AsheronsCall asks: Will there be unique items in the expansion pack? If so, will this mean the premium players will be able to sell them at premium prices?
kentroop_turbine says: There will be unique and very special items available through the expansion pack. However, many of these items will not benefit non-expansion pack users (or in some cases, anyone who didn't acquire the item through the quest), so while they're great... items, there won't be much of a secondary market for them

mrquazarr_MS says: We would like to thank everyone for joining us this evening and we look forward to more Developer's Chats as we get closer to shipping Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty.

slapp_turbine says: Good night, everyone!

kentroop_turbine says: Good night, everyone

mrquazarr_MS says: Make sure to look for more details about Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty on our websites.

Orion_Turbine says: Good Night All.

crowley_turbine says: night all

superscooper_turbine says: godd night or afternoon pst

mrquazarr_MS says: The next Developer's Chat we have will be focused around AC Live and the July prop. Look for details on that date soon.

Annals of Dereth

The Asheron's Call Newsletter - July 2001

	Annals of Dereth

In this issue:

1 -- OUR SAGA THUS FAR
2 -- MAJOR EVENTS
      LOST IN THE NEW HORIZON
      LOST IN THE NEW HORIZON DEVELOPER'S CHAT
      A LETTER TO THE PLAYER ON THE GEAR FIX
      ASHERON'S CALL: DARK MAJESTY FAQ
      ASHERON'S CALL: DARK MAJESTY DEVELOPER'S CHAT
3 -- COMMUNITY HERALD
      THE ALLEGIANCE HALL
      RELATED LINKS
      PORTAL SPACED

ANNALS OF DERETH

The Asheron's Call Newsletter
July 2001

Play it on the Zone!
http://zone.msn.com/asheronscall

Welcome to the Annals of Dereth, the newsletter for the Asheron's Call online role-playing game! We bring you this bulletin every month to give you a wide view on Dereth's evolving community, events, and features.

1 -- OUR SAGA THUS FAR...

As the sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the sparse clearing, a voice broke the afternoon silence. "Yeah, but that's just a rumor, Mathias didn't actually see it happen and you know how much he exaggerates." Presently a pair of figures emerged from the underbrush, rustling the leaves of the bushes with their passing. One was of slender build, dressed in a flowing hooded robe of the deepest blue, and carrying a smooth staff of polished oak. The other was a bull of a man, with broad shoulders and a thick unkempt beard, wearing a battered and worn breastplate of what must once have been the finest Aluvian steel.

"I don't know," commented the slender figure. "He seemed pretty convinced to me. Besides, did you see the marks on Tornath's armor? Talk about creepy."

As the large figure turned to respond, the air in the clearing seemed to compress and distort. With a groan, the large man fell to the ground clutching his head as his knees buckled under the intense pressure. Staggering to the aid of his fallen comrade, the slender figure glared nervously around the clearing. As he reached down to pull the stricken warrior back to his feet, a blast of energy slammed into the back of the fallen warrior, accompanied by a roar of wind. The hapless warrior's body was thrown violently into the air, as the force of the blast carried him several yards before dumping him unceremoniously into the underbrush.

Spinning around to face the unseen assailant, the slender mage began to chant in short desperate breaths. But before the spell was complete, several robed and hooded figures emerged from the shadows at the edge of the glade. Gliding in silence towards the chanting magician, their sickles flashing in the sun, the inhuman attackers bore down on their victim with cold indifference and uncanny speed.

Glancing back at his fallen companion in hopes of aid, the young mage cursed his luck. As he jerked his head back the strange new foe, he felt an impact on his chest accompanied with a searing pain, and found himself thrown violently back against a tree. Looking down in surprise, he noticed a strange blue sickle buried in his chest, and his life's blood soaking into the dark fabric of his robes.

As his eyesight dimmed, and darkness closed around him, he looked up into a stark white mask and heard an ethereal voice whisper, "The Quiddity brings only death for your kind. You will be flayed as your meat body burns over the inner fires of their purity. Your destiny was not always so, but you have unknowingly condemned yourself, and this world."

2 -- MAJOR EVENTS

LOST IN THE NEW HORIZON
With the introduction of the Lost in the New Horizon event, the assault of the Virindi has unleashed chaos and fear across Dereth. Raids of lightning speed have been reported all across Dereth, accompanied by rumors of a dangerous new Island. Populated with never-before-seen creatures of unimaginable power, even hardened adventurers tread lightly on its shores.

Survivors of the conflicts have begun to return bearing strange new weapons of devastating power. Yet most find their mere survival in the face of the Virindi aggression to be reward enough.

Mages and warriors find themselves pitted against foes of terrible and deadly power, but they face their foes with powerful new magic. The Consortium of Archmages has finally discerned the location of the final Essence, completing the seventh circle of the Arcane.

In recognition of the valor and skill shown by the defenders of Dereth, the Bestowers Guild has announced a new assortment of titles for those who have truly mastered their chosen profession.

And in spite of the carnage and bedlam surrounding them, the travelers of Dereth have been seen wearing clothing of colors not seen in Dereth in many months, as well as several ominous new shades.

For a detailed list of all new additions and changes this month be sure to consult the Developer's Notes as well as the official event article, Lost in the New Horizon. Continue your part in this incredible ongoing story, and we'll see you in Dereth!

LOST IN THE NEW HORIZON DEVELOPERS CHAT

Everything from Quiddity weapons and shield hollow tuskers, to the Virindi plot arc and the upcoming Gear fix. Check out what the Developers had to say about the "Lost in the New Horizon" event.

A LETTER TO THE PLAYER ON THE GEAR FIX

July 6, 2001

As part of the June update, we attempted to put in a change that would allow us to detect the use of speed-altering programs to alter a player's game. As a result of this change however, we had an unexpected bug that made the servers crash. We immediately removed that change to allow the players to continue playing while we examined what was wrong and how we could re-introduce this detection functionality.

We have been working on improvements but we wanted to feel certain that when we did re-introduce this functionality, it would not result in the same downtime we saw the first time. We feel the players have suffered enough downtime as a result of speed-altering programs. In order to ensure the stability of this patch, we are devoting extra time and resources to it, and so it will not be part of the July update.

We are happy to announce that July will be content-heavy and you will see the next chapter in our ongoing storyline. Lots of exciting quests will be introduced in July as well.

We are committed however, to bringing an end to the use of speed altering programs in Asheron's Call and may at any time, without notice, re-introduce the detection functionality into the game. At that point, just as before, we will be taking swift action against players who use these programs.

We thank you for your patience while we work on the problem. We hope you all enjoy the July update.

Thank you,

The AC Team

MORE DETAILS ON THE ASHERON'S CALL: DARK MAJESTY EXPANSION PACK

Overview

Q: What is Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty? Is it a new game? Is it AC2?

A: No, Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty is an expansion pack that includes the original Asheron's Call, and all-new exclusive features and content. It is not a new game from the ground up like the sequel to Asheron's Call.

Q: When is Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty coming out?

A: It will be available in stores Winter '01.

Q: Do I need to buy the original game before buying Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty?

A: No. Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty contains the full version of Asheron's Call, including all the monthly event data as well as new features and content.

Q: Do I need to create a new character in order to play Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty?

A: No, you can use your existing characters.

Q: If I already own Asheron's Call, do I need to buy Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty to keep playing?

A: No, you can continue to play without buying the expansion pack, but you will not be able to enjoy the new features Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty has to offer.

Q: How much will Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty cost?

A: It will cost $19.95 and includes one free month of service. This one free month of service will apply to both new and existing players.

What's New in Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty

Q: So, why would I want to buy the expansion pack?

A: First, only players who have purchased and registered the expansion pack will be able to… OWN HOUSES! Yes, Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty will feature true 3D landscape housing. Secondly, only players who own the expansion pack will have access to secure item storage. Lastly, you need the expansion pack to explore the new landmass -- which has lots of new quests and enemies for players of all levels. It is much bigger than any of the additions we have done before!

Q: What if I don't buy Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty, what am I missing?

A: You'll still be able to participate in the overall ongoing story, and be able to roam over most of Dereth -- but you will not be able to own a home, or visit the new land mass.

Housing

Q: Does everyone who buys Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty get a house? What if I don't get one right away, can I still get one later on?

A: Housing space in Dereth is limited. At the launch of Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty, there will be approximately 1,000 homes available in each; however, more can be opened in following months in response to demand. We will manage the growth of housing very carefully.

Q: What do I need to do to buy a house?

A: We're keeping the details under wraps. For now, we can say there will be a purchase cost and ongoing upkeep payments that must be made to maintain ownership of a house; if those payments are missed, the house will be put back up on the market.

Q: Can my friends visit me in my house? What about people who don't have the Expansion Pack?

A: Yes, as a homeowner you have complete control over who can come in your house (even when you're away) and who cannot. People who do not have the expansion pack will be able to visit your house if they have your permission, but won't be able to access your storage.

Item Storage

Q: How will item storage work?

A. Each house will contain a chest. The chest can store up to X items. The owner of the house may also store items as decorations in their house (e.g. hanging the sword of great woe on the wall, laying down a series of rugs, blah, blah, blah --you get the picture).

Q: Can people steal stuff from my house?

A: It's possible. You may authorize people who have also purchased the expansion pack to have access to your storage chest, giving them extra item storage even if they don't own a house themselves. These authorized people will have full access to your storage chest, so only give those rights to players you trust! However, only the owner of the house can remove items used as decorations; accordingly, items used as decorations will be secure from theft.

New Landmass, Monsters, and Story Arc

Q: So, what's the new land?

A: It is a vast new land. We will provide more details later, but its name is Marae Lassel, which translates to "The Sheltering Isle." Sounds like a nice, peaceful place, eh?

Q: How big is Marae Lassel?

A: We are not releasing exact dimensions at this time. However, the new landmass will have multiple towns on it, if that gives you an idea of the scale.

Q: I imagine there are new monsters too.

A: Yup. Without revealing too much, we can say some of the existing creatures in Dereth have mutated dramatically, and there are some brand new enemies as well. They all contribute to the third epic story arc to take place in Asheron's Call. As you may know, the first arc concerned Bael'Zharon and the shadow attacks; the second is well under way right now; and the third begins when Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty launches. We'll be showing screenshots and artwork over the next few months to give you a better idea of what we're talking about.

Other Questions

Q: What other cool stuff will be in Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty?

A: Right now, we're only saying that housing, item storage, and the new lands will be in the expansion. These features are our primary focus for the expansion pack, but we may add things as time permits.

3 -- COMMUNITY HERALD

THE ALLEGIANCE HALL

House of Black Fire Headed by Ajax the Great, this monarchy on Harvestgain was recently added to the Allegiance Hall.