Greetings Fellow Avatars!
Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:
- Founder Teachable Emotes
- Founder Lord House Servant
- Golden Eagle Pet
- Blade of the Avatar Novel: Chapter 14
- Alienware R5 Weekend Access Keys and $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupons
- Upcoming Events
- This Week In The News
- Only 17 Days Remain to Purchase/Upgrade/Gift Founder Pledges
Founder Teachable Emotes
Get ready to show off (and teach) your unique emote, included in the Founder rewards of every pledge tier! Here are five of those emotes:
Immortal Adventurer: Muscular Flex Emote
Royal Artisan: Face Palm Emote
Virtual Collector: Chicken Call Emote
Founder Lord House Servant
Included in the Founder rewards of the Lord pledge tier is your very own, unique, house servant, appropriate to your stature as a Lord!
Golden Eagle Pet
Ever want your own pet eagle (and who hasn’t)? Check out this majestic beauty, now available in the Add-On Store! The Golden Eagle is a flying, non-combat pet that can follow you wherever you go.
For a limited time we’re offering 33% off! Reserve yours now (or send as a gift) at the Add-On Store!
Blade of the Avatar Novel
The latest installment of the serialized SotA novel, Blade of the Avatar (BotA), written by Tracy Hickman & Richard Garriott, is now available for download! If you are a Founder, or you purchased BotA in the Add-On Store, then you will find a download link for the current installment of the novel on your personal SotA account page (log into SotA website and click on “Account” in the top-right corner). If you are a Kickstarter backer you’ll need to have your Kickstarter account linked to the SotA website (click here for instructions to link your Kickstarter account).
Here is a brief excerpt of the latest installment (illustration by Denis Loubet):
Chapter 14: Crossroads
Commander Trevan dragged Aren awkwardly into the antechamber of the Athenaeum as Loremaster Zhal closed the doors behind them. They had passed through this room before on their way into the Athenaeum. The narrow windows of leaded glass on either side gave gentle illumination to the room. The opposing set of double doors, Aren remembered, led back out the building to the crowded street.
“I’m afraid I must insist on your handing me your sword, Captain Bennis,” the commander said from behind Aren.
Aren turned his head toward Commander Trevis. The man’s left hand had a grip like iron. “You might want to reconsider that, Commander.”
Trevan’s eyes narrowed. “Which part of ‘insist’ was not clear to you?”
“Probably the part where you try to take a cursed sword from the only man, so far, who has been able to touch it,” Aren replied. “Trust me; this is a really bad idea.”
Trevan grimaced, reaching down with his right hand to the grip of the sword.
“No!” The loremaster cried out as he turned from closing the doors.
Trevan’s fingers closed around the grip of Aren’s sword.
The commander’s eyes went suddenly wide…
Download your copy of the latest installment of BotA to read the rest of this exciting chapter!
Map Reveal
For your map puzzle collection:
Alienware Sponsors 1000 Release 5 Weekend Access Keys
Every week for four weeks, starting March 24th, 250 members of the Alienware Arena Shroud of the Avatar Group will receive Weekend Access Keys to SotA Release 5, scheduled for April 24-27.
Giveaway Periods:
- March 24 – 30
- March 31 – April 6
- April 7 – 13
- April 14 – 20
250 members of the Alienware Arena Shroud of the Avatar Group will be able to gain weekend access to SotA’s Release 5 during each giveaway period. For more details, jump on over to the Alieware Arena site and make sure you’re registered in their Shroud of the Avatar Group!
[Note: Weekend Access Keys are non-transferable; Make sure that your SotA account uses the same email address as your Alienware Arena account in order to utilize the Weekend Access Keys]
Alienware Sponsors $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupon
Alienware’s powerful gaming rigs are a perfect match for Shroud of the Avatar! To show their support, Alienware is sponsoring $20 SotA Pledge Upgrade Coupons to members of their Alienware Arena community!
These coupons can be used to start a SotA pledge account (for new backers), or to add $20 to an existing pledge account. If, for example, you have a $90 Royal Artisan Pledge, you can use the Alienware coupon to bump you up to a $110 Virtual Collector Pledge.
Pretty sweet deal, right? So, hurry over to the Alienware Arena website and get your $20 Pledge Upgrade Coupon now!
[NOTE: Only one Alienware Pledge Upgrade Coupon can be used per account. Coupon does not apply to Add-On Store items]
Upcoming Events
2014.03.22 – Lord of the Manor Dinner and Tour of Britannia Manor
2014.03.27 – Release 4 Access
2014.04.07 – SotA’s One-Year Anniversary Events
2014.04.07 – End of One Year Founder Pledge Promotion
2014.04.18 – Duke & Lord of the Manor VIP Design Roundtable with Lord British and Portalarium Tour
2014.04.24 – Release 5 Access
2014.05.22 – Release 6 Access
2014.06.26 – Release 7 Access
This Week In the News
March 17 – MMORPG.COM: Shroud of the Avatar 4th Release, Preparing for Combat
March 18 – Ten Ton Hammer: Shroud of the Avatar’s Release 4: Update to Crafting and More
Only 17 Days Remain to Purchase/Upgrade/Gift Founder Pledges
Until the promotion ends on April 7th, 2014, Founder backers will be able to purchase and/or gift additional Founder pledges containing all the original Founder rewards, as well as upgrade any of their pledges at original Kickstarter prices. After April 7th, prices for upgrades, gifts, and purchases will increase to Benefactor prices and no new Founder pledges can be created. Don’t miss out!
Referral Bonus for Gifted Pledges!
Early Founders who wish to act as patrons to their family, friends, guildmates, or members of the SotA community, will also continue to receive the $25 Referral Bonus for every additional pledge they purchase as a gift for others. Not only are you helping out others to become Founders, but you are also growing your own pledge account by $25 every time you do! Win-win for everyone!
Community member, The Mad Hermit, has a great video walkthru explaining all this, called “How to Become A Founder Through ‘Gifting’“. We highly recommend you check it out!
We’ve created the Player Marketplace area in the forums to help facilitate these transactions between our community members and we ask that you keep these transactions in that section.
Hurry and take advantage of this tremendous offer as there are only 17 days remaining until the Early Founder Pledge Promotion ends on April 7, 2014.
[NOTE: Any pledge payment plans started prior to April 8, 2014 will remain in effect at the original Early Founder price until that plan is completed or cancelled. Until we automate the process, you can send a request to support@portalarium.com to have your pledges merged.]
Great seeing some new Emotes coming out now, Still nothing about /wave or /hail
Still early, I know but just wondering.
When will we see more player City Houses? (Like a Dark Tower)
this update is bland at best….
true that. Hopefully next week we’ll see the Lord Benefactor home.
Yes, I’m looking for something much different than the Founder Lord home, which is a little underwhelming.
LOL.. I was thinking the same thing.
I’m curious if they are going to release the last tools of prosperity pack before the April price hike.
I do like the look of the Golden Eagle, I will get that pet : ))
can the face palm emote get you to shake your head no and close your eyes? because right now it looks kinda funny. other then that its all good stuff thx for the update,