Design Notes

October 31, 2014

Voltaire Takes Over Mogloween

It's Friday the 31st, and Voltaire's Here to Terrify!

Battle alongside Voltaire and Deady as you adventure through Lore's darkest and deadliest tales! Survive the haunted House of Crusher, defy treachery as you hunt for the Cask of Amoglinado, and discover the Wyvern's greatest fear - a mysterious villain lurking in the shadows, waiting to bind you inside this book of horrors... FOREVER!

The spookiest tales of terror await you this Friday!

Prepare to be scared... and make sure you bring your sharpest blades because once you enter the book... you may NEVER get out!

• Talk to Voltaire in /poehub to begin the adventure, then battle through:
• The tale of The House of Crusher in /crusher
• The story of The Cask of Amoglinado in /cask
• A poem-parody of The Raven - The Wyvern in /wyvern

With 4 maps, 10 cutscenes, 13 quests, an entire novel full of new monsters, four shops full of gear, a Class and the most macabre boss Poe's dark dreams could design... this is one of our biggest releases in a long time! And speaking of gear... 

4 New Shops FULL of Gear!

Each of the four new maps tonight has an exclusive shop! The gear in the Mogloween Event Rares shop from Voltaire will only be available for a short time, but the gear in /crusher, /cask, and /wyvern will return EVER YEAR! /cheer

Mogloween Event Shop:

• SpiderWitch armor set/helms
• Dark Raven Shifter armor set
• Masque of the Red Death armor set
• Lycan Class (AC and rep versions)

House of Crusher Shop:

• MetalMog Armor and Helm
• MoggyHands

Cask of Amoglinado Shop:

• Costumed Dragon-Moglin pets
• Monstersor Jester armor and helm

The Wyvern (aka The Raven);

• Creepy Clown armor  and helm

Don't Miss the Dark DragonMaster AC Package!

Unlock our newest, most masterful dragon set yet when you buy either a 12,000 or 5,000 AdventureCoin package! This exclusive set, made by Memet, includes an armor, 2 helms, 2 capes, 2 weapons, a character page badge, and the Dark DragonMaster's pet! Find all the details on how to get it here!

Forsaken Warlock/Dark DragonMaster Combo

The Forsaken Warlock Tier package leaves on November 7th, but until then, if you buy the Dark DragonMaster set with a 5k or 12k AC package, you will ALSO get the Forsaken Warlock gear which comes with your purchase! 

Get more Class Points and EXP through Sunday!

It's no trick this week, only treats! Log in every day this week and all weekend long as we celebrate Mogloween with higher rewards from every battle and quest you complete on all servers! Every day, we'll add MORE to the boost amount!

Voltaire has a terrifying tale in store for you: The Wyvern!

Serverwide boost schedule

• Tonight: 15% more Class Points, plus 15% more EXP on Legend servers!
• Saturday: 20% more Class Points, plus 20% more EXP on Legend servers!
• Sunday: 25% more Class Points, plus 25% more EXP on Legend servers!

October 29, 2014

Lycan Class Skills Breakdown

Get Ready to Start Lycan Our Next Class!

Lycans. Interesting folk. Rather than living aristocratically the way Vampires often do, Lycans live off in caves and hovels. Lycans need no luxury. They hunt, they fight, they survive. They earn their respect. Not through bloodlines or wisdom and experience or even pitting their clans against one another.

Their leaders are decided through single combat. Those brave enough to challenge authority and strong enough to wrest power from their leaders are the most deserving. This isn’t always favorable. You never know when some lunatic is going to take charge. If your philosophy is similar, or if you just think becoming a fearsome hunter of the night is really really cool, you, too, may become a Lycan.

How to unlock Lycan Class:

• Talk to Queen Solani in /mogloween OR Voltaire in /Poehub
• If you have Rank 10 Lycan Rep, you can buy the class for 50,000 gold
• OR you can pick it up for 2,000 AdventureCoins

Why Choose Lycan Class?

This furry powerhouse has STAYING power, and for those of you who like the challenge of taking down our toughest bosses, you know that a good heal-over-time can come in handy when you're just about to take a claw to the spine. Its unavoidable attacks make it survivable in the toughest arena, too.

For those of you who like farming, we've got you covered (in color-custom fur, no less)! Thrill of Battle and Savagery are multiple target, which means more slaughter, which means MORE REWARDS! When you spam them to grow your HoT and get your avoidabl 10% damage, pretty much all the beasts you face will FALL before your lycan might!

This isn't a support class, but that's because Lycans are formidable on their own, especially with its multi-target skills and healing. That heal will take a bit longer to build up when you are fighting solo, but it's definitely reliable in battle and will get the job done RIGHT when you're at full power. 

The class also cuts critical hit chance; critical hits are a serious threat to your health and preventing your opponent from landing one means theres less of a chance they'll hurt you faster than you heal. That is a GOOD thing for any hero, at any time.

Auto Attack

Rank Needed: 0
Mana Cost: 0
Mana Cooldown: 2.0 Seconds
Type: Physical
Description: A basic attack, taught to all adventurers

Some people with Lycanthropy contracted the disease by being bitten by a Lycan and surviving. There are other methods of becoming a Lycan, but in all cases this results in a powerful transformation. This is the standard Auto Attack, but it’s a little beefier because Lycan shares the same base stat spread as Berserker.

Pouncing Strike

Rank Needed: 1
Mana Cost: 30
Mana Cooldown: 20 Seconds
Type: Physical
Description: With your new legs you send a mighty leaping kick to the head of your enemy, causing them, at the very least, to become really dizzy.

When this attack lands, your opponent becomes Disoriented for 12 seconds. This cuts their Critical Strike chance by 25% for that time. Otherwise, this does 200% the damage your AA does.

Thrill of Battle

Rank Needed: 2
Mana Cost: 20
Mana Cooldown: 6 Seconds
Type: Physical
Description: Diving into the fray suits you, and it gets your Lycanthropic blood pumping, kicking your regenerative abilities into action.

One incredible power that Lycans have is how they regenerate, and you will certainly be no exception. This attack can hit up to two targets at considerable range. For every successful hit, you gain a stack of Predation. Predation is a Heal-over-time that can have 6 stacks maximum and lasts 8 seconds if not refreshed.. It’s based on your Attack Power, and is not affected by the damage range of your weapon.

Savagery

Rank Needed: 3
Mana Cost: 15
Mana Cooldown: 4 Seconds
Type: Physical
Description: With the strength and agility of a Lycan, a clumsy flail in an attempt to hit something becomes a nearly inescapable barrage.

This skill also hits up to two targets. What’s special here is that your flurry of blows is so rampant and random. You cannot land any crits with this, but it’s a cheap skill that strikes two targets at range and never misses!

Howl of Terror

Rank Needed: 5
Mana Cost: 10
Mana Cooldown: 10 Seconds
Type: Physical
Description: You let loose a blood-curdling call to the sky and your opponent, shaking them to their core. Hopefully.

The howl of a Lycan strikes fear into the heart of it’s prey.. Most of the time.. You can finally be the one to wield that fear. I mean, unless you aren’t scary. This skill does not deal damage but it also cannot miss and has quite the range. It has a random chance for one of four different lengths of stuns! You.. May also not stun your enemy at all. Can you imagine your voice cracking when you’re trying to be intimidating? Jump-scares don’t work every time.

Passives

Scent Tracking & Thick Fur: Hit chance increased by 10%, Damage taken reduced by 10%

Dogs have noses. Wolves have noses. You have a nose and it’s kind of good at what a nose does. You know how to make it better? Become a Lycan. These passives assist your mana regeneration. You regain mana the way a Warrior does: by landing hits and being hit. You want to strike, and when you are struck, you want to make sure it doesn’t outspeed your healing.

Note: The class is still being balanced. Mana Costs, Cooldowns, Skill Descriptions and even the effects of some skills could change before release. Keep an eye on Blade's Twitter for pictures of the coming Class art!

October 29, 2014

Mogloween Server Boosts

Get more Class Points and EXP until Monday!

It's no trick this week, only treats! Log in every day this week and all weekend long as we celebrate Mogloween with higher rewards from every battle and quest you complete on all servers!   

Voltaire and the Wyvern wait for you!

This Friday, talk to Voltaire to being a journey through some of the darkest, deadliest tales of horror ever written! Until then, this is the perfect time to rank up your classes and level up your hero, because last week the level cap increased to 65!

All-Server boost schedule

• Wednesday: 5% more Class Points, plus 5% more EXP on Legend servers!
• Thursday: 10% more Class Points, plus 10% more EXP on Legend servers!
• Friday: 15% more Class Points, plus 15% more EXP on Legend servers!
• Saturday: 20% more Class Points, plus 20% more EXP on Legend servers!
• Sunday: 25% more Class Points, plus 25% more EXP on Legend servers!

October 29, 2014

Blood and Blades Finale

The Ruler has been decided!!

The four contenders for the Vampire Throne were reduced to two: Lady Solani and Baron Luca! Many battles were fought, the rule of the Blood Run has been proven! The new ruler of Darkovia is.... Lady Solani!

Head into the Eternalnight area to watch the cutscene and see how the final battle went down... then prepare to bow to your new Queen (or flee with your chosen ruler to plot takeovers)!

October 27, 2014

Voltaire's Mogloween

Voltaire takes over Mogloween for Friday the 31st

Voltaire titillates and terrifies with stories from the late, great Edgar Allan Poe, but you’ve got to find the tales before he can read them! Battle to GET the texts… then battle THROUGH these stories of treachery and supernatural dread! 

Join Voltaire on a journey through a Poe-m of Terror!

Battle your way through the House of Crusher and the Cask of Amoglinado, then discover what The Wyvern is warning you about once you step into a Gothic Mansion so dark and deadly the dragons fear to pass over its gates!   

Gazing deep into that darkened clearing, 
Long I stood there shaking, fearing, 
Unblinking, thinking thoughts no Hero dared to think before.
But the stillness was unbroken, and in silence, naught was spoken, 
And the only word outspoken was the whispered word... (spoilers removed)

Friday the 31st Mogloween Rewards

Log in this Friday to check out the rares shop with the Spider Witch, Dark Raven, Masque of the Dread Death sets and more!

Moggy Hands, Spider Witch and CLownO_O armor!

Complete each Chapter of this week's Mogloween event to unlock shops full of exclusive gear! 

Also coming this week in AQWorlds:

• Wednesday: Learn the identity of Darkovia's next ruler!
• Wednesday: Log in for a 48 hour Class Points boost!
• Friday: Find the Lycan Class in the Mogloween Seasonal Shop (requires rank 10 Lycan or 2000 ACs)!
• Friday: Talk to Vokun to begin farming for the Deep Ravager armor and helm!

October 27, 2014

This Award's For All Of You

Don't Miss Our Thank You Gifts to You!

Thanks to your votes, Artix Entertainment, the AQW team, Beleen, and all of YOU won  in the DragonSlayer Awards hosted by Game Skinny! We released Beleen's Pink DragonSlayer and in-game versions of the trophy (and its sword) that WE got so all of YOU can place it in your houses.

Check out the video here!

If you haven't gotten your Pink DragonSlayer Armor, DragonSlayer Trophy, or the DragonSlayer Award Blade yet, log into AQWorlds and head to the following shops:

• Beleen's Pink DragonSlayer armor is in her shop
• The DragonSlayer Trophy house item is in the Throne Room House shop in /northpointe and now also the Floor Item house shop in /buyhouse

You all are the REAL winners! /cheer

As Artix said, "This is a HUGE honor for us! We are so grateful to be part of this fun gaming community full of amazing and loyal players. Truly, these award are all about you — you are the ones who won. Which is exactly why we are going to digitize this award and share it with you all inside the game." 

October 26, 2014

Birthday Server Bonus

Thank you all for playing AQWorlds!

At Artix Entertainment, we don't like to GET gifts on our birthdays, we like to GIVE them, and thanks to all the October birthdays, we have a blast doing just that!

Miko and I were born one year and one day apart!

We have a TON of team members with October birthdays:

• Rolith and Cysero (Team Omni)
• Ai No Miko (Empress of the web)
• Kalanyr, IMR, and Kamui (Original AQ team)
• Aster and Judge Acumen (AQW Class designer and In-game Mod)
• Scakk, Therril, Kokujoe, Chisagen (Forum Mods)
• Myself and so many of you 

Battle On for ALL the Birthday Boosts!

Usually our artists make weapons, armors or other gear and put them into shops for everyone.  Not being an artist, I wanted to do something a bit different to celebrate all our birthdays and the 7 years I've been working with AE.  

Since we just increased AQWorlds' level cap to 65, an XP bonus seems like the perfect way to celebrate! For those incredible heroes who have already reached the cap, there are Rep, Gold, and Class Point Bonuses active, too!

• 15% Rep, Class Points, Gold, and EXP on all servers
• 25% Rep, Class Points, Gold, and EXP on Legend servers

My wish for the coming year is... 365 days of battling alongside all of you on the MANY new adventures we've got planned! Thank you all so much for playing AQWorlds; without you, we would not be here! 

/bows

October 25, 2014

Armor T-Shirt Pre-Orders Open

Pre-Order at HeroMart.com to guarantee yours

Hiya guys! We found a way to get these amazing wrap-around armor T-shirts created. The process to create them is complicated and pretty expensive so we cannot just order a bunch of them like we usually do.  So, if you want to get your hands on a 1st Edition Paladin or Legion  Armor T-Shirt, lock in your pre-order at HeroMart now!

Real-life Undead Legion armor

You have until production starts (We are estimating around November 25th-ish, Thanksgiving) to place your order and guarantee that you will get your shirt. We are going to produce all of the pre-orders at once and then ship in December.  

Includes exclusive items for AQWorlds!

Each shirt comes with an awesome weapon and half of the "Legion Paladin" class. Combine both halves to create the full class in AdventureQuest Worlds! Themed after the shirts... we merged Artix's Paladin armor and Dage's Paragon armor together into a horrifying and powerful new class. 

Get both shirts to unlock the Class!

• Get the Legion Light of Destiny when you buy the Legion Armor T-Shirt
• Get the Purified Caladbolg Sword when you buy the Paladin Armor T-Shirt
• Get the Legion Paladin CLASS when you buy both T-shirts

October 24, 2014

Blood and Blades Finale

Who Will Rule Darkovia's Vampires?!

The four contenders for the Vampire Throne have been reduced to two: Lady Solani and Baron Luca! This weekend, YOU and the rest of Lore's heroes will decide which of them takes the throne as the next ruler of Darkovia's Vampires! This is a trial by combat to determine which side is stronger, who can hold the throne and rule their race!

Take on Ensis, Lady Solani's Champion, or face off against Rekshar, Baron's Luca's fiercest defender! The goal is to see which Champion can withstand the most battles*... help prove that the ruler YOU want to see has the stronger warrior! On Monday, we will see how many each has survived and announce who the next ruler is!

* If you want Lady Solani to win, battle Ensis. If you want Baron Luca to win, battle Rekshar. You're not battling to the death, but to prove endurance.

New Gear in the Rares and Monthly Member Shops!

Battle Ensis or Rekshar for a chance to get dark and deadly house drops (Boss drop SPOILERS!!!), and check out the Mortis Champion gear in the Rares shop!

If you're a Legend (or want to be someday), then you'll want to talk to Ragnar in Battleon! He's get a whole new set to prepare for next week's Mogloween event with Voltaire: the Corvus Corvax mystic raven gear! 

Dark DragonMaster AC Package

This weekend, unlock our newest, most masterful dragon set yet when you buy either a 12000 or 5000 AdventureCoin package! This exclusive set, made byMemet, includes an armor, 2 helms, 2 capes, 2 weapons, a character page badge, and the Dark DragonMaster's pet!

How to Unlock Dark DragonMaster

1. Purchase either a 5000 or 12000 AdventureCoin pacakge in-game, through the portal, or on our website
2. Log into your AQWorlds account and head to your Book of Lore
3. Look under the "Other Achievements" tab to find the Dark DragonMaster badge 
4. Click the badge to open your shop and get access to ALL the 0 AC gear (/cheer for free storage)! 

Forsaken Warlock/Dark DragonMaster Combo

The Forsaken Warlock Tier package leaves on November 7th, but until then, if you buy the Dark DragonMaster set with a 5k or 12k AC package, you will ALSO get the Forsaken Warlock gear which comes with your purchase! 

Level Cap Raises to 65!

You have all been asking for it—and finally here it is, our 3rd birthday month gift!

• The best Adventure MMORPG just got better with the Level Cap Raised to 65
• Show off your newfound powers and strength
• No beast is foolish enough to stand in you way!
• Will you be the 1^st Hero in all of Lore to reach level 65?

Well that sounds like a challenge to me. So brandish your blade, conjure your spells, and witness the massive power that Level 65 brings! Level 61 throuh 65 Enhancements will arrive starting Monday!

October 24, 2014

Vampire War Votes are In

Tonight's Finalists for the Vampire Throne Are...

Lady Solani and Baron Luca! Solani, Luca, and Gravefang have been almost neck-and-neck for the last few days... but the Nyx Aeterna allies have just barely pulled ahead!*

The Cor Mortis will face off against the Nyx Aeterna TONIGHT as you battle each of their Champions to prove which side is stronger!

Final votes are as follows:

• Lady Solani: 14280
• Baron Luca: 13791
• Gravefang: 13638
• Rapaxi: 6747

* What that will mean for the Abyssal Horde's future is unclear. But one thing is certain... Neither Gravefang or Rapaxi are going to disappear!

October 24, 2014

Double Battle On, Toil, and Trouble

A Super Sweet Mogloween Throwback*

The previous freight filled Mogloween throwback was about smashing the Great Pumpkin King and helping out in the Mystcroft mansion. This installment is all about conquering the Candy Shop and Candy Corn Fields. The biggest problem this time isn’t making the candy, is keeping it away from the Moglinsters and Children of the Candycorn.

Little Candy Shop of Horrors

The heroes of Lore have vanquished vampires, ghosts, and ghouls, but are they ready for the ultimate challenge? Moglins may start out tiny and huggable but give it some sugar and get ready for trouble. Sugar crazed Moglins, or Moglinsters are the worst nightmare of the candy making sisters. The question is, how did these creatures get the sweets they are so highly protected from? If the Moglin’s provider can be found, this unlawful candy trade will will be stopped.

A Shocking Experience

2010, a year after the Moglinster’s Candy Shop seizure, the Cauldron sisters found their way into another fiasco at the resident Candycorn farm. The parents are no where to be found and the children are battling far past their bedtimes. Parents or not, these kids are too young for their weapons and chaos eye accessories anyway. Can anyone restore order and fix the problems on the farm? Better stalk the situation seriously, so one can meet the real monster behind the mischief.

Like Taking Candy From a Baby

One of the best things about Mogloween time with AE are all the sweet rewards from monster slaying. The Candycorn Farm is a great place to farm your spooktacular time away. With Lol-E-Pops, Candy Corns, and Box-Chocolates available as a drop from every monster in Mystcroft, getting all the reagents for the merge shop will be a piece of cake. With nearly 40 items in the Mogloween merge shop, one can farm their way to the grave and still not earn them all.

Sugar Crashed Schedule

Big thanks to all who submitted to this Frightening Mogloween Throwback! These posts are all about the players, so it only makes sense to showcase how awesome everyone of you is at slaying spooks. I wish I had enough time to write posts to fit every player photo received. As always please tweet me @ACWOAE or comment on the forums with everything and anything on past Mogloweens. Whether you are brand new player or a seasoned veteran, I hope you spend time carving pumpkins, hanging with friends & family, and have the most candy-crazed Mogloween yet!

*Hey Throwback Friday can become a thing. ~STH

October 24, 2014

Dark DragonMaster

Unlock our New Gear with a 5000 or 12000 AC Package

This weekend, unlock our newest, most masterful dragon set yet when you buy either a 12000 or 5000 AdventureCoin package! This exclusive set, made by Memet, includes an armor, 2 helms, 2 capes, 2 weapons, a character page badge, and the Dark DragonMaster's pet!

How to Unlock Dark DragonMaster

1. Purchase either a 5000 or 12000 AdventureCoin pacakge in-game, through the portal, or on our website
2. Log into your AQWorlds account and head to your Book of Lore
3. Look under the "Other Achievements" tab to find the Dark DragonMaster badge 
4. Click the badge to open your shop and get access to ALL the 0 AC gear (/cheer for free storage)! 

Forsaken Warlock/Dark DragonMaster Combo

The Forsaken Warlock Tier package leaves on November 7th, but until then, if you buy the Dark DragonMaster set with a 5k or 12k AC package, you will ALSO get the Forsaken Warlock gear which comes with your purchase! 

October 23, 2014

Vampire War Vote Update

Last Chance to Vote for your Finalist

After almost a full week of battling, you and your fellow heroes have ALMOST chosen who the two finalists in the war for the Vampire Throne are! We will keep the vote running until tomorrow morning.

Right now, the votes stand as follows:

• Lady Solani: 13620
• Gravefang: 12906
• Rapaxi: 6455
• Baron Luca: 11291

The top 3 spots are VERY CLOSE! If you don't like the rankings as they stand right now... tonight's your LAST chance to battle before we narrow the selection down to the final 2!

October 23, 2014

Friday the 31st: Edgar Allan Poe

2014 Mogloween Event Spoilers

We are almost 1 week away… Mogloween is next Friday the 31^st! And I know you’ve just been dying to sneak-a-peek at the tricks-and-treats in store for you and millions of your friends in the best browser RPG, AdventureQuest Worlds. So… let’s get spoiled with some spoilers!

The famous Gypsy Pirate Goth Musician, Voltaire, returns to Lore to narrate the 2014 Mogloween Event, fully inspired by Edgar Allan Poe! And don’t just read through… play through 3 of Poe’s spookiest stories in epic online adventures!

Spoiler Alert 1: The Fall of the House of Crusher

Relive the classic tale of mystery and the macabre in a brand-new zone inspired by Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. Here you will meet Roderick Crusher and his sickly sister Madeline, who suffers from catalepsy (an illness that makes her appear dead). Quest through the haunted House of Crusher as you attempt to save Madeline’s life before it’s too late!

Spoiler Alert 2: The Cask of Amoglinado

Poe’s twisted tale of terror, The Cask of Amontillado, comes to life in browser based glory. Your friend, Montresor, believes he found a rare cask of Moglin Berry Juice: the Amoglinado. And you, my friend, just so happen to be a Moglin Berry Juice connoisseur! Quest with Montresor into the city’s vaults until you reach the very end where the Amoglinado is fabled to reside.

Spoiler Alert 3: The Wyvern

Undisputedly the most notable poem by Poe, The Raven inspired lyrical twists to the AQW-themed version entitled: The Wyvern. As not to give away too much, I’ll leave you with the opening stanza:

Once upon a night so eerie, while I wandered, weak and weary,

From slaying many a monster in the lands of Lore,

As I quested, Achievement Tracking,

Suddenly there came a whacking,

As if some beast was attacking, attacking with a ridiculous roar.

“’Tis some wild boar,” I mumbled, “whacking with a ridiculous roar.

Only this—a level 1 boar.”

DO YOU FEEL THOSE GOOSEBUMPS?! You should—I get the chills just reading that! And next Friday, October 31^st, 2014, every hero and every villain in this 2D MMO will get to experience Edgar Allan Poe like never before!

Stay tuned to the Design Notes and the AQW Facebook for more spoilers!

October 23, 2014

Vampire Clan Lore

Learn more about the Vampire Factions

The scrolls of the Vampire Elders seeking to claim the Vampire Throne have been revealed! Learn of each factions' philosophy, what drives its leader, and what each seeks in new recruits. Tomorrow, you will find them in the /eternalnight map. But tonight, you can read them below:

The Umbral Legion

Led by Rapaxi, Elder

Out of the shadows we came, and to the shadows we return. It is there that the Umbral Legion draws its strength. There our power is shaped and grows. We ARE the Children of the Shadows. Warriors of the Shade. From the earliest times, the other Vampires have sought to match our skill as warriors… and failed.

The legends of my people? PAH. That is the way of weakness. Softness. We do not place much store on stories and legends; through embracing silence, one cannot betray their Clan's strategy. That is the way of OUR dark path: in the heat of the battle, we forge the blades of a new Vampire Nation.

The Abyssal Horde

Led by Kurok Gravefang, Leader

*GRRRROWL* You wish to know where the Abyssal Horde comes from? ME! They are mine. Bone, body, and blood. They see my strength, hear my plans, and smell victory. I do not HAVE a history… I will MAKE a history.

No one sees the power that dwells inside the outcasts, the lost, the hated. THEY are the Abyssal Horde. They know that beauty can hide a dark heart, and that claims of skill can be false promises. I make no claims to a pure bloodline or power over mortals or skill in battle. I SHOW my bloodline and my power and my skill… and so does my Horde.

YOU do not join US. WE come to YOU.

The Cor Mortis

Led by Lady Solani, the First Fang

When the Ancient Gods still walked Lore, the legends say, war raged even fiercer than it does now. The very elements struggled for control. And in that chaos, one a new race rose. Vampires. Over the millennia, we grew stronger, and our scattered peoples formed families, and clans.

The Cor Mortis is one such, an ancient Clan, formed from the shadows cast by our earliest ancestors. We are the rulers, the shapers of tradition and definers of history. Those who battle alongside us, rise. Those who oppose us, learn to serve. And someday, should their strength and courage prove them worthy, they join… US.

From my earliest memories, once I was reborn, I learned the ways of my Clan: How to recognize power. How to rule. When to choose mercy, and when to demand obedience. How to let our people choose for themselves while still remaining ONE people following the TRUE path.

The Nyx Aeterna

Led by Baron Luca, Clan Head

The Nyx Aeterna were ancient when the first cities rose up. We watched as the mortals we stalked learned how to harness their own strength and intellect to make their world a better place. We watched, and we poached. We are the hunters, the predators, the monsters your mother used to frighten you as a babe.

Those fierce enough, brave enough, to unleash the Beast within themselves master fear... and hone its edge into a weapon. It is not enough to be STRONG. It is not enough to be SKILLED. It is not enough to be FEARED. The Nyx Aeterna seek those who will LAST. Who will STAY. We are as old as the night. As deep and dark as the shadows that shroud its heart. Those who cannot join us, heart and body and soul... will never truly belong.

October 22, 2014

AQWednesday Newsletter

Prepare for Battle in the Blood & Blades Finale happening this Friday, October 24th!

Are YOU ready to decide who will take the Darkovian Throne?

• Choose between Lady Solani, Gravefang, Baron Luca, or Elder Rapaxi
• Fight for your chosen leader to cast your votes
• Solani currently in the lead—but Gravefang and Luca are not far behind!

This is browser RPG history in the making—and the Darkovian Vampire Throne is ready for the taking!

Sink your teeth (and fangs) into more details by clicking here.

Special Offer: Dark DragonMaster

Gold is good, but AdventureCoins are so much better! And when you stock up on ACs in the best RPG, you can become the Dark DragonMaster, too!

• Exclusive Dark DragonMaster Set
• Buy either a 12,000 or 5,000 AC package to unlock Set
• Offer begins Friday Oct 24^th @ 12:01 AM EST

Spoiler alert: next month, the world will find out more about DragonMasters, but this is your 1^st chance to become a Dark DragonMaster!

Become a Dark DragonMaster this Friday by clicking here!

DING! Level Cap Increased!

You have all been asking for it—and finally here it is!

• The best Adventure MMORPG just got better with the Level Cap Raised to 65
• Show off your newfound powers and strength
• No beast is foolish enough to stand in you way!
• Will you be the 1^st Hero in all of Lore to reach level 65?

Well that sounds like a challenge to me. So brandish your blade, conjure your spells, and witness the massive power that Level 65 brings!

Next Week: Edgar Allan Poe Special Event

Friday the 31^st is next week, and you know what that means: it’s Mogloween, full of brand new tricks and treats!

• Voice acted by Voltaire, famous Goth Musician
• Unique AQW twists on Edgar Allan Poe’s stores: The Fall of the House of Usher, The Cask of Amontillado, & The Raven
• Don’t just read through… fight through these 3 classic tales of terror!
• Tons of new items, monsters, maps, cutscenes, and more!
• Event begins Friday, October 31, at sundown at www.AQ.com

Check back here tomorrow for spooktacular spoilers about this Edgar Allan Poe video game event!  

October 20, 2014

Friday: Blood and Blades Finale

Battle to Decide the Ruler of Darkovia's Vampires!

As the finale battle for the Vampire Throne grows closer, all 4 combatants and their allies begin preparing for a bloodbath beyond compare! There is only ONE person who can make this decision without prejudice... and ensure that Darkovia's vampires have a ruler who will lead them to glory - YOU! Log in this weekend to see who takes the victory, the power, and the throne!

Who will YOU vote for in the battle for the Vampire Throne?

The Monday vote count is in! This is the FIRST look at who your fellow heroes are voting for:

• Lady Solani: 11,261 votes
• Gravefang: 10,019 votes
• Baron Luca: 9,498
• Elder Rapaxi: 5,438

What say you, Heroes of Lore? Are your fellow warriors voting correctly? If you don't like the numbers you see, then it's time to rally your allies, brandish your blades, and GO FIGHT FOR THE LEADER YOU WANT!

New 12000 and 5000 AC Package: Dark DragonMaster Set!

Starting this Friday, October 24th, at 12:01 AM EST, unlock our newest, most masterful dragon set yet when you buy either a 12000 or 5000 AdventureCoin package! This exclusive set includes an armor, helms, cape, several weapons, and the Dark DragonMaster's pet!

You'll find out more about the lore of the DragonMasters, their leader Frostscythe, and their plans in November, but the only way to get your gauntlets on the Dark DragonMaster set is through our upgrade site! Keep an eye on the Design Notes or Memet's Twitter account for the first previews of the set art!

More News to Know

There is so much going on this week!

• Upgrade to unlock the Legend-only Raven Warrior set when you talk to Ragnar in Battleon!
• The level cap increases to 65 this Friday!
• The Forsaken Warlock set leaves November 7th. See the details here.
• Lycan Class is scheduled for NEXT FRIDAY, along with the Voltaire Mogloween event!

October 20, 2014

Forsaken Warlock Leaves 11/7

Last chance to unlock these exclusive sets!

In the world of Lore, one thing is always true: trust NO ONE... especially not Warlocks! For this dark battlemage, Tyronius took inspiration from the much-beloved (or reviled, if you're a follower of Good/the Mother of Dragons) warlocks of Quarth in the Game of Thrones series to create this incredible set!

As with the rest of the Fantasy Hero tier packages, all of the items above will be added into the Fantasy Hero shop that comes with the Fantasy Hero Package Pass!** 

Tier Set Details

With our tier sets, the amount and type of gear you get changes with the different Membership or AdventureCoin packages. The more months of membership or AdventureCoins you purchase, the more gear you get!

Unlock all 11 Forsaken Warlock items with a 12 month membership:

• 3 armors 
• 3 weapons
• 4 helms
• 1 capes

Unlock 7 items with a 6 month membership or 12000 ACs:

• 2 armors
• 1 weapon
• 3 helms
• 1 capes

Unlock 5 items with a 3 month membership or 5000 ACs:

• 1 armor
• 2 helms
• 1 cape
• 1 weapon

*Female armor transforms when you click the skirt!
** Keep an eye on the Design Notes; we will announce when the Fantasy Hero Package Pass leaves soon!

October 17, 2014

Battle for the Vampire Throne

Battle for the Darkovian Vampire Throne

The time has come to choose a successor for Queen Safiria, ruler of Darkovia's vampires.* After this summer's war, a different type of chaos reigns among the vampires of Lore, and the lycans of Darkovia are starting to probe for weaknesses.

Of the surviving Vampire Elders, several have come forth to claim the throne… as well as a half-breed new-comer who has no right, but strength, speed, skill, and POWER! This Friday, fight for the Vampire YOU want to take the Vampire Throne; your support will make the difference between ruling… and being banished back to the shadows of obscurity.

* It is best when rulers can choose a successor before they must leave the throne. For those of you who have not finished the Chaos Saga finale, spoilers will be kept to a minimum.

Vote with your blades

You have 4 contenders to choose from:

• Baron Luca, Head of the Nyx Aeterna Clan
• Rapaxi, Elder of the Umbral Legion 
• Kurok Gravefang, Leader of the Abyssal Horde
• Lady Solani, First Fang of the Cor Mortis** and her General, Ensis

One of these four has... plans... for Edvard and Esmee. Regrettably, I am not sure they'll last out the week in Darkovia.

This week's release will not be a regular war, where you see a war meter increase as you defeat opponents. Instead, you will:

1. Journey to the Vampire War battlegrounds and speak with the four contenders for the throne.
2. Choose who you wish to ally with, then head into battle against their biggest threat.
3. Defeat their enemies to "vote" for your choice*** 
4. Next Thursday, October 21st, we will tally up the first round of votes, then...
5. You will be able to choose which of the two remaining contenders you want to battle for.
6. On Friday, October 24th, we will announce the NEW ruler of Darkovia, as chosen by Lore's heroes in a final BLOODBATH!!!

** A relative of the much-loved Queen Safiria
*** The "Vote" items will be 0 AC and stack up to 10,000.

I am still deciphering the history scrolls the Vampire Elders brought with them, so more of each clan's story will arrive soon!

Dage's Death Rider Limited Time Rares Shop

Speed, skulls, and wicked wheels - these were the inspiration for Dage's Death Rider armor set! Cruise through Lore battling from the back of a bike... then pull into Yulgar's to chat with the rest of your gang. Find his shop in the Game Menu this Friday, available until October 24th!

Dage has created a HUGE number of helms... some of which will be Legion exclusives! The Death Stalker (not the bike version) will also be available for Legion Tokens as well as other currencies. 

Live-testing the new Chaos Saga Finale

The permanent version of this summer's Chaos Saga finale is in live-testing. Help us polish the event for all our future heroes by heading to Mount DoomSkull, then reporting back any issues you find on our Bug Tracker.

If you did not finish the Chaos Saga finale before this weekend, you will need to start the event over. That will ensure you do not experience any progression issues through the storyline.

6th Birthday Gift: 200 AdventureCoins Free

If you've logged in within the past 30 days AND you were level 5 or higher, check your AC count... because you got 200 FREE AdventureCoins! This is our way of saying "thanks for playing AQW" as we continue to celebrate AQW's 6th birthday all month long!

October 16, 2014

Who will YOU Fight for?

Help Choose the Next Ruler of Darkovia's Vampires!

This Friday, /join EternalNight and talk to each of the four contenders seeking to become the next ruler of the vampires.* 

Learn their backstories, the lore of their clans, and why they each believe they are the BEST creature to rule the vampires!

• Lady Solani, First Fang of the Cor Mortis, of the Blood Royal (and Safiria's niece)
• Rapaxi, Elder of the Umbral Legion
• Kurok Gravefang, Werepyre Lich and Leader of the Abyssal Horde 
• Baron Luca, Head of the Nyx Aeterna Clan, and Master Shapeshifter

Each is prepared to battle their mortal enemy as they fight for the throne, but they will need YOUR help! Once the weakest two contenders have been defeated (based on who YOU decide to fight for), the remaining two combatants and their champion (that's you!) will go head to head... in a bloodbath of monstermental proportions!

* But hurry! The Convocation of the Night, which binds them to peace for as long as the debates last, will only hold so long!

October 15, 2014

Dage's DeathRider LTS

Unlock AQW's Most Evil Mount for a Limited Time!

Speed, skulls, and wicked wheels - these were the inspiration for Dage's DeathRider armor sets! Cruise through Lore battling from the back of a bike... then pull into Yulgar's to chat with the rest of your gang. Find his shop in the Game Menu this Friday, available until October 24th!

Death Rider Key Set Details

There are a couple ways to get your gauntlets on these sweet rides and their accessories... but the best way is to get the DeathRider Key item for 2000 ACs.* That'll unlock an exclusive shop containing 20 0 AC items:

• The DeathRider Bike AND DeathStalker armors
• All 16 DeathRider helms
• Exclusive Floating Deathrider Skull cape
• Exclusive Parked Deathrider Bike house item

The DeathRider Bike armor, DeathStalker armor, and Floating DeathRider Skull cape all have double the chance to play the Shadowfire Attack animation!

* You save 750 ACs, unlock the exclusive cape and house item, plus the increased attack animation bonuses!

Death Rider Limited Time Shop

Talk to Dage in Battleon starting this Friday OR find his shop in your game menu to check out his DeathRider gear! The shop will contain:

• DeathRider Key 
• DeathRider Bike armor 
• DeathStalker armor ***
• 16 DeathRider helms
• 4 Legion DeathRider helms**

The DeathRider Bike armor and DeathStalker armor each have a chance to play the Shadowfire Attack animation, too!

All 20 DeathRider and Legion helms shown above

** Must be a member of the Undead Legion to buy. Also available from Dage's Merge Shop for Legion Tokens until the regular shop leaves. Not included in the DeathRider Key set.
*** Will also be available for Legion Tokens in Dage's merge shop. 

October 15, 2014

AQWednesday Report!

Newsletter on the Design Notes

Want this week’s newsletter but can’t wait for it to arrive in your Inbox? Not a problem—because here is the new newsletter for Friday, October 17, 2014.

Blood, Battles, and Blades

The battle for the Darkovia Vampire Throne commences this Friday!

• Journey to the Vampire War battleground
• Choose from 4 Vampiric contenders to fight for
• Defeat your ally’s opponents to “vote” for your choice
• YOUR actions will decide who the new ruler of Darkovia will be!

More information about this world-changing war can be found here.

Limited Time Rares Shop

You should always watch out for motorcycles—and you BETTER watch out for Dage's Death Riders!

• Death Riders Motorcycle Mounts, customized by Dage the Evil
• Death Riders Armors and Helms
• The Rares shop rolls out 10/17/2014 in the Game Menu shop

Zoom into the battlefield on your wicked wheels starting Friday @ sundown!

Uphold Greatness as a 6th Upholder

When you Upgrade your AQW Membership ANYTIME in the month of October, you will automatically become a legendary 6^th Upholder. As an Upholder, you shall receive:

• New Class: Sentinel Class!
• Rare: Doom Star Sword
• Rare: Brilliant Star Sword
• 6^th Upholder Character Page Badge
• Infinite bragging rights

Thank you for being with us during AQW’s 6^th birthday, and thank you for supporting the world’s best MMO, AdventureQuest Worlds!

Become a 6^th Upholder now!

Spoiler Alert: Voltaire’s Friday the 31^st Event

What is spookier than Friday the 13^th? Only the spookiest day of the year falling on Friday the 31^st—featuring the famous Gypsy Pirate Goth Musician, Voltaire!

• Mogloween 2014: Edgar Allen Poe!
• Voltaire titillates and terrifies with 3 classic tales of the mysterious and the macabre
• Don’t just read through… BATTLE through these stories of treachery and supernatural dread
• Brand new never-before-seen items, scenery, monsters, and mayhem inspired by Poe

Get ready for a Special Event unlike any other as Voltaire takes you on a journey through one of the darkest minds in the history of mankind! 

October 13, 2014

Friday: Blood and Blades

Battle for the Darkovian Vampire Throne

The time has come to choose a successor for Queen Safiria, ruler of Darkovia's vampires.* After this summer's war, a different type of chaos reigns among the vampires of Lore, and the lycans of Darkovia are starting to probe for weaknesses.

Of the surviving Vampire Elders, several have come forth to claim the throne… as well as a half-breed new-comer who has no right, but strength, speed, skill, and POWER! This Friday, fight for the Vampire YOU want to take the Vampire Throne; your support will make the difference between ruling… and being banished back to the shadows of obscurity.

* It is best when rulers can choose a successor before they must leave the throne. For those of you who have not finished the Chaos Saga finale, spoilers will be kept to a minimum.

Vote with your blades

You have 4 contenders to choose from:

• Baron Luca, Head of the Nyx Aeterna Clan
• Rapaxi, Elder of the Umbral Legion 
• Kurok Gravefang, Leader of the Abyssal Horde
• Lady Solani, First Fang of the Cor Mortis** and her General, Ensis

One of these four has... plans... for Edvard and Esmee. Regrettably, I am not sure they'll last out the week in Darkovia.

This week's release will not be a regular war, where you see a war meter increase as you defeat opponents. Instead, you will:

1. Journey to the Vampire War battlegrounds and speak with the four contenders for the throne.
2. Choose who you wish to ally with, then head into battle against their biggest threat.
3. Defeat their enemies to "vote" for your choice*** 
4. Next Tuesday, October 21st, we will tally up the first round of votes, then...
5. You will be able to choose which of the two remaining contenders you want to battle for.
6. On Friday, October 24th, we will announce the NEW ruler of Darkovia, as chosen by Lore's heroes!

** A relative of the much-loved Queen Safiria
*** The "Vote" items will be 0 AC and stack up to 10,000.

Dage's Death Rider Limited Time Rares Shop

Speed, skulls, and wicked wheels - these were the inspiration for Dage's Death Rider armor set! Cruise through Lore battling from the back of a bike... then pull into Yulgar's to chat with the rest of your gang. Find his shop in the Game Menu this Friday, available until October 24th!

Dage has created a HUGE number of helms... some of which will be Legion exclusives! The Death Stalker (not the bike version) will also be available for Legion Tokens as well as other currencies. 

Also Happening This Week

We've got a lot more going on in AQWorlds, including:

Live-testing the new Chaos Saga Finale

The permanent version of this summer's Chaos Saga finale is in live-testing. Help us polish the event for all our future heroes by heading to Mount DoomSkull, then reporting back any issues you find on our Bug Tracker.

If you did not finish the Chaos Saga finale before this weekend, you will need to start the event over. That will ensure you do not experience any progression issues through the storyline.

NEW gear in Artix's 6th Birthday Rares shop

Talk to Artix in /Northpointe later today to find NEW gear, including Gravefang's wings and the Undead Paladinslayer armor!

6th Birthday Gift: 200 AdventureCoins Free

Starting this Friday, the month of birthday gifts will continue with a free 200 AdventureCoins! To get the gift, you'll need to:

• Have logged in within the past 30 days
• Be level 5 or higher

Thank you all for battling alongside us as we build AQWorlds each week!

October 11, 2014

Weekend Update

Network Issues and Chaos Saga Finale Fixes

The Curse of the Phantom Pixel, our 12th anniversary/6th birthday all-game release... has gotten ahold of the very servers running our games! The coders have been and continue to work on resolving the network issues our games are experiencing this weekend. Thank you all for your patience as we battle the bugs and collect all the escaped server hamsters!

All-Game Event Guide

Not sure what to do to save Yurei from the Curse, collect all 13 cursed artifacts, and unlock the OmniKnight Blade? Check out THIS GUIDE or see the TL;DR (too long; did not read) version below:

• AQWorlds: /join Northpointe and complete Artix's quests for 7 artifacts, then merge them to create the Omni Artifact
• Epic Duel: Battle to find the shards of Titan's Coffee Mug, then assemble the pieces
• AdventureQuest: Hunt through AQ using the "Random Battle" button until you come across a possessed Artix wielding the ShadowFire Axe of Curses and defeat him for the reward
• DragonFable: Head to the Wastelands and quest for a scrap of the Mysterious Necromancer's Cloak
• MechQuest: Talk to River in Soluna City to secure the Cursed Mod Tape before it's too late!
• OverSoul: Battle until you find Thok and his Cursed Phoenix Blade
• HeroSmash: Battle the monsters in the Hottest area until you get Hottica's Cursed Shield

Chaos Saga Finale: Live Testing

Over the last 3 weeks, Reens has rebuilt the ENTIRE Chaos Saga finale (8 weeks of releases!!!), fixing the issues and smoothing out the quest progression. Our testers have run through the new, permanent version many times... but YOU guys are the best testers we could ever have (because there are tens of thousands of you)! That is why this weekend, we are live-testing Reens' Chaos Saga fixes to see if there are places where you are unsure of what to do or where to go.

1. If you have NOT been able to complete the Chaos Saga finale before now (either because you are just beginning or have had issues), /join MountDoomskull and battle (or Legend Skip) your way to the top of the Moutain. 
2. Speak with Maya to complete the first quest of the NEW, permanent quest chain. Then defeat Drakath and watch the cutscene. You MUST choose a Chaos Lord form to continue on in the storyline.
3. Once you have, speak to Maya again and she will send you to begin "World War Lore."
4. Loremaster Maya will always be your guide through the Chaos Saga finale. If you're ever unsure of where to go, speak to her!

Tonight's network issues have caused some progress save errors; once things have settled, we will be adjusting Maya's dialogue and guide buttons based on the first round of player feedback from earlier today!

October 11, 2014

12th Birthday Event Guide

Artix Entertainment’s 12 Anniversary Special Event!

DING! Artix Entertainment just leveled up! Thank you so much for being with us as we celebrate our 12^th anniversary with special events happening in 7 of your favorite MMOs and RPGs.

LET THE HUNT FOR THE CURSED ITEMS BEGIN!

AdventureQuest Worlds

AQWorlds’ 6th Birthday: Curse of the Phantom Pixel

• As Mogloween draws near, rumors have spread about a cursed video floating around Youtube.
• Someone - or something - is in danger, and the only way to save “her” is to recover the 13 missing cursed artifacts.
• Seven of them lie hidden somewhere inside AQWorlds, and it will take an OmniKnight to recover them all!
• Head to NorthPointe, home of the Secret Underground Lab, and talk to the AQW devs for ideas on where to begin searching.

  • Battle through AQW to find 7 of the 13 cursed artifacts for our all-game anniversary event!

  • Defeat Kurok Gravefang, the Werepyre Lich, and his undead army as they race to get the 13th artifact: Death’s Hourglass first!

  • Talk to Artix in /northpointe to find the Artifact Hunter 6th birthday Class!

  • Find all 13 artifacts spread among our 7 games to unlock the OmniKnight Blade!

12th Anniversary

• Don't mess with Titan's coffee!
• Assemble a Titan's cosmic coffee mug to appease the deity and receive your rewards!

AdventureQuest  

Quest for the Cursed Artifacts - Company-wide Event!

• Can you believe we have been growing every week for 12 years?!
• To commemorate this occasion we are releasing the Drakkonan-possessed Artix into the wild.
• Find him randomly using the Battle Monsters button.
• Defeat him and gain access to the Shadowfire Axe of Curses shop.
• Collect all the cursed artifacts from our games and gain access to the mighty Omni Knight Blade shop on all your game accounts!
• Also don’t miss the Desert Wyverling and Halberd coming to the Z-Token shop!

DragonFable

The Evil Artifact 

• An evil artifact is rumored to be lost in the northern wastelands. 
• Will you be able to find it before nefarious cultists do?

HeroSmash

AE Anniversary Crossover Event!

• Hidden among the monsters of the Hottest area is an 'Epic' item (Hottica's Cursed Flame Shield)!
• Epic items are member class items that can be used by free players!
• Collect all the special items from all the AE games to unlock the OmniKnight Blade Badge (HS Badge Shop)

MechQuest

The Cursed Tape Reappears! 

• EbilCorp has found the location of the Cursed Tape. Don't let them get their hands on it!
• Work with River to secure the tape before EbilCorp!
• An interesting reward awaits, if you can succeed! 
  • If you get all 13 Artifacts in all the games, the OmniKnight E-Blade awaits you!

Battle On!