Artix's Special Note to Free Players

If you haven't read it yet, here it is:

A special note to Free Players

Hey guys! I am really sorry that there are so few free player items available in the housing release. This was not done to upset you, but because of the huge number of free player accounts (over 8.5 million) it was just too much storage space for all the houses, items, and room customization. We care about you and all of the other players which is why we have new great releases coming that will make everyone happy. Until then, we hope that you will choose to upgrade your account getting full access to housing and help support the growth of AQWorlds.

That's a given all right. But what's one measly additional space going to do? I'm not asking for +10 bagspace -- well, not in general, that is. Most of those 8.5 million accounts aren't even legitimate ones. Some are alts, some used in hacking, some forgotten... Oh no, now I've given them an idea now, haven't I?

Sigh. This is going to deter a few people from signing the petition. And plainspoken, my faith for the petition is crashing. I can't say I didn't try.

The petition will be left open in hopes of some miracle (that doesn't involve buying membership). Sigh.

Wait. Here's an idea. Make a free player version of the bank! Maybe non-members could store items in tree trunks and.... Stupid.

Mages and Houses

I am pretty darn happy today. Not only am I getting an average of about 7 petition signs a day, but the houses and war are up. I posted late because I got sidetracked with house crashing and styling up my mage outfit. By the way, I did reset the petition sign up form as it was taking too much space, but there is no need to sign up again, as I've listed you already if ever you've signed up already.

The new mage shop features four robes of the four basic elements: Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water. The Zephyr and Terra Robe are for non-members while the Molten Robe and Typhoon Robe are for Members only. This seems only fair, although the Typhoon Robe and Molten Robe are epic outfits. I've been seeing loads of Zephyr wearers lately, but I opted for the latter rather than go with the Terra Robe. But I did opt for the Terra Robe first, then switched to Zephyr.

Now, for housing. The only things non-members can get with gold are a wobbly chair, a rat, a cardboard box (a sneevil attractor at the very least), a candle, and a broken purple egg. None of which are essential for a home, especially the rat, but you have to admit the line up is quintessentially decent -- most especially the rat, which I am happy of. I just wish they'd give us the option to at least buy five of the same item. I need a dozen rats! Rats are cool. Rats are awesome. And horses. Horses are awesome. Plus, any speculations as to why our Wobbly Chairs aren't wobbly? They should've at least given us that!

Do I smell another petition brewing? Nah. It's the current one blazing into a protest!

As for my house. I'm ashamed of it. It looks like a tornado hit it. It's auspiciously rat infested and a purple dragon may be at large somewhere near its premises. I have no wall items, like all non-members with no ample amount of AC's. I am ashamed to the point that I do not wish to see it, not unless I have anything to move around; and hence have chosen to be nomadic and go house crashing. That is, visiting and crashing at someone else's place, rather than literally, as if I were an asteroid, jostling into. I crashed at Xeremiah's and Yash100's houses today.

Save Chuckles Movement!

Just recently, a member in the AQW forums generously shared with us his Chuckles pet. I got to see the special cutscene! If you haven't found a player with a chuckles skull pet, I suggest that you started looking! Once you've seen the cutscene once, there is not need to find another skull to view it again, which is great! But you will need another skull to turn in the quests.

But anyway, here's what happened. Once you find your skull and accept the one quest that it triggers, you must go and find Death. After you click on Death's exclamation mark, you will trigger the cutscene with you and Death. He makes a deal with you: You must make him laugh in return for getting back chuckles. But there's a catch -- if you fail, you'll suffer the same fate as Chuckles. So go with the stand-up comedy and junk but fail to amuse Death. Before he goes with taking your soul away, you come up with something so vociferously funny, but is not shown in the cutscene. In the end, you do get Chuckles back -- most of him, that is.

I like to move it, move it!

I thought to visit the AQW forums yesterday to get some support for my petition, which I did, but also found an interest in the asteroid events. I even made a few plausible suggestions. But there was this one suggestion that caught my attention: Move Battleon! I never thought it would be possible, but Artix seemed to have taken an interest to it, which is great -- if only he'd take interest in my petition for more bag space for members. According to what I've read this was all Aaronman99 and Vamparagon's idea brilliant idea. Kudos to everyone who supported this! This is what I call commitment.

Anyway, tomorrow, I surmise we'll be having a release, as it states in the DNs that we'll have to relay the plan to Warlic. Does this mean another cutscene?

Dammit! Artix, listen to my plea! More bagspace for non-members. I know I'm still short by about 9943 signs, but please!

Father's Day Release

Today was a great release all the same. Once you enter Battleon, you'll probably notice the big robotic fellow by Cleric Joy first before you do the Father's Day Shop. All you'll find in the Father's Day Shop are some pretty nifty golf and barbecue stuff. Go to talk to SkyStalker, the big robotic fellow; and he'll tell you that Warlic wants to talk to you. He also has a shop, so if you're a member (or a non-member who's availed quite a sum of ACs), you'll be able to buy some very profligate AdventureQuest WarpForce stuff!

Now, if you go talk to Warlic, you'll be able to get a sneak peek on the next Lord of Chaos (or Lordesses of Chaos? Ladies of Chaos? TWINS of Chaos!). Oh, great. Now two meteorites are about bilge the world of Lore! That's no match of Adventure Quest Hero--and the forces of good and evil united. Ah, but what of the two quintessential characters of the two latter sides? With the twins now turned into Chaos drones, what of King Alteon and Gravelyn?

Putting that aside for one week from now, if you go visit Yulgar's inn, you'll notice a dart board at the second room (the room the usually leads to the cellars). Well, you can try your luck at getting a bullseye or maybe hold a dart throwing contest. Remember, other players can see the scores you make.

EDIT: All right, who signed Artix's name on the petition box? I take this thing seriously! I am extremely pissed off. I would know if Artix signs the petiton box. He'd put it on the design notes or on his twitter, and he'd even tell the whole crew.

Book of Lore Achievements

To tell you honestly, I am a bit disappointed with the Book of Lore achievements. Not that I'm ungrateful that it's been updated, but it's just that most of the quests in the achievements aren't completable by non-members. I mean, it's gracious of Artix to even just allow non-members to get a glimpse of such quest chains as Bludrut, but it's just down right cruel! What's more is that they included in the achievements the StarCaptain, Guardian and DragonLord verifications. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the members, but it's just disillusioning to see question mark icons on my book of lore. It's just so incomplete, knowing that there are quests you have to complete but aren't able to, because you're not a member.

Putting that aside, the new book of lore features dozens of new functions. You can view the storyline, the quest chains and the AE stuff. I suppose they'll be adding the MechQuest Artbook to the AE section of the book of lore, as there'll be a code with the book.

As you can see, there'll be either a good icon or evil icon to greet you upon opening your book of lore, which is quite a nice touch to the whole update.

Click here for the petition! We need reinforcements! MORE BAG SPACE! Thanks to everyone supporting me on this endeavor. 9000+ more sign-ups to go.

For the record, I was groggy while I was making my avvie for this post, so I hadn't noticed I'd put "cowboy" instead of "sheriff" or "colonel". lol.

Edit: As per the Whodunit quest, do not, I repeat, do not, if you are a non-member, attempt to finish the quest using Whiteberry's combination code! Do not, as the costume is members only! I wish there'd been a warning sign before I spent twenty minutes on her. And it was such a nifty outfit as well.

I Dun it! Great Release, AE! WARNING: Spoilers

It took me exactly 46 minutes and 35.8 seconds to complete the darn Whodunit quest. The mixing and matching of suspects, weapons and locations was incredibly arduous. But it was all worth it to finally be able to see the final cutscene and find out who dun it. It didn't come as a surprise to me that there'd be some strange twist to the story.

It turns out the culprit wasn't human after all. It was an Armoire! Ha, ha! Who would've thought?

Anyway, the prize you'll get varies upon which Suspect, Weapon and Location you match up corectly. It took me quite awhile to finally cipher the code, but I dun it! My code for Plum was 3:5:8. I'll try to decipher which one is Mustard's as I've always wanted to dress up like a cowboy. Ah, dreams unfolding. Great release, Artix, great release! And I thought you were done with just the frying pan. Now, there's just this tiny problem with the bag space; I only have one left. If you have't signed my petition yet, here you go. Leave your username and character page link, so we can finally get some more bag space!

Now here are a few screenies of the cutscene and one of me gloating in Battleon. Enjoy! Please excuse the poor quality of shots, as I had my quality set to low for quicker combo clickings. To date (and time this post was created)--not to brag or anything--it seems I am of the few to finish up the quest a few hours from its release!

A Whodunnit Guide!

All right, so here’s how it goes. Just talk to the concierge, and continue with the cutscene. After which, you will be back to the lobby. Talk to him and start your search. Here’s how I did mine. I went right and entered room 101 and talked to Peacock. After that, continue to the hallway to room 102, and you’ll find Hitchgreen. Next to his bathroom, and you’ll find Edgar Allan Plum. It’s important to note that he’s in the same room—technically—as Hitchgreen. The two could be having an affair. LOL. Next continue to 103 and you’ll find a maid in a trophy room, and Mustard by the Lounge entrance. Continue in the lounge and you’ll find the balcony. Have a look see, try to enjoy the lovely view and—Scarlet! Go up to the ladder and you’ll find a butler. Before proceeding to the room up there, go back to Scarlet and continue right to find a maid. Go back up to ladder and continue in the room, and proceed to find the last suspect, a chef/author, Whiteberry.

101 – Agatha Peacock
102 – Hitchgreen
102 Bathroom – Edgar Allan Plum (suspicious; is he gay? lol)
Baclony – Scarlet
Before lounge – Mustard
After ladder room – Angela Whiteberry

Note: you will need to fight the monster furniture for the skull keys to unlock certain rooms. Go and get a sufficient amount for smooth sailing.

Go back to Curry, the concierge, for your next quest: find the weapons used. This is starting to look like a game of Cluedo. Here’s a list of weapon locations:

Carpenter’s Hammer – Storage room
Axe of Indictment – after Peacock room
Hand of Polearm – go down at Mustard’s room
Rose Petal Sceptor – on Balcony before Scarlet room
Sleuthhound Blade – double down after Whiteberry’s room
Hardy Dagger – room before Library, with the bookcase monster

Next, you’ll have to go back to Curry and search the nine rooms that need to be unlocked by a skull key:

Bathroom – 1st Butler
103, Trophy Room – 1st Maid
Ladder by Scarlet – 2nd Butler
After Scarlet room – 2nd Maid
Double down at Mustard room – 3rd Butler
Room to the Right at Angela’s room– 4th Butler
At the Library – 3rd Maid
Downstairs Storage – 5th Butler, carpenter
Piano room, left turn at lounge – 6th Butler

Then you’ll have to solve the mystery. If you answer incorrectly, you’ll be sent to your room. DO NOT CLICK THE BUTTON “GO TO MY ROOM”! You will have to start all over again if you do. Just close the pop up dialogue, and try another combination of character, weapon and room.

In the original Cluedo games, it isn’t always just one bloodcurlingly mad, sadistic murderer (er… culprit is the more PG-13 term); it depends on which one of the character, weapon and room cards you draw and place in the envelope. Hence, it might be different for each player, too.

I have not completed the quest chain yet, as the servers are so laggy! I only get to the part after I have to go back to Curry after finding the nine rooms and I solve the mystery, and then I get logged off. But nonetheless, to me, it’ll always be the butler who does it. But I still think Edgar and Hitchgreen are up to no good. It's just me.

Screen Shots Galore:

Sparta! Go AQW, for a Great Release!

Today was a great release. Not only are we now able to customize our armor colors--where it is available--but there are also new shops, like Quibbler's and the New Shop (Break Shop with brand new items). There are items now that range from 15 AC to 25 AC. So that means great news for non-members. I give a salute to the staff and Artix for that. Aside from that, Quibbler's got some brand new, never-before-seen items that are now fairly decent, as last time's Quibbler shop was less than enough for non-members.

I immensely like the Toga! It makes for a stylish faux pa; although, I still long for the member-only Spartan Armor.

Now, aside from the shops, there's also this new war brewing with Quibbler involved. It seems that some sneevils are after his treasure chest. I bet they only want the container and not the items inside. Oh well. You can type /join warsneevil or just click the button at Battleon. We all have to chip in so we can get Quibbler safely out of here. The items in the war quests are just a repetition of the ones we've obtained during warundead and warhorc, so if you've missed any of the items, you can go and get them now. The items are a good incentive so people will contribute to the war, much more that the Battle Prize is a hard drop.

As I've said before, you can KS to get more medals, thus a faster war; but where's the fun in that, right? It's up to your morals and values to decide whether to Kill Steal or not. I don't approve of it, though.

On a side note, I would post about the Riddler Room, which is a member only map for now, but as I've said, I'm not a member. But I hear a few of you've been having troubles with going to the Clubhouse. Well, it's fine now. As a non-member, I get the "The Clubhouse is an Upgrade only Map" note, so it should be functioning now. Good luck, members! And happy war-ing, non-members!

EDIT: Thanks to my friend, John Joaquin for accompanying me in the pictorials. I would've looked like a clown with a fish, and much more that I'm in a dress. LOL

AQW Battle Bar Increase!

Have you read the Design Notes yet? Artix seems pretty happy with the Battle Bar statistics. I mean, I would be, too, if 55,000 players downloaded something I worked hard on. I congratulate Artix and the staffers for a job well done, not only for the Battle Bar and free AC's, but for the whole game generally.

Anyway, Artix made the AC per search ratio more reasonable, i.e. 6:1. So instead of 10 searches, it only takes 6 now to get 1 AC off of the toolbar. But the only problem is that the maximum AC we're allowed per day is 5. But 30 searches is still better than 50. Keep on downloading them Battle Bars, and hopefully, once the download stats reach 100, 000, Artix might make it a 1:1 ratio. I can dream, can't I? But anyway, if I've got 2 computers--2 Battle Bars--does that mean I can get 10 AC's per day, then? I'll have to test this out, as I've yet to install the Battle Bar on both computers.

Food for thought: There are millions of AQW players out there, and I assume that at least 50% of them are regular players. So why'd only 55,000 players download the Battle Bar? Because most of them play AQW in a computer shop, thus aren't able to install the toolbar.

I'm excited for the weekend's release!

Artix--and Other Staff Members--on Twitter

I discovered Twitter a couple of weeks ago and have since found it amusing. I started following celebrities and idols. And then I started wondering if the staffers had Twitter accounts--and they did. I first found Cysero's twitter profile, and immediately followed him. He was following Rolith (or was it the other way around?), so I followed him as well. And Ai no Miko was following him, so I followed her, and soon, I found Artix--then I found Alac, and it just goes on. His profile was a bit stale, but I followed him nonetheless. And then his profile floated back up, when he posted about it on the Design Notes today.

The funny thing was that, after viewing a few of Artix's new followers, I noticed that the only person that they were following was Artix! So that meant that people signed up on Twitter for Artix. The moral of the story--Twitter should pay Artix. Seriously, though, they should. I mean, more money means more servers, thus more players.

While you're busy adding Artix and the other staffers up, why not add me, too? It's a waste if you're only following what, five, six people, right?

EDIT: I found another staffer. An animator from MechQuest -- LZKorin

AQW Mini-war Part 1: Undead! and Break Shop

Anyway, I minimized my avatar on this post because I've got loads of images and screenshots for everyone!

So, the first part of the mini-wars has just been released. Talk to Twilly in Battleon to goto Artix's Undead Mini-wars. Once we hit the 100% mark in the War Meter, the Lich boss who, apparently, is responsible for all the undead. As usual, in ever war, there are battle prizes. It'll be incredibly difficult to get a war prize, much less fill up the war meter! Here's a little tip: Kill-steal! Just kidding. But it is quicker to fill up the war meter that way. Although, it does go and break all rules of moral and integrity...but at least we'll get to battle the Lich King!

Aside from that, the Break Shop has been opened! So get your swimming gear on and Battle On! It seems the staff has made the male version of the Battle Swimwear incredibly bulky, making for an epic armor; on the other hand, I'm not so sure on that of it female counterpart, as it seems a bit... I don't know. Anyway, members are the only ones allowed to graduate (LOL), but non-members can still pick up their diplomas. Congratulations, AQW Batch of School Year 2008-2009! It's time to party!