Editing Update of the Avatar/Update 248 (section)

===<span id="2">Updates to New Content Threads: More SeedInvest Items, Bierkrugs and New Fall Items</span>===
As mentioned in [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?p=77277#Content a previous update] we created several new threads to show off content that we have been creating for SeedInvest Perk Packs, Telethons, and the Holiday Season. We will be making and posting in these kinds of threads going forward so that our players can stay up to date on the latest images of these items as we make them. In the case of the Telethon and holiday content they will first go in Dev+ and then later be included here in the Weekly Update. Last week we created a thread about the new Bierkrugs. This week we have added more content to the SeedInvest thread and created a thread for the Fall items.

'''SeedInvest Perk Pack Rewards:'''

''[https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/seed-invest-perk-pack-rewards.99713/page-2#post-884822 &#91;From a Forum Post by Starr “Darkstarr” Long*#93;]''

''Here is another round of SeedInvest items we have been working on:''

'''''Golden Lord British Throne:'''''

[[Image:GoldenLBThrone.jpg|800px]]

'''''Golden Ornate Streetlamp:'''''

[[Image:Sota_LampPost_GoldPlated_02.jpg|800px]]

'''''Golden Ornate Iron Fence:'''''

[[Image:SotA_Fence_Ornate_GoldPlatedIron_02.jpg|800px]]

'''''Golden Remote Bank Device:'''''

[[Image:SotA_BankDevice_GoldPlated_01.png|800px]]

'''''Golden Viking Palisade Walls:'''''

[[Image:SI_GoldenVikingWallSet_TownLotAssembled.jpg|800px]]

[[Image:SI_GoldenVikingWallSet.jpg|800px]]

[https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/seed-invest-perk-pack-rewards.99713/page-3#post-885255 &#91;From a Forum Post by Starr “Darkstarr” Long&#93;]''

''Kevin @UglyFist Wells has been super busy working on all the Golden character items and here they are!''

'''''Golden Clockwork Dog:'''''

[[Image:GoldenDog.png|800px]]<br>{{#Widget:Sketchfab|id=f9f6e65f84ba4bdf88d4740283fff485|width=800}}

'''''Golden Clockwork Cat:'''''

[[Image:GoldenCat.png|800px]]<br>{{#Widget:Sketchfab|id=5dc9bd69653141b09f745c4520e40773|width=800}}

'''''Golden Automaton:'''''

[[Image:GoldenAutomaton.png|800px]]<br>{{#Widget:Sketchfab|id=0081a4bffba84b4b8a59bd6328288a5f|width=800}}

'''''Golden Lord British Helmet:'''''

[[Image:GoldenLBHelmet.png|800px]]<br>{{#Widget:Sketchfab|id=76dbc2142c2a4950af819c23f39f3767|width=800}}

'''''Golden Trimmed Tuxedo:'''''

[[Image:GoldenTux.png|800px]]<br>{{#Widget:Sketchfab|id=c30af28e33524cb8844fa0520d9f8101|width=800}}

'''Bierkrugs:'''

[https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/a-host-of-equip-able-bierkrugs.100826/#post-882866 &#91;From a Dev+ Forum Post by Scott “Scottie” Jones&#93;]

''Popularly known as “steins” or stein krugs, these wonderful and fancy drinking mugs are a step above those tawdry wooden things found scattered across stained tavern tables! Fit for festivals of all kinds these have arrived just in time to become available by the end of October.''

''Hello all! Scottie here!''

''I was hoping to get these finished last week, but a series of unfortunate events regretfully delayed their completion. However, I’ve just finished the modeling and texture-mapping of them, and am finally ready to bring them into our editor, and massage all the wonderful materials I’ll create for them so that they can glisten and gleam like real burnished metal, painted ceramic, and glazed earthenware!''

''The ones you can see below fulfill the four initial version requests I was given (the Telethon Virtue version, the two “Ornate” versions to be sold in the store, and a Craftable version). I dug deep into a variety of references for numerous different fabrications styles of steins to create the four initial unique shapes and substance looks displayed here. There is already talk of more versions in the future!''

[[Image:Stein_1.jpg|800px]]

[[Image:Stein_2.jpg|800px]]

''The word “stein” is of German origin. The etymology of the word is either from “Stein Krug” (meaning stone jug/mug) or from “Steingut” (meaning stone goods). They can be made of earthenware, pewter, wood, ceramics, crystal, porcelain, creamware, silver, or glass. They have a handle and a hinged lid, are decorated and sometimes hand-painted. As I mentioned above, I’ve made four initial versions (with 4 different visual styles) named in some cases to help link them to the areas and cultures of our world…''

''The first is the Silver Virtuekrug, designed by master silversmiths of Port Graff in honor of the Virtues and Principles of New Britannia… Once I’ve applied all the proper material shaders to it, the surface will shine and gleam like pure silver! Its dull looks now are merely a temporary byproduct of a quick, “in-progress” working render in Max. Eventually there may be a shining gold version of this richly-detailed piece as well.''

[[Image:Stein_3.jpg|800px]]

''The second is the Ornate Porcelain Brittany Stein seen below, honoring that city by showcasing colorful vignettes of various picturesque views within the city walls. Designed by master porcelain artisans in Regalis, there may be more of these eventually made to honor other cities of New Britannia… Once I’ve applied the correct material shaders to this one in Unity, the surface will have the glossy look of fine glazed porcelain, with a bit more vibrancy to its colors!''

[[Image:Stein_4.jpg|800px]]

''The third is the Ornate Saltglaze Drachvald stein, designed by masters of ceramic pottery that dwell in and around the area of Eastmarch. It is said that the old baron of that region long ago commissioned a piece much like this, causing the development of a unique pottery technique called salt-glazing which set a new standard in striking beauty for this style of ceramics… (I found a wonderful antique reference piece for the delicate figures from our own mundane world old enough to be in the public domain to closely emulate, since I was very much taken by how lovely it was). Like the piece above, the surface will eventually have the glossy look of fine glazed ceramics!''

[[Image:Stein_5.jpg|800px]]

''The fourth one is the Craftable Earthenware bierkrug, with variations of this theme made by crafters throughout all of New Britannia! Though it is meant to represent the basic craftable version, I wanted this one to be something I would be proud to own myself…talking the time to lovingly decorate it as would a creative artisan in any village or town. It may be made from baser materials compared to the ornate versions, but these (and any like it) will never be available in our store, and instead must be purchased from those who take the time to craft it in-game. Its surface will eventually have the rough gloss of lightly-glazed earthenware, with more evident cuts in the design due to the use of decent normal maps I’ll create.''

[[Image:Stein_6.jpg|800px]]

''Also,… I spoke with our wonderful animator Matt and the hinged lids that open when you drink from them are a GO! Check it out!!! ^_^''

[[Image:Stein_7.jpg|800px]]

''I hope you’ve enjoyed this peek at my most recent “in-progress” labor of love! Look for more images next week, after I finalize all their materials, and show them as decorations within the game environment!''

''Scottie ^_^''

''And so here are all the steins rendered in our game engine, with all their proper Unity shaders and mapping! You can see how they look in broad daylight, how they look at night (it’s amazing how much detail you can still see), and lastly how they look with a bit of warm firelight shining on them in the evening hours… I was dubious about how well the details would hold up, but I’m very pleased with how they turned out.''

[[Image:Unity_Stein_Group.jpg|800px]]

[[Image:Unity_Stein_Group_Night.jpg|800px]]

[[Image:Unity_Stein_Group_Night_Light.jpg|800px]]

''And of course they will be items you can equip as well as decorate with. Hopefully these are keepsakes you will feel proud to have adorning your shelves and mantelpieces! Even while visiting the dinner parties of your neighbors, stein in hand, the lovely look and details of these collectibles will be something to be admired…''

''Take care everyone!''

''Scottie ^_^''

'''Fall 2017 Items'''

[https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/fall-2017-items.101289/ &#91;From a Dev+ Forum Post by Starr “Darkstarr” Long&#93;]

''This year we are making a handful of Fall themed items to celebrate the harvest time of year which also happens to be around the same time as U.S. Thanksgiving. These items will only be available for a limited time in the Add On Store.''

'''''2017 White & Black Banded Turkey Pet:'''''

[[Image:StripedTurkey.png|800px]]<br>{{#Widget:Sketchfab|id=568d733b5b6543568305d9ae634c6ab7|width=800}}

'''''2017 Fall Wreath:'''''

[[Image:FallWreath.jpg|800px]]

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