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__NOTOC__
[[File:ShroudOfTheAvatarLogo.png|center|link=https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/]]
[[File:ShroudOfTheAvatarLogo.png|center|link=]]
 
'''Shroud of the Avatar''' ''(SotA)'' is a multiplayer online role-playing game being developed by [[Portalarium]] to be released on October 2014. It is created by Richard "[[Lord British]]" Garriott and Starr "[[Darkstarr]]" Long. It was first announced as a project by Richard Garriott on November 9, 2011. The title of the game as well as the crowd funding was announced on March 8, 2013.  
 
For the in game item that is awarded for completing the main quest line, see [[The Shroud of the Avatar]].
 
 
==The Game Called Shroud of the Avatar==
 
[https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/ {{PAGENAME}}] is a multiplayer fantasy Role Playing Game calling upon you to return as a fabled [[Avatar]] and [[quest]] to fulfill the paths of [[Truth]], [[Love]] and [[Courage]] across a deep single player story. Featuring a robust player housing and town system, Shroud of the Avatar is a perfect fit for players with a strong sense of community and teamwork. Embark on new adventures in the world of [[New Britannia]] and enjoy multiple MMO benefits by playing alongside your friends and becoming a permanent resident in a persistent shared universe.<ref>[https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=28012 About Shroud of the Avatar]</ref>
{{tocright}}
 
==[[Lord British]] Returns!==
Discover a rich fantasy role-playing universe crafted by the maker of Ultima series, [[Richard Garriott]]. Explore and inhabit a persistent living world in which magic and technology coexist. Uncover and learn the intricate history and lore of a legendary realm, New Britannia.
 
==Choose your path==
It is whispered that the Avatars once taught the [[Virtues]] to all that would listen and that only the Avatars can return that knowledge to the land. With the help of the enigmatic and mysterious Oracle, will you be the one to do so?
 
==[[The Oracle]]==
A mysterious machine, its minions watching all that takes place throughout the land, its voice promising answers yet responding with questions. Which path will YOU choose, to discover your long-prophesied destiny?
 
==Pick Your Gameplay Mode==
Begin your quest to ultimately become a force for good as a fabled Avatar in a world beset by dangers and darkness. Choose to follow the path of Love, Truth or Courage, and uphold the everlasting principles of being an Avatar every step of the way.
 
Adventure solo or play co-op with your friends in a persistent world. Prove your mettle in PVP or play offline anytime. The choice is all yours.
 
==Features==
*[[Episodes|Episodic Content]]: Shroud of the Avatar will consist of five episodes that will tell a series of virtue based stories created by Richard Garriott and Tracy Hickman. All supported by a series of prequel novels starting with The Sword of Midras.
*Single Player [[Offline]] Mode: Players adventure through over 40 hours of Episode 1’s story in an interactive world where their choices have consequences, ethical paradoxes give them pause, and they play a vital part in weaving their own story into the immersive world and lore surrounding them.
*[[Selective Multiplayer Online|Selective Multiplayer Modes]] Online Mode: If you want to go through the story online you can play with everyone in three different online modes (Single Player, Party Only, and Open).
*Classless Character System: Vast customization options with hundreds of [[skills]] and spells ([[magic]]) in over 20 different skill trees.
*Skillful [[Combat]]: A new way to prepare and fight in an RPG by building custom decks of skills and dynamically activating them in combat.
*PvE and [[PVP|PvP]]: Consensual with Open PvP flags, zones, and Guild Warfare.
*Player [[Housing]]: Non-instanced, finite, and embedded in the world with group living options.
*Player Driven Economy: Deep crafting system where the best items are made by players and player items are the main source of loot found in the game.
*[[Free to Play]]: No mandatory subscription.
*Social: Full [[Guild]] System, Highly Active Community and [[Player Owned Town]]s.
 
==Requirements==
===Cost===
*{{PAGENAME}} is Free to play and does not require a subscription to play. Episode 1: [[Forsaken Virtues]] content is fully accessible by everyone.
*Episode 2 content is only for [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=9085&open=1817 Episode 2 Early Access] holders.
**The [[Bard Skills]] and Adventuring Areas on the continent of [[Mistrendur]] require Episode 2 Early Access.
**[[Player Owned Town]]s can freely be entered by anyone on the continent of Mistrendur.
 
===System===
*See the [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=19 FAQ Page] on the official [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/ Shroud of the Avatar Website] for up to date information on specific system requirements.
*Shroud of the Avatar can be played on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux platforms.
 
=Current Development=
{{PAGENAME}} is currently in development by [[Catnip Games]] and provides monthly [[Release]] content.
*For details on the current build notes and what’s changed from last release, please see: [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/playerinstructions Player Instructions], [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=29385 All Updates], [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=32989 Release Patch Notes] and [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/knownissues Known Issues] pages on the official [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/ Shroud of the Avatar] website.
*Development continues on Episode 2 early access content. For more information on the currently available Episode 2 content see the [[Mistrendur]] article page.
 
==Community==
* See the [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=59279 Community Resources] page on the official Shroud of the Avatar Website.
* See also the SotAwiki [[SotAWiki:Community|Community Portal]] article.
 
==Funding==
Current funding is through purchases from the [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=9085 Online Store] and optional subscriptions to the [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=77345&open=1765 Rewards Program].
 
=Development History=
'''Shroud of the Avatar''' ''(SotA)'' was developed by [[Portalarium]]. It is created by Richard "[[Lord British]]" Garriott and Starr "[[Darkstarr]]" Long. It was first announced as a project by Richard Garriott on November 9, 2011. The title of the game as well as the crowd funding was announced on March 8, 2013.  


== Ultimate RPG ==
== Ultimate RPG ==
Line 27: Line 86:
After the successful Kickstarter campaign, similar pledge options were given to backers (also known as [[Benefactor]]s) via the Shroud of the Avatar website who couldn't pledge before the end of the campaign (see: [[Benefactor Pledge Rewards]]).
After the successful Kickstarter campaign, similar pledge options were given to backers (also known as [[Benefactor]]s) via the Shroud of the Avatar website who couldn't pledge before the end of the campaign (see: [[Benefactor Pledge Rewards]]).


== Features ==
== Releases ==
=== Selective Multiplayer Online ===
The first pre-alpha release (Release 1 or simply R1) of ''Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues'' was made available on December 12, 2013 at 10:30 CT and lasted until December 16, 2013. This first release focused on initial systems like installing the game, patching, registration and character creation as well as some of the in-game systems like house claiming, house decoration and NPC interactions. Only the ''Single Player Online'' mode was available on R1.
:''Main article: [[Selective Multiplayer Online]]''
Shroud of the Avatar uses [[Selective Multiplayer Online]] system which allows one environment for all players and fills the players' instance favoring their friends over strangers (FPO).<ref name="KS_Update10" />


=== Housing ===
The second pre-alpha release, R2, was made available on January 23, 2014 and while it was supposed to end on January 25, 2014, it was extended until January 27, 2014. This second release was also ''Single Player Online''-only. R2 introduced the initial [[Crafting]] system.
:''Main article: [[Housing]]''
Players can own a land lot by obtaining a [[Property Deed]] (either purchasing by in-game currency or obtaining as a reward of the pledge after [[Citizen (Benefactor)|Citizen]] tier) which comes in three sizes: [[Village lot|Village]] (smallest), [[Town lot|Town]], and [[City lot|City]] (largest). Once a land is obtained, a house can be placed on it which stays in the persistent shared world. There are different type of houses and basements that can be placed on specific type of land lots.  


Land lots are subject to an in game currency tax that must be paid monthly. Failure to pay this tax will result in losing the land but getting the [[Property Deed]] back. While [[Backer]]s at Citizen level and above receive a tax exempt Lot Deed, the lot can still revert after five months of inactivity at Citizen level, plus one month per tier above that. Players can sell land lots and houses to other players, but the trade will be taxed by the game.<ref name="SotAFaq" />
'''Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues''' is the first of a five Episode series.
== The Team ==
{{main|Developers}}
Notable members of the team include Richard "[[Lord British]]" Garriott, Starr "[[DarkStarr]]" Long, and [[Tracy Hickman]].


=== Combat ===
On March 13, 2013, [[Tracy Hickman]], New York Times Best-selling author of Dragonlance series, announced that he joined the Shroud of the Avatar team (as Lead Story Designer) on his YouTube channel.<ref name="Youtube_Tracy_Hickman" />
:''Main article: [[Combat]]''
'''''As of January 2013, the details of the combat system is still being worked on and will be tested on [[Release 4]]. The following information is based on the given notes about combat and the details can be changed drastically in future releases.'''''<ref name="SotAFaq" />


Combat in Shroud of the Avatar works by using a shortcut bar that triggers combat actions. Players can assemble [[Deck]]s with spells, combat moves, consumables, and other actions before combat. More than one deck can be assembled by the players and decks can be switched, even while in combat (with a cost). During combat the contents of the deck will be shuffled and skills will be randomly dealt out to some slots, there are some locked slots available as well (see: [[Focus Skills]] and [[Noble Skills]]). Decks have a fixed minimum amount of skills based on player level and a player set maximum size.
On July 5, 2013, Starr "[[DarkStarr]]" Long announced that he joined the Shroud of the Avatar team as the Executive Producer. He stated ''"We were on a frontier with [[Ultima Online]] and we are again with Shroud of the Avatar."'' <ref name="polygonStarrLong" />


The combat system as currently introduced was designed with easy integegration between touch screen and kb/m gamers providing for a wider veriety of systems that SotA may be addapted to in the future.
=See Also=
*Back to [[Main Page]]


=== Requirements ===
=Gallery=
Cost?
Shroud of the Avatar - The Path of Virtue (Trailer)
:Shroud of the Avatar is a ''"buy-to-play"'' game. In other words, once it is purchased, it does not require a subscription to play.
{{#widget:YouTube|id=-YrGdD7PVww}}
System?
:Shroud of the Avatar can be played on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux platforms.
:Hardware requirements have not been decided as the game is still in development.
 
== The Team ==
 
Notable members of the team include Richard "[[Lord British]]" Garriott, Starr "[[DarkStarr]]" Long, and [[Tracy Hickman]].
 
On March 13, 2013, [[Tracy Hickman]], New York Times Best-selling author of Dragonlance series, announced that he joined the Shroud of the Avatar team (as Lead Story Designer) on his YouTube channel.<ref name="Youtube_Tracy_Hickman" />


On July 5, 2013, [[Starr Long]] announced that he joined the [[Shroud of the Avatar]] team as the Executive Producer.  He states "We were on a frontier with [[Ultima Online]] and we are again with Shroud of the Avatar." <ref name=polygonStarrLong>[[Starr Long]] joins Shroud team, http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/5/4491928/ultima-online-alumni-starr-long-reunited-with-richard-garriott-for</ref>
=External Links=
* [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/ Official Shroud of the Avatar Website]
* [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php Official Shroud of the Avatar Forum]


== See Also ==
=Trivia=
* [[SotA Wiki]]
*Information on this page is updated as of [[Release 114]].


== References ==
=References=
<references>
<references>
<ref name="Facebook_RG">[http://www.facebook.com/notes/richard-garriott-de-cayeux/what-is-a-lord-british-ultimate-role-playing-game/259507887434380 What is a Lord British “Ultimate” Role Playing Game?]</ref>
<ref name="Facebook_RG">[http://www.facebook.com/notes/richard-garriott-de-cayeux/what-is-a-lord-british-ultimate-role-playing-game/259507887434380 What is a Lord British “Ultimate” Role Playing Game?]</ref>
Line 72: Line 122:
<ref name="KS_Update10">[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/portalarium/shroud-of-the-avatar-forsaken-virtues-0/posts/429763 Shroud of the Avatar - Selective-Multi-Player Means Multiple Ways to Play!]</ref>
<ref name="KS_Update10">[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/portalarium/shroud-of-the-avatar-forsaken-virtues-0/posts/429763 Shroud of the Avatar - Selective-Multi-Player Means Multiple Ways to Play!]</ref>
<ref name="SotAFaq">[http://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=19 FAQ | Shroud of the Avatar]</ref>
<ref name="SotAFaq">[http://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=19 FAQ | Shroud of the Avatar]</ref>
<ref name="polygonStarrLong">[http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/5/4491928/ultima-online-alumni-starr-long-reunited-with-richard-garriott-for Ultima Online alumni Starr Long reunites with Richard Garriott for Shroud of the Avatar]</ref>
<references/>
<references/>


[[Category:Shroud of the Avatar]]
[[Category:Shroud of the Avatar]]

Latest revision as of 18:03, 10 March 2026

File:ShroudOfTheAvatarLogo.png


For the in game item that is awarded for completing the main quest line, see The Shroud of the Avatar.


The Game Called Shroud of the Avatar[edit]

Shroud of the Avatar is a multiplayer fantasy Role Playing Game calling upon you to return as a fabled Avatar and quest to fulfill the paths of Truth, Love and Courage across a deep single player story. Featuring a robust player housing and town system, Shroud of the Avatar is a perfect fit for players with a strong sense of community and teamwork. Embark on new adventures in the world of New Britannia and enjoy multiple MMO benefits by playing alongside your friends and becoming a permanent resident in a persistent shared universe.[1] Template:Tocright

Lord British Returns![edit]

Discover a rich fantasy role-playing universe crafted by the maker of Ultima series, Richard Garriott. Explore and inhabit a persistent living world in which magic and technology coexist. Uncover and learn the intricate history and lore of a legendary realm, New Britannia.

Choose your path[edit]

It is whispered that the Avatars once taught the Virtues to all that would listen and that only the Avatars can return that knowledge to the land. With the help of the enigmatic and mysterious Oracle, will you be the one to do so?

The Oracle[edit]

A mysterious machine, its minions watching all that takes place throughout the land, its voice promising answers yet responding with questions. Which path will YOU choose, to discover your long-prophesied destiny?

Pick Your Gameplay Mode[edit]

Begin your quest to ultimately become a force for good as a fabled Avatar in a world beset by dangers and darkness. Choose to follow the path of Love, Truth or Courage, and uphold the everlasting principles of being an Avatar every step of the way.

Adventure solo or play co-op with your friends in a persistent world. Prove your mettle in PVP or play offline anytime. The choice is all yours.

Features[edit]

  • Episodic Content: Shroud of the Avatar will consist of five episodes that will tell a series of virtue based stories created by Richard Garriott and Tracy Hickman. All supported by a series of prequel novels starting with The Sword of Midras.
  • Single Player Offline Mode: Players adventure through over 40 hours of Episode 1’s story in an interactive world where their choices have consequences, ethical paradoxes give them pause, and they play a vital part in weaving their own story into the immersive world and lore surrounding them.
  • Selective Multiplayer Modes Online Mode: If you want to go through the story online you can play with everyone in three different online modes (Single Player, Party Only, and Open).
  • Classless Character System: Vast customization options with hundreds of skills and spells (magic) in over 20 different skill trees.
  • Skillful Combat: A new way to prepare and fight in an RPG by building custom decks of skills and dynamically activating them in combat.
  • PvE and PvP: Consensual with Open PvP flags, zones, and Guild Warfare.
  • Player Housing: Non-instanced, finite, and embedded in the world with group living options.
  • Player Driven Economy: Deep crafting system where the best items are made by players and player items are the main source of loot found in the game.
  • Free to Play: No mandatory subscription.
  • Social: Full Guild System, Highly Active Community and Player Owned Towns.

Requirements[edit]

Cost[edit]

  • Shroud of the Avatar is Free to play and does not require a subscription to play. Episode 1: Forsaken Virtues content is fully accessible by everyone.
  • Episode 2 content is only for Episode 2 Early Access holders.

System[edit]

  • See the FAQ Page on the official Shroud of the Avatar Website for up to date information on specific system requirements.
  • Shroud of the Avatar can be played on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux platforms.

Current Development[edit]

Shroud of the Avatar is currently in development by Catnip Games and provides monthly Release content.

Community[edit]

Funding[edit]

Current funding is through purchases from the Online Store and optional subscriptions to the Rewards Program.

Development History[edit]

Shroud of the Avatar (SotA) was developed by Portalarium. It is created by Richard "Lord British" Garriott and Starr "Darkstarr" Long. It was first announced as a project by Richard Garriott on November 9, 2011. The title of the game as well as the crowd funding was announced on March 8, 2013.

Ultimate RPG[edit]

Richard Garriott announced the start of the Ultimate RPG and his vision of "Ultimate" Role Playing Game on his Facebook page on November 9, 2011:[2]

"Today, with my new company Portalarium, and with the talents and skills of many who made Ultima an Ultimate RPG, we set forth to forge a "New Britannia," a new world from scratch, internally self-consistent, deep and refined. We have lofty goals as an Ultimate RPG. An Ultimate RPG does not fear going where others fear or have failed."


"[H]ere is what I feel is safe to say: Lord British's Ultimate Role Playing Game, which may be called "Akalabeth" or may be called "New Britannia" or may be called "a name I cannot yet say as it describes the setting I am considering and think I should keep secret at least until I know if it's likely true," will be an Ultimate RPG. You will have customized Avatar homesteads and real roles to play in a deep, beautifully realized highly interactive virtual world. It will have virtues and the hero's journey reflected back to the player. It will have the best of synchronous and asynchronous features in use. Fiction will support your arrival from earth into this new world. I even hope to make maps, coins and other trinkets available to players of the game.(...)"


"[C]ome play with us in the brave new world. Help us grow it. Teach us about what you have learned in your years of playing. Invite in your new friends who are new to gaming. They will be a new spirit and provide new ideas about what to do. They will likely not tolerate bad instructions, bad interface or huge upfront fees, which is a good thing! We will teach and learn from them as well."


Ultimate RPG fan page was launched on Facebook on December 6, 2011, inviting fans to sign up for beta.[3] On that page, a teaser message is posted on February 28, 2013:

Exciting stuff coming soon! Stay tuned...


A week long countdown was set up on lordbritishpresents.com on the first day of March 2013, revealing information and puzzle map pieces every other day until finally the Kickstarter campaign was announced on March 8, 2013, revealing the name of the game as Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues.[4]

Crowd Funding[edit]

Kickstarter campaign for Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues was launched on March 8, 2013 and ended on April 8, 2013, during which time $1,919,275 was raised within 30 days from 22,322 backers. Several tiers are set up for early backers (also known as Founders) to pledge that give bonus rewards from cloth maps to special housing in the game (see: Founder Pledge Rewards).

After the successful Kickstarter campaign, similar pledge options were given to backers (also known as Benefactors) via the Shroud of the Avatar website who couldn't pledge before the end of the campaign (see: Benefactor Pledge Rewards).

Releases[edit]

The first pre-alpha release (Release 1 or simply R1) of Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues was made available on December 12, 2013 at 10:30 CT and lasted until December 16, 2013. This first release focused on initial systems like installing the game, patching, registration and character creation as well as some of the in-game systems like house claiming, house decoration and NPC interactions. Only the Single Player Online mode was available on R1.

The second pre-alpha release, R2, was made available on January 23, 2014 and while it was supposed to end on January 25, 2014, it was extended until January 27, 2014. This second release was also Single Player Online-only. R2 introduced the initial Crafting system.

Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues is the first of a five Episode series.

The Team[edit]

Template:Main Notable members of the team include Richard "Lord British" Garriott, Starr "DarkStarr" Long, and Tracy Hickman.

On March 13, 2013, Tracy Hickman, New York Times Best-selling author of Dragonlance series, announced that he joined the Shroud of the Avatar team (as Lead Story Designer) on his YouTube channel.[5]

On July 5, 2013, Starr "DarkStarr" Long announced that he joined the Shroud of the Avatar team as the Executive Producer. He stated "We were on a frontier with Ultima Online and we are again with Shroud of the Avatar." [6]

See Also[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Shroud of the Avatar - The Path of Virtue (Trailer)

Error in widget YouTube: Unable to load template 'wiki:YouTube'

External Links[edit]

Trivia[edit]

References[edit]

<references> [2] [3] [4] [5] [7] [8] [6]

  1. ↑ About Shroud of the Avatar
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 What is a Lord British “Ultimate” Role Playing Game?
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 UltimateRPG | Facebook
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kickstarter - Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues by Portalarium, Inc.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 YouTube | Shroud of the Avatar: A New Way of Adventure Gaming
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ultima Online alumni Starr Long reunites with Richard Garriott for Shroud of the Avatar
  7. ↑ Shroud of the Avatar - Selective-Multi-Player Means Multiple Ways to Play!
  8. ↑ FAQ | Shroud of the Avatar
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