Update of the Avatar/Update 47
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Update of the Avatar #47 – 2013.11.08: Early Access Schedule, Courage, and Baron Home
Update 47 announced the first four public early-access windows, concluded the fourth Unity Scene Jam, revealed the Courage region's map fragment, and presented the Founder Baron City Home.[1]
Unity Scene Jam IV
The fourth and final weekly Scene Jam asked participants to choose a piece of Stephen Daniele's concept art, recreate it in Unity, and imagine what lay beyond the depicted scene. Justin and Kevin Eslinger won with a score of 88. Mike Headley, Nicholas Colla, and Matthew Compean placed second with 83, while Paul Drotleff placed third with 82. The overall grand-prize result was deferred to the next update.[1]
Courage story and map
The fifth story preview turned to Courage and the long war between Norguard and the kobolds. It portrayed the defenders of Valhold as accustomed to battlefield courage, while challenging the reader to recognize the intelligence, industry, culture, and grievances of their enemies. King Granus and the fortress known as the Thrones of Skrekk anchored the conflict.[1]
The update also published six puzzle-shaped map fragments corresponding to the story previews released so far, including the Oracle interlude. The fragment accompanying this issue showed part of the northern Courage region. This archive summarizes the creative passage rather than reproducing it.[1]
Early access schedule
Portalarium published a staged plan for four short public test releases. Each build was intended to introduce a focused group of systems before the next test expanded the playable loop.[1]
| Test | Announced window | Planned focus |
|---|---|---|
| Release 1 | December 12–14, 2013 | Installation, character creation, a first town, conversations, inventory, equipment, housing, decorating, and metrics |
| Release 2 | January 24–26, 2014 | Crafting, merchants, a second settlement, list inventory, and expanded character customization |
| Release 3 | February 20–22, 2014 | Open multiplayer, chat, emotes, and a third settlement |
| Release 4 | Beginning March 20, 2014 | The Hidden Vale, combat and magic, advancement, quests, loot, gathering, persistent housing, dyeing, friends, and parties |
The schedule explicitly described every date and deliverable as subject to change. It also warned that early-access data would be wiped periodically, and that the first tests would be available only for limited windows.[1]
Founder Baron City Home
The Founder Baron home was a three-story city-lot mansion with nine rooms, two front entrances, a rear stairway, and open-air decks on its upper floors and roof. The official gallery compared its scale with the Founder Lord and Shingle-Roof homes and showed several furnished interiors.[1]
The home was announced as a Founder reward at Baron pledge tiers. That eligibility is historical and should not be read as current availability.[1]