November's Developer's Desk:

shadowmage

Greetings Citizens of Istaria,

The season is in full swing with the beginning of our Fall Festival. We hope you are enjoying the fun! If you haven't had a chance to visit then hurry in and pick up some new biped masks and dragon headscales or peruse the winning stories submitted for our BOO Fall Festival contest. Wondering what other stories were submitted? You're in luck! Just visit here:

http://community.istaria.com/downloa...ories_2008.pdf

A warm congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to those that submitted entries!

The changes this fall weren't limited to just what happens around Dalimond. The dwarves of Aughendell have returned with treats for Hammer's Rest, but the celebration this year is a bit more subdued than it was a year ago. It seems that there has been a recent disturbance in the area known as "The Bitter Pickle". Halfdan, one of the dwarves who organized last year's Hammer's Rest celebration, was stuck in the Tazoon library during the weeks leading up to the seasonal event doing research on what may be causing the changes. He has a story to tell any who wish to listen.

http://community.istaria.com/gallery/pic.php?id=891

Those who seek him out in the Hammer's Rest festival grounds will find that he is looking for a few special bottle caps that his research said should be found in the Bitter Pickle, while sharing a bit of a tale about old Istarian pubs.

Auctions have finally come and gone, although the bumps we encountered on this long road continue to linger. We are working diligently to correct the issues that cropped up during auctions and thank everyone for their patience in creating a roomier and more enjoyable Istaria. Keep an eye out for more exciting housing rewards lying in wait on Istaria's horizon.

Work on the Blighted Labyrinth, Istaria's dungeon of devious proportions, is progressing. There is a lot to do and the team is working hard to really make this content enjoyable and memorable for everyone. Not only are we finally introducing long-awaited new monsters, but we plan on reintroducing some old ones that aren't found in the world anymore. We are also working on some new systems that should liven up adventuring.

We mentioned the poison system previously, so let's touch on another system that we'll be introducing: Treasure Chests. That's right, Istaria will begin having treasure chests, complete with keys to open those chests and monsters to guard them. Chests will come in both standard and magical forms and require keys of various types to open. Chests will nearly always be guarded, but may contain a higher percentage of rare items than your standard loot. Chests may also contain items not found elsewhere, making it worth the effort to seek them out.

A new quest hub at the former mining village of Delgarath is being established for those who will be venturing into the depths of the Labyrinth. Let's introduce you to the characters whom you may stumble across while uncovering the horrors that lay beneath Istaria's surface.

* Sergeant Dylan - A Dwarf of the Iron Guard and the acting Town Marshall in Delgarath. He will likely be a recurring face as you quest through the Labyrinth and surrounding environs.

* Miss Kattina - A Saris Tavernkeeper and Spiritist. The Labyrinth is a dangerous and deadly place, so many of you may may find Miss Kattina to be a valuable acquaintance as you explore the darkness.

* Finagle Biggletorque - A Gnomish tinkerer and Consigner. Finagle has had dealings with Morran Gizmogrinder and may be of great assistance to those fighting the new enemies around Delgarath.

* Doc Tarrant - A Fiendish Healer. A master of the art of poison, Doc will be of great use to those who are suffering from, or wish to learn how to combat, the poisons encountered within the Labyrinth.

* Khemarius - Khemarius is a Lunus scholar and archaeologist who has made an important discovery in the ruins around Kirasanct. Although Khemarius isn't someone you'll be meeting in Delgarath, the knowledge he passes to the Dragons of Istaria will prove crucial while exploring the Labyrinth!

There is much more to come in the Blighted Labyrinth, but we don't want to give up all the mysteries. You'll just have to explore and discover what waits for you, hidden in the darkness...

Keep an eye out for all of the fun and adventure that is soon to hit Istaria's lands.

Until next month,

Amarie Ancalimon and the Virtrium Team

Please visit our forums to discuss this month's Developer's Desk:

http://community.istaria.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=19805

RedwoodSap

Still no plans for a fresh server launch? Disappointing. Time is running out.