New Release

December 08, 2012

Lag Fix Weekend

All Coder Hands on Deck!

We are always working hard to improve AQWorlds, but this weekend, we woke some of AE's top programming talent together VERY early, broke open the energy drinks, and merged their collective coding skills * as we reviewed AQW's servers, databases, and network issues.

We are going to fix this lag if it kills us... and then we'll just keep at it, because undead don't need to sleep!

* We have over 30 YEARS of programming experience powering Team Zhoom-Rhubarb-Rolith-Titan-Yorumi! #TeamZRRTY! (Pronounced Zerty, like thirty.)

Cast a Net, Catch a Fishing Bug!

One of the most visible changes you will see directly is how we've altered the Fishing Tradeskill.** Instead of buying stacks of bait from the shop and then immediately using it to fish, you'll need to slay frogzards in Greenguardwest to get them as drops.

** Talk to Faith in /greenguardwest to begin!

Other Fixes Being Tested/Investigated!

All servers have been restarted with some backend fixes to how the game's servers interact with its database. The more efficient that is, the less lag there should be. We've also patched some holes in various quests and items which allowed third party programs to cheat the system. We will continue these improvements over the course of next week, and each week after until the lag is as gone as we can make it.

Skadiiee's sketch of the Lag Monster (MUST be defeated!)***

New issues may crop up as new versions of Flash Player and different Browsers updates are released, but with you all giving us feedback as bugs are found, we'll work together to make AQW run as smoothly as possible!

*** Fun Bonus Activity: If you could draw the Lag Monster, what would it look like? Let me see your sketches on Twitter!

12-12-12: NOT Just Another Day!

Make sure to log in this Wednesday, because 12-12-12 is NOT just another day... it is the beginning of the end! An ancient evil is rumored to rise on that day, and we're going to need everyone's help to save our world from destruction!

December 07, 2012

Frostval Quibble Returns

Your Enemies will Fear this Epicly Icy Gear!

Quibble Coinbiter has arrived in Battleon with a bag full of wintery gear! This traveling sales moglin’s chest is filled with never-before-seen-slightly-used icy items inspired by Frostval! Don't miss the Glacial Destroyer and Glacial Summoner sets!

Glacial Destroyer Wings and Glacial Destroyer Halo

Glacial Destroyer and Glacial Winged Helm

Glacial Destroyer Pike, Staff of Glacial Destruction, Glacial Great Sword

Time for a Double Chaos Battle!

/Join TheSpan and crash into the Chaos Beast battle! Tidal waves of power bring Kathool straight to you! Victory underwater propels you into the heart of Space and Time to confront Iadoa, the Chronomancer Chaos Lord! Though his goal was to teach you how to fulfill your destiny, he is now the greatest threat to Lore!*

* Trivia: like The Master in Doctor Who, Iadoa's name is an acronym. It means "I Am the Destroyer of All"... but in The Span, he is trying to HELP you! Why the misleading name? Mysterious!**
** Sounds like there's a backstory there, and it might just involve Doctor When!

December 07, 2012

Double Chaos Boss Fight

Can you defeat Kathool?

The time shattering finale of the Span Saga has begun. This adventure that has taken us scross time, space, and our other games. Now, is the final showdown with the Chaos Beast Kathoo AND Iadoa* who is the 10th Lord of Chaos. This is pretty huge because this release will give all of you who love the story your first clue at what is really happening when these Chaos Beasts are defeated. Also, if this is Chaos Lord #10, we only have three left before we reach Drakath. Wait, make that four -- the twins, Ying & Yang, have not been defeated yet either. As a player wisely noted to me on Twitter "How come there are so much empty space left on the map if we only have 3 Chaos Lords left?" Many players are relived and excited to know that it indicates this game has a loooong future ahead of it. If you survive the battle with Chaos Beast Kathool that is... Good luck heroes!

* Who comes up with these names!? "Iadoa" is pronounced: "Eye - Ahh - Doh - Ahh"

BONUS! Challenge Fight for Members

Kathoo is a powerful monster with his own AI. But for the ULTIMATE challenge,  Members can battle a max level version of him... the most powerful monster in the game yet. Defeating him in this mode is worth ultimate bragging rights... and a badge!

December 04, 2012

Quibble Coinbiter Returns

Quibble Returns to Battleon This Friday!

Past, present, and future Frostval items freeze the insides of Quibble Coinbiter's pack... and YOUR inventory! AQWorlds' very own time-traveling sales moglin arrives in Battleon this Friday, December  7th, but he won't be there long, so you'll want to dig through his chest of never-before-seen-slightly-used items and rares while you can!

Glacial Destroyer 

The epicly-chilly appearance of these equips won't leave you out in the cold because, though most of his items will cost AdventureCoins, we will include gear for both members and non-members! Each of Quibble's newest items were inspired by gear from the original AdventureQuest, DragonFable, and MechQuest!

Not exactly sure who Quibble Coinbiter is, or how he gets all that gear? Neither are we! But here's what he said last time I asked:

How do I get never-before-seen used items? Well, that's a trade secret. But just between us, I have a deal with a time travel fairy who brings me these things… even though they have not been built yet! They might show up later in the game or might be Rares that are never seen again!

Ice Beastmaster Armor

This gear and more will come when Quibble's shop arrives on Friday! And don't miss NEXT Friday's Quibble update... and the Beleen's Birthday-slash-Graduation Celebration shop! 

December 04, 2012

Draw a Hand Turkey Contest

Gobble On, Hand-Turkey Winners!

Thanksgiving is a time for friends, family, and FOOD! But for this year's Harvest contest, we wanted to do something different, special... and AEsome! 

WE had so much fun drawing hand-turkeys* on the window-walls of the AQW room that we wanted you all to have a chance to gobble up the spotlight! Check out all the deliciously epic entries on the forum thread until we can put the winners' contest page up!

* How do you draw a hand turkey? Just trace your hand, add feathers and a wattle (that's the dangly red part under the beak) and you're good to go!

Congratulations to All Our Winners!

These entries are good enough to eat! If only we weren't so sleepy from all the trytophan! This was the most deliciously-difficult contest to judge yet!

Grand Prize Winner Boyoyo

Ready for the Weekend! 
albert0808

This Turkey Sure Doesn't Run Off of Stuffing 
bruextian

Turkey's 2nd Greatest Fear Besides the Oven Darkrai0596

Most Insane (and Ancient) 
doomcalibar12

A Hard Day's Work 
Exidonius Jr

Twig's Harvest Dweam Kienkai

Dinner to aVoid 
Lupus the Wolf

Made Zhimaira Rock Out Award 
Mr Sleepy

This Turkey is Ready for Battle 
Neoreaper13

Gobble On! 
Odin Fatalis

Dinner Time! 
Optional Geek

The Legion Would be Proud 
Fyre Winged

Derpiest Award Reki

It's Alive... Again! 
trizzzcentrino

DRAWING Hand Turkeys is for the Birds! (Stop Motion Animation Video Above-and-beyond Award)
ACW0 

Zhimaira will hand out contest prizes to all of the winners on Thursday! Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who entered! 

December 04, 2012

Time for Victory

Confront The Span's Chaos Beast AND Chaos Lord!

Crash into the Chaos Beast battle this Friday! In The Span, Chaos Beast Kathool – a near-immortal creatureimmune to Time – has allied with Drakath and rises to confront you!* Victory against the Chaos Beast unlocksthe battle against Iadoa, the Chronomancer Chaos Lord! Summon your strength, Hero; Lore’s existence depends on your success!

Will you have time to defeat the Chaos Beast AND Chaos Lord?

Did You Say Chaos Beast Kathool?

You read right,apprentice Loremasters! Kathool is the first self-aware Chaos Beast, and there's a good reason it was chosen for that purpose. When a new Chaos Beast is raised - or takes over the position of its own accord, in this case - the Chaos Lord's purpose is fulfilled.* And for a creature as power-hungry and self-assured as Kathool is, the temptation to use Chaos - and the Chaos Lord - for its own ends is too enticing! 

Log in this Friday to learn how Kathool chose to become the Chaos Beast, what it plans to do with its new power, and what the Chronomancer Chaos Lord will do to ensure that you fulfill your destiny!** 

* Drakath has never required the Death of a Chaos Beast, just the power gained when each rises.
** Choose wisely and you may also learn the truth of your role on Lore! Who ARE you, Hero? 

Events and Shops Coming and Going!

Make sure you don't miss the following arrivals and departures of our recent releases and shops:

• Previous years' Frostval events (and seasonal rares) return tomorrow!
• The Dark Harvest event leaves tomorrow!
• The Black Friday (seasonal) and Fall Fire (permarare) shops leave tomorrow!
• The Span War leaves on Friday!
• Quibble Coinbiter returns this Friday! See the next Design Notes for previews of available items!

What's Coming in December!

The holidays are here, and that means even MORE is happening in AQWorlds than usual!

• 12/7 - The Span finale: battle Kathool and Chaos Lord Iadoa!
• 12/12 - Not just another day! The time has come for an ancient evil to rise!
• 12/21 - The 2012 Frostval event continues! As the Heroes of Lore, we will NOT let our world end, no matter WHAT ancient evils (or nebulous prophecies) have planned!
• 12/28 - New Year's event! 2013 is here! 

SPOILERS: Get ready to battle on, because 2013 will be the most Chaotic year yet in AQWorlds! Chaorruption floods Lore as Drakath moves to open the Chaos Gate!

December 04, 2012

Games & Network Fixed!

Forgot to feed the server hamsters?

On my way to the lab Monday morning, I made a tweet about making it "BEST DAY EVER". So naturally the entire game network went kaboom in what can only be described as the most catastrophic disaster in the past several years. Which, looking back... we have had a surprisingly good track record of "up time". So what happened? We had a serious problem with this server, thewww.Artix.com one. Our ISP took it offline to help us resolve the issue and... /facepalms.... also accidentally moved some of our other critical servers onto the wrong network. The servers that were moved had no idea where they were, and explained as plainly as I can... screamed. (If a server in the middle of a forest screams, will anyone hear it?) The screaming triggered all sorts of problems and got the servers put on the naughty lists. Meanwhile, back on our network, all of our web pages desperately tried to contact those missing servers. Not getting replies, the web pages posted the error message "Web Server too Busy."  Now, anyone with network knowledge is going to say, "HEY! That is not even remotely accurate" to which I reply... "Um, close enough!" Thus not needing to write a novels worth of text explaining our network infrastructure, firewalls, port forwarding, and content management system. So, what do you do when you are still at the lab at 11PM up against even more server problems on the "BEST DAY EVER?" Two words. "Battle On."

 P.S. If you have a AQWorlds Membership, we will be extending it by 1 day to make up for the downtime. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

December 04, 2012

Games & Network Fixed!

Forgot to feed the server hamsters?

On my way to the lab Monday morning, I made a tweet about making it "BEST DAY EVER". So naturally the entire game network went kaboom in what can only be described as the most catastrophic disaster in the past several years. Which, looking back... we have had a surprisingly good track record of "up time". So what happened? We had a serious problem with this server, thewww.Artix.com one. Our ISP took it offline to help us resolve the issue and... /facepalms.... also accidentally moved some of our other critical servers onto the wrong network. The servers that were moved had no idea where they were, and explained as plainly as I can... screamed. (If a server in the middle of a forest screams, will anyone hear it?) The screaming triggered all sorts of problems and got the servers put on the naughty lists. Meanwhile, back on our network, all of our web pages desperately tried to contact those missing servers. Not getting replies, the web pages posted the error message "Web Server too Busy."  Now, anyone with network knowledge is going to say, "HEY! That is not even remotely accurate" to which I reply... "Um, close enough!" Thus not needing to write a novels worth of text explaining our network infrastructure, firewalls, port forwarding, and content management system. So, what do you do when you are still at the lab at 11PM up against even more server problems on the "BEST DAY EVER?" Two words. "Battle On."

 P.S. If you have a AQWorlds Membership, we will be extending it by 1 day to make up for the downtime. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

December 04, 2012

Spoiler Alert!

Sneak Peek at my Rare Birthday Class

Just when Artix, Cysero, and Alina thought it was safe to go to sleep… leaving the Underground Lab unattended… completely unaware of my caffeine consumption…KAABAAM! Surprise Design Notes Post wooohooo!

Pinkomancer Class arrives December 14th

Oh. My. Gosh. Is that not the most beautiful outfit ever?! It so totally is! Using your suggestions, I combined the classic Necromancer look with my classic Beleen armor…  and tadaa: Pinkomancer is born! Not only does this armor buff you with +100 Fashion Sense IRL, it is also a CLASS! That’s right—the highly anticipated Pinkomancer Classis my Birthday Present to YOU, and it arrives Friday, December 14^th!

That’s like, only a week and a half away! *difficulty controlling my excitement*

I am still working on the Pinkomancer Class ability names. I’m tossing around ideas like Pink Power, Summon BFF, Tickled Pink, Pink Empowerment, Artix’s Weakness… everything is still in the works, but I thought I’d share with you what’s going on in my pink-obsessed head. Tehehe!

See my BFF? Best Friends Forever—literally! That adorable skeleton girl skips around with glee (…and with a giant battle axe) and has color custom eyeshadow and toenail polish. How cute!

And OF COURSE there will be LOTS of other pink-a-licious presents arriving for my Birthday. You can’t just look the part of being passionately pink… you gatta prove it!

You likey? Lemmie hear your thoughts, suggestions, and love on my Twitter!

Pink on =D

New RELEASE!

Pyromancer Class is Live!

Your enemies are going down in FLAMES!

Fire and Ice combine this week to make your weekend extreme! AQWorlds heats up as we release the much-requested Pyromancer Class! After sending your enemies up in flames, cool off as you head back into the chilly darkness for a member-only release in Battleunder! In The Span, Bulbug's House shop and the Cysero's Orb Pet shop both gain new versions of your favorite gear from AQ, DF, and MQ!

Can YOU handle the heat of the Pyromancer Class?

You'll never need to sulfur at the thought of missing a hit again! In the heat of battle, you'll be the one firing off shots and smoking your opponents because the Pyromancer Class is live! Send your opponents up in flames with a number of hot new skills and animations.

How Will I Get It?

There will be two ways to get the class.

1. If you want it immediately you will be able to take the shortcut and buy the class from Itzachi the Class Dealer in Battleon for her standard fee of 2000 ACs.
2. If you want to earn the class, you will need to first complete the Xan storyline which starts in the Volcano map. Once you have completed the story, you can speak to Warlic in the Shurpu Library. He will have a Merge shop and two Daily Quests.

The Pyromancer Class will cost 84 Shurpu Blaze Tokens. If you are a non-member you can only get 14 per week, but Members can get 21 per week. This means thart it will take non-members six full weeks of doing the simple daily quest to earn the class while Members will earn it in only four!

NOTE: You will NOT need to have completed or even begun the Xan quest line to purchase the AC version of the class.

NOTE: You will only be able to do one of the dailies per day. If you are a Member make SURE you are doing the clearly marked MEMBER Daily quest!After you've finished the storyline in /xancave, talk to Warlic in the Shurpu Library to earn:

• Pyromancer Class
• Pyromancer's Mask
• Xan's Flaming Skull
• Emblazoned Pyromancer Armor
• Emblazoned Mask
• Xan's Robes

Members can cool down in BattleunderD!

Under the town of Battleon lie many levels of undead-filled dungeons, each with a new twist on the classic dungeon crawl. This week we'll be delving below the crystalline caves of battleunderc to /battleunderd, where you'll find your enemies are as cold as ice! (And not just because they're corpses.)



Work with Paladin Yara to battle the frigid skeletons, evade the icy banshees, and face the Glacial Horror to free a trapped water spirit who possesses one of the keys to returning light to the Battleunder dungeons!

The Icy Cache Merge Shop contains:

• Ice Wizard Armor
• Frosted Fighter Hair
• Fiercely Frosted 'Do
• Ice Calibreaker
• Infinitum
• A Blade too Cold to Hold
• Blade of Hail
• Speak of Hail
• Staff of Hail
• Frozen Thunder
• Frost Vortex Staff

Summer releases will only get hotter!

As June ends, we are rolling up our sleeves and preparing to raise the bar even higher! War is on the horizon, Chaos churns and boils, preparing to make every Hero's life much, much more interesting, and Yorumi is making great progress on Guilds.

Have a great weekend, everyone! We're going to go enjoy the hot Summer sun as it slowly sinks beneath the cold ocean.




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Let's Talk About Code

Programmers Need Love Too

One of the new mods and I were discussing the AQW engine and I realized that even the MODS don't really know a whole lot the AE programmers. I feel that I should correct this and quickly.

First, I want to introduce them.

• Minimal - One of the coding geniuses behind AQW and currently the mastermind behind the Legend of Lore engine. One of the single smartest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet or work with.
• Zhoom - Fearless coder who can come up with a clean solution faster than just about anyone else. Also a genius. Also a pilot. For real. He has his pilot's liscence.
• Yorumi - AQW's current lead coder. Programs all the class skills, special monster code, special map code, makes engine changes, ads new functions just about every week, data-base structuring, spear-heads the guilds project. Motto "ANYTHING can be coded. It's just a matter of how long it would take."
• Dumoose - More of a game designer than programmer but still has considerable skill. Currently working on AQW Trade skills and Guild Layout. Also Lead Coder for HeroSmash.
• Titan - One of the co-leads of EpicDuel. Powerful coder with a good head for flow and design as well as functionality. Also one of the few people i've ever met who is taller than I am.
• Rabblefroth - Code SNIPER for ED. Clever, fast, flexible programmer. Thanks to his efforts Titan has been freed up to do some more managerial work that is required of any game lead.
• Rolith - DF's Lead Coder, MQ's relief coder, Pony vs Pony ONLY coder. Also handles a LOT of back end projects dealing with server issues and terrifying database stuff. Flexible, grumpy, a lot of fun. Also DM's our current D&D game. 
• Kraken - Our newest hire. He is the guy behind all that makes Heromart function and is currently writing a brand new Content Management System for AE from scratch. From what I've seen he's creative and his wife is a pro desert baker. 
• Warlic - You guys all know this guy. An amazing musician with a formal education in music but a lot of gaming experience and able to pick up new programming concepts at the drop of a hat. Currently the lead coder on OverSoul.
• Llussion - Former AQW coder, Former HeroSmash Coder currently lending a hand to the AQ3D team doing concept art, modeling, creating textures and a small amount of programming. Heck of an artist, puerto rican born and raised and one of the nicest guys I've ever met.
• Captain Rhubarb - AE's oldest professional programmer. Captain Rhubarb started on AQ classic and his talent and flexibility have him currently helping everywhere. HeroMart, the games, Ad Department, Sales department. A pirate at heart but the good kind. 
• Korin - Primarily an artist who is currently working on a split between MQ and AQ3D but as quick witted as he is insane. Able to code himself out of most jams he encounters.

We also have off-site programmers that code for us as well including Kalanyr & Zephyros on AQ Classic and Vivi who is the week-to-week coder for MQ and of course Artix who started this all. I have picked up a few tricks over the years, enough to get by but not enough to call myself any kind of programmer and I'm sure there are others like me in that respect.

Part of being a Game Lead means that we get to talk to you guys, listen to your feedback and represent the team. For the most part the programmers are too busy to do this so they can often get overlooked, which is INSANE considering that they are a HUGE part of the team without whom NONE of this would be possible.

Each of these amazing people does the work of two or more normal coders, and almost all of them are called off projects multiple times a day to fix bugs behind the scenes that you guys never even hear about. They have spent years at their craft and can logic their way through entirely new programming languages in a matter of days when we need them to.

You guys think the ART is impressive, you should see Yorumi add traces to the engine when a brand new class skill is freezing the player animations or tossing a heal on the monster instead of damaging it or causing some other insane bug that is caused when two TOTALLY UNRELATED snippets of code within TENS OF THOUSANDS of lines of code are interacting and doing weird and unexpected things. It's like magic. Unless you've had some actual experience programming then you really have NO idea how much work goes into this stuff and it's a LOT more than you think.

AE programmers, I hope to speak for myself, my team, my company, my game community and my culture as a whole when I say THANK YOU for making things just.... work.

175 days until Just Another Day