Avlis 2 Beta Begins

[TripleAught]

Did I forget to mention that the Avlis: Crosstreams Beta began yesterday?

You can read about it on the Avlis2 forums, and you'll find an application form there too.

It's been a long road, we appreciate everyone's who's contributed their time and dedication (both in building it and waiting for it). We're going to be doing a closed Beta for about the first month so we can make sure our servers can handle the NWN2 requirements, then we'll be opening it up.

So, if you're interested, come on over and take a look.

[Hi Mate]

*starts the slow clap*

(and by the way...I gotta talk to you Triple, but I'll just send you a pm on the 2 forums...)

[Ensoleille]

Avlis 2 Open Beta begins today! Check us out at http://www.avlis2.org and submit a player application at http://www.avlis2.org/application.

Game on!

[Vergilius]

WHEEE!!

[Camb]

PS: the trailer was updated on 4/11/08, btw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdZB_AYEnXA

[dhocott]

FYI

Beta is ending and Avlis 2: Crosstreams is entering full launch Friday, July 18.

[whirlin_merlin]

W00t!!! I didn't even see that coming. I guess it's good that I wasn't thinking about Avlis 2. Less anticipation. I guess that means I have to finish the OCs now.

[thetamlyone]

My application has been accepted....now where did I put that NWN2 disk?

[Jazz]

Crap! Now I have to buy the expension and actually play the OC! Away with you, free time!

[Calzier]

Crap! Now I have to buy the expension and actually play the OC! Away with you, free time!

Luck it's just the expansion - I need that AND a new PC - for some reason my work machine, which will run NWN2 pretty well) is blocked from online gaming - just as well, I suppose...

[Darkfire]

*debates install NWN2... looks at it... puts it back and sticks with Avlis1*

[Vergilius]

Yep, lots of excitement on the future for us. We're entering the full launch phase, which means no vault wipes. We're looking forward to seeing what we can add to the storied Avlis history and welcome anyone who wants to roll up a character and role play with us.

Some of the key features:

1. Experience System: We want our players to feel free to focus on roleplaying their characters. We don't want innocent outstanding roleplayers to worry about what others might say about the numbers on their character sheet. Consequently, our experience system is completely hidden from the players. Do whatever you think is IC, whether that be bashing for 4 hours or talking for 4 hours. Our experience system will handle the rest. We've tested it since October when we entered a closed beta phase and have had no problems with it. It is working perfectly well and players are advancing at approximately the expected rate. We've received positive feedback from our testers about the system.

2. Death: Like Avlis 1, we allow players to return. The death quest has been simplified and made quicker. There's still a cost to be paid, which increases slightly by level, and increases more quickly the more times you do---in other words, there is an incentive to avoid gratuitiously dying.

3. Crafting: We've not gotten this implemented yet, but will probably have a complete system in the next 6 months to a year. Avlis 1's crafting system came in waves over a long period of time (several years). This lead to a change of the seasons every so often. Our goal on Avlis 2 has been to present a complete system from the beginning. You won't get to level 8 only to have to wait for another year while the crafting system is expanded. Our goal with crafting is to provide the means for the players to make everything in-game. Combined with enchanting, you'll also be able to create magic items for each other. Players won't be as depedant upon DMs for having good equipment, you'll be able to interact with other players to make it.

4. Societies: The best way to think of societies are in terms of Avlis 1 Guilds of the type that include NPCs. Societies will start off as NPC-run and organized. Players can join them and move up the ranks and eventually into leadership roles. Even after PCs work into leadership roles, NPCs will still play an important role in DM plots.

5. Reputation: You develop reputation over time with the city and its societies. This reputation reflects how they think about you. If your reputation falls too low, you may become Kill-on-sight to a particular society. As you increase reputation through society quests, donations, and DMs events, you can eventually join a society and advance in its ranks. We've only got a small handful of society quests implemented currently, but as these quests grow, joining a society and advancing in its ranks will be fully automated.

6. Beautiful environs: This isn't just because NWN 2 is a graphic improvement over NWN 1. We've got an extremely talented group of builders who have thoughtfully and artfully built our areas. A lot of thought has gone into making sure our areas are consistent and convey just the impression we would like them to.

7. A New part of the Avlis experience: Avlis 2 is set 1500 years after the Avlis 1 timeline, in a part of the world that was never built for Avlis 1, the 7 cities. Crosstreams, the central city of the 7 cities in its day, is the home of the Avlis 2 setting. It is a monarchy ruled by a King and Queen. A land of magic and mystery, Jorbaren's peak looms ominously over the city, raised magically by the hands of Jorbaren, the Wight Lord, during his reign of tower, it is still the home of many dark, dangerous and magical secrets, luring adventurers and the curious of every sort to the City of Crosstreams. Ever the cosmopolitaine city, members of all races of Avlis gather peacefully in Crosstreams, whether the far-off Galdosian dwarves, or the neighborly giant-kin and Brekshak. Plenty of political intrigue is to be found through the conflicts between the old landed aristocracy and the newly burgeoning trader class, not to mention the nearby Brekshak nations who want their say in the politics of the seven cities.

8. A New Beginning...

Please check the server out. Give us some feedback, and help us continue the legacy of the vibrant Avlis community.


Vergilius
Avlis 2, Producer