Editing Gaining Ground

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'''Dec 2009''' - [[Announcements - 2009/12 - Gaining Ground|Announcements Page]]
== Turbine Announcements ==
=== Teaser Images ===
:* [[:File:Teaser 200912ACCW.jpg|Asheron.wikia.com]]
:: [[File:Teaser 200912ACCW.jpg|200px]]
:* [http://ac.mystics.de/news/2396/exklusives-teaserbild-fuer-den-dezember/ AC Mystics]
:* [http://acvault.ign.com/screenshots/?ss=10786 ACvault]
:* [http://www.dereth.info/index.php?ind=gallery&op=foto_show&ida=44 Dereth.info]
:* [http://ac.warcry.com/images/view/61337 Warcry's CoD]

=== Teaser ===
{{Patch Announcements Links
 |  Current = http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=529-gaining-ground&catid=75-2009&Itemid=68
 | Original = http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=529-gaining-ground&catid=75-2009&Itemid=68
 |  Archive = Announcements - 2009/12 - Gaining Ground#Teaser
}}

=== Rollout ===
{{Patch Announcements Links
 |  Current = http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=531-rollout-fiction&catid=75-2009
 | Original = http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=531-rollout-fiction&catid=75-2009
 |  Archive = Announcements - 2009/12 - Gaining Ground#Rollout Article
}}

=== Release Notes ===
{{Patch Announcements Links
 |  Current = http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=527-december-2009-release-notes&catid=75-2009
 | Original = http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=527-december-2009-release-notes&catid=75-2009
 |  Archive = Announcements - 2009/12 - Gaining Ground#Release Notes
}}


== Discoveries ==
Patch Size: 1,767k (Client: 4,504k)

=== [[Town Crier]] Rumors ===
''Free Rumors'':
:<font color=darkgoldenrod>Town Crier tells you, "Have you heard of Phials that Fester? I think it's a band name, couldn't really imagine what else everyone could be talking about."

:Town Crier tells you, "I've heard reports that the Societies have expanded their activities lately."

:Town Crier tells you, "I've heard reports that the Societies have made it easier to move through their ranks."

:Town Crier tells you, "I've heard rumors of adventurers finding broken Mana Forge Keys.  I told them that crystal wasn't a good material for making keys..."

:Town Crier tells you, "My cousin sent me a new shiny blue greatsword to hang on the wall of my apartment. Don't be mocking my apartment; we town criers don't make enough to pay the maintenance costs on a cottage or villa."

:Town Crier tells you, "The people in charge of alternate currencies seem to make all of the advancement. Always something new to buy, I'd suggest you check up with the vendors who work for these people frequently."

:Town Crier tells you, "The Societies seem to be making a push to control one of the more dangerous islands."

:Town Crier tells you, "Were I to see a killer phyntos I'd turn and run the other way."</font>

''Pyreal Rumors:''
:<font color=darkgoldenrod>Town Crier tells you, "Alchemy is making great advancements. I guess the Arcanum finally got to work, years of relatively small changes and suddenly they're finding ways to make your life easier through alchemy. And it costs less too!"

:Town Crier tells you, "Everyone's been upgrading their old weapons. I've been keeping a list and I've seen assault weapons, quiddity weapons and singularity weapons that all seem to be more powerful than they used to be."

:Town Crier tells you, "Honey, from phyntos?! I would have never imagined it. Always thought they were only wasps... Check out Freebooter if you want to see it for yourself."

:Town Crier tells you, "I have been told that the Societies have sped up their researches, and this has, in turn, made it possible to advance through the ranks of the Societies at an increased rate."

:Town Crier tells you, "It appears that the Societies have built small forts on Moarsmen City. I'm not sure what they're up to but you might want to go check it out."

:Town Crier tells you, "There have been several rumors floating around of adventurers finding shattered Mana Forge Keys in the Gear Knight Invasion Area in the Direlands.  If you think you could fix one, it may be worth checking out."

:Town Crier tells you, "The Singularity really keeps up with the times. It would seem that you can now receive a Singularity Greatsword for two handed combat!"</font>


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=== [[Ulgrim]] Rumors ===

''Free Rumors'':
:<font color=darkgoldenrod>Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Armor Upgrade Kits, Weapon Upgrade Kits, where's my Ale Upgrade Kit?"

:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I was looking at a palm tree today and I had a strange feeling that it was the first time I had seen it. I'm sure I've seen these palm trees a thousand times before, hangovers are the worst."

:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I've been experimenting on what happens when you give phyntos wasps ale, you don't want to see the results."

:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Pure liquid fester, I wonder what that tastes like..."

:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "See!  See what the Virindi have brought on us now?!?  First Applesause, now killer robots!"</font>

''Stout Rumors:''
:<font color=darkgoldenrod>Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I'm working on upgrading my stein to hold more ale."

:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I'll stop what those Virindi are planning. Just as soon as I figure out what that plan is."
:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Hey don't worry, I can handle it. I drank something."
:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "What's with the rabbit costume?"

:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "No, really, I know exactly what the Apostates are up to.  They're going to flay us all and harvest our organs so they can appear more human.  I told Claude he couldn't possibly pass for a human without organs, and ever since he's been muttering about how 'More organs equals more human' or something like that."

:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Phial? I always thought Grenade was a better name. Don't ask me what that means, just something that came to me in a dream."

:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "So now those Societies have spread onto Moarsmen City. Why would anyone want to be there? Those foul smelling Moarsmen, the extreme heat, and not a single coconut from all those palm trees. I suppose they could play count the grains of sand to pass the time."
:Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "And those supply cages they have, I swear I should be able to fit between the bars but I just can't. It's too much to think about I need another drink."</font>

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=== New [[Quests]] ===
* [[Castle of Lord Mhoire Quest]] - Gain entrance to Lord Mhoire's Castle using defender's brands. After going to the Ancient Stones at 66.5S 44.7W in the graveyard and using them, you will be given a scroll and a Strange Jewel. The scroll can be translated in Zaikhal and reveals that there are 3 champions of House Mhoire, who guard the way into the castle with magical seals. The scroll gives clues as to the location of the three guardians. The first guardian is [[Lady Saliane]]. Her tomb is at 65.0S 44.2W. She spawns with several guardians when you use the Strange Jewel and has a Frost Wave spell similar to Lord Mhoire's Flame Wave. [[Lord Hendrel]] at 66.6S 45.2W. [[Lord Trimere]] at 65.1S 45.5W

Each champion drops 3 brands.  They can be respawned instantly using the Strange Jewel.
* [[Fort Defense]] Defend Society forts on Moarsman Isle by talking to the fort commander. It will spawn a continuous wave of Moarsmen/Sclavus. The fort guards help you. Reward: 50 Million Exp, 25 Ribbons, 4 Tokens. 2 Day 20 Hour timer.
* [[Fort Assault]] After completing defense, the fort commander will give you a quest to attack other society forts. The goal is to steal supplies from each of the other societies. The supplies are locked in the cage area that comprises the back wall of the forts. The door is locked (diff 600) and can be picked. I assume the commander must have a key for those without lockpick. The reward is another 50 Million Exp, 25 Ribbons, and 4 Tokens. 2 Day 20 Hour timer.


==== Updated Quests ====
* [[Societies of Dereth]] Updated - timers on all tasks reduced to 3 days.
* [[Hidden Presents]] Seasonal Quest to be re-activated the week of 12/21 and will be turned off at the end of the month, don't miss it.
* [[Tumerok Banners Quest|Tumerok Banners]]/[[Assault Weapons]] Updated with Two Handed weapon.
* [[Chimeric Quiddity Weapons]] Updated with Two Handed weapon.
* [[Quiddity Weapons Quest]] Updated with Two Handed weapon.
* [[Spectral Weapons]] Updated with Two Handed weapon.
* [[Armor of Darkness]] Updated - armor is no longer attuned.
* [[Knights of Karlun]] flagging fixed, [[Breastplate of Karlun]] now ivoryable.
* [[Singularity Weapons]] Updated with Two Handed weapon
----

=== New [[NPCs]] ===
* [[Alderic]] - [[Celestial Hand Stronghold]]
* [[Khanldun]] - [[Celestial Hand Stronghold]]
* [[Narris]] - [[Celestial Hand Stronghold]]
* [[Shade of Antemy]] - Inside [[Northeast Tower of Mhoire Castle]]
* [[Shade of Fordroth]] - Inside [[Northeast Tower of Mhoire Castle]]
* [[Shade of Ormend]] - Inside [[Northeast Tower of Mhoire Castle]]

==== Updated NPCs ====
* [[Colosseum Coin Collector]], [[Hisham al-Evv]], [[Hurnmel the Smith]] - many new items added to inventories of special vendors (skull only at Hurnmel)
{{Item Table
 | Spectral Skull 
 | Sealed Bag of Salvaged Sapphire
 | Sealed Bag of Salvaged Amber
 | Sealed Bag of Salvaged Diamond
 | Sealed Bag of Salvaged Gromnie Hide
 | Sealed Bag of Salvaged Pyreal
 | Sealed Bag of Salvaged Ruby
 | Weapon Upgrade Kit Containment Gem 
}}

----

=== New [[Locations]] ===
* [[Northeast Tower of Mhoire Castle]]
* [[Southeast Tower of Mhoire Castle]]
* [[Northwest Tower of Mhoire Castle]]
* [[Southwest Tower of Mhoire Castle]]
* [[Ancient Stones]] - 66.5S 44.7W in [[Graveyard]]
* [[Freebooter Phyntos Wasp Hive]]  - 63.1 97.5
* [[Eldrytch Web Nyr'leha Beach Fort]] - 91.4S 53.8W (Moarsman Isle)
* [[Radiant Blood Nyr'leha Beach Fort]] - 93.6S 51.8W (Moarsman Isle)
* [[Celestial Hand Nyr'leha Beach Fort]] - 92.1S 50.3W (Moarsman Isle)

==== Updated Locations ====


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=== New [[Items]] ===
{{Item Table|Caption=Two Handed Quest Weapons
 | Assault Greatsword
 | Greatblade of the Quiddity
 | Singularity Greatsword
 | Bound Singularity Greatsword
 | Ultimate Singularity Greatsword
}}
{{Item Table|Caption=Weapon Upgrades
 | Weapon Upgrade Kit Containment Gem
 | Weapon Upgrade Kit
 | Ultimate Singularity Scepter of War Magic (Upgraded)
 | Enhanced Stave of the Quiddity
 | Enhanced Assault Bow
 | Ultimate Singularity Bow (Upgraded)
}}
{{Item Table|Caption=Castle of Lord Mhoire Quest
 | Ancient Stones
 | Ancient Journal
 | Translated Tomb Writings
 | Strange Jewel
 | Lady Saliane's Brand
 | Lord Hendrel's Brand
 | Lord Trimere's Brand
 | Mhoire Castle Treasury Key
 | Mhoire Signet Ring
 | Rytheran's Jeweled Ring
}}
{{Item Table|Caption=Miscellaneous
 | Spectral Skull
 | Damaged Celestial Hand Commendation Ribbon
 | Damaged Eldrytch Web Commendation Ribbon
 | Damaged Radiant Blood Commendation Ribbon
 | Phyntos Honey
 | Shattered Mana Forge Key
}}

----

=== New [[Titles]] ===
<!-- For titles, please create as a link and make the link a redirect to the quest/event where title is obtained. -->
* [[Knight of the Northwest Tower]]
* [[Knight of the Southeast Tower]]
* [[Knight of the Southwest Tower]]
* [[Champion of House Mhoire]]
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=== New [[Creatures]] ===
{{Creature Class|Fire Elemental
 | Flame Guardian
}}
{{Creature Class|Frost Elemental
 | Corrupted Grave Frost
}}
{{Creature Class|Ghost
 | Lady Saliane
 | Lord Hendrel
}}
{{Creature Class|Skeleton
 | Lord Trimere
}}
{{Creature Class|Undead
 | Shade of Lord Rytheran
}}

----

=== Alchemy Updates ===
* Alchemy Gems updated:
:* Motes now create 3x the Aqua Vitae as they did before.
:* Making alchemy protection gems now yields twice as many. 
* [[Alchemical Throwing Phials]] updated:
:* Stack size increased from 50 to 250.
:* Burden Decreased from 15 to 10.
:* Value of crafted phials reduced by 50%
:* Value (cost) of uncrafted phials reduced by 50%
:* Fester phials added (created with [[Health Oil]]).
{{Item Table
 | Iron Phial of Fester
 | Copper Phial of Fester
 | Silver Phial of Fester
 | Gold Phial of Fester
 | Pyreal Phial of Fester
 | Platinum Phial of Fester
 | Empowered Platinum Phial of Fester
 | Mana Phial of Fester
}}

----

=== Images ===
Click image for full size.
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px perrow=2>
File:Spectral Skull Example Wand.jpg|Example of new [[Skeleton Slayer]] GY token.
File:Greatblade of the Quiddity Live.jpg|Greatblade of the Quiddity
File:Assault Greatsword Live.jpg|Assault Greatsword
File:Mhoire Castle Courtyard Live.jpg|Mhoire Castle Courtyard
File:Northeast Tower of Mhoire Castle Entryway Live.jpg|Northeast Tower of Mhoire Castle Entryway
</gallery>

----

=== [[Known Issues]] ===
[http://forums.ac.turbine.com/showthread.php?t=44275 Official known issues:]
* The gargoyle that summons the entrance to Mhoire Castle can become inoperative if someone uses the gargoyle without a key to Lord Cynreft's Tomb and the quest flag for the Mhoire Castle opening quest.
:(Portals have been created to Mhoire Castle at Hebian To for those who are already flagged.)
* Once someone has cummoned the shade of Rytheran from the throne they will not be able to summon him again if they repeat the quest. They will need someone who has never summoned him before.
* The gargoyle that summons the entrance to Mhoire Castle doesn't take the strange jewel when you complete the initial quest.
* The Fire gargoyle in the elemental gargoyle test fails on one of the quest paths. It's the path where it's Air Water Fire Earth.
* Mhoire Castle Portals don't have radar dots.
* The quest giving Ormend in Mhoire Castle doesn't actually tell you how many rings you need. (It's ten.)
* The Killer Phyntos Queen does not respawn after she is killed unless the landblock is cleared and allowed to reload.
* Quiddity staff currently strikes for Frost/Fire and should be Bludgeoning. The damage is also too low.
* Players who ran the Gift Box quest last year may find that they "complete" the quest before discovering all 12. This will prevent the effected players from getting their full number of gift boxes.

Unofficially acknowledged issues:
* [[Epic Sword Aptitude]] items were messed up along with the Epic Gearcraft fix where only the mislabeled items were supposed to have been changed.
* [[Armor of Darkness]] is no longer attuned, however it still has the ivoryable property. Adding Ivory to a piece would wield-req attune it to a single character.
* The [[Ultimate Singularity Greatsword]] does less damage than its inferior version the [[Bound Singularity Greatsword]].
==== [[Typos]] ====

* The Defneder's [sic] Mark of House Mhoire burns with blue flame and you are transportd to the Northeast Tower of Mhoire Castle -- spelling of "Defender"
* "As you disturb the statue its eyes burn with flame.  It's [sic] voice whispers in your head." -- the "it's" should be "its", just like the first one.

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=== Splash Screen ===
[[File:Gaining Ground Splash Screen.jpg]]
[[Category:Patch]]