PATCH DATE: Likely April 13, 2010
Turbine Announcements
November 2009: Letter from the Producer
Spring Update Preview - Aetheria
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New Content and Features
A Wedding!
There will be an important wedding announced. The preparations started in the Lay of the Land patch.
Tailoring
Details at: Announcements - Asheron's Call Big Spring Patch#Tailoring
New Hairstyles and a Barber
See Producers Letter
Hide Your Helm
See Producers Letter
Anti-Aliasing and other graphics changes
See Producers Letter
New Races
First new race is confirmed to be: SHADOWS. Umbraens will have the typical shadow particle effect instead of legs, whereas Panumbraens will have regular legs. Even though this is 2 racial options (technically), it is actually just ONE race. There are still 3 more to be revealed.
In regards to certain races being more susceptible to certain attacks than others (IE, lightning being good against Lugians):
The members of other races that step forward to join the Isparian kingdoms will be the most balanced members of their race in both temperament and metabolism. The races will have the same resists and armor as humans.
The only statistical advantage will be the racial skill given to the race. Even the free augmentation can eventually be purchased by other races. We made this decision so the game remains as balanced as possible.
Sev~
In regards to "human slayer" weapons
Those of Dereth have traditionally called the weapons that are empowered to slay Isparians "human slayers" but this term is technically incomplete. These weapons are empowered by Bael'Zharon, and that curse allows them to be much more effective against not only Isparians but also the allies and members of their kingdoms. As members of other races accept the invitation to ally with and join the Isparian kingdoms they too will become susceptible to the power Bael'Zharon has bestowed upon these weapons.
As such, the peoples of Dereth will begin to refer to these weapons as cursed or empowered by Bael'Zharon and they will be effective against the members of alternate races who also join the Isparian kingdoms. Bael'Zharon hates Asheron and his power will be more deadly against the Isparians that Asheron called and to any of the other races who fall under Asheron's protection. (Which is to say, the player characters who choose these races.)
As for racial skills, I will give you another hint. Each new race will have a racial skill and a specific free Augmentation to start. We want the races to be cool to play, but we also want the other races to have the same potential as existing races since anyone can (eventually) purchase the augmentation.
Sev~
How many races?
Our current plan is to introduce one new race with the big April update, and then follow up with a new race every two months until 4 new races are introduced.
Sev~