Episode 0: End of Beta
November '02
Original Link (now dead) - microsoftgamesinsider.com/AC2/Guides/epguide-beta.htm?nc=1
Episode News: End of Beta
October 31-November 4, 2002
<Image:Tyrants, skydiving and total carnage under a blood-red sky...>
Teaser: The end is near!
Trailer: Get a more detailed look at the upcoming mayhem...
Rollout Notes: Detailed developer notes on what's new in this month's episode.
Letter from Ken Troop: Ken discusses the goals of the Beta episode and what comes next.
Screen shots from the end-of-Beta episode!
Newest updates...
- Four from Azureblade of Red: Shoushi Bridge Gathering Shot 1 | Shot 2 | Shot 3 | Shot 4 (underwater!)
Red world screen shots...
- Two from Azric of Red: Tyrant Hunt Aftermath 1 | Tyrant Hunt Aftermath 2
- Mr Giblets sends this shot of the bridge party by Shoushi
- Nabuchadnezzar and others under the blood red moon...
- Four from Thenna of Red: Defenders group in Rithwic | First Tyrant in Rithwic | Chaos in Cragstone | Tyrant in Cavendo
- Storm Tyrant near Shoushi
- Order's forces guarding the gate to the Dominion Kingdom Stone
- Dominion dillos in battle
- Tyrant battle
- Flimsy takes on the guardian
- Galeon, Zecke, Up, Flimsy and Heavens Ranger
- Tencents slays a Tyrant in Gevoth Crater
- Haroldine sent this picture of Cragstone's defenders and the Tyrant they defeated.
- Desoya and his army of Shadows...
- "I'm outta here!"
- Gearknights rampaging in Kehan
- I like to call this one Smoke 'em if you got 'em
- Megolith and friends gathering outside Kehan
- The carnage outside Whitebay
- Another Tyrant spotted at the NE Farali Outpost
- "Tonk -- it's what's for dinner."
- Celestia and Minga taking aim at Wardiel's minions
- Who knew they were such music lovers? Thanks Taryn Trueflight!
- At the Deru Tree with Draco Ascendant. Thanks Shiver!
This series of pictures comes from Shoushi on Red. Sridhar kindly invited your Scribe to an end-of-the-world bash... but I had the misfortune to arrive just before a Storm Tyrant crashed the party!
- Hey, nice party, glad to be here!
- Who invited HIM?
- Worst. Party. Ever.
- Run away! Run away!
- That's what I call a hangover!
- Attacking from a safe distance...
- Another aftermath shot, sent by Finan SeeleHeilen: "I wonder if we're still gonna get our deposit back." (Don't count on it. --I)
Shots from Blue and Grey worlds...
- KvK battles raging across the plains of Grey
- Nearby on Grey, +Pixie (sitting) took a beating from all around. Tinee landed the killing blow. Strangely, +Pixie just laughed and laughed...
- On Blue, a crowd gathered for a strange spelling competition. Say hello to Shai, Jhavek, Yoriki, Arcturus, Kaydeejay, Deathawk, Vendor, Louis, Torgo, Teadjanine, Quov, Hot Ice Hunter, Yolanda, Arman Kain, Raxus, Misum, Tiamay, Atoner, Tara Lia, Larkspur, Arbalister, Klaital, Shoe, The A-Team, Dadd, and Mr Furly.
- "I can see my house from up here." Thanks Ant! (Blue, over Linvak Tukal)
- Ground Control to Major Tom... Thanks Ant! (Blue, over Linvak Tukal)
- Note to self: more feathers next time. Thanks Amun'ea! (Blue, over Cragstone)
Wrap-Up: Isaac the Wandering Scribe writes of Wardiel's defeat...
Just minutes ago the spirit of Wardiel was defeated... his master banishing him once again to the blackness. This humble scribe believes with all his heart that it was your relentless valor which bested him. Wave after wave of enemies poured into our cities, savaged our outposts... yet you did not waver in the face of peril; rather, you emerged from the fires of combat stronger than ever, tempered like the finest steel. No matter what Fortune brings to Dereth in the uncertain years ahead, this victory will be sung into the ages.
There was much heroism in the final hours, and even into the final seconds the the battle! There are many names to mention in the days to come, but I fear that there are more still which will go unknown, for even a quick traveler such as I cannot be everywhere at once. (I do wish to quickly mention the brave final defense of the Deru Tree, spearheaded by the warriors of Draco Ascendant. Well fought!)
Your Scribe appreciates all the messages you have sent, and I wish I could have replied to more of them. Keep the messages and mail coming! I do read every word, and you never know where I will appear next, or what tidbit of information I will choose to follow up on for my next dispatch. I am especially interested in your stories and pictures of the final hours, for a proper account must be pieced together from the smoking ruins and bloodstained grass that remains after Wardiel's rampage.
And now, I shall rest under the shade of the Deru Tree myself, for the last few hours of the world. Perhaps I shall see you there.
Yours,
Isaac the Bones
Wandering Scribe
<Image?:I'm a TYRANT, darnit!>