Vorringia Info : SB Discussion

New World: Vorringia (January 2004)

At long last, the ways have opened to Vorringia, ancient homelands of the Northmen. The frozen northlands have re-joined the Age of Strife, filled with new wonders and perils. Hordes of savage Northmen have spread across all fragments, building new cities and strongholds. The Beast Lords stir in the frozen wastes, and the dreaded Skinchangers, the Werebeasts, flock to answer their call. Heroes and foes with names out of legend have emerged from the frozen north. Valkyrs, the Shieldmaidens of Lashava walk the fragments again, as do the fearsome Blood Horns of the Minotaurs, the dreaded Berserks of the Northmen, and the mysterious Giant-daughters. Winter is coming, and its icy touch shall change the Age of Strife forever.

New adventuring areas for veteran and unseasoned avatars, including a new starting island
New monster encounters
Multiple Runegate chains for ease of travel around the world
Less land mass than previous world maps, promoting ease of travel and player-city proximity
Two new Freeholds, one new Safehold, and new Hamlets


Northmen Cities and Strongholds (January 2004)

With the introduction of the ancient homelands of the Northmen, we are also giving players the ability to create new Northmen themed Cities. The Barbarian Great Hall was but the first taste of this striking new architectural style, which includes all major building types and city walls made of ice!



New and Improved Disciplines (January 2004)

Powers and arts lost of old have resurfaced with the opening of Vorringia. The Wereforms and their counterpart the Huntsmen has gained new abilities. Furthermore, the arts of the Berserker, Blood Horn, and Valkyr have been brought to all the fragments of Aerynth.

Improved Werebear - G'Harron the Bear has blessed his chosen, transforming them into pillars of strength that are terrible in battle.
- Races: Half Giant & Human
- Classes: Barbarian, Druid, Ranger, and Warrior
- New skills and powers to be announced
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Improved Wererat - Skreel the Ratlord is cunning and fierce and no less are his children. The bite of the dreaded Wererat spreads pestilence and these dreaded Skinchangers often attack in swarms as their kin the rats do.
- Races Available: Human and Shade
- Classes Available: Assassin, Ranger, Scout, and Thief
- New skills and powers to be announced
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Improved Werewolf - The children of Varg the Wolf have always been the most feared of the Skinchangers. Swift and mighty in battle, they are even more devastating when they fight in packs.
- Races Available: Aelfborn and Human
- Classes Available: Bard, Druid, Ranger, and Warrior
- New skills and powers to be announced
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Improved Huntsman - Kenaryn's chosen few have learned new techniques to battle the Skinchangers, dreaded get of the Beast Lords.
- The existing Huntsman Discipline will be augmented with powers uniquely suited to counter the advanced Wereforms being offered.
- Races Available: Aelfborn, Aracoix, Centaur, Half Giant, Human, Minotaur, and Shade
- Classes Available: Barbarian, Bard, Druid, Huntress, Ranger, Scout, Thief, and Warrior
- New skills and powers to be announced
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Berserker - The dreaded killing machines of the Invorri, the Berserkers have long been thought extinct. Until now...
- Races Available: Aelfborn, Human, Shade, Half-Giant, and Minotaur
- Classes Available: Barbarian, Huntress, Ranger, and Warrior
- New skills and powers to be announced
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Blood Horn - Bathed in the blood of their enemies and sanctified by Morloch himself, Blood Horns are the pinnacle of Minotaur might and savagery. Blood Horns are usually the chieftains of their tribe and are a bane to magic users.
- Race Available: Minotaur
- Classes Available: Barbarian, Doomsayer, Warrior
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Valkyr - The devotion of Invorri to Torvald is the stuff of legend. The Northmen have other legends... Behold the Valkyr, Shieldmaidens of Lashava, who are as fell in battle as they are fair to look upon.
- New female only combat-oriented Discipline
- Races Available: Aelfborn and Human
- Classes Available: Fighter Only, Barbarian, Huntress, Ranger, and Warrior
- New skills and powers to be announced


Tears of Saedron (January, 2004)

The "Tears of Saedon" will remove a targeted Discipline Runestone if the player has spent no points on the skill it provides or has removed those skills by using a Refiner.



Female Half-Giants (January 2004)

For centuries only males have been known to have been born as Half-Giants, but the folk of Vorringia have long known legends of the "Joten's Daughters", mighty women as tall and strong as any Half Giant. Once the way to Vorringia opens, these legends will become reality, and Giant-daughters shall walk in all the fragments again.



Improved Camera (January 2004)

Camera control will be improved to make the camera system less jerky and jittery than before. Camera presets will also be added which are saved camera locations that can be activated by the touch of a button.



World Map Improvements (January 2004)

New Icons will be added to the World Map to help individuals find hunting and adventuring zones. When clicked upon, these icons will provide the name of the area and the approximate hunting level for adventuring there.



City Management Improvements (January 2004)

This will be the first pass at City and Siege improvements. This version will increase the number of protection slots that a city gets from their Runemaster as well as refine the Guard Behavior and Kill On Sight (KOS) lists. The KOS List can be reversed, so that players put 'Friended' guilds on the list, not enemies. Any Guilds or individuals not on the list will be considered Kill On Sight.



Specialist Weapons (January 2004)

In keeping with ongoing class improvements, we will add a new Ranger sword to the game which uses Beastcraft as its Focus Skill. This sword will use Dexterity to determine the maximum amount of damage and enhance the Attack Rating.



Restricted Race Experience Penalty (January 2004)

We will remove the longer experience curve modifier for the restricted races. This means that the Aracoix, Minotaur, and Centaur races will gain experience on the same level as other races in Shadowbane.