Newsletter - April 2... - Page 1 • Avalore

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PSA Newsletter - April 2025 (#6)
Started by Charybdis

Charybdis

the personality hire

Administrator Community

Pronouns: any

Characters: Marguerite, Hypnos Fesyla, & 'Squire'

About 1 year ago • Last edited: about 1 year ago

┌─── ∘ April 2025 Newsletter ∘ ───┐
Snowmelt, Season of Vernus
Year 1641

	“The first season, remarking growth and regrowth, begins each calendar year. Life flourishes in verdant green and prepares its buds for the Summer season to follow.”
	- Standard Calendar, from The Compendium

Happy New Year (in-character, at least)! March has been a month with many updates. Going forwards, Avalore's public changelogs main updates will be featured in the newsletter; smaller tweaks and minutiae however will be not, so make sure to take a look if you need!

The Fey Trial sub-campaign has come to a conclusion with the end of the Human Festival. A summary post will be made soon.

A feedback survey for magic is being run. If you play a mage, please give us your feedback [here]!
April 2025 Community Update and Q&A was done on April 6th. A summary can be found [here].

° New & Upcoming

Lore Updates

Lore Compendium

Released the Korami Expansion, including Provinces and the Great Clans. [Ko'ram] [Great Clans of Ko'ram]
Expanded The Spire's lore. [The Spire]
Expanded The Wall's lore. [The Wall]
Replaced AI placeholder art for the following Compendium pages:

- Valks
- Walljacks
- Falstoner
- Aedall
- Korami
Published lore for Albern Crossing. [Albern Crossing]
The minimum height for the Fey-Touched has been clarified as 3'8". [Fey-Touched]

Bestiary

The woglet, a submission from @Wake, was added to the Bestiary. [Beasts of the Realm]
Released the Mournshade, a new bestiary entry. [Beasts of the Realm]

Systems Updates

Arcane

A Feedback Survey for Magic is being run. Please give us your feedback [here]!
New Artifice Patron Xinshi has been released. [Xinshi]
Mage Initiation mechanic added to forums. [Mage Initiation]
Mage Application page updated to include Conduit. [Mage Application]
The new, updated cantrips have been posted. [Grimoire]
- Repair was removed.
- Dampen renamed to Waterweave.
- Within the next week (or so), you will be able to freely re-spec your cantrips. Please note we are now strictly enforcing the rule of 1 patron cantrip, 1 general cantrip. They are listed separately.
Arcane Weapons have been added. [Weapon Templates]
- Arcane Staff: a 2-action melee weapon that does 5 damage and is rolled with a 2d10+3.
- Arcane Wand: a 1-action skirmishing weapon that does 2 AP damage and is rolled with a 2d10+2.
- Spellbook: a 2-action ranged weapon that does 4 AP damage and is rolled with a 2d10+3.

Combat & Feats

Many combat mechanics recently clarified. [Systems Changelog]
Feat updates: [Feats]
- Bardic Inspiration: Playing can now be interrupted if the bard suffers an attack, and performance requires two actions.
  - We've added a new mechanic to improve the feel of Bardic Inspiration and adjusted the Block mechanic to improve the versatility of shields. [Mechanics]
    - Harmonic Resonance further rewards bards from stacking their effects by allowing them to reach a wider audience and have a greater presence in events (effectively bringing their effect-stacked targets from 4 -> 7).
      - For each Bard that joins their efforts with another the number of targets affected by their performance is increased by 1.
    - Blocking was updated to allow a shield-bearer to declare their block action for another character within melee range. This effectively allows them to defend another character with their shield.
- Nature's Touch: Feat owners are also able to interact more easily with non-hostile wild animals.
- Rage: Blocking rolls now also get a bonus from Rage.
- Siren's Singer: Effect now counters the effects of Bardic Inspiration and Vicious Mockery, but can be resisted.
- Skewer: Damage is now lowered for each enemy struck by the skewer.
- Skirmishing Party: Reworked. Now grants an AOE boon to party members.
- Steadfast Defender (renamed from Polearm Reach): Reworked. Now applies to more weapon categories, and requires an action.
- Dual Striker: Added unarmed template.
- Quickfooted: Added Arcane Staff template to Quickfooted bonus.
- Shieldmaster: Added Arcane Wand template to Shieldmaster bonus.
- Sanctuary: Penalty changed from -1 HAR to -1 Belief.
- LW: Flexible Design: Clarified that it can only be changed once per turn, as a free action.
- Harder Punch: Ranged weapons are now usable, but with a penalty.
- Whirling Devil: Now requires two actions.
- Obsessive (Hindrance): Penalty increased to -3.
New feats added.
- Fanning Blade: When wielding a throwing knife, meteor hammer, sling, or arcane wand, you spread your attack as a Limited Action: make one attack roll for every target in a 5x5 area in front of you, with a -1 aim penalty for each attack roll. Any allies in this zone are also at risk of being hit and you must target everyone within the area.
- Halfsword: When wielding an arming sword or finesse blade you can declare your attack as a half-sword attack, which grants it armor piercing at the cost of -1 to its damage for that attack. You must have a free hand to half-sword.
- Backline Flanker: When wielding a Skirmishing weapon, roll a +1 bonus to all weapon attacks on targets in melee range with an ally. This bonus lasts until you take damage in combat.
- Death's Dance: You fight on, even when your lifeblood drips upon the ground. Once per turn, you can use an offensive action without triggering a Death Save. Mutually exclusive with Second Wind and Evasive Tactics.
- Second Wind: You shall not falter. Once per fight, during your turn, you can use a free action to heal yourself for HP equal to your STR: Fortitude. Mutually exclusive with Death's Dance and Evasive Tactics.
- Trailblazer: “You’ve spent more time traversing the woods than most.” This feat is tailored for trackers, trappers, foragers, and all in between!
- Folk Hero: “Be it through story or song, your good deeds are well known among serfs and commoners throughout the lands.” This feat is tailored for the homely heroes, ready to tackle tough situations in creative ways.
- Dubious Origins: “There is honor among thieves, or so they say.” This feat is tailored for shady individuals, anyone who might have an ‘in’ with the underbelly of the world.
- Courtly Esteem: “Your bearing and appearance hold the likeness of nobility.” This feat is tailored for those of noble origin, expensive tastes, and high social repute.
- Scholarly Acumen: “You've spent a long time in the halls of academia and know the ins-and-outs of scholarly debate.” This feat is tailored for the nerds, academics, and scholarly types within Avalore.
- Golden Touch: “Whether a merchant trading fine silks, an experienced artisan, or an appraiser with a keen eye, you understand the intricacies of material goods.” This feat is tailored to the savvy traders and crafters, never to be scammed.
- Corporeal Weapon (mutant) allows you to reshape your very arms into weapons of flesh and bone.
- Inhuman Resilience (mutant) gives you a superhuman healing factor.
- LW: Mastery of The Elements lets you master more than just one element with your Lineage Weapon.
- Two Birds One Stone is on the nose - one bolt, two targets. Only for crossbows.
Major reworks to death related feats such as Death's Dance and Deathcry. Two new death related feats added (above). [Feats]
- Evasive Tactics: Dodge and weave. When critical, the first grazing hit you take each round does not trigger a Death Save. Mutually exclusive with Death's Dance and Second Wind.
- Deathcry → Adrenal Rush (Mutant Feat): You tap into unnatural strength at your most dire moments. When you enter critical, immediately take any single action. This action does not provoke Death Saves. Additionally, you don't provoke Death Saves when taking self-inflicted damage (e.g. Rage). While in critical, if you critically succeed any check, you stabilize at 1 HP.

Alchemy

Added new reagents, as well as their essences, to the alchemy system.

Bloodweed: An incredibly common and toxic plant that grows throughout the world, it is made easily accessible through its uncontained growth. As loved as it is loathed, bloodweed gets its name from the deep scarlet of its fronds and the appearance of its sap when distilled.
Ocean's Fruit: A rare fruit that grows in bushels within the depths of the oceans. Because of its thick outer skin, it can survive the rough journey from sea to shore. The flesh of the fruit tastes salty and refreshing.

Crafting

Crafting recipes for Arcane Weapons have been added in-game. [Crafting]

Arcane Staff: 3x Wooden Stake, 1x Diamond, Opal, Amethyst, Moonstone, Aqueous Arcane Crystal, Emerald or Sapphire. Quality determined by HAR: Arcana.
Arcane Wand: 1x Wooden Stake, 1x Diamond, Opal, Amethyst, Aqueous Arcane Crystal, Moonstone, Emerald or Sapphire. Quality determined by HAR: Arcana
Spellbook: 3x Parchment, 1x Leather, 1x Diamond, Opal, Amethyst, Moonstone, Aqueous Arcane Crystal, Emerald or Sapphire. Quality determined by HAR: Arcana.

Community Updates

General

The first Avalore Semiannual Community Survey has concluded. A breakdown of numbers can be found [here].

Website & Forums

Added Members page
Custom trophy art added for:
- Pre-launch
- Signing up
- Secret third one ;)
Added Figura Setup & Usage Guide
Changed 'Help' section to 'Guides'
Made Community Changelog public. [Changelog]
Made Lore Changelog public. [Changelog]
- Credit to @dogshitfartelectric for the changelog formatting and ideas
Linked our guides in the Getting Started page at the top and bottom
Expanded formerly known as 'Staff Drafts' to full Staff subforum

Discord

Added #notice-board channel to differentiate from #event-announcements
- Opt-in ping @Notice Board also added
Deleted #staff-directory in favour of Members page
Added #photo-album for players to submit images, currently managed by @cosmic_evil
Increased slow-mode in #event-announcements to 30 minutes
Increased slow-mode in #feedback-suggestions to 10 minutes
Bot updates:
- Replaced Dynamico with TempVoice (former went full premium-only) for temporary user-created voice channels
- Replaced YAGPDB starboard function with Starboard Bot
- Added Apollo as Event Bot for player event scheduling and reminders
Test-run for a new channel called #commission-info
- Slow-mode is 12 hours and is operated by YAGPDB bot due to 6 hour maximum slowmode through regular Discord
General re-organization of channels and categories

Technical Updates

In-Game

/mutejoin added to mute all join and quit messages.
Grimoire visual overhaul for /grimoire.
XP plugin now keeps track of extra XP given over the 200 XP cap. You can see any extra XP gained in your /xp log. This XP currently has no use.
All players now have access to 1 player vault. Use /pv 1 to open it. Contributors currently have access to 2 (use /pv 1 and /pv 2).

° Player Events & Projects
Player-lead events and projects of Avalore, curated by the editor and Community Team to feature for the month.

Player Events

Recurring - Foraging in the Reach: Enter for a chance to win a DMed foraging mini-event trip!
Recurring - Nutward Putward Cave: "A number of groups have taken interest in the rumors of the recently found, recently named Nutward Putward Cave just north of town and a bit off the beaten path, due to its uncharted and labyrinthine tunnels, small bounty of crystals, and other details. While nothing sinister no fearsome creatures have been found lurking within the cave as of yet, it is full of narrow passageways, rough edges, and flooded chambers, and should be navigated accordingly."
Recurring - Cleaning Up the Beach: "Senia Ramaah, in service of the Siren Serene, is leading weekly efforts to clean up the beaches of the Spire. Picking up trash, helping beached animals, collecting driftwood, and many more tasks are to be done to ensure the beaches are safe and clean. All are welcome to attend, but be prepared to work."
Recurring - Saturday Night Improv: "Commedia dell'Arte! Pair up, take a prompt and act your best! All in good spirits and company!"

Editor's Pick
The editor's top pick for this month's player projects. The featured player earns 2 XP!

Spire Public Library Catalogue by @Faye Spiritscribe - A comprehensive, player-made Avalore Library Classification System. By using this system, librarian characters can categorize, sort, and easily find information for citizens of the Spire. This system includes media of all types, from books, to poetry, to music, and even newspaper articles!

Player Projects

° Player Photos
Players are able to submit photos through our Photo Album forum (via our Discord server) to be featured in our newsletter, and even used as promotional material for Avalore!