Test Realm and Updates Galore!

So the rumours were true and the Test realm is once again open for Business!

Dungeons

The first big reveal are the 4 new dungeons. A good friend to the blog - Scarlet FrogSlinger - has hinted that Myth may well be a good school for certain cards in some of these dungeons! Usual rules apply for these in the test realm, if you are a member you automatically gain access, but if you are a crowns player you can rent for 6hrs at 495 crowns each, or buy each, noted below:

Level 25+ head to the Oasis in Krokotopia  (1,245 crowns)
Level 40+ head to Regeants Square in Marleybone  (1,745 crowns)
Level 60+ head to the Krokosphinx in Krokotopia (2,495 crowns)
Level 100+ head to my little mate Dworgyn in Nightside (3,495 crowns)

You know, I think there would be plenty of Wizards that would be happy with this as the update. But there is so much more. In fact, this update is pretty huge by all accounts!

New Shadow-Enhanced Spells

All level 100+  Wizards will get the opportunity to train in a new spell for their School, and these will cost 5 pips + 1 shadow pip to cast.

Storm School: Glowbug Squallattacks all targets for 1220 Storm Damage and removes all positive Charms.

Myth School: Mystic Colossus removes all Shields and attacks for 880 Myth Damage to all targets.

Balance School: Gaze of Fate attacks for 550 Balance Damage and 550 Random School Damage.

Death School: Call of Khrulhu attacks all targets for 1100 Health Drain.

Life School: Hungry Caterpillar attacks for 950-1150 Life Damage and applies 800 Damage Absorb to the caster.

Ice School: Abominable Weaver attacks for 950-1150 Ice Damage and applies a -75% Damage Shield to the caster.

Fire School: Fire From Above attacks for 1100-1300 Fire Damage and applies 3 +25% Damage Traps to the target.

Equipment Sets

Now this is extremely useful. You know the hassle when you get to a battle, check out the enemy and know that you need to do a full gear change before you can begin? All that clicking and the time it wastes? Well no more! You can create up to 9 Equipment Sets consisting of: Hat, Robe, Boots, Wand, Amulet, Ring, Deck and Pet. (Not mounts)

Changing your gear has never been so easy!

Hoarding or Friends Galore?

Get fed up of being told that your back-pack is full, or finding that you are losing valuable treasures because you just don't have the space? Got too many friends and want to add more? Worry no more - if you are a member that is :) This update brings with it member benefits - 150 items in your backpack, 150 friends and new exclusive emotes. And as if that wasn't enough, there is promise of limited time surprises too!

Silver Chests

Now I like the old Shock-a-Lock game, but wouldn't it be awesome to have something else to play every now and then? Well you can count that wish granted too - with this update those Silver Chests will either have Shock-a-Lock or Catch-a-Key. This is a brand new mini-game!

Plenty of chance to practice in the Test Realm as all Silver Chests that you encounter will have the Catch-a-Key game.

And as if this wasn't enough there are also a heap of Quest updates and Spell improvements.

Housing

Of course no update would be complete without new Housing being available, and we are not let down on this score either. New wallpapers and floors patterns have been added to vendors around the Spiral. Personally I love it when these two items get additions, as they are the two fundamental items that can completely change the look and feel of your houses and castles. Looking forward to finding out what they are and more importantly, what the look like!

There are many other housing improvements - way too many to list here!

And now onto Crafting.

So if you thought that more Tapestries need to be available to craft then get ready to jump for joy!! Both Eudora and Padraig have new recipes for all the crafters out there and there is even a new recipe vendor in Wysteria!

Got too many fish and don't know what to do with them all? How about using them to craft some Mega-Snacks. This is a great addition for all the non-Gardening Wizards out there!

And talking of fishing there a few small updates that might please the anglers out there. This is still a fairly new past-time so don't get too excited with this one....

Gardening

There are also some gardening improvements. KI have introduced the traffic light effect for the Gardening so you can quickly tell the difference between Happy, Needy or Dying plants.

There are some other improvements, like the ability to lock seeds so you don't accidentally trash them!

Then there are a whole array of Miscellaneous improvements, again far too many to list here. The full update of the Test realm and what the new update gives you in full can here found here.

The bottom of that page also note when the test realm is open or closed.

Hope you have fun with this one. I will be waiting for it to go Live to check it out.

Until next time,

Tabitha

Ooooh - not Khrysalis Part 2 yet...

Hey Everyone,

Looks like the team at Kingsisle have been very busy listening to what everyone is asking for. I know there are plenty of Wizards who are patiently waiting for Khrysalis part 2.... but the test realm has been opened again to test some pretty exciting updates.

According to the updates page "This update is to help prepare for the Khrysalis part 2 world expansion by introducing Team Up! and Dungeon Recall. We are also looking at helping out young Fire Wizards who are just getting started."

So lets take a look!

It's like PvP for Dungeons!!

A Team Up! Button has been added to the “Press X to Enter” window of most dungeon sigils. The button allows players to find other players that want to play the same dungeon even if they’re in different realms.

When you select the Team Up! option, you will be asked to confirm your action.You cannot choose or reject the team that you are placed in. If you're not happy with the team you were placed in, simply leave the dungeon and you will leave the Team. If you leave the dungeon you will have to wait five minutes before you can Team Up! again.

Details

You will not be put on the same team as someone who you have ignored, or who has ignored you
Team Up! ignores Groups. Grouped players do not need to use Team Up! as you can just teleport to your Group members and join the dungeon together.
Team Up! does not use the 10 second sigil countdown, instead you will wait by the dungeon for others to join the team
When one player is waiting, they will wait until a second player joins
When the second player joins, a two minute timer starts. When the timer reaches zero, all players are teleported into the Dungeon
If a fourth player joins, the timer is ignored and the players are teleported right awayTeam Up! is available on most dungeons, but while this update is on the Test Realm, we encourage our players to congregate and test the Team Up & Dungeon Recall features at the following locations:

• Sunken City in Wizard City
• Waterworks
• Emperor's Retreat in Krokotopia
• Big Ben in Marleybone
• Tree of Life in MooShu
• The Great Spyre in Dragonspyre
• The Chancel in Celestia
• The Black Palace in Zafaria
• Ghost Avalon in Avalon
• Glimmering Chamber in Azteca
• Nastrond in Grizzleheim
• Tower of the Helephant in Wysteria

Ever wished you could just recall directly back to the dungeon you just left? Well now you can!

If you are defeated or teleported out of a dungeon that you were in alone, you now have the option to recall directly back to the start of that same dungeon. An icon will appear near your compass, and placing your mouse over that button will show you the Dungeon name, and a countdown timer showing how long you have before the Dungeon closes.



You will only see this icon when you have a currently recall-able dungeon available to you. If you are defeated or teleported out of a dungeon that you were exploring with other Wizards, you have the option to recall to the dungeon, but you will not see a timer.

If your friends complete the dungeon without you, you will not be able to recall to the dungeon and will receive the message that the Dungeon has been completed.If you return to an entry sigil of your currently active Dungeon, you will see the option to Resume your current dungeon.

If you choose to Resume your dungeon, you will immediately be teleported and will not have to wait for the Sigil countdown. This will prevent players from resetting your dungeon progress by joining you on the Sigils.
If you choose not to Resume your current dungeon, you will start a new Dungeon and abandon all progress in your previous version.

Fire Wizards are going to have a little more health in the early levels ( under level 15)
See the full update details for more information : https://www.wizard101.com/game/game-preview
Note: This update doesn't take into account the changes to your stats with the gear you are wearing...

In an attempt to balance the early levels of being a Fire Wizard, the health of some of the bosses on Firecat Alley are being adjusted, as well as modifications to the Fire and Ice Shields cast by creatures in Wizard City. The most noticable improvement for young Fire Wizards will be the changes to the initial damage of the Fire Elf Spell.

A great bonus is that the Fire Elf will gain varied animations. Be cool to see these, so a trip to Fire Alley in the not too distant future is on the cards!

From wizard101.com:

"Khrysalis part 2 is shaping up to be an amazing adventure. We're still continuing to shape and polish this culmination to Morganthe's story, but here's a sneak peek at some Concept art from Crescent Beach."



Hope you find this update useful, and exciting!!

Until Next Time,
Tabitha