Inside Look at the Test Realm Updates

Well, those awesome Stormgate Pirates riddles have kept me a little bit busy the past couple of days, but I'm here now and ready to give you all an inside look at what's new in the Test Realm. Whether you've caught a glimpse, or already seen everything, I promise that there's something in here for you. Note that these are just updates to the Test Realm. The original changes are noted HERE.

PvP to Permanently Change With New Gear

Probably the biggest change to the Test Realm was the addition of Warlord gear, as well as other new pieces for lower ranks. Though it requires Warlord to obtain, there is no level requirement. With critical on the wand and a couple pieces of the gear, it has people wondering if we're introducing those elements too early. Before I take a stance, here's a video to show you all of the new gear, plus the newly added reagents, housing items, and kiosks for your home!

Here's what I think - the gear should at least have the critical changed to block. Low levels need that for when they're facing higher levels. People do mid-level PvP to escape critical, or so I'm told. I also wouldn't be disappointed if these were level restricted.

I do see a huge plus to these. For a long time, duelists have said that the fact that pack gear is available only through crowns packs is unfair. And I'll have to admit, the gear from some of these packs will certainly outdo anything I could craft, buy, or farm for. So, with these new super-powered items, I figured it'd cancel out that previous issue. However, Mercenary Katherine Light mentioned that the wand has close to 100 less block than pack wands, and it won't work for PvE.

I can see that, but I also think that PvE is manageable with lesser pieces of gear, and PvP is where you want every edge possible. That being said, I don't think they'll change all of the pack gear, so I think that making very powerful arena-only gear might be the only solution. I should note that this newest gear is cheaper than its older counterparts, and yet, more powerful. Hmm... I also wish that it required Warlord to equip, not buy. That way, people couldn't get it on one character and trade it to another that was a Private. Plus, then you'd be able to buy it before Warlord for stitching.

A New Way to Listen

There's a new music box! It looks like a Wizard City tower, and when you click "x" to play it, the top comes off, and a variety of little cutouts put on a minor show that's pretty interesting.

Don't take my word for it, though - I've made an animation here that should loop for you. Click on it to see it larger, there's some detail in this one.

First, the top is removed. Then, two flags come up. Then a male and female wizard. The sun follows. Then there're the trumpets.

This new item is crafted from Torald, the recipe vendor in Grizzleheim. It is labelled Crowns Only, so it'll likely be part of a pack or bundle in the near future. Now, here's hoping for a jukebox! Thanks to Paige Moonshade for showing me this music box!

Gardeners, Don't Fret

The update notes specify that pixies will no longer remain on plants when they die. Every plant around one with a pixie can like it, so gardeners would previously grow a plant until it had a pixie, and then, instead of harvesting it at elder and the pixie going away, they let it die, and it became a permanent "like." While this wasn't originally intended, gardeners were majorly disappointed in the change. However, there's something new that they might like.

There's a new gardening spell for 25 energy that costs 200,000 gold from the vendor in Abbey Road, Avalon. It's called Summon Pixie, and it allows you to instantly have a pixie on your plants. Because everything around it will like the pixie, you may only have to do one or two plants, so this is a great alternative.

Because I Love Animations...

You saw the new PvP wand in the video, but what about its animation close-up? Is it the height of the Amaranthine Staff or shorter? How does it work?

Seeing it is pretty rare right now, because having it means that you have to re-level to Warlord in the Test Realm and then buy it.

I caught a quick glimpse of the staff in the Test Realm from one PvP Warlord who was ready to display her newest prize, and made a quick animation for your viewing - and it only reinforces my desire for this staff's look.

In my opinion, it's a perfect height, with energy running up along the top of the staff, and a 3D PvP symbol spinning around up top. Now there's the mark of a PvPer.

Thanks to Ashley Legend for allowing me to see her staff.

The One Opinion Left

...is yours. I know there's a great variety of them regarding these updates. First, let me say that KingsIsle is not ever going to make a PvP update that absolutely everyone agrees with. They're going to have to take steps that they feel are in the best direction for the game. But I'm sure they, and I, would love your feedback. What do you think?

Thanks for reading, and see you in the Spiral!