What the alpha gained this week

The alpha is running, and over the last few days it has gained more content than polish. Here is what has been in the game since 30 October.

Skills through use. The character window has a “Skills” tab. Weapon skill rises when you fight with a weapon family, and defence grows in melee combat. You learn weapon families from a trainer. Your level sets the upper limit, and training dummies do not take you all the way: the last step only comes from real enemies. We are curious whether the pace feels right and welcome your feedback in the questionnaire.

48 new items, with a choice. There are 48 new items for levels 1 to 15. At the end of the new quests and of eight existing quests you choose which item you want. Bosses have new loot too. Items can bind on pickup, on equip or on use; the tooltip tells you which kind applies.

Rarity you can read. The rarity tiers have a new colour order, and each tier also carries rank notches. If you have trouble telling colours apart, read the rank from the notches.

Food and drink from nothing. Mages conjure food and drink. What they conjure is worthless and fades if you stay offline for more than a quarter of an hour. It is provisions for the road, not a trade good.

Combat and world. Area spells now need line of sight: the spell does not hit what is behind a wall. The first keepsakes recall finished quest chains. Directions are graded: guards mark your destination on the map, locals describe nearby places, and everyone else points you to the guard.

A face for your own frame. Your portrait shows in your player frame, on a side you choose. The character window also has a back slot. The cloaks themselves are still missing; they follow.

What is in progress. No dates and no promises: an auction house for trade between players, first at market stalls, then in the capital and later in neutral cities; a professions trial with herbalism, alchemy and first aid; more looks and gear ensembles; a first set of twelve more quests; livelier villages and finished canal banks in Lanterhall. Chapter 2 up to level 25, with a new coastal area and a second dungeon, is in preparation.

To join, sign up for the waitlist under “Join in”. Places are limited, the alpha is free, and donations give no priority. Bugs belong in the bug form, impressions in the questionnaire, and what is built and what is not is listed on the status page. Progress is not guaranteed to survive in the alpha; the alpha agreement governs.

Saltwarden Online is inspired by classic MMORPGs and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any other game or its publisher.