Gather 'round the Fire - Guide to Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah

Ahoy Pirates! Here is another Pirate101 guide, this time teaching you how to successfully defeat the Troggy Chief Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah! He is a cheating boss, and uses an ability called "Sacrifice" whenever he reaches 50% health. Watch the video for more info!

Leave all criticism and any guide requests you may have below! 'Til next time Pirates!

New Wizard101 World - Azteca!

New Wizard101 World Announced! Azteca!

Hello Wizards! Today is a great day indeed for students of Ravenwood! The next world has been officially announced, and will be released to the Test Realm some time this week! Here is the official article from MMORPG.com

"Wizard101 has been on the scene for several years now and is one of the most innovative and successful family-friendly MMOs out there. Recently, Austin-based KingsIsle Studio launched its second title, Pirate101. Clearly KingsIsle is doing something right.

With Pirate101’s launch, however, small waves of concern have begun to ripple throughout the Wizard101 community. ‘What will happen to our game?’ ‘Are all of the developers now working on Pirate101 and leaving just a skeleton crew for our game?’

These are all fair questions and things that need to be answered. I had the distinct pleasure of talking with Wizard101 Producer Leah Ruben. Right out the gate, and without even being asked, she told me that Wizard101’s team is big, thriving and committed to keep the content coming for ardent Wizard101 players. In fact, Leah told me, the team is bigger now than it was at launch.

“Rest assured,” she said. “We’re still going strong.”

If the numbers are any indication, KingsIsle still has a winner in Wizard101. There are over thirty million registered players and the metrics indicated that over twenty million unique visitors per month check out the W101 site.

Going strong indeed!

What better way to prove just how committed KingsIsle is to its flagship title than with the announcement that Wizard101 will be seeing another world launching this year! That’s right. We have the inside story about the second major world addition to Wizard101 in 2012.

Called “Azteca”, the new world is one filled with dinosaurs. You read it right: DINOSAURS! Azteca is packed with thirteen separate zones and filled with quests enough to help players reach the astonishing new level cap of 90, up from 80 after Avalon’s release in May.

Azteca also comes with new epic high-level class-specific spells, and new Astral spells. The W101 team has gone back to making flashing awesome cinematic spells that have wowed players forever. But what makes these new spells even more incredible is that they will be themed to Azteca’s environments.

Players will have a dual purpose in Azteca: Morganthe is making an appearance there complete with her minions and monstrous hordes. Players will face off against the Hungry Dead, Morganthe’s Umbra Legion, and the dread Comet Xibalba. And if that’s not enough, we were teased with this comment:

“Somebody will be coming back to assist Morganthe. Players will recognize this character.”

What? Who could it possibly be? Leah wouldn’t tell me but rest assured that it will be surprising.

The secondary purpose players will be working to accomplish in Azteca is the rescue of the world’s residents: Aztecosaurs, Avians, and Jaguars. Aztecosaurs have been living underground for ten years, the same amount of time that it was thought that the Azteca world was lost to the ages. But with the threat of the Comet Xibalba, they have resurfaced and send a messenger to find help from others in the Spiral. The Aztecosaurs send out a Quetzal Messenger with their request for assistance and a key to reopen the world to other residents of the Spiral. They will need all the help they can get as the Messenger comes to request aid chased by Morganthe’s hordes.

Leah assured me that there will be plenty of things for players to do. There will be new epic Azteca-themed gear and housing decorations to find as well as the chance to face off against one of Wizard101’s meanest baddies, Morganthe…and her mysterious accomplice.

The best part about this entire revelation from Leah and KingsIsle is the announcement that Azteca will be placed on the Public Test Realm later this week! It may seem like short notice, but the team wanted to give players a completely unexpected surprise and boy have they!

It seems abundantly clear that KingsIsle is as committed as ever to Wizard101 with its unprecedented release of a second major world in a single year.

Will you be checking out Azteca? Let us know in the comments!"

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So what are your opinions on Azteca? Who is Morganthe's mysterious new ally? So many questions that need answers! I will see you in the test realm later this week!

Journal of a Dead-Eye Pirate - Chapter 4: The Gold Monkey

Ahoy pirates! It is I Dead-Eye Dustin! I have successfully recovered Captain Gunn's treasure, and now I am encouraged by Captain Avery to complete another daring task! He wishes to set up a trade company with the Monquistadors, but they're not very... open... to the rest of the spiral. It is my job to present some of Captain Gunn's treasure as gift to the Monquistadors in request for a trade company. When I got to Puerto Mico, a Monquistan Territory on Skull Island, things didn't exactly go as planned... The majordomo was not fond of my "outfit" so I had to get another one.

The majordomo gave it to me himself!

Aren't I stunning?! These clothes are definitely my style. I finally was dressed well enough to speak with the Governor!

He wasn't very enthusiastic about my trade offer, apparently. So he sent me to do some things that would prove my interest in helping the Monquistadors.

I spoke with Bishop Hidalgo, who sent me to the Isle of Doom to bring back the long lost Gortez home. Apparently he was sent their to investigate something known as "The Gold Monkey," but he never came back! So it was now my duty to get him back. During my journey for Gortez I fought many vicious enemies!

I managed to defeat every enemy that dared encounter me! Eventually, I found Gortez...

He wasn't exactly what I expected, but he did put up a good fight! I took him as my prisoner and returned to Puerto Mico!

When I returned, however, there was new governor! Apparently the first wasn't fit for the job... This new governor had no idea what I had been doing, so she told me to deliver Gortez to the Holy Monquisition, and speak with the King and Queen of Monquista. What an interesting change in events this has been! I'll write more when I arrive in Monquista! Until next time pirates!

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Wondering about the missing story in between the this and the previous chapter? Stay tuned for information on the The Lost Pages of Dead-Eye Dustin, a new contest coming soon!

After some consideration, and feedback from readers, I have decided to discontinue the use of "Pirate Talk," as some Pirates felt it was difficult to read and hard to understand the story. If you prefer the original text, don't be afraid to contact me at dustin@gemofthespiral.com! All opinions will be considered!

Here Comes the Sun - Guide to The Gold Monkey: Gortez

Ahoy pirates! Here is my second video tutorial guide for Pirate101. This time I show you how to successfully defeat Gortez! All criticism is welcome, and any requests you may have, please leave in the comments below!

 

See ya next time Pirates!

The Great Skull Island Scavenger Hunt!

Ahoy pirates! Welcome to the Great Skull Island Scavenger Hunt! Marco Pollo sent me a special map with two codes, but I must first make sure the recipients are worthy of such a great reward... Below are six pictures of objects located throughout Skull Island. In order to prove yourself, you must be one of the first two pirates to take a picture of yourself standing with these items! The next three people to send their pictures will receive a Wizard101 Pack of their choice. All pictures should be sent (in one email when you are finished) to dustinfiregem@gmail.com. The contest has ended. All winners should contact me if they have not received their prize yet.

But wait, I feel as though I should give a little help... Below are clues associated with each picture!

Clue 1: I run up and down a hill all day long! You can't catch me!

Clue 2: There's a lot of water in the mouth of the ruins.

Clue 3: Marco Pollo wrote, "I am stuck inside a cave due to a Cutthroat blockade... I must make camp here!"

Clue 4: Fin Dorsal loves stealing things, especially this falcon!

Clue 5: Row, row, row your boat, gently down the- OOP EEP OOK LOK!

Clue 6: What a nice view of the island this bird has!

Some of you may be asking what the special prize from Marco Pollo is? Let's just say it will be an... interesting... addition to your crew! Still not sure? Click here!

Marco Pollo's Map!

Ahoy mateys! Yesterday I received some mail from Marco Pollo himself, and he was kind enough to give me a duplicate of his map that would help me gain a new ally in my crew! This isn't an ordinary "X Marks the Spot" kind of map though, I needed to solve puzzles to get me reward!

From the journal of Marco Pollo -

In my voyage across the Spiral, on the world of Mooshu, I discovered a powerful and invaluable treasure: selfless loyalty in the form of a pledge of service to any who decipher the secrets embedded within this precious map. My map has other uses... secret uses beyond showing the path to El Dorado. I have concealed five sets of codes within my map to grant this sacred gift to those who are worthy. Yet this trust is not to be taken lightly, so two additional sets of codes are interspersed to mislead the unworthy. The five proper codes, placed together in the right order, will yield that great treasure, while the two lesser codes, placed together in their own correct order, will send travelers to another place with its own reward. This may be for naught however. My map is the key to a power so great and terrible that I must take extraordinary measures. I will tear it into seven pieces and scatter those pieces across the Spiral. In time, perhaps it can be restored through the greatest effort... but that time is still to come. For now, perhaps the codes I have hidden within the pieces of my map can be of use against the forces of tyranny and evil.

And thus I began my journey for the codes! Now I've heard that I was only one of the few people who received this map, and since my code can be given to two more lucky pirates, I will be sharing it; for a price of course!

Just as Marco Pollo did, I will be sending YOU on a treasure hunt throughout Skull Island! The first two to complete the treasure hunt will receive the code from Marco Pollo's map, and the following three winners will receive a Wizard101 Pack (subject to change) of their choice. Much more detailed information will be announced in the coming hours, and it will start sometime tomorrow morning, so follow my twitter (@DustinFiregem) for updates! The official start time will be announced on my twitter sometime tonight and then added to this post. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!

Good luck pirates!

Pirate101 Officially Released & New Commercial!

Ahoy mateys! Pirate101 has officially been released to the public! I can't wait to see you all on the skyways!