Hi folks!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of a new arena mode to Achaea!

Known in development as the "Knight mode", this new duel mode allows players to enter an arena and honourably duel each other to the death without artefacts or artefact powers influencing the outcome. Only true skill and mettle at combat will prevail!

For now, the arena mode is only available in the new Aster Malik arena, which is under the purview of Aster Malik and the Guild of Knights.

Please note that while the Aster Malik arena does not have arena fees while the new honour mode is in initial release, this is subject to change.

Upon entering the arena for an honourable duel (with the syntax CHALLENGE <player> HONOURABLY), most artefacts will be removed from a character and stored in a safe storage room. Similarly, most artefact powers will be ineffective.

Achaea will provide forged versions of all weapons and shields relevant to the character's class (e.g. if they possess a L3 longsword and Shield of Absorption, these will be temporarily replaced with a non-artefact longsword with standard weapon stats and a normal shield).

As this is a new mode, and since many classes also have unique weapon types (such as Depthswalker scythes), we will be monitoring this release in the coming weeks.

Please be sure to BUG any issues via the BUG system, and our coders will look into it as a priority!

Penned by My hand on the 19th of Scarlatan, in the year 1019 AF.