Happy New Year, Solaria!

Good evening, Solarians!

Since it is officially 2023 in Wales, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year wherever you are in the world! I wish you all greatness in the coming year and the best of wishes with your new years resolutions, should you make any!

I have a few surprises for you all, but first I wanted to take the opportunity to thank some awesome people for this past year - the first year of the Kiamaras ARPG!

Firstly, I would love to thank our wonderful TestSubject0000 for all his hard work getting this site updated and running for us all. It's without a doubt that we would not be here without him and I truly believe what he does is magic. Thank you for helping us cultivate such an amazing community, putting up with my cries for help over trivial things, and just being an amazing guy - I think I say it for all of us in Kias that we truly appreciate everything you do and cannot wait to see what else you have in store for us all!

Secondly, I want to thank Free-Shade and ThePaintedKitsune for being absolutely amazing admin assistants who have been incredible help throughout this first year as an ARPG. Thank you for always being my voices of reason and helping out in the trickiest of situations.

I also want to thank our Archivist team for being so on-top of uploads and edits for the community. Words cannot express how much I appreciate all the time you put into archive and moderation work and all the elbow grease you put into the species to keep it running smoothly!

I also want to thank all our Artist Team for the amazing contributions to the species you have brought this year. I personally think that we have had some of the best designs kiamaras has seen, some of the nicest transfers made, and the nursery kiddos have been amazing!

I want to also personally thank Chimericect for being an incredible help with rolling prompts. You put in ~~too much~~ so much effort to help the ARPG continuously keep running, and we all truly appreciate everything you do <3

And I also want to thank Zuppe for all the beautiful hard work they have put into lore-building so far for the species - I really cannot stress how much I am looking forward to seeing what else you bring to the species!

A shoutout to Icescape as well who has been our resident bug-finder and has helped out by vigorously testing the site in their own time to help us improve every step of the way <3

Balloonist who has to put up with all my stress and look after bubs to even give me the opportunity to work on this as my job <3

And finally, all of you guys.
I know this hasn't been the easiest transition for a species, but I want to stress that if it wasn't for you guys, I honestly don't know where I would be as an artist and as a person. This was a big make-or-break for me and it took a huge leap of faith to get here. It's been very rocky, especially with balancing my work and home life, but seeing how much you guys enjoy the species and want to see it thrive and also support the vision of the ARPG and want to see where it goes; well, that's something I will always cherish for years and years to come. Thank you all for putting your faith into the species as an ARPG, for your patience when I have been poofy due to IRL things as we balance the first-time-parent and working-from-home things, and I really, really hope you guys enjoy what else we have in store for you in the future;w;

Now, for some long overdue updates for you all on where we are and what we have planned! 

NEw dawn 2023 will be releasing at 10pm GMT on the 1st of January

That's right! Gus Gus is back with his famous Sun Cookies ready to help bring the New Dawn cheer and warm bellies on these cold nights! Though, there's one issue... There's a lot more of you this year than last year! Last year, Gus needed help finding the cookies he lost and this year, he's asking you to help make Sun Cookies for the demanding masses!

This short, but fun, event will last from the 1st of January until the 8th of January with short, fun prompts for you to enter into with easy and quick-to-gain rewards, including a new pet or two as-well-as some items from last year for those who missed them! 

Main Story Progression

It's been a year since the Calamity occurred and we are still no closer to answers, however, there has been a whisper in the wind about a specific underground ruin that gus broke into during Hearth Fire. Apparently, according to reports from the Hunters of Verulia, there has been strange and unique creatures slipping through the cracks into Solaria's realm, and some of them are hostile. Another report from a manahunter suggests that upon getting closer to the location, they heard the same whirring sound that occurs the closer you get to the Calamity. Perhaps the two are connected, but if they are we do not yet know... 

The beginning of the main story, with the first quest being "Hunter's Report" will have you exploring the area around this location. Who knows; maybe one of you lucky, or unlucky, beings will end up uncovering something for the community? 

This quest will be going live on the 21st of January 2023. 

Factions

Got a favourite guild you're a part of? Maybe you like the idea of siding with a so-called deity? Well, with the faction system you can show your affinity with pride! Factions will bring a whole lot of different loot drops and perks based on your affinity with them and the choices you make in game! We are looking for a mid-to-late spring release for factions! 

Profile customisation

One of the things we wanted to tackle is profile customisation, for both free profiles and paid. Paid profiles will be for appearances only and have no in-game perks, but we have a lot of plans to make them special. Free profiles will also have some customisation options implemented and an overall appearance change. Also, dark mode anyone? 
We hope to bring all these changes by summer 2023! 

More immediately; a rare MYO for everyone to celebrate Kiamaras first year as an arpg

For the entire week that New Dawn is live, you will be able to obtain a single Rare MYO from his stall once the event is live, for free! 

Thank you all for your ongoing support - Happy New Year!