Summer Solstice 2019

{{event|
 * holiday=Summer Solstice
 * status=current
 * year=2019
 * date_from=June 21
 * date_to=July 8
 * creator=Shadowfax
 * builders=
 * highlights=
 * new_areas=
 * code_advancement=
 * theme=battlegrounds
 * event_areas=
 * summary=The Summer Solstice Celebration 2019 was an event organized by Shadowfax that ran throughout the latter part of June and into July 2019. The event featured two long scenarios and three short scenarios.  The first were the Endless Waltz and Shoot-the-Curl quests, and the latter were the battleground missions.

Last summer, there were two different versions of the popular Puzzlewood Forest area, a solo version and a group version. Either a solo or a group version had been provided in previous summer events, and 2018 was the first year to provide both. To further distinguish the two zones from one another, the solo version was renamed "Starving Rock" and redesigned into a somewhat smaller, circular area (as opposed to the rectangular Puzzlewood Forest). Several of the monsters were changed to better fit the new setting, and many others had their special attacks changed to be more appropriate for one-on-one fights.
 * preevent=

The Puzzlewood Forest has become something of a tradition. Having gone through several iterations, the two most popular versions were used in last year's event. This year starts another tradition, further differentiating between the two event scenarios, by renaming and reconstructing the solo version as "Starving Rock". This name was inspired by the legendary Illinois landmark called "Starved Rock", famous for the vicious, vengeful genocide of the eponymous Illini tribe by the Ottawa and Potawatomi. The Illiniwek fled to the butte for safety, but their attackers pursued and laid siege. Surrounded by enemies and unable to escape, legend has it that the entire tribe starved to death atop the rock.
 * history=

{{MUDdisplay| Welcome to the seventh annual Summer Solstice Celebration!
 * story=

The war between the Naginag Combine and the Duchy of Takar is heating up. With the latter desperate to break the siege of its capitol, Takari mages have devised a new strategy to drive the Combine from ducal lands. In an effort to counter this new strategy, the Naginag Combine needs every mercenary that they can get to put down this new threat to their operations in the Dunn Hurr.

Three battlegrounds are now available! You can join the fight via 'event start'. The minimum level for these battleground zones is 30. They are intended to challenge small groups, and at least one group member should know the 'dispel magic' spell. Mission quests can be completed multiple times and in any order. (Special thanks to Colonel, Rhorae and Sandman for playtesting.)

We also have two longer scenarios available for play: Endless Waltz and Shoot-the-Curl. The first is a single player autolevelling zone, while the latter is a high level group zone with wave after wave of monsters of increasing strength!

The "Endless Waltz" scenario is for players of all levels. To complete the scenario, you must defeat 1500 monsters. Monsters in the "Endless Waltz" area will autolevel to be a challenge for your level but will not increase in strength (unless you level up). You can leave the area and start a new instance at will, and will pick up where you left off in the monster death count.

To complete the "Shoot-the-Curl" challenge, you must survive 41 waves of monsters, with each new wave more difficult than the last. If an instance washes, then the waves will restart at Wave 0 in any new instance. You receive credit for slaying monsters that are of equal or greater wave than the quest you're currently working toward. For example, if you are working on Wave 2 (as indicated in your 'quests' command) and join a group that is working on Wave 10, then you will receive credit for Wave 2.

Happy summer, everybody! }}


 * schedule=

{{{!}} class="wikitable" ! Date ! Summary {{!}}- {{!}} June 21 {{!}} The Starving Rock and Puzzlewood areas are opened. {{!}}- {{!}} June 25 {{!}} Act 1 of the main story was released. {{!}}- {{!}} June 27 {{!}} Act 2 of the main story was released. {{!}}- {{!}} July 2 {{!}} Act 3 of the main story was released. {{!}}- {{!}} July 8 {{!}} End all events and close event areas. {{!}}}

The two long scenarios were:
 * areas=


 * Starving Rock - Endless Waltz (108)
 * Puzzlewood Forest - Shoot-the-Curl (137)

The main story event areas were:


 * Battleground #1 (151)
 * Battleground #2 (152)
 * Battleground #3 (153)

The following visible event quests were displayed on the 'event list' command:
 * quests=

{{MUDdisplay| Current Event Quests:

Vnum  Name

30511 Completed Mission 1 of the Summer Solstice Celebration 2019 event 30811 Completed Mission 2 of the Summer Solstice Celebration 2019 event 63303 Completed Mission 3 of the Summer Solstice Celebration 2019 event 32001 Killed 100 monsters in the Endless Waltz scenario of 2019 32005 Killed 500 monsters in the Endless Waltz scenario of 2019 32010 Killed 1000 monsters in the Endless Waltz scenario of 2019 32015 Killed 1500 monsters in the Endless Waltz scenario of 2019 32130 Completed Wave 0 of the Shoot-the-Curl scenario in 2019 32140 Completed Wave 10 of the Shoot-the-Curl scenario in 2019 32150 Completed Wave 20 of the Shoot-the-Curl scenario in 2019 32160 Completed Wave 30 of the Shoot-the-Curl scenario in 2019 32170 Completed Wave 40 of the Shoot-the-Curl scenario in 2019 }}

Battleground missions could be completed up to 12 times.

Mission 1
The goal of Mission 1 was to eliminate all of the portals in the immediate area, as explained by the briefing officer:

The black glowing portals would frequently disgorge more enemies to fight. Once all twenty portals were dispelled, any players in the area were transported back to the briefing tent, where they could finish the mission by talking to the briefing officer:

Mission 2
Mission 2 was an escort mission, explained as follows when started:

The Combine soldier to be escorted was Sergeant Sangreal, a red murlock. Sangreal was a level 14 character who used druid spells for offense and cleric spells for defense and healing. (Given her level and spell selection, she was presumably an adept-level biomancer.) While she was able to hold her own against the enemy for a short while, she would eventually be overrun if not saved by players.

Once again, black glowing portals would frequently generate more enemies to fight, but these could be avoided as dispelling every last one was not necessary to complete the mission.

Once she was successfully lead back to the supply tent, the sergeant would thank players for rescuing her and dash off to report for her debriefing. The mission would conclude as such:

Mission 3
Mission 3 was a bit different that the other two, though it began like the others by talking to the briefing officer to start:

A few portals vomited out enemies to slow players down, but these would largely be ignored as players struggled to put out the flames using ice and water spells before time ran out. After half of the fires were put out, the thoqqua would emerge and have to be dealt with, or it would spawn more fires to fight. The fires became more powerful the longer they persisted. Should the players be victorious, they were transported back to the briefing officer:


 * items=

Mission Equipment
Missions 1 and 2 gave players a wand of disjunction when they started the quest, a level 30 wand with 13 charged of level 30 'dispel magic'.

Mission 3 gave players a wand of firefighting when the quest was started, a level 30 wand with 12 charges of level 35 'create water'.

Both of these items could be recharged for 1000 gold. This was suggested by the player, Lexie.

Players also received The firefighter's badge when completing Mission 3:

Endless Waltz and Shoot-the-Curl
In addition to the many recovery items that slain monsters would drop, completing every 100 kills of the Endless Waltz scenario or each wave of the Shoot-the-Curl scenario yielded a scroll of convalescence.

Completing each scenario yielded the ring of limitless possibilities, a item that randomly loads different stats every time dispel magic is cast on it and relevels itself to the bearer. In the possession of a experienced and patient player, each ring has the potential to become the most powerful item in the game.

The event was originally scheduled to end on July 4th, but Draak convinced Shadowfax to keep it going for a few more days, reasoning that some players could take advantage of a long weekend because of Independence Day.
 * notes=

}}