Tales from Zilmurik News

As Tales from Zilmurik creeps into its 20th anniversary of development, I've been making some pretty wild changes to the game. Some of you may have already noticed that places such as the Forest Path (and its accompanying mine) and Lefarnius look and behave quite different. Don't be afraid, it's all for the best.

Today I introduce a gameplay element that was requested of me by a user on the Discussions years ago. Now, I personally can't stand grinding, but for those of you who enjoy that kind of thing, now's your chance to recruit a brand new party member to build all the way up to level 70! That's a whole 45 more levels than any other party member in the game!

But it's not just some faceless nobody - oh no, this guy's been around and seen some things. If you want to get started, here's a hint: take a diary from Old Lefarnius to the Caldinasus Arena; that ought to jog his memory.

"Ignorance of the law is no excuse." "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime." We've all heard these sayings before, and they're totally true. With today's update, the long arm of the Eylinian law is cracking down on the most egregious of criminals: sleepers. All around the world, if you're caught trying to catch a few Z's at the local inn without paying, it's straight to the slammer for you, bub!

... If you get caught, that is. Dare you risk the free heals?

Now, this isn't to say that your first offense will be your last (you might be let off with a warning), but repeat offenders do run the risk of extended time behind bars. The penalty for a first incarceration is 1 minute, with each consequential offense afterward tacking on an additional 20 seconds to time spent. In addition to time spent, each offense will cost the offender an additional 1 GP to rest at the inn from thereon.

Do you still think it's worth it?

Thinly-veiled social commentary on the criminal justice system? Perhaps, but there is a way out: good behavior.

Now, whenever you commit a truly heroic act around Eylin, you will be rewarded with a decrease in inn costs for the surrounding/afflicted area. Bust a thief in Lefarnius? The cost goes down in Lefarnius. Save Vermolin from rampaging fiends? The cost goes down in Darunmus, Vermolin and the Fisherman's Outpost. Your good name can be restored*!

*Application to real life not withstanding. Tales from Zilmurik does not endorse criminal or vigilante actions of any kind regardless of circumstance. Abide by the laws of your land, player, and don't tell the court my video game inspired you to do it. If I get an email saying you said so, I'll be supremely disappointed.

Today's update makes two small changes to how you - the player - can experience Tales from Zilmurik. The first (and most notable) is that all pianos around Eylin (except for the ones already in use) can be played with the keyboard's following keys: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, - and +. Let your fingers fly and create your own world of music!

Secondly, the Party Change menu has been revamped to incorporate unequipping party members, displaying their base level and renaming. What this means is that - say you started playing years ago and regretted choosing a certain name for your least favorite recruit - you now have every chance under the sun to change your mind! What a relief, eh? You can also change the names of certain characters that already had preset names for maximum personalization!

Though maybe not all are as eager to change...

Another month, another sizeable update for the Tales from Zilmurik!

If you've ever walked past the farmland on the western end of Lefarnius and thought "I wish I lived there," now you're in luck! The doors have swung open and the scent of freshly picked berries fills the air. Delicious!



If you've ever dreamed of having access to freshly picked berries whenever your heart desired, here's another lucky break: the Foraging Guild is now handing out free tools to whoever joins today (while supplies last). Get your hands dirty at the Foraging Guild!

The side of a cliff along a swampland just opened up and fresh minecart rails have been laid down. This can only mean one thing: the dwarves are afoot and they're looking for gold!

Embark with me as I ride the rails into this mysterious and industrious land. The hills are alive with the sound of pickaxes and the smell of glory... or maybe it's pit stink? What difference does it make? The mountains await!



Join the lively Mining Guild and get to work turning this mountain into rubble in the pursuit of valuable minerals, ores, gemstones and more! Word from the wise: only mine where there's shelter - cave-ins are no fun!