With events involving the Soul Mirror coming to a head with the destruction of Varo, it's my pleasure to announce the release of Hardcore Mode!

While the major damage to the Mirror has been mended, certain "blind spots" have remained behind, and it's these blind spots, places the Mirror cannot see, that form the basis of Hardcore Mode - an opt-in game mode which prevents characters under its effects from resurrecting via the Soul Mirror following their death.

This is a "permadeath" style system for Aetolia, with some caveats and limitations befitting the lore and setting of the Aetolian universe.

The full details of Hardcore can be found in the following three help files which I strongly urge anyone with an interest to read: HELP HARDCORE, HELP HARDCORE RP, and HELP HARDCORE FAQ.

Some of the most important points:

- Activating hardcore mode is only possible for characters that are under level 30 and is irreversible once confirmed.
- Your character must already be registered to enable Hardcore mode, and it is not possible to play more than one Hardcore character per account at any one time.
- All relevant rules and guidelines from HELP SECONDS continue to apply to Hardcore characters.

- Undead, vampires, and duamvi cannot become Hardcore characters.
- Hardcore characters cannot become undead, vampires, or duamvi.

- There are no mechanical restrictions on attacking Hardcore characters or being attacked by them outside of existing PK systems and rules.
- This allows Hardcore characters to take the risk of participating in PvP.
- NOTE: This is at your own risk. We will not retrieve Hardcore characters that have been permanently killed under any circumstances.
- However, we will look very poorly on anyone who is flagrantly going out of their way to break the rules and kill Hardcore characters and be more likely to take direct action against them.

When a hardcore character dies on Sapience*, they will die permanently unless their body is recovered and resurrected using methods that rely upon a corpse to enact.

- Only resurrection methods that require the use of a body may be used on Hardcore characters.
- If the body is destroyed, death is permanent.
- If the body is not resurrected after a period of one hour, death is permanent.
- Antiquated ring resurrection and the "prayer_book" artifact power will not revive Hardcore characters under any circumstances.
- Hardcore characters that die permanently will have their honours updated to include a date of death.

* Deaths in locations such as Albedos that do not rely on the Soul Mirror, are not permanent.
- This is subject to change in the future as lore and stories unfold.

When a Hardcore character dies, they will linger as a soul indefinitely until they are resurrected under the above conditions, or ACCEPT the Underking's JUDGEMENT and pass on forever. Accepting judgement will notify everyone with deathsight active of that character's permanent death, and will allow you to create another Hardcore character.

All characters regardless of Hardcore status now also have access to the GRAVECALL command. While dead, you may put out a call to the living world from beyond the grave once per minute. Those that possess the "Medium" ability in Psionics or the newly added version in Necromancy will be able to hear the call, regardless of whether they are currently in the Zealot or Indorani class. However, they will need to be in one of these respective classes to make active use of the ability and communicate with the dead.

Hardcore characters follow some different rules and mechanical effects when it comes to credits, lessons, promos, and no-brainer packages. Please see the relevant HELPs for a full outline of how these work. Because of this Hardcore characters cannot retire, nor can they receive retirement credits.

Hardcore is an opportunity for an intense and fresh roleplaying experience, and we're very excited to see how it plays out. Feedback and questions are welcome, and I would once again direct you to review HELP HARDCORE, HELP HARDCORE RP, and HELP HARDCORE FAQ before diving in.

On behalf of the team, we hope you enjoy this and the rest of the event to come!

Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 11th of Variach, in the year 501 MA.
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