Please review the following questions and answers below, just in case there is information that is pertinent to you. Don't submit a support ticket or ask a question about this event before reading this FAQ in its entirety.
Thank you for your cooperation and participation!
FAQ
Q1: I do not have a pledge package, what is my part in the event?
A1: Without a pledge package, you will be one of the infected. Every 4 hours you will generate Plague Signs. These plague signs will be contributed to the Outbreak at the end of every day if you cannot cancel them out with Purity Seals, use them for role abilities, or otherwise try to get rid of them.
Q2: I do have a pledge package, what is my part in the event?
A2: As a pledged player you will begin the event uninfected, as one of the pure. Every 4 hours you can generate a purity seal to fight the outbreak. You can use purity seals to nullify plague signs, use role abilities, or contribute them to the effort to find a cure, thus advancing the Cure bar.
Q3: So how do I play?
A3: As an “Infected” member, use your plague signs, either by trading them with other players or using your role abilities before they are contributed to the outbreak bar at the end of each day. This helps slow the outbreak's spread and give the race for a cure a better chance at success. As a “Pure” member, use your purity signs to contribute to the cure, trade them to infected players so they can be purified, or use your purity seals on your role abilities to advance the cure bar more quickly or drive the outbreak bar back down.
Q4: What is a "Role ability" and how do I get one?
A4: After you've used some of your purity seals or plague signs, you will unlock the ability to adopt a role and select it from the event web page. Each role tackles the plague in a specialized way, with three distinct abilities that can be used throughout the event if you pay that abilities cost of plague signs or purity seals.
Q5: I'm infected! How do I cure myself?!
A5: Infected members can purify themselves using 180 purity seals. Doing so will earn you an Elyrian package, so you can play Chronicles of Elyria when we launch! (yay)
Q6: How do we win?
A6: There is no winning or losing since what happens with the event will affect the game world no matter what occurs but, to find a cure for the plague, the community needs to advance the Cure bar all the way to the end.
Clarifying statement added on 9/4/2018:
A 100% on either bar before the event ends will mean a "win" for that bar. (e.g. hit 100% on the cure before the 14th and everyone who is pure and has performed 30 actions by the end of the event will gain the title, plus whatever they unlock along the way.) If no bar has hit 100% at the end of the event, then the bar that is closest to 100% will "win" - players will only earn whatever rewards they have unlocked up to that point, but they will "win" the bar's outcome, be that plagued biomes or the inheritable resistance/title.
Players will earn rewards when they are unlocked, so any unlocked rewards they have accumulated by the end of the event will be awarded later, regardless of if the related bar wins. E.g. you'll get your plague mask regardless of whether the cure or the plague wins.
Q7: What happens if we fail to find a cure?
A7: If the Outbreak bar reaches 100% before a cure is found, each server's world will be scarred by a plaguelands biome, and the searing plague will rear its ugly head more frequently, as well.
Q8: What happens if we do find a cure?
A8: Congratulations on finding the cure! If the Cure bar reaches 100% before the outbreak grows out of control, each player will gain a title, "Plagueborn," they can apply to one of their characters. The character that carries this title will be resistant to the Searing Plague and that resistance will be passed on to their children.
Q9: What else can happen in this event?
A9: Your efforts to find a cure and fight the plague will directly influence the course of events that unfold throughout the plague. Every week new lore will be released and, when you reach certain milestones on both the Cure bar and the Outbreak bar, the state of the world and the game will change to reflect that. Milestones met on the cure bar will often grant players rewards such as plague related items, including the cure for the plague itself once it is discovered!
Q10: What are the dates of the event?
A10: The event runs from August 3rd to September 14th, 2018 at noon pacific time.
Q11: I don't have a package which means I am generating Plague. If I gain a package, will I automatically start generating Purity Seals?
A11: If you gain a package via the event by the collection of 180 purity seals, you will be cured and begin generating purity immediately. If you receive and claim a package via any other method, you will need to wait until the next 4 hour period of the timer to finish before you become pure.
Q12: When will new events in the Searing Plague happen?
A12: This is answered in the Lore story and The Searing Plague video
Q13: I bought a package after the event started, do I generate both types of marks (plague and purity) now?
A13: No, you will have been purified and now generate Purity Seals instead of Plague Signs!
Q14: I would like to donate directly to the same charity you are, how do I contact them?
A14: You can reach out to Doctors without Borders here and donate right on their page.
Q15: I can only see the event page but I cannot do anything?
A15: You must be logged in to view the event page. If you are still experiencing issues, please contact us with as much information about the issue as possible at [email protected]
Q16: Can I create new alt accounts so that I can help the Plague advance?
A16: No. An account must be active to participate and you should not create unnecessary accounts to try and "game" the event. Doing so may result in disciplinary action being taken against that account and any other accounts you may have. Play safe, play by the rules.
Q17: I prefer not to participate, is there any way I can avoid the event?
A17: You are not obligated to participate if you don't want. Like world events that occur in the game after launch, your role in the event is up to you. You may participate directly or avoid it altogether, but the actions of others always ripple out through the world of Elyria.
Q18: Will The Searing Plague promo items in the merchandise store be available after the event ends?
A18: No. The promo items will all return to the vault after the event ends on September 14th, 2018 at noon pacific time.
Q19: Are the Trollmouth Salamanders breedable?
A19: No, at least not in captivity.
Q20: What gender will my Trollmouth Salamander be? Can I pick the gender?
A20: Random, since determining this is difficult under the best circumstances.
Q21: If someone gifts me an item that has passive effects after the event has already started, will I still receive the item’s passive bonuses?
A21: So long as the item is in your inventory during the event, it will count.
Q22: Will Vox/Alpha/the game be delayed because you spent time on this event?
A22: No. The effort behind this event and promotion was done by the Community and Outreach teams. The studio is still spending their time on our current Adventure 0.4.0.
Q23: Do passive bonuses stack if I have more than 1 of each item?
A23: No, they do not stack.
Q24: Will the Trollmouth Salamander be available in all biomes? And will it have a different appearance based on said biome?
A24: You can claim a Trollmouth Salamander in any biome, but they are relatively delicate creatures and they aren't exactly suited to some biomes. They're kept in cages and are feral. They are not native to all biomes.
Q25: If we earn a title in this event, how does it integrate with our surname in game?
A25: Surnames and titles are two different systems. There should be no problem.
Q26: Will this game use friend referral codes like previous web page games?
A26: It will not! Instead you can request trades using the trade functionality on the event landing page to generate links you can share with anyone.
Q27:I have a package on layaway that hasn’t been fully paid yet. Does this make me infected or pure?
A27: If the package is not fully paid off, you do not own a package and therefore you will be infected until it is paid off or you earn an Elyrian package and become pure. If you own a package and have an upgrade on layaway, then you will not be infected.
Q28: If the reward for the cure makes my CoE character resistant to the Searing Plague, does this mean that the Searing Plague will be in the game at launch and other characters can become infected with it?
A28: Oh my, yes.
Q29: If I have a package on layaway, will receiving a package from this event change the layaway total?
A29: No, you will simply have an additional package in your inventory that you can either gift or merge into your account after your layaway is paid off and package merging functionality is released.
Q30: Will the results of the Plague be different per server, or does the same thing count for each individual server?
A30: In this particular event the results will carry over to all servers.
Q31: Can I purposely infect other players without them knowing that I did it?
A31: No you may not. But as the outbreak grows, the plague will spread...
Q32: What are the various different roles and abilities?
A32: You can see the roles on the Searing Plague page.
Q33: Can you change roles?
A33: When you first unlock the ability to adopt a role you will have a one-time option to choose from one of four roles. As you play more, however, you will unlock a second tier of roles and gain another one-time opportunity to select a new role from your new list of choices. Unless something happens during the plague, those are your only chances to choose new roles.
Q34: Where am I allowed to post my trade links?
Q34: TSP trade links are only allowed to be shared in the #plague-trading channel in Discord, or in The Searing Plague forum. Any TSP trade links posted in other channels or forums will be removed.
Q35: Are there specific places that I am required to discuss this event?
A35: For Discord, you can discuss the event in any channel you have access to, but we'd prefer you discuss it in the #searing-plague-event channel created for this event. In the forums, posts related to this event go in The Searing Plague forum only. Posts will be moved if posted to any other forum.
Q36: If I want to make alcohol spirits other than wine or whisky, which kit would I choose: Distiller or Vintner?
A36: Either kit comes with an alcohol still, which is needed to make alcohol. The remaining items in the kits are meant to give you starting ingredients and a recipe. You will still be able to learn other alcohol recipes to use with any alcohol still.
Q37: Does the generate purity action stack?
A37: No, use it or lose it.
Q38: What is a plagueland or plagued biome? A38: A plagued biome is a normal biome where a deadly disease has taken root. In a plagued biome, one or more species will be greatly impacted – perhaps to the point of extinction – and lack of this species in great number will have affected the ecosystem. Animals might be more aggressive, predators more numerous, or life may fail to thrive with a key piece of the ecosystem missing. And, even as the biome’s ecosystem swings out of balance, the disease settles into everything, turning animals and plants into potential vectors for infection. A plagued biome isn’t a magical necromantic biome and it isn’t a total wasteland, but it is a hazard to travel through and more dangerous still to settle in. For more information see Snipehunter’s post.
Q39: If the Cure or Outbreak bar reach 100%, will the event end?
A39: The event will last the full 6 weeks. if either bar reaches 100% before the end of the event it will mean that the ultimate end of the event is decided, but players actions will still help to define the weekly lore. A number of triggered events, rewards, and outbreak escalations are hiding in the cure and outbreak bars that could tip the scales one way or another. Expect a lively push to complete either bar.
Q40: If the Cure or Outbreak bar reach 100%, will players still generate seals and marks and will abilities still work until September 14th, including the ability to redeem an Elyrian pack?
A40: Yes.
Q41: Do I have to be Pure to receive the in game book of knowledge?
A41: Yes, you must be Pure and have chosen a tier 2 role by the end of the event on September 14th, 2018 at noon pacific time.
Q42: Will we receive the tincture and the recipe for it?
A42: Yes, once event rewards are granted, both the tincture and recipe will be awarded to all eligible players.
