Portalarium, the developers of the so-called Selective Multiplayer RPG Shroud of the Avatar are currently offering a free trial version that you can play until March 9th. The trial version serves as a kind of demo – but the cash shop works.
If you want to check out how Richard “Lord British” Garriott’s new role-playing game plays, you can currently do so with the free trial. Does it play like the classic Ultima Online or does it offer a story and a vibrant, interactive game world like the old single-player Ultimas? The trial version allows you to play for free until March 9th – however, with some limitations.
A very limited trial
Although one of the main features of the game is the optional offline mode, which allows SotA to be played like a single-player RPG, this has been disabled for the trial. So “selective” the trial of the Selective Multiplayer RPG is not really. You are assigned the title “Visitor” so that other players recognize that you are just trying out SotA. You still cannot trade with other players or give them items. Additionally, it is not possible to buy items from the vendor NPCs of other players. You are also not allowed to acquire a house or a lot.
Another limitation is that you cannot interact with public chests and may not move items on other players’ properties. Similarly, you may not opt into open PvP and may not participate in the ransom system, by which PvP players can normally take items from defeated opponents and sell them back to them for a ransom. Your character’s data will be deleted after the free trial if you do not purchase the game to continue playing.
The in-game shop is fully available to you
What you can do, however, is shop to your heart’s content with real money in the in-game store. However, the items you purchase will no longer be available to you after the trial unless you buy access to the game.
The reactions to this free trial have been rather negative so far. Especially the fact that there are so many restrictions, while the in-game store is fully accessible, has led to some criticism. Many are also wondering why a trial of such an unfinished game had to be released. But it’s best to see for yourself what Shroud of the Avatar is like and give it a try. Then you can post in the comments whether it lives up to the advertising and can combine a narrative structure like in a single-player RPG with a sandbox. You can download the free trial from the official SotA website.
