The patch that increases the level cap in TERA to 70, went live for the EU (Gameforge is the publisher) and SEA regions (PLAYWITH SEA is the publisher) on March 28th (local times respectively). K-TERA saw this update back in December 2018 and has seen several patches to adjust the progression via adjustments to experience from mobs as well as decreasing the amounts required between level 66-70.
Gameforge calls their update “Curse From the Skies” (Playwith doesn’t use named themes for their updates) and makes careful note that this level cap increase does not come with actual new playable content and will require “dedicated” play over several weeks (their guestimate is around 150-200 hours). This leveling can be achieved by just playing (though some content like level 65 dungeons and open world BAM’s will allow “faster” progression than others like gathering, crafting, or fishing).
Gameforge’ patch notes makes important note (at least for me) regarding the story quests (one per level from 65-70) regarding the “mysterious floating island” which happens to float over Highwatch; this is the new zone that had been previously teased back during K-TERA’s 2017 Winter Showcase. The patch note states this area will be accessible later this year. As I’ve mentioned before, it would’ve been nice if this level cap increase had been designed around actual new playable content with associated quests and story lines (like Fate of Arun). That probably represented too much production work for the team that took over.
Another important thing is that the lighting of several re-purposed zones will be changed (like how the Island of Dawn was changed from its bright and colorful look to a dreary burnt to a crisp brownish color). One image shows a portion of the Timeless Woods zone with this garish dark lighting now.
The following is from around the same area (albeit from a slightly different angle and altitude).
So they are turning more of the nicer, greener, and/or colorful areas of the game (places which I normally explore and do my gathering at) into this darker, uglier look. I’m saving the existing graphical assets so that I can overwrite this dreck in between game patches… The rest of the patch notes highlights the other changes including class balance changes, the new skill advancement system (TalYph in K-TERA), the new equipment items (Halidom and Relics) and new slots for them, the new equipment merging system, the adventure coin (dungeon stamina) system, and item/quest/Guardian Mission revisions.
As for En Masse Entertainment (NA)… according to their latest news stream, they are “running a little late” regarding the version 80 patch and don’t have that information ready for release yet. Since EME usually gets the patches a week after most of the other regions, that means it will be the week of April 7th. I can’t say I am surprised by this given how poorly the entire company has been executing in the last 2.5 years (which includes the closure of two games and with Kritika Online closing in April). It would be an understatement for me to say that they are running on very thin ice as a publisher…
