Dear THRONE AND LIBERTY Community, What’s up gamers? I’m Tico, the Globalization Design Manager for THRONE AND LIBERTY at Amazon Games. I wanted to do something different from our usual Tico Talks format as the year draws to a close. There's something special about sitting down and writing a letter, especially during the holiday season. So here I am, ready to share some thoughts as we wrap up an incredible 2024. When I reflect back on this year, what stands out aren’t just the countless hours of development or the features we've launched, but also the moments we've shared together. Watching guilds coordinate massive battles, seeing players help newcomers learn the ropes, and reading your passionate discussions about the game — these are the things that make all the hard work worthwhile. Every time I log in and see players enjoying themselves in Solisium, it reminds me why we do what we do. December has been absolutely packed with excitement, and I want to take a moment to celebrate some of these moments with you. On the 5th, we introduced the Spear, and you have astonished me with your creativity! I've seen several unique combinations and strategies that I didn't anticipate, and I have a feeling we're just beginning to see what's possible with this weapon. Along with that, we expanded our fishing content, and it's been nice to have some moments of relaxation in the world to complete my new Codex. We unveiled our challenging Dimensional Trial Dungeons — and wow — the ways you've been tackling these trials has been nothing short of amazing! Watching players push the boundaries of what's possible while mastering these challenges has been incredible. We introduced the new Rune progression system, opening up a whole new method of power progression that's leading to some interesting build combinations, especially with the Spear and new Fortitude stat. One of my personal favorites has been watching guilds utilize the new War Games feature. There's something special about seeing teams practice and perfect their strategies in preparation for those epic open-world battles. And yes, I have to mention it — Equipment and Skill presets are finally here! I know many of you have been waiting patiently for this one, and trust me, I'm just as excited as you are! Finally, the Startree Solstice Event that launched on the 12th has brought such a wonderful festive atmosphere to our world. I've caught myself more than once standing in town watching players show off their holiday cosmetics and enjoying the Winter Amitoi Arena matches. The community's enthusiasm for these seasonal events always brings a smile to my face. [img]https://images.ctfassets.net/z7aj1lm9rbu3/5JrENwQU9P1gjycKv88hzw/fd20f0ca8cbf74516a0825a6513cc54a/TL_Winter-Event_deco_03_1080.jpg[/img] I also want to talk about listening to your feedback, beginning with addressing the changes made to Rune distribution on the 19th. Many of you shared concerns about feeling pressured to farm Dimensional Trials for Runes, and I also experienced this firsthand while playing. We've now increased Rune outputs across various content types because we believe you should be able to progress while playing the content you love most. We’ll keep evaluating how it feels after these changes, and we’re not afraid to keep tweaking until it feels right. And to my fellow PvP enthusiasts — don't worry, we haven't forgotten about you. We're working on expanding Rune acquisition through PvP beyond just arena coins, so keep an eye out for those changes in the new year. Looking ahead to 2025, we're tackling some important challenges head-on. First and foremost, we hear your feedback about daily activities feeling a bit overwhelming. While we believe it's important to have engaging content for you to log in and enjoy each day, we recognize that with new additions we've reached a point where the "daily checklist" feels more like a chore than an adventure. Finding the right balance here is a top priority for us, and we're exploring several solutions to help you feel less pressured while still maintaining meaningful progression. Another major focus (which I touched on briefly in my last Tico Talks) is continuing our work to improve combat, movement, and targeting systems. Please bear with us, these are important systems that are complicated to iterate on. We're working diligently and can't wait to share more information once we feel we've made significant improvements in the new year. Our goal is to make improvements that ensure your character's interaction with the world feels intuitive and fluid. Whether you're weaving through a complex combat rotation, navigating treacherous terrain, or targeting a specific enemy in the heat of battle, we want it to feel natural. I can't help but feel incredibly grateful as I write this letter. This game has become so much more than just a game — it's a living, breathing world that we've built together through your feedback, passion, and support. Every suggestion you share, every bug you report, and every moment of excitement you express helps guide us toward making this game even better. I hope you can find the time to visit the main tree in Stonegard during the Startree Solstice event and read the letters some of my teammates have written to see what being a part of this team means to them. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this journey. Here's to the magical moments we've shared in 2024, and to all the adventures that await us in the new year. Wishing you and your loved ones the happiest of holidays, - Tico