Ahoy there!
You've probably already seen or heard of the new Vine that Pirate101 posted today about the new 'Witchdoctor Lab'. But if you haven't, that's okay! We'll be talking about all eight sneak peeks that Pirate101 has given us so far. All in one post, to refresh your mind. So don't forget to read the whole post! This also includes the Witchdoctor Lab that was posted this morning!. Ever since November 1st, 2013, Kingsisle has been giving us a lot of spoilers to what seems to be our next new major update(s). It's been over three months now, and we're getting closer and closer to finally finding out what these sneak peeks are about. These sneak peaks also tend to be very different from one another, and it's getting really hard to make a final guess on what's to come. However, one thing that almost all the sneak peeks have in common is that almost all of them appear to be in Skull Island. Let's go back in time for a bit.
Sneak Peek #1
Bonnie Anne: “The Ancient Ones aren’t the only ones who’ve gone. He’s gone . . . gone completely barmy, Captain!”
Released on 11/1/2013
An old man who's appeared to have lost his mind? I'm sure it's nothing important, but I wonder what that book he's holding could be about? You never know (until KI releases the content that goes with this pic). My guess on where this screenshot was taken would have to be somewhere in Skull Island. Maybe a cave? A cave somewhere near the area Brataq Bey stands? He's the Skul lsland Transportaler for those who didn't pay attention to his name.
Sneak Peek #2
"Hmm . . . What could bring such a grand occasion?" - Pirate101
Released on 11/5/2013
My strongest idea on what this could be is a little quest where we are an important person, and we need to go on a little boat ride to that little Colosseum on that giant eagle's head to help a friend out? An Aquilan friend? Or maybe someone's coming to Skull Island from that Colosseum? Well those questions remain without an answer, but one thing that I am a 99% sure on, is the location of where this screenshot (taken by Kingsisle) was taken. In Skull Island, somewhere around the entrance to the Musketeer's Roost.
You can also tell by those three little ledges hanging from the mountain.
Sneak Peek #3
"Hola, tiny Captain! I seek passage with you!" - Carcarius Grimtooth
Released on 11/8/2013
Notice how he is standing in the Witchdoctor's Sanctum?
This looks like a pretty good guess to where exactly he's standing.
I know we haven't talked about the Witchdoctor Lab yet, but could this be related to it? Or is it just a coincidence that he is standing in another Witchdoctor-themed area? He also seems to be asking to become your companion? I hope so!
Sneak Peek #4
"What could this strange chest be? It looks completely barmy! What treasure could be inside? You'll soon find out!" - Pirate101
Released on 1/6/2014
What in the Spiral could this be? Maybe a quest where you need to collect two keys and unlock this treasure chest? Notice how one lock is open above the treasure chest, maybe one key has already been collected in the quest? I'm not sure. The location of this sneak peek appears to be right outside of the Skull Cave, in Skull Island.
Sneak Peek #5
"Aha! Looks like Ol' Fish Eye isn't so lonely anymore?" - Pirate101
Released on 1/14/2014
So Ol' Fish Eye finally has some company? Who could she(?) be though? Looks like a pink flamingo musketeer to me. Ol' Fish Eyes's most advanced student? An old student from a while ago? Or maybe a newcomer seeking to learn more of the Musketeer class? I'm not sure. As most of us know, the Musketeer's Roost is located in Skull Island, near the location of Sneak Peek #2's location actually.. could that mean something? Probably not, but you never know.
Sneak Peek #6
""What a surprising development!" exclaimed Zeke! Meanwhile, we wonder what Marquis Mark could be recalling . . . (Hope you enjoy this latest Sneak Peek from our internal servers here at KingsIsle!)" - Kingsisle
Well I'm sure a lot of you will find this familiar if you play
Wizard101. It looks like the "mark location" feature in Wizard101 that allows you to mark a spot in most areas of the spiral, and return to it whenever you like.
I know Pirate101 doesn't have this feature, and I really hope the sneak peek is hinting towards a Pirate101 version of the "mark your location" feature in Wizard101. I know Pirate101 allows you to go back to your location when you teleport to Skull Island, but go a tiny bit further than there, and you'll have to sail all the way back to your "marked" location again, which can get quite frustrating at times! I wonder what Zeke and Marquis Mark have to do with this though.. and of course, Marquis Mark & Prospector Zeke can be found in the Kraken Skulls Tavern, in Skull Island.
Sneak Peek #7
Released on 2/3/2014
I wonder how this will fit though. Looks like a pretty large staircase to me. Mickey Dugan might get squished! Also, what is that bird flying in the sky? Could it be Aquila-related? And why is the staircase leading to Captain Avery's office? A special visitor?
This screenshot above (taken by me) was located in Avery's Court, Skull Island, the same location the giant staircase appears to be! This also seems quite fancy, kind of like Sneak Peek #2!
Sneak Peek #8
UPDATE: This can now be confirmed that the Witchdoctor's Lab below is now part of the Hoodoo Bundle, to learn more about the Hoodoo Bundle, click HERE.
And for the last sneak peek that Pirate101 has given to us! The most exciting one, in my opinion. This one was just released this morning. Not in a picture, but in a Vine. If you don't know what a Vine is, it's pretty much a short clip that replays over and over again (however you can stop the loop). You can also find Pirate101's official Vine Page and give them a follow at the 'The Pirate Directory' page located underneath our website's header!
(Click the image to get the Vine going if it doesn't start for you, sound should also be involved)
"What kind of Hoodoo is being cooked up by Pirate101 in the Labs of Kingsisle?" - Kingsisle
Released on 2/7/2014
Hmm . . ., now what could this be? Maybe some sort of cooking/crafting? An expansion to Madame Vadima's Witchdoctor's Sanctum? This is located in a Witchdoctor-related area, like Sneak Peek #3!
Conclusion
Well, I definitely smell a Pirate101 Test Realm coming soon! One thing that also made me think is that there is content from the Musketeer's Roost & Witchdoctor's Sanctum. Maybe the rest of the content has to do with class-specific content? My guess at the moment is class-specific quests, or maybe side-quests in Skull Island that give you special prizes as rewards. What is yours? Leave your ideas below, we'd love to hear them!
Happy Sailing, young pirates!
~Alex.
