As we noted last night, Eterspire – the cozy indie crossplatform MMO from Argentine dev studio Stonehollow Workshop – officially surprise-launched out of early access. In celebration of the launch, Stonehollow has kindly granted us codes for the Eterspire Infinite to raffle to our readers! Eterspire is a free-to-play game with no sub; instead, it […]

Long-time fans of RIFT know that the game has a peculiar preoccupation with corgis — which is, in part, due to former Trion Worlds’ Scott Hartsman guidance and his passion for the dogs. Well, now the little doggos are all over the place in the game, thanks to Corgi Month this June. “It’s once again […]

Would you like to have your design skills immortalized in Skull and Bones? Then you’re in luck because that opportunity is available during an official second anniversary contest, which will grant creative fans of the piratical playground the chance for their custom sail and emblem to be a part of the game. From now until March 8th, […]

When I logged into Shroud of the Avatar that evening, I went to my row‑home in the Harbor Market district of Lightbringer Isle. I know Lightbringer Isle hosts a monthly fishing contest, a recurring event that draws many players from across the game world. I live on the isle, and I also run a small vendor shop there, selling bait, lures, and food.

The rules of the contest are simple: to enter, I need to catch a fish bigger than the “small tiger shark” that only one other player has shown so far. That means the bar is set high if I want a shot at winning.

Fishing in Shroud of the Avatar is straightforward. All you need is a fishing rod, bait, your fishing skill, and a body of water. Any open water deep enough will do. According to the game’s mechanics update that introduced support for multiple water types, saltwater fishing is fully supported. (sotawiki.net)

Because the contest at Lightbringer Isle is held in saltwater, I stocked up on saltwater‑appropriate bait, specifically minnows, which I’ve been using for all my fishing attempts.

I’ve been spending my evenings fishing in roughly one‑hour sessions. I livestream my attempts on multiple platforms, though I have zero viewers. There’s no chat or audience to worry about. It’s just me, my rod, the saltwater, and the quiet hope that this cast might land something extraordinary.

Between fishing sessions, I would log out of the game and do something else before starting another hour of fishing and livestreaming. It helps me stay refreshed and focused when I return.

There was one session where I logged in to fish, started the livestream, and got ready for the contest, but the allergy medicine I took earlier hit me harder than expected. I ended up getting knocked out and fell asleep. I had the stream running for about two hours without realizing it. When I woke up, I ended the livestream. Definitely not the most productive fishing session, but at least I got some rest.

During my other sessions, I’ve cast my line into the saltwater all around Lightbringer Isle, not just near the docks. The sea is calm, the night quiet, and I settle into the rhythm. I’ve hauled in a few modest fish, saltwater bass or mackerel, but nothing that could beat the small tiger shark catch. I’ve tried using minnows as bait for every attempt, but so far, the results haven’t been what I was hoping for.

As I continue fishing, I know there are still a couple of days left in the contest. I haven’t caught any sharks yet, but I’m not giving up.

I’ve been watching the contest unfold, and so far, I know that only one player has caught a small tiger shark. That means if I want a chance at winning, I need to catch something bigger.

Then, in one of my later sessions, I cast again. The bait sinks into the saltwater, the float drifts gently, and the progress bar slowly fills as I wait. I hold my breath. When it finishes, I begin reeling. The line feels heavy. The rod bends under the weight. Every inch pulls back.

Though I haven’t pulled in a shark yet, I know there’s still time. The thrill of the unknown keeps me coming back, casting my line in hopes that the next bite will be the big one.

For now, I’m just enjoying the process, the calm water, the quiet anticipation, and the possibility that the next tug on the line could be something extraordinary. I’m a resident, a vendor, and an angler, and I’m still chasing that big catch.

Maybe I’ll go again next month. Maybe I’ll reel in something even more impressive. Or maybe I’ll just enjoy the saltwater, the breeze, and the hope. For now, my line is out, and I’m waiting. 🎣

It’s turning out to be one of the most strangely active years in modern RIFT history, what with patches, a community-led revival, a player housing contest, and even a vote on the return of the XP locking feature. Now stack on top of all of that a pile of unicorns, and this MMO is hot […]