Hollowtide

Early access: expect bugs

Hollowtide is in its soft launch. You would be playing an early build, and you will run into bugs. A small group of early players is testing it and helping find the rough edges before the wider launch. Updates come often, and the itch app installs them for you.

Found something broken? Press F7 in game, type what went wrong, and press Enter. The report reaches the developer along with where you were standing.

On a Mac

The easiest way is the itch app (itch.io/app). It opens Hollowtide right away and keeps it updated.

If you download the zip in your browser instead, macOS stops the first launch, because Hollowtide is not yet signed by a registered Apple developer:

1. Unzip it, move Hollowtide into Applications, and double-click it. When macOS says it cannot verify it, click Done.
2. Open System Settings, then Privacy & Security, and scroll down to Security. Next to "Hollowtide was blocked", click Open Anyway, and confirm.
3. That is only needed once. After that it opens like any other app.

Return to Dereth

There’s trouble beneath the Sunken Lyceum. The Forge-Warden of Ispar awaits in the Empyrean Vault. And out in the wilds, Bael’Zharon has returned.

Hollowtide is an Asheron’s Call fan revival with a modern client, new adventures, and the old plugin essentials built into the game. It’s free to play on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

VTank and GoArrow, without the plugin setup

For a lot of us, VTank was just part of playing AC. Buffing by hand wasn’t something we were eager to return to.

Hollowtide brings VTank, GoArrow, and other familiar plugin tools directly into the client. Auto-attack, buff, heal, loot, salvage, recharge your gear, follow a friend, or run a recorded route. No separate plugins to track down and get working.

Your old nav files can still be used, along with other supported plugin files. The tools you relied on are here, without the old setup getting in the way.

New adventures

Descend into the Empyrean Vault to face the Forge-Warden of Ispar, confront the Unbound Queen beneath the Sunken Lyceum, and explore the Risen Shelf.

There’s new equipment to hunt down, too, including Wardenforged Plate, Viridian Arms, and Serpent Arms.

Bael’Zharon appears in the open world every seven hours. His location is marked on the world map, and everyone who wounds him receives a reward. Bring your fellowship.

Some changes to the scenery

Water reflects the landscape. Grass and trees sway, cloaks move, and wildlife adds life to the old hunting grounds. There are new spell effects to see in combat, too.

Seasonal festivals bring costumes and decorations throughout the year.

The everyday stuff

Press F1 to open the in-game wiki. Find people to play with through the group finder, use the emote wheel, and lock items you want to keep. Window layouts follow your character.

These aren’t the biggest changes, but they’re things you’ll use.

A note from the developer

I’ve worked in games for over 15 years, and I’ve spent months putting that experience into Hollowtide.

I care about AC, and I think there’s a lot worth doing with it. I want to improve the things that make it difficult to come back to, keep what made it special, and add new things for people who already know Dereth well.

I’m developing and hosting Hollowtide so people can enjoy it. Come try it. Tell me what’s working, what’s broken, and what you’d like to see.

See you in Dereth.

Getting started

You’ll need Windows, macOS, or Linux, and your own copy of Asheron’s Call’s four original .dat files. On first launch, the client will ask you to select the folder containing them.

There’s no separate sign-up form. Your account is created the first time you log in.

Updates and support

Follow this page for major updates, new content, festivals, and release news.

Hollowtide is free. Optional donations go toward server hosting and buy nothing in-game. Supporters who would like to be thanked by name can be included in the in-game Credits.

Hollowtide is a non-commercial fan revival. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the original game’s owners.

Rules

• Be decent. No harassment, hate or threats, in chat or anywhere else.
• Multiboxing and bots are welcome, the built-in assistant and outside tools alike.
• No exploits, dupes or cheats that break the game. If you find a bug that gives you an edge, report it with F7 instead of using it.
• No selling characters, items or accounts for real money.
• It is an early build. The world may be reset if it has to be, and we will say so first.

Breaking these can get a character or an account suspended.

Server source

The Hollowtide server runs a modified ACEmulator, which is licensed under the GNU AGPL. Its source, with our changes, the server mod and the world content, is at github.com/hotdog-face/hollowtide-server.

Your data

Hollowtide records gameplay events, such as where you travel, what you fight and how long you play, to improve the game. Chat is not recorded, nothing is sold or shared, and you can ask for your data to be deleted by typing /bug in game.