So I played through the new rescue camp with my alt. (Though for some reason I only got paired with people who spoke spanish, lol.) I actually enjoyed it. Especially the new boss (though he was super easy.) The thing I'm most excited about though, well 2nd most excited about. Is the artifact thing. Im really hoping this is a peek at a new addition to the story.
The thing I'm most excited about is getting that sheild Rhendo carries xD
....if that ever does happen.
It's an artifact in the sense that's its an odd object. It in itself is not like the other artifacts. It grants no story. Though I do recommend making a new knight in the second/third slots to experience it, its quite the treat.
And no, you're not losing out on anything other than seeing how they introduce everything now.
Devilite intel has picked up what's going on into the New World Knights crash site.
-Enter a Natural environment which then transforms to Clockwork, where robots rise to meet the new arrivals.
-Rhendon meets you to introduce you to Cradle.
-He tells you to find an old artifact in and ancient generator.
-After a few missions, Razwog comes in, to either smite you both or let you live in the cost of your Artifact....
Right after that, the Overseer got smacked down by a couple of Retrodes.
Yeah I didn't mean like an artifact that you can put in your arsenal. But they call it an artifact. Or at least the Gremlin with the nose ring does.
As mentioned in the patch notes "This new experience is a taste of what's to come in the Spiral Knights story. Stay tuned!"
So I assume this large yellow gem we gave up will play a role in a future, and soon, we hope, patch.
One of the best parts?
One of the rescue camp missions has a battlepod you have to defeat.
epic.
Best part?
There are mecha turrets in the rescue camp.
EDIT ^^^^ And yes, Battle pod fight was sick.
Its not really a large yellow Gem. More like a blue cylinder shaped thing. Seems to be an energy conduit of some sort. It also has shifty blocks going around it, like a puzzle, one of those off brand rubix cubes, lol.
Waitwaitwait, new artifact? In a part of the game that established players can't access? ;-;