The BEST Looking “FREE to Play” 3D MMORPG List
Aye Candy! The Visually Appealing FREE MMORPG List
After having numerous friends ask my opinions on what I thought some of the best “free to play” MMORPGs out there were, I decided to make a list of games I would personally recommend.
I looked at the two main factors that weigh heavily on my decisions when choosing an MMORPG. The game must be very playable, but at the same time it should have nice graphics also!
Now I know what some of you may be thinking. “There is more to games than just graphics!” and that’s very true. There are a lot of great games out there that don’t live up to today’s modern standards of graphics. I play these games all the time on emulators to relive games I loved from my childhood.
The reason I am creating a selective list is because we are focusing on MMORPGs here. Two main factors that lend themselves to playability are a decent population of players, and a game where not every character is at the level cap already. This means that generally to meet these conditions we need to set our sights on newer titles.
I figure that while we are doing this we might as well pick out some eye candy in the process. There are a lot of “Free MMORPG Lists” out there so I am not trying to recreate another one of those.
What I am doing instead, is compiling a list of games that have visually stunning graphics and gameplay. I feel that my tastes are very much in tune with other gamers I have talked to, and as such these are the recommendations I am making.
Take a look through the list below for some of the BEST free to play MMORPGs available. All the games listed here will be sorted by date with the most recent releases near the top of the list to help players select a game that will allow them to get in near the ground floor with other lower level players. (All release dates are approximate due to the nature of JP, EU, and US release dates.)
I will be constantly updating the list to keep it relevant and useful for players. If you have a suggestion for a game that is not on the list already, and you believe it has a nice visual esthetic feel free to email me or leave a comment on the Blog.
UPDATED 08/18/2008 - Updated Games and Links, added 10 new games! ^_^
UPDATED 05/31/2008 - Added 25 NEW Games and an Anime / Kid Friendly section to the list. Thanks for checking it out! Any feedback on the list is appreciated! ^_^
The BEST Visual, “Free to Play” MMORPG List:
2008 “Free to Play” MMORPGS
Neo Steam
04/11/2008
http://www.neosteam.com/
Global Rating:
Requiem Bloodymare
03/15/2008
http://www.playrequiem.com/
Global Rating:
Cabal Online
02/01/2008
http://www.cabalonline.com/
Global Rating:
Savage 2
01/16/2008
http://savage2.s2games.com/main.php
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2007 “Free to Play” MMORPGS
Talisman Online
12/18/2007
http://www.talismanonline.com/
Global Rating:
Shaiya
11/26/2007
http://shaiya.aeriagames.com/
Global Rating:
World of Kung Fu
11/XX/2007
http://www.worldofkungfu.com/
Global Rating:
Age of Armor
10/20/2007
http://www.aoaus.com/
Global Rating:
Fury – Age of the Choosen
10/16/2007
http://www.unleashthefury.com/
Global Rating:
Zu Online
09/15/2007
http://zu.igg.com/
Global Rating:
Exteel
09/12/2007
http://www.exteel.com/us/
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Xiah Rebirth
08/17/2007
http://xiah.gamescampus.com/
Global Rating:
Metin 2
07/27/2007
http://www.metin2.us/
Global Rating:
Sword of the new World
06/27/2007
http://www.swordofthenewworld.com/
Global Rating:
2 Moons
06/15/2007
http://2moons.acclaim.com/
Global Rating:
Regnum Online
05/24/2007
http://www.regnumonline.com.ar/
Global Rating:
Perfect World
05/XX/2007
http://www.perfectworld.com.my/
Global Rating:
Dungeon Runners
05/24/2007
http://www.dungeonrunners.com/
Global Rating:
Mo Siang Online
03/27/2007
http://ms.runup.com.my/EN/top.php
Global Rating:
Tantra
03/15/2007
http://www.tantra.ph/
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Corum
02/15/2007
http://corum.gpotato.com/
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Last Choas
01/01/2007
http://lastchaos.aeriagames.com/
Global Rating:
2006 “Free to Play” MMORPGS
Voyage Century Online
12/22/2006
http://vc.igg.com
Global Rating:
INFINITY online
10/12/2006
http://www.gametribe.com/gt/infinity.do
Global Rating:
ArchLord
10/03/2006
http://www.archlordgame.com/
Global Rating:
Rappelz
10/02/2006
http://rappelz.gpotato.com/
Global Rating:
Hero Online
07/31/2006
http://hero.netgame.com/
Global Rating:
DEICIDE - The War against Evil
06/12/2006
http://deicide.ongameport.com/
Global Rating:
Dark and Light
06/XX/2006
http://www.darkandlight.com/
Global Rating:
The legend of Ares
05/12/2006
http://legendofares.netgame.com/
Global Rating:
RYL2 (Risk Your Life 2)
05/01/2006
http://www.ryl2.com.my/
Global Rating:
RF Online
02/21/2006
http://www.rf-onlinegame.com/
Global Rating:
9Dragons
01/30/2006
http://9dragons.acclaim.com/
Global Rating:
2005 “Free to Play” MMORPGS
KAL online
12/31/2005
http://www.kalonline.com/
Global Rating:
Rakion
12/01/2005
http://rakion.softnyx.net/
Global Rating:
Silkroad Online
11/11/2005
http://www.silkroadonline.net/
Global Rating:
Supreme Destiny
08/22/2005
http://sd.e-games.com.my/
Global Rating:
Risk Your Life
06/21/2005
http://www.ryl.com.my/
Global Rating:
Thang online
06/10/2005
http://thang.ongameport.com/
Global Rating:
Ran Online
02/21/2005
http://ranonline.e-games.com.ph/
Global Rating:
A3
01/21/2005
http://games.sify.com/mmog/a3/
Global Rating:
Gate to Heavens
01/14/2005
http://www.gtheu.com/
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Martial Heroes
01/11/2004
http://www.martialheroes.com/
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2004 - 2000 “Free to Play” MMORPGS
Knight Online
12/31/2004
http://www.knightonlineworld.com/
Global Rating:
Khan ABsolute Power
12/31/2004
http://www.mirinae.com/khan_us/
Global Rating:
Priston Tale
XX/XX/2001
http://eng.pristontale.com/
Global Rating:
Anime & ”Kid Friendly” Themed MMORPGs
Wonderland Online
04/09/2008
http://wl.igg.com/
Global Rating:
Holic Online
12/27/2007
http://holic.netgame.com/
Global Rating:
Secret of Solstice
12/07/2007
http://www.outspark.com/solstice
Global Rating:
Asda Story
12/06/2007
http://asda.gamengame.com/
Global Rating:
Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu
11/20/2007
http://luminary.ijji.com/
Global Rating:
Fiesta
06/20/2007
http://fiesta.outspark.com/
Global Rating:
Tales of Pirates
03/15/2007
http://top.igg.com/
Global Rating:
Scions of Fate
02/07/2007
http://fate.netgame.com/
Global Rating:
Ghost Online
12/21/2006
http://go.gameflier.com.my/
Global Rating:
Trickster
07/24/2006
http://trickster.ntreev.net/
Global Rating:
Nostale
07/10/2006
http://www.nostale.co.uk/
Global Rating:
Goonzu Online
04/26/2006
http://global.goonzu.com/
Global Rating:
Rose Online
12/01/2005
http://www.roseonlinegame.com/
Global Rating:
Domo
09/03/2005
http://domo.aeriagames.com/
Global Rating:
Seal Online
12/10/2004
http://www.sealonline.com/
Global Rating:
FlyFF
08/XX/2004
http://flyff.gpotato.com/
Global Rating:
Mabinogi
06/22/2004
http://mabinogi.nexon.net/
Global Rating:
Maple Story
04/29/2003
http://maplestory.nexon.net/
Global Rating:
Recommended Retail Titles
TBA “Free to Play” MMORPGS
Warrior Epic
TBA
http://www.warriorepic.com/
Global Rating:
Rohan Online
TBA
http://www.playrohan.com/?page=home
Global Rating:
PlaneShift
TBA
http://www.planeshift.it/
Global Rating:
Pristontale 2
TBA
http://www.pt2.co.kr/
Global Rating:
Need to Source MMORPGs
Ferentus
MMORPG Guide 04 - Lowbie Info, Weapons, Armor, Potions, Scrolls, Buffs & Enchants
MMORPG Guide - 4 - I’m a newb! HELP! Weapons & Armor.
Welcome back to Pseudorant, and Part 4 of the MMORPG Guide. Today we will be getting into the nitty gritty details of MMORPGs and what makes these types of games so unique. I will start by taking a look at some of the different Fantasy RPG settings, and then go into detail on topics as they would come up in games.
These topics will include being a lowbie [being new to an MMORPG], different weapons and gear, scrolls and potions and much more!
Read through the following sections to get better understanding of MMORPGs and how they work.
Fantasy RPG Settings - World Areas
As I mentioned in previous guides my main focus is going to be on Fantasy MMORPGs as they are the most common in the genre.
Fantasy refers to any type of Fantasy world that you can imagine. The basis of these worlds is usually structed on existing lore or mythology. Because of this fact you will see similarities many between games.
Common fantasy MMORPG settings will consist of numerous types of areas. I am not going to list them all here because practically any setting you can imagine will show up in various games.
Fantasy worlds can span across dense swamps, arid deserts, dark woodlands, snowy maintain ranges, gigantic castle cities, and even into other realms or universes that are much harder to define.
You need to look at an MMORPG as a real world in regard to the scope and size of the game itself. While it may not be the same scale as real life, it gives you a feeling of being immersed in a huge world full of places to see and explore.
Another common trait of these games is Dungeons and other areas to explore. This can be in the form of a rundown basement or an abandoned castle. It can also include natural formations like caves and tunnels.
With so many areas to see and explore it’s no wonder people can invest so much time into these types of games. You really need to see it for yourself to understand the scope of these worlds. Only them can you truly appreciate the amount of time and energy that goes into creating these fantasy worlds for players.
Being a “Lowbie”
Ah, yes. We have all been there once or twice. (Or tons of times. Hehe) Being a “Lowbie” refers to either being a new player in an MMORPGs, or being a low level character in a game even if you are experienced with MMORPGs.
When you are a lowbie it means you are starting out at the bottom of the ladder. There will usually be numerous players that are higher level than you if you are coming into a game after it has been out for a few weeks. Even if you are coming into a new game there always seems to be that guy that never takes a break from playing, who is a higher level than everyone else.
Don’t let this weigh on your decision to play MMORPGs. There WILL always be these players that are higher level than everyone else. Whatever the reason, whether they don’t work, don’t go to school, etc. This is how the power struggle in an MMORPG works. There will always be someone faster or stronger, but that doesn’t mean you can’t someday be that person. Or at least be up there near them.
As a lowbie you will be starting out with no skills, no money, and no equipment. This means it is in your best interest to get to work and start grinding. I find that the first levels in an MMORPG always tend to be the easiest and most forgiving. It is best to use this to your advantage and level as much as possible without spending money or resources, [Resources being money, skill points or potions and scrolls you acquire.] Also save money by using gear you find while grinding.
This way once you finally hit the newbie plateau (where the game starts pushing you to actually learn how to hold your own against mobs) you should have enough money saved up to get some good gear for your level. It is usually a good idea to spend some SP [skill points] at this time if you have them since you should have a better feel for how your character plays which will help you decide where to spend your skill points.
Refer to Part 3 of this guide for additional stats, trait and class information if you are having trouble deciding how to spend your skill points.
Another good benefit you should have at this point (if you have been saving your resources) is a small collection of perishable items that will help you level including potions and scrolls. It makes more sense to use these items once the grind becomes a little more difficult as it will help you level faster than lowbies who burn these items right away at low levels and come to find they have worn off by the time the could really benifit the character.
Now that we have established a small foothold for our character lets look at some of the other considerations for preparing to enter the actual grind.
Weapons
Ok. You have followed my advice and saved as many resources as possible at lower levels. You have been grinding for awhile now and are feeling the fights becoming more difficult or pushing your health down lower each time. Not a problem. Let’s look at how to balance this out.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to combat. There are those who like to play the defensive role and those who like to gamble and play the aggressive role. Each variation has it’s pros and cons.
Playing the aggressive role is what most characters choose to do. It means investing many of your resources into high damage and low survivability. The school of thought behind this play style is that you do not need much defense if you can kill anything before it can do major damage to you.
This can be very true at lower levels. Sometimes it really pays off to play your character this way as it allows you to level faster than other players around your level that took the “safe” route. At higher levels in MMORPGs this can be more of a gamble because the lower survivability can cost you resurrection time, travel time, and experience points depending on the game.
The other side of the coin is playing the defensive role where a character will invest more money into armor than weapons, and skill points that increase their survivability like more HP and more armor factor or defense.
It all comes down to personal preference and play style. In my opinion, because the grind is easier at lower levels it pays off to invest more in weapons than armor as the game is usually more forgiving at this point and this will allow you to level faster.
Once you have decided your course of action and decide to choose a new weapon you will need to figure out where to buy it. Usually there will be vendors right in the area you started in. If you have leveled up a bit and are already in a different area try checking your map, or using general chat in game to find out where the closest town is. Sometimes going to a different town than the lowbie starting area will offer a better selection of level appropriate weapons.
There will be a weapon vendor in almost all cities in MMORPGs. Once you have located the vendor take a look at the weapons offered to you. There are three main considerations to keep in mind here. The first being make sure you look for weapons that your class can use.
A lot of the time weapons that are not available to you for one reason or another will have writing or stats listed in red. Some times the item itself will be red meaning you can’t use it. Aside from the class consideration, your characters level may have an impact on this. If you are not a high enough level to use a certain weapon it may not be available to you.
Beware because most games will still let you purchase these items. There is nothing more disappointing than buying a weapon and finding out you can’t equip it for one reason or another.
The third consideration here will be the amount of in game money you have acquired by this point. If you followed my advice and saved your resources you should be able to afford most any weapon that is suitable to your level.
You may notice that you can just barely afford a really nice weapon that you can equip. If you had been squandering your money prior to this you would probably have missed out on this weapon. Having the most powerful weapon available to you at the moment provides a great advantage when it comes to grinding and leveling.
It also never hurts to check the next weapon up from the one you are purchasing to make a note of the level requirement. You might notice that the weapon would be available to you if you were one level higher. At this point I would recommend weighing how hard you will have to work for that next level with the weapon you already have.
In most cases at low level you might only need to grind for 20-30 minutes to achieve the next level so the new weapon would be available to you. Once again you will highly benefit from having the best weapon available to your level.
These are just a few of the considerations to make when purchasing your first weapon. I wanted to outline the things I try to consider when I am starting as a lowbie in a new game.
Always keep in mind that while having money is great, having a powerful weapon that allows you to level quickly will open the door to a lot more money coming into your possession. You should consider your play style and goals when choosing a weapon but a good rule of the thumb is always try and get the best available to you, and utilize it for as long as possible so you have more money saved up when you finally need to upgrade your weapon again.
Now would also be a good time to sell off any “garbage” you have collected while grinding. This will usually be in the form of items that are either labeled for some crafting purpose or stuff you cannot identify like “bat drool” or “stinky moss”. The names will vary but it will most likely be something that doesn’t sound very useful.
These items are sometimes worth saving to skill up crafting skills at some point but since we are just starting out let’s focus on short term money making that will allow us to get to a level where we can bring in a steady source of income. If you do decide to pursue a trade skill later these materials tend to be gathered much quicker by a higher level character anyway. For now we will focus on short term financial gains because as a lowbie you need gear, plus bag and bank space is usually limited.
With that being said take the extra money you have made from selling these items and invest it back into the gear you are looking at for your character.
For more information on weapon considerations for different classes and the stats that are best utilized with these weapons refer to Parts 2 and 3 of this guide for stat information and class information which outlines weapon preferences.
Gear & Armor
Now that you have yourself a shiny, new weapon you should probably look into selling off the lowbie gear you started with so you can get some decent armor for your level.
As I outlined above in the aggressive vs. defensive play styles you need to decide what suits you best, better weapons or better armor? I am fully confident that at lower levels you will always be served better by making weapon decisions first. (And I am a “defense” player by nature)
Once you have secured a good weapon to use, you will probably have enough money left over to get yourself partially equipped with good armor, if not all the way. If you have taken my advice and saved your resources as much as possible to this point, you may actually have more than enough money to get the best of everything that is currently available to you.
As with the weapon considerations, always check out the class and level requirements of the armor and the next available piece close to your level to make the most informed purchase possible. Buyer’s remorse can be a terrible thing, especially in an MMORPG where a little extra money can go a long way at low levels.
Once you have selected a piece of armor that is right for you, purchase the item, and then close out of the merchant window and equip the new gear. I always find this is a good practice if you are still becoming familiar with a game. It will keep you from accidentally reselling the piece of armor you just purchased, for a fraction of the value.
It also allows you to un-equip the armor you were previously wearing so it can be resold to the vendor when you purchase your next piece of gear. This provides you with a little extra spending money and ensures you do not un-equip all your gear and sell it off, only to realize you can only afford a pair of boots.
One last consideration when buying weapons and armor is something I touched on briefly in Part 3 of the guide which is weapon and armor bonus stats. I bring it up now because it is more commonly associated with armor than weapons. Stats on gear are bonus stats that will add to the overall attributes of your character. If you are a warrior, then looking for strength attributes on weapons and armor may be a good idea. The same can be said about agility for rogues, intelligence for magic users, etc.
Plan out how you are going to build up your character and take this into consideration when making weapon and armor purchases. You would be surprised how “gear dependant” some games out there can be. (cough*WoW*cough*) In games like this stats on gear can make or break a character and provide a huge advantage over characters who do not have the same quality gear.
Now that we are fully equipped with our new gear, lets get ready to head back out there and start killing monsters. (Again…) But first lets take a look at what is left in our bags.
Scrolls and Potions
After having sold off all the schwag we have collected, along with the old gear lets take a look at what we are left with.
You should have a great new weapon at this point and all new armor, not to mention a lot more bag space after selling all the useless junk we have collected up to this point. Hopefully some of the last things left in your inventory will be a nice supply of health and mana potions and maybe even some scrolls to provide buffs to your character as you grind.
Potions are very important in an MMORPG. I consider them an extension of my weapons and gear when I am spending money. Because of that mindset, I will not hesitate to spend a bit of my left over money to make sure I have a good supply of potions to help me continue to grind.
The reason they are so valuable is because they provide two major functions. They keep you alive, and they make it so you do not need to stop and rest. A friend of mine once commented when we were resting in Lineage2 (a game which had a very slow regeneration rate) that “this is where they make their money”. (Thanks Kip! ^_^)
This was a very keen observation because when you think about it, if you are not grinding efficiently it’s possible to spend over 50% of your time recouping resources. So for example if you play a game for 40 hours you may have spent 25 hours of that time sitting on the ground do nothing. This is not cohesive to the goal of leveling up your character quickly.
(I will outline grind efficiency in a follow-up article on “How to Grind Efficiently”.)
So getting back to the subject at hand, having potions is a great way to trade in game money for less (or no) downtime. Not having downtime is great because we can now focus all of our attention to leveling.
The other comment I made was about how having potions to keep you alive. Now this seems like common sense that I would be a good thing, but the reason is not because of the death aspect. It’s because of the travel time involved in getting back to where you were grinding.
A lot of people don’t think about how much time is also spent in traveling in games in addition to possible down time for recuperation. This travel time can get especially lengthy ay higher levels where a character must travel much further to get back to a grinding area that is suitable for their level.
With all that out of the way, let’s focus on what Potions (POTS) are and what they do.
Potions are pretty self explanatory. As most of you may have guessed the two mains types of potions are health and mana potions. These are potions that help you regain health points and magic points. In most games health bars are usually red, and magic bars are usually blue. The same color scheme applies to the potions so at a glance you can usually tell what you have.
Depending on the game, the strength of a potion (if the potions have different levels), and how much HP your character has at each level can cause potions to have varying levels of effectiveness. In most games. at low levels potions are pretty effective. So much so that one potion will usually take care of any injuries you sustain.
Part of using potions is learning to use them efficiently when you grind. “Grind Efficiency” which I referred to above is more than just being able to kill things quickly. It means managing your resources to get the most out of the time you put into a game. There are many techniques for being efficient at grinding, I will outline these in a later guide. The one I do want to mention now is how to use resources sparingly.
Knowing when to use potions and how many to use can be the key to an efficient grind. Because of this, a good rule of thumb is one resource per X number of mobs. This is something you can determine on an individual basis. I try to shoot for a grind that does not force me to burn resources unless I get attacked by multiple enemies.
Otherwise the standard pace should be killing 5 to 10 mobs and then using a health or mana potion to avoid having to rest. That means if you have 50 potions you can kill about 500 mobs before you need to restock them. Keep in mind that while some people like to tackle higher level mobs because they get more XP, the amount of time and energy involved in defeating these monsters does not usually equal an efficient grind. (Unless they are making use of an imbalance in the game which can sometimes be considered exploiting.)
I find that I can actually level faster than these players by killing mobs that are my exact level or lower because they inflict much less damage which requires that I burn very few resources, and because I can cut through swarms of these mobs like butter. While I am getting less XP per kill I am racking up so many kills with out the need to rest that I quickly surpass the player that is hunting higher levels mobs for more experience yet resting after each fight.
Keeping this in mind will also allow you become better at managing your resources.
Aside from the HP (health) and MP (mana) potions mentioned above there are usually other variations of potions found in games. Some examples of these are speed, agility, attack power, magic power, defense and numerous other potions that can provide temporary effects similar to buffs. (Buffs are stat enhancing spells that characters can cast on other players or themselves. Similar effects can be achieved through the use of potions or scrolls in most games.)
The other resource that would be nice to have at this point is scrolls. While not all games may have “Scrolls” they will usually carry some type of variation on them. This can be any item that produces a buff effect for a certain duration of time.
Scrolls are nice because they are usually associated with raising character attributes which enable the player to fight as though they were a higher level than they actually are. Scrolls are very valuable in standard grinding, dungeon parties, raids, PVP and practically any other situation where the player would like a competitive edge. Because of this, scrolls are very desirable if you are trying to level quickly. (I will assume you are, if you are reading this guide.)
As with potions, decide the best ways in which to use your scrolls and manage resources. If you plan on grinding for an extended period of time that would be the perfect time to use a scroll to buff your character. I will usually use them when I know I have a solid hour or so to play because this is the common duration for most scrolls.
If you use one, and then realize you need to take a break for dinner or an errand, a good idea is to find a clearing near the area you are grinding in and log out of the game there. This will usually stop the timer on the scroll effect. That way once you are ready to start playing again you can pickup in the same spot you left off without wasting the scroll effect. Make sure you log out in an area that is safe to log back into, so you do not get swarmed by monsters as dying will usually remove the scroll effect.
In some games you can purchase scrolls from NPC or player stores. For me, the health and mana potions always come first but if I find myself with extra money I will consider picking up scrolls if the prices are good because it all contributes to being able to level quicker.
Scrolls come in many different flavors just like potions. They can affect everything from speed and defense, to regeneration times. As with everything we are discussing it will usually be specific to the game you are playing so make sure to do your research to find out what’s available to you. This is also a good idea to make sure you are not overpaying when buying items from other players.
Buffs and Magic
Buffs are very similar to scrolls in the fact that they provide attribute bonuses to characters. The difference with “Buffs” (in the manner that they are commonly referred to) is that they are magic spells cast by players on themselves or other players.
Because of this you can instantly realize what a valuable resource being able to cast buffs or getting someone to cast them on you may be. As a lowbie it might not hurt to ask if anyone could provide you with buffs as this can sometimes provide a huge benefit if a higher level character gives them to you. If you do this, ask only once and do not whine as you will play right into the stereotypical “NooB” role. (Noobs are people who are new to a game like lowbies. Unlike lowbies a Noobs behaviour is usually childish which creates a negative implication around the label)
Keep in mind that a lot of the characters with ability to buff other players frequently get asked to do so, so much in fact that they sometimes get tired of being asked. As with anything in life be nice when you ask and say “Please”. (Throwing in a smile :) never hurts either). I have found that I am much more likely to buff someone that says please and smiles rather than someone that says please and begs.
Just remember it’s not the end of the world if they don’t buff you. With the methods I have outlined above you should already have a pretty good technique for grinding efficiently without the need for extra buffs. Getting them at this point would just be an additional bonus.
Now let’s look at some of the types of buffs that exist. As with potions and scrolls you can usually find buffs that increase a characters speed, defense, strength, attack power, magic power, total health or magic, etc.
Buffs are a really great addition to a game because it provides support classes with incentives to play those characters as they have the ability to buff themselves. A lot of the benefits associated with buffs have been covered in the above section on potions and scrolls so refer to that for additional information.
Keep in mind that buffs can provide a great advantage in any game when you find them in. If a character is nice enough to buff you always say thanks and then venture out and try tackling something bigger and badder than you normally would. You might be surprised how easily you are able to defeat the monster depending on the level of the buffs. (Work your way up because as with potions and scrolls, buffs will usually diminsh or disappear after a death)
Enchants
The last major stat improvement I am going to cover in Part 4 are “Enchants“. There are usually two main types of enchants, weapon and armor.
An Enchant is a modification to a weapon or armor that increases the existing stats on a piece of gear or adds new stats entirely.
Good examples of this are weapon enchants that increase damage, and armor enchants that increase defense. Depending on how enchants and enchanting is implemented in a game there are several ways in which it can occur.
In some games other players can develop enchanting skills which allow them to enchant weapons as a service to other players. While this can be a good idea to promote an in-game economy it can also promote players scamming lowbies that may not be aware of potential cons. The rule of thumb is, always treat in-game items as you would real life items. If you have made friends with someone in a game and feel you can trust them you can use discretion and have them enchant an item for you. Most of the time people seem to be pretty honest. Another consideration is sometimes higher levels will enchant items for lowbies just to be nice and because it doesn’t cost them much at their level.
In WoW I used to enchant weapons all the time for lowbies so they could have a cool glowing sword to motivate them to grind or play more. Some players just enjoy being nice, which is the reason I used to do it.
Another way players can get enchanted items is buy buying weapons that have already been enchanted, through player shops. This is usually a great way to get a nice enchanted weapon if it is not overpriced.
Another implementation of enchanting is having an NPC that provides the service to players contingent on receiving the proper materials to perform the enchant. This brings us to the next consideration.
Most enchants in games require materials to be performed. The higher the level the enchant the more materials it will require and the more difficult the materials will become to acquire. In some games farming for the materials yourself may not be a realistic option. (farming is gathering money or items from mobs, with the focus being on gaining resources rather than experience.) In these cases players tend to buy the items they need from player shops, but watch out as players usually tend to charge top dollar for materials they know are used for enchanting purposes.
The other point you need to be aware of is that in some games enchants have a chance to fail. This means that if the enchant does not work successfully, the item you are trying to enchant may be destroyed. Depending on the implementation of this it can actually vary from you losing the materials, to the item losing some stats, to the item being destroyed. As always read ahead and make sure that you have done your research to ensure that you know all the potential details involved with enchanting.
Another common feature of enchanting items is in addition to the enchant increasing the stats on an item it can usually give the item a cool visual effect it did not have before. This will usually show up in the form of a glowing weapon or color change.
In some games they can even go so far as to change the entire look of the item. In any case it is a symbol that you have something special. It stands out and other players notice it, and it’s always cool to have a glowing blade or staff.
Overview
That wraps it up for Part 4 of the MMORPG guide. As I write each section I find myself realizing there is more than I ever remembered that needs to be outlined for each subject. Because of this I will probably end up breaking the whole guide into a 7 or 8 Part series so it’s not completely overwhelming.
Thanks again for sitting through another long rant. If you have anything that you would like to see added always feel free to email me with suggestions.
Check back for Part 5 of the MMORPG guide where I will cover Trade Skills, Making Money, Banking and Storage, Leveling, Mobs, Quests ect.
As always thanks for the support!
MMORPG Guide 03 - Character Stats, Traits, & Attributes
Raining STATS & Troggs!
Welcome back to Pseudo Rant and Part 3 of the MMORPG Guide! Today I am going to cover common RPG stats and the races and classes they are commonly associated with.
In Part 2 of the MMORPG guide I went into detail on the different races and classes found in RPGs and MMORPGs. We will now cover the next area of importance which is character stats. Character stats can be understood by thinking of them as “traits” that are common to a race or class in a game.
For example, without having much background on RPGs a person should be able to deduce that a Warrior will probably be stronger than other classes. In an RPG or MMORPG this “Strength” trait is dictated by the “Strength” attribute or “stat”.
This sounds pretty straight forward and for the most part it is, although some traits are not exactly as easy to discern, especially when it comes down to traits for races and classes. Because of this, I am going to take a look at common traits and give a brief explanation of each.
I will try to cover common implementations of these traits as they are found in most games. As I have stated in previous guides always research the game you are playing to fully understand the way traits are implemented in each particular game.
Common RPG Stats
Below is a list of common “Stats” or traits that can be found in almost all MMO/RPGs. Continue reading below for an explanation of what each stat normally affects, and the classes those traits are commonly associated with.
I have organized the list from the most common traits found in games to the least common. If you are familiar with MMORPGs already you have probably had some experience with each of these stats.
[Also note the abbreviations next to each stat. This is how people will commonly refer to these traits in game. The abbreviations will help you identify when people are referring to character stats in game.]
Strength [STR]
Endurance [END]
Stamina [STA / STAM]
Constitution [CON]
Dexterity [DEX]
Agility [AGI]
Vitality [VIT]
Intelligence [INT]
Spirit [SPR / SPI]
Defense [DEF]
Fortitude [FORT]
Damage [DMG]
Healing
Speed
Critical [CRIT]
Wisdom [WIS]
Charisma
Will
Reflex
Strength [STR] - Strength as the name would imply will dictate how strong a character is. This can be implemented in several different ways in games. Most commonly, strength will dictate the amount of damage a character does when they attack. It can also affect the amount of health points [HP] a character has or how much a character can carry. [If the character is governed by weight limits in a game.]
Most often Strength will only affect the amount of damage a character does when they attack with traits like health points, and defense being dictated by other traits listed below. The most common conditional feature of this trait is that strength will only affect melee damage in combat, and will usually not apply to ranged attacks or magic attacks.
Classes you are likely to see spec’ing in strength [Distributing points into specializations for your class.] include Warriors, Gladiators, Fighters, Paladins, Rogues, Assassins, Druids, Shamans, Hunter, Tamers and any other classes that are dependant on Melee damage when fighting. The primary classes that use the Strength attribute are Warriors, Gladiators, Fighters and Paladins.
Endurance [END] - Endurance is usually a measure of how well a character can hold up against damage. This is most often associated with health points and defense. Stats like Armor Factor [AF] [another type of defense] and block rate may also be affected by this trait depending on the game, but are usually dictated by other stats listed below.
The most common application of Endurance is increasing a characters total health points.
Once again this is a very important stat to Warriors, Gladiators, Fighters, and Paladins who rely on their higher HP and high defense rating to withstand attacks. This is part of what makes them an ideal “tanking” class as mentioned in PART 2 of my guide which covered Races and Classes.
Stamina [STA | STAM] - Stamina is another adaptation of Endurance. Refer to the description above for more information.
Stamina like Strength can sometimes dictate the amount of weight a character is able to carry. As always refer to game specific documentation to see how each stat applies to characters in the game you are playing.
Constitution [CON] - Constitution is also similar to Endurance and Stamina. All these stats are primarily responsible for how much health or “HP” a character has. I am listing common variations of ways people refer to these stats so if you hear someone say “END” or “CON” in game, you understand they are not talking about “Ending Something” or “Conning Someone”.
Agility [AGI] - Agility is a stat that is most commonly associated with specialized attack classes. Agility will normally affect a character’s Crit rate [Critical attack], and the ability to parry and dodge attacks. In some games a higher agility will also enable a character to increase their movement speed.
Classes that require high Agility are usually Rogues, Assassins, Thieves, Archers, Marksman, Hunters, and some types of Fighters and Warriors. [Depending on the character build the player is creating.] This trait is most commonly utilized by Rogues, Assassins, and Thieves because of the nature of their attacks, and their ability to defend through dodging.
Dexterity [DEX] - Depending on the implementation of this trait in a game, Dexterity can be very similar to Agility or very different. If the implementation of this trait is similar to Agility check the section above for more detailed information.
Otherwise Dexterity can refer to the stat which governs accuracy and critical rate for classes with ranged physical attacks. This will usually apply to classes like Archers, Marksman, Hunters and the like.
In addition to accuracy and critical rate, Dexterity will usually increase ranged attack power also. As mentioned above this will usually only apply to “physical” ranged attacks as opposed to magic attacks that mages and warlocks may use.
In some cases Dexterity will also contribute to the ability to Dodge and Parry. This is another reason this stat is closely related to agility.
Vitality [VIT] - Vitality is another stat that is very similar to Endurance [END], Stamina [STA] and Constitution [CON]. Unlike those stats Vitality can also govern the ability to quickly regenerate hit points [HP] and magic or mana [Magic Points - MP].
In a lot of cases Stamina, Constitution and Endurance can also affect how quickly a character can regenerate HP, but it does not normally affect MP regeneration.
Because of this regeneration trait, coupled with the potential for increased hit points and mana, this is a desirable trait for magic users. Mages and Warlocks would not usually invest in this stat because of the benefits gained from other stats which apply to damage dealing magic.
Usually Healing and Support classes like Priests, Clerics, Druids, Shamans and Paladin will invest points into raising their Vitality.
Intelligence [INT] - Intelligence is another trait favored by magic users. Intelligence is most commonly associated with the total amount of “mana” or magic class has. It will sometimes also contribute to mana regen [regeneration] and the chance for critical strikes with spells.
Because of the fact that it provides increased MP [magic points] and a chance to crit this stat is favored by damage dealing magic classes. The increased magic points can also be appealing to Healing and Support classes that cannot afford to run out of mana at a critical moment. Although these classes usually tend to favor mana regeneration over a large mana pool because of the play style of the class. ["Healing Efficiency"]
Intelligence stat points are most commonly favored by Mages, Warlocks Shamans, and Druids to increase the total amount of MP the character has. Other classes that will also rely on INT are Priests, Clerics, Hunters, Tamers and Paladins, although Mages and Warlocks seem to be the most common.
Spirit [SPR | SPI] - Spirit is another trait that can be implemented numerous ways depending on the game it is found in. Most commonly Spirit will contribute to the amount of MP a character has and the speed at which the characters mana will regenerate. Usually the higher the Spirit stat is for a character the faster they can regen MP.
In some games Spirit can also increase magic damage and critical rate. While this trait would be appealing to most magic users you will usually find Healers and Support classes upping their Spirit stats.
Spirit is most commonly used by healers such as Priests, Clerics, and Paladins. Depending on the game you may also find Druids, and Shamans investing in Spirit also.
Defense [DEF] - Defense rating is usually more of a gear based trait than a character stat when it is found in games. Aside from native abilities of races and classes, gear can also provide a significant stat boosts to characters. This is true for most MMORPGs.
A lot of Defense stats you see in games will be provided by the type of armor a character is using. The higher the Defense rating the less damage a character will take when they are being attacked.
Because of this you will usually find tanking classes trying to acquire as much defense as possible. Not only does this make them a more efficient tank, it increases their survival rate if they are in a party that is short on healers.
Other classes you may find investing into Defense are Warriors, Gladiators, Fighters, Paladins, Druids, Shamans, Hunters and Cleric. While it is in the best interest of every class to have a high defense rating you usually need to pick one stat over another. In these cases specialized fighting and magic classes will usually pick stats that offer multiple benefits to their character which may not include defense stats.
Fortitude [FORT] - Fortitude is similar to Strength, Endurance, Stamina, and Constitution. It is closely related to these traits because it will usually increase the total amount of HP a character has, and can sometimes increase the characters Strength and ability to carry weight. It can also affect defense rating in some cases.
More often than not FORT will provide increased HP to a character. Though once again, it is very dependant on the game you are playing. For a more in-depth explanation of “Fortitude” read the sections on Endurance, Stamina, and Constitution.
Fortitude is a very important stat to Warriors, Gladiators, Fighters, and Paladins who rely on their higher HP and higher defense rating to withstand attacks.
Damage [DMG] - Damage is another stat that is commonly associated with weapons or armor based stats. While it can be similar to strength, it is not usually found in a character’s native stats.
Damage can refer to the amount of physical or magical damage a character can do. Gear that provides stat boosts to damage will allow a character to deal more damage as the trait is increased.
Because dealing damage is what most classes strive to do, this stat is commonly utilized by many players. Physical damage seems to benefit classes like Warriors, Gladiator, Fighters, Rogues and Assassins the most, where magical damage is very useful to Mages and Warlocks.
Because “Damage” is such a universal stat you will find that most classes tend to invest in this trait.
Healing - The Healing stat is similar to the “Damage” stat in the fact that it is also usually a trait that is provided by weapons or armor and not native to a character’s base stats.
As you may have guessed the Healing stat is most commonly utilized by Healing and Support classes. The reason additional Healing power is useful is because it allows the Healers mana to last longer than it normally would. This is the same reason a Healer may spec in high Spirit points also, for “healing efficiency”.
Because of the additional benefits of a higher Healing stat you will usually find Priests and Clerics investing into this trait. But because it is such a useful bonus it is not uncommon to find other support classes like Druids, Shamans and Paladins spec’ing into this also.
Speed - Speed is another trait that you may, or may not find in most games. As the name implies, speed governs that rate at which a character can run. This can be very useful in certain games where a good deal of time can be spent moving from Point A to Point B.
Speed is similar to agility in the fact that, Agility can also affect a player’s running speed. The difference is Agility usually offers additional benefits, where speed tends to govern that one trait.
Being able to move fast in a combat setting is beneficial to classes that have a lower armor rating and defend themselves through combat tactics like Dodging, Parrying and Kiting [Luring an enemy]. Because of this, “speed” is a preferred trait for Rogues, Assassins, Thieves, Archers and Marksman. Although all classes will benefit from being able to move faster.
Critical - As mentioned above “Critical Rate” or “CRIT” determines how often powerful attacks are occur during normal attacks. A critical strike is a random hit that deals more damage than usual to an enemy. “Critical” attacks are normally double the power of a standard attack, or more.
All MMORPGs have critical attacks, yet they are all implemented slightly different depending on the game. More often than not, Crit’ is measure of a percentage that can be improved through weapons, armor and other base stats listed above.
The primary stat that usually lends itself to critical attacks is Agility. It can sometimes also be influenced by secondary traits like Dexterity, Intelligence, and Spirit.
There are two main types of critical strikes, those that occur from physical attacks and those that occur from magical attacks. Rogues and Archers tend to utilize this stat the most on the physical damage side, where Mages and Warlocks tend to utilize this the most on the magic side.
Wisdom - Wisdom is similar to Intelligence and Spirit in that it affects magic traits and stats. Wisdom can increase the damage of spells, raise the total amount of MP a character has, and increase mana regeneration and critical chance.
Wisdom is another stat that you may, or may not find in many MMORPGs. This trait is usually found in single player games as Wisdom can be implemented in many different ways.
Being a stat that governs the affects of magic and spells Wisdom is an appealing trait to classes like Mages, Warlocks, Priests and Clerics.
Charisma - Charisma is a trait that is usually only found in single player RPGs. The reason being that Charisma is usually a stat that governs how well other characters in a game like a person.
Because MMORPGs consist of real life players you cannot invest points into this stat because you as a player are in control of your Charisma [or lack there of]. It is usually easy to make friends in MMORPGs, just treat others as you would like them to treat you and this will usually make you feel as though you have high Charisma, whether you can invest in this stat or not.
Charisma is looked at as a universal trait since it does not usually make or break a character one way of another. It mainly dictates your ability to interact with NPCs which is why it is commonly found in single player RPGs. Because of this, no one class is commonly found using this stat.
Will - Will is another stat that is similar to Wisdom in that it governs the affects of magic and spells.
If you are playing a game where “Will” is listed as a trait you should refer to the documentation for that game to find out the specifics.
As a stat that usually governs magic attributes, Will is commonly favored by Mages, Warlocks, Clerics, Priests and any other magic dependant classes.
Reflex - Reflex is another stat is not commonly found in MMORPGs. It is usually found in single player RPGs and is similar to “Agility” for the benefits it provides.
See the above sections for more information on Agility, Dexterity and Speed.
Being similar to Agility, “Reflex” is preferred by classes with specialized combat styles like Rogues. Assassins and Thieves may also find this trait useful as it can pertain to lock picking abilities which are commonly used by these classes.
That covers the basics of most common stats or traits that are found in MMORPGs. Because stats are used in so many different games and implemented in so many different ways it is hard to accurately describe them for every situation.
If you feel I have misrepresented a stat or need to add additional information about it, please feel free to comment on my blog so I can continue to improve my guides so that they are useful to old and new players a like.
In the previous sections I have outlined what classes tend to benefit the most from certain stats or traits. In the following section I will take a closer look at how these base character stats pertain to different Races to give you a better idea of what to look for when creating a character.
Stats Common to Race
Just like some stats are favored by certain classes, the same can be said for base stats with certain Races.
In almost all MMORPGs each race with have different advantages and draw backs. Because of this fact picking a race that is both visually appealing, and beneficial to potential classes is very important.
If you are a casual player and are just looking to create a character that is fun to play this may not be as much of a concern to you, but if you are a serious player looking for a competitive edge, this is something you need to be aware of.
You can’t get blood from a stone in the same way that you can’t make a certain Race or Class into something they’re not. This can be seen in games like World of Warcraft where certain Races are limited to specific classes. Another example of this is traditionally you are not going to turn a “Light Elf” into a nasty PVP Warrior.
It’s hard to give an exact example so just keep this in mind when choosing a race. Orcs will never be good Priests, Light Elves will never be great Warriors, Humans will never be good shape-shifters, etc.
These are all generalizations, but they are supposed to get you thinking about how different Race based stats and traits will affect the class you ultimately decide to player.
Keep this in mind when reading through the following sections since I outline stats that are “usually” common to each Race. Check the list below for a summary and brief explanation for each race that I discussed in Part 2 of this guide.
Orc
Troll
Dwarf
Gnome
Elf
Light Elf
Dark Elf
Human
Humanoid
[As with all Races, Classes, Stats and Skill based information I have presented so far, these are generalizations that may not pertain to all games. These generalizations are based on common MMO/RPG implementations. Always do your research before creating a character to ensure you are happy with the end result.]
ORCS - Well known for their brutality on the battle field and their high survival rate, Orcs are usually associated with the following traits (stats):
COMMON TRAITS
Strength [STR]
Endurance [END]
Stamina [STA STAM]
Constitution [CON]
Defense [DEF]
Fortitude [FORT]
TROLLS - Well known for their mettle and recovery abilities, Trolls are usually associated with the following traits (stats):
COMMON TRAITS
Strength [STR]
Endurance [END]
Stamina [STA STAM]
Constitution [CON]
Vitality [VIT]
Intelligence [INT]
Spirit [SPR SPI]
Fortitude [FORT]
DWARVES - Well known for their mettle and crafting abilities, Dwarves are usually associated with the following traits (stats):
COMMON TRAITS
Strength [STR]
Endurance [END]
Stamina [STA STAM]
Constitution [CON]
Vitality [VIT]
Intelligence [INT]
Spirit [SPR SPI]
Defense [DEF]
Fortitude [FORT]
Wisdom [WIS]
GNOMES - Well known for their ingenuity and crafting abilities, Gnomes are usually associated with the following traits (stats):
COMMON TRAITS
Dexterity [DEX]
Agility [AGI]
Vitality [VIT]
Intelligence [INT]
Spirit [SPR SPI]
Speed
Wisdom [WIS]
Reflex
ELVES - Well known for their specialized combat and magic abilities, Elves are usually associated with the following traits (stats):
COMMON TRAITS
Dexterity [DEX]
Agility [AGI]
Vitality [VIT]
Intelligence [INT]
Spirit [SPR SPI]
Speed
Wisdom [WIS]
Reflex
LIGHT ELVES - Well known for their bow skills and support magic, Light Elves are usually associated with the following traits (stats):
COMMON TRAITS
Dexterity [DEX]
Agility [AGI]
Vitality [VIT]
Intelligence [INT]
Spirit [SPR | SPI]
Speed
Wisdom [WIS]
Reflex
DARK ELVES - Well known for their assassination skills and black magic abilities, Dark Elves are usually associated with the following traits (stats):
COMMON TRAITS
Strength [STR]
Dexterity [DEX]
Agility [AGI]
Intelligence [INT]
Spirit [SPR SPI]
Speed
Wisdom [WIS]
Reflex
HUMANS [HUMANOIDS] - Known for being one of the most well rounded races, Humans are usually associated with the following traits (stats):
COMMON TRAITS
Strength [STR]
Endurance [END]
Stamina [STA | STAM]
Constitution [CON]
Dexterity [DEX]
Agility [AGI]
Vitality [VIT]
Intelligence [INT]
Spirit [SPR SPI]
Defense [DEF]
Fortitude [FORT]
Speed
Wisdom [WIS]
Will
Reflex
As you can see there are many base stats associated with each race. The main point of this section is to give you a general idea of common stats, and express why it is important to research races and classes when creating a character in an MMO/RPG.
Always do your homework so know what to look for when creating a character in each game you play.
Thanks again for sitting through another Pseudo Rant! I hope you enjoyed Part 3 of the MMORPG Guide.
Please check back for Part 4 of this Guide where I will cover the in-game details of MMORPGs. Topics will include being a lowbie, weapons and armor, buffs and magic, enchants, trade skills, leveling and guilds and much, much more!
MMORPG Guide 02 – Races, Classes, & Character Role Details
Part 2 - The Devil’s in the Details?
Welcome back to Pseudo Rant and part two of the MMORPG guide! In part 2 we are going to get into the specifics of MMORPGs and what they are all about. We will cover various topics in detail to give you a better understanding of different aspects in games.
Even if you are an experienced player you may want to read through the following sections because it may give you some insight into a race or class that you have never played before.
While it may be fun to always play a warrior or rogue, you may want to try being a priest or the mage sometime to get the whole experience MMORPGs offer.
Good or Evil, light or dark, black or white? How can you choose if you are uninformed? Let’s take a closer look to help you get the most out of your charcter. After all, the Devil is in the details and we all like to dabble on the dark side every now and again.
Races and Classes
There are two main decisions all players must make when creating a character in almost all MMORPGs. What “Race” will my character be and what “Class“?
Unlike real life, Race will usually determine much more than just the color of your skin. While looks are always important there are some times more factors involved than meets the eye.
Choosing a character that looks the way you want is important because “you” are the one that is going to have to look at that character for hours on end. In this regard I have always found myself creating female characters, because I do not grow tired of looking at them as quickly as I do with male characters. This is just one consideration when creating your character.
The next important consideration is does your character get bonuses or stat boosts based off the race you pick?
All MMORPGs are designed differently so this may or may not be the case.
In games where this is a factor, this may be stated on the character creation screen. It could be as simple as a wording like “Orcs tend to be the strongest of all the races”. Or something as blatant as bonuses or base stats displayed on the screen. Do not always assume that a game will tell you though. Sometimes you may need to check on the game’s website or forums to get all the character details.
A little pre-planning and research into what type of character you are going to create never hurts if you think you will be devoting a large amount of time to a game.
Also keep in mind that you are not locked into one character. Most MMORPGs will allow you to create at least 3 or 4 characters and some will allow you to create between 5 and 10. If you create a character and find out about an advantage that a specific class or race has, decide if it is worth creating a new character to explore this advantage. In some cases you may only lose a few hours of game play which you can look at as the learning curve aspect of the game.
As you can see there are a lot of considerations. There are many more than we have covered here but we are focusing on the top considerations to keep this guide at a resonable length.
Common MMORPG Races
Now let’s take a look at some of the common races found in MMORPGs.
Below is a list of common races that are found in most Fantasy MMORPGs. As I mentioned in Part 1 of the MMORPG guide, a lot of the Fantasy universe is based off mythology so you will see reoccurring themes throughout these games.
Take a look at some of the common races found in these games:
Orc
Troll
Dwarf
Gnome
Elf
Light Elf
Dark Elf
Human
Humanoid
I will keep this list short because this can range quite a bit from game to game, but you will probably see several of these races come up in different games in the world of MMORPGs.
Below is a list of generalized descriptions pertaining to each race. Keep in mind these are common traits that may or may not be related to the race in the game you are playing. This is generic RPG knowledge that seems to come up in a lot of MMORPG games.
Orcs - Commonly known for their strength and endurance. Orcs tend to make good fighters because of their higher strength stats, which lead to an above average attack power. Their high endurance stats lend them selves into creating a formidable opponent on the battle field. Some adaptations of Orcs, provide the race with a Berserk or Rage trait that is good for short bursts of increased power. Orcs are also known for having lower intelligence levels than other races which means they are not usually ideal for magic classes.
Trolls - Also well known for strength and endurance. Trolls are traditionally weaker than Orcs while having better endurance traits. Trolls are usually a close second to Orcs on the battlefield yet their more evenly distributed character stats enable trolls to fulfill more versatile roles in most games. Because of this aspect it is harder to point out a “Con” of this race. It will usually be dependant on the game they are found in.
Dwarves - Dwarves are well known for their strength and their ability to craft and excel at trade skills. Depending on the game, Dwarves can also make formidable tanks due to higher endurance. Dwarves are traditionally thought of as the money makers in games because of their abilities to forage and make the most of their trade skills. Dwarves stat points are usually evenly distributed with a favor towards strength and endurance. Traditionally dwarves are not good magic classes.
Gnomes - While similar to Dwarves in their crafting and trade skill abilites, Gnomes tend to have higher intelligence than Dwarves which lends itself to the possibility of magic classes. Gnomes are to Dwarves, as Trolls are to Orcs. They allow for a more versatile race that can usually branch out into multiple class types because of evenly distributed stat points. Gnomes are not usually known for strength attributes in most games.
Elves - Elf races are usually considered the magic users of most Fantasy MMORPGs due to their high levels of intelligence. Because of this trait it is not uncommon to see elf mages and healers. [As with all of these descriptions they are highly dependant on the game you find the race in.] While Elves do have strength in some MMORPGs it is usually balanced by having lower endurance than other races which makes them act as damage dealers more than tanks.
Light Elf - Light Elves are a variation of the standard Elf race that will usually have an increased ability to use magic, especially Healing magic and spells. [Light Magic / White Magic] Light Elves tend to be the weakest physically of the Elf race, while their light magic tends to be the most powerful in games. Because of their very low survival rate Light Elves tend to work best in groups providing support magic or healing, and dealing ranged damage to monsters through the use of spells or bows.
Dark Elf - Another variation of the Elf race is the Dark Elf. Dark Elves tend to be magic users also, although they usually specialize in black magic for the purpose to dealing damage to their enemies. Dark Elves do not usually have healing abilities, and may have an entirely different set of magic available to them because of this. In some Fantasy MMORPGs dark elves are well known for their high damage output making them ideal rogue or assassin classes As with all Elves, Dark Elves do not have very high endurance traits. This makes their survivability lower than other tank or rogue races.
Human [Humanoid] - The last common race found in almost all Fantasy genres is the human or humanoid race. When I say “humanoid” I am referring to any other named race that shares the appearance of standard humans and whose stats are well rounded like a humans stats.
Humans tend to be the most well rounded race in almost any game you play. Because of this trait they usually have the highest potential toward different classes in a game. Like the saying goes “Jack of all Trades, Master of none”. This applies to humans in the sense that while they are usually the most versatile race, they normally cannot excel in specific fields as well as other races.
For example, in Linage II humans could become rogues, archers, warriors, gladiators, mages, etc. Compared to Dark Elves humans could never deal quite as much damage as a Rogue or Archer. Compared to Light Elves they could never attain the same mastery of magic. Compared to Orcs they could never match the endurance of an Orc fighter.
This idea carries over into numerous games with Human classes. They are usually the most well rounded which makes them easy to play and good for getting your feet wet in MMORPGs. But because they are such a generalized class do not expect them to excel in any specific area.
Humans are usually given good racial bonuses to make up for fact that they can feel “generic” at times, when compared to other races in games.
For more detailed information on races check the following links which provide a very large, and indepth overview on “Races”:
Races - A Long List - Part 1
http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm/content_id.23046/World-Building
Races - A Long List - Part 2
http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm/content_id.23047/World-Building
As with all the examples listed above, race is always specific to the game you are playing. Always research a race before choosing it to ensure you have all the information that is available to you.
Some people reading this may think my examples are based off World or Warcraft of Lineage II. This is not the case. These are generalizations I have come to find in numerous MMORPG and single player RPGs. The traits I have used in my examples tend to be those that are the most universally applied throughout the genre.
[If you have anything you would like to see added or amended please let me know and I will review it to be added to the guide.]
Common RPG Classes
Now lets discuss the most important factor in character creation [IMO]. The character “Class“.
The reason I say this is the most important is because the class you pick will determine the game play you experience throughout the course of the game. While some may know what to expect, for those who do not this can be a daunting decision.
Because of this we are going to cover some of the basics about Classes and explain class generalizations in detail like I did for the various races.
As always, don’t forget that you are not locked into a decision. Remember that most games will allow you to create several characters so if you do not like the way a certain class plays, make a new one. Don’t feel like you need to delete your first character because you can always come back to this one in the future.
Classes in MMORPGs are ”skill sets” in the respect that they will dictate the abilities of your character. This can range from how you fight, and how you function in a party or guild, to how you are able to support other characters in the game.
Classes are usually broken into two general categories. Damage classes, and support classes. I will list common classes below that are found in most MMORPGs along with a brief description of each. I will also mention if that class is considered a [Support] or [Damage] class. This can give you a better idea of a classes play style if you are unfamiliar with a particular class. It can also help you decide if you would enjoy playing a particular class or not.
There are several common types of classes found in most MMORPGs. I have listed these classes below:
Warrior / Gladiator / Fighter
Rogue / Assassin / Thief
Archer / Marksman
Priest / Cleric
Mage / Warlock
Druid / Shaman
Hunter / Tamer
Paladin
Read the following sections for more information on each of these classes and what makes them unique.
Warrior / Gladiator / Fighter - This class usually focuses heavily on melee combat. They are usually well versed in the use of different types of weapons including Swords, Clubs, Axes, Hammers, Spears, and Maces just to name a few.
This class usually starts with higher Strength and Endurance attributes than most other classes. Traditionally these types of classes become “Tanks” which are members of a dungeon party that hold the focus of a monster [aggro] while the rest of the party works on defeating the beast.
Sometimes refereed to as “Meat Shields“, their ability to take a beating and dish one out sets them apart from other classes. Warriors would fall into the [Damage] dealing category but they could almost be put into their own category as “Tank” because of their role in a party.
Warriors and their variants are usually best suited in heavy armors like steal, mithril, brigandine, and other high defense armors made of metal.
Usually crucial to the success [or lack there of] in a Dungeon party, this class carries the responsibility for protecting the clothies [magic users or anyone with low defense or cloth armor] from certain doom during long drawn out battles.
A Tank is very similar to the Quarterback of a football team. They will dictate the pace of the party, and must know when people need to rest to regain health and mana. A tank is usually responsible for working closely with the guild leader to plan combat strategies for various battles the guild will undertake.
Rogue / Assassin / Thief - This class utilizes stealth and sneak attacks to subdue an opponent before giving them a chance to fight back. More commonly referred to as a Rogue, this classes main function is damage output. This puts the Rogue in the role of [Damage] dealer in most parties.
While a Rogue’s weapon of choice is daggers, they are well versed in all weapons ranging from Swords, Axes, Crossbows, Bows, Two-Handed Swords, throwing knives, etc.
Rogues can usually be found wearing leather or heavy leather types of armor. This provides less defense but allows for more maneuverability to dodge and evade attacks.
While the Rogue class outputs high damage their endurance and survivability is usually much lower than that of a tank. The two main reasons being they usually have much lower HP and Defense than a true tank, because they rely on dodging most attacks. They also have a knack for pulling aggro [a monsters attention] off of the tank due to their high damage output and crit’ rate.
[Crit. short for "Critical" refers to powerful attacks that occur at random during normal attacks.]
While everyone wants to be the character that deals the most damage, a “good” Rogue is hard to come by because it requires using restraint in parties to make sure their ability to pull aggro does not disrupt the group mechanic.
Some MMORPGs also give Rogues the ability to “stealth” or turn invisible. This is a very powerful ability as it allows the character to attack without being seen, flee from battle, stalk a character or ambush, and can also be used for numerous other tactics. It is hard to appreciate how useful this skill is until you have had a chance to try it out. Because of the Stealth skill, many people are attracted to the idea of being a Rogue.
Archer / Marksman - The Archer class utilizes attack speed, range, and power to create a character with powerful [Damage] dealing abilities. Coupled with a higher dodge rate than most classes, the Archer can be a formidable opponent from a distance.
The Archer class is similar to a rogue in the fact they usually have a higher damage output than tanks, but lower survivability as they trade off endurance for dexterity. Unlike a Rog