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/

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Cabal Online
02/01/2008
http://www.cabalonline.com/

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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/

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Shaiya
11/26/2007
http://shaiya.aeriagames.com/

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World of Kung Fu
11/XX/2007
http://www.worldofkungfu.com/

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Age of Armor
10/20/2007
http://www.aoaus.com/

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Fury – Age of the Choosen
10/16/2007
http://www.unleashthefury.com/

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Zu Online
09/15/2007
http://zu.igg.com/

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Exteel
09/12/2007
http://www.exteel.com/us/

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Xiah Rebirth
08/17/2007
http://xiah.gamescampus.com/

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Metin 2
07/27/2007
http://www.metin2.us/

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Sword of the new World
06/27/2007
http://www.swordofthenewworld.com/

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2 Moons
06/15/2007
http://2moons.acclaim.com/

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Regnum Online
05/24/2007
http://www.regnumonline.com.ar/

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Perfect World
05/XX/2007
http://www.perfectworld.com.my/

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Dungeon Runners
05/24/2007
http://www.dungeonrunners.com/

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Mo Siang Online
03/27/2007
http://ms.runup.com.my/EN/top.php

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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/

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2006 “Free to Play” MMORPGS

Voyage Century Online
12/22/2006
http://vc.igg.com

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INFINITY online
10/12/2006
http://www.gametribe.com/gt/infinity.do

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ArchLord
10/03/2006
http://www.archlordgame.com/

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Rappelz
10/02/2006
http://rappelz.gpotato.com/

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Hero Online
07/31/2006
http://hero.netgame.com/

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DEICIDE - The War against Evil
06/12/2006
http://deicide.ongameport.com/

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Dark and Light
06/XX/2006
http://www.darkandlight.com/

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The legend of Ares
05/12/2006
http://legendofares.netgame.com/

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RYL2 (Risk Your Life 2)
05/01/2006
http://www.ryl2.com.my/

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RF Online
02/21/2006
http://www.rf-onlinegame.com/

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9Dragons
01/30/2006
http://9dragons.acclaim.com/

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2005 “Free to Play” MMORPGS

KAL online
12/31/2005
http://www.kalonline.com/

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Rakion
12/01/2005
http://rakion.softnyx.net/

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Silkroad Online
11/11/2005
http://www.silkroadonline.net/

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Supreme Destiny
08/22/2005
http://sd.e-games.com.my/

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Risk Your Life
06/21/2005
http://www.ryl.com.my/

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Thang online
06/10/2005
http://thang.ongameport.com/

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Ran Online
02/21/2005
http://ranonline.e-games.com.ph/

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A3
01/21/2005
http://games.sify.com/mmog/a3/

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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/

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Khan ABsolute Power
12/31/2004
http://www.mirinae.com/khan_us/

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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

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Asda Story
12/06/2007
http://asda.gamengame.com/

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Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu
11/20/2007
http://luminary.ijji.com/

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Fiesta
06/20/2007
http://fiesta.outspark.com/

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Tales of Pirates
03/15/2007
http://top.igg.com/

Global Rating:

Scions of Fate
02/07/2007
http://fate.netgame.com/

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Ghost Online
12/21/2006
http://go.gameflier.com.my/

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Trickster
07/24/2006
http://trickster.ntreev.net/

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Nostale
07/10/2006
http://www.nostale.co.uk/

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Goonzu Online
04/26/2006
http://global.goonzu.com/

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Rose Online
12/01/2005
http://www.roseonlinegame.com/

Global Rating:

Domo
09/03/2005
http://domo.aeriagames.com/

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Seal Online
12/10/2004
http://www.sealonline.com/

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FlyFF
08/XX/2004
http://flyff.gpotato.com/

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Mabinogi
06/22/2004
http://mabinogi.nexon.net/

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Maple Story
04/29/2003
http://maplestory.nexon.net/

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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

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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 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 Rogue, an Archer will prefer to use ranged attacks whenever possible avoiding close range combat to make the most of their bow skills.

Archer’s primary weapons usually consist of either a Bow or Crossbow. Because of this, the class tends to have much less variety in Weapons. In some games archers are able to carry a close range weapon. This will usually consist of a dagger or sword, with the dagger being the preference because of the Archer’s close relation to Rogues.

As with Rogues, Archers tend to prefer lighter armor as it allows for them to run when kiting enemies. [Kiting is the act of luring a target] It also contributes to their higher dodge rates. Most commonly you will find them in light armors such as leather.

The archers function within a party is to deal damage, pure and simple. Learning how to play this class is very important as they also have the potential to pull aggro off the tank because of their high damage output and crit rate.

Because of the fact that archers are considered high output damage dealers, with the ability to attack from afar, the class is very appealing to those who enjoy sneak attacks, kiting enemies, and the ability to ambush an opponent. All these traits lead to what make the Archer a unique class.

Priest / Cleric - This class is well known as a “Healing” class which provides a [Support] role in most dungeons, parties, and raids. This is because the primary function of this class is to help protect other players. There is a common misconception among players that this class is nothing more than the “healing bitch” of MMORPGs.

While it is true that the primary function of the class is to heal, cure, buff and support others, these skills lend themselves into making the Priest/Cleric one of the most over-powered classes in lots of games. The reason I say this is because it is hard to give a class enough magic to support a dungeon party, and assume that class will not use those same skills to benefit themselves when soloing.

[I will go into more detail on this subject in my "MMORPG - Two Boxing" guide which will cover the use of "Buff Bots" in games]

This can be seen in the Clerics/Priest ability to grind almost non-stop without the need for rest. Healing classes are usually given a certain degree of defense in most games which gives them more survivability than Rogue and Archer classes. This is because healing classes tend to pull the most aggro in parties by healing the group.

Priests/Clerics are also able to heal and buff them selves which increases their characters attributes. If a priest is good at managing their resources [mana] they can seemly grind indefinitely without the need for rest. This advantage allows them to level much faster than other characters that rely on having to recoup health and mana.

The weapon of choice for Priests and Clerics are Maces, Staves, Wands, Hammers, and Sheilds. The shields supplement defense for the class as they are usually found wearing cloth armors, which is a common trait among magic users.

As mentioned before, this classes main function is a support role in parties which is seen through their healing, curing and buffing abilities. While solo the class can operate efficiently because of the support magic they can provide to them selves. The main drawback of this class is their ability to draw aggro in parties without actually dealing damage.

Mage / Warlock - This class is commonly known for their devastating magical attack abilities. Sometimes referred to a “Glass Canons” Mages and Warlocks tend to be similar to Rogues in the fact that they can output high damage but also have low survivability.

Depending on the game they are found in, Mages and Warlocks can be very similar or very different. They are similar in the fact that they use powerful magical attacks to subdue enemies. Though they are very different in some respects, because of the magic and defense provided to each of them.

Mages tend to be physically weaker which is balanced by providing them with the ability to “nuke” an enemy to defeat them before they can reach the mage. The mages main defense is created through magical shields and armor. Mages do not hold up well in melee combat

Warlocks tend to have higher survivability than mages but this is usually balanced by a smaller mana pool than mages. Warlocks usually have the ability to summon pets also, to assist them in battle. This ability allows the Warlock to worry less about the smaller mana pool. While Warlocks also rely on nukes and high damage spells, they can usually hold up better than a mage in melee combat through physical or pet defense.

The primary role of this class is a nuker or [Damage] dealer in parties. They assist the group in defeating mobs by dealing brutal magic damage and curses.

The weapons of choice for Mages and Warlocks are traditionally Staves and Wands, but can sometimes include daggers and swords. This class will also usually be found wearing cloth armors since they rely heavily on magic. [Cloth armors are usually associated with classes that rely on intelligence stats for magic.]

[These classes are hard to define because they are usually implemented differently depending on the game you are playing. Because of this it is hard to give an accurate description of this class.]

Druid / Shaman - This class is similar to the Cleric/Priest class in the fact that they are well known for their abilities as a support class. This can include healing, removing curses, and providing buffs.

This class has seen many different implementations in MMORPGs, ranging from powerful fighters to classes that have the ability to shape-shift into animals. More commonly they are known for their buffs which provide significant stats boosts in most games the class is found in.

Druids and Shaman will usually use blunt weapons available to them including Maces, Clubs, Staves, Axes, and Hammers. Because they are more of a melee combat and magic class it is not uncommon to find them wearing leather or cloth armor, as this provides a good balance between intelligence and defense.

While it’s common for these classes to have buffs, they will usually also have variants of healing spells which can be just as powerful as Priests and Clerics if they are implemented correctly by the player.

The main role of this class in dungeon parties, is traditionally a [Support] role to help buff, heal, and decurse the party. In the latest generation of MMORPGs these characters have also gained formidable combat abilities allowing them to output a high amount of [Damage]. Because of this they could be considered a class that has multiple roles in a dungeon party.

Hunter / Tamer - This class is usually known for it’s proficiency with pets. Hunters and Tamers are traditionally a class that has the ability to tame mobs for the purpose of fighting along side the character.

A Tamer is usually a more specific variation of a Hunter whose strongest abilities are procuring pets. Usually this is for the purpose of selling pets to other plays, or power leveling pets for friends. The tamers ability could almost be considered a trade skill as it is usually used to make money for the tamer.

In games where other classes can tame their own pets, there is usually a chance for failure where the tamer would have a much higher chance of success at taming the mob.

Hunters and Tamers usually use similar weapons that vary from Bows, Crossbows, Axes, Spears, Staves, Swords, Daggers, Clubs, Mace, etc. Because the class can be implemented in so many different ways they usually have a pretty wide range of weapons available to them.

In addition to the large range of weapons, hunters can usually take their pick of cloth, leather and heavy armors. You will usually find hunters wearing the heaviest armors available to them for the increase it provides in defense.

Hunters and Tamers are usually given special animal, outdoor, and trapping skills that allow them to act as a utility based class. Because of these types of skills the hunter can be a tricky opponent to fight on the battlefield.

This class’s role in a party is usually [Damage] dealing, and because of their ability to use Bows the Hunter has the potential to deal high damage from a distance, similar to Mages, Warlocks and Archers. The utility skills that this class brings to the table can also be used in numerous creative ways during dungeon parties or PVP. [Player versus player combat]

Paladin - Paladins are very similar to true “tanks” or “warriors” in the fact that they are designed to withstand a beating.

The key difference with Paladins is that they usually have the ability to use “holy” powers or white magic. These powers can include the ability to use buffs, healing spells, and counters to black magic.

Paladins are well versed at using multiple weapon types similar to warriors. This can include maces, hammers, clubs, swords, knives, staves, etc.

Because the paladin is usually considered a tanking class they are commonly found in heavy armors that provide high defense. Most armors worn by a warrior can be worn by a Paladin.

The paladin’s skills can vary depending on the game you find them in so it is hard to define class specific skills. The paladin’s role in a party can vary from game to game, but it is most commonly the “tank”. Secondary roles can include healing, buffing, de-cursing, and providing other types of [Support] skills to the party.

The Paladin class is usually a well rounded class with a high survival rate which makes them a good starting class for those who are new to MMORPGs. Those who are experienced may also enjoy the class because of the mixed role they play between a Warrior and a Priest.

For more detailed information on classes check the following links which provide a very large, and indepth overview on “Classes”:

Classes - A Long List - Part 1

http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm/content_id.23049/World-Building

Classes - A Long List - Part 2

http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm/content_id.23050/World-Building

Race and Class Overview

Ok, I didn’t really get to cover as much as I wanted to in this guide because I didn’t realize how much important information there was regarding races and classes in MMORPGs.

As I mentioned several times during the course of this guide, the information I have provided here is a generalized overview.

Races and Classes are really what makes MMORPGs so great! Think about how boring chess would be [more so] if you could only play as one piece, like the “pawn”.

Having different Races and Classes compliment each other because of the many different ways they can be used to accomplish goals and interact with other players. It is the same concept found in basic games like rock, paper, scissors. Use properties that compliment or contradict one another to create different outcomes. This keeps the game interesting and adds replay value.

I hope you all enjoyed Part 2 of the MMORPG guide. I also hope that experienced players and begginers to MMORPGs can find something beneficial in these guides, that they may not have been aware of.

Remember when you play MMORPGs do not get stuck in one way of thinking, and feel free to experiment with new things to see if you like them. The same players that have been warriors for years may find a magic user to be a welcomed change if they feel the grind becoming tedious or boring.

With that being said I’m going to wrap this rant up, and hope you’ll all look forward to Part 3 of the MMORPG guide, where I will cover statistics and traits in detail and discuss how they apply to each race and class. After all statistics are the bread and butter of MMORPGs which evolved from dice games that were played with pencil and paper.

Thanks for sitting through another rant!

MMORPG Guide 01 - About RPGs, MMORPGs, History & Genres

What is an RPG?

RPG is a commonly used abbreviation which stands for “Role Playing Game“. I am sure that anyone reading this is familiar with a role playing game but for those who are not, a Role Playing Game is any game that allows a person to take on the role of a character or avatar.

There are many forms of Role Playing games ranging from dice based games, card games, board games, LARP [Live Action Role Playing], single and multiplayer video games, games adults play in the bedroom and just being a kid, running around with friends and pretending to be “insert super hero here”.

The most commonly used reference for RPG’s refers to single player or multiplayer video games. This is the context I will be explaining RPGs in for this guide.

Single Player vs. Multiplayer

As mentioned above the two most common types or RPGs are single player and multiplayer.

Single player role playing games are games where a player will commonly start off as one character and be sent out on a journey or “Quest“, that follows the context of a story to progress through the game.

A single player RPG will usually introduce new characters throughout the game which allow the player to form a “Party” or fighting unit. Each individual character’s stats can be modified as the game progresses which bestows the party with additional power enabling the player to proceed through the course of the game.

Examples of well known RPGs are:

Final Fantasy
Diablo
Secret of Mana
Chrono Trigger
Kingdom Hearts
Legend of Zelda
Fallout
Knights of the Old Republic
Suikoden
Breath of Fire
The Elder Scrolls

And many more that are not listed here. [I apologize if I did not mention your favorite RPG. I am firing these off the top of my head, and need to move on with the guide.]

The second type of RPGs are multiplayer role playing games. These can range from a single player game which allows for more than one player to control a character in the game. Or it may be a single player game that has a multiplayer mode which allows users to play online or over a “LAN“. [Local Area Network]

There is also a third genre of RPG which has become VERY popular in the last 5-10 years known as an “MMORPG“. MMORPG stands for “Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game“. Most people will consider this a multiplayer game as it allows numerous users to interact with each other similar to how a multiplayer RPG operates. But unlike a standard multiplayer RPG, an MMORPG incorporates many facets that are not found in standard RPGs.

Because of these additional features these games have landed in a genre all their own. The best description I have ever heard from a user was labeling them as “Persistent World” RPG’s because they are truly worlds unto themselves.

I will go into more depth on these types of RPGs since that will be the main focus of this guide. Standard RPGs can be understood with very little background information where MMORPGs have many aspects which are hard to grasp even once they have been explained.Please read through this guide and I will do my best to explain the nuances of these games and what makes them so addicting and fun.

What is an MMO?

An MMO stands for “Massively Multiplayer Online“. This can refer to numerous genres of games and not just role playing games. An MMO is any type of game that allows users to play together and compete against one another online.

Common types of MMOs include third person action games, first person shooters, strategy and real time strategy, stealth and tactical, flight simulation and combat, resource management games and MANY more. Role playing games fall into this generalized MMO category, but it is more accurate to place them in their own category because of their popularity.

What is an MMORPG?

An MMORPG as stated above is a “Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game“. This is a game where players create a character or avatar which acts as their online identity in this role playing world.

The player’s character will start out at level 1 as with any role playing game with the main focus being on attaining power for the character. This sounds pretty basic, huh?, which means I have done a poor job of explaining this.

While the main focus of an MMORPG is leveling your character there are many other aspects incorporated into these games which allows them to live up to the persistent world label.

I feel like a better way to explain how an MMORPG works is to describe it as a story. After all, Stories and Lore are the drive behind all role playing games anyway. To start the story the player would need to create a character. I am going to create a character named “Gajin” who is a level 1 fighter.

And so the story beings..

Gajin Tao was a humble man. He had dreamed of strength and power, his entire life.

One day Gajin opened his eyes to find himself in the middle of a field as if he had awoken from a dream. To his horror he found a rabid wolf was running straight at him with its jaws snapping.

He swung his arm to protect himself and realized he was wielding a sharp iron sword. He struck the beast down, and was surrounded by a warm golden light. In this light he could feel the blood coursing through his veins and it made him feel alive. This was a taste of the power he had been searching for all these years.

He continued to slay the beasts day and night to recapture the feeling he had experienced when he killed that first wolf. Eventually his skillful slaughter of these creatures, lead him to seek out more challenging adversaries.

He continued on his path, slashing his way through hordes or monsters. Orcs, Undead, Skeletons and savage beasts of all kinds all fell to power that surged in his veins.

Throughout his travels he came to know other warriors of all kinds. Mages, Rogues, Priests, Archers, and many other skilled combatants all came to know one another through a shared passion for battle.

These warriors formed a blood pact to protect one another and to help each other grow stronger. Time went by and these warriors came to gain fame and renowned throughout the land. People would seek them out, asking the noble fighters to protect them from harm. Fledgling warriors would seek them out to study under these masters of battle.

The once small band of friends had become a mighty army able to wield the power of an entire kingdom to shape the lands as they saw fit. Their sheer size enabled them to create a kingdom within their ranks filled with skilled crafters of all kinds.

These crafters were able to produce the finest cloth, jewelry, weapons and armor in all the lands and their fortunes grew. The skilled enchanters and alchemists toiled away to enhance the already staggering power of this mighty guild.

Gajin had achieved his rightful place as leader to these men and women of war. Those he had helped nurtured and grow would now lay down their lives to protect their mighty leader.

As the years went by Gajin grew older in both wisdom and power. He spent his life solidifying the foundation of the army that had become known throughout the world. When he finally stepped back to look at what he had created he saw something that was so much of him, yet an entity in and of itself.

Gajin Tao’s fame and success outlasted even his life. Stories were told of glorious victories of the army that Gajin Tao had led. Even to this day long after his death some still speak of this valiant warrior and his humble beginnings.

Ok.. So I’m not a Fantasy writer by a long shot. But you get the point. I wanted to paint the picture of why these games can be so immersive.

As you can see from the story all MMORPGs start you out as a lowly peasant sent on a simple errand to kill wolves or some other trivial threat. This is the start of the leveling process or the “Grind” as it has come to be known.

As players level throughout the game they become stronger and are forced to move to different areas to hunt monsters that are appropriate for their skill level. Players have the choice of hunting lower level beasts if they choose, but they will not reap the same benefit they get from hunting monsters that are equal to their skill level.

Throughout the game there are way points in the leveling process where players are rewarded with new skills and abilities. These can range from fighting techniques, to support skills and production or trade skills.

As the game progresses most players will tend to make friends and find other players to hunt and adventure with. This can lead to online friendships, or partnerships in the cases of guilds or dungeon parties [DP].

A “Guild” is a gathering of players that can be looked at like any army. The guild will contain players of all levels and skill. Some guilds set requirements of membership for potential recruits. This can require players to be above a certain level, or be a specific class or have a certain skill.

If you join a guild, decide what type is right for you. Always play the way that is the most fun for you. Remember at the end of the day an MMORPG is “just a game”.

I do not mean that in the patronizing way that people will use it in game to invalidate arguments or the way another player may feel passionately about something. I mean that it “IS” a game, and a game is supposed to be fun. When a game is no longer fun it contradicts the reason you originally started playing it in the first place.

Looking back at our story we can see that as a guild grows there “online” fame or “Reputation” grows with them. This adds an addictive aspect to the MMORPG genre because actual recognition from other players is much more substantial than rewards or recognition received from AI [Artificial Intelligence] or NPCs [Non Player Classes] found in standard single player RPGs.

Once most guilds reach a certain size, trade skills can become very important. Trade skills are skills that allow a player to have a “Profession” or “Trade Skill” in a game. This can range anything like tailoring, armor & weapon crafting, alchemy, gathering materials, or just plain selling anything you can get your hands on. [Damn Dwarves! - L2 Reference]

Another interesting aspect of these types of games is guild functions, like wars, raiding parties, recreational & fun gatherings, and meetings. It takes a lot of be a member of a serious guild. It takes even more to run a guild like that. Many high level “end game” guilds [guilds that experience high level content in MMORPGs] are run very much like a business. You are an employee and have your set responsibilities. If you are not committed or unable to perform your responsibility you may be reprimanded or even let go from the guild.

Some games enable guilds to own properties and siege castles and other areas for control of land. Certain games can take this even further by giving these controlling guilds power to affect politics and commerce in the game.

There are many other aspects to MMORPGs, trade skills, leveling, combat, skills, weapons and armor, etc but I will not cover them here. This was intended to be a general introduction into what an MMORPG is and I feel myself ranting at this point.

To summarize, an MMORPG is best thought of as a “Persistent World” role playing game. Even when a player logs out of the game there is a world of digital life and activity going about its daily routine. The many aspects incorporated in these types of games offer a true escape from the everyday grind of real life. While these games do have addictive facets to them, they can be just as healthy as any hobby if you take breaks from them to go outside for a walk.

The misunderstanding surrounding these games being as “addictive as drugs” is an unfortunate stereotype some people can’t shake. I do not see why a dedicated player cannot be successful in game and successful in life at the same time. Make sure to exercise, eat right, do stuff to help out around the house, pay attention to your wife or husband, don’t skip meals, and stretch your legs once and a while.

The perspectives a game gives you on life and that life gives you on the game are interchangeable. I have truly found that my way of thinking changes every time I approach a different game. Always be open mind, and learn. That is one of the best things someone can gain from playing this type of game.

“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built”   -Eleanor Roosevelt-

It’s funny how something so simple and straight forward can be applied in so many different ways.

Examples of well known MMORPGs

Now that we have a better idea of what an MMORPG is and why that is significant, let’s take a look at some of the more popular titles that have come out in past few years.

While technically there are games that could be classified as MMORPGs that have been around since the 1970’s, for the sake of my sanity we are only focusing on the late 90’s on up.

Below is a list of titles with a brief description of each game to give you a better understanding of why each is worth noting.

Ultima Online - Originally released in September of 1997, Ultima Online is considered one of the first highly successful, Graphical [2D] MMORPGs. It was so popular in it’s time that people continue to play it to this day.

Everquest - Releaseed in 1999, EverQuest [also referred to as EQ] was a very popular 3D MMORPG that is considered one of the original MMORPG offerings. It had a heavy population of players from 2000 to about 2004 and was well known for the questing and role playing aspects in the game.

Asheron’s Call - Was released in November of 1999 offering players another epic MMORPG. Very similar to other MMORPG titles of the time, but popular enough to be worth noting in this guide.

Dark Age of Camelot - Originally released in October of 2001, Dark Age of Camelot was a MMORPG that featured well developed PVP and RVR action. [PVP - Player vs. Player /