How abt Phoenix Dynasty Online? Everyone looks identical in the beginning but once u can craft your own armor set (or with help from others) then you can customize it to your own needs in terms of elemental powers. Besides crafting, you can also learn to strengthen and refine it further! 5 non-combat professions to choose from; weaponsmith, armorcraft, leatherwork, jewel-smith and potion-making. 4 classes such as Paladin, Assassin, Wizard and Priest but there are 5 elemental powers to choose for each char; Metal, Wood, Fire, Water and Earth (similar to having races imo). Game is in 2.5D, graphics, spell FX, and artwork is excellent for a 2.5D game. Give it try a PM me, IGN Lord_Venus :)

PDO is definitely a quest based and skill oriented mmorpg. I'm not sure abt RoM and Atlantica (didn't play them bcoz of offline trainer and turn-based action respectively, which turned me off), but PDO isn't too hard to grind in the beginning. Players can claim a certain amount of turbo charge exp time per week, leveling is quite easy for the first 1-60 levels as compared to other f2p mmorpgs. Quests are aplenty to do as the 5 states each have their own set of quests aside from the main storyline.

As for cash shop, the game uses Phoenix Points (PP) instead, which in my opinion there is a downside to it. Virtually anything can be bought using PP. There are 2 currencies in the game world, in-game gold and PP points. In one server, everyone sells the skill scrolls (which is vital for your char) in PP currency. Hence, only those willing to buy using real cash can get their hands on the skill scrolls easily. Those who aren't, well have to wait for someone willing to sell the scrolls using gold or dropped from monsters.

The 3 aspects you mentioned are independant of each other and in my opinion, is up to you how you want to choose the combinations.

Here's a basic rundown of the 3 aspects in PDO:

1) Elements
5 elements - Metal, Wood, Earth, Water, Fire

Characteristics:
Metal - High attack damage
Fire - Fast attack speed and dodge
Wood - High HP
Water - High MP
Earth - High defence

Each element have strengths and weakness over the other and forms a complete circle -
Metal > Wood > Earth > Water > Fire > Metal

2) Classes
Paladin - melee warrior
Assassin - basically an archer
Mage - powerful spellcaster
Priest - support and healer

3) Job
Weaponsmith - craft all kinds of weapons
Armorsmith - armor & boots
Leatherwork - helmet and gauntlets
Jewelcrafter - necklace & ring
Alchemist - special enhancing potions

You can combine any if these 3 aspects in any which way you like. So you can be a Water/Mage/Jewelcrafter. So basically you will become a mage with seemingly endless mana to cast spells on your foes and you can make rings and necklaces to boost HP and MP. Or you can choose Metal/Paladin/Weaponsmith whom will become a hard-hitting melee warrior and capable of making your own blades as well as weapons for other classes. Its up to you really, once you understood what those 3 aspects do. Plus there is also a minor element which you can add upon reaching 50s.

Here's my review of PDO for your reading pleasure:

Author: Lord_Venus

Phoenix Dynasty Online is yet another Asian MMORPG with a storyline embedded in ancient Chinese history. Set in feudal China, during the Warring States (475 BC - 221 BC), this game takes you thousands of years into the past when four kingdoms; Qin, Zhao, Chi and Chu square off for the right to rule over the vast empire of what is known today as China. But unlike other MMORPGs that embraces Chinese history, which are so common these days, the geography and historical settings of Phoenix Dynasty Online are pretty fascinating.

The game utilizes a 2.5D graphics engine and puts minimal requirement on the average computer system. The scenery is pretty and sometimes you can tell a lot of work has been put on the game's artwork. The attention to detail on Imperial palaces, civilians' homes, walking trails, rivers, and weather effects are noticeable and well hand-drawn for a 2.5D game. Different states have different environments, for instance, the Zhao state up north connecting China and Mongolia are snowy mountainous regions, the Qin state to the west are barren and desert wastelands, and Chu's capital city appearance are filled with flowing rivers of Spring. The game’s world map is huge and designed based on the Warring States period of China. In some places, walking does leave footprints on the ground. Skills and spell effects are what you’d come to expect from a 2.5D game, nothing too fancy. But some AoE effects are quite cool to look at. Music and SFX are disappointing though. Besides the apparent lack of music scores, the audio are a tad buggy and sometimes boom-out loud for no reason. Hope this will be fixed in the next version.

Graphics and sound aside, the game's main plot is linear but filled with interesting sub quests to invoke the adventurer in you. It follows the storyline behind the power struggle between the four feudal states and each city presents a different set of plots. Follow through its paces to unravel the mysterious kidnapping of the Prince and investigate the death of the Emperor Zhou. Explore the scenery across treacherous paths to find out how the politics between the four great states are intertwined. Rewards upon completion come about in the form of common potions, titles, weaponry, huge experience points and reputation. Character creation is straightforward with four basic classes to choose from: Paladin (armored melee warrior), Assassin (basically an archer), Wizard (powerful spellcaster) and lastly Priest (healing and support class). As you enter the game, your character is born in a newbie village called Phoenix Village. There you will chit chat with several NPCs and gain a bit of understanding on the game's mechanics. The game revolves around 5 nature elements namely: Metal, Fire, Earth, Wood and Water and each with its own strengths and weaknesses over the other. Understanding how each element works is vital in battle as you face hordes of monsters and evil human adversaries, each possessing elements that could make or break you! Even more critical is if you're intending to participate in PVP challenges with fellow players. Knowing your opponents’ elements before a fight and exploiting them in battle is key to achieving victory. Upon completion of the newbie quests, you will be rewarded with armors, weapons and even a mount to take with to the next stage of the journey. It is in this next stage your character will develop further to becoming either a Qin, Zhou, Chi or Chu citizen and armed with new elemental skills to help your chosen state.

Besides leveling and questing, the game has an interesting crafting system in place. What MMORPG would be complete without a crafting system right? You can choose to become a blacksmith, tailor, jewelcrafter or alchemist. Essentially, blacksmiths produce weapons, tailor produces armors and leather, jewelcrafters make rings and necklaces and alchemist creates useful concoctions. Each can make equipments for any class they wish. Players can also open booths to provide crafting service and charge a fee to fellow players who do not have the necessary expertise to make equipments. Obtaining raw materials for crafting varies for every profession. In my experience, materials for making weapons are the rarest to drop, even more so for the quality ones. But all crafting materials can be dropped from monsters and non-humanoid creatures. With knowledge of the elements, you can craft powerful equipments to suit your character, even better than those dropped by bosses or sold at NPCs! To add an edge to the crafters’ abilities, the game also comes with an equipment refining system. Using black iron stones, one can refine an equipment to boost its attributes permanently. But the downside to this, should you fail, the equipment is broken and lost forever. Fortunately, for those who fear to take risks, there is always the Peace Emblem you can purchase using real cash that saves the equipment from breaking.

No MMORPG today is complete without activities involving teamwork and cooperation to achieve specific objectives. Phoenix Dynasty Online is no exception. It features Team Quests (similar to raiding), where players team up based on their levels and attempt to wipe out hordes of monsters or defeating an elite boss in dungeons known as Refining Test Cave. Each team is allowed up to 2 hours in the Cave to try and complete the missions. Upon successful completion of the quests, players will be rewarded with raw materials to make special armors as well as reputation points which can be used to obtain rewards or buy equipments that require rep.

Another activity involving teamwork and cooperation is the Bayer Wars, also known as guild wars. Players interested in guild battles are highly recommended to participate. The requirement, of course, is to be in a guild. The territories to conquer consist of 5 towns, 3 districts and the capital Bayer. Guildies can challenge each other to capture the territories and reserve the rights to collect taxes and claim reputation points as well as free teleportation to the occupied territories. Guild leaders will obtain titles like “Lord of City” to show their worth. Guilds that occupies higher level cities will have access to special NPCs that can craft high level equips for them. There will also be special mounts that can only be bought in Bayer cities, to be released in upcoming expansions.

Now we come to the topic that gets most players either excited or frustrated. The player-vs-player mode or PVP. Some players loathe at the mention of PVP, especially when thrusted into it reluctantly by some bored player looking for virtual blood to spill while others look at it in a different aspect; fun, challenge, thrills, chance to make a name in the server, etc. Alas, not to fear, Phoenix Dynasty Online has an excellent PVP system in place that will satisfy the cravings of those who seek blood but at the same time, protects the rights of those who aren’t really interested in getting player-killed (PKed). The mode begins when players reach level 24 and players below 12 cannot be PKed. Players that kill too much receives wicked points and earns vile titles like ‘Wanted’, ‘Criminal’, etc and whenever they logon to the game, the system will announce their presence and location. Those looking for some good fun or seeking retribution can begin hunting them down. Criminals stand to lose huge amounts of experience, gold and item drops when killed. The notorious ones will revive in a Prison, where getting out isn’t easy. A good way to ensure evil-doers think thrice before PK. Thus making the phrase “What goes around, comes around” ever so meaningful in Phoenix Dynasty. PVP allows players to see what their characters are made of. All that hard work spending hours on end to level up or hunting raw materials to craft the coolest armor can only be felt when one goes head-to-head with another player. Also through PVP, warring guilds can test their mettle and train their skills for Bayer.

To sum it up, Phoenix Dynasty Online is a fun-filled MMORPG for anyone who doesn’t mind 2.5D graphics and Chinese historical backdrop. Grinding isn’t as bad as I expected, especially with players entitled to free turbo experience time which can be claimed each week. New expansions and patches are released quite regularly and you’ll feel that this game isn’t an abandoned one. Of course, some players are unhappy with a few of the changes but as with any MMORPG, even the paid ones, changes are inevitable. Some are positive changes while others are negative. It’s up to the players to adapt to the changes or feedback to the GMs their views. The community is friendly and helpful to newbies who ask via the world chat. So come on in and join in the fun with the rest of Phoenix Dynasty Online!

Overall rating: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Audio: 5/10
Community: 10/10
Grinding: 8/10
Quests: 9/10

 

DragonRaja
Interesting gameplay. Medieval European settings with knights, wizards, thieves, swords, shields, etc. Was fun to play until some players ruined the game with their leet knowledge for playing the much earlier versions. Heck a lvl 60 thief can trash a lvl 90 wizard was too much for me. But if u really know what ur doing, u can beat players 20 lvls higher. Fun crafting albeit tedious. No built-in bots to help u mine (means u have to keep clicking) until the GMs themselves allowed players to bot using macros lol. Nation battles were an awesome aspect to it imo. PvP was excellent. Lack or no quests iirc.

Phoenix Dynasty Online
Based on ancient Chinese history. Expect pretty Chinese architectural artwork in its cities and villages. No shields for paladins tho but kungfu-like skills for most classes except mages and priests. Great char skill combinations based on 5 different nature elements. Most players would differ in major and minor elements and quite rare to see players having the same element combos. PvP is a lil sucky coz some elements have an advantage over the other and it's very difficult to beat an opponent whose element beats urs, without using potions, which makes dueling rather strange in this game. Crafting is easy once u get the hang of it but u'll always yearn for more warehouse space. Sound is horrible tho. Quests are plentiful and players earn reputation for access to better equips and mounts by completing it. Currently playing. PM me if u wish to try it. I'll be glad to guide u thru.

I don't think you can. I got mine after registering a new account yesterday. Hey I'm a newbie ^.~

Oh there probably be mounts... you'll ride on each other's back.

I thot you were talking about Hell..    but polar bears? Hmmm ... 

Oh thats easy. Just click here.

To me, PvP is all about knowing your avatar, all that hard work and precious time invested in building, developing, improving and upgrading it. It's about knowing what it has become in the face of real-life opponents. Each with their own unique powers and features.

It's about knowing how that shiny steel plate armor embedded with a magical crystal you spent weeks to craft, how does it stand against the might of a sorceror's fireball attack, or how that heavy broad shield defend you against a rain of a hunter's piercing arrows. And whether your healing spells are of much help to your friends in large scale battles with other factions.

It is also about knowing your skills in combating real opponents. When you timed your last breath of stamina to unlease a powerful cleaving attack to cut through your enemy. Or how you reserve your last pool of mana to call forth a volley of acidous rocks from the skies to crush your opponent. And if your archer's marksmanship ability can cause a deadly critical hit that is a one shoot one kill. A good set of equipments and spells alone are no match against a cunning foe who knows his avatar like the back of his hand.

That is what PvP is all about to me. And all the more reason why I PvP 

Guild politics, in-game conflicts, and what other nonsense, I'd rather create a guild myself and just my loved one to join me. Just the two of us.

There's plenty of F2P mmorpgs out there with item shop options with good pvp. You'll be spoilt for choice.

What's with all these yakkin abt east and west mmo's? Quit babbling and just play what you want already 

Originally posted by ladyattis

 

 

To be fair, there was Dragon Raja, which was a blend between EQ and UO in the respects that skills gained for each class by use, improving proficiency with abilities and spells. And it had a great crafting system. Basically, almost everything was craftable (weapons, armor, clothes, furniture and etc). What killed it was that it was one of the few that had a monthly fee. Since then, it's gone through several iterations where the monthly fee was removed and the cash shop was adopted. I think only two companies have any sort of DR server right now, but nothing like it was back in 2000.

-- Brede

Holy craps!  Been a long time since I heard of Dragon Raja. But it wasn't anime-themed at all except it was developed by a Korean. Sorry for goin off-topic here

Originally posted by Violette

Whence forth came this market and when?

Personally I don't care much for it because I associate it with immature playerbases. And I think my opinion holds some merit... these MMO's tend to attract them.

Thoughts, anyone?

To my knowledge, the earliest Asian mmorpg that started it all was Ragnarok Online. Back then it was very popular and in my opinion was the beginning of Asian anime in the mmorpg arena. (correct me if I'm wrong tho)

Anyway, as with all other opinions, for any mmorpgs, Asian or western, free or pay to play, anime or sci-fi or whatever themed, there's always a base of matured and immatured players. And its rather unfair to say that one exceeds the other. Just my thots

It that how you people rate games these days? Graphics, sounds and the oh-so-leet FX? What abt those with slower machines and people who enjoy content over eye-candy? Gosh ...

Btw I love the cute hand-drawn art in this game. Lookin forward to play it!

Phew and I thought the announcement is from AeriaGames.

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Originally posted by Tinybina
Yeah the ingame video looked pretty good.. But one thing that struck me that is the same in every KOrean MMORPG ever made was the CLONES.. People look to much alike.. When those 2 warriors (?) were fighting those other two characters (PVP?) they look identical in ever way..

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Originally posted by basalt

runescape

okay the graphics are not great i admit but that is its only downfall, it is totally free(unless u r a member), u do not have 2 download it. there r plenty of skills other than combat e.g mining,smithing,cooking,woodcutting,fire-making,fishing,crafting,prayer,magic,etc. there is music and sound effects(even tho they are not very good). some people on it are really nice in the community whilst others are not but it does not really affect ur enjoyment AND all of the quests r extremely interesting with a good storyline with brains and skill required

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