Note: This is an ARCHIVED entry and does not necessarily reflect how I behave and how I think "today".


http://rappelz.gpotato.com/

by chance i came across rappelz which is produced by the same people who made flyff and like 6 other games.

first impressions:

1. 1.2 gig install with another gig of patching
2. graphics are similar to those in 2moons, more special effects but less detail (2moons has grass flowing all over the place for example).
3. runs well on low graphic settings on my laptop
4. maps are bigger + less linear/more interesting than those in 2moons (i'm guessing...only seen the newbie area so far

5. you choose 1 of 3 races, 'good', 'neutal' or 'evil. each race has male+female character with 6 faces, 2 hair colours and 3 hairstyles to choose from.
6. each race allows you to join 1 of 3 professions: a fighter, a summoner and a magic-user.
7. for example, 'good' race fighter is paladin style, 'evil' race fighter is assassin style.
8. at lv 50 you then specialise in 1 of 2 subprofessions. 'good' magic-user (cleric) will become high priest (more buffs+heals) or bishop (offensive holy magic).

here is an OUTDATED list of skills
http://rappelz.mmosite.com/skills/as_3_2.shtml

9. other features: all characters can summon a mount OR a creature to assist them in battle. these level up with you and have their own skills and evolution levels. the 'summoner' classes focus on buffing their creatures and can also use 2 creatures at once, so are very powerful in lategame when their summons are more reliable.

10. PK. normal mmo pk, you can kill in non-safe-zones but after a few kills get massive penalties to your stats until you kill npcs for ages to get your stats back. there is a 'hardcore pk' server but the system is so insanely fucking stupid i wont go into detail but basically it ONLY detracts from the pk experience, and does so MASSIVELY.

summary:

yes this looks very funky =) the graphics are attractive, except when you zoom out a little the characters lose their clarity (but up close they're very nice). it had a MASSIVE patch this year to help fix balance issues.

reading the forums, it's kinda disheartening to hear people say that their class sucks (pk or pve) and that they simply dont use/advance a lot of skills because they are 'useless skills'.

i really wanted to make a 'good' race 'holy warrior' -> 'divine solider' (basically offensive paladin route) but unfortunately i just dont find the female customisation for that race attractive. the LAST thing i wanted to play was a 'nature magic' neutral race, but the chick is just so damn fine i had no choice =) i considered making a fighter but they seem to suck at pk. i HATE HATE druid classes (don't ask me why), and the 3rd option was the summoner (i hate summoner classes too). i'm still deciding what to pick but i might just settle with the summoner - apparently possibly the best class for pk, but long time before it becomes any good.

lastly, well i'm still contemplating the hardcore pk server. i'll go back and read more of the forum. but unfortunately i'm 99% sure it's worthless