Ashen Empires
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| Ashen Empires | |
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| Developer(s) | Jason Ely (Lothgar) |
| Publisher(s) | Asylumsoft Inc. (original), TKO Games (former), Iron Will Games (current) |
| Platform(s) | PC |
| Release date | Beta September 2002 Official March 10, 2003 |
| Genre(s) | MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | multiplayer |
| Media | Free Download |
Ashen Empires, formerly known as Dransik, is a two-dimensional MMORPG owned by Iron Will Games. It was released for a free, open beta in 2002 and later officially released in 2003.
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[edit] Origins
The modern game was originally known as Dransik, and was an upgraded version of the original Dransik game (now known as Dransik Classic and available to play through the same launcher as Ashen Empires), which utilized an older graphics engine. The game was first launched through an open, free beta in September, 2002[1], by its original publisher, Asylumsoft Inc. [2]. After the beta-testing stage was complete, the game started following a pay-to-play model on March 10, 2003.[3] At that time, a monthly subscription fee was required to play (a business model seen in many MMORPG's, including World of Warcraft and EverQuest). At a later date, however, Iron Will Games, the company which now owns Ashen Empires, decided to allow users to play for free, but with a limited experience. Players can only receive 10% of all experience gained, are limited in tradeskills they can use and cannot perform certain tasks such as using the party system, trade table, pickup and drop objects/items to the ground or loot certain mobs. This limitation is in effect until a subscription is purchased, and this is the subscription model currently used.
[edit] Character Creation
Accounts on Ashen Empires are able to contain up to four characters per server. When creating a character, the player can choose one of three races: human, night elf (also known as Astari), or Orc.[4] As with most MMORPG's, the player can also choose his or her character's appearance and can give the character a name.
[edit] Skills
The game sets itself apart from other MMORPG's with its large number of diverse skills. There is currently a total of seventy-one skills in the game; these skills include armed and unarmed combat, magery (spellcasting), and trade skills. Specific examples include Mining, Iron Forging, Baking, Planting, Harvesting, and Large Blades.[5]
[edit] External links
- Official website
- AE Aucton, a website which allows Ashen Empires players to buy and sell in-game items for in-game currency (gold)
- AEWiki, an Ashen Empires wiki.
[edit] References
- ^ Dransik Open Beta, Multiplayer Online Games Directory, accessed October 4, 2007
- ^ About IWG
- ^ Dransik Navy & Marines, Dransik Navy & Marines, a Dransik guild, accessed October 4, 2007
- ^ Races, Ashen Empires, accessed October 4, 2007
- ^ Skills, Ashen Empires, accessed October 4, 2007
