Conquer Online

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Conquer Online
Developer(s)	TQ Digital Entertainment
Publisher(s)	NetDragon WebSoft Inc
Version	2.0 (Patch 5027)
Platform(s)	Windows
Release date	November 14, 2005
Genre(s)	MMORPG
Mode(s)	Multiplayer
Media	Download & CD
System requirements	*Intel Pentium III 800 MHz equiv. CPU 128 MB RAM 16 MB or higher 3D graphics card such as GeForce 2 or better 2.0 GB hard drive space DirectX 8.1, Internet connection of at least 56 kbit/s
Input methods	Mouse & Keyboard

For the album, see Conquer (album).

Conquer Online is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, developed by TQ Digital Entertainment. The game is available in English, Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish. The game landscape is a two dimensional rendition of mythical China with three dimensional characters. The game has a straightforward combat-focused play style, incorporating common elements of many MMORPGs such as wealth, fame and character development. In the game, players can choose from four distinct classes [Trojan, Archer, Taoist and Warrior], with the Taoist branching off into two sub-classes after level 40 promotion [Fire and Water], participate in server-wide battles, and enjoy player killing at leisure. Downloading and playing Conquer Online is free, but TQ Digital, the game developers, sell an in-game item known as a Dragon Ball in packages of two, five or 125 to generate revenue^[1]. High-level players often purchase these items to increase their equipment power, and to increase the level of their character. The operators also sell installation CDs for those who cannot download, or would like to own a hard copy of, the game.

1 Gameplay
2 Characters
3 Economy
4 External links
5 Footnotes

[edit] Gameplay

The Conquer Online game interface, with a Player versus Player battle ensuing

Conquer Online involves many typical MMORPG features, such as PvP, quests and guilds^[2]. The entire Conquer Online, save for a few cities, like Twin City, allows for unrestricted player-killing. A player usually accumulates 10 "PK points" for killing another player. However, killing an enemy guild member will result in only three points. Killing an enemy that is on your enemy list [they have killed you before] will result in only five points. These points give in-game NPCs [guards] reason to attack and kill the offending player. When a player kills or hits another player they will receive a flashing blue tag to warn other players of the action. PK points slowly decrease over time (10 points an hour, or 1 point every 6 minutes), even upon death.^[3] A player who has accumulated over 30 points will have a red-colored name tag and has the chance to lose equipment when killed by another player and lose items in their inventory. However, non-equipped items can be lost by any sort of death. A player with 100 PK points or more will have a black-colored name tag, and will always drop at least one piece of equipment and be sent to the in game jail, if they are killed by another player or NPC. Players with PK points over 1000 cannot kill anyone who is white named [has PK points under 30]. Conquer Online made up a new rule: red names can also go to jail. Red names have to pay 4,000,000 silver to be released from jail. Black names that have PK points that are 300 or below, has to pay 165 CP's for realese. Black names that have PK points 301 and above have to pay 675 CP's for release. ^[3]

[edit] Guilds and Guild Wars

Conquer Online will allow players to start their own guild for 1,000,000 silvers [the in-game currency] once they reach level 90. Joining a guild is free and accessible to players at all levels. Each guild is controlled by a guild leader and a maximum of five deputy leaders. Additionally, a guild can have branches, each with its own manager. Guilds are often a place for players to meet and receive help, where guild funds compensate a player for a portion of the experience lost after being killed by another player. To leave a guild, a player must donate 20,000 silvers to the fund. They may also be ejected by the leader^[4].

Another feature of Conquer Online is the weekly server-wide guild war. Each guild may choose to attend the war in an attempt to capture the guild pole from the guild which currently controls it. The attacking guild(s) must storm a castle by taking down one of two gates to get in, then deplete the hit points of the guild pole. When the poles life bar is empty, whichever guild dealt the most damage to the pole gains control over the castle, and must protect the doors and pole until the end of the guild war period. Once the war has ended, the guild which last owned the pole wins and some benefits are granted to the reigning guild. The guild controlling the pole can enter and exit through the gate and leaders of the guild may open the gate at will^[5].

[edit] Combat and Leveling

Like most MMORPG games, the Conquer Online system of leveling is through the gain of experience points. These are gained by attacking monsters throughout the game land. After a certain amount gained, the player will gain a level, allowing them to become more powerful. The amount of experience points needed increases with each level gained, to a maximum level of 137.^[6]

A notable feature of Conquer Online is that when a player reaches the upper limits from 120 onwards [level 110 for water taoists], they may choose to be 'reborn', essentially starting again from level 15^[7]. More skills are awarded to the player who is reborn^[8]. More information is available from the Conquer Online website [see below]

The game system in Conquer Online has been designed to encourage higher leveled players to assist beginners in starting out. The higher players is rewarded for this assistance by gaining a form of currency called 'virtue points'^[9] - or VPs - which can be exchanged for items from an NPC. Furthermore, when the newer player collects the silvers which drops from the mobs, the higher player receives a small portion of this. Although all players can help others level, only a player above level 70 powerleveling another character at least 20 levels lower than himself can receive Virtue Points (VP) for his efforts. For each level the beginner gains, the team leader who meets the required conditions will receive a set amount of virtue points.

The amount of virtue points gained varies according to the level of the beginner — a higher level gives more VP, since it takes more time to achieve the next level. Virtue points are not gained if the person being powerleveled is above level 70. While players may receive experience points by being powerleveled, they do not receive any skills or weapon proficiency.

[edit] Mentor's & Apprentice's

Recently there was an update for mentor's and apprentice's, this allows players to get a mentor (Higher level player) to help them with potency, thus making the player stronger. The mentor is rewarded by his apprentices efforts in leveling, blessing, or getting + stones. If the apprentice gets enough Exp, + stones or blessing then the mentor gets a fraction of what the apprentice received.

The potency of the mentor determines the potency of the apprentice in terms, Example: If a level 130 2nd Rebirth player with 250 is the mentor to a level 118 non-Rebirth player with potency of 176 the level 118 gets 25 extra potency.

[edit] Quests

Quests are a part of the Conquer Online game but they do not feature as prominently as in other MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft.

Quests are divided into categories based on a character's level and may help a player earn rare items, such as gems and weapons.

For some quests, the player is rewarded with a prize. Others reward the player with glory.

There is also a quest that allows the character to "rebirth" into a new class with an extra ablilities, additionally allowing them to wear any item level 70 and below no matter what class it belongs to. The player must obtain the required level to obtain this quest, and can rebirth up to two times.

[edit] Potency

A recent addition to the Conquer Online gameplay is the system of "Potency". This system assigns each player a number which is calculated from various factors. The level of the character, how many times they have done the "rebirth" process and the general overall quality of their equipment all relate to this score. ^[10]

Potency gives many advantages to the player holding it. One advantage is that the damage received from attacking players is reduced and capped and attacks against players with lower potency will cause more damage. Another advantage is an increased gain in experience points from mobs that provide it.

For example, if a player is level 80, he or she will gain 80% more experience every time they hit a monster if they have no items above 'normal' quality equipped.^[11].

[edit] Characters

Two female 'Taoists' from Conquer Online.

Characters in Conquer Online serve as the human players avatar in the online world of Conquer. The game allows one character per server per user account, and the player may choose between four distinct classes: the archer, the trojan [a melee fighter], the taoist [a magic wielding class] and a warrior [a high defense, melee class]. Furthermore, the taoist class is split into two paths with the 'water taoist' focused on being a support/healer class while the 'fire taoist' is a magic based damage class.^[12]

Each of these classes have their own unique advantages and disadvantages.

[edit] Battle Skills

Only certain classes have access to certain skills.

Combat skills - these inflict direct damage to an enemy or to support friendly targets.
Attribute skills - these change a characters attributes in some way, such as increasing attack or defense. Skills are powered through mana, stamina, or XP points [which are not analogous to experience points].
XP skills - these skills are powerful and use the XP gauge that builds up over time. They can only be used once the gauge is full. Using these skills empties the gauge. It also empties after around 20 seconds if not used.

Combat skills are different for each class. The taoist has access to magical spells^[13], for example, whereas the melee classes will have other direct damage attacks^[14].

[edit] Appearance

As in many MMORPGs, players can customize the appearance of their character^[15]. A player may choose the characters gender, name, hair style/colour and body size [a 'small' size resembling a child form, and a 'large' size resembling an adult]. Also, depending on the characters chosen class, their body armour and equippable items are distinct from the other classes^[16]. The image on the left demonstrates the appearance of the archer character with customization.

Some items, however, are wearable by all classes and allow further customization of the character such as earrings which allow visibility of the avatars hair [as opposed to a hat or cap which does not]

The player also has the option to wear garmets. These are clothes available to all classes that can be worn over the armor. They often change a characters hair style and can be bought with 'Conquer Points' [see Economy section, below] from an NPC in the market, or from other players. Most are available for both genders, whilst a select few are strictly for females.

[edit] Weapons

There are three categories of weapons: one-handed, two-handed and other(includes boxing for all classes and shield for warrior^[16]. One-handed weapons include clubs, daggers, axes, swords, hammers hooks, whips, back swords, scepters, and blades; two-handed weapons include pole axes, spears, wands, glaives, bows, and longhammers. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. After one has achieved level 120, the requirement to upgrade weapons is one dragonball. An example of this being a level 120 sword would need one dragonball to become level 121. Dragonballs can be bought on the website co.91.com

[edit] Upgrading Equipment

While armors color can be changed, there is normally only one type of armor that can be worn for each class and level. After first or second rebirth, level 70 characters can also use any equipment that is level 70 or below, regardless of character-class requirements.

Equipment has a range of quality levels - from lowest to highest, they are Normal, Refined, Unique, Elite, and Super. Equipment may be upgraded using either DragonBalls to increase the item's quality, or Meteors to increase the item's required level [which also makes the item stronger]. When upgrading an item via the DragonBall method, it becomes harder to accomplish the further up in the scale the item is.

'Fixed' items have the most powerful properties of any type of item^[17] but are limited to level 52 or lower, and cannot be upgraded in any way. These items cannot be created; they are only found when dropped by aide or messenger type monsters.

An item may also be composed, adding "+#" to the item's name, where # is a number between 1 and 12, inclusive. ^[18] This number, similar to the quality levels, gives the item extra stats, making it more powerful.^[19]

Gems can be mined or dropped by slain monsters, and are used to add an effect to an item such as increased damage, weapon proficiency, or overall experience gain^[20]. Gems are also needed for players to be reborn. To insert a gem into an item, it must have a socket; there are a maximum of two sockets per piece of equipment. Additionally, items can be blessed or enchanted, which decreases damage received or increases a player's health. There are 8 gems: Dragon, Moon, Violet, Kylin, Fury, Tortoise, Phoenix, and Rainbow.^[20]

An item may also be blessed with the help of Super Tortoise Gems, in order to award the character by subtracting battle damage when in combat. A single blessed item may relieve up to 7 percent of damage taken.

Gems are required for enchantment.^[21] The amount of health is randomly selected - the higher quality gem, the high chance of getting a high enchant. A player may obtain up to 255 additional health per item. Gems come in three qualities: normal, refined, and super. The effect of the gem depends on the quality, with normal being the lowest and super the highest. Usually, the higher the gem's quality, the more expensive it is.

[edit] Economy

Conquer Online has a quickly-changing market and the inflation rate and prices of items can vary. As the population of high-level characters increases, the prices of certain low-level items decrease. However, meteors and DragonBalls [rare and useful items] are in constant demand. Conquer Online is somewhat unique to other MMORPG's in the way that lower leveled equipment are generally more expensive than higher leveled. This is because lower level items are generally easier to upgrade using DragonBalls. Conquer Online has a free market system^[22] which allows players to buy and sell items through market stalls in a special non-PK market map. The meteor and DragonBall prices often change rapidly due to their essential role in the game. Gems can also sell for a large amount of silvers or CPs 'Conquer Points'. All of these items may also be traded between players for a value discussed between the two parties conducting the trade.^[23]

A newer economy system has been patched into the game. The rare dragonball item may be exchanged for a currency known as 'Conquer Points' with one dragonball equating to 215 points^[24]. Players may use these points to purchase premium and elusive items from the newly installed 'item mall'^[24] or from other players. The item mall within the game only accepts 'Conquer Points' as currency and it offers the rarest game items in an unlimited quantity, bounded only by the amount of points a player has.

The latest installment to the games economy is one for those who mainly purchase dragonballs via the website. This is the "VIP area" players can access this special area after purchasing "Gods blessing" from players or the "Item Mall". This new shop contains the rarest of gems and special "+7 and +8" stones at the expense of a few thousand "Conquer Points"

[edit] External links

[edit] Footnotes