MechQuest

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MechQuest

The Logo of MechQuest
Developer(s) Artix Entertainment, LLC
Publisher(s) Artix Entertainment, LLC
Distributor(s) Artix Entertainment, LLC
Designer(s) Artix Entertainment, LLC
Version 0.99
Platform(s) Macromedia Flash Player
Release date October 2007
Genre(s) RPG
Mode(s) Single-player
Rating(s) Not rated, website requires 13+
Media Web
System requirements Web browser & Macromedia Flash Player 8.0+
Input methods Mouse

MechQuest (often abbreviated to "MQ") is a free online browser-based single-player sci-fan RPG developed by Artix Entertainment. The game is currently at its Gamma release and is not complete. It is implemented in Adobe Flash and uses anime-style graphics, some of which are animated. The authors have described the game as a cross between: Star Wars, Robotech, Harry Potter, Escaflowne, Voltron, Gundam, and Evil Dead II.[1]

Each account may have up to three characters, although Star Captains (paying players) may have up to six. The game allows players to engage in turn-based combat against mechas or humanoids to accumulate experience points and credits (in-game currency). Characters have a combat level and six stats to train (not available yet). Players may use credits to purchase upgrades for their mecha or even new mechas.

The story revolves around your mecha pilot, flown in to attend G.E.A.R.S. University - a rigorous but prestigious university founded to help students improve in combat skills. It takes place in the same planet or galaxy as Lore, the locale of Artix Entertainment's other two games.

Contents

[edit] Relation to other Artix Entertainment games

MechQuest is generally considered to be set 5,000 years before the storyline in AdventureQuest (or 4,995 years before DragonFable), which is supported by the Design Notes. However, some confusion remains as to whether it actually is true or not due to the FAQ stating that the authors have not decided yet. The characters in MechQuest are presumed to be all new, unlike in Artix Entertainment's other two games. However, some have similar names and appearances, and many players believe they are actually the same characters as in DragonFable and AdventureQuest, only in different bodies, A good example of this is Dean Warlic who, though sharing the same name as the mage Warlic - a character in AdventureQuest and DragonFable - does not resemble him much. Moglins are also present in MechQuest.

[edit] Gameplay

MechQuest is played with a mouse and, unlike many other online RPGs, it uses Macromedia Flash Player instead of software located on the player's computer. The player controls a custom made character who pilots a mecha that can be equipped with various weapons. The character can take classes at the university and get jobs at various businesses.

[edit] Customization

Every player can buy new mechs and new weapons to outfit their mechs with to increase damage output. The weapons each have a unique look, and unique damage ranges and effects. Currently, weapons can be mounted on the head, back arm, front arm, back shoulder, and front shoulder, and the body. Also, the starter mecha does not have a front shoulder slot. The color of the mecha body can also be customized when a player creates a character.

The player must create a character before starting the game. This character can be changed at hairdresser HAL (Haircut And Lobotomy) in Soluna City for a fee. Various professions will unlock uniforms that the character can wear.

[edit] Economy

All buying and selling are done with a virtual currency, known in-game as credits. There is no limit to the number of credits players can have. Credits can be acquired by the player by completing various missions and defeating enemies in battle. Nova Gems can be purchased outside the game and used in the game to buy more powerful mecha upgrades.

[edit] Professions

The player can do jobs at various buildings throughout Soluna City. All places of employment offer mechs and weapons for sale as a reward to players who have reached a high enough level in the profession scale. All professions (with the exception of the Ghost Hunting) use a dice roll after a successful completion of a mission to determine whether the character levels up.

  • Mecharoni Pizza - the pizza shop in Soluna City, where the player can work as a delivery boy (or girl) for the shop owner, Parma John.
  • Soluna Police Department - the Soluna police station, where the player can work as an officer under Chief Duncan. Each raise in level brings the character closer to solving a case until they reach the final level at which time they solve the case.
  • Ghost Hunting - based out of the Soluna Magic Shop where Mysterious Johnson offers a job to hunt ghosts that the character had accidentally freed earlier. The character must buy a ghost trap to capture a ghost. This is the only profession that does not use a dice roll to determine whether a character levels up. The only way to level up in this profession is to capture all nearby ghosts.
  • The Hospital - Soluna City's hospital, where Nurse Helia offers a job as a medic. This profession also offers two minigames - one in which the player must control a helicopter with the mouse and the other an Operation style game where the player must guide an organ out of the body of an alien.
  • The Museum - Soluna City's museum. There are three areas to explore and collect fossils for Val, the curator: the Jungle, the Desert and the Ocean, released in that order. There have been two types of missions currently released. One type in the Jungle and the Desert area requires the player to fight a Shadowscythe mecha, complete one or two simple puzzles, and duel hand-to-hand combat with the Shadowscythe Pilot. The other type is under the Ocean area, a mission where the player must dodge giant jellyfish in a minigame and then defeat a giant squid called Kathool-Atchoo in a mecha battle.

[edit] Combat

[edit] Mecha combat basics

MechQuest's battle system is currently only one-on-one - the player versus one computer-controlled opponent at a time. Both of the combatants have 3 attributes used in battle:

  • Health - the capability to continue fighting. Once either of the mechs' health reaches zero, the mecha will explode, the pilot will eject, and the battle will end. If the player loses the fight, they will be restored with one health point.
  • Energy - the capability to use weapons to damage an opponent. Each weapon equipped on the mecha has a predefined energy usage amount. When the player uses that weapon, the energy usage is subtracted from the mecha's energy meter, whether or not the attack is successful. When a mecha's energy count is too low to operate any equipped weapons, the player must skip their turn and wait until their energy regenerates enough to use weapons.
  • Regeneration - how fast a mecha can recover from energy usage. After every turn the player makes, the mecha's regeneration amount will be added to its energy meter. Better mechs can usually regenerate energy faster allowing the player to use more energy dependent weapons.

[edit] Melee combat

In certain situations, the player can engage in a hand-to-hand battle. In such battles, the character uses an energy blade to fight with instead of the usual mech. The character will use the standard energy blade unless equipped with a better blade. Several basic energy weapons are available through the energy blades class, including three Star Captain-only ones, but the new Light's Sabers shop offers a selection of new energy blades for both free and upgraded players. Blades, like mech weapons, can also be saved for Star Captains through the Tek's Mechs shop.

As in mecha combat, melee combat is one-on-one, and both of the combatants have a health bar and an energy bar. However, in melee combat, the character's energy does not recharge during the battle. The player can choose from three choices each turn: Attack, the basic move, uses no energy and hits within the energy blades specified damage range; Strong Attack increases the damage by 50%; Defend makes it easier to block enemy attacks. Strong Attack and Defend use 20% of the character's energy per use. The battle is over when one of the combatants runs out of health points.

[edit] Player vs. player

Players can engage in player versus player (PvP) combat via the Assault Mecha machine - an in-game arcade game. PvP allows players to combat other players' mechs by entering a character identification number; however, the mechs are controlled by the computer and not by another actual player.

[edit] Stat points

There are no stat points in the game at this time. However, Artix Entertainment has announced that stat points should be implemented into MechQuest in the near future.

[edit] Synopsis

[edit] Setting

Right now, the only major locations released are Soluna City and Westion, which players can travel to in the starships. Some smaller locations have also been released, such as the moon base and the White Castle.

[edit] Cities

  • Soluna City - a large futuristic city with businesses run by androids, cyborgs, and humans of all kinds. For the 2008 April Fool's Day event, several Soluna City buildings and NPCs were temporarily replaced with buildings and NPCs from Falconreach (of MechQuest's sister game DragonFable). The White Castle, the residence of Kingadent Slugwrath, is located outside the city.
  • Tibattleonia - the city in which the Shadowscythe Forces defeated the Soluna Defenses Forces. It is currently destroyed. Its name may be a reference to AdventureQuest's Battleon.
  • Moon Base - a base on the moon that the rebels have set up.
  • Khaeldron and Alamonia - Two towns on the desert planet Westion. Tension between the towns has been rising over the mysterious shortages of crystallized dragon's breath, a valuable fuel source mined on the planet. Alamonia is inhabited by a horse-like race known as the Equins, and Khaeldron is the home of the lizard-like Drakels.

[edit] G.E.A.R.S. University

G.E.A.R.S. University is the school the player's character is attending. In the story, Dean Warlic is the head of G.E.A.R.S. University, which is located in Soluna City. The university offers classes which allow players to increase their abilities. Currently, the only classes available are the Energy Blades class and the Mecha Combat class.

[edit] G.E.A.R.S. Houses

Players can choose one of the G.E.A.R.S. University's three houses for their character.

  • Wolfblade - Wolfblade members value honor and bravery above other characteristics. The house leader is Xaria.
  • Runehawk - Members of Runehawk are interested in learning and knowledge. They research dragons and magic. Their leader is Jaania.
  • Mystraven - Mystraven is the house for pranksters. Its members like to play tricks on and stir up controversy between Runehawk and Wolfblade. The Mystraven leader is Casca.

[edit] House Extras Information

Each house has a mecha and weapons available for purchase by house members only. All house members can upgrade their mechs. Free players can just buy a new version of the mech while Nova Gem holders and Star Captains may purchase upgrade kits and upgrade their current house mech. In addition to that house members also have their own house unifroms that you may equip and all the houses have their own hairstyles too. For now, joining a house is permanent. In the future, MechQuest staff plan to release a betrayal quest so you may join a different house much like AdventureQuest's Paxia Clan System. Much about the houses is still under development by MechQuest staff.

[edit] G.E.A.R.S. Games

There is an annual inter-house competition called the "G.E.A.R.S. Games", where house members can scrimmage against each other. The winning house is presented with a trophy, which Wolfblade currently has. In the G.E.A.R.S. Games, there currently are to options to get points for your house. The rewards are different depending on which house you are in. Those rewards can be bought in the house shops for now.

[edit] The Shadowscythe

The Shadowscythe are an alien race that is trying to invade the planet of Lore on which Soluna City is located. They are a union of races being controlled through a brain manipulating virus. Their leader is known as Lord Valoth, but beyond this little is known. A new cutscene implies that Evilcorp, a shadowy company that seems to have their hand in producing everything in Lore, may control the Shadowscythe.

[edit] The Soluna Defense Force

Once the elite guard of the Kingadent, the Soluna Defense Force (also known as the SDF) is double-crossed and sabotaged by Slugwrath, causing them to crash on the moon. He then tries to wipe them out by labeling them rebels and sending the player's character to defeat them. Odessa Pureheart is the leader of the SDF.

[edit] Characters

  • Aleysia - one of the strictest instructors at G.E.A.R.S. University. Teaches the Mecha Combat 101 class.
  • Casca - leader of House Mystraven
  • Chief Duncan - chief of Soluna Police Department
  • Grayson Light - owner of Light's Sabers, the energy blade shop in Soluna City
  • Nurse Helia - a skilled nurse cross-trained in magical healing for humans, mecha, and aliens.
  • Jaania - leader of House Runehawk
  • Mysterious Johnson - owns the magic shop to the east side of town.
  • Maegwyn - owner of the Knife and Spork restaurant.
  • Maria 5 - owner of the clothing store, Laser Eye for the Space Guy. She is presently attending G.E.A.R.S. University on a research scholarship while using their facilities to research her past, which she doesn't seem to know much about.
  • Queenadent Odessa Pureheart - new leader of Soluna. She led the Soluna Defense Force until they were stranded on the moon by Slugwrath and labelled rebels. She and Warlic led the fight against Slugwrath, ultimately leading to his downfall.
  • Kingadent Slugwrath - Kingadent of Soluna, until his secret alliance with the Shadowscythe was revealed and he was overthrown.
  • The student - the character designed and controlled by the player. The student can be male or female according to the player's preference.
  • Sys-Zero - ace fighter pilot instructor and captain of the starship in the prologue. He can normally be found in the third floor of the Star Captain's Club. He is under the influence of the Shadowscythe Virus, until the player completes the "Find a Cure" mission.
  • Tek - runs Tek's Mechs, the main place to get new weapons or mechs.
  • Master Tsuba - one of the greatest energy blade swordsmen in the known universe. Teaches the Energy Blade 101 class.
  • Val - curator of the Soluna museum
  • Lord Valoth - the presumed leader of the Shadowscythe. He has yet to make a physical appearance.
  • Dean Warlic - the head and dean of G.E.A.R.S. University
  • Xaria - leader of House Wolfblade

[edit] Plot

The game begins with a young student (controlled by the player) travelling to Soluna City to attend G.E.A.R.S. University. Shortly after arriving in the city, the Shadowscythe attack and the university students are called upon to defend the city. They win the battle, but the Shadowscythe soon attack again. It is during this time that the respected fighter pilot Sys-Zero disappears while on a spy mission.

The player tracks him to Tibattleonia, where the Soluna Defense Forces were overwhelmed by the Shadowscythe. He is found in the hills surrounding the city, but he has been infected with the dangerous Shadowscythe Virus. Through several quests at the Soluna hospital, the player learns that the Shadowscythe have infected all of their hostages with this virus, which takes over their body so they can be controlled by the Shadowscythe.

Meanwhile, Kingadent Slugwrath sends the player to the moon to wipe out a group of rebels based there. While on the moon, however, the player battles Odessa, the leader of the "rebels", who reveals that they are actually members of the Soluna Defense Forces whose starship was sabotaged by Slugwrath. When the Shadowscythe attack Soluna again, the SDF and G.E.A.R.S students work together to defeat them. The student then goes to the White Castle to challenge the Kingadent to a fight. After the student defeats Slugwrath, Dean Warlic nominates Odessa for Queenadent in Slugwrath's place.

The student then travels to another planet called Westion in the hopes of gaining support for the continuing struggle with the Shadowscythe. Westion is inhabited by the horse-like race of Equins and the reptillian race of Drakels. The two races are having troubled relations when the player arrives and requests help. The desert planet contains many mines to collect the crystallized dragon's breath buried under the its surface, which is a valuable fuel source. The Equins' mines have been experiencing strange shortages, and they blame it on the Drakels.

[edit] Upgrades

[edit] Star Captain

Star Captains are the upgraded mecha pilots of MechQuest. A Star Captain is a paid account that allows the player to use more mechas and equipment and access the Mission Room and the starship which is used to travel to other planets. Customizable starships have just been released, in which Star Captains can purchase furniture for their ships.

Characters that are not Star Captains can also "ride" on the starships as passengers with a fee of 1000 credits (changed to 5000 credits during the war), but they are unable to customize or command the ship.

Players who upgraded prior to November 2007 are known as "Founders". They can access a Founder-only mecha known as the Knightron SE and can access the Founder Ceremony event. Players may pay a one-time fee of $19.95 USD to upgrade one character or $29.95 to upgrade all six characters. A player can purchase 2000 Nova gems for $5.00 when upgrading. If a player has already upgraded one character to a Star Captain, the player can upgrade the remaining five characters for $19.95. Upgrades can be purchased from the MechQuest website or using an upgrade card which can be purchased in Target stores.

[edit] Nova Gems

All players may purchase Nova Gems, a form of elite in-game currency, with real money. Nova Gems can be used in the game to purchase more powerful weapons and mechs. Nova Gems cannot be exchanged for credits. Nova Gem mechs currently can not be discarded, but can be sold back for 90% of the original cost during the first 24 hours after buying, and for 25% of the original cost after the first 24 hours. Currently, 2000 Nova Gems cost $9.95 or 5000 Nova Gems cost $19.95.

[edit] Death From Above

Artix Entertainment released a video titled "Death From Above" (D.F.A.) on March 26, 2008. It was created by Artix Entertainment animator J6, and can be viewed in the Cinemech in the MechQuest game.[2] It shows a unit of Soluna Armed Forces being attacked, and possibly entirely destroyed by an unknown dark figure.

[edit] References

  1. ^ MechQuest main page. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
  2. ^ http://www.mechquest.com/mq-designnotes.asp MechQuest Design Notes. Retrieved on 2008-04-10

[edit] External links


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