| Rappelz Epic VII - Ascension | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | nFlavor/Gala Lab |
| Publisher(s) | gPotato.com - US
gPotato.eu - Europe |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date(s) | May 19th, 2009 |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | None |
| Media/distribution | Download (1.48 GB client) [1] |
| System requirements
Minimum
Recommended
|
|
Rappelz is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The game is developed by the Korean company Gala Lab, formerly nFlavor, and published by the Californian company Gala-Net Inc. It is published in Europe by Gala Networks Europe in French, German, Italian, Polish and Turkish. As of October 2008, Rappelz was also being published by the South East Asia based game publishing company AsiaSoft, as RappelzSEA, however was later dropped by the company on September 1, 2009. The game was also published in Arabic for MENA gamers by the Emirati company Game Power 7. The game was released under a different title known as Hope of Nations (Arabic: أمل الشعوب), and was commercially launched on March 16, 2009.[2] A new version released 15 July 2010 is by the publisher EagleGame in the Philippines.
Rappelz is set in a medieval fantasy world, dominated by three races: the Deva, who represent light, the Asura, who represent darkness, and the Gaia, humans that possess an affinity with nature.[3]
Each major installment of the game is referred to as an "Epic". The current installment is called "Epic VII: Ascension" (3nd part of Epic VII).[4]
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The Open Beta version of Rappelz launched on October 2, 2006,[5] with two separate servers available: "Tortus" , the normal PvE server, and "Pantera", the more PvP/PK-oriented server. Those who had previously downloaded the Closed Beta version of Rappelz were not required to re-download the Rappelz client to play in Open Beta; however, extensive automatic patching was done by the client before Closed Beta players could enter Open Beta. Closed Beta ended on September 26, 2006. Closed-beta characters were deleted at the beginning of Open Beta; however, characters created during Open Beta were not deleted prior to the game's release. Open Beta ended with the official release of the game on November 3, 2006, entitled epic 3, the previous being epic 1 and epic 2: the epic of the absolute creature.
There are currently seven servers in service namely, "Bahamut", "Tortus", "Fenrir", "Naga",and "Pantera (PVP)." and the newest server, "Unicorn (PVE)." Recently four servers were merged into two, "Salamander" and "Yeti" were merged into "Naga"; "Lydian" and "Tanda" became "Fenrir". The US test server for Epic 4 testing was called "Siren".
The oldest race is the Gaia, and to assist them, the gods of Creation and Extinction brought two more races into the world. They were the Deva who represented the Light and the Asura who represented the Darkness. With this, there was a period of peace and stability in the world.
As the ages passed by, there was one among the Gaia who called herself "The Witch". Over time, she grew in tremendous power and with a ruthless ambition, rallied the people of Gaia to rebel against the world.
Not all the people of Gaia heeded this call, however, and the world was thrown into chaos. It was only through the combined efforts of the three races of Deva, Asura, and Gaia that "The Witch" was finally captured and burnt alive. It was a victorious outcome of a unity between the three races.
Now at the present time, the three races continue to co-exist with each other in the world of Rappelz but dark rumors have surfaced about the second coming of "The Witch" and the return of her terrible forces. T Epic 6 set's you on a quest to discover who is behind the resurrection of the witch, the introduction of the previous Hero Hector, and finally the assassination of the witch.
Rappelz features three species: A light-based race called the Deva, and two human races called the Gaia and the Asura. Each race has three classes: Warrior, magician, and summoner, the class whose abilities center around their pets.[6] Pets are creatures that adventure alongside players, aiding them in battle. When the player levels up, their pet does, too.
Rappelz optionally provides the use of icons for actions, allowing them to be assigned to a hotkey. Some other actions may also be used through the use of icons (those available in the control window).
A Lak is magical energy from monsters and can be obtained by defeating monsters while wearing the appropriate necklace. This necklace will be available fairly early in the game. Gathered Lak can be consumed if the player dies, preventing him from losing experience points (the amount of Lak consumed increases with the level of the character), or can be traded at any Lak Trader for either chips or in-game currency, rupees. Lak Traders also provide the option to buy chips with rupees. There are three types of chips: Force Chips, Soul Chips and Luna Chips. These chips are items that characters can use to significantly affect a battle by increasing the amount of damage the target takes for a limited amount of time. They come in different ranks which allow different levels of users to use chips. Force Chips increase physical damage, Soul Chips increase magical damage, Luna Chips affect both physical and magical damage, but cost slightly more than Force and Soul chips.
Items of equipment have their own level and can level up by means of upgrading. Items that are able to do this display a section at the bottom of their status window showing the upgraded status effects, allowing players to know ahead of time the quality of the equipment. By visiting a Blacksmith, which is available in every town, players are able to upgrade their currently equipped (and upgradeable) equipment for a fee.
In addition, combinations of equipment with the appropriate enchantment cubes can further increase its potency, and as is the case with weapons, even be reflected graphically through a glow effect. This is called 'enchanting' an item. A weak weapon or armour can be formed into a stronger item without having to sell it and buy a new one.[7][8] This can also substantially increase both the item's in-game market value. The only non-equipment item that can be enchanted is the skill card.
Items can also be improved by "socketing" Soul Stones. This is done by visiting a Soulcrafter. Soul Stones are drop items that cannot be bought from any NPC. When socketed, they will increase one of the primary stats of one's character, if three conditions are met: the equipment with the Soul Stone is equipped, the Soul Stone's level is lower than or equals the character's level, and the Soul Power of the equipment is charged. Soul Power can be charged at the Soulcrafter of each town, and will be paid in Lak. Most equipment has two sockets for Soul Stones, however two-handed weapons have four.
Rappelz also features a Player versus Player (PvP) on/off mode available on all but one server and a hardcore PvP server. PvP is punished by a morality and immorality system that gives negative effects to the player who decides to PvP by allowing other players to attack them without having PvP turned on and dropping the Player Killer's stats. Another downside to Player Killing (PK) is with excessive Player Killing the characters name turns red and anybody can attack the person without PK mode on. Also with a red name the player receives less experience points per kill. There have been complaints many times about players abusing the PK system and those complaints prompted the creation of a server free from PK.
Pets can be used by all races and classes: the only requirement being two skills, Summon Creature and Creature Control, which are available early in the game. The basic classes (Rogue, Guide and Stepper) and fighter classes have little emphasis on creatures through the availability of creature affecting skills while the others, especially summoner classes (Breeder, Spell Singer and Sorcerer) can affect creatures more greatly.
Pets are attained by taming a pet while having the appropriate card for that pet in the player's inventory. The three most basic pet cards can be bought in any town, while other cards are only found from defeated monsters. Once tamed, pets can be summoned and banished at will by their owners.
Upon reaching a significantly high level, pets can "evolve" to a different type. A pet evolves twice during its lifetime. Additionally, pets can learn skills at higher levels that allow them to be used as equipment, augmenting their owner's power. Overbreeding grants pets more job points and stats than non-overbred pets. Overbreeding begins after a pet can evolve but not allowing the city tamer to evolve it.
Pets may be evolved at levels 50 and 100 but over-breeding must be performed at levels 60 (level:intermediate) and 115 (level:advanced).
With the release of Epic 7 in fall of 2010, pets may be "Staged" or combined into stronger pets with better stats, new skill, and durability.
Rappelz features a variety of classes, most of which can be unlocked through attaining a certain character level and job level. Character levels are attained in the traditional way, by defeating mobs and gaining experience points. Besides experience points, defeating mobs also grants the player job points. Job points are required to obtain and level up the character's skills, but also to increase their job level. Most skills require a minimum job level to be unlocked.[6]
As of Epic 4, there are three class categories: starting class, first job class and second job class. After attaining level 10 and job level 10, characters can choose one of the first job specialized classes. At level 50 and job level 40, the second job class can be chosen. For example, the Gaia warrior class, Fighter, can choose between Champion, a melee-oriented battler, or an Archer, who focuses on bow skills. All classes of any race share a single "racial skill" in Epic 4, which grows in power with each class increase. When advancing a character's job class, the job level is reset.
Characters can be 'overbred'. This means the character is not advanced to a second job class when it reaches level 50, job level 40. Instead, job points are collected to bring the job level up to level 50 as well, before further specializing. Overbreeding gives a character a small bonus to its statistics.
The world of Rappelz consists of a large island, which is the mainland, and a smaller one, which is called Trainee's Island. The mainland is divided into several areas, such as Crystal Valley, Lizardman Habitat, Pyre Site and Forgotten Portal. These areas harbour monsters of generally similar levels, with few exceptions, like bosses. There are also dungeons to be found, in which monsters are stronger, and experience and job point rewards are higher.
By default, any area is "player-kill area". This means that battle can be held, both between player characters and monsters (mobs), and player characters amongst each other (PK/PvP or dueling). Some small areas exist which are "non-player-kill areas". These are the towns Katan, Horizon, Laksy and Rondo. It is also around the teleporter outside of Laksy, as well as the entire expanse of trainee island. It is not possible to hold battle within these areas.
Each town holds a number of NPCs with different services. These services include a Weapon Trader, Armour Trader, Teleporter, Lak Trader, Adventure Guide, Job Supporter and Merchant. Every town provides most services, although some services are offered by more than one NPC in Rondo. Some NPCs can be found outside the town areas. These only function as quest NPCs in most cases.
Trainee's Island is the starting place of any player character. It is a place set up with NPCs and quests as a means of tutorial, as well as reaching a character level upon which the player's character becomes viable in the mainland. Once a character reaches level 10 and completed the class transfer quest, it is possible to visit a Teleporter and transport towards the home town for that character's race. Once level 20 is reached, the character is unable to teleport back to Trainee's Island, however, as of Epic 5's early release all characters, regardless of level, may visit Trainee's Island.
Each race has its own home town; Horizon being that of the Gaia race, Laksy belonging to the Deva race, and Katan belonging to the Asura race.
Dungeons are isolated places reached through portals. The monsters in dungeons are stronger than normal monsters with the same level, but the experience and job point reward for killing one is also higher. There are also items that can only be obtained as a dungeon drop. Dungeons are usually entered as a party, or dungeon party. Dungeon parties consist of a variety of classes, most including a healer/buffer, a tank, and multiple damage dealers. This enables the party to efficiently kill monsters and gain experience fast. Parties in Rappelz may contain up to 8 players. Dungeons are not instanced, meaning players will be able to interact with other characters and parties inside the dungeon. This also allows for kill-stealing (attacking a monster that was first attacked by another character outside their party, with the intent to 'steal' it away from them and/or receive a portion of the experience gain), and 'mob dropping' (pulling a large number of monsters towards another character or party, usually with the intent to have the 'mob' of monsters attack them instead, often resulting in the 'mobbed' party dying).
Rappelz has a feature in place that allows for guilds to 'own' a dungeon. Ownership of a dungeon brings certain advantages, such as a Lak and rupee 'tax' for characters using the dungeon. Acquiring ownership of a dungeon requires two steps. First a Dungeon Raid should be performed. Dungeon Raid is also called Time Attack, and consists of killing the two bosses that guard the specific dungeon. For example, for Relics of Arid Moonlight, these bosses are Oforia and Abhuva. During the Dungeon Raid, the dungeon is instanced, meaning no other player characters will be encountered.
If the raid succeeds, and manages to kill the bosses in the shortest amount of time compared to Dungeon Raids from others, the guild that performed the raid will move on to attempt a Dungeon Siege. Dungeon Sieges are held once a week on a set time. A Dungeon Siege is a war between a defending guild, the guild currently owning the dungeon, and the attacking guild, the guild who performed the Dungeon Raid. If the siege succeeds, ownership of the dungeon is transferred to the attacking guild. During the Dungeon Siege, the dungeon is instanced, meaning no other player characters will be encountered (with the exception of the opponent parties in the Siege).
Rappelz features a simple guild system, where any player above level 20 can register a guild at a Guild Official (NPC) in the major towns. Guilds offer players a group to play with. Up to five guilds can also come together to form an alliance. Players cannot player-kill another guild member or alliance member. A character who has just left a guild cannot join or create a guild within 7 days. This was implemented to avoid guild-hopping. An alliance owning a dungeon cannot add any other guild to the alliance.