Age of Wulin

Age of Wulin
Developer(s)	Suzhou Snail Electronic Co., Ltd.
Publisher(s)	Snail Games Webzen, Inc. Snail Games USA Mental Games Russia
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	July 18, 2013[1]
Genre(s)	Action MMORPG
Mode(s)	Multiplayer
Distribution	Download

Age of Wulin is a 2013 free-to-play 3D martial arts action MMORPG, developed by Chinese developer Suzhou Snail Electronic Co. Ltd. (Snail Games) and published by Webzen in Europe. It was released on 10 April 2013 in North America. Age of Wulin revolves around the Wuxia-inspired lore surrounding martial arts and adventures in medieval China.

The original version, named 九阴真经 (Nine Scroll Manual/Nine Scroll True Classic) is published in China by a games developer through the Woniu (蜗牛网) portal. Alternative versions are: Age of Wushu, published in North America by Snail Games USA;^[2][3] Age Of Kung Fu, published by Cubizone for South-East Asia; and Легенды Кунг Фу (Legends of Kung Fu), published by Mental Games for Russia.

Gameplay

Players initially select one of eight factions, and then develop their characters, learn new skills, and engage in PvE and PvP content. The game does not feature a class system, but allows players to join one of 8 player factions, or Schools: Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Beggars' Sect, Tang Clan, Scholar's Academy, Royal Guard and Blissful Valley.^[4] The only restricted skills are the internal skills of each school. This means if a player leaves their faction, or school, the player loses the ability to use that school's internal skill.

Quests and many other activities, including gathering, crafting and combat, give experience points which are converted into "cultivation" points used to upgrade fighting skills. Elements of the game include solo and party dungeons, an equipment system, crafting and professions, a housing system, and mounts. The attributes of Chivalry and Guilt determine the player's reputation and alignment in the Jianghu System.

Combat

The in-game combat contains actual martial arts styles as well as super-human abilities and elements from Chinese legendary stories such as depicted in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero.^[2][5] There are no classes or level restrictions. Instead the game uses a skill-based system in which the player has to learn new abilities and talents in order to progress. Combat depends on skill proficiency rather than any assigned numerical value.

There are three types of skills, akin to the Rock-paper-scissors game: Overt (damage skills), Feint (defense-breaking skills), and Block (blocks incoming damage). There are also assorted skills outside of these categories. Utilizing skills consumes Energy, the equivalent of a Mana pool.

Sects

• Wudang Sect: One of the sects in Age of Wulin. Their main weapons of use are Sword/Twin Swords.

• Shaolin Sect: Their main weapons are Staff and Fists. Their martial art skills are powerful and direct, with moves focusing on close range attacks, similar to the traditional "tank" role. Shaolin have great survival capabilities, but are vulnerable to long range attacks.^[6]

• Beggars' Sect: Palms are their weapon of choice, although staffs or sticks are also known to be used. Their moves inflict a great deal of damage, but their defense is less strong. Beggars have good defence against poisons. The sect is famous for its Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and its Dog Beating Staff Technique, which are only passed down from a chief to his successor. The green jade staff which is carried by the chief is a symbol of his leadership.^[7]

• Emei Sect: A righteous, women-only sect. They are powerful as well as gracious and their weapons of choice are Twin-Spears (daggers designed to use with two hands), which are highly regarded by the women of the sect on account of their light weight and agility. The combat moves for double-spear are as elegant and intricate as dance. Members of their sect are also known to use smaller, more discrete weapons which are unique to Emei.^[8]

• Scholar's Academy: Scholars are a Neutral faction and are highly skilled in the refined art of the sword, although they also use musical instruments as weapons. The disciples of the sect utilize the magical power of music in their attack strategies, inflicting great but short-lived damage. However, scholars are open to counter-attack owing to their low defensive capabilities. Scholars can attack multiple players at the same time, but only have limited sets of moves as well as limited skill in long-range combat.^[9]

• Tang Clan: Masters of long-range attacks, they prefer to use the dagger and the flying dart. Tang special skills focus on controlling others, absorbing their HP and internal energy. Their hidden weapons are used for ranged attacks, but are not suited to melee attack. However, if they do win in melee attacks, they add negative buffs to their enemies. The sect's poisons are very effective and can penetrate strong defenses.^[10]

• Blissful Valley: This is one of the two evil sects. They prefer to use the twin broadsword but are also skilled in using twin short-swords and empty-handed techniques. They have special skills in creating traps and are proficient in ranged attacks and defensive techniques. Sect members can also surround themselves in a protective cloud in order to make a quick getaway.^[11]

• Royal Guards: This is the second evil sect. They prefer to use the broadsword or sword, but are also skilled in eagle’s claw and the chain. They have many special skills that can increase attack to inflict great damage. Royal Guards cultivate dark yin energy, forging steel-like bodies impervious to harm. However, their cool-down period is relatively long, with more usage limitations. The Guards can also quickly alternate between attack and defense modes. They serve the Emperor and follow his will, meaning that they are backed by the government. This results in Royal Guards being able to "lawfully" commit crime.^[12]

Development

Promotion at E3 2012

The game entered into its last closed beta phase in China in June 2012 and does not require a closed beta key anymore to participate. The European version was expected to launch in 2012^[2][13] but was further delayed until July 18, when it entered the Open Beta phase with three servers, two for the French-speaking and the German-speaking community and one for the international English community. The North America version, Age of Wushu, launched on April 10, 2013.

See also

• List of free massively multiplayer online games
• Wuxia

References

External links

• Age of Wulin Europe
• Age of Wushu North America
• Legends of Kung Fu Russia
• 9yin Thai
• Nine Scroll True Classic China
• German AoW Wiki
• Age of Kung-Fu South East Asia