So, Ucross randomly messaged me this weekend asking what I had been up to, small talk... then he sprung this game on me. It's korean, but it's incredible... It starts slow, but the sheer size of the content and features in awespiring to say the least... I played it for... I don't know... 15 hours this weekend (maybe less)... It's worth looking at if you are looking for a free MMO.
Anyway, it's called Atlantica Online.
It's a timed turn-based combat style game where you control your character and a group of mercenaries, up to 8 which means you have 9 characters in the battle. PvP is controlled by game features:
Challenge: You can challenge anyone to a duel.
Free League: Organized leagues, scheduled throughout the day, with in-game money and item prizes to be won. For this type of PvP, a ladder is present and Fame can be earned to increase one's Rank.
GvG: Guild versus Guild battles.
NvN: Large-scale Nation versus Nation battles. (Nations are comprised of separate guilds, I think)
You can download it here:
http://atlantica.ndoorsgames.com/center/pds/pds.aspOfficial 'Game Guide':
http://atlantica.ndoorsgames.com/center/guide/game_intro01.aspHere's a beginners thread with tons of great information, read posts by Triton:
http://atlantica.ndoorsgames.com/center/ATforum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=36&start=1Some interesting features:
Guilds can run towns, they set the tax rate, control security, etc... etc... I'm not sure how you take over a town controlled by another guild, I'm guessing thru war....
You can have up to 9 characters in your party (your hero + 8 mercs), but you also can 'store' other mercs to re-arrange your party at other times.
Combat is turn-based, but you have a timer for how long you have to make your moves. Magic, formation adjustments, blocking, etc. all take AP (action points) each turn.
In combat, your troops are arranged in formations. You want your tanks up front, your cloth typed range guys in back. This affects the fight.
Auto-move to quest. Click a button and your avatar runs to the NPC or area where the quest is...
Other features: crafting, repairing/disassembling, titles, fame, master/apprentice, player stores, markets and auctions, and really too much other crap to list...
The more I read about it, the more I discover new features it has. Like the ability to learn about the monsters which causes them to do less damage to you, you to do more damage to them, and for you to get better drops from them.
Groups are limited to 3 players (which is still a max of 27 guys on the screen + your enemies numbers).
There are also end-game dungeons etc...
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It's free because they have an item mall which requires real $ to purchase. However, Ucross is lv73 and he swears there is no need to ever buy anything from it at all. You don't need items from it to be good at PvP (that was my main concern).
I think you will be impressed, especially if you go in expecting the standard korean MMO experience... You'll have to give the timed turn-based combat a chance to grow on you, but if it does, I think you'll be hooked...
Anyway, Ucross, Forefall and I are all on Sikyon server, but I'm considering re-rolling to another server since this was the first one brought online and it's filled to the brim which I think is causing inflation in prices and huge guilds where you probably won't have a chance to ever take over a town. I could be wrong.
If anyone is interested in playing let me know (its free which is the biggest draw)... I was thinking of just joining the newest server brought online since the game is still new and it seems they are getting tons of new players every day.
It's MMORPG.com rating is 8.48 which is really good further placing it at the top of all MMOs, not just the free ones.
