Mass MMORPG

Maplestory MMORPG

MapleStory is a free to play, 2D, side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by the South Korean company Wizet. Several versions of the game are available for specific countries or regions, and each is published by various companies such as Wizet and Nexon. Although playing the game is free, character appearances and gameplay enhancements can be purchased from the “Cash Shop” using real money. MapleStory has a combined total of over 50 million subscriber accounts in all of its versions. MapleStory North America (Global), for players mainly in North America and outside of East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe, has over three million players. In the game, players travel the “Maple World”, defeating monsters and developing their character’s skills and abilities as is typical in role-playing games. Players can interact with others in many ways, such as through chatting, trading, and playing minigames. Groups of players can band together in parties to hunt monsters and share the rewards. Players can also join a guild to interact more easily with each other.

Gameplay

Like most MMORPGs, gameplay centers on venturing into dungeons and combatting monsters in real-time. The players combat monsters and complete quests, in the process acquiring in-game currency called “Mesos”, experience points (EXP), and various items. Players can kill monsters alone, or they can form a party with up to six total characters. Loot is shared based on relative damage and level of characters in the party, more being awarded to the higher-level members.

MapleStory’s 2D scrolling viewpoint more closely resembles a platform game rather than the typical 3D environment or top-down perspective of other games, such as Guild Wars or Mu Online. The controls for the game are executed using the keyboard and mouse. The keyboard is used for many game functions, and much of it can be rearranged to suit users’ needs. The mouse is mainly used to trigger non-player characters (NPCs) and manipulate items.

MapleStory characters exist in “worlds” or “servers.” Players are allowed to create up to 3 characters in each world (although more character slots can be obtained through the purchase of an item from the Cash Shop). Each world, similar in content between each other in the same version, is split into at most twenty channels, among which characters are allowed to freely switch. The ability to transfer entire characters between worlds was added in December 2007 to GlobalMS. However, this feature has a restriction — transfer of mesos is limited to 1 million, and players cannot transfer to the newest world.

Characters

New players are sent to Maple Island, a floating island specifically designed to be beginner-friendly. Unlike in many other MMORPGs, players in MapleStory cannot choose a job when they create a character. Rather, every character starts with the “Beginner” job. When characters meet certain requirements, they can complete the first job advancement and become a Warrior, Magician, Bowman, Pirate, or a Thief. Further class progression is only allowed within the scope of the first class advancement chosen. There are four class advancements available progressingly through out the game.
CHARACTERS

Beginner

In MapleStory, you start out as a Beginner. As such, you will not enjoy owning any special skill yet, but you are capable of learning and mastering basic skills such as walking, attacking, jumping, sitting and picking up items. However, upon reaching level 8 or 10, (depending on the particular class) you are then allowed to choose a class. This is called a job advancement. You can either be a “Warrior”, “Magician”, “Bowman” or a “Thief”.

The locations and requirements needed for a job advancement in each class will vary. A player can make a maximum of four (4) job advancements in the game. Each job advancement will come with a Skill Book, which will list out a variety of skills that are essential in your journey. In some cases, however, you will have to complete a quest or fit a certain requirement before advancing to the next job.

Below is a guide that can help you in attaining class advancement in the game:

Warrior

{Location} Victoria Island: Perion (IMAGE: CHARACTERS>”WARRIOR”)
{Origin} Shrine of Warriors
{Requirements} Level 10, Strength 35
{Pros} Has a very high HP, the best in all the 4 classes
Has good hitting Strength
Employs good defense
Has good skills
{Cons} Has low MP
Needs a lot of heal potions

The class of a “Warrior” exhibits an overwhelming amount of potent attacks and an enduring stamina. The level of their strength is surely something not to laugh at and is very evident when they fight mano a mano. Warriors usually use weapons such as swords, axes, blunt weapons, spears and pole arms. Some warriors, especially Black Knights, even employ magic in their attacks.

The job order for a warrior will reveal a three-way route. As is always the case, various requirements are needed in order to be elevated as a “Fighter”, “Page” or a “Spearman for the player’s 2nd job advancement. For the 3rd job placement, a player can become a “Crusader, “Knight” or a “Dragon Knight”. And for the 4th job advancement, a player can become a “Hero”, “Paladin” or a “Dark Knight”.

Magician

{Location} Victoria Island: Ellinia (IMAGE: CHARACTERS>”MAGICIAN”)
{Origin} Magic Library
{Requirements} Level 8, Intelligence 20
{Pros} Has very high MP — the best in all the 4 classes
Has very good monster control and hitting strength
Can change classes before everyone else
{Cons} Has low HP
Needs a lot of heal and mana potions
Is quick to run out of MP
There are a lot of them everywhere

The class of a “Magician” may not be as strong or enduring as the “Warrior” but they can wield tremendous magic at a snap of a finger. They have a penchant for immersing themselves in ancient studies which affords them a very high intelligence. Their main weapons are their staff and magic.

The job order for a magician also follows a three-pronged direction. As you rise to your 2nd job advancement, you can become a “Wizard-Fire/Poison”, “Wizard-Ice/Lightning” or a “Cleric”. For the 3rd job advancement, your rank can be “Mage-Fire/Poison”, “Mage-Ice/Lightning” or a “Priest”. And for the 4th job advancement: “Arch Mage-Fire/Poison”, “Arch Mage-Ice/Lightning” or a “Bishop”.

Bowman

{Location} Victoria Island: Henesys (IMAGE: CHARACTERS>”ARCHER”)
{Origin} Bowman Instructional School
{Requirements} Level 10, Dexterity 25
{Pros} Can kill at long range
Even HP and MP
Has nice Skills
{Cons} Needs to buy lots of arrows to get levels
Has no shield

The class of a “Bowman” is a specialist at long-range attacks. He also enjoys some degree of dexterity and power. His agility comes in handy when evading enemies. His weapons are mainly bows and crossbows, but he is also adept at using a light sword, any blunt weapon or an axe. For protection, a bowman makes use of a light armor so as not to diminish his dexterity.

The job order for a bowman has a two-way direction. For the 2nd job advancement, a bowman can eventually become either a “Hunter or a “Crossbow Man”. As he becomes more skillful, he can be elevated to his 3rd job advancement as either a “Ranger” or a “Sniper”. For his 4th job advancement, the possible ranks that await him are “Bow Master” and a “Crossbow Master”.

Thief

{Location} Victoria Island: Kerning City (IMAGE: CHARACTERS>”THIEF”)
{Origin} Thieves’ Hideaway
{Requirements} Level 10, Dexterity 25
{Pros} Has the ability to snipe if they use Ninja Stars
Can hide in the darkness to evade enemies
Has Ninja-like skills
{Cons} Only capable of “girlie” hits
Has low HP

A “Thief” enjoys a decent amount of dexterity and power, and considered to be very “Lucky”. He is very good at hiding and in sneak attacks, which he is able to put to good use in battles. His primary weapons are daggers and claws. His other special skills are stealing and the ability to move surreptitiously.

The job order for a thief has also a two-way direction. A player can either become an “Assassin” or a “Bandit” in his 2nd job advancement. He can rise to become a “Hermit” or a “Chief Bandit” during his 3rd job advancement. As for his 4th job advancement, he can become either a “Night Road” or a “Shadower”.

Guilds

Players can form Guilds with other players. Guild creation costs a certain amount of Mesos, depending on the version being played. Guild extensions and emblems, which have separate costs, are also available. The purpose of a guild is to be able to find and chat with others more easily, bond with other players, promote cooperation, and battle using teamwork. Members have their guild’s name listed under their character name along with the guild’s emblem, if applicable.

Quests

There are over a hundred available quests, each with varying prerequisites; most quests may require the player to have attained a certain level or to have completed another certain quest. Most available quests require the player to retrieve a certain amount of spoils attained from monsters or to traverse an obstacle course. Some quests can be repeated, although the reward(s) and given EXP may be different from those attained during their first completion.

Jump quests are a unique type of quest in which a character starts at one area of a map and uses timed jumps to get from one to another specific platform. Players attempt to avoid enemies and obstacles that can knock them off of the platforms. Skills and abilities that increase jumping distance or speed do not have any effect during these quests.

Economy

Items can be acquired from monster drops, purchased from other characters or shops, or obtained as rewards for completing a quest. These items are used for various purposes. Players are also able to trade items, but higher value transactions attract a virtual tax.

Since MapleStory is free, the developers introduced the Cash Shop to generate revenue. This is a virtual shop where players can buy items using real money, so called microtransactions. Most Cash Shop items expire after a certain period of time. (30 to 90 days) Pets, modeled after animals such as monkeys, dogs, cats, bunnies, pandas, and pigs, follow the owner around and can be equipped to pick up spoils dropped by enemies.

The Free Market is a place set aside for people who wish to sell their items amongst other players. Miniature shops can be set up in this area, allowing people to browse their stock. Store permits, which are required to set up a shop, are only available through the Cash Shop. There are two types of store permits: a standard store, which requires the presence of the player, and the hired merchant which does not require the presence of the player but requires additional cash shop money to use this feature. The hired merchant store is only available in time periods of 24 hours, one week, or two weeks. Conversely, the standard store lasts ninety days but only works with the presence of the user. One can meet with players located in other towns, provided the town contains a Free Market entrance. However, one cannot use the Free Market to travel between towns.

Real money trading between players is prohibited in MapleStory, and results in a ban. This includes trading mesos (ingame currency) with NX Cash Items (items bought with real money).

World

There are four main continents common to all versions in the MapleStory world: Maple Island, Victoria Island, Ossyria and Masteria. Maple Island is where every new player begins the game. The beginner-friendly island features low leveled monsters and short tutorial quests to introduce players to different aspects of gameplay. Once a player leaves the island (requires 150 mesos or a recommandation letter), they are unable to return to it. Victoria Island is where players arrive after leaving Maple Island. The island has eight cities, and is where Beginners will upgrade to their first class. Ossyria is currently divided into seven distinct regions with varying environments: El Nath Mountains, Ludus Lake, Aqua Road, Minar Forest, Mu Lung Garden, Nihal Desert, Temple of Time and Ereb. Masteria is a new continent that is believed to be off the coast of Victoria Island. There are only three towns on this continent: New Leaf City, the Prendergast Mansion and Crimsonwood Keep.

World Tour regions can be reached by talking to Spinel the World Tour Guide, located in almost every town in Victoria and Ossyria. The World Tour consists of additional continents that are based on real life countries. There are currently four world tour continents: Zipangu, China, Formosa, and Siam. The newest area is Singapore and Malaysia. Currently, there are no regional maps for any of the world tour continents.

Minigames

Players can play various minigames, both solo and multi-player.

-Omok is the Korean cognate of the Japanese game “Gomoku,” akin to tic-tac-toe. To win, a player needs to place five pieces in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line.
-Match Cards, also known as “Concentration,” can be played with grids of 3×4, 4×5, and 5×6 cards. The facedown side of the cards contains images of various monsters, which players take turns matching.
-Pachinko is exclusive to the JapanMS and TaiwanMS versions. In order to play, the player must be in a Pachinko House and have pachinko balls purchased in the Cash Shop. Players try to get the pachinko balls into a mushroom hole below a slot. If the player obtains a certain amount of balls, he or she may win in-game prizes.
-Gachapon is a vending machine, in which the player inserts a ticket bought from the Cash Shop and a random prize comes out.
-Rock, Paper, Scissors is based on the actual game, in which one plays against an NPC.
-Fishing King is currently available in TaiwanM and ThailandMS. After the player completes a quest to obtain a diving suit, he or she is sent to a map to catch fish. The player may return to catch fish as many times as desired.
-The Fishing System is currently available in all versions except KoreaMS, GlobalMS and EuropeMS. Players can buy fishing equipment from the Cash Shop and talk to an NPC in various towns to go fishing.

Marriage

Players may participate in in-game marriages at the town of Amoria (or Peach Blossom Island in the Chinese version of MapleStory). Guests may be invited to the wedding, and the marrying couple will receive wedding ring items. The wedding “ceremony” requires the completion of various quests. If a premium wedding ticket from the Cash Shop was purchased, the player is entitled to have a party after the ceremony. In Amoria Dungeon, players can fight exclusive monsters. The KoreaMS version of Amoria has been altered to remove the training grounds and the Chapel area, leaving only the Cathedral. MapleStory does not currently allow same-sex marriage.

Events

Players gathering in Lith Harbor waiting for a GM event to start, with a GM’s yellow message on the top of the screen.

On certain days, the Game Masters (also known as GMs) host special events in which any player is capable of participating, given their character is at a given map during the event time. All participants receive a trophy, and winners receive a random prize. Users are notified of an upcoming event by a scrolling box at the top of the game screen. Events are known to bring an influx of players to the event’s respective locations, which generally causes massive connection lag and sometimes even disconnections. The large amount of special effects during an event can significantly slow down the player’s PC.

Occasionally, certain versions of the game hold events that celebrate a certain event in real-life or an event specific to that version, such as a holiday or new server release. During these events, certain aspects of the game are modified in celebration; for example, the experience rate or drop rate may be increased, or special items may be released.

Official Site: http://www.maplestory.com/ or http://www.mapleglobal.com/