Not that anyone probably cares but...RO2

[Seraph]

Look im good for something other than moaning and complaining!!! Im posting my first bit of game news.

Back at TGS the revolution stole the show, and so I didnt notice too much else. But GRAVITY released info on their new MMORPG: Ragnarok 2

Here are some feature exerts, translated from the offical Ragnarok 2 page:

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* Main Features *

1) Full 3D graphics, while retaining "original cuteness" of Ragnarok Online.

2) Real Emotion Expression: A system designed to maximize the effectiveness of "emotion expressions". The body is designed meticulously to ensure the emotions your character expresses is as real as it can be.

3) Anti-Steal System: This system does opposite is what most other "anti mob stealing system" does. Instead of penalizing the stealer, it provides benefit to the victim of mob stealing.

4) Safe Trade System: The system created two ways which to trade items; first method which both sides must input an item or Zeny; second system where you can directly give the item to the receiver.

5) The battle system in RO 2 focuses on teamwork and no more mobbing multiple monsters. The system has been designed so that, killing one very strong monster with group member will prove to be far more beneficial than killing multiple weaker mobs at once.

6) Lootstealer Prevention: The monster item drop method now uses similar system from other MMORPGs. Instead of items directly dropped on the ground, you now "loot the body" to get the item directly.

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* Job System Details - Complex Job Change System *

(Direct Translation Mode On)

Ragnarok Online 2 uses the Base LV and Job LV system just like Ragnarok Online had - to simply put, unlike other games where leveling up allowed you to increase stats and learn new skills at the same time, base level up in RO only let you increase stats, and job level up only allowed learning new skill.

This was originally designed to allow freedom of choice for high-level classes to distinguish each other by having different stats. However, since the base jobs presented in Ragnarok Online were fixed and could not be changed, it severely limited the "freedom" we wanted, instead, only making players work 2x as harder.

Introducing to you all, "Complex Job Change System". This system allows you to change your job class at any given time.

This system does not have limitation of sorts for job change. As long as you fulfill small requirements, you can change your jobs as much as you want. Also, you can even change from "high-level classes" to "lower-level classes". Doing so resets your Job LV, but does not reset your Base LV, allowing you to experience new classes without having to re-level your character's main level.

As a result, players do not have to create whole new character suited for different jobs for specific reasons in the game.

As a bonus, any previously "experienced Job LVs, skills and stat bonuses from the said job" you had will be saved. For example, let's say you had a Swordsman at JLV 20, then changed to Magician JLV 1. When you change yourself to Swordsman again, you will begin at JLV 20, exactly the point of where you left off.

This system will definitely save the players of time wasted to level a whole new character just to experience new things in the game. Also, through "Speciality" ability, a player can use skills from different classes without having to be a different class.

You will no longer have to suffer from having to experience beginning content ever again just to change your job!

... You may now ask yourself a question... "I am a Swordsman who invested a lot of points into STR and VIT. What if I change to Magician? Then I would be too weak to do any spellcasting...".

While the game does not give you complete redistribution of all your stats when you change your job, but we do not believe this will be a problem. Unlike Ragnarok Online, the status bonus gained from the job classes themselves are HUGE ( 2:5 stat difference vs. 9:1 in original RO ). As such, total stats of a character will be controlled more or less by the class you are.

And, unlike RO, RO2 requires variety of stats to be effective in any class you choose, resulting in that, this no longer makes classes to be shoehorned into single stat builds. For further information about what stats do to you, continue to read on.

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* Job System Details - Speciality System *

Speciality is a system in RO2 that allows characters to use skills from different classes without having to be that certain class. You gain "speciality" abilities by job leveling, allowing you to create unique class combinations.

Speciality is gained naturally as you progress in job levels with the class you are with.

For example, Swordsman at Job LV 20 gains "Bash Speciality". You can equip this speciality when you change into, say, Magician, which then allows you to use Bash ability without having to be a Swordsman.

Not only skills, you can inherit the ability to equip specific gears that are usually limited to that class.

For example, Swordsman also have a speciality called "Long Sword Speciality". If this is equipped on whatever your current class is, that class could equip Long Sword-type equipments, even on Magicians.

The skills and equipments acquired through Specialities do not have any specific limitations. However, the Speciality skills are not upgraded.

For example, if you have learned up to Bash LV 6 when you acquired Bash Speciality, then you changed into Magician class. Equipping Bash Speciality allows you to use up to Bash LV 6, but you cannot level that any further than LV 6. Only way to level it up again, is to switch back to the original job of where this Speciality originated - in this case, Swordsman.

Note Specialities can only be equipped and unequipped through specific NPCs in towns.

... We also are very aware that this system would cause completely imbalanced characters if they take enough time to learn maximum levels of all Specialities. Knowing that, we put in a restriction system so no single class can have all maximum Specialities at once.

One thing first, not all skills are available through Speciality system. There are two types of skills - Speciality skills that can be used by others, and "class-only skill" where only that specific class can use that skill. As such, this ensures each classes in the game have their specific value in groups while allowing versatility.

For example, Swordsman's skill, Bash, can be learned through Speciality. However, Gallant Rush, is a specific skill that lets Swordsman to taunt all nearby mobs to himself. This skill is one of the defining points of being a Swordsman, and as such, is not available as a Specialities skill.

There's also limitation to number of Specialities you can equip. There are 4x4 cell that represents number of "Specialities" you can equip. Depending on its power and ability, a Speciality can take up more than 1 block in that 4x4 cell. Also note, you cannot just horizontally stack all Specialities in a row. It must have straight line all to itself.

Specialities take up 1, 2 or up to 3 slots maximum. The slots are assigned in an order, as such, in a 4x4 cell, you can have one powerful Speciality that takes 3 slots, then you will only have 1 slot left over, which can ONLY be occupied by 1 slot Speciality. This is done to prevent stacking multiple powerful Specialities in a row.

In the end, there are maximum of 16 Specialities you can equip. However, you do not get all slots at once. Your character gradually gains additional slots which to put Specialities up to 4x4 cell block as you level. As such, getting everything does not make you powerful. Mix and match what will be the most beneficial to the situation you are about to encounter.

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* Job System Details - Equipment Leveling *

In an MMORPG, we all have some special affection for that equipment piece that we had for a long time. However it is inevitable that when we acquire a new powerful equipment, that old equipment we had will just be abandoned.

Thinking of that, we created "Equipment Level Up System", to allow people to keep their favorite piece of equipment as long as possible. Equipments in RO2 gain level, just like players.

Equipments in RO2 are seperated by two types - either leveling type, or no-leveling type. Leveling type equipments require leveling just like you do, to get stronger, whereas no-leveling type does not acquire any sort of experience and does not level.

Specifics are as follows:

* Leveling Type

It can level up.
Its base stats are fixed.
It "belongs" to you only moment you identify it.
Cannot be traded.

* Non-Leveling Type

It does not level up.
Its base stats are randomized.
It does not "belong" to anybody moment it is identified.
It can be traded.

In Ragnarok Online 2, all Weapons, Shields, Gloves, Upper Clothing, Shoes type equipments are all considered "Leveling Type". The rest - Lower Clothing, Garment, Belt and Accessories are not considered "Leveling Type".

* Editor's Note: "Belong" concept is same as Soulbinding system found in World of WarCraft. Once it "belongs" to you, you cannot give that equipment to anybody.

And now, let's talk about upgrades. Those leveling type items gain EXP by killing monsters or doing quests with you. Once they gain 100% EXP, it does not instantly level like players. Instead, you have to take that equipment to your town's local blacksmith NPC to upgrade it for you, for a small fee.

When you upgrade it, its stats will increase randomly based on its "growth rate".

For example, there is a C-class weapon named "Hiranya's Dagger", which has high growth rate focus on melee physical damage. This means, when this particular piece of equipment levels up, it'll grow big in melee physical damage, while giving small or negligible upgrade to other stats. In a meanwhile, "Ellr's Knife" has rounded growth rate around both melee physical damage and magical damage.

Equipments have classes in the game, which has "maximum" levels of how far an equipment can be upgraded. Once you reach the maximum level of that class, you can upgrade to the next class. They are as follows:

C-class : Max LV 20
B-class : Max LV 20
A-class : Max LV 30

Any equipments that reached the maximum level, can be upgraded to next rank by using special equipment combination item (that provides variety of effects). When this happens, the name of equipment, shape, special ability, and its growth rate changes. Only its stats do not change. However, you can also opt to just acquire the new rank without changing its features.

For example, C-class weapon, "Ellr's Knife", can be upgraded into B-class weapon named "Kris of Thorns", which has growth focus on critical rate. As a result, you can have a high critical rate weapon that has decent melee and magic damage bonus.

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Screenshots

Extra stuff not mentioned.

Ive very happy to hear that the music is being composed by none other than Yoko Kanno The woman who did all the music for Cowboy Bebop.

[Keits]

Not surprisingly, it looks a lot like ROSE. But, Im sure its a lot deeper than ROSE, too.

[Seraph]

yeah, R.O.S.E. blew. Im sure they are actually spending time on this one since it is thier pride and joy.

But as far as things im excited about, the new level up system. in RO it is plauged badly with "mob up 300 guys nobody else can have and then kill them". Its simply the fastest way to get exp in RO1. But if RO2 rewards you and your freinds for working together to defeat really strong guys its sounds alot more fun.

I like the idea of the job systems, how you would really need just one character to try out all the different aspects of the game. And i love the idea of of borrowing skills from your other jobs like in Final Fantasy Tactics. So if i wanted to be a preist, but wanted to use a sword, i would simply become a knight, level up to learn the "equip sword" ability, change back to priest and attach my new learned ability.

And sadly im looking most forward to the music. i LOVE cowboy bebop music and own every album. Yoko Kanno is a genius, she does all sorts of different music very well.

[Alucard]

Originally Posted by seraph830

Look im good for something other than moaning and complaining!!! Im posting my first bit of game news.

Booo I want the old seraph back, this one is boring!

Its not a ragnarok game if it doesnt show panty. And sure enough...!!

[Dr. Bombay]

How much a month?

[Seraph]

Originally Posted by Alucard

Booo I want the old seraph back, this one is boring!

What did i do? I just tried to make a controbution. have i really changed?

Originally Posted by Alucard

Its not a ragnarok game if it doesnt show panty. And sure enough...!!

And the best part is, if its anything like RO1, 90%+ of the girls playing those characters are actually girls!

I dunno how much a month it will be, heres hoping it will be $10-$12 dollars like RO1

[Nindalf]

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(-.-)

[Reality]

Their logo reminds me of LoZ.

[Nindalf]

Has a damn wolf too. Remind me of that MMORPG that looked like Wind Waker. Nintendo is always being ripped off.

[Seraph]

Originally Posted by Nindalf

<('-')>

(-.-)

What the heck is this?

[Nindalf]

<(^-^)>...

[Seraph]

You seriously have to be the most confusing and frusterating person on this board Nin

[Nindalf]

I am a misunderstood suburban genius.

[Seska]

Pedophiles around the world are rejoicing.

[Seraph]

Im insulted seska, that fine young lady is obviously 21.