DragonFable

DragonFable
Developer(s)	Artix Entertainment, LLC
Publisher(s)	Artix Entertainment, LLC
Distributor(s)	Artix Entertainment, LLC
Version	11.0.1
Platform(s)	Adobe Flash Player
Release date(s)	31 November 2005 (Beta Testing)[1] 9 June 2006 (Live)[2]
Genre(s)	Role-playing video game
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	Not rated, website requires 13+
Media/distribution	Web
System requirements Web browser & Adobe Flash Player 8.0+

DragonFable is a free-to-play, online, browser-based, single-player fantasy role-playing game developed by Artix Entertainment and updated on a weekly basis.^[3] George Lowe, a voice actor most well-known for voicing Space Ghost in Space Ghost Coast to Coast, voiced himself in a live event known as "Falconreach Idle" on 19 November 2010.^[4]

Gameplay

Players control their character via pointing and clicking on the screen in various areas to navigate the player character to the point where they click. Most items are activated either simply by running into them, or by pressing a button that will appear when the point is reached (when outside of battle). Battle is (most often) entered by making contact or entering within a certain area around a "monster" (any nonhuman character that can be fought). Other times, however, combat can be entered in abnormal ways such as a button press or scripted events (a monster appearing when you fail to solve a puzzle, for example). The battle system features a set of many special attacks (many of which use mana points, which are limited and can be regained through certain moves or potions) or other actions along with a basic "Attack!" button. (attacks all have a specific "element" of damage, such as Fire or Wind). Players have 2 health potions and 2 mana potions, restoring each respectively. The attacks the player can use are determined mostly by what class they are using. Each class has a set of armor unique to that class and a different set of attacks. Most fighting takes place in "Quests", missions involving a set storyline and the fighting of monsters. Most quests feature a "Boss" character, which is a particularly powerful monster, often having a small dialogue with the player pre-fight(and sometimes post-fight). Some fights (usually requiring a Dragon Amulet) are fought on the back of your dragon (called titan fights). These fights have incredibly high damage (compared to a normal battle), and the fights last longer because both sides have incredible power. Defeating enemies earns "Exp Points" which cause your player to level up when you earn enough. Money and items are also common rewards.

Plot

DragonFable is the prequel to AdventureQuest,^[3] being set five years before AdventureQuest. The player is a hero from an unknown location and the game begins when the player meets a priestess, a mysterious woman who carries the black dragon box. After a series of quests, the player gains possession of the box, and the dragon egg within it, it is then revealed that there are two boxes—a white and a black box. Both will hatch a dragon to destroy (Black) and save the world (White). The main antagonist, the DoomKnight Sepulchure tries to take possession of the black box by sending his servant, Drakath, to get the black dragon box and kill the priestess. However, the player stops Drakath and saves the priestess from him. Then, a basic monster called sneevil steals the box. The player must do a series of quests to obtain the black dragon box. However, at the same time as the player's dragon hatches, Sepulchure hatches the second dragon with his white dragon box and immediately turns it into a dracolich (undead dragon). After the player's dragon hatches, trouble brews in Osprey Cove and they discover that the Orb of Wind is on the island and Sepulchure wants it. The player foils Sepulchure's plans, who wants possession of all 8 elemental orbs (Wind, Light, Darkness, Ice, Energy, Fire, Water, and Earth) to become unstoppable. While Sepulchure fails to take the wind orb he manages to defeat the player in a duel and only spares the player's life because of his master's orders. The player travels next, to the Sandsea (inspired by Ancient Egypt), a giant desert. There they help an underground resistance group to overthrow the tyrant Sek-Duat XV. As the player prepares to fight Sek-Duat XV, it is revealed that he is actually Sek-Duat I, and stayed alive with the Orb of Light's power. After defeating Sek-Duat, the player claims the Orb and the Sandsea is freed from tyranny.

Afterwards, more trouble stirs in Moonridge, a town on the edge of the cursed Doomwood forest. Noxus, a master necromancer, is plotting to give Sepulchure a battalion of necromancers and a million undead warriors, with the help of the mysterious Purple Necromantress and the Orb of Darkness. The player joins Artix, a paladin who dedicates his life to light and battling the forces of evil and darkness. Together, they journey to the Necropolis, a school of necromancy located deep in Doomwood, in search of the source of the undead army. After defeating the Necromantress, it is revealed that she is Lady Vayle, someone Artix knew as a child, and that Noxus was responsible for the deadly Green Mist that killed everyone in Artix and Vayle's home town, including Vayle's beloved brother. Noxus then brainwashed Vayle into thinking that she could get her brother back through the art of Necromancy, but she hated Noxus once she figured out the truth about the Green Mist. She, although disgruntled with the player and Artix, helps them fight and defeat Noxus, but the Orb of Darkness was actually merged with Vayle. Later, the player consults Tomix, a master Soul Weaver(Who the player also meets in the Ravenloss Saga, released in 2010). Since Soul Weavers weave elemental spirits, Tomix separated Vayle and the Orb of Darkness, which is taken by the player.

Later in the city Dragesvard, located on a glacier, the Dragonslayer Galanoth and the player fights to help the people of Dragesvard from the attacking Queen Aisha, an ice elf queen who has an enormous amount of power over ice elves and ice dragons as a result of her possessing the Elemental Orb of Ice. The player first enters the ice elves city, only for Galanoth to be captured. After rescuing Galanoth, the player persuades some of the fierce tribes that live in the ice around Dragesvard, including the Kiliguins, Ursice Savages, and Tuskers to help fight against Aisha. Finally, the player and Galanoth try to negotiate peace with Aisha, but she refuses, and a war is started. The war is won by the player, and the player battles Aisha, and wins. The player can finally take the Elemental Orb of Ice. However, Aisha didn't die, and she had to be defeated in a titan battle(a titan battle is fought with the player on dragon back, and is only available if the player is has and upgraded account).

As the story progress, the hero manages to obtain five of the Elemental Orbs (Light, Darkness, Ice, Energy, Wind), while Sepulchure acquires the other three (Earth, Water, Fire). Sepulchure sent spies from major towns to wreak havoc and use the chance to attack Falconreach. As the war rages on, Sepulchure manages to destroy the Guardian Tower (along with his Dracolich fortress), kill Lady Celestia, and obtain the five other orbs with the help of his spies. He then invites the Hero to his new castle in the Deadlands north of Willowshire, where he combines all the orbs and turns them into the Ultimate Orb. But at the same time, Drakath betrays Sepulchure, backstabbing him using his own weapon, the Necrotic Blade of Doom, stealing the ultimate orb, absorbing the power from it and merging with Sepulchure's dracolich, Fluffy. Together, the hero teams up with his nemesis, Sepulchure, to defeat the titanic Drakath. However, the Mysterious Stranger(the seller of Doom Weapons in Falconreach) appears and absorbs the Necromantic Doom Blade, and the still-powerful body of the Dragon Drakath to become an even more powerful creature. The new dragon badly injures Sepulchure, and promises the hero to destroy the light that had "polluted" the world. the Dragon begins calling to all darkness, in an attempt to destroy Lore. Heroes fight this beast but run out of options when the Dragon absorbs the Sun. The Hero, with the aid of the insane Cysero, goes back and forth in time to retrieve the ninth elemental orb; the Orb of Bacon. The Hero acquires eight Bacon Orbs, fuses them, and begins the fight with the titanic Darkness Dragon. As the Dragon is huge, the hero fights separate parts of the dragon. The dragon is defeated once the chest of the Dragon is destroyed. It is then revealed that Drakath survived, and so does Sepulchure. After the destruction of the Ultimate Darkness Dragon, the hero returns all the bacon orbs to their original timelines and battles Skweel, a Dragon of Bacon. Thus begins Chapter 2 of Dragonfable.

Sidequests

On 19 February 2010, the ArchKnight game and quest chain was continued and finished in DragonFable, with Ash as the player character. The quest chain is currently only accessible to those with upgrades in AdventureQuest and DragonFable.^[5]

Holiday events

DragonFable has several recurring holiday events. These include Valentine's Day (named "Hero's Heart day" in game), April Fools' Day (not referenced by in game characters, but a prank on the site, such as switching NPCs with the NPCs from MechQuest),^[6] Halloween^[7](named "Mogloween" in game), Christmas (named Frostval in game), Friday the 13th, Talk Like a Pirate Day and Thanksgiving. They also have occasional hunts like gourd, egg, and chest hunting.

Reception

Chris Barylick, from The Mac Observer, said that while the game was "not perfect, nor does it offer the same options as the marquee titles, but it's definitely worth a gander".^[8] Andre Haas, from About.com, said that the game was "highly recommended to fans of Adventure Quest [...] Dragon Fable is pretty much just an improved version of Adventure Quest".^[9] Andrew Wooldridge, from Jay Is Games said that "DragonFable is a perfect game for a quick 30 minute RPG fix" and "if you are looking for a great lunchtime game that brings fun back to the leveling up grind then DragonFable is for you".^[10]

See also

• AdventureQuest
• AdventureQuest Worlds
• Artix Entertainment

References

1. ^ "DragonFable: Design Notes". DragonFable. http://dragonfable.com/archive/designnotes/2005/df-designnotes-nov05.asp. Retrieved 13 November 2011. 
2. ^ "Dragon Fable". GameSpot. http://uk.gamespot.com/webonly/rpg/dragonfable/index.html?login=true&. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Brian Perry Jr.. "Artix Interview". Onrpg. http://www.onrpg.com/MMO/Dragon-Fable/interview/Artix-Interview. Retrieved 18 October 2010. 
4. ^ "Artix Presents TV Talent Reality Show Parody "FalconReach Idle" in Browser-Based DragonFable". IGN. 16 November 2010. http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/113/1134846p1.html. Retrieved 20 December 2010. 
5. ^ "Artix's RPG ArchKnight Epic Finale on Friday; Game Finishes Inside Another Game". IGN. 17 February 2010. http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/106/1069908p1.html. Retrieved 18 October 2010. 
6. ^ Suzie Ford (6 April 2009). "Artix April Fools Fun". WarCry Network. http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/devjournals/devcorner/5939-Artix-April-Fools-Fun. Retrieved 19 October 2010. 
7. ^ Suzie Ford (30 October 2009). "Artix Entertainment: Happy Mogloween!". WarCry Network. http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/devjournals/devcorner/6719-Artix-Entertainment-Happy-Mogloween. Retrieved 13 October 2010. 
8. ^ Chris Barylick (29 November 2006). "Your Daily Dose of RPG: DragonFable". The Mac Observer. http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Your_Daily_Dose_of_RPG_DragonFable/. Retrieved 9 October 2010. 
9. ^ Andre Haas. "Linux Game: Dragon Fable". About.com. http://linux.about.com/od/softgame/fr/fr_DragonF.htm. Retrieved 10 October 2010. 
10. ^ Andrew Wooldridge (10 September 2006). "Dragon Fable". Jay Is Games. http://jayisgames.com/archives/2006/09/dragon_fable.php. Retrieved 10 October 2010. 

External links

• DragonFable homepage
• Official BattleOn! Forums
• Official Artix Entertainment Homepage