The Realm Online

Infobox VG| title = The Realm Online


developer = Sierra On-Line (previous), Codemasters (previous), Norseman Games (current)
publisher = Sierra On-Line (previous)
designer =
engine =
released = December 31, 1996
genre = MMORPG
modes = Multiplayer
ratings = N/A
platforms = Windows
media = Download
requirements = Pentium 166, 100MB hard disk, Internet access, 32MB RAM, Windows 95, 16-bit color
input = Keyboard, Mouse

"The Realm Online", originally known simply as "The Realm", was among the first MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) for public release (the public 'Beta' was out 5 months before Meridian 59's commercial release, but was preceded by Furcadia by 15 days). [http://www.realmserver.com 'The Realm Online'] , often referred to as 'The Realm', is still being played worldwide by a small number of players, and is known as one of the few 'classics' that is still dial-up friendly and easy to play.

It was launched in March, 1995 for Windows personal computers. It was designed in the tradition of graphical MUDs, before the popular usage of the terms "massively multiplayer" and "MMORPG".

Community

The Realm has a very dedicated userbase. The simplicity of the graphics and relatively easy-to-learn gameplay mechanics when compared to more modern games, as well as a decided lack of widespread advertising, keeps the player community close-knit. With approximately 150 accounts in the game during peak hours (many players currently have multiple accounts, some having as many as five accounts, so the amount of "actual people" online is significantly less than the stated amount of 150), the Realm is a niche game. In its prime there were approximately 25,000 subscribers. [http://www.mogchart.com/] Methods of social interaction include numerous standard and user-created chat channels (of which 990 may exist at any given time), "room" chats (limited to the players shown on a screen), private messages, and an in-game text-only mail service.

A player-generated economy exists in the game, and the game has led to most players possessing many millions of gold, the game's functional currency.

The moderating staff is currently in turmoil, many of the "sentinels" use their powers to wrongfully suspend and disable, while others just use them for economic gain.

As a player, you may create up to 4 characters to play within the Realm, each with different attributes and skills that are customized by the player at the beginning of the game.

Gameplay

The combat system of The Realm is turn-based with a changeable timeout to keep action to allow the best benefits of real-time combat and thought-out strategy. The same system allows player to engage in player versus player combat.

All of the characters in The Realm play on a single server, though a test server exists where new features are sporadically added to the game before, in rare cases, going live on the main server. Most said changes are now tested first on a separate Beta Server that players have access to before being migrated to the Test Server.

The game has a variety of zones that the player may opt to visit, and subsequently 'grind' kills for experience and material rewards.

Events

The Realm has a volunteer staff of in-game Event Hosts who are tasked with entertaining the population of the game. This comes in the form of games of various sizes which reward the players participating with Coppers, a form of currency that is semi-bound to the character. Coppers are used to purchase vanity items and upgrades for player housing, such as new chairs or fountains.

Originally, Coppers were to be bound to a player's account. Upon release of the system, however, it was found that the concept had been removed. Coppers are now able to be traded, creating a pseudo-underground economy in the game for those who desire housing upgrades.

Races, Classes, and Attributes

Each race and class combination begins with a predetermined arrangement of attributes, with eight points free for the player to distribute. Initial skills are determined by the class.

The Realm's primary attributes are:

:Strength: Determines the damage dealt with some melee weapons, and the carrying capacity of the character.

:Dexterity: Determines the speed in combat of the character, his or her dodge rate, and damage on throwing weapons.

:Endurance: Determines the character's maximum hit points.

:Intelligence: Determines the character's spell damage modifier.

The races that exist on The Realm are:

:Humans: The quintessential "balanced" race.

:Elves: Intelligent but weak. :Giants: Strong but dumb.

:Orcs: Recently added, more of a balanced race.

Classes are not rigid, and a member of one class can learn the skills of any other class (though they will be less proficient at those skills):

:Adventurer: Can use weapons and magic equally, but will never become exceptional in either.

:Warrior: Best at the various weapon skills.

:Wizard: Best at the five schools of magic.

:Thief: Employs skills such as pick pocketing and lock picking.

While characters pick a starting alignment (good, neutral or evil), each character is ranked in alignment automatically as a result of in-game actions, from Beatific (ultimately good) to Demonic (ultimately evil). NPCs are rated in a similar way, with good creatures tending to attack evil players, and vice versa. A player changes his or her alignment by killing monsters of the opposite alignment or in the case of a neutrally aligned player killing monsters from one of the other two ends of the alignment spectrum will push them towards the opposite end.

The level cap in the game originally was 100, but later on it was changed to 1000 levels.

Professions

The Realm Online has only three profession paths, each of which may be learned by any class at any level, making it feasible to be fully proficient in all three. Armorsmithing, Weaponsmithing, and Alchemy may each be learned, the former two being relegated to near obsolescence due to an inability to create items of true usefulness past level 50. As of 2006, materials may no longer be purchased from supply shops due to a failed experiment with material gathering implemented by the owners, making the professions, at current, unprofitable. The owners have said this system will return, but not when, or how.

As of late 2007 however, all supplies for trade skills were made dropped by common monsters. The system is not particularly in-depth, although it has allowed some form of return of the system to general use.

toryline

[http://realmdeveloper.com/info/storyline.php] <- Storyline Homepage

The storyline aspect of The Realm once remained in ongoing development. It consisted of multiple characters operated by in-game staff members that furthered ongoing plots and story arcs to explain updates or simply to entertain the game's population. It strongly encouraged players to role-play, making the Realm an alternative to non-graphical online RPG's. Unlike most MMORPGS that develop large parts of the storyline in annual expansions, The Realm's storyline was constantly being developed.

The plotlines revolved around six gods and numerous other background characters. Empty temples to these gods may still be located in-game. The gods, which were divided into three alliances, include:

The Light

*Enid: Goddess of Peace and Nature
*Mabon: God of Magic and Knowledge

The Dark

*Duach: God of Greed and Vengeance
*Finvarra: God of War and the Forge

The Balance

*Despothes: King of the Gods, God of Balance
*Elphame: Goddess of Justice and the Afterlife

The primary antagonist, known at The Shrouded One, had sent multiple invasions from beyond the Mistwall (the edge of the game world) that surrounds the Realm. These invasions took the form of staff interaction or, more likely, the addition of new creatures to the game environment.

External links

* [http://www.realmserver.com/ "The Realm Online" - Official Website] Information pertaining to the game itself can be found, in the manual, What's New and art sections. Other member's area information requires a paid account.
* [http://www.burkeknight.info/ Burke's Realm - The Realm Online] Game Maps, Help, and General Information Website
* [http://www.realmcontent.com/ Realmcontent.com] An aid to The Realm Online MMORPG
* [http://www.elitewebgamers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=14 Elite Web Gamers - The Realm Online Forum] Game Maps, Help, and General Information Forum
* [http://www.realmoracle.com/ The Oracle - Information Website] This website is outdated, but still contains a lot of useful information.
* [http://www.realmhq.com/ RealmHQ.com] Game Maps, Help, and General Information Website
* [http://www.mechempire.org/ M.E.C.H Empire] An Rp/PvP Community
* [http://www.ssboards.com/ SSBoards.com] Originally known as "SilentStalker's Unofficial Realm Boards" - a forum of old Realm "rebels".

Sources

Bartle, R. (2003) "Designing Virtual Worlds."New Riders Publishing.