Secret of the Solstice

Infobox VG| title = Secret of the Solstice


developer = DNC Entertainment (Korea)
publisher = DNC Entertainment (Korea)
Outspark (International/English)
released =December 7, 2007 (Open Beta) [ [http://blog.outspark.com/2007/12/07/secret-of-the-solstice-is-now-in-open-beta/ Outspark Blog | Secret of the Solstice is Now in Open Beta ] ]
January 9, 2008 (Commercial Launch) [ [http://blog.outspark.com/2008/01/09/secret-of-the-solstice-store-now-live/ Outspark Blog | Secret of the Solstice Store Now Live ] ]
genre = Fantasy Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game
modes =MMO
platforms = Windows(2K/XP/ Vista)
requirements = Intel Pentium 4 (1.0GHz) or equivalent, 256 MB RAM, nVidia GeForce MX or equivalent, 2 GB hard disk space, Internet connection (at least 128 kbit/s), and DirectX 9.0c or better

"Secret of the Solstice" is a free Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game developed and published by DNC Entertainment in Korea and hosted by Outspark in the international English market. It is the second MMO published by Outspark, and includes many features common in the MMORPG genre such as an online persistant world, quests, and item crafting.

"Secret of the Solstice" features a cute, anime-inspired visual style. Player characters, monsters, and non-player characters (NPCs) are represented as 2D sprites while environments and background elements are rendered in 3D.

Setting/story

"Secret of the Solstice" is set in the fantasy kingdom of Xen. Here a great king, his queen, and his twin daughters Adeline and Marian once ruled the land in peace. As the twin princesses grew older, however, they grew increasingly different. Adeline, the heir to the throne, was loved by the people of Xen and grew strong and kind. Marian, jealous of her sister’s admirerers, grew bitter and envious.

On their eighteenth birthday, the king presented Adeline with the Solstice Sphere, an ancient and mysterious relic of great power. Marian became enraged with envy, and began a war to obtain the Solstice Sphere from her twin sister, dividing the land of Xen and devouring it in conflict [ [http://outspark.com/solstice/guides/story/about Outspark | About Secret of the Solstice ] ] .

Gameplay

As with other MMORPGs, "Secret of the Solstice" allows players to control avatars in a persistent game world where they can explore the landscape, battle monsters, complete quests, learn skills and magical abilities, and interact with NPCs and other players. The game rewards success with in-game money, items, and experience points. As players earn experience, they level up and grow more powerful. "Secret of the Solstice" has a maximum level of 179.

Player characters

When first creating their characters, players can choose their avatar’s gender and pick from three different hair styles and colors. All characters initially use the same sprite.

Vital statistics

Upon leveling up, players receive a single status point (except for levels that end in a 5 they receive 2 status points and for levels that end in a 0 they receive 3 status points), which they can spend to increase any one of their six statistics and customize their character.

The six statistics available in "Secret of the Solstice" are:

*POW – Increases melee attack power and the damage characters deal with weapons. Characters with high strength can carry more items without becoming overburdened.
*INT – Increases magic attack power and the damage characters deal with spells.
*AGI – Increases dodge chance, attack speed, movement speed, and the chance to critically strike with skills.
*MEN – Increases chance to hit and critically strike with attacks.
*STA – Increases hit points (HP).
*WIS – Increases magic points (MP).

Players who mistakenly spend Status Points incorrectly can respec in-game and reset all of their statistics to 1, allowing them to re-spend the points in a more beneficial manner.

Character classes

All "Secret of the Solstice" players begin the game as a Xenian, a very basic class with very basic skills and abilities. After completing the in-game tutorial and reaching level 16, players can select a more specialized class by joining one of the four job guilds – Fighter, Rogue, Mage, or Acolyte.

Players buy most of their class’ skills from skill book merchant NPCs. The skills they can learn are dependent on their character’s job and level. Players can acquire second grade skills from defeated enemies or by trading with other players. There are three skill types: single-target “General Skills,” multi-target “Scope Skills,” and “Sub Magic Skills,” which strengthen characters.

The thirteen character classes currently available in "Secret of the Solstice" are:

Guildless:

*Xenian (Available at level 1) – “Xenian” is a general term used to describe any citizen of Xen. All players start as Xenians and are limited to using daggers and shields.

Fighter Guild:

*Squire (Available at level 16) – Squires fight at melee range using a sword and shield. They have more HP than other character classes, and their high STR allows them to carry more items.

*Knight (Available at level 66) – Knights stand proudly on the frontlines of battle. They use powerful area of effect (AoE) attack skills and value party cooperation and rigorous training above all else.

*Warrior (Available at level 96)

*Warlord (Avaialble at level 131)

Rogue Guild:

*Neophyte (Available at level 16) – Neophytes fight at close range using traps and fast attack skills based on AGI. Because they are so nimble and quick, they have more dodge than other classes.

Main jobs
*Rogue (Available at level 66) – Rogues specialize in evading attacks and out-maneuvering their opponents. Their strong attack abilities and rapid movement speed are the cornerstones of their strategy.

*Assassin (Available at level 96) - Rogues can become even more agile gaining the ability to dual wield 2 daggers at once. Taking on the looking of 2 claw type weapons in each hand and attacking with very powerful attacks with poison-like side effects and blinding sand storms.

*Shadow Master (Available at level 131) - An evolved assassin, the Shadow Master attacks with great strength and critical ability. Gaining skills like double strike and Shock Troops, which allow the shadow master to deal double damage with normal attacks, greatly increase critical rate, and accelerate their power while attacking opponents to gain a tremendous increase in damage for a period of time.

Branch jobs
*Scout (Available at level 45) – Scouts have abandoned their neophyte training to become masters of the bow and arrow. They specialize in dealing critical damage to enemies using accurate strikes launched from a distance.

*Archer (Available at level 80) – Archers have traded in their rogue characteristics for a sure hand and a steady eye. Their AoE attack skills allow them to fight many enemies at once.

*Ranger

Mage Guild

*Apprentice (Available at level 16) – Apprentices harness powerful magical energies to deal damage to enemies from a distance. Their HP and defense are lower than other classes, but they make up for it with superior DPS.

*Mage (Available at level 66) – Mages have a reputation as the masters of battle. By combining the forces of spirit and magic, they are able to attack faster than other classes.

*Wizard (Available at level 96)

*Archmage (Available at level 131)

Acolyte Guild

*Acolyte (Available at level 16) – Acoltyes fight at range using magic attacks and supportive buffs. A true team player, they value helping others above all else.

Main jobs
*Cleric (Available at level 66) – Walking a righteous path, clerics seek to purify the world with the power of prayer. Clerics help others using their AoE buff abilities.

*Priest (Available at level 96)

*Paladin (Available at level 131)

Branch jobs
*Disciple (Available at level 45) – Acolytes have the option of becoming disciples, holy warriors armed with the power of their faith. They can hold their own in battle, often fighting alone using their powerful buffs.

*Templar (Available at level 80) – Templars have abandoned their peaceful preaching in favor of battle. They hold their own in combat using powerful weapons and AoE spells.

*Holy Avenger

In-game events

"Secret of the Solstice's" game masters (GMs) run two to three in-game events every week, which any of the game’s players can attend unless it's a special event requiring Solstice store Items. Events range from “find me” events, essentially hide and seek events where players must find a GM or NPC to competitive player versus player events like “Solstice Survivor” and social events such as weddings and holiday-themed parties.

Occasionally the GMs also run story-based events, with GMs often playing the parts of important NPCs or antagonists. The outcome of these events shapes the narrative of "Secret of the Solstice", allowing participating players to write the game’s ongoing storyline as they play [ [http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/840/840436p3.html RPG Vault | Secret of the Solstice Interview ] ] .

Outspark Store

A staple for of the free-to-play model, the Outspark Store allows players to exchange real-world money for Sparkcash, which they can use to buy a variety of cosmetic items, weapons, consumables, and pets to use in "Secret of the Solstice".

The game also supports a unique emoticon system. Players can buy emoticon packs from the Outspark Store using Sparkcash. These emoticons display exaggerted and often humorous animations that players can use on themselves and other players, allowing them to best express themselves within the world of Xen.

References

External links

* [http://solstice.outspark.com/ English "Secret of the Solstice" Official Website]
* [http://www.outspark.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=42 "Secret of the Solstice" Official Forums]
* [http://mmohub.org/2008/secret-of-the-solstice "Secret of the Solstice" Review on MMOHub.org]