Hero Online

Hero Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) produced by Netgame based on a story written by three generations of Chinese novelists. Hero Online is free to play with cash shop items available, much like The Legend of Ares, Scions of Fate, Silkroad Online and many other MMORPG's. The player, when creating a character, is not only able to choose the gender of his/her character, but what kind of weapons their character will be using. These weapon proficiencies may or may not affect the job class people will choose when they reach a certain level for job change. Each of the five characters specializes in his or her own weaponry. For example "The Ruthless Blade" character with the ability to wield a bow, swords and blades. "The Piercing Eyes" character with the ability to use Swords, Blades and throwing weapon. "The Overseer of Sky" Uses axes, rods, and spears, and "The Elegant Mystic" which uses gauntlets, spears and rods. "The Mystic Muse" uses dual swords, dual rods, and a large instrument.

As of July 31, 2006, Hero Online had its official release and is no longer in beta.

Story
According to ancient legend, the hero, Qin Shi Huangdi (also known as Qin Shi Huang), put an end to an age of chaos and turmoil by unifying China.

Calling himself the “Son of the Sky”, Qin Shi Huangdi dreamed of one day becoming immortal.

So passionate was his ambition, Emperor Huangdi sent over 500 young boys and girls to Trinity Mountain as sacrifices, and hundreds of Taoist mystics throughout the land in order to ascertain the secrets of immortality. Tirelessly and mercilessly, Huangdi sought out and extinguished all those who opposed him while trying everything in his power to become a god.

Alas, as is the way of all mortal things, Qin Shi Huang was unable to prevent his death or the fall of his Imperial dynasty. All traces of his glory and wealth vanished from the world when his palace, Ah-Bang Palace, burned down after his death. Many years later in the age of our fathers, two decades ago, the sun disappeared as darkness spread throughout the heavens and the earth. In this darkness, Twelve men, “Demons”, mysteriously appeared shaking the very foundations of the earth with their chaos and destruction. During this time many houses and clans banded together to fight the Demons, but to no avail. The famed houses of Tae-San Pa of San-Dong, Gun-Pa of Hae-Nam, Bok-Gun, Kwang-Dong, Myo-Gang, Sa-Chun, Ok-Mun Guan, Dae-Mak, and San Suh all fell under the hands of the Twelve Demons, leaving the people of the land helpless and fearful. As the Twelve Demons ravaged the people and land unchecked, the lands were awash with the blood of their victims.

In a massive effort to stop the Twelve Demons, Buddhist monks gathered all the demon hunters of the land to face the Unstoppable Dozen on the Field of Battle. 10,000 demon hunters rallied that day armed with spells and weapons of all shapes, form, and power. Nobody but the Twelve Demons survived.

Following the massive failure of the demon hunters, the legendary Shaolin monks resolutely gathered to face this evil force. Yet to the great dismay of the people, all hope for peace and tranquility seemed lost when even the legendary power of Shaolin could not stop the rampage of the Twelve Demons. The people’s hope ebbed and faded as they watched their center of martial power, the Shaolin Temple, burn slowly and painfully down to ashes.

But in the time of deepest despair and the darkest of days, a mysterious hero appeared and instilled hope. Devising a plan which utilized his superior skills, the mysterious hero lured the Twelve Demons into a trap where 3,000 of the hero’s best soldiers were awaiting. After ten long and grueling days of nonstop combat, all Twelve Demons were slain at the cost of all 3,000 of the hero’s men.

To this day, no one knows exactly why the Twelve Demons ravaged the land, but rumor has it that they were searching for Qin Shi Huang’s most prized possession, his Thousand Year Treasure…

After the dark days of the Twelve Demons, the world remained peaceful. The mysterious hero thrived as the leader of his own house of warriors, where all the greatest fighters gathered to join. The hero became known as the greatest fighter of all time, and the people labeled him The Great Dragon. For twenty years, the people of the land knew true peace as The Great Dragon upheld justice and fairness throughout the land. It was even foretold that as long as The Great Dragon lived, the people of the land would experience no danger.

But on a sad and twisted day, The Great Dragon was found dead with evidence of murder pointing towards someone within his house. Ironically, the alleged murderer was no warrior or fighter; it was his wife.

It is rumored, however, that upon discovering The Great Dragon, members of the house found his wife cradling his dead body repeatedly whispering, “They’re back….the Twelve of them have returned….”.

Upon hearing about the death of their hero, the people of the land were shocked and outraged. Panic spread across the land as they questioned each other. What of the prophecy? Will there be grave danger now that our hero has died? What exactly was the wife referring to when she mentioned, “the Twelve of them”? Could it be that the Twelve Demons have returned? Who will save us from them if they have?

Fear and apprehension spread like wildfire across the land as news of The Great Dragon’s death spread. Uncertainty reigned supreme in everyone’s heart. If the Twelve Dragons have truly returned from their graves, all of heaven and earth would be in grave danger, unless a new hero was to present himself…

Characters
Hero Online claims to have five "character classes" that you can choose when creating your character. Actually, there are three character classes, two of which having two genders, and each gender having a special weapon. The fifth character is a female that specializes in dual weapons. Though there is little customizability in the choice of characters, you have the option to choose your characters based on their weapon. More detailed customization is also available later in many forms described in the following sections, as well as the players weapon of choice.

Character improving
Hero online mostly uses the usual level up method. Though, instead of gaining skill points by leveling, skill points are gained by a different experience curve. The skills are divided into two groups: Skills and passive skills. Skills are learned by reading books that are sold by players and book merchants. Each weapon type and job class have their own skills, which gives players many possibilities of character building. At higher levels there are also skills that can be learned by everyone. There are also special books that can retrieve used skill points.

Job Classes
Starting at level 1 Dan, players are allowed to choose a class. The skills that you will obtain will depend on the job you choose. At 5 Dan, players can choose a second promotion.

 Physicians : Focuses mainly on status effects, healing and also has passive energy management skills.

Second Promotion:

Surgeon: Utilizes defensive skills to heal/protect themselves and their allies.

Combat Medic: Utilizes offensive status affecting skills to break down their opponents.

Hunter: Tames animals to be pets and crafts items, which can be traded to other players.

Second Promotion:

Tracker: Focuses more on defensive skills.

Ranger: Focuses more on offensive skills.

Warrior: Warriors focus on buffing themselves and high damage.

Second Promotion:

Champion: Is able to boost their own attack and decrease his opponent's attack.

Musa: Is able to boost their own defense and decrease their opponent's defense.

Assassin: Employs life drain and stealth skills to defeat opponents.

Second Promotion:

Shinobi: Decreases the speed and agility of their opponents.

Slayer: Increases their own speed and agility.