Jade Dynasty

is a free to play MMORPG game created by Perfect World. The game is currently in its first expansion, Ascension, which was released November 12, 2009. It is based on a novel called Zhu Xian.

Gameplay
Jade Dynasty revolves around the conflict between 6 human factions called the Vim, Lupin, Jadeon, Skysong, Modo, and Incense Mages, and 5 Athan (Demigod) factions called Balo, Arden, Rayan, Celan and Forta.

Human characters begin as Initiates, and can join one of the human factions at level 15. Athan characters begin as their faction from level 1. Each faction in Jade Dynasty has different skills, strengths, weaknesses and styles of play.


 * Jadeon: Magician (nuker) or glass cannon class. Jadeon have powerful long-distance and AoE (area of effect) attacks but low HP and armor.
 * Skysong: Priest (healer) class. Skysong have some long-distance and AoE (area of effect) magic attacks, but their skills focus mainly on healing and buffing other players.
 * Vim: Tanker class. Vim have heavy armor, high HP low SP, and are good at melee combat.
 * Lupin: Assassin class. High crit rates, high crit bonus, high HP and fast, but have low defense.
 * Modo: Tanker/DoT'er(Damage over Time)/Magician class. Has 3 forms Human, Demonic, and Modon, and each form has different benefits, Human low HP and average SP the AOE form; Demonic High HP and average SP the melee form; Modon average HP and High SP uses a series of draining attacks the Ranged form.
 * Arden: Archer class. One of the Athan (demigod) classes. Low HP and armor. Average SP. Long range, fast, powerful, and can summon monsters and AOE plants. Close to Lupin, but not quite as high of a crit rate.
 * Balo: Another tanking class. One of the Athan (demigod) classes. High defense decent offense, perfect for tanking. Close to the Vim class. Extremely good at De-buffing targets.
 * Rayan: Master of the Shadows. Can enter stealth mode as well as summon shadow clones of themselves to aid in combat.Arrived August 25, 2010.
 * Celan: Mystic Performer of the musical bard. A very good Support class with AOE Arrays/Songs that can hinder opponents and aid their allies. Arrived August 25, 2010.

Characters can purchase items from the marketplace using a form of currency called Jaden Gold. There is an auto-route function which enables the player to travel to a specific location by just clicking on a name.

Espers are powerful items that provide bonus skills and attributes to the owner. Every time the player uses an Esper skill, the Esper's proficiency increases by 1. When the Esper has enough proficiency, its level is increased, which empowers the bonuses that it grants. The Esper also changes its color every 10 levels and allows the player to "invigorate" to kill monsters automatically for an extended time.

Players are able to obtain pets and train them, improving their quality and evolving their appearance. A pet workshop exists to craft training material or gear for pets. The mood of the pet determines what it says to the player. Pets are divided into grades. The higher the grade the stronger the pet becomes. Some examples of pets are scorpions, monkeys, bunny rabbits, demons, phoenix-like birds, and little rats.

Ascension Expansion
The premise of the Ascension expansion is that the gods, who noticed the humans gaining immortality, sent down demigods from Heaven to stop Ascension. This expansion saw the introduction of the Balo and the Arden. Humans and Athans, from this point, are made able to ascend and gain immortality.

Vengeance Expansion
The new expansion dropped in July introduced two more Demi-God factions, the Rayan and the Celan.

Legacy Expansion
This expansion led to the introduction of the Human faction of the Incense Mages, and the Athan faction of the Forta.

N.B.: One more Athan faction (the Voida) are planned.