Regnum Online

Regnum Online is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by NGD Studios, a game developer studio located in Argentina. In addition to usual character development present in other games of the genre, the game focuses on the conflict of 3 realms in which players take part, fighting against characters of opposing factions and capturing fortresses and castles aside from the usual player vs monster combats.

The name Regnum means realm in Latin, and is also a tribute to one of the first games ever published in Argentina by some of the team members (which was named Regnum). It is frequently abbreviated as RO or ROL (which in Spanish also means role, as in role-playing games). Currently, the game is in beta stage.

The game has currently more than 30,000 subscriptions and has received reviews in local newspapers, TV programs and in game-related websites (see External Links). Also, Regnum Online has been awarded a Sapo award as best Multiplayer Game of Argentina, in the EVA 06 (a national videogames exposition), in 2006.

Overview
Players create characters as their avatars in a fantasy medieval-themed persistent virtual world. The first choice a player must face is selecting one of the three realms or nations: Alsius, icy home of the empire of dwarves humans and utghars; Ignis desertic homeland of the necromancer dark elves, humans and moloks; or Syrtis, the forested peaceful lands where elves, half-elves and humans live. Once a nation is chosen, the player may create a character (up to 3 per server) customizing it by choosing its race, gender, hair style and color, stature, etc. Additionally, players may choose a different realm in other servers.

Realms
There are three realms a player can choose from. Each realm has 3 races (for a total of 9, although 3 of them are humans).

Alsius
The cold and icy landmark of Alsius, at the northern border of the world. Dwarves have come from afar and settled in the mountains, using their mechanical wisdom to establish a base into the hardened rock. They soon found out the there were inhabitants already living in the place. These humans were retiscient at first and engaged into a small war with the Dwarves to realize that they were pretty similar minded. Nordos, as they called themselves, are now living together with the dwarves.

They both have built the great city Valadar, which stands still in the everliving mountains, showing off the creator's pride and honor.

Ignis
After being exiled from Syrtis, the necromancer elves started a pilgrimage that would change them forever. An obscure ritual darkened their skin and opened their eyes to a vision of a new home. This prophecy led them to the land of Ignis, a barren wasteland full of volcanoes and underground fires. It was here where dark elves and humans were joined, by exchanging the meat of their dead in order to survive famine. Humans in Ignis were renamed to Eskeligs, and alongside the dark elves they finally found the promised land and erected the city of Korr-Tabhar. The forces of the brotherhood are strong in magic thanks to their unique knowledge of necromancy.

Syrtis
The green forest of the Syrtis was never the same after the Great Exile and the division of the elves. Separated from their necromancer brethren, the loneliness struck the hearts of these magical creatures and got them closer to their Alturian neighbors. They adopted them into their society and now treat them as equals. This union made the rich elven culture flourish to new heights, making Syrtis the cultural capital of the world. Even after the long years, devotion for Lemorel the prophet still can be found in the hearts of elves and men alike, who have forgotten some of the magical ways, devoting themselves to archery and swordsmanship.

Characters
The characters created by the players differ from each other depending on the choices made. The most important differences depend on race and class (being gender, stature, hair, etc. purely cosmetic). Characters from different realms have virtually the same possibilities, although as each realm has different races available.

Supposedly there are currently 9 races available (3 in each realm), and 3 classes (each with 2 subclasses); although mmorpg.com states "players must choose one of four races (a wood elf, a dwarf, a dark elf or a human) and one of four combat schools (warrior, archer, spy or spellcaster)." Thus MMORPG.com's article is most likely out of date; though it lacks a date on the page.

Character development
Characters have attributes, which represent their physical and psychical characteristics. As characters complete quests or defeat monsters, they gain experience and advance to new levels, becoming more powerful, gaining new skills and increasing their attributes.

They can engage enemy characters from opposing realms, monsters, comrades inside coliseums and capture fortresses and castles.

The social factor is also very important to the game, and is supported by chat channels, the ability to form parties and clans, several online rankings and an official forum (the latter two available in the homepage).

Development
The game has been in development for more than 3 years and has passed through alpha and closed beta stages, being currently in open beta stage (sixth beta stage).

Most of the basic gameplay is already implemented, although some skills are still disabled and a general skill/class balance stage is pending. Many dropped and missing featured are added in successive updates which are released periodically, and users are encouraged to discuss new features, bugs and gameplay issues in the official forums, where members of the development team usually post answers and become aware of recurring problems and suggestions.

Commercial Model
Although initially the game was planned to require a subscription fee to play (once gold stage was reached), NGD Studios decided to change the commercial model: the core of the game will remain free (as in the open beta stage) with premium content available for purchase with real-life money.

Care is being taken so that premium features do not unbalance the game between paying and non-paying users.

Premium content
The nature of the premium content has not been disclosed yet.

Minimum
Processor: Intel Pentium 3 800 MHz or AMD Duron 900 MHz or superior Memory: 256 Megabytes of RAM or superior Video: ATI Radeon 7500 or nVIDIA Geforce 2 and superior

Recommended
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 2.4Ghz or AMD Athlon XP 2400 Memory: 512 Megabytes of RAM Video: ATI Radeon 9600 or nVIDIA Geforce FX5700

Wikis at Wiki

 * Regnum Online wiki (English)
 * Regnumpedia (Spanish)

PC

 * Published by NGD Studios in Argentina on DATE