Kioshi Wakami
8th December 2003, 01:14 AM
This RPG has been changed from the previous one due to controversial subjects and complaints from members and moderators.
~*.-.+PHANTASM ONLINE+.-.*~
Alright! Now to start this off, I just want to say there is a LOT of information to be said for this RPG, so PLEASE be patient and read through it all. This is going to be a rather huge RPG so naturally there will be a lot of information. With that stated, let's continue on to the
+-INTRODUCTION-+
Out Of Character Info About PO
Phantasm is an Online MMORPG game.
Phantasm is not based on a particular anime,manga or actual game, but the same elements will be used as a basis for gameplay. Originally, I planned to base this game on the anime series .hack//SIGN. However, I thought it would be a better idea to make the game an original story with no ties to any other anime. That way it is more of an original plot and idea.
Phantasm itself takes place inside of a virtual reality online RPG game, much like .hack//SIGN. If you have played any of the .hack series video games or have seen any bits and pieces of the anime, it will certainly help you in terms of how the game is meant to be played, but it is not required. It is also recommended that a joining player have some previous experience or knowledge of online RPGs (such as Ultima Online, Everquest, Neverwinter Nights, and others) to help them understand the terms and basic ideas used for Phantasm. These elements will also be covered in the following sections of this page.
If you are still interested in joining the game after reading this short introduction, please proceed to each of the following sections and read through ALL of the information concerning the game to make sure that it is something you will be interested in and to ensure that you understand how the game works and how it is played before signing up for a player spot.
As the moderator of another RPG game, I can honestly say that the biggest problem I have with new players is having them ask me questions that are already covered in the material. If your particular question is already here, do not expect me to answer you. However, if there is something I've forgotten, don't hesistate to let me know and send it on along to my PM. You must thoroughly read through all of the information before you will be ready to play.
The Story
Phantasm is a mass, multi-player, online RPG game (MMORPG) that is accessed through a virtual reality visor worn over the player's eyes in the real world. Thus, the players in this RPG will be playing as yet another player that is playing a character inside of the virtual reality world. Confusing, yes, but also very interesting once all the bases are covered.
Phantasm is a graphic online RPG such as Everquest, Neverwinter Nights, Ultima Online, and countless others in which players create a character template, assign and train skills, find items and clothing for their characters, and interact with other players, as well as journeying into dungeons and destroying monsters. However, do not be limited for ideas by this concept. Players custom-make their Phantasm characters to look any way that they please from the selection of races, making it nearly impossible for any characters to be duplicated and look entirely alike. Height, weight, facial features, clothing, skin tone, and any other conceivable options are open to the players for their characters (not possible by today's standards, but since this is an RPG, we have that power. ^_~)
Although the players in the real world cannot technically die with their characters inside of the game, they feel all of the senses of their character through the attached visor over their eyes. When a character is attacked or injured, the player outside of the game will feel it as well. This also applies to any physical contact, such as hugging, kissing, etc. Because of this, system administration on the game is very strict and keeps a close watch over all of the players within Phantasm to maintain order.
Inside Phantasm, a great rumor has been spread stating that a potential server flaw has been created somewhere inside of the game by a reknown, unknown hacker that has yet to be found by system administration. The "Reality Flaw," as the server has come to be known, has yet to be discovered or stumbled upon within the Phantasm world, but is said to be a highly interactive space where the consciousness of a player is transferred directly into the game, depicting their actual self and causing them to experience the actual senses within the game. For instance, if drawn inside this Reality server, a person will actually die with their character behind the visor if killed by another player or bleed through an open wound if inflicted. This occurs due to a computer virus that leaks into the game's visor upon entering the server.
Legend has it that the hacker who created the "Reality Flaw" did so in order to escape the real world into Phantasm to meet their soul mate, becoming highly mentally ill afterwards. No one is sure whether the hacker is still an actual player within the game or has simply vanished. Several players within the game seek out the hidden "Reality Flaw" to test their own skills within the game, prove the so-called rumor, or to meet another character that they have fallen in love with, just as the original hacker wished to do.
This will be the main plot within the game. Aside from that there are any number of dungeons, quests, towns, guilds, and other medieval adventures that the characters may venture out to.
However, the main plot of the game lies in the mystery behind the player of each character and their reason for escaping into the online world as well as to eventually reach the reknown "Reality Flaw" server. All roleplaying will take place as the characters inside of the Phantasm world. The players of the Phantasm cast will only be shown in short snippets and teasers to give us hints along the way as to who they really are.
Several side-plots will also be present. For instance, moderators and system administrators hunting down potential hackers and player killers, warring guilds, or warriors venturing out together into the dungeons to fight monsters and hunt down special items. The options are endless, but must stay true to a medieval fantasy world (dragons, pixies, knights, that sort of thing).
The Concept
The basic concept of the Phantasm RPG game is this:
You will essentially be playing two characters in one--the character inside the Phantasm world and their player outside of the game in the real world. The character within the game is what you will be using as your primary focus. After reading through all of the character creation information on this page, you may then create a bio for the character inside of the game. Also keep the player outside of the virtal Phantasm world in mind as you do so. However, this information should be kept secret to slowly reveal as the game goes on. This will give the RPG a mystery of sorts to see the difference between the Phantasm players and their characters. You may have up to five characters at one time. This means five different Phantasm characters within the game and their individual players (one player per character). For instance, if I'm playing Xian and Sephial, that includes them PLUS their individual players for each one.
Very, very little is to be said about the actual player behind each Phantasm character. Rather, the focus is to be on their character inside the game and what they do, whether it be hacking, player killing, or leading a guild. These options will be covered in the following sections of the website.
Additional information are provided on the following sections of the website, but these are the basics of playing once you are added onto the game
-=The Phantasm World=-
Locations
This section is a database of locations found within the Phantasm virtual world. Locations following a town in italics are pubs, inns, and the like that are found in the city listed above it.
Please feel free to add your own location at any time by sending your suggestions to me with PMs. I will try to keep this section updated with new locations used in posts as much as possible, so always make sure to check back for new places. This guide should help players establish common places to go for their characters to interact.
Characters may use portals that are scattered throughout Phantasm to teleport from place to place or sail between cities. Otherwise they may have to cross forests and plains where monsters roam wild to get to the next town.
Please refer to the Phantasm World Map to help with pinpointing these locations.
Cities
Pembroke - This is known as the city of newbies due to the fact that this is the city where every character begins when they are first created in Phantasm. Several GMs stay close around this area to help these new players learn how to play the game.
Loiria - A central port city that connects to all of the primary rivers within Phantasm. This is a common city for Sailors to keep their ships at dock or set them to sail. Loiria is notorious for it's number of pubs where Sailors are often found drinking, gambling and sharing stories.
The Hook and Sink - A restaurant in Loiria that is more like a diner than a fancy restaurant. It's kinda like Denny's, IHOP or Waffle House.
Central Migrai - Bar that serves supposedly the strongest alcoholic drinks in all of PO. A player-run bar rather than an NPC run pub, making it a very popular place for roleplayers to gather and share a drink together.
Ilis - A holy city where most clerics go for training. This city is run primarily by NPCs of the Angel race and serves as a place of enlightment. Ilis houses many chapels where characters may pray or get married.
Fallen Grace's Tavern - A tavern found within Ilis run by NPC characters of the Angel race.
Filece - A run down, grungy city with a bad reputation of player killers and assassins. Most people that frequent Filece are lamers that run around the city naked, steal, and generally cause trobule. Most roleplayers do not bother with this city.
Giados - A small, coastal city that serves as a center of the arts where many libraries, art galleries, and music establishments can be found. Most bards, actors, and the like come here to perform for other players or to present their stories and artwork to others.
Malith - A large city where most long-term players gather, often secluding newbies from the expensive and rare items to be had there. This city is a prime location for thieves looking for specialized items.
Swarthy Maiden - A rather shady inn found in Malith that deals out room-to-room prostitutes to its patrons for business.
Zeranth - A small town found just outside the forests run by NPCs of the Beast race. Most stalls for storing pets or shops selling supplies for pets are found here, making it a nice stop for Animal Tamers.
Noah's Ark - A stall that pays a small fee to keep your pets. It's kind of like renting out storage spaces.
Ox's Blood Pub - A tavern found in Zeranth run by NPC characters of the Beast race.
Frog Leg's Inn - An inn run near Ox's Blood Pub, also established by Beast NPCs.
Gileth - A large center of magic where mages reside to study libraries of spells and meditation techniques. This city harbors more transporation portals than any other city in Phantasm.
Yullan - A medium-sized city run by NPCs of the dragon race. Most experienced fighters go here to acquire better armor and weaponry. Several Blacksmiths sell their specialized weapons in the market place here.
Wyrm's Rampage - A rough and tumble tavern in Yullan.
Fantalia - A small, somewhat hidden city in the clearing of the central forest run by NPCs of the pixie race. This city is known for being beautiful and a treasure to any that happen to find it, as it is lit completely by the sparkling light of the faeries and the glowing night flowers found there.
Lorasia - A medium-sized city run by NPCs of the elf race just on the forest boundaries. This city is known for selling specialized bows and arrows sold by characters of the Bowyer class and includes a good practice range for increasing this skill.
Tantegal - A large military city where fighters train in large dueling arenas to gain up their levels together.
Cannock - A small merchant city found just outside the Forest of Shadows. This city is known for being a base of shady organizations and guilds within Phantasm and is often times avoided by Newbies.
Reeve - A conservative mage city that also serves as a base for gamblers where most Fortune Tellers reside to earn money in the market place.
Paradise Inn - Small inn within Reeve.
Baharata - A large city run by NPCs of the Demon race that only the most experienced of players dare to investigate. Player killing and thievery are well-known here.
Muor - A small, holy city where most Paladins go to enhance their light arts and gain levels in the blessed dueling arenas.
Lancealot's Circle - An inn and pub often used by the Paladins. Good place to look into for training, guides, and guild information.
Guild Locations
Pembroke Fortress - Nestled in a mountain range near Muor. Home of the Paladin Guild.
Ebone Citadel - A dark place near the Forest of Shadows where Death's Toll--the guild for Shamans and Necromancers--is found.
Underground Bestial - A place where one can sign up to specifically fight certain creatures or adopt any available. Mostly used by guilders from Primal Instincts, but can be used by anyone else. Found outside the town of Zeranth.
Clouded Earth - Place where Primal Instincts is based, between Mist Forest and Zeranth. Also has a portal connected directly to the Underground Bestial.
The Crimson Tide - A large port just outside of Loiria where the Ocean Rhapsody guild is stationed.
Siren's Harp - Location of the Classical Chorus in Giados, where bards gather and show off their talents in the neighboring bars/saloons for whatever they can get from the attending patrons.
Coin in Palm - Thieves' Guild hideaway near Malith where smuggling, hoarding, and stealing are the usual activities.
Celestial Augury - Location of the Magic Hat guild for mages within the city of Gileth.
Merithia - A small coast/beach just off the town of Gileth where the Karmic Circle guild is stationed.
Incarnadine - Place for the Crimson Blade located in Tantegal. Has a connecting building where novices may be trained by volunteers among the guilders.
Threads of Destiny - Location of the Seers of Time guild house near the city of Reeve.
Judas' Noose - Secret location of the Hunters of the Midnight Sun assassin guild hidden in the forests just outside of Filece.
Mt. Taikyoko - A hot spring resort run by monks just outside the city of Pembrokes. Characters must proceed through the treacherous mountains to reach it, though many find its natural spring well worth the challenge.
Rivers/Lakes
Sanguis Lake - A lake where pirates rule. Named for the blood spilled during the common battles upon it.
Siren's Cove - A central river that connects most of Phantasm's larger cities. Mermaid characters often practice their swimming skills here and it is a favorite among those of the Sailor class for their ships to set sail.
Narcissus River - A small river that is said to be cursed by dead spirits. Sailors rarely have the courage to attempt to cross this river into the southern mountains.
Echo's River - A large bay found at the base of Gileth that runs into Siren's Cove towards Loiria.
Dungeons
Forest of Shadows - Intermediate dungeon for players over the newbie stage but not long-term experienced players.
Ehlonna Forest - A sacred place to all those who chose a spiritual pathway. Battles here are for training and enlightenment only. High Level Spiritualists, Druids, and Shamans guard this place to make sure it's not abused.
Shadowlight Manor - An abandoned manor located near Malith where medium level monsters of undead class reside.
Mist Forest - Basic level dungeon with smaller monsters.
Kilett Temple Ruins - The remains of an elemental temple outside of Ilis with several high level, but avoidable opponents, and many medium monsters, including mummified ex-priests and priestesses. A popular place to go for mid-level players, as well as a hot site to find artifacts and booty, especially for thieves..
Frozen Rain - Medium to high level dungeon with ice and snow monsters.
Lord's Foothold - A haunted castle in the lower mountains above Giados, filled with medium level opponents generally of two types--spirits/ghosts and small dragons. Said to be the site of a massacre.
General's Ward (Marianna) - Once known as Marianna, though speaking the name within the town is now considered a curse, thus called General's Ward instead. General's Ward is where a militaristic man had his entire army, family, and many scholars in his entourage, who all mysteriously died of a plague. Tends to have ghost soldiers who still guard the area, and ghostly scholars who will give knowledge if they deem it necessary or simply feel like it. Mid to high level.
Firebrand Mountains - High Level. Dungeon near the Dark Knights' outpost for the plains. Contains mostly Orc and Draconic Class style monsters.
Crystal Catacombs - An underground labyrinth with several water traps, containing mostly large beast opponents and powerful water creatures. Said to have two levels, the first being a lower level dungeon, the second a high level dungeon, the prize of which being enough to make any treasure seeker's mouth water. Outside of Malith.
The Guilds!
Guilds are organizations set up within Phantasm by players for other players. These guilds typically focus on a certain interest or class of characters to allow them to join together and relate to a certain aspect of the game and work with one another for that particular focus. In this way, it will be easier for players to get together and roleplay with one another by joining the same guilds. If you would like to be a guild master, simply state so on your Character Bio Form and if the position as guild master is unoccupied, you are more than welcome to have it. If the guild already has a particular leader, it will be listed here beside the guild in italics, followed by any current character members of the guild.
The Crimson Sword - A guild for warriors of the Fighter class that go adventuring together to fight monsters. This guild consists of skilled warriors that help lead the apprentices training beneath them.
Seers of Time - A guild for characters of the Fortune Teller class that open their guild house to do card interpretations and spells for other playing characters that drop in for a future reading.. Guild Members: Hourglass, Ten(NPC), The Lady(NPC)
Primal Instincts - A guild for characters of the Animal Tamer class that meet together to show their pets to one another and search for odd breeds of animals to tame throughout Phantasm.
Karmic Circle - A guild for characters of the Spiritualist class that meet together to practice with their magic ofuda and discuss jobs concerning the occult. Guild Members: Evandelle
Death's Tolling - A joint guild for characters of the Shaman and Necromancer classes to practice their magic abilities together and research new spells.. Guild Leader: Idimmu Marduk
The Magic Hat - A guild for characters of the Mage class to practice their spells together and fight monsters. This guilds consists of skilled, higher-class mages that help train the apprentice mages beneath them.
Ocean Rhapsody - A guild for seamen, sailors, and fishermen to go on sailing adventures together in their own ships and boats. Guild Leader: Xian. Guild Members: Sephial
Spiraling Whirlpool - A secret guild held under the Ocean Rhapsody created for the pirates of Ocean Rhapsody. Guild Leader: Xian Guild Members: Sephial
Askvali Rih - A guild for characters of the Paladin class that meet together to right the evil deeds of monsters and players alike to maintain justice within Phantasm. They are referred to as "The Justice League" by their rivaling guild of Dark Warriors that enjoy teasing them.
Ebony Blade - A guild for characters of the Dark Knight class that meet together to train in the dark arts and cause trouble for the Askvali Rih Paladin guild. The two guilds are almost always at war status with one another due to disagreements between the two guild leaders.
Klepto's Paradise - A guild for characters of the Thief class that join together to discuss the locations of rare and intricate items to steal, as well as working together to pickpocket from other characters. Guild Members: Jing(Secret)
Classical Chorus - A guild for characters of the Bard class that practice their musical talents together.
Hunters of the Midnight Sun - A guild for characters of the Assassin class that meet to plot together to kill other playing characters. They are strongly hunted down by Game Masters and Moderators. Guild Members: Martyr(Secret/Honorary)
Current NPCs
NPCs, or Non-Playing Characters, are characters that do not have an active player, but are used in the background of the story to help develope it. NPCs are public domain for any player to use and may be freely killed or harmed if the player wishes to do so. This page will be updated as the game goes along with any new NPCs that happen to pop up during game play.
Also, because Phantasm is an online game, NPCs can still be characters with a player behind them that are not computerized. These characters are listed under the Playing Characters Section. Computerized characters are listed under the NPC section.
Playing Characters
Maverick - A bard character that disappeared after an encounter with the Reality Flaw.
Kai-Veleryan - An elven smith and artifact collecter. His connections with the Necromancer Guild has made him an outcast among the other elf characters and his ways of playing and item gathering are more than questionable.
Ten - A Fortune Teller at the Seers of Time guild.
The Lady - Another Fortune Teller at the Seers of Time guild.
Non Playing Characters
Suu - A Pembroke merchant.
Maylik - The man who runs Noah's Ark, a rentable stall set up.
Icarus - Imani's pet dragon.
Online Game Terms
These are some common terms often used in online RPGs (such as Everquest, Ultima Online, etc.) that the characters inside of Phantasm will be using to refer to things inside of the game.
PO (Phantasm Online) - A shortening of the game's name.
MMORPG (Mass Multi-Player Online Role Playing Game) - This is a term for the game of Phantasm in general, which means that several players connect to the Internet together to play roles as other people inside of it.
GMs (Game Masters) - Characters inside of the game that act as messengers for the system administration of the game to make sure that players are behaving.
Mods (Moderators) - The networking crew that maintains the Phantasm game. They are the only ones with the authority to ban player accounts if a moderator informs them of a troublesome character. If a moderator member plays a character within the game, they keep their position a secret to obtain information. Thus, no one knows exactly who they are.
PKs (Player Killers) - Characters within the game that kill other players for fun and steal their equipment. They are usually non-roleplayers that only find amusement in building levels and picking on new players. The moderators and system administration are always on the lookout for them, as well as other players to collect any set bounty on them.
Newbies - New players that are just beginning the game that do not fully understand how to play. They are thought of as weak and commonly picked on and PKed until they build up enough levels and equipment to defend themselves.
Lamers - These are players that play their characters as themselves in the real world using modern terms and do not roleplay as a separate person inside of the game. They are usually seen as incompetent by the roleplaying community and often ignored.
RPers (Roleplayers) - These are characters that play as though they truly exist inside Phantasm without any ties to the real world. For instance, instead of referring to 'disconnecting,' a roleplaying character will say that they 'passed out momentarily.'
PCs (Playing Characters) - Any Phantasm character with an active player behind them that is not computerized.
NPCs (Non-Playing Characters) - These are computerized characters within the game with set responses, such as merchants, that only function to assist the playing characters.
Now!! Finally onto the CHARACTER CREATION Yayyyy!!!
Character Layout
The characters that will be used for the RPG are those that are created within the Phantasm online game. To understand how these kind of characters work, it is highly recommended that you have some experience with online RPGs such as Ultima Online, Neverwinter Nights, and Everquest. These are the basics of creating an online character:
Appearance - This is what age your character appears, their height, weight, facial features, hair color, clothes, etc. These options will not be limited like normal online RPGs. Options are endless and make it nearly impossible to duplicate an exact character appearance. Also, the voice of a character is simulated within the game depending on the player's choice, so the character will not have the same voice as their player outside the game. That way a female player may play a male character inside Phantasm without anyone noticing and vice versa or any other interesting twists between the player and character. Think of Phantasm as being a giant anime movie where the players get to create their own character inside without any sort of ties to themselves.
Race - This is what species your character will be. This will influence the basic character template by adding different kinds of ears, wings, tails, etc. depending on the chosen race. The choices for races are covered in the Races section.
Classes/Skills - These are the skills your characters are trained in. Depending on what skill they specialize in, they will have a different class, such as a knight, a healer, etc. The choices for classes are covered in the Classes/Skills section.
Positions - This determines whether the player of the character within Phantasm is a moderator, game master, ordinary player, etc. The choices for positions are covered in the Positions section.
Once you understand the options for each of these aspects for your character, you will be ready to fill out the Character Bio Form.
Races
These are the different species templates that can be selected for the characters within the virtual Phantasm world. All players outside of the game in the real world are ordinary humans without exception. Physical and stat attributes for each race are listed below. However, specific numbers and detailed technicalities (such as the stat system in Dungeons and Dragons, for instance) are to be avoided. Since this is not a real graphic online game, specific stat numbers and bonuses do not need to be used. These attributes are only to be used to help enhance the skills of the characters.
Please keep in mind that the race of a character only determines things such as ears, wings, tails, etc. Height, weight, facial features, and colors are all entirely optional. Also, you cannot create your own race or crossbreed any of the races below. You must choose one solid race for each character and go with it and try to match that character's personality with their chosen race at least to some extent.
Humans - Human character templates will look like a typical human with regular features. Humans have more flexible stats than most of the other races and have the capacity to be trained for any skill while other species options can hinder them.
Elves - Elven characters will have long, pointed ears on their template and are most easily trained for skills involving magic or particular weaponry, such as bows and arrows.
Pixies/Faeries - Pixie characters are the same size as the other graphic templates with sparkling skin and a pair of glittering wings that can be designed to the player's choice. For instance, they may choose any color of wings they want and adjust their size and style (they may look like butterfly wings or a specific shape of faerie wing). Butterfly antennas on top of the character's head are also optional for this template. Pixies are most easily trained in healing and medical abilities and are extremely limited in physical strength.
Dragons - The dragon template appears as a human character with small, finned ears, wings, a small pair of fangs, and a long tail. The player may choose the color of their dragon's scales and the size and style of their wings and tail. Dragon characters can only transform into a full beast form if they have been a long-term player with trained status in battle strength and magic. They are most easily trained for physical battle and are extremely limited in healing abilities.
Sirens/Mermaids - Mermaid character templates will appear as normal humans with finned ears. However, if they take their character into watery terrain, their legs will transform into a mermaid tail and enhance their swimming abilities. These characters are most easily trained for sailing adventures, underwater battle, and bard skills.
Sprites - The sprite template appears human with small pointed ears, rather than long, rabbit-like ears that are featured on the elven template. They are typically smaller than other playing characters and have extremely high speed and hiding skills. These characters are most easily trained in stealing and stealth skills or basic magic-casting.
Beasts - The beast template is a normal human with the option to crossbreed with any animal of the player's choice. A set of ears, a small pair of fangs, and a tail matching the chosen animal will then appear on that character. For instance, if a cat is chosen, they will have a set of cat ears on their head along with a tail designed and colored as the player wishes. Beasts are limited to only regular animal options; medieval beasts, such as griffins, unicorns, dragons, etc., are not part of this template. Beast characters can only transform into their full animal form if they have been a long-term player with trained status in battle strength and animal taming. These characters are most easily trained in animal taming skills and stealth skills depending on how quick their chosen animal is.
Angels - The angel template appears as a regular human with a pair of feathery wings that can be custom-designed to any size and color of the player's choice. These characters have fair strength and healing abilities and are most easily trained in medical skills, bard skills, and high magic spells.
Demons - The demon template appears as a normal human with a pair of bat-like wings on their back that can be custom-designed to any size and color of the player's choice. Demon characters will also have an optional pair of small fangs. These characters are extremely strong and can inflict the most damage when trained with particular weaponry or high magic spells.
Classes/Skills
Depending on the kinds of skills your character is trained in, they will be a specific class. A character's class will determine their specialties in battle or what guild they belong to. A beginning character that is novice in all of their skills will not be a particular class until they have built up their stats. Please do not be limited by these options for what skills your character may have. Since this is not a real online game, you may work with your class and skill so long as you check in with me when you state your desired class on the bio form. The classes below are merely here to formulate a basic idea of what to use and what is acceptable.
Fighter - A fighter is the most basic form of warrior. They have a fair knowledge of weaponry and typically fight freelance battles rather than fighting for a particular cause.
Paladin - This type of fighter is dedicated to the light arts. They fight for causes of justice and have a basic understanding of light magic and weaponry.
Dark Knight - Dark Knights are the opposite of a paladin, and have the basic understanding of dark magic and weaponry for what are considered to be evil causes rather than good ones.
Barbarian - Barbarians specialize in empty-handed combat martial arts rather than basic weaponry. They have outstanding strength but are deprived of any sort of magical abilities because of it.
Mage - Mages are characters trained in a particular area of sorcery. They are typically much physically weaker than the knights in order to focus on their concentration and magical talents. Mages can specialize in light and dark magic or any kind of elemental magic, such as fire, water, earth, and wind.
Necromancer - Necromancers are an unseemly form of mages or healers whose spells deal with the raising of the dead and the summoning and control of various creatures for their own devices. Using their powers for the animation and enslavement of the fallen and summoning other wretched souls, they are experts in combat from afar.
Fortune Teller - A Fortune Teller is a form of mage that also specializes in gambling skills and have the ability to read fortune cards inside of the game for other characters to determine future outcomes.
Spiritualist - Spiritualists are a form of mage that fight with magical powers invoked by summoning creatures through paper slips known as ofuda. They specialize in neither white nor black magic, but rather a form of magic that is both good and evil or what is known as gray magic. They specialize in dealing with occult creatures and monsters.
Shamans - Shamans are a form of Spiritualist who inherit their spells and abilities through the death, scarifices, or shadows in forms of tattoos, runes, and divine writing across their skin. Their skills are most focused in channeling power spirits in battle and twisting shadows into their weapons.
Bard - Bard characters specialize in singing or playing a particular instrument. If trained in battle, Bards may use their skills to entice monsters with their music or set them at peace.
Cleric/Healer - Cleric characters are typically very weak in battle and specialize only in healing magic or medical training. Clerics usually travel with Fighters that can manage fighting monsters for them while they stand back to heal their wounds.
Monk - Monks are a form of healer that also specialize in martial arts abilities and empty-handed combat. Because of their battle skill, they typically have less healing abilities than a normal Cleric.
Animal Tamer - Animal Tamers have the skill to make companions with the computerized animals that run loose through Phantasm. Once an animal is tamed, an Animal Tamer may summon them in battle to fight monsters for them. It is also a Tamer's job to take care of their pets by naming them, feeding them, and giving them steady affection.
Sailor - Sailor characters have high navigation skills and a practiced profession for setting Phantasm's ships to sail. These characters often have a few low thief skills, especially those banded together in pirate ships.
Rogue - Rogue characters have a basic knowledge of all skills but may only specialize in one or two particular skills. Rogues usually have a very sharp tongue, have a way of manipulating things to go their way, and are typically trained in basic thief skills, such as stealth.
Thief - Thief characters specialize in stealth, lockpicking, and pickpocketing skills. These characters are able to steal from another character's belongings without anyone noticing or can break through treasure chests and door locks with more efficiency than other classes.
Ranger - Ranger characters have the best navigation skills of any other character and can find their way through the most complicated dungeons. They also have fair weaponry and animal taming skills, but their magic and physical abilities as a whole are not exceptional.
Assassin - Assassin characters have basic Thief skills as well as a great deal of strength and understanding of all different kinds of weaponry and poisons. However, assassins have a bad reputation as being player killers (PKs) and are often hunted down for it.
Merchant - Merchant characters are a jack-of-all trades sort of character, but specialize in no particular skill. Merchant characters typically train up one crafting skill to create goods that they can sell on an open market. These characters are typically computerized, non-playing characters or NPCs.
Seamster/Seamstress - These characters specialize in sewing abilities and can create any sort of clothing design with the purchase of fabric and often sell special orders of clothing to other characters once they are completed. They may also obtain materials from animals and use a loom to make their own thread for fabric rather than purchasing it.
Carpenter - Carpenter characters specialize in creating housing utilities out of wood, such as tables, chairs, etc. Most Carpenters excel at the Lumberjacking skill to cut down their own wood to create objects from. They make a great deal of money selling their items to other players that purchase homes within the game.
Bowyer - Bowyer characters specialize in creating bows and arrows or other weapons out of wood. They typically excel at the Lumberjacking skill to cut down their own wood to create their weapons from and then sell them to other players.
Blacksmith - Blacksmith characters specialize in creating custom weapons such as swords, axes, and spears that they can then sell to other players. Most Blacksmiths specialize in the mining skill to collect their own ore sell.
Character Positions
The position of a character refers to the status of their player. Although all other attributes concerning the player of a Phantasm character (such as their gender, age, etc.) are to remain hidden, it is important to know what sort of player they are. Examples of positions are listed below.
Game Master - Game Masters work with the actual company that created Phantasm to help serve the players within game when they are in trouble. Game Masters typically help beginning players learn how to play, save a character that is trapped in a particular location, or deal with unruly characters by asking the system administration to ban their account. Game Masters are usually referred to as GMs and are very well respected by most players.
Moderator - Moderators are the administrative staff of Phantasm that helped to create the game. They typically do not play a character within the game and are responsible only for system updates or banning the accounts of unruly players. They are thought of as one step above Game Masters, but rarely let their position be known if they are playing inside of the game.
Ordinary Player - These are the normal players inside of the game that have merely purchased Phantasm to play inside of it for enjoyment. They have no control over the game administration such as a Moderator or Game Master does. They are restricted by the game's rules and regulations and risk the chance of having their online account banned for breaking them.
Newbie - These are players that have just begun to play the game with little equipment or playing experience. These characters typically seek assistance from long-term players to help them travel and build levels.
Hacker - Hackers are players that attempt to tamper with Phantasm's system and change its functions to their advantage to grant themselves special items, skills, or graphics. They are hunted down relentlessly by Moderators and Game Masters to keep them from ruining the game's settings. This is limited to few depending on the quality of player. I do NOT want this position abused at all. Accepting 1 more hacker!!
Most characters will be expected to be Ordinary Players. I will allow a few Moderators and Game Masters depending on how many bios for them I receive. If I believe I have too many, I may respond to your bio and ask that you create an Ordinary Player instead.
AND NOW!! THE LONG AWAITED CHARACTER BIO FORM!! ^_____^ YAY!
NAME: The character's name within the Phantasm world. Please take note that no information on the actual player outside Phantasm should be given on the bio.
NICKNAME(S): Any nicknames the character may have that other players refer to them by. If your character has no particular nicknames, simply state 'None.'
GENDER: This is self-explanatory. Are you Male or Female?
AGE: This is the age that the character appears inside Phantasm, not how long they have been played. Age is chosen when a character is created, thus a character can begin looking any age of the player's choice.
HEIGHT: How tall a character is. Take note of the character's race for how tall they may be as well.
RACE: A character may be a Human, Elf, Pixie/Faerie, Dragon, Siren/Mermaid, Sprite, Beast, Angel, or Demon. For more information on these races, please refer to the Races section.
CLASS: A character may be a Fighter, Paladin, Dark Knight, Barbarian, Mage, Necromancer, Fortune Teller, Spiritualist, Shaman, Bard, Cleric/Healer, Monk, Animal Tamer, Sailor, Rogue, Thief, Ranger, Assassin, Merchant, Seamster/Seamstress, Carpenter, Bowyer, or a Blacksmith. For more information on these classes, please refer to the Classes section. If you would like to add a new class for your character, feel free to do so and I will give approval depending on the suggestion when I receive the bio.
POSITION: A character's position will be either a Game Master, Moderator, Ordinary Player, Newbie, or Hacker. For more information on these positions, please refer to the Positions section.
DESCRIPTION: This is what the character looks like. Hair, clothing, eyes, facial features, tone of voice, and the like should all be mentioned here. Also make sure that depending on the character's race, you mention the style and color of wings, ears, tails, etc.
BACKGROUND: This will tell what the character has been doing within the Phantasm game thus far. This includes their trained skills, what guild they are part of if they participate in one, whether they enjoy fighting monsters and searching through dungeons, meeting other players, etc.
PERSONALITY: This includes your character's attitude and what they act like towards other characters.
ABILITIES: This refers to your character's skills and what they are best at doing, including any particular weaponry or type or magic your character may use.
GUILD: This is the guild your character belongs to. For more information on Guilds, please refer to the Guilds section. If you would like to begin your character in no guild at all, simply put 'None' in this space.
HOBBIES: Any things that a character enjoys doing within the game, such as fighting, hunting, killing monsters, gambling, meeting other players, etc.
LIKES: Things that the character likes. These can include particular objects or feelings that the character has an affinity towards.
DISLIKES: Things that the character does not like. These can include particular objects or feelings that the character has a distaste towards.
OTHER: Any additional information on the character that has not been mentioned in the above sections. If you have nothing else to add, simply state 'None' in this space.
I believe I have changed everything that needed to be changed. So this is it! Get ready and sign up! ^__^
~*.-.+PHANTASM ONLINE+.-.*~
Alright! Now to start this off, I just want to say there is a LOT of information to be said for this RPG, so PLEASE be patient and read through it all. This is going to be a rather huge RPG so naturally there will be a lot of information. With that stated, let's continue on to the
+-INTRODUCTION-+
Out Of Character Info About PO
Phantasm is an Online MMORPG game.
Phantasm is not based on a particular anime,manga or actual game, but the same elements will be used as a basis for gameplay. Originally, I planned to base this game on the anime series .hack//SIGN. However, I thought it would be a better idea to make the game an original story with no ties to any other anime. That way it is more of an original plot and idea.
Phantasm itself takes place inside of a virtual reality online RPG game, much like .hack//SIGN. If you have played any of the .hack series video games or have seen any bits and pieces of the anime, it will certainly help you in terms of how the game is meant to be played, but it is not required. It is also recommended that a joining player have some previous experience or knowledge of online RPGs (such as Ultima Online, Everquest, Neverwinter Nights, and others) to help them understand the terms and basic ideas used for Phantasm. These elements will also be covered in the following sections of this page.
If you are still interested in joining the game after reading this short introduction, please proceed to each of the following sections and read through ALL of the information concerning the game to make sure that it is something you will be interested in and to ensure that you understand how the game works and how it is played before signing up for a player spot.
As the moderator of another RPG game, I can honestly say that the biggest problem I have with new players is having them ask me questions that are already covered in the material. If your particular question is already here, do not expect me to answer you. However, if there is something I've forgotten, don't hesistate to let me know and send it on along to my PM. You must thoroughly read through all of the information before you will be ready to play.
The Story
Phantasm is a mass, multi-player, online RPG game (MMORPG) that is accessed through a virtual reality visor worn over the player's eyes in the real world. Thus, the players in this RPG will be playing as yet another player that is playing a character inside of the virtual reality world. Confusing, yes, but also very interesting once all the bases are covered.
Phantasm is a graphic online RPG such as Everquest, Neverwinter Nights, Ultima Online, and countless others in which players create a character template, assign and train skills, find items and clothing for their characters, and interact with other players, as well as journeying into dungeons and destroying monsters. However, do not be limited for ideas by this concept. Players custom-make their Phantasm characters to look any way that they please from the selection of races, making it nearly impossible for any characters to be duplicated and look entirely alike. Height, weight, facial features, clothing, skin tone, and any other conceivable options are open to the players for their characters (not possible by today's standards, but since this is an RPG, we have that power. ^_~)
Although the players in the real world cannot technically die with their characters inside of the game, they feel all of the senses of their character through the attached visor over their eyes. When a character is attacked or injured, the player outside of the game will feel it as well. This also applies to any physical contact, such as hugging, kissing, etc. Because of this, system administration on the game is very strict and keeps a close watch over all of the players within Phantasm to maintain order.
Inside Phantasm, a great rumor has been spread stating that a potential server flaw has been created somewhere inside of the game by a reknown, unknown hacker that has yet to be found by system administration. The "Reality Flaw," as the server has come to be known, has yet to be discovered or stumbled upon within the Phantasm world, but is said to be a highly interactive space where the consciousness of a player is transferred directly into the game, depicting their actual self and causing them to experience the actual senses within the game. For instance, if drawn inside this Reality server, a person will actually die with their character behind the visor if killed by another player or bleed through an open wound if inflicted. This occurs due to a computer virus that leaks into the game's visor upon entering the server.
Legend has it that the hacker who created the "Reality Flaw" did so in order to escape the real world into Phantasm to meet their soul mate, becoming highly mentally ill afterwards. No one is sure whether the hacker is still an actual player within the game or has simply vanished. Several players within the game seek out the hidden "Reality Flaw" to test their own skills within the game, prove the so-called rumor, or to meet another character that they have fallen in love with, just as the original hacker wished to do.
This will be the main plot within the game. Aside from that there are any number of dungeons, quests, towns, guilds, and other medieval adventures that the characters may venture out to.
However, the main plot of the game lies in the mystery behind the player of each character and their reason for escaping into the online world as well as to eventually reach the reknown "Reality Flaw" server. All roleplaying will take place as the characters inside of the Phantasm world. The players of the Phantasm cast will only be shown in short snippets and teasers to give us hints along the way as to who they really are.
Several side-plots will also be present. For instance, moderators and system administrators hunting down potential hackers and player killers, warring guilds, or warriors venturing out together into the dungeons to fight monsters and hunt down special items. The options are endless, but must stay true to a medieval fantasy world (dragons, pixies, knights, that sort of thing).
The Concept
The basic concept of the Phantasm RPG game is this:
You will essentially be playing two characters in one--the character inside the Phantasm world and their player outside of the game in the real world. The character within the game is what you will be using as your primary focus. After reading through all of the character creation information on this page, you may then create a bio for the character inside of the game. Also keep the player outside of the virtal Phantasm world in mind as you do so. However, this information should be kept secret to slowly reveal as the game goes on. This will give the RPG a mystery of sorts to see the difference between the Phantasm players and their characters. You may have up to five characters at one time. This means five different Phantasm characters within the game and their individual players (one player per character). For instance, if I'm playing Xian and Sephial, that includes them PLUS their individual players for each one.
Very, very little is to be said about the actual player behind each Phantasm character. Rather, the focus is to be on their character inside the game and what they do, whether it be hacking, player killing, or leading a guild. These options will be covered in the following sections of the website.
Additional information are provided on the following sections of the website, but these are the basics of playing once you are added onto the game
-=The Phantasm World=-
Locations
This section is a database of locations found within the Phantasm virtual world. Locations following a town in italics are pubs, inns, and the like that are found in the city listed above it.
Please feel free to add your own location at any time by sending your suggestions to me with PMs. I will try to keep this section updated with new locations used in posts as much as possible, so always make sure to check back for new places. This guide should help players establish common places to go for their characters to interact.
Characters may use portals that are scattered throughout Phantasm to teleport from place to place or sail between cities. Otherwise they may have to cross forests and plains where monsters roam wild to get to the next town.
Please refer to the Phantasm World Map to help with pinpointing these locations.
Cities
Pembroke - This is known as the city of newbies due to the fact that this is the city where every character begins when they are first created in Phantasm. Several GMs stay close around this area to help these new players learn how to play the game.
Loiria - A central port city that connects to all of the primary rivers within Phantasm. This is a common city for Sailors to keep their ships at dock or set them to sail. Loiria is notorious for it's number of pubs where Sailors are often found drinking, gambling and sharing stories.
The Hook and Sink - A restaurant in Loiria that is more like a diner than a fancy restaurant. It's kinda like Denny's, IHOP or Waffle House.
Central Migrai - Bar that serves supposedly the strongest alcoholic drinks in all of PO. A player-run bar rather than an NPC run pub, making it a very popular place for roleplayers to gather and share a drink together.
Ilis - A holy city where most clerics go for training. This city is run primarily by NPCs of the Angel race and serves as a place of enlightment. Ilis houses many chapels where characters may pray or get married.
Fallen Grace's Tavern - A tavern found within Ilis run by NPC characters of the Angel race.
Filece - A run down, grungy city with a bad reputation of player killers and assassins. Most people that frequent Filece are lamers that run around the city naked, steal, and generally cause trobule. Most roleplayers do not bother with this city.
Giados - A small, coastal city that serves as a center of the arts where many libraries, art galleries, and music establishments can be found. Most bards, actors, and the like come here to perform for other players or to present their stories and artwork to others.
Malith - A large city where most long-term players gather, often secluding newbies from the expensive and rare items to be had there. This city is a prime location for thieves looking for specialized items.
Swarthy Maiden - A rather shady inn found in Malith that deals out room-to-room prostitutes to its patrons for business.
Zeranth - A small town found just outside the forests run by NPCs of the Beast race. Most stalls for storing pets or shops selling supplies for pets are found here, making it a nice stop for Animal Tamers.
Noah's Ark - A stall that pays a small fee to keep your pets. It's kind of like renting out storage spaces.
Ox's Blood Pub - A tavern found in Zeranth run by NPC characters of the Beast race.
Frog Leg's Inn - An inn run near Ox's Blood Pub, also established by Beast NPCs.
Gileth - A large center of magic where mages reside to study libraries of spells and meditation techniques. This city harbors more transporation portals than any other city in Phantasm.
Yullan - A medium-sized city run by NPCs of the dragon race. Most experienced fighters go here to acquire better armor and weaponry. Several Blacksmiths sell their specialized weapons in the market place here.
Wyrm's Rampage - A rough and tumble tavern in Yullan.
Fantalia - A small, somewhat hidden city in the clearing of the central forest run by NPCs of the pixie race. This city is known for being beautiful and a treasure to any that happen to find it, as it is lit completely by the sparkling light of the faeries and the glowing night flowers found there.
Lorasia - A medium-sized city run by NPCs of the elf race just on the forest boundaries. This city is known for selling specialized bows and arrows sold by characters of the Bowyer class and includes a good practice range for increasing this skill.
Tantegal - A large military city where fighters train in large dueling arenas to gain up their levels together.
Cannock - A small merchant city found just outside the Forest of Shadows. This city is known for being a base of shady organizations and guilds within Phantasm and is often times avoided by Newbies.
Reeve - A conservative mage city that also serves as a base for gamblers where most Fortune Tellers reside to earn money in the market place.
Paradise Inn - Small inn within Reeve.
Baharata - A large city run by NPCs of the Demon race that only the most experienced of players dare to investigate. Player killing and thievery are well-known here.
Muor - A small, holy city where most Paladins go to enhance their light arts and gain levels in the blessed dueling arenas.
Lancealot's Circle - An inn and pub often used by the Paladins. Good place to look into for training, guides, and guild information.
Guild Locations
Pembroke Fortress - Nestled in a mountain range near Muor. Home of the Paladin Guild.
Ebone Citadel - A dark place near the Forest of Shadows where Death's Toll--the guild for Shamans and Necromancers--is found.
Underground Bestial - A place where one can sign up to specifically fight certain creatures or adopt any available. Mostly used by guilders from Primal Instincts, but can be used by anyone else. Found outside the town of Zeranth.
Clouded Earth - Place where Primal Instincts is based, between Mist Forest and Zeranth. Also has a portal connected directly to the Underground Bestial.
The Crimson Tide - A large port just outside of Loiria where the Ocean Rhapsody guild is stationed.
Siren's Harp - Location of the Classical Chorus in Giados, where bards gather and show off their talents in the neighboring bars/saloons for whatever they can get from the attending patrons.
Coin in Palm - Thieves' Guild hideaway near Malith where smuggling, hoarding, and stealing are the usual activities.
Celestial Augury - Location of the Magic Hat guild for mages within the city of Gileth.
Merithia - A small coast/beach just off the town of Gileth where the Karmic Circle guild is stationed.
Incarnadine - Place for the Crimson Blade located in Tantegal. Has a connecting building where novices may be trained by volunteers among the guilders.
Threads of Destiny - Location of the Seers of Time guild house near the city of Reeve.
Judas' Noose - Secret location of the Hunters of the Midnight Sun assassin guild hidden in the forests just outside of Filece.
Mt. Taikyoko - A hot spring resort run by monks just outside the city of Pembrokes. Characters must proceed through the treacherous mountains to reach it, though many find its natural spring well worth the challenge.
Rivers/Lakes
Sanguis Lake - A lake where pirates rule. Named for the blood spilled during the common battles upon it.
Siren's Cove - A central river that connects most of Phantasm's larger cities. Mermaid characters often practice their swimming skills here and it is a favorite among those of the Sailor class for their ships to set sail.
Narcissus River - A small river that is said to be cursed by dead spirits. Sailors rarely have the courage to attempt to cross this river into the southern mountains.
Echo's River - A large bay found at the base of Gileth that runs into Siren's Cove towards Loiria.
Dungeons
Forest of Shadows - Intermediate dungeon for players over the newbie stage but not long-term experienced players.
Ehlonna Forest - A sacred place to all those who chose a spiritual pathway. Battles here are for training and enlightenment only. High Level Spiritualists, Druids, and Shamans guard this place to make sure it's not abused.
Shadowlight Manor - An abandoned manor located near Malith where medium level monsters of undead class reside.
Mist Forest - Basic level dungeon with smaller monsters.
Kilett Temple Ruins - The remains of an elemental temple outside of Ilis with several high level, but avoidable opponents, and many medium monsters, including mummified ex-priests and priestesses. A popular place to go for mid-level players, as well as a hot site to find artifacts and booty, especially for thieves..
Frozen Rain - Medium to high level dungeon with ice and snow monsters.
Lord's Foothold - A haunted castle in the lower mountains above Giados, filled with medium level opponents generally of two types--spirits/ghosts and small dragons. Said to be the site of a massacre.
General's Ward (Marianna) - Once known as Marianna, though speaking the name within the town is now considered a curse, thus called General's Ward instead. General's Ward is where a militaristic man had his entire army, family, and many scholars in his entourage, who all mysteriously died of a plague. Tends to have ghost soldiers who still guard the area, and ghostly scholars who will give knowledge if they deem it necessary or simply feel like it. Mid to high level.
Firebrand Mountains - High Level. Dungeon near the Dark Knights' outpost for the plains. Contains mostly Orc and Draconic Class style monsters.
Crystal Catacombs - An underground labyrinth with several water traps, containing mostly large beast opponents and powerful water creatures. Said to have two levels, the first being a lower level dungeon, the second a high level dungeon, the prize of which being enough to make any treasure seeker's mouth water. Outside of Malith.
The Guilds!
Guilds are organizations set up within Phantasm by players for other players. These guilds typically focus on a certain interest or class of characters to allow them to join together and relate to a certain aspect of the game and work with one another for that particular focus. In this way, it will be easier for players to get together and roleplay with one another by joining the same guilds. If you would like to be a guild master, simply state so on your Character Bio Form and if the position as guild master is unoccupied, you are more than welcome to have it. If the guild already has a particular leader, it will be listed here beside the guild in italics, followed by any current character members of the guild.
The Crimson Sword - A guild for warriors of the Fighter class that go adventuring together to fight monsters. This guild consists of skilled warriors that help lead the apprentices training beneath them.
Seers of Time - A guild for characters of the Fortune Teller class that open their guild house to do card interpretations and spells for other playing characters that drop in for a future reading.. Guild Members: Hourglass, Ten(NPC), The Lady(NPC)
Primal Instincts - A guild for characters of the Animal Tamer class that meet together to show their pets to one another and search for odd breeds of animals to tame throughout Phantasm.
Karmic Circle - A guild for characters of the Spiritualist class that meet together to practice with their magic ofuda and discuss jobs concerning the occult. Guild Members: Evandelle
Death's Tolling - A joint guild for characters of the Shaman and Necromancer classes to practice their magic abilities together and research new spells.. Guild Leader: Idimmu Marduk
The Magic Hat - A guild for characters of the Mage class to practice their spells together and fight monsters. This guilds consists of skilled, higher-class mages that help train the apprentice mages beneath them.
Ocean Rhapsody - A guild for seamen, sailors, and fishermen to go on sailing adventures together in their own ships and boats. Guild Leader: Xian. Guild Members: Sephial
Spiraling Whirlpool - A secret guild held under the Ocean Rhapsody created for the pirates of Ocean Rhapsody. Guild Leader: Xian Guild Members: Sephial
Askvali Rih - A guild for characters of the Paladin class that meet together to right the evil deeds of monsters and players alike to maintain justice within Phantasm. They are referred to as "The Justice League" by their rivaling guild of Dark Warriors that enjoy teasing them.
Ebony Blade - A guild for characters of the Dark Knight class that meet together to train in the dark arts and cause trouble for the Askvali Rih Paladin guild. The two guilds are almost always at war status with one another due to disagreements between the two guild leaders.
Klepto's Paradise - A guild for characters of the Thief class that join together to discuss the locations of rare and intricate items to steal, as well as working together to pickpocket from other characters. Guild Members: Jing(Secret)
Classical Chorus - A guild for characters of the Bard class that practice their musical talents together.
Hunters of the Midnight Sun - A guild for characters of the Assassin class that meet to plot together to kill other playing characters. They are strongly hunted down by Game Masters and Moderators. Guild Members: Martyr(Secret/Honorary)
Current NPCs
NPCs, or Non-Playing Characters, are characters that do not have an active player, but are used in the background of the story to help develope it. NPCs are public domain for any player to use and may be freely killed or harmed if the player wishes to do so. This page will be updated as the game goes along with any new NPCs that happen to pop up during game play.
Also, because Phantasm is an online game, NPCs can still be characters with a player behind them that are not computerized. These characters are listed under the Playing Characters Section. Computerized characters are listed under the NPC section.
Playing Characters
Maverick - A bard character that disappeared after an encounter with the Reality Flaw.
Kai-Veleryan - An elven smith and artifact collecter. His connections with the Necromancer Guild has made him an outcast among the other elf characters and his ways of playing and item gathering are more than questionable.
Ten - A Fortune Teller at the Seers of Time guild.
The Lady - Another Fortune Teller at the Seers of Time guild.
Non Playing Characters
Suu - A Pembroke merchant.
Maylik - The man who runs Noah's Ark, a rentable stall set up.
Icarus - Imani's pet dragon.
Online Game Terms
These are some common terms often used in online RPGs (such as Everquest, Ultima Online, etc.) that the characters inside of Phantasm will be using to refer to things inside of the game.
PO (Phantasm Online) - A shortening of the game's name.
MMORPG (Mass Multi-Player Online Role Playing Game) - This is a term for the game of Phantasm in general, which means that several players connect to the Internet together to play roles as other people inside of it.
GMs (Game Masters) - Characters inside of the game that act as messengers for the system administration of the game to make sure that players are behaving.
Mods (Moderators) - The networking crew that maintains the Phantasm game. They are the only ones with the authority to ban player accounts if a moderator informs them of a troublesome character. If a moderator member plays a character within the game, they keep their position a secret to obtain information. Thus, no one knows exactly who they are.
PKs (Player Killers) - Characters within the game that kill other players for fun and steal their equipment. They are usually non-roleplayers that only find amusement in building levels and picking on new players. The moderators and system administration are always on the lookout for them, as well as other players to collect any set bounty on them.
Newbies - New players that are just beginning the game that do not fully understand how to play. They are thought of as weak and commonly picked on and PKed until they build up enough levels and equipment to defend themselves.
Lamers - These are players that play their characters as themselves in the real world using modern terms and do not roleplay as a separate person inside of the game. They are usually seen as incompetent by the roleplaying community and often ignored.
RPers (Roleplayers) - These are characters that play as though they truly exist inside Phantasm without any ties to the real world. For instance, instead of referring to 'disconnecting,' a roleplaying character will say that they 'passed out momentarily.'
PCs (Playing Characters) - Any Phantasm character with an active player behind them that is not computerized.
NPCs (Non-Playing Characters) - These are computerized characters within the game with set responses, such as merchants, that only function to assist the playing characters.
Now!! Finally onto the CHARACTER CREATION Yayyyy!!!
Character Layout
The characters that will be used for the RPG are those that are created within the Phantasm online game. To understand how these kind of characters work, it is highly recommended that you have some experience with online RPGs such as Ultima Online, Neverwinter Nights, and Everquest. These are the basics of creating an online character:
Appearance - This is what age your character appears, their height, weight, facial features, hair color, clothes, etc. These options will not be limited like normal online RPGs. Options are endless and make it nearly impossible to duplicate an exact character appearance. Also, the voice of a character is simulated within the game depending on the player's choice, so the character will not have the same voice as their player outside the game. That way a female player may play a male character inside Phantasm without anyone noticing and vice versa or any other interesting twists between the player and character. Think of Phantasm as being a giant anime movie where the players get to create their own character inside without any sort of ties to themselves.
Race - This is what species your character will be. This will influence the basic character template by adding different kinds of ears, wings, tails, etc. depending on the chosen race. The choices for races are covered in the Races section.
Classes/Skills - These are the skills your characters are trained in. Depending on what skill they specialize in, they will have a different class, such as a knight, a healer, etc. The choices for classes are covered in the Classes/Skills section.
Positions - This determines whether the player of the character within Phantasm is a moderator, game master, ordinary player, etc. The choices for positions are covered in the Positions section.
Once you understand the options for each of these aspects for your character, you will be ready to fill out the Character Bio Form.
Races
These are the different species templates that can be selected for the characters within the virtual Phantasm world. All players outside of the game in the real world are ordinary humans without exception. Physical and stat attributes for each race are listed below. However, specific numbers and detailed technicalities (such as the stat system in Dungeons and Dragons, for instance) are to be avoided. Since this is not a real graphic online game, specific stat numbers and bonuses do not need to be used. These attributes are only to be used to help enhance the skills of the characters.
Please keep in mind that the race of a character only determines things such as ears, wings, tails, etc. Height, weight, facial features, and colors are all entirely optional. Also, you cannot create your own race or crossbreed any of the races below. You must choose one solid race for each character and go with it and try to match that character's personality with their chosen race at least to some extent.
Humans - Human character templates will look like a typical human with regular features. Humans have more flexible stats than most of the other races and have the capacity to be trained for any skill while other species options can hinder them.
Elves - Elven characters will have long, pointed ears on their template and are most easily trained for skills involving magic or particular weaponry, such as bows and arrows.
Pixies/Faeries - Pixie characters are the same size as the other graphic templates with sparkling skin and a pair of glittering wings that can be designed to the player's choice. For instance, they may choose any color of wings they want and adjust their size and style (they may look like butterfly wings or a specific shape of faerie wing). Butterfly antennas on top of the character's head are also optional for this template. Pixies are most easily trained in healing and medical abilities and are extremely limited in physical strength.
Dragons - The dragon template appears as a human character with small, finned ears, wings, a small pair of fangs, and a long tail. The player may choose the color of their dragon's scales and the size and style of their wings and tail. Dragon characters can only transform into a full beast form if they have been a long-term player with trained status in battle strength and magic. They are most easily trained for physical battle and are extremely limited in healing abilities.
Sirens/Mermaids - Mermaid character templates will appear as normal humans with finned ears. However, if they take their character into watery terrain, their legs will transform into a mermaid tail and enhance their swimming abilities. These characters are most easily trained for sailing adventures, underwater battle, and bard skills.
Sprites - The sprite template appears human with small pointed ears, rather than long, rabbit-like ears that are featured on the elven template. They are typically smaller than other playing characters and have extremely high speed and hiding skills. These characters are most easily trained in stealing and stealth skills or basic magic-casting.
Beasts - The beast template is a normal human with the option to crossbreed with any animal of the player's choice. A set of ears, a small pair of fangs, and a tail matching the chosen animal will then appear on that character. For instance, if a cat is chosen, they will have a set of cat ears on their head along with a tail designed and colored as the player wishes. Beasts are limited to only regular animal options; medieval beasts, such as griffins, unicorns, dragons, etc., are not part of this template. Beast characters can only transform into their full animal form if they have been a long-term player with trained status in battle strength and animal taming. These characters are most easily trained in animal taming skills and stealth skills depending on how quick their chosen animal is.
Angels - The angel template appears as a regular human with a pair of feathery wings that can be custom-designed to any size and color of the player's choice. These characters have fair strength and healing abilities and are most easily trained in medical skills, bard skills, and high magic spells.
Demons - The demon template appears as a normal human with a pair of bat-like wings on their back that can be custom-designed to any size and color of the player's choice. Demon characters will also have an optional pair of small fangs. These characters are extremely strong and can inflict the most damage when trained with particular weaponry or high magic spells.
Classes/Skills
Depending on the kinds of skills your character is trained in, they will be a specific class. A character's class will determine their specialties in battle or what guild they belong to. A beginning character that is novice in all of their skills will not be a particular class until they have built up their stats. Please do not be limited by these options for what skills your character may have. Since this is not a real online game, you may work with your class and skill so long as you check in with me when you state your desired class on the bio form. The classes below are merely here to formulate a basic idea of what to use and what is acceptable.
Fighter - A fighter is the most basic form of warrior. They have a fair knowledge of weaponry and typically fight freelance battles rather than fighting for a particular cause.
Paladin - This type of fighter is dedicated to the light arts. They fight for causes of justice and have a basic understanding of light magic and weaponry.
Dark Knight - Dark Knights are the opposite of a paladin, and have the basic understanding of dark magic and weaponry for what are considered to be evil causes rather than good ones.
Barbarian - Barbarians specialize in empty-handed combat martial arts rather than basic weaponry. They have outstanding strength but are deprived of any sort of magical abilities because of it.
Mage - Mages are characters trained in a particular area of sorcery. They are typically much physically weaker than the knights in order to focus on their concentration and magical talents. Mages can specialize in light and dark magic or any kind of elemental magic, such as fire, water, earth, and wind.
Necromancer - Necromancers are an unseemly form of mages or healers whose spells deal with the raising of the dead and the summoning and control of various creatures for their own devices. Using their powers for the animation and enslavement of the fallen and summoning other wretched souls, they are experts in combat from afar.
Fortune Teller - A Fortune Teller is a form of mage that also specializes in gambling skills and have the ability to read fortune cards inside of the game for other characters to determine future outcomes.
Spiritualist - Spiritualists are a form of mage that fight with magical powers invoked by summoning creatures through paper slips known as ofuda. They specialize in neither white nor black magic, but rather a form of magic that is both good and evil or what is known as gray magic. They specialize in dealing with occult creatures and monsters.
Shamans - Shamans are a form of Spiritualist who inherit their spells and abilities through the death, scarifices, or shadows in forms of tattoos, runes, and divine writing across their skin. Their skills are most focused in channeling power spirits in battle and twisting shadows into their weapons.
Bard - Bard characters specialize in singing or playing a particular instrument. If trained in battle, Bards may use their skills to entice monsters with their music or set them at peace.
Cleric/Healer - Cleric characters are typically very weak in battle and specialize only in healing magic or medical training. Clerics usually travel with Fighters that can manage fighting monsters for them while they stand back to heal their wounds.
Monk - Monks are a form of healer that also specialize in martial arts abilities and empty-handed combat. Because of their battle skill, they typically have less healing abilities than a normal Cleric.
Animal Tamer - Animal Tamers have the skill to make companions with the computerized animals that run loose through Phantasm. Once an animal is tamed, an Animal Tamer may summon them in battle to fight monsters for them. It is also a Tamer's job to take care of their pets by naming them, feeding them, and giving them steady affection.
Sailor - Sailor characters have high navigation skills and a practiced profession for setting Phantasm's ships to sail. These characters often have a few low thief skills, especially those banded together in pirate ships.
Rogue - Rogue characters have a basic knowledge of all skills but may only specialize in one or two particular skills. Rogues usually have a very sharp tongue, have a way of manipulating things to go their way, and are typically trained in basic thief skills, such as stealth.
Thief - Thief characters specialize in stealth, lockpicking, and pickpocketing skills. These characters are able to steal from another character's belongings without anyone noticing or can break through treasure chests and door locks with more efficiency than other classes.
Ranger - Ranger characters have the best navigation skills of any other character and can find their way through the most complicated dungeons. They also have fair weaponry and animal taming skills, but their magic and physical abilities as a whole are not exceptional.
Assassin - Assassin characters have basic Thief skills as well as a great deal of strength and understanding of all different kinds of weaponry and poisons. However, assassins have a bad reputation as being player killers (PKs) and are often hunted down for it.
Merchant - Merchant characters are a jack-of-all trades sort of character, but specialize in no particular skill. Merchant characters typically train up one crafting skill to create goods that they can sell on an open market. These characters are typically computerized, non-playing characters or NPCs.
Seamster/Seamstress - These characters specialize in sewing abilities and can create any sort of clothing design with the purchase of fabric and often sell special orders of clothing to other characters once they are completed. They may also obtain materials from animals and use a loom to make their own thread for fabric rather than purchasing it.
Carpenter - Carpenter characters specialize in creating housing utilities out of wood, such as tables, chairs, etc. Most Carpenters excel at the Lumberjacking skill to cut down their own wood to create objects from. They make a great deal of money selling their items to other players that purchase homes within the game.
Bowyer - Bowyer characters specialize in creating bows and arrows or other weapons out of wood. They typically excel at the Lumberjacking skill to cut down their own wood to create their weapons from and then sell them to other players.
Blacksmith - Blacksmith characters specialize in creating custom weapons such as swords, axes, and spears that they can then sell to other players. Most Blacksmiths specialize in the mining skill to collect their own ore sell.
Character Positions
The position of a character refers to the status of their player. Although all other attributes concerning the player of a Phantasm character (such as their gender, age, etc.) are to remain hidden, it is important to know what sort of player they are. Examples of positions are listed below.
Game Master - Game Masters work with the actual company that created Phantasm to help serve the players within game when they are in trouble. Game Masters typically help beginning players learn how to play, save a character that is trapped in a particular location, or deal with unruly characters by asking the system administration to ban their account. Game Masters are usually referred to as GMs and are very well respected by most players.
Moderator - Moderators are the administrative staff of Phantasm that helped to create the game. They typically do not play a character within the game and are responsible only for system updates or banning the accounts of unruly players. They are thought of as one step above Game Masters, but rarely let their position be known if they are playing inside of the game.
Ordinary Player - These are the normal players inside of the game that have merely purchased Phantasm to play inside of it for enjoyment. They have no control over the game administration such as a Moderator or Game Master does. They are restricted by the game's rules and regulations and risk the chance of having their online account banned for breaking them.
Newbie - These are players that have just begun to play the game with little equipment or playing experience. These characters typically seek assistance from long-term players to help them travel and build levels.
Hacker - Hackers are players that attempt to tamper with Phantasm's system and change its functions to their advantage to grant themselves special items, skills, or graphics. They are hunted down relentlessly by Moderators and Game Masters to keep them from ruining the game's settings. This is limited to few depending on the quality of player. I do NOT want this position abused at all. Accepting 1 more hacker!!
Most characters will be expected to be Ordinary Players. I will allow a few Moderators and Game Masters depending on how many bios for them I receive. If I believe I have too many, I may respond to your bio and ask that you create an Ordinary Player instead.
AND NOW!! THE LONG AWAITED CHARACTER BIO FORM!! ^_____^ YAY!
NAME: The character's name within the Phantasm world. Please take note that no information on the actual player outside Phantasm should be given on the bio.
NICKNAME(S): Any nicknames the character may have that other players refer to them by. If your character has no particular nicknames, simply state 'None.'
GENDER: This is self-explanatory. Are you Male or Female?
AGE: This is the age that the character appears inside Phantasm, not how long they have been played. Age is chosen when a character is created, thus a character can begin looking any age of the player's choice.
HEIGHT: How tall a character is. Take note of the character's race for how tall they may be as well.
RACE: A character may be a Human, Elf, Pixie/Faerie, Dragon, Siren/Mermaid, Sprite, Beast, Angel, or Demon. For more information on these races, please refer to the Races section.
CLASS: A character may be a Fighter, Paladin, Dark Knight, Barbarian, Mage, Necromancer, Fortune Teller, Spiritualist, Shaman, Bard, Cleric/Healer, Monk, Animal Tamer, Sailor, Rogue, Thief, Ranger, Assassin, Merchant, Seamster/Seamstress, Carpenter, Bowyer, or a Blacksmith. For more information on these classes, please refer to the Classes section. If you would like to add a new class for your character, feel free to do so and I will give approval depending on the suggestion when I receive the bio.
POSITION: A character's position will be either a Game Master, Moderator, Ordinary Player, Newbie, or Hacker. For more information on these positions, please refer to the Positions section.
DESCRIPTION: This is what the character looks like. Hair, clothing, eyes, facial features, tone of voice, and the like should all be mentioned here. Also make sure that depending on the character's race, you mention the style and color of wings, ears, tails, etc.
BACKGROUND: This will tell what the character has been doing within the Phantasm game thus far. This includes their trained skills, what guild they are part of if they participate in one, whether they enjoy fighting monsters and searching through dungeons, meeting other players, etc.
PERSONALITY: This includes your character's attitude and what they act like towards other characters.
ABILITIES: This refers to your character's skills and what they are best at doing, including any particular weaponry or type or magic your character may use.
GUILD: This is the guild your character belongs to. For more information on Guilds, please refer to the Guilds section. If you would like to begin your character in no guild at all, simply put 'None' in this space.
HOBBIES: Any things that a character enjoys doing within the game, such as fighting, hunting, killing monsters, gambling, meeting other players, etc.
LIKES: Things that the character likes. These can include particular objects or feelings that the character has an affinity towards.
DISLIKES: Things that the character does not like. These can include particular objects or feelings that the character has a distaste towards.
OTHER: Any additional information on the character that has not been mentioned in the above sections. If you have nothing else to add, simply state 'None' in this space.
I believe I have changed everything that needed to be changed. So this is it! Get ready and sign up! ^__^