Anarchy Online Universe

ANOTHER UNIVERSE

Anarchy Online is a Science Fiction MMORPG released by Funcom in 2001. This is a subscription game with four expansions: The Notum Wars, The Shadowlands, Alien Invasion and Lost Eden. There is currently a free to play version in the basic game.

Anarchy takes place on the mining colony world of Rubi-Ka some 30,000 years in the future. There, the Clans seek freedom from what they see as the oppressive rule of the mega-corporation Omni-Tek with the Neutrals not taking sides. Each side uses nanotechnology, body augmenting implants, air born vehicles, and a wide range of weaponry and skills. Thrown into this already volatile mix is the threat of alien invaders and the mysterious alternate world of the Shadowlands.

This sci-fi based MMORPG is quite a complex undertaking, and definitely not for those with low level patience, because it requires a sound base of knowledge, and perseverance to master the skills of each of the professions. Each profession provides a link in creating a well-organized team for combat and other activities, but each profession in itself brings its own uniqueness. One of the more exciting aspects of Anarchy is, you are not relegated to one character, but can create multiple characters with each account, and in any of the professions depending on needs or play style, including the current free-to-play accounts.

PROFESSIONS

ADVENTURER

An Adventurer's soul is at home in the wild. Adventurers study the animals, learn their ways and gain some of their abilities along the way. Their weapon skills are well balanced with equal advancement opportunities in melee and ranged combat. They also become skilled at using nanotechnology to withstand damage or to create metaphysical cloaks that damage their aggressors. An Adventurer is an excellent healer, only truly rivaled by the Doctor. One of the more unique aspects of an Adventurer is, they can morph into various animals and gain increased protection and damage.

AGENT

An Agent's life is spent in the shadows. Agents focus on concealment and subterfuge skills and one of their special abilities is going undercover. Doing so enables them to use nanotechnology normally only available to other professions. When it comes to combat, the Agent's speciality is sniping opponents with high velocity rifles using unique nanotechnology to further increase the damage.

BUREAUCRAT

The Bureaucrat brings order to chaos. Bureaucrats have very limited weapon skills but their vast knowledge of nanotechnology makes up for that. They use it to directly damage opponents and create robots that will fight for them. But most importantly, a Bureaucrat uses nanotechnology to boost his leadership skills and to control hostile beings, bending their minds and blurring their aims. In a team situation, a Bureaucrat is therefore a natural leader.

DOCTOR

A Doctor is really a biotechnology specialist. The Doctor's prime skills focus mainly on healing and protecting but they also learn how to produce and administer powerful bio toxins that slow, weaken and wear down their opponents. Limited weapon skills can lead to a bumpy ride when going solo, but in a team the Doctor really shines. When chaos descends on the team in combat, its survival usually lies squarely on the Doctor's shoulders, so this profession is not for the fainthearted.

ENFORCER

An Enforcer specializes in close combat using raw power and naked rage to subdue opponents. Enforcers are physically better suited than all others to sustain damage and can learn some protective nanotechnology to further increase their chances of survival. Their brutality and in-your-face combat attitude normally makes them the prime targets for any opponent. Enforcers utilize this for the good of the team and rely largely on others to heal them.

ENGINEER

An Engineer is a specialist in creating all sorts of machinery. Engineers really excel in constructing powerful battle droids and have access to unique nanotechnology to enhance and repair them. The Engineer's weapon skills are not that great, but the Engineer/robot pet duo is quite formidable. All
Engineers learn to create powerful protective shields and the best Engineers can hack into satellites, and use them to teleport any member of the team to the Engineer's location.

FIXER

A Fixer specializes in getting people what they need when they need it. By hacking into what is known as The Grid from anywhere in the world, Fixers can use it to transport themselves or their entire team in digital form around Rubi-Ka. The Fixers move fastest of all, and special armors make them the hardest to hit as well. A Fixer's main combat strategy lies in limiting the maneuverability of opponents, and they favor weapons from the sub-machine gun category.

KEEPER - (only available if you have the Shadowlands expansion)

The Keeper is a fighter that radiates valor and heroism, a beacon of light and hope to the team. A formidable opponent who specializes in close combat, the Keeper is especially proficient wielding two-handed edged weapons. This profession's uniqueness lies in the ability to share life and diverse powers with nearby allies. As a genetically engineered profession dependent on an abundance of notum, the Keeper must begin life in the Jobe research facilities in the Shadowlands.

MARTIAL ARTIST

When it comes to dishing out raw combat damage, a Martial Artist outshines all other professions. Fighting unarmed, the Martial Artist's main strength lies in his fists themselves coupled with his extra special attacks, knowing how to cripple opponents by attacking their weak spots. The Martial Artist is also a very proficient healer, truly surpassed by only the Doctor and the Adventurer.

META-PHYSICIST

The Meta-Physicists get their strength from the "other side." They can manifest their emotions in the material world and eventually control multiple materialized entities and use them in combat. The uniqueness of a Meta-Physicist lies in manipulating the underlying fabric of the world where nanotechnology operates, adjusting the nanotechnology skills of friends and foes alike. Their weapon skills are poor but they can use their powers to damage their opponents directly.

NANO TECHNICIAN

A Nano Technician is an expert user of aggressive nanotechnology. Nano Technicians are experts at using nanotechnology to deal explosive area-of-effect damage and the types of damage they can manage is incomparable. They are also capable of using other kinds of nanotechnology, and can for Example, warp themselves between locations. NanoTechnicians must be devoted to nanotechnology skills and as a result, physical and weapon skills will suffer.

SHADE - (only available if you have the Shadowlands expansion)

The Shade is a mix between a predator and a parasite. Dark and aggressive, the Shade sucks the life and energy out of opponents, robbing them of the basic elements they need to subsist. The Shade stays out of harm's way by relying on concealment and good combat mobility. Shades can't wear any armour, but have nano technologically-enhanced tattoos grafted into their skin to give them some protection. As a genetically engineered profession dependent on an abundance of notum, a Shade must begin life in the Jobe research facilities in the Shadowlands.

SOLDIER

A Soldier strives for excellence in armed combat. The skill advancement of Soldiers focuses entirely on assault and survival. They use unique nanotechnology to protect their bodies, enhance reflexes, weapon skills and their armor. Perhaps most importantly, Soldiers are able to create strong damage absorption shields around themselves which make them partly invulnerable and even reflect some of the damage back to the attacker.

TRADER

The Trader is the ultimate entrepreneur, getting more for less in every single transaction. Like others, they create and trade material goods, but in combat situations, they use unique nanotechnology that enables them to drain opponents of skills, energy and health, transferring those benefits to themselves or their allies. This frequently causes the most formidable opponents to wither to a cracked shell of their former self.

GAME PLAY

What's captivating in this environment is the game play. It's multidimensional, expansive, and quite unique in its terrain and travel. A variety of personal air and ground vehicles are available that allow you to navigate from one point to another at a much faster pace, and personally, I'm quite addicted to flying above cities and outlying areas in what I have named my "StarShip9." Yes, that's lightening, and thunderstorms DO occur, which I absolutely love flying in, because there are times when the lightening will pop right next to the ship and scare the crap outta me ... I'm such a virtual thrill-seeker.

The Adventurer profession also has the ability as well (once skilled to the level) to morph into a parrot form. This is the only morphed form that allows the Adventurer to fly above the cities and terrain, and accomplish movement from one point to another as if in a spacecraft. It's quite the experience to be able to move closer (or so it seems) to a vast open space in the universe while watching orbiting moons, suns, and perhaps other planets. Personal transport to missions or other activities is also safer than traveling the terrain on foot where you might otherwise run into a host of creatures that aren't so kind about your intrusion.

Each expansion of Anarchy brings with it excitement and adventure, not to mention terrain that is both mesmerizing and terrifying at times, but certainly adrenaline-pumping and a great way to share experiences with your virtual family. Granted, the graphics are not up to par with some universes, but the key factor for many seems to be the game play aspect that keeps them engaged at a level that holds their attention. Fashion, housing, unique temples and other structures are worth exploring, but then, this universe offers a great deal to be explored, and it seems to be neverending.

The best part of all, is that it's not a costly adventure, which makes it that much more sweet. Also, belonging to an organization that owns it's own city complete with a large headquarters building that houses a master conference room, an assembly meeting hall for all organization members, a functional scientific laboratory, and massive night club, along with a grid house, mining operations facility, a player market with over 100 personal terminals, and a number of claimed properties with tower fields makes it a more adventurous and beneficial proposition indeed.

However, there's always that rogue alien raid on the city that makes it all the more exciting, and when the alien mother ship moves across the universe to get into position, it's just a site to behold, because it's huge and awe inspiring. That's before the mother ship launches a warship that drops aliens to cause havoc in the city where the organization members find themselves in a battle, but well worth the effort, not to mention gaining alien experience as a byproduct. Check out the "Alien Raid on Rising Sun City" in the Latest Videos section of the website.

All in all, this universe is quite engaging, and I am fascinated by the level of education and thought process required to advance each character, which is totally unique. It's definitely not something that happens overnight, but the journey is continuously rewarding, which I feel is important in gaining and maintaing one's involvement in this environment. There's so much to do and explore, and the potential for fun is just neverending.

Anarchy is yet another home in the vastness of the universe that JetStar Alliance has comfortably settled into, and we are very appreciative and grateful to the Rising Sun organization that we now call family. We have great respect and appreciation for their continued leadership, support, and most assuredly the special friendships that have developed. Their mentoring and guidance is incredibly generous, not to mention the massive amounts of fun we have. Our gratitude and respect goes to all of them, and especially to Nyt and Angel for their combined corporate leadership and efforts that keep us the respected and wonderful organization that Rising Sun has become.

WATCH FOR THE AO VIDEOS THAT WILL
GIVE YOU A MORE IN-DEPTH PEEK INTO THIS UNIVERSE

MindStar9
Jan 1, 2009


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