Beginners Guide
Anarchy Online is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG). The term applies to role-playing games that can be played online, hosting thousands of players simultaneously.
At first glance it is easy to see why Anarchy Online differs from other MMORPGs. Anarchy Online is the first ever science fiction MMORPG incorporating a number of new ideas and concepts. Up until Anarchy Online, all other MMORPGs had followed the fantasy theme.
Anarchy Online is also different from other games in the genre by offering random missions and dungeons, giving the player a unique gaming experience. Anarchy Online also has the capability to host up to 10,000 players simultaneously in one world, allowing you to make friends, or enemies, with more players than any other MMORPG. Anarchy Online truly puts the massive in Massively.
Anarchy Online is the first ever MMORPG to involve players in a dynamic and impressive story. Each and every player has the opportunity to play a part in the conflict between Omni-Tek and the Clans, whether it be fighting for peace or fighting for superiority. From a new citizen learning the skills of his profession, to a leader of a large and influential clan, each player may help shape the storyline to determine the fate of the inhabitants of Rubi-Ka.
All MMORPGs follow a similar advancement style. Players are able to increase their abilities and skills through combat and trade skills. Much like in real-life, characters in MMORPGs learn skills through advancement and by building upon other skills. As characters advance they may also branch out into other skills or specialize in a particular type. All this of course is at your control, so you may create a truly unique character.
MMORPGs are able to immerse you into a dynamic world where you ARE someone else, rather than a face behind the screen, and this is perhaps the key to why MMORPGs are the success they are today.
So, immerse yourself and welcome to Rubi-Ka, citizen.
Getting Started
Professions
Choosing a profession can be an important phase of playing a MMORPG. Some people will choose a profession that suits the playing style they have gotten used to through other games. Other people will choose a profession that best suits their personality. Remember that choosing a profession is up to you, so try to choose a profession you think you will like, and suits the role you wish to assume in Anarchy Online.
If you prefer to take the fight to your enemies, use an arsenal of weapons, and like the strong, lethal type, the Soldier, Enforcer or Martial Artist would be a great choice.
If you would like to be mysterious, has played a magic user in other games, or is interested in magic-like roles andeeffects, then the Nano Technician or Meta-Physicist could be the way to go.
If you like to support others, by healing or buffing (increasing the statistics), or you would like to employ a combination of combat and magic, then the Bureaucrat, Engineer, Doctor, Adventurer, or Trader could be for you.
If you like the shady types, loved playing a rogue or thief in other games, or like to attack stealthily and deal with traps, then the Fixer or the Agent is the profession of choice.
For a closer description of each profession, their advantages and disadvantages, have a look at the Anarchy Online manual.
Wearing Items
Open your Wear Window (the left-most box at the top of your screen) by left-clicking it. From here you may choose what you wear and what you equip. Left-click and drag your weapon to any slot in the Wear Window. Once you let go, the weapon will place itself in the correct slot. If you are Omni-Tek or Clan affiliated, do the same with your merit board, and if you are an Omni-Tek employee, do the same with your shirt.
To upload your nano crystal(s) so you can use nano formulas, shift+left-click on the nano crystal. In the box that appears you will find the requirements to use the nano crystal. Try shift+left click other items as well. You can get information about any item by doing this. Once you have found the requirements of a nano crystal, it is time for you to increase your skill levels so you can use it.
Increasing Skills
When you first arrive on Rubi-Ka, your skills are at the bare minimum according to your breed. They are your base skills. Therefore it is important for you to raise your skills, making you stronger, faster and even smarter. To raise skills, you must use the IP (improvement points) given to you.
To open your Skill View, click on "SKL" at the bottom of your screen or press "u" on your keyboard. In this window, you are able to allocate IP into your skills. At the top you will find your name, title, current level, and profession. To the right of this information, in yellow, you will see your available IP. This is the amount of IP you can now distribute.
A good tip is, at least for the first few levels: always increase your main attributes. These can be found in the first category and consist of such abilities as Strength, Intelligence, Body Development and Nano Pool. By using the tabs on the left of the Skill View, you can cycle through each category and put IP into other skills. Try to put some IP into weapon skills (such as the weapon you are using), speed skills (such as evade/dodge and offensive initiatives) and nano skills (especially the ones that correspond to the nano crystals you want to use).
To find out more about a skill, shift+left-click on it. Skills that are coloured green will take less IP to increase. Skills that are coloured blue/green take more IP to increase and skills coloured deep blue cost the most to increase. Once you have assigned your IP into your skills, righ-click on your nano crystal(s) to upload them into your nano program knowledge. If you open the Programs window (second window from the right at the top of your screen) you will see the nano program(s) you have uploaded.
Maps
The set of maps found in your inventory contains a map for each of the starting cities and low level hunting grounds for your alignment. To upload your maps, right-click on them. If you look at the Map window (fourth window from the right) you will see a map of the Training Grounds you are presently in. You are the yellow dot. Left-click on the map and drag it around to see what is around you. You can buy map upgrades later to increase what you can see.
Maps can be a valuable ally in Anarchy Online. By using the maps you buy or are given you can search for nearby cities, towns or even hunting spots. Upgraded maps will also show other players, monsters/aliens and even shops. With the right assortment of maps you will always know where you are, where you've been and where you are going.
Action Bar
By now you should now have your most of your items equipped on your body, with only your treatment kit and first aid kit left in your inventory. Your nano programs should also be stored in the Program window. You may use the items in your inventory and nano programs by clicking on the icons in their windows. However, to help speed things up and make managing your character easier, you have been given an Action Bar.
The Action Bar is the thin transparent bar near the top of your screen. You can hide/show it by pressing ‘y’ on your keyboard. If you left-click your treatment kit, drag it so it's over the Action Bar, and then left-click again the treatment kit will be placed in the Action Bar. Do this for your first aid kit and your nano program(s) as well.
The Action Bar allows you to quickly access an item without the need to open the windows which may end up cluttering your screen. To use an item in the action bar, simply press a number from 1 to 0 that corresponds with the placement of the item in the Action Bar. The first box in the Action Bar is 1, the second is 2 and so on so the last box is 0. We will cover how to use the items you have later.
