Author:pna1dra6on

As I shared info on what 9Dragons is all about with friends & other MMO enthusiasts I found myself having to figure out what does 9D truly have to offer? And so comes about this 9Dragons in a nutshell/summary in hopes to share with new players or those who may find interest in starting to play, what makes 9D great & what one can do in game through screenshots & videos.



INTRO:
9Dragons is a martial arts massive multiplayer online role-playing game. You have the ability to learn kungfu skills & overcome an array of challenges to become the best your character can become. All that you face will be unique to how you build your character & which paths you chose to follow. Whether you're Player vs Environment, Player vs Player, individual, or team focused the game has a little of everything for all interests. With the combo of stunning graphics & engaging storyline you will find yourself feeling literally thrown in the midst of historical china. In addition, all the holiday themed & surprise events, ever-changing community, & incoming content keeps one coming back for more.

The means for this is to be more of an overview as I tried to be short & to the point for each section, so for more detailed information regarding a topic below try referring to our Guide Centre:
If there's a topic you believe I overlooked feel free to reply & mention.



Clans: There are 6 clans all together divided into white & black clans. White clans: Wu Tang, League of Beggars, Shaolin monks. Black Clans: Heavenly Demon, Brotherhood of Thieves, Sacred Flower. Each clan has a unique fighting style & weaponry, their own map, & start off with their own clan specific quests.

Video of Snippets of Clans abilities: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTZL1bWODCg




Customization: With 6 clans and 4 different clases + vagabond one has a choice to pick from 25 different paths to follow & in the future advanced clans will bring about more choices. There are 300+ kungfu skills available & several ways to customize your characters face body & wardrobe. Through the game picking up new wardrobe such as hats or deccos (clothing sets) can also change your characters overall appearance. And your choice out of the many weapons that differ in its look over levels adds to the variety in game.



Graphics: features cutting-edge full 3D graphics but is also authentic to the heritage of unique martial arts. Based upon China during the Ming Dynasty, it includes actual Chinese geography and historical features such as the Great Wall of China and the famous Shao-Lin Temple. (wikipedia)

First 1min 30sec is devoted to scenery in game: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wzVipl_EhGE



Music: the music is so evocative of not only the time period, but also of the overall sense of adventure. (Steven-Elliot Altman writer of 9Dragons lore)

A mix of original music from 9D: http://profile.imeem.com/LuqqcT/music/jd-46-K6/remix_9longdragon/

Skills: as you level you have the chance to learn more kungfu skills and each role has specific skill types so be sure to find one that suits you. Each clan can chose from 4 different roles/classes/jobs- warrior (Known to deal a lot of damage), nuker (uses magic/spells to take down it's target. Strongest role but weakest defense), hybrid (well rounded character with a bit of all roles), healer (provides the best healing & character ability enhancing casts). One can also learn weapon skills outside your clan if you're quick enough to get past the guards by the entrance.

Picking your class guide: http://9dragons.mmosite.com/content/2007-12-27/20071227005223297.shtml
Skill overview separated by clans: http://9dragons.mmosite.com/guide/skill/skill_center.shtml

Weapons used by class


Example of the 4 roles


Bands/Leauges: a band, aka guild, is a group of no more than 40 members. bands are typically meant to be helpful, have fun conquering challenges in game together, & provide comradeship. Leagues are made up of atleast 2 bands and no more than 5. To start a band one must be RL lvl & have 5 members to begin.

ENFD band defeating bosses together: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DtoGiZmB10w&feature=related



Player Killing (Player vs Player): Asura is the server devoted to PvP with only clan base being a non-combat zone. The other 2 servers have maps that are designated for open PvP. The main combat zone is known as Bloody Plains & also hosts clan wars & has mobs available to grind on if you choose to.

PvP in Bloody plains video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2SeyZSEIBtM
MMOSITE's PK guide: http://9dragons.mmosite.com/guide/pvp/whatispk.shtml

Find rare drops: Everyone seeks to have the best of the best or the best of what they can get a hold of. Here's just a few things highly regarded in game - 4pocket clothing (the extra pockets allow you to hold more items on you to enhance your abilities), speed clothes/accessories (typically used for PvP), wild tower clothing, EC Relics/Elixers/trinkets (enhances your abilities), mushrooms (boosts chance of maxing lvls of certain abilities), Blood Essence (used to refine weapons)

Elixers
Accessories
Relics
Ornaments
Trinkets & more
Wildtower Dungeon clothing


Karma in simple terms is defined by how much good/bad deeds you've committed. If you are a white clan member & killed a black clan member you will gain good karma, while killing your own clan members will gain you bad karma. Other acts such as enlightening/preventing someone from dying when they are on their knees will gain you good karma. Karma is more importantly needed to wear items called relics which enhance your abilities or for titles which allow you to wear specific relics based on titles.

Karma Guide

minion of the damned ¨C 100 bad karma & seeker of attonement ¨C 1000 good karma are the first title's you can attain


Karma title relic


Boss hunting: there are several boss' strewn about the various maps that spawn at random times which can drop useful items. Taking down a boss may require a team effort to complete the task.

locations of bosses
Video of True General Wei (hardest boss in 9D at the moment): http://youtube.com/watch?v=9KZ595o3U4E

First boss you can find is white shadow in your clan base map


Dungeon runs: There is a dungeon on each map other than clan base maps. One defeats dungeons in order to loot items/gain boss drops/earn titles, which enhance your characters abilities. Choice of Fate is the first that one may enter, while Wild Tower(black side) / Mansion (white side) is the hardest dungeon at the moment.

Wild Tower Dungeon Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc8MgYWi79I (courtesy of ash1taka339)

Choice of Fate on a bonus red run. Meaning extra gold chests & extra bosses.


Wild Tower Final Bosses


League/guild battles (Storm vs Storm): fighting alongside your guild mates to defeat other guilds & claim victory over a fortress which houses numerous amounts of loot & awards you with a special outfit. League/Band Masters can only fight the boss owner within the fortress' building itself. Mobs & Boss are present on exterior for rest of guild to handle.

Storm vs Sotrm trailer video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tqYUZ1NYPZM
Storm wars info: http://phpbb.acclaim.com/9dragons/viewtopic.php?t=58756&highlight=storm++storm


SvS layout




Clan Wars: In game there is white clans & black clans. In a specific map called Bloody Plains (BP) you try to defeat your opposing sides boss in order to win a special buff which boosts your abilities for a set amount of time. Forum Description: http://phpbb.acclaim.com/9dragons/viewtopic.php?t=24527

A past war flash done for my previous alliance forums


Duels: you can request to duel people in an arena one on one or go to a combat zone & duel as you go along. Theres group duels given as an option at the duel arena but not presently implemented.

Dueling Vid: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cz47zZ_aU7U

Weapon Refinement: Due to the varying chance of getting your weapon to +9 which is present highest lvl many are focused on acquiring the 50+ Blood Essences to reach that lvl & hope during the refinement process it doesnt break. the higher lvl you get it to the more damage it possesses. at +3 it gains a white glow at +9 it glows red. Lvl 1 & lvl 2 refinement you can buy from Hefei Market General Store without needing BE.

Weapon Refinement: http://space.mmosite.com/webdata/html/2007/06/08/5e0c8d36e31a.html



Quests: there are individual & party quests, which gain you items/experience/knowledge. Party quests have specific requirements before you can begin so be sure they're all met. Some quests also reward you epithet titles or allow you to compete to place a best record. #1 positions for heroic quests gain you a unique epithet as well.



Conqueror's Cave: a location within another map that has several levels & no map for you to preview it. It is another place in which you can grind, but is a combat zone so PvP is allowed here. Advantages is better experience, drop rates, bosses dropping unique trinkets or plates. You do however need herbs in order to survive, because without them your life is sucked away by poison. The herbs spawn in chests surrounding the exterior of CC in bloody plains map. Last level of the cave can only be entered if you gain a buff from clan wars and contains a boss which requires a strong party to defeat & have to be weary of others PKing you.

Run through of CC: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wk3oQlMLmPU



Collectibles: There are items one must gather in order to complete a collectibles section. There are several collectibles categories one can try to complete. The collectibles for the different maps will gain you elixirs & the note worthy collectible category is the gold seals of five elements. You must complete 5 other categories in order to gain the +5 to all attributes seal. Many consider this to be a great accessory to have.

Collectibles of the lands list: http://9dragons.mmosite.com/content/2008-01-22/20080122193047379.shtml



Market trading: in order to gain money to trade for things you need or get rid of things you dont need. Some are very bent on just making a lot of money in case one cant find an item on their own & resort to buying them instead.

Hefei is the central market location. Here's a shot during Christmas event with many in their santa outfits.
(SS by mazterl)


Leveling: for some just being able to get on the ranking list is of importance or challenging one's self to see how fast he/she can make it to the present cap. Also the higher lvl you get the more different type of mobs/drops you get to see & get a change of scenery. Ranking list: http://9dragons.acclaim.com/ranking.html

Chat: there's private messaging (whisper), group (party) chat, guild (hero band) chat, alliance chat, & across the lands (roar) chat available. The game can get quite tedious the higher lvl you get so making a few friends to chat with makes time pass a bit faster.



With all said and done, may your venture into 9Dragons be an enjoyable one. Best Wishes & Good Luck Grinding



official trailer with english subtitles: http://youtube.com/watch?v=MBptlvyGMvs
Official trailer in tw: http://video.mmosite.com/display.php?vid=4342&gid=570