Rappelz - Interview with Tanda

Rappelz's GM Tanda was kind enough to give MMORPG-Gamer an interview and tells abit about Rappelz.

Gamer: Hi! How are you? I am Gamer of MMORPG-Gamer.com, tell us about your role and what you do in Rappelz.

Tanda: I’m doing well. I’m excited about Rappelz! I am Tanda, the head Game Master for Rappelz. I do a lot of things including: planning and running in-game events, bug tracking and testing, solving customer service issues, answering emails, etc.

Gamer: Can you tell us a bit more about Rappelz? There isn't exactly a lot of information about the game on the website.

Tanda: The game lore in Rappelz borrows some concepts from Hindu mythology. In Rappelz the gods of creation and extinction thought the human race (Gaia) were too ignorant to develop on their own. So they sent the Deva and Asura to help the humans. The Deva represent lightness and creation and the Asura represent darkness and extinction.

Gamer: Can you tell us a bit about the 3 races, what are their roles in the game and what makes them different from one another?

Tanda: Each race has multiple classes including one specializing in pets. As you would imagine, the Deva have more healing type spells and abilities, the Asura have more damage and curse types. The Gaia have more physical attack skills.

Gamer: When is Rappelz expecting to launch? The open beta is scheduled for 2nd October 2006.

Tanda: Rappelz is scheduled to go live in November.

Gamer: What makes Rappelz stand apart from other MMO games out there in the market today?

Tanda: Rappelz has many features that will appeal to MMO players. The first feature is the pet system. Any player can have pets in Rappelz. There are many types of pets. Some pets do melee damage, some cast healing spells, some are tanks, etc. Pets level up with players and can learn skills. You can also equip your pets with equipment to boost their stats.

Another major feature that will appeal to MMO players is our dungeon system. Rappelz is the only free-to-play MMORPG that I know of that offers end game dungeons. Each weekend the dungeons open to dungeon sieges. The first guild that completes a dungeon siege owns the dungeon for a week. When your guild owns a dungeon it collects a percentage tax on all money and lak from the dungeon.

Rappelz also has mounts, even early in the game.
Gamer: What is the business model for Rappelz? Is it going to be Free-To-Play like other GPotato games like FlyFF?

Tanda: Rappelz, like all other GPotato games, will be free-to-play with a cash shop. Players who do not participate in the cash shop will be able to compete with the players who do.

Gamer: How will PvP be treated? Will there be specific PvP and PvE servers? Are there any death penalties for PvE or PvP?

Tanda: There will be separate PvP and PvE servers. There is experience loss for deaths from monsters. On the PvE server if you die from another player there is no experience loss. On the PvP server there is experience loss from being killed by another player.

When you PK someone you gain immorality points. When you gain many immorality points you suffer temporary penalties such as reduced movement and attack speed and other stat losses. Immorality points reduce over time and through normal PvE activities.

Gamer: A lot of MMO gamers complain about the grinding of levels in their games. How will Rappelz treat this major complaint about MMORPGs? Tell us more about the Stamina system.

Tanda: Grinding in MMO games exists because gaining levels and power is a major part of the game. If players become too powerful too fast then a major part of these games is trivialized. On the other hand, the game should be fun enough and advancement quick enough so playing does not feel like work. We believe the gameplay and the quest and stamina systems will help alleviate the grind.

The stamina system works by providing players with bonus EXP and JP when they have stamina. Stamina is gained by resting in-game and being logged off the game. There are also stamina potions to give players stamina. The amount of bonus points you gain is based upon how much stamina you have. So if your stamina bar is full you will gain more bonus points than if it was ¼ full. You lose stamina when you get these bonus points.

The stamina system helps more casual players keep up with more hard core players.

Gamer: The MMORPG genre has come under criticism since so many of the females in these games are big-breasted and wear little clothing or armor despite that many of these females are supposedly engaged in military activities. What do you think of this criticism and how does Rappelz appeal to the female gamers?

Tanda: This criticism applies to the whole game industry and not just to MMORPGs. Rappelz features women who are strong and have power. Women are not depicted as defenseless and weak. Not all of the female clothing is skimpy. I believe these facts and the involved pet system will appeal to female gamers.

Gamer: What one specific feature that you think will appeal to gamers the most in Rappelz?

Tanda: If I had to pick one feature that will appeal to gamers I would say it is the pet system. Number two would be our dungeon system.

Gamer: Is there anything that you would like to add about Rappelz?

Tanda: Rappelz is a great game with lots of potential. Unlike other games with pets, in Rappelz pets play a large role and all characters can have useful pets. The ability to own dungeons will keep people excited and involved in the world of Rappelz.

It is impossible to “ruin your build” in Rappelz. If you feel you have made bad decisions with your skill choices you can always just kill more monsters for more Job Points to learn new skills.

Rappelz features beautiful graphics and music. The quest and stamina system in Rappelz will help break up any grind. Rappelz is, and always will be, free to play! Come try it out!

Gamer: Thank you for your time and showing us the world of Rappelz.

Tanda: You are welcome!