Tibia

Tibia is a vast online computer role-playing game (MMORPG) where thousands of players log in on a daily basis. The 2D sprite graphics of the game are generally considered to be below the level of most of today's computer games, but most players seem not to mind. The main reason the game has become so popular, is that you can download and play it free of charge. However, there is the option of buying a premium account, which gives the player great in game advantages and priority when logging on to crowded servers. To free account players, the message "Server Full, Only premium players are allowed to log in" is not uncommon (this has been changed recently, now there is a waiting list for free accounts to join servers). Another reason for the games popularity is the fact that the minor graphics and game play do not make it necessary for the player to have a broadband Internet connection, or highly advanced personal computer hardware.

Mostly, the players of the game will spend their online time training their skills, killing entire populations of monsters and scouring the continent for treasures and fortune. Also, they interact with other players to trade their loot or convince them to join forces to kill even stronger foes. The game depends on the community for the game balance, for all players are allowed to attack and kill each other whenever they please. The main reason for not killing all players you encounter, is that some players have vast networks of friends and possibly belong to one of the many players guilds. Also many Tibia players are known to have multiple player characters. Often, they will use their most powerful character to avenge the death of the weaker ones. Although the penalty for dying is hard, you can obtain items or blessings to decrease the loss of your deaths. Amulets of loss will keep your items but not your skills when you die. Blessings decrease the amount of experience lost. Of course, these items are only available for premium accounts. All the items you carry in your pack are dropped on the ground and there is a chance of losing parts of your equipment as well. Therefore, players may think twice before killing someone who might have friends.

In the recent years, the game was updated to contain a system (The Skull System) that makes sure players don't kill too much. Players who kill or attack a person who is not in your party automatically gets a temporary white skull mark, which is displayed next to the onscreen character. This allows any player to kill them without obtaining a skull. If you kill more people than allotted, you get a semi-permanent red skull mark, which means anyone can kill you and you'll drop all of your items on your character. If you persist to kill after that, you'll get an automatic banishment.

Currently, there are servers in the United States, Germany, and recently Brazil. There are several different server types, including Normal, where the skull system is located, Non-PvP, where you cannot attack any other player, and recently added PvP-Enforced, where there is no skull system or any protection from playerkilling whatsoever. You will actually gain experience here by killing other players.

In Tibia, there are monsters ranging from easy to kill rats, innocent dogs, and even deer, to dangerous Orc Warlords, Dragon Lords (see image above) and even Demons. There are four vocations you can be in Tibia: The Knight, who advances faster in melee but very slowly in magic. Knights have more hit points (HP) and less mana than the other vocations. Paladins, who advance faster in magic level than Knights but slower than Druids and Sorcerers. The specialty of the Paladin is distance fighting. Paladins have average HP/mana. The Druid, who advances faster in magic level than Knights or Paladins, and does poorly in melee skills. They have low HP and high mana and are skilled in using healing spells. Sorcerers are the last vocation, they are very similar to Druids, and have the same potential in melee, mana and health. The real difference between Druids and Sorcerers are the Spells they can cast. With the Druid leaning more on the side of healing spells and Sorcerer spells more focused for attack and destruction.