MapleStory/Gameplay

MapleStory (Korean: 메이플스토리) is a free, 2D, side-scrolling Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game developed by the Korean company Wizet. Several versions of the game are available for specific countries or regions, and each is published by various companies such as Wizet and Nexon. Although playing the game is free, many player appearances and gameplay enhancements can be purchased from the "Cash Shop" using real money. MapleStory has a combined total of over 50 million players in all of its versions. MapleStory Global, for players mainly outside of East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe, has over one million players.

In the game, players defend the "Maple World" from monsters and develop their character's skills and abilities, as in typical role-playing games. Players can interact with others in many ways, such as through chatting, trading, and playing minigames. Groups of players can band together in parties to hunt monsters and share the rewards. Players can also band in a guild to interact more easily with each other.

Gameplay
Like most MMORPGs, gameplay centers on venturing into dungeons and combating monsters in real-time. The players combat monsters and complete quests, in the process acquiring in-game currency, called "Mesos" or "Meru", experience points (EXP), and various items.

Characters advance in level by gaining a preset amount of EXP for each level. The maximum possible level is level 200. Upon leveling up, players receive Ability Points and Skill Points to distribute among their abilities and skills.

MapleStory's 2D side-scrolling viewpoint more closely resembles a platformer than the typical 3D or top-down view of other games (such as Guild Wars or Mu Online). The controls for the game are executed using the computer keyboard and mouse. The keyboard is used for many game functions, and much of it can be re-arranged to suit users' needs. The mouse is mainly used to trigger NPCs, or Non-player characters, and manipulating items.

MapleStory characters exist in "worlds" or "servers". Players are allowed to create up to three different characters in each world. Each world, similar in content between each other in the same version, is split into at most twenty channels, among which characters are allowed to freely switch. However, characters and their items cannot be transferred between worlds, although there is limited functionality in transferring items between characters of the same world.

New players
New players are sent to Maple Island, a floating island specifically designed to be beginner-friendly. Unlike many other MMORPGs, players in MapleStory cannot choose a character class or job when they create the character. Rather, every character starts with the job Beginner until they meet the requirements to complete the first job advancement.

When a player creates a new character, he or she is able to allocate ability points amongst four different abilities. Players cannot manually choose where these points will be placed, as the distribution is randomly generated by a dice roll. In addition, the player is able to choose from a limited variety of faces, hair styles, hair colors, skin colors, and initial equipment for their character. After the character's creation, the cosmetic aspects of these can be modified only through the quest "Beauty and the Beast" or purchase of special coupons from the Cash Shop.

Dying
When a character's hit points reach zero, the character dies. This is depicted by a tombstone falling from the top of the screen, and the character transmuting to a floating, ghost-like body. The character is incapable of moving, but they retain the ability to speak. Instead of the usual speech bubble, a "thought bubble" is substituted.

Death will normally cost a character a percentage of EXP, never to fall below zero percent. Beginners do not lose EXP when they die. Items such as the one-use Safety Charm (available from the Cash Shop) can prevent EXP loss when the character dies.

Players are notified upon death. If they choose, characters may then be sent to the nearest town. Otherwise, characters remain dead for a limited amount of time before automatically being transported to the nearest town. Upon returning to the nearest town, characters are revived with fifty HP, as well as the same amount of MP they possessed upon death.

Abilities
There are four types of abilities and two sub-types of abilities, with varying degrees of value, depending on character class. General effects of each stat do not depend on a character's class; however, damage will vary based on job, level, and the equipped weapon. Characters generally raise one main stat to increase their damage output, as well as one minor stat to meet the requirements to equip weapons and armor and/or increase the specialties that come with some of the abilities. These are raised using Ability Points (AP).

Skills
Every character class has various skills in which to invest Skill Points (SP). A skill becomes increasingly powerful or helpful depending on the amount of SP invested in the skill. There are 3 types of skills: Passive, Supportive, and Active. Each skill can be mapped to a specific button to simplify activation.


 * Passive skills take effect as long as SP has been placed in the skill. The amount of passive skill effects enhance the character and are not prone to negatively affecting other user specialties. Passive skills do not require any usage of MP or HP.
 * Supportive skills can be used when necessary. They require MP and sometimes HP or special items. Their effects temporarily benefit one's character and/or party members, or disable monsters in some way (eg. reduce attack). Some supportive skills are only available depending on the equipped weapon.
 * Active skills are skills that are used to damage and defeat enemies. Like supportive skills, they require MP, and sometimes HP. In most cases, a specific type of weapon is required to use an active skill.

Parties
Players can kill monsters alone, or they can form a party with up to 5 other characters. One character forms a party as the leader, and invites others to the party. The leader must be at least level 10 or have already completed the first job advancement to create a party. While killing monsters, Mesos and EXP are shared based on damage dealt to the monster as well as each character's relative level, more of each being given to higher-level members. The EXP and Mesos gained are only shared if the party members are on the same map and channel. Joining a party without helping is known as "leeching" and is generally considered rude.

Guilds
Players can form Guilds with other players. The purpose of a guild is to be able to find and chat with each other more easily, to bond with other players, and make it easier when trying to complete a quest. Members have their guild's name listed under their character name along with the guild's emblem, if applicable.

Guilds can be created at Orbis for a large amount of Mesos. Additional upgrades to the guild such as a guild emblem and expanding the maximum amount of guild members will carry an additional fee. For each expansion, the cost is more.

Guilds have a customizable hierarchy of five ranks. The "Guild Master", who initially created the guild, have complete control over the guild. "Jr. Masters", appointed by the Guild Master, have limited control over the guild. Each guild member's rank, level, and job is displayed in the guild window. A special guild only quest called "Sharenian" is available. It is much like a party quest, but more difficult.

There are now guild forums in the global version.

Monsters
Killing monsters gives a player experience, Mesos, and/or items. Any experience gained is automatically added to the player’s total experience, whereas the Mesos and items are dropped at the location of the monsters' death.

Like human-controlled characters, monsters have defense ratings against attacks. In addition, some monsters have elemental strengths and weaknesses making them more or less susceptible to specific elemental attacks. Nearly all monsters can damage the player simply through contact. Some monsters can use skills similar to the player's.

There are several boss monsters which can be found throughout the MapleStory world. Each boss is located at their respective map and do not appear at other maps beyond their bounds. Most boss monsters have special privileges such as high attack and HP, summoning abilities, and dispelling abilities. Spoils from bosses are also typically dominant over other similar items in the boss' level group. Bosses spawn less frequently than normal monsters.

Quests
Quests are varying tasks that players may perform for NPCs in return for experience and possible rewards. There are over a hundred available quests, each with varying prerequisites; most quests may require the player to have attained a certain level or to have completed another certain quest. Most available quests require the player to retrieve a certain amount of spoils attained from monsters or to traverse an obstacle course. Some quests can be repeated, although the reward(s) and given EXP may be different from those attained during their first completion.

Accompaniments/Party Quests
Although not listed as a quest, accompaniments are a special type of quest where a party of players must work together to complete several challenges. Although officially called "Accompaniments", they are commonly referred to as "Party Quests" or "PQs" interchangeably. Each of the six PQs have their own level limits which every character in the party must be within to enter the quest.

Jump quests
Jump quests are a unique type of quest in which a character starts at one area of a map and uses timed jumps to get from one to another specific platform. The player attempts to avoid enemies and obstacles that can knock them off the platform. Enemies would be invincible and have less attack power than normal. Jump quests typically require precise timing, although the reaped rewards are re-attainable. Mobility skills are disabled in Jump Quests, as are speed and jump boosts.

World
There are three main continents (Maple, Victoria, and Ossyria Islands) common to all versions in the MapleStory world.

Maple Island is where every new player begins the game, and has short, tutorial quests. When a player leaves the island, they are unable to return to it (except in ChinaMS). A "world map", which displays all of the towns, is available for the island.

Victoria Island has six towns: Lith Harbor, Henesys, Ellinia, Perion, Kerning City, and Sleepywood. From Lith Harbor, one can travel to Florina Beach. From Ellinia, one may take a flying ship to Ossyria Island. Victoria Island has a world map.

Ossyria Island also has nine towns: Orbis, El Nath, Aquarium (Aqua Road), Ludibrium, Omega Sector, Korean Folk Town, Riprey, WuLing, and Hundred Grass Village. El Nath and Aquarium are accessible by descending the Orbis Tower. A train transports players to Ludibrium, from which Omega Sector and Korean Folk Town can be reached by descending one of two towers. A giant blue bird transports players to Riprey along with a giant crane transports players to WuLing and Hundred Grass Village parts of Ossyria Island. Ossyria has no world map.

In certain versions, there are various additional continents: Coca-Cola World, Zipangu/Japan, China, Taiwan, and Floating Market/Thailand. There are also two marriage areas called Peach Blossom Island and Amoria, each available in various versions. Happyville and Shalom Temple are event towns, and have limited availability, only accessible during a certain period. Premium Road is accessible only if the player is connected to the game from an Internet Cafe that has contracts with its local MapleStory version.

Items
Items can be acquired from monster drops, purchased from other characters or shops, or as rewards for completing a quest. In some versions of the game, items can be obtained through cash with the gachapon system. Players buy gachapon tickets with cash and each of these tickets can be exchanged for a random item. Unnecessary items can be dropped (where they can be picked up by any other character), sold to any shop for a sum of meso, or sold/traded to other characters. Generally the stronger the monsters are the better the items they drop. Due to the time required to sell valuable items to other players as well as the quantity of items received, many players create a mule account to store excess items and act as a dedicated trading account.

Inventory
There are five different item categories in the game: Equipment (clothes, accessories, and weapons); Use (potions, scrolls and other consumables); Set-up (decorations); Etc. (monster drops, ores, and quest items); and Cash (items bought from the cash shop). In the inventory window, each category has its own section, each of which is only able to contain a limited amount of items; however, extra inventory space can be purchased in the Cash Shop. Extra inventory space is also awarded after each job advancement.

Equipment can be upgraded by using item upgrade scrolls which give stat bonuses to equipment. Using a scroll on an item can only be attempted a limited number of times irrespective of the scroll's success or failure. The number of attempts varying with the item type. Scrolls have a certain percentage of success, and the lower the success percentage, the higher the stat gains provided by the scrolls. Scrolls can only be used when you have equipped the item that you wish to upgrade, but in KoreanMS and JapanMS, there is a new beginner skill that allows you to scroll an item without the need of equipping it.

Cash Shop
Since MapleStory is free, the developers of MapleStory introduced the Cash Shop to generate revenue. This is a virtual shop where players can buy items using real money. The items sold in the Cash Shop include clothing items, appearance-changing coupons, pets, and usable items that provide special bonuses, such as a bonus in experience gain. Most Cash Shop items expire after a certain period of time.

Pets, modeled after animals such as monkeys, dogs, cats, bunnies, pandas, and pigs, follow the owner around and can be equipped to pick up spoils dropped by enemies.

The Global Cash Shop markets items for two virtual currencies: Nexon Cash (NX Cash), and "MaplePoints". NX Cash is purchased outside of MapleStory through the MapleStory web site. MaplePoints, however, can be earned through special events.

Many people take advantage of the fact that people are unable to pay for Nexon Cash and are accepting items and Mesos to trade for Nexon Cash. People are also attracting people using referral sites that give PayPal money as a reward for doing offers. However, such transactions are deemed illegal and any user involved in such a transaction may be banned if caught by a Game Master.

On 23 June 2006, GlobalMS announced that people had been abusing the Nexon Cash "gifting" feature, and ultimately decided to disable the feature indefinitely. The reason GlobalMS has given for this decision is that many people have been fraudulent towards PayPal and Wizet itself.

In MapleSEA's case, in addition to credit card payment (through PayPal), it has also released Prepaid cards. As for GlobalMS, Prepaid cash-value cards, or "Nexon Cards", are now released.

The Nexon prepaid cash cards are currently available in nationwide (US) Target stores. They are in the Music Card Section. An event has been added, named "Spot On" to introduce the partnership. Completing the quest involves talking to two NPCs who give information about the sale of cash cards.

Free Market
The Free Market is a place set aside for people who wish to sell their items amongst other players. Miniature shops can be set up in this area in which people can browse their stock. Shop permits, required to set up a shop, are only available through the Cash Shop. There are two types of store permits: a standard store, which requires the presence of the player, and the "Mushroom House Elf", which does not require the presence of the player. One can meet with players located in other towns, provided the town contains a Free Market entrance. However, one cannot use the free market to travel between towns. There are entrances to the Free Market in many of the various towns, but not all.

Unique gameplay features
Although a purely two-dimensional game lacking certain features found in other MMORPGs, MapleStory has features that distinguish it from other online games. For example, by pressing certain keys, a player can have their character temporarily display various emotions viewable by other players; some emotions showcase a confused expression, while another conveys happiness. Additional expressions can be purchased in the Cash Shop.

Fame
Fame is the designation for one of the statistics on a character's character sheet. Although publicized by the game's creators, fame serves no practical purpose. Once characters are at the minimum requirement of level 15, they are able to raise or lower the fame of any character once per day. A character cannot raise or lower the same character's fame more than once every thirty days. Some quests may award a player fame points, or even take some away. Fame has no significant effect in the game, except for certain quest prerequisites and select equipments.

Minigames
There are various minigames that one can play, both solo and multi-player: Omok, Match Cards, Pachinko, Gachapon, Rock Paper Scissors, and Fish Catching.


 * Omok is the Korean cognate of the Japanese game "Gomoku". Omok is akin to tic-tac-toe. To win, a player needs to place 5 of their pieces in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line.
 * Match Cards is also known as "Concentration". Match Card games can be opened in grids of 3x4, 4x5, and 5x6 cards. The face-down side of the cards contain images of various monsters, which players take turns matching.
 * Pachinko is a mini-game exclusive to JapanMS. Pachinko balls may be purchased in the Cash Shop and are required in order to play. The player must be in a Pachinko store to play the game. In order to win, one needs to get the Pachinko balls in a mushroom hole below a slot. Once it is in, the slot will start. If the player obtains a certain amount of balls, he or she may win in-game prizes.
 * Gachapon (also known as Gacapon, Gashapon or Ga-cha-pon) is a slots minigame, in which the player inserts a ticket and a random prize comes out. To play Gachapon, one must first purchase a Ga-cha-pon Ticket from the Cash Shop. The Ga-cha-pon machines are located in various towns.
 * Rock Paper Scissors is a one-player minigame based off the actual game, in which one plays against an NPC.
 * Fish Catching is the newest minigame, currently available in TaiwanMS only. The player is suppose to go aqua road and fish for fishes.

Marriage
Players may participate in in-game marriages. Weddings occur at one of two special areas, based on the version played. Guests may be invited to the wedding, and the marrying couple will receive wedding rings.

The traditional Chinese marriage system that takes place at Peach Blossom Island is only available in ChinaMS, TaiwanMS, and MapleSEA. In order for the couple to enter the ceremony hall, players will need to don Western- or Chinese-style wedding outfits and a special ring purchased from the Cash Shop. After the ceremony, both players will receive a Diamond Ring as proof of the marriage.

Amoria, a marriage system based on western culture, is available in ThailandMS and GlobalMS. It requires the completion of various quests, including receiving an engagement ring and the blessing of the parents (Cathedral weddings require blessings). Unlike other versions, players may attempt to make a variety of rings. Each of these rings carry various bonuses. In Amoria Dungeon, players can fight exclusive monsters. Currently, the monsters found there include the Orange Mushroom, Blue Snail, Slime, and, exclusive to this map, the Sakura Cellion. If you buy a premium wedding ticket from the Cash Shop, you will be able to have a party after the ceremony.

Events
On certain days, the Game Masters(or known as GM) host special events in which any player is capable of participating, given their character is at a given map during the event time. All participants receive a trophy, and winners receive a random prize.

Users are notified of an upcoming event by a scrolling box at the top of the game screen. Events are known to bring an influx of players to the event's respective locations, which generally causes massive connection lag.

Special events include Christmas tree events, wedding events, drawing events, and quest events; for example, players might be required to find an item and return it to the event quest NPC or GM.

Occasionally, certain versions of the game hold events that celebrate a certain event in real-life or an event specific to that version, such as a holiday or new server release. During these events, certain aspects of the game are modified in celebration; for example, the experience rate or drop rate may be increased, or special items may be released.

Versions and registration
The Korean version was the first to be created, ergo it has the most features as of yet; other versions are at different stages of development and most are not as advanced in content as Korea's. With this advantage comes the problem of players (mainly from the Global version, but some from others) trying to play KoreaMS. These players are often referred to as 이주자, or "immigrants" by a majority of the Korean MapleStory players. These "immigrants" are the reason why a Korean Social Security Number is required to play. IP blocking is used in some of the other versions of the game, mostly for the same reason. Some attempt to bypass this by using Proxies, which spoof IP addresses to make it seem like a player is playing from a different country - however in Europe MapleStory a GameGuard proxy check has been implemented. This is also because foreign text in the Latin Character-Based Global version causes glitches to occur. This is the same for Koreans in the Chinese version, and so on.

Though some versions share the same world names, they are different and independent of each other. They are defined by their language used, publisher, server location and specialized worlds.

The Europe version of MapleStory is under 2nd closed beta testing as of November 09, 2006.

Critical Reception
Users not using the Internet Explorer Web browser are not able to access certain game websites, including the GlobalMS. They are asked to download Internet Explorer to remedy the problem. Macintosh users cannot access the website, even if Internet Explorer for Mac is used.

In a brief review of the game, IGN praised the game's accessibility and colorful art direction, while questioning the game's slow pace.

Official game websites

 * MapleStory portal - Official MapleStory website
 * Official MapleStory Developer site - Wizet Corp., Ltd. Korean
 * Official MapleStory developer's site - Wizet Corp., Ltd. Japanese
 * South Korean MapleStory site - MapleStory South Korea (Requires Internet Explorer)
 * South Korean MapleStory tester site - MapleStory South Korea tester (Requires Internet Explorer)
 * Japanese MapleStory site - MapleStory Japan
 * Chinese MapleStory site - MapleStory China
 * Taiwanese MapleStory site - MapleStory Taiwan
 * Thai MapleStory site - MapleStory Thailand
 * South East Asian MapleStory site - MapleStory South East Asia/SEA
 * Global MapleStory site - MapleStory Global (Requires Internet Explorer)
 * Europe MapleStory site - MapleStory Europe closed beta (Requires Internet Explorer)

Informational fansites

 * Basil Market - An auction site to buy and sell items in MapleStory.
 * Happy Mapling - Vast library of game information and a forum for discussions and help. [GlobalMS and MapleSEA]
 * Hidden Street - Extensive library of game information [GlobalMS and MapleSEA].
 * MapleTip - Contains Maplewiki, library of game information, guides, a large forum for help, and more. [GlobalMS, MapleSEA and JapanMS].
 * Orbis Outlet - A new MapleStory fan site with the MapleStory graphics database.
 * Sauna - Library of game information extracted directly from the client [GlobalMS].
 * Sleepywood Forums - Oldest standing message board with an extensive trading forums, guides, community, etc. [GlobalMS].
 * Simplified Chinese language
 * 冒险岛主题站 - Library of game information [ChinaMS].
 * Thai language
 * Maple2 - the library of game data with a BBS [ThailandMS].
 * ThaiMS PocketBook - the library of game data [ThailandMS].

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