Ragnarok Online is an MMO created by South Korean company Gravity Corp.
Basic Gameplay Mechanics
Job
A Job in Ragnarok is the class of character that you play. This determines your available skills and is a deciding factor in how you play your character. From a novice you can upgrade into a Swordsman, Thief, Acolyte, Merchant, Archer, or Magician.
Experience
In Ragnarok you get experience in one way; by kililng monsters. Each monster kill awards you experience in both types of levels: Base levels and Job levels.
Base Level
The base level roughly determines the power and experience of a character. As the base level of a character increases, he will gain additional points to distribute in one of 6 stats, each of which enhances the character in a different way.
Character Stats
There are 6 stats total.
Strength
Strength affects the physical melee attack power of a character. The higher your strength, the more damage you do by swinging fists, books, swords, maces, and axes. Strength also increases the limit on the weight of items a character can be carrying.
Strength will often be abbreviated STR.
Agility
Agility affects the attacking speed as well as dodging ability of a character. A character with high agility not only does more damage but also takes less as well.
Agility is often abbreviated AGI.
Dexterity
Dexterity affects how accurate your attacks are, as well as how much damage ranged weapons such as bows do. The hit rate bonus of Dexterity is point-by-point equivalent with the dodge rate bonus of Agility.
Dexterity is often abbreviated DEX.
Vitality
Vitality is a measure of surviveability. It provides a variety of benefits: First, it increases the maximum hit points (HP) of a character, and so this character will be able to take more damage. Having a high Vitality also means you take reduced damage from physical attacks. Third, vitality helps a character overcome debilitating effects such as blindness and stun. Finally, vitality increases the effectiveness of healing potions.
Vitality is abbreviated VIT
Intelligence
Intelligence is a measure if ability in the arcane arts. It increases the damage of magic spells much as strength does for physical attacks. High intelligence also gives increased spell points (SP), which allows a character to cast more spells for a longer time. Finally, Intelligence reduces the damage taken from spell effects.
Intelligence is abbreviated INT
Luck
Luck raises the rates at which certain randomly triggered combat events happen. Primarily, luck increases your chance of making a critical strike, a normal attack that always hits the target and is not reduced by armor or by vitality. It also increases, to a lesser degree, the chance of a lucky dodge, which is a chance of completely avoiding a regular attack. It also figures into the calculations for certain class skills such as the hunter's Blitz Beat or the priest's Turn Undead
Luck is abbreviated LUK
Job Classes
Novice
You start the game as a novice. Novices have only a few skills, and the purpose of the novice class is to serve as an introduction to Ragnarok Online gameplay.
Swordsman
The swordsman is the master of taking and receiving blows. Preferred weapons are one- or two-handed swords and spears. They can upgrade into a Knight or a Crusader. Both have unique kills respectful to their class.
Acolyte
Acolytes are followers of the church of Prontera. Training to be either a Priest or a Monk, an acolyte can either focus on the healing arts or on demon-slaying hand-to-hand combat skills.
Archer
Archers are the masters of the bow.
Mage
A mage is an apprentice magic user. The mage's skills are a mixture of damaging elemental bolts and other skills that provide debilititation, knockback, and protection.
Thief
The thief is the nimble fighter and brigand. In addition to being able to steal, Thieves utilize their nimbleness in battle through dodging and double attacks with a dagger.
Merchant
The merchant is a man of money. Most of his skills, in fact, are not combat-oriented. They allow him to have a cart for item storate and for setting up item shops that other players may buy from. His main damage skill, Mammonite, involves throwing away money to attack.
Taekwon Boy/Girl
The newest job.
Links
Official Sites
Useful Fan Sites
- RO Empire - a useful monster/map database and player forum
- RO Character Simulator - in-depth character planner and damage simulator
- Ragnarok Skill Simulator - for planning out a character's skills
- RO Data Zone - a bit outdated, but the best in-depth gameplay mechanics guide