by William Bartholomew

Created on: February 07, 2007   Last Updated: February 28, 2010

MMORPG'S - Massively Multiplayer On-Line Role-Playing Games. Basically, a bunch of people playing a Role-Playing Game over the internet. In a Role-Playing Game you play the part of a particular character (usually you have many options to choose from). For simplicity (and because it's my strongest area of knowledge) we'll stick to Dungeons and Dragons type fantasy adventure. I've played Everquest for over 6 years now and used to play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (pencil, paper & dice version).

These games are hugely popular and can be a lot of fun if you understand the basics and give it a little time. Be forewarned, these games can be highly addictive (which isn't all bad if you're enjoying it). While there are still plenty of non computer based RPG's this will focus on the MMORPG style of playing. In these games there is a storyline but not a one dimensional linear storyline. The vastness of the game and all its components can be daunting but don't let that stop you from diving in.

There is plenty of help to be had mostly from other people (like myself) who have been playing. Aside from a few idiots there's just about always someone who will help you. There's a vast array of stories which intertwine and change over time. As a player you will create at least one character to "live" in this fantasy world. Along with your character there will be 10's of thousands of other people who also have characters in this fantasy world. Along with the characters controlled by people such as yourself, there will be NPC's (non-player characters).

The NPC's are computer controlled characters. NPC's server various purposes in the fantasy world. Some NPC's are made to interact with to get information or quests (quest are adventures and tasks), while other NPC's serve as vendors, bankers, guards or just miscellaneous denizens to add realism to the game. Another main NPC type is the creatures or "bad guys" that you will fight (or avoid in some cases). These NPC's are typically referred to as MOBS. The world in which you play will be divided into many "zones". Generally the zones are divided by the content. So for instance, as you leave the plains and run down a mountain pass the game will load the next zone and you'll then be in a mountain type setting with a new host of creatures and scenery.

Sometimes a new zone is reached through a door like going into a castle. The purpose of zones is to divide content, allow movement within a zone to be uninterrupted from the computer

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