From Wikipedia

RF Online, originally named 'Rising Force' but then shortened to RF Online after Korean Closed Beta, (Korean:라이징 포스 온라인) is a 3D MMORPG developed by CCR Inc. The first version of the game was released in South Korea, and was later followed by Chinese(Mandarin), Japanese, and English translations. The North American/European version of the game recently launched its retail phase on February 21, 2006.

Storyline

The game is centered on the conflict between three races (descendants of the now extinct human race) in their bid to control precious resources, and their desire to advance their respective agendas, through any means necessary. There are three different races:

• Accretia - A race of cyborgs who were forced to turn to artificial bodies due to the harsh environment on their home planet. Now they have forsaken flesh in their pursuit of perfection, and they scorn every flesh being in the universe. Their metallic bodies are the toughest in the game and their technology is the most superior, but they have no access to magic.

• Bellato - Due to the intense gravity on their home planet, the Bellato are the smallest people. They are a race of inventors that are able to combine creative tools and weapons with the Light form of universal magic called the Force. The Bellato enter the war as the least physically capable; and yet given their ingenuity they have the potential to become the strongest. Before they became the Bellato Union, however, they were the Bellato Empire; who seized control after the Cora civil war but were beaten by the Accretians. Under such sustained attacks they fell from power, yet they have bided their time until they can become a force to be reckoned with once again.

• Cora - They are an ancient race that scorn technology. Highly spiritual and gifted with natural magical abilities, Corites regard themselves as the highest form of creation. Their magical arts are far more superior to that of which the Bellato practice. Their god is Decem, whom they believed had given Corites their powers as well as their mission to subjugate all other forms of life in his name and to rid the galaxy of technology. The Holy Alliance of Cora was thus born to carry out their crusade.

Basically a mixture of science fiction and classic fantasy, RF Online (or RFO, as many of its players call it) is set in a distant planet in the Novus system where magic exists alongside high technology. Like most MMORPGs, it follows the typical fantasy setting complete with swords and sorcery, but RF Online emphasizes the three-way Race vs. Race (RvR) concept similar to the Dune series.

The three races, hungry for resources descend on a planet and engage in battle for control of the rare minerals found there. The war begins with the Imperial Army of Accretia which first entered the war to protect themselves from the Imperialist Bellato Union who tried to conquer the entire galaxy. Later, they allied themselves with the Cora armed forces against the Union, and upon their triumph, split asunder the Empire that the Bellato Union tried to establish. Upon retaking their claim as an Empire, the Accretia gathered its troops for war against their former cohorts among the Holy Alliance of Cora and the newly formed Bellato Federation to lay claim to the Talic Mines.

Gameplay

As with any MMORPG, the player will select one race and fight monsters to gain experience points. RFO is populated with many different monsters across many areas.

• HP The most prevalent among games, HP represents life. On your character, it is the red bar in the middle.
• FP FP is the equivalent of Mana or energy in this game. On your character, it is the blue bar below.
• Stamina Stamina is used for running and some higher level skills. It can be seen on your character by clicking on the "S" button next to the yellow bar on the top left of the screen along with your level, HP and FP.
• DP "Defense Points". DP dictates the damage you are able to withstand. You lose DP as you get hit. The lower the DP the higher the damage you receive. When DP is completely drained, your defense will also disappear. The lower the DP upon death, the higher the exp will be lost if killed by a monster. It is represented by the thin white line above your character, above the larger HP and FP bars.

PT (Point)

In the place of the traditional statistics (such as strength, vitality and luck) found in all RPGs, RF has PT (PoinT). PT represents various masteries such as long-range and close-range. Each PT has its own experience bar that is completely autonomous with a character's level. PT levels up as one uses the appropriate actions corresponding to that PT. For example, Defense PT gains in level as one gets hit.

• Close-Range (used for increasing melee weapon damage and accuracy. each level adds 3 points of damage and accuracy)
• Long-Range (used for increasing ranged weapon damage and accuracy. Also used for increasing stamina, as well as increasing a small amount of FP. each level adds 3 points of damage, accuracy, stamina and FP)
• Force (unavailable for Accretians) (used for increasing maximum FP as well as increasing attacking Force effectiveness. each level adds 3 points of FP and Force attack)
• Shield (the most difficult PT to level, it is used to increase blocking rate. It only levels up when you randomly block, which is based on Shield PT)
• Defense (used for increasing maximum HP and DP. each level adds 6 points of HP and DP)

In addition, the specialists of each race have an additional "Crafting PT", which is divided into three groups:

• Weapon/Shield (used for crafting higher level weapons and shields. this is important because all above level 30 weapon and level 33 shield cannot be bought in stores)
• Armor (used for crafting higher level armors. like shields, armors above level 33 cannot be bought in stores. also, crafted armors may have special effects than normal monster drops)
• Ammo (by far the most important crafting option in the short run, ammo allows you to craft elemental, giga and advanced ammo. elemental ammo applies a certain element to the attack; giga is a magazine filled with 500 ammo, and advanced is more powerful ammo for beam weapons. 89 Ammo PT will allow you to craft Advanced-Giga)

The last but not the least is the racial PT. Each race has its own special PT which is available only to members of that race.

• Launcher (Accretia) increases launcher attack, as well as equip more powerful launchers. Each level increases attack by 3 points.
• Unit (Bellato) can be used to upgrade a Massive Armor Unit (MAU). Certain components require a certain level and PT in order to be bought and equipped.
• Summon (Cora) increases rate of the HP regeneration of the animii in their unsummoned state. It also limits the ability of a summoner to wield animii force reavers that are of very high levels.

The maximum limit PT is based on the character's level. Also, the amount of PT one earns from monsters is based on the current level. Players have found a way to circumvent this by leveling down. This allows them to hunt the same monsters instead of tougher ones. It should be noted that it is harder to maximize PT than it is to gain a level.

Classes

• Warrior - Warriors have great strength and stamina, and specialize in melee combat.
  • Upon level 30, Warriors can change into one of two classes, usually a damage dealer or a damage taker.
• Ranger - Rangers rely on speed and dexterity, and are skilled at ranged combat.
  • Upon level 30, Rangers can change into one of two classes, usually a sniper equipped with mines or a damage dealing ranger; whereas Accretians, they can change into the Gunner, which specializes in launcher weapons only.
• Spiritualist - Spiritualists use magical force to combat their enemies, and equip staves. This class is not available to Accretians.
  • Upon level 30, Bellato spiritualist can change into one of two classes, a wizard or a healer; whereas Cora spiritualists can become a Summoner or a wizard.
• Specialist - Specialists have a variety of special abilities depending on race, though all are skilled at crafting and are balanced in all areas.
  • Upon level 30, Accretian and Corite spiritualists can become crafters; whereas Bellato specialist can choose to become a Driver and pilot huge mecha or become crafters. All crafters can set up guard towers.

At level 40, characters can change their job again to one of two available to their current job. Jobs provide additional abilities and have their own weapon preferences. Different jobs are available to different races.

Skills/Force

Skills and Force follows the same level-up strategy as PT in RF. They must be used in order to level. Furthermore, Skill and Force have their own classes, such as Beginner, Elite and Master. Although everybody has access to the same beginning skills/force, it depends on your initial job class. For example, a warrior can cast the same beginning spells that a spiritualist can; a ranger can use the same skills a warrior uses, and a spiritualist has access to the same skills that a ranger has. However, Elite and Master skills/forces can only be accessed if your PT has reached 30. Furthermore, only level 30 mages can use Elite spells, whereas level 30 warriors can use Elite melee skills, etc. Although specialists can use beginning skills/forces, they are unable to use more advanced versions even though their PT meets the requirements.

Race Specific Abilities

Each race has a unique, powerful ability.

• Launcher: The Accretian launcher is an enormous ranged weapon the size and power of which make it unusable by any other race. Launchers can fire missiles across great distances, and are capable of firing many different types of rockets. However, there is a great delay period between shots. Accretian rangers have the additional ability to enter siege mode, increasing fire rate but disallowing motion. Launchers can only be used at levels 15 and above. Siege kits can only be used at levels 30 and above.
• Massive Armor Unit (MAU): Bellato have the ability to pilot MAUs. MAUs are large, heavily armored and well armed robotic bodies. They have the potential to deal the most damage in the game. Basically, they come in two main varieties: Catapult, and Goliath. Catapult MAUs use ranged weaponry, while Goliath MAUs use melee weapons. MAUs are very durable, but the pilot cannot use skills or magic while riding them. A player must switch to the Driver class at level 30 to operate a MAU.
• Animus: Decem has granted the Cora the ability to summon creatures called animii. Animii appear and can help the Corite who summoned it and its allies by attacking, healing, or rendering other services. Different animii can be summoned as the spiritualist's level increases. Only some spiritualist class jobs can summon animii.

Equipment

There are three types of Equipment in RF, four if you include jewelry. They are :

• Armor: Armor is unique to RF. It is because that whereas in other RPGs, there is an armor for every 5 levels, RF has a new set of armor for every 2 levels (with the exception of newbie armor). This makes a level 37 character stronger than a level 35 one. However, if the level 37 character does not have matching PT to go with his armor, he will be on the same level as a properly PTed level 35 one.

• Shield: Shield increases a character's overall armor, as well as giving a chance to totally block an attack. However, equipping a shield will decrease a character's resistance to all elements by 20 points (Recently changed in GIGA Final Part 1 update, no longer takes away elemental resistance.); as well as decrease they're attack speed and evasion.

• Weapon: Weapons are classed as melee, ranged and force types; they are further sub-classed as one-handed and two-handed. Generally, one-handed weapons let the use of shield; but have weaker attack power. Two-handed weapons have higher attack speed and power but lower defense.

Equipment Attributes

Furthermore, monster dropped equipment may have certain attributes not found store bought ones.

• Wind: Movement Speed Increases by 1
• Endurance: All Resistance Increase by 10
• Pine: Normal attack accuracy increases by 30%
• Smart: Weapon only: Normal attack evasion rate increases by 10%
• Anti-Sharp:Shield only: Probability of getting critical attack 20% Decreases
• Solid: Defense increased by 10%
• Strong: Increase 10% of all attack
• Strength: Max. HP 6% increase
• Vampire: 20% Attack Damage converted to HP
• Guardian: Buff Period of Curse Force 20% Decreases
• Sharp: Chance to stun increased by rate 5%
• Grand: Attack Range 20
• Advanced Strength: FP, HP 5% increase
• Intense: 40% - 50% increase in Attack or Defense Power, depending on the type of equipment. Usually equal in power or defense to the Next Weapon/Armor available.

Realistic Economy

RF Online's economy can be divided into two parts - production and consumption. Most other MMORPG economies focus on hunting. In RF Online's case, the mine is a new field where resources are produced as a part of and in support of economic activity. Mining for minerals and processing the products of these produce many kinds of items. These form the basis for conflict within the mines.

Also, just like in the real world, overproduction causes prices to fall. If many players convert their ore into currency, the going price of ore will drop as supply begins to outstrip demand. Every hour, the economy is recomputed taking into account sales of items over the entire server and who currently controls the mines. This system places the economy (mostly) in the hands of the players.

Every twenty-four hours, the amount of currency in the economy is re-calculated, and based on this, a tax rate (inflation rate) is established for each race. The tax rate makes NPC vendor items more expensive. Players can keep the tax rate in check by converting their currency into gold. The cost of gold is based on the tax rate; Higher tax rates mean cheaper gold, while lower tax rates make gold more expensive. In this manner, the tax rate prompts players to convert currency to or from gold based on whether or not the economy suffers from inflation or deflation.

Note: High-end weapon and armor crafting has been devalued on western servers by the high cost and low incidence of crafting superior (Intense, Soul, etc.) items compared to equivalent time and effort hunting for the same items in the field or from Battle Dungeons. High-end ammo production remains in demand, as the only currently allowed consumeable to craft.

Race versus Race Wars

Also known as Chip Wars; All members of a single race band together to fight the other races for another races Chip (which is used to control the Holystone keeper) as well as the rights to control the Talic mines every eight hours. The winner gets mining rights and a virtual stranglehold on the economy until another race wins. Victory in this war has major effects, as it increases the tax rate of the winning race and makes their goods more expensive as a result of the inflation from the currency created by processing ores.

The wars are not just confined to a certain time period. Each race's area is open to incursion by the other races, and raids to disrupt players from leveling their characters are commonplace. Some are designed to increase the power of a character's skills, while others seek to increase their ranking in their own races by killing low leveled characters.

Mining

The winning race wins the right to search for Talic in the mines. The other two races get to organize raids to steal Talic from the mines, or to wrest control of the mine from the other races by driving away or killing their miners.

You can mine directly outside of your portal, but the rate is 1 ore per minute. Acquiring control of the mine will mean your race can mine in the center, where the mining rate is greatly increased to roughly one ore every 3-5 seconds for a so called "sweet spot". However, a monster called the HolyStone Keeper (HSK) guards the center, where none but the ruling race may mine. Note that it is possible that no race wins, in which case the HSK is hostile to all races.

There are different types of processed ores that will come as a result once an ore is refined. These are the following items you will receive in processing ores:

• Talics (for upgrading weapons check Talics section for information)
• Process ore (used for crafting and exchanging for gold from any NPC)
• Gems (used for increasing success rate for weapon upgrading and also used by specialist classes for creating guard towers)
• Jades (gives off various skills, such as the ability to understand the other races' language)

Talics

Talics are basically gems that are processed from ores. It is unclear on how much is the possibility in getting from these ores but, getting the ores aren't difficult. Step by step instructions on how to acquire these talics:

1. After mining the ores from the mines go to your own races nearest ore processing NPC.

2. Then click and move the ore to the slot where ore is suppose to be or shift click to automatically put the ore in the slot.

3. Now check how many ores you would like to process in one go.

4. After this make sure you have the amount of money that is required to process them.

5. Click on process and check all the ores that processed in the slots at the bottom of the menu.

Note: all ores have different on them (i.e. 1, 2 and 3). This dictates the quality of the processed ore. However, the costs for processing ores will increase according to the quality of it.

Gems

Gems increase the chance of talic upgrading success. They are inserted into the equipment before talics are. However, upgrading will fail if you insert two or three different ranges of Gems. They are randomly obtained when refining ores and are dropped by crag mine monsters.

• Normal Range Ruby, Crystal, Topaz, Obsidian (increase chance of upgrading by 5%, totaling 20%)
• Narrow Range Light Ruby, Water Crystal, Terra Topaz, Lighting Obsidian (increase chance of upgrading by 10%, totaling 40%)
• Wide Range Fire Ruby, Ice Crystal, Poison Topaz, Wind Obsidian (increase chance of upgrading by 20%, totaling 80%)

Patriarchal/Rulership System

A player receives Contribution Points (CP) whenever they kill a character from another race and also from completing certain quests. This also means you will lose CP if you are killed by a member of an opposing race. The member of each race with the highest amount of contribution points becomes the Archon of that race, its leader. Players with ranks 2-5 become council members. The Archon and the council members are the representatives of a race and have some privileges and responsibilities, namely access to a chat system where they can talk to ALL members of their race. This is used in race warfare to alert everyone of enemy actions and to coordinate attacks.

Archons also have the unique ability to understand the language of other races'. Also, they have higher defense (50% addition to defense) owing to the fact that Archons are automatically targeted by other races, as a player who kills an Archon would receive an incredible amount of CP.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for RF Online was sung by Japanese singer Lia.