I’ve decided to go back to the MMORPG Saga of Ryzom. now renamed Ryzom.  Ryzom is the first MMORPG I played back then, during the open beta, that got me got addicted to MMORPGs.  The setting is science-fantasy and it’s a sandbox game, but they’ve added quests since, called missions that you do as well.

The game was launched in 2004 and I bought the game, but could not play as long as they didn’t add Paypal as methods of payment.  I joined a guild of friendly players up until I left the game for another MMORPG, because I was unable to pay for more than 1 subcription for a month back then.  It’s not the case anymore.  You can get more infos here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryzom

http://w.ryzom.com/  (old website, but this one has wallpapers, webkits, videos)

https://ryzom.com/  new website)

“The game takes place on the planet Atys. Unlike normal planets, Atys is an enormous tree large enough to sustain an atmosphere and multiple ecosystems on its surface and within immense networks of branches and roots. The various creatures in Ryzom have differing AI based upon their species that allows them to perform many realistic behaviors, such as migration and movement as a herd. Carnivores, for example, will attack specific animals for food, and certain animals hunt in packs. The game also features changing seasons and weather. Weather effects include rain, snow, and wind. Tied to the season and weather changes are the movements of animals and the availability of harvestable materials. For example, a certain type of sap may only be harvested during spring rains and be unattainable during other seasons or weather conditions. Weather conditions can change minute by minute. Each game season (spring, summer, fall, and winter) lasts four real-time days.

Player characters come from one of four distinct humanoid races, collectively called “homins”. The ‘Matis’ are a proud and noble race of forest dwellers. They have mastered the art that is a fusion of botany and genetic manipulation, and consequently they have constructed their kingdom and castles from massive trees grown for that very purpose. The ‘Tryker’ are a fiercely independent and fun-loving race of lake dwellers. They build large floating cities on their lakes, and networks of wind-powered water pumps around them. The ‘Zoraï’ are a spiritual and tranquil race of jungle dwellers. They build their temple-cities within naturally fortified areas of the jungle. Finally, the ‘Fyros’ are a tough and obstinate race of desert dwellers. They have mastered fire technology, which they like to build into their weapons and architecture”  from Wikipedia

Back when I played, my character was a Matis and they live mainly in the forests of beautiful trees with the weather and the seasons, which is my favorite area, the LakeLands of the Trykers is my second with the beaches, the sea, the lakes.   Back then when you made a character of the cerrtain race, you ended up at that area of the main game of that race when you finished the tutorial and teleported there, the  Matis to the forest, the Fyros to the desert, the Trykers to the lakelans and the Zorai to the jungles.  Not anymore, now you can chose which city and region you want to go to.  There is a free-to-play version but I prefer paying for the extra XP, the extra storage.   And with the max lv you can reach, lv 250 for those who pay, and max 125 for the free playing, so that means a LOT of grinding, I’d rather pay for the extra XP and storage (like getting an apartment to put your stuff into since there are no bank in the game.

When they merged the servers they deleted every character, but I’ve managed to get mine back.  The game setting is a giant living growing tree and you can see them in the game giant branches in the sky, roots.  The game still look quite beautiful and magical even if date 15 years.  The game feel very pagan to me and you can check it out yourself for free.