THE NEW FANTASY RPG ONLINE IS REALLY NEW For once the game hype is true. The Lejendary Adventure (LA) MMP Online RPG is not the same as the others are, it is better and more fun too. Here's why: The core system is based on skill-bundles rather that character class features and abilities. This means that the player can build virtually any sort of game persona (Character/Avatar) desired. If an archetype is desired, there are "Orders" in the LA game system that assigns Abilities (skill-bundles) automatically. If freedom to be inventive is desired by the player, all the Abilities are there to select from when creating the new Avatar. Because the system is intuitive in many places, "rules-light" and based primarily on percentages, it is both easy to understand, learn and play. Speaking of playing... You'll hit the ground running in the Lejendary Adventure online game! Only a few choices are necessary to be made by the player before getting right into action. After selecting seven or eight "facts" about your game character, your Avatar, will be immersed in the Lejendary Earth world setting, and in action. While interacting, the player gains more information, makes choices, and the Avatar develops further. So much for boring preparation before getting into the game. The player will direct his Avatar in gaining the Abilities desired, interacting with Non-Avatar Characters (NACs) in the fantasy world, learning information, finding and buying instruction and equipment as he does so, and in the process increasing the four Base Rating scores for the game character. Right, four main stats only, and this simple system works elegantly to reflect the heroic Avatar that comes from them. As the Avatar engages in interactive play, he will gain Merits that can be used later on to increase Base Ratings, enhance existing Abilities, acquire new ones. Of course bad play will bring Demerits, so virtue is rewarded doubly here. Exceptional deeds also bring Repute to the Avatar-perhaps Dark Repute if the method of succeeding was questionable, and certainly Disrepute if the Avatar performed wicked deeds to attain his own ends. This added award type also affects how the NACs met react to the Avatar. The player is rewarded by immediate participation in the game, continually gains material and Merits thereafter so as to see measurable progress and improvement in his Avatar, and occasionally through the Repute process move towards heroic fame (or villainous infamy) and the effects thereof. Most MMP RPGs rely mainly on combat as the central theme of play. Once again the LA game online breaks that mold. Of course being a skill-based system, the opportunity for application of such capacities, those beyond the ones used for hack & slash play, is clear. The game provides for the use of all the many non-combat oriented Abilities available for Avatars. Thus diplomatic negotiation, investigation, and a host of other possibilities are there for expanded play elements. As a matter of fact, the MMP version of the LA RPG does its paper and pencil progenitor one better. Did I say one? Pardon, I meant several. The Lejendary Earth world setting online is divided into many Domains, and players will be assigned to one of them. The Domains are political entities, and players, through their Avatars, can affect their state-its politics, laws, and finances, as well as what states around are allies, which enemies. Indeed, Avatars can become members of government and concentrate on this rather than on seeking out monsters to fight. They will need certain Abilities to do so, of course. In such mode the conquest of other Domains is possible too. It isn't an either-or sort of choice, though. Whatever combination of activity the player chooses is fine. Player misbehavior is a problem in any MMP game online. With the LA game, though, this "lemon" is turned into "lemonade," a chance for the involved players to apply the Laws they have set for their Domain. Collaterally, this also gives motive and reason for misbehaving players to work within the game system, become "outlaws," and thus serve the function of rebels, criminals, and rogues as are found in the best of fantasy milieux! The computer can not play such roles, but the real-life players are quite capable of doing this. So we are one step nearer to the live Game Master with this innovative addition. There are many other features, but space is limited. Suffice to say that, and to point out that as time passes there will be new additions to the online system, evolutions, and expansions just as the paper and pencil game has done and will continue to do. This is a vital system and changing fantasy setting. Just wait until you become a part of it. Then you can have a hand in shaping the world!