Dofus

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Dofus is a class-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Ankama Studios, a French computer game manufacturer. Dofus is set in the world of Amakna, which is itself an anagram of their company name.

Contents

1 General information

1.1 Movement
1.2 Graphics
1.3 Requirements
1.4 Launch
1.5 Versions since launch

2 Gameplay information

2.1 Classes
2.2 Professions

3 External links

General information

Unlike other popular MMORPGs, Dofus is a 2-D, overhead RPG with turn-based combat and realised in Macromedia Flash. Characters are represented on the screen by customizable sprites. Combat is performed in the same manner as standard tactical RPGs, such as Final Fantasy Tactics. The user can choose from one of twelve classes, after which they can further customize by upgrading spells and characteristics. The game also features a "job" system, in which the character can pick up a trade skill to earn extra money on the side.

The game is also unique among MMORPGs in being a Macromedia Flash program that can be played on any operating system with a Flash player.

Movement

Unlike in many MMORPG's where movement moves the world around you at a constant speed similar to a scrolling shooter, Dofus is more like a grid. There are many "maps" and there are 4 stars on each map where you click to move onto another map. Each map has a coordinate such as 4, -7. The movement is strange at first compared to the game RuneScape and other such games but it catches on quickly and prevents lag.

Graphics

Though the game does not use 3D graphics like most other MMORPGs, many reviewers have praised the graphics for their simple, cartoony feel; the cute character sprites and humorous animations are remniscent of the Secret of Mana series. When the map you are on has more than an allotted amount of characters they turn to more primitive characters.

Requirements

The game is playable on Mac/PC/Linux platforms either from in a web browser or as an application. It requires use of the Macromedia Flash plug-in. The game requires about 50 MB of hard drive space.

Launch

Dofus started as a closed beta test, in which over 80,000 people participated. Until the end of August, 2005, they were in an open beta phase, which was free.

The game officially launched on September 1st, 2005, and now uses a combination of a free trial and a fee-based subscription. Members who haven't paid (known in-game as free-to-play, or F2Pers), are restricted to playing and fighting in a single town and surrounding areas. The fee varies on the region from which you are subscribing and the number of months you pay for in advance.

Versions since launch

On October 25, 2005, Dofus version 1.10 was released. The new version included a boost to perceptor health, a party system, new sounds and character artwork, a new village designated to new players and free players, a marketplace system, and a solution to a merchant problem.

Version 1.12 was released on February 22, 2006. This version provided a new, twelfth class, the Pandawa (see Classes, below). Characters of this class were reinitialized (back to level 1) when the tests were over. This version also provides a new island (Pandala, home land of the Pandawas), new territories to conquer, increase in rare resources and unique creatures, new items, new equipment (which can be taken from monsters). Furthermore, the ten first spells of each class were given a sixth Level (as opposed to the previous Level 5 maximum for spells).

The current version (released on 7/11/06) is 1.14, which was released to fix major software and network problems, and has been widely regarded as the buggiest version to date.

Gameplay information

Because Dofus is a role-playing game, players create characters which serve as their avatar in the online world.

When creating a character, the player can choose from twelve different classes. Through quests, a character can also pick up a profession. A player can also join a guild. At higher levels, the character can get "Angel" (Bonta) or "Demon" (Brakmar) wings. A player aligned in this way is allowed to initate a player-versus-player (PVP) fight with someone differently, or neutrally, aligned. Since the 1.13 update points can be gained from these fights, and hence a PVP scene is developing.

Classes

There are twelve different classes. Choice of class determines what spells your character will receive, and will also determine how much characteristic upgrades will cost. The class names are inside jokes amongst the developers, often (but not always) referring in some way to the abilities of the class. For example, the Xelor class which uses time magic in combat, derives its name from Rolex, a watch manufacturer.

Sadida's Boots (Adidas) - Nature-influenced direct damage and voodoo doll summoning.
Eniripsa's Hands (Aspirine, the French spelling of "Aspirin") - Specialized in healing and invoking spells to increase their ally's abilities.
Iop's Heart (named for Yop yogurt drink, a developer in-joke) - Attack-based class with many powerful spells, however they have short range.
Cra's Range (Arc, French for "bow") - Archer class specializing in bow and arrow attacks that have long range to attack enemies from far away.
Feca's Shield (cafe, French for coffee, another inside joke) - Defensive magic user, usually the last man standing in a fight.
Sacrier's Blood (sacrifice + crier; the French name is sacrieur, sacrifice + rieur, "one who laughs") - Attacks based on sacrifice and self-damage to deal more powerful attacks.
Osamodas' Whip (Sado-Maso) - Summoner class that can call creatures to its aid.
Ecaflip's Luck ("pilface" is a shortened form of "pile ou face", which means "tails or heads") - Gambler class whose attacks are powerful but can backfire and harm the player.
Enutrof's Fingers (Fortune) - Treasure seeker class that starts off weaker in battle but finds dropped items at a faster rate.
Xelor' Sandglass (Rolex) - Masters of time, able to delay or speed up units in battle by taking or adding Action Points (AP) to enemies and/or allies.
Sram's Shadow (Mars candy bar, yet another inside joke) - thief/assassin class, specializing in different types of hidden traps and invisibility.
Pandawa's Followers (Padawan or Panda Warrior) - While sober, they're a support class, carrying allies around the battlefield and lowering enemies' elemental resistance. When drunk, they become formidible close-range fighters, with reduced movement but powerful attacks and damage reduction. This class is available only for paid players.

According to a post on [this topic on the official forums], Feca, Iop, and Sram were the first three classes created, so the developers named them after their favorites among the various snacks they consumed when first creating the game (coffee, yogurt drinks, and chocolate), and the names have nothing to do with the classes themselves.

Professions

There are twenty different professions. A player can improve these skills to craft items which can be sold for profit. Most are upgraded by collecting items or making items. Some professions generate raw materials, some work raw materials into useful forms, and one difficult-to-get job does both.

External links

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