DragonFable

''DragonFable'' is a free-to-play, online, browser-based, single-player, fantasy, role-playing game developed by Artix Entertainment and updated on a weekly basis. Players may access locked game content by upgrading to a premium account for a one-time fee.

Gameplay

As is typical with online, fantasy games, play is initiated by creating a basic character profile, which includes choosing a name, gender and base class (mage, rogue or warrior). The game is then played exclusively through point and click commands to navigate the player character across the play area, interact with non-player characters (NPCs), engage in combat, progress the storyline, etc.

While in a battle sequence, the character may be assisted by NPCs that have joined his/her party or by pets that have been activated. The player may also switch among a collection of weapons and equippable items, which are generally chosen based upon the items' respective core element (e.g., water, wind, fire, stone, etc.). The battles are turn-based, giving the player an indefinite amount of time to choose from an assortment of actions, either offensive, defensive, or a combination thereof. The character's available actions are determined by the character's class and "armor" (e.g., ninja, pirate, ranger, etc.), with new armors being introduced on a regular basis. In general, battles occur within "Quests" that contribute to the overarching storyline and typically features a "boss" character, which will be a particularly powerful NPC or monster, often having a small dialogue with the player pre-fight (and sometimes post-fight). Defeating enemies throughout a quest earns the character gold and experience points, the latter contributing to the character moving up in skill level when enough experience has been earned. Weapons and other items are "dropped" when the quest's boss has been defeated.

While new quests and story elements are added on a near-weekly basis, the previously developed story elements remain playable both to new and to seasoned players, with most enemies' skill levels increasing (i.e. scaling) along with the character's level.

Plot

In "Book 1" the character is introduced into the story as a hero from an unknown location arriving to Lore (the world of ''DragonFable''), destined to become a Dragon Lord who will own one of the two great dragons, unhatched in separate boxes (black and white) at the start of the game. Obtaining the dragon egg (ironically) from the Black Dragon Box is one of the two major story lines in Book 1 and of the rest of the game. The storyline throughout Book 1 revolves around a primary antagonist named "Sepulchure," who is a "Doom Knight" possessing the White Dragon Box on a mission to capture all the "Elemental Orbs" as a means to achieve ultimate power and world domination. In addition to the series of Elemental Orb story arcs, there are many intertwining subplots in Book 1, creating a rich world full of creative and often comical discoveries. Temporary seasonal quest chains also appear during real-world holiday seasons (see more details below), which occasionally tie into the main plot line, sometimes in major ways.

In "Book 2" the character assists a group of aliens that has escaped to Lore from an inter-dimensional creature called "Wargoth." The character also joins in a search, throughout the ever-expanding world of Lore, for the NPC "Warlic" after his disappearance at the end of Book 1.

In "Book 3" the character awakens to a vastly-expanded Lore, after being encased in ice for five years, to engage, sometimes collaboratively but usually combatively, with the anti-magic movement called "The Rose," which has become a major power.

Side quests

On 19 February 2010, the ''ArchKnight'' game and quest chain was continued and completed within ''DragonFable'', with "Ash" (normally an NPC) as the player character. This quest chain is only accessible to those with premium accounts either in ''AdventureQuest'' or in ''DragonFable''. In 2012, the ''Alexander'' quest chain, which follows the young mage "Alexander" during his training, was released; it explains the origins of the characters "Warlic," "Xan," and "Jaania," all of whom are integral to the main storyline.

In-game events

''DragonFable'' has several recurring holiday events. These include Valentine's Day (named "Hero's Heart Day" in game), April Fools' Day (a random in-game prank, such as switching ''DragonFables NPCs with NPCs from '' MechQuest''), Halloween (named "Mogloween" in game), Christmas (named "Frostval" in game), Friday the 13th, Talk Like a Pirate Day (named "Thankstaking" in game). They also have occasional hunts, like gourd, egg and chest hunting.

George Lowe in ''Space Ghost Coast to Coast'', voiced himself in a live event known as "Falconreach Idle" on 19 November 2010.

Reception

A few months after its live release in 2006, Chris Barylick, from ''The Mac Observer'', while acknowledging an instant obsession with this "cool Flash-based role playing game," reported that ''DragonFable'' was "not perfect, nor does it offer the same options as the marquee titles .g.,_''World_of_Warcraft'',_''Neverwinter_Nights_(2002_video_game).html" "title="World_of_Warcraft.html" ;"title=".g., ''World of Warcraft">.g., ''World of Warcraft'', ''Neverwinter Nights (2002 video game)">Neverwinter Nights