Introduction to Ragnarok Online

== Overview ==
Ragnarok Online is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG). It was created by the Gravity Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. Ragnarok Online (RO) allows you to create a virtual character, customize it, and partake in epic adventures across exotic lands. RO is a great way to hang out with friends as well as make new ones. With an ever-expanding universe, in-game events, and a large community of users, there are always places to see, things to do, and people to meet in the world of Ragnarok!
== Features ==
*Over 20 classes in the game for players to choose from! 
*Cute 2D characters with customizable looks! 
*Large and detailed 3D game world that continues to grow! 
*Simple game mechanics that are easy to learn! 
*Battle other players in PvP arenas! 
*Challenge other guilds in the War of Emperium! 
*And more!
== Story ==
In a time of strife between God, humans, and demons... 
Scarred during the gruesome war and avoiding total destruction altogether, God, humans, and demons manage to enter into a truce... 
But after 1,000 years of fragile and forged peace in Rune Midgard... 
The lengthy peace eventually led the humans to forget their memories of the scars and hardship from the war. As they forgot faults of the past, selfishness, corruption, and arrogance slowly spread throughout the land... 
Finally, the balance of peace broke and strange occurrences started happening. There came a strange howl from the boundaries that divided God, humans, and demons. Peaceful creatures became aggressive and attacked innocent villagers. Violent earthquakes ripped whole continents apart. Great hail storms drove some species to the brink of extinction... 
The mysterious legend of demons were rediscovered... 
As the fragile peace began to fall apart, stories about the parts of Ymir protecting the peace began to spread among the adventurers. Forgetting the true nature of the ancient relics, people set out to seek the pieces out of selfishness and the promise of wealth that would come with it... 
== Ragnarok Versions ==
:Main Article: Servers
Ragnarok Online is a globalized game. Gravity Corp. (Gravity KR) has licensed the game to different companies in certain countries/regions. For example, Oceanic Ragnarok Online (oRO) was licensed by OnGameNet and was operated for the Australia/New Zealand region (However, this server no longer exists). Many other companies run RO in different parts of the world. The version run in the United States/Canada is called International Ragnarok Online (iRO) and is run by Gravity Interactive, a company controlled and owned by Gravity KR. Most servers require payment from institutions in the area they serve. For example, kRO only accepts payment from banks and cards issued from Korea.
== Account Creation ==
Each version of RO has a different way to create accounts. This wiki covers the iRO version of creating accounts. 
First, register a Warp Portal account, then under Game Accounts, click the "Add New Game Account" button at the bottom of the screen. Select Ragnarok, then fill out the form and submit. (NOTE: Providing untruthful information may lead to missing out on some beneficial things.) An e-mail to confirm the account will be sent. Confirm it and the account will be activated. Account creation itself is free and currently players can create as many accounts as they want. It is possible to have both male and female characters on a single account.
Make sure the ID and password are complex enough so that people won't be able to guess them. Also, sharing account information is not recommended. Doing so may place the account at risk of being compromised.
Differences between the iRO servers can be found here.
== Payment Method ==
On iRO, VIP subscriptions are available on all servers, and provide benefits over playing for free.
Different versions of Ragnarok have different methods to pay for accounts. kRO for example, supports traditional credit/debit card payment, along with coupons, pay-by-mail, pay-by-phone, and more. For the purpose of this wiki, only iRO's payment methods are described. 
iRO takes payments in the form of credit/debit cards, PayByCash.com, Game Cards and PayPal (PayPal processes debit/credit card transactions). They formerly accepted directly mailed cash/money order payments but that method was phased out. 
For PayByCash, a recurring method of payment is available. Other methods of payment do not have this option and require payment manually every time the account expires. 
If paying by credit card or Game Card, the account should be ready for play right away. If payment was mailed, it may take a week or two before it becomes activated. 
=== Cancelling ===
To quit playing Ragnarok Online, simply stop paying for the account. This allows the player to continue at a later time. If PayByCash's recurring subscription method of payment is used, make sure to cancel the recurring subscription mode. 
Upon notifying the iRO GM Team to terminate/cancel an account, the account will be blocked. Do give careful thought before cancelling an account. Accounts can be unblocked on request after you confirm that you are the proper owner.
== Game Server Types ==
When RO is started, the patch client will download updates for the game. After the updating is complete, it is time to login. Input the account information. Sharing an account would be detrimental should the account be hacked and restoration be required. It's strongly recommended that account information be kept secret. 
Accounts can only be logged into one server at a time. After logging in, a list of servers will be displayed. All of them are the same except the following: 
=== Sakray Server ===
Many RO servers host a server known as 'Sakray Server'. It is a test server where EXP/JEXP gained may be higher than normal servers. New updates are tested there first, and Sakray server is hence at a higher risk of being subject to serious bugs being introduced by new content. Sakray is also wiped periodically. To access Sakray server, a special separate client is required as the normal game client cannot access this server.
=== PK Server ===
:Main Article: PK Servers
Some RO servers (not iRO, at the time of this writing) allow players to PK in maps outside of PvP. Unique rules are in effect for these servers, which usually include a Mass Murder System. Although popular in past years, PK servers have gradually been phased out, concurrent with the introduction and growth of F2P servers.
=== F2P/Open Server ===
:Main Articles: F2P Servers & iRO Servers Comparison
Some versions of RO have special free servers which do not require paid accounts. However, they have fairly unpleasant mechanics and are supported through item malls. iRO's Open Servers are Chaos,Thor, and Classic Loki.
=== VIP Server ===
:Main Article: iRO Servers Comparison
VIP servers are free to play once you have created any characters but require a VIP subscription in order to make characters. Mechanics for unpaid accounts are almost identical between VIP and Open servers. iRO no longer has a VIP Server.
=== Subscription Server ===
Subscription servers require a subscription in order to access them. There is usually only one level of access/benefits. Over time, most RO servers have grown away from this model, moving towards entirely F2P and Freemium (Free access with optional paid subscriptions) servers. 
After selecting a server type, simply create a character [or choose one previously made] and join in! Enjoy Ragnarok Online! 
Category:General Information