Spell Blade Online

«**Spell Blade Online**» (スペル ブレードオン ライン, *Superu Burēdo Onrain*?), abbreviated as **SBO**, is a **Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game** (VRMMORPG) and is the titular game of the ***Sword Art Online Alternative: Spell Blade Online*** light novel series. It is compatible with any «FullDive» device although the only device released for the game was the «AmuSphere», the «NerveLinker»'s successor. It is a free-roam type of MMORPG with nine races of fairies who are able to fly.

## Background

Originally, Spell Blade Online was a game known as «ALfheim Online» which had begun service a year and a half into the SAO incident. The game was temporarily shut down when it was discovered that a former developer of SAO was using the game with malicious intent; Nobuyuki Sugō prevented the logout of 300 SAO players, including Asuna, and used them for inhumane human experiments concerning their «Fluctlights» but was stopped by the Black Swordsman, Kirito.

With many players expressing sentiments that they disagreed with the game's shutdown, Hemerides bought the game from its old company and refurbished it into what they called «Spell Blade Online». A new Closed Beta for this renovation went live beginning on January 9th, 2034, and ran for two months. The Closed Beta was successful and the game entered official service on March 30th, 2034.

## System

The following is the same as the start-up of ALO. When first logging in, the system makes the player choose one of nine races of fairies for their avatar, each with different abilities and affinities toward magic. Unlike Sword Art Online's system, the player has their game avatar created randomly and only have the freedom to choose their avatar name and select the race of the character. However, for an extra fee, players can reconstruct their characters to their liking. The gender of the player's avatar will match the player's gender in real life by default, and the player cannot change it by any means.

Skills are developed by the player's own abilities and by repeating them over and over. This way, a new player with good skills, such as an SAO survivor, can match a veteran player almost evenly in battle.

*Main article: Flight System*
Like ALO, SBO gives the player the ability to fly for real. The system remains unchanged in the fact that SBO uses a flight engine to enable the player to fly. The flight system also focuses on the player's own ability. It has a "controlled flight" mode, in which the players make use of a controller to fly, at the cost of being able to use only one hand to fight, but, with enough experience and ability, the player is able to learn «Voluntary Flight» and, with it, can use both hands while flying and gains more maneuverability and speed.

### Virtual Reality Experience

As SBO was created by Hemerides using the old data of SAO as a starting point, it is a complete virtual reality MMORPG and is capable of rendering the entire Ainground environment with incredible realism. By interacting with the user's «Fluctlight», it is possible to taste the food, feel the wind and weather, move one's body, and live in SBO as if it were an alternate reality. However, there are several major differences that set the SBO environment apart from the real-world experience.

First, no pain is actually felt in any situation due to a feature called «Pain Absorption». As a result, gamers can undergo severe injuries and still only feel a tingling sensation, though certain stimulation, such as magical explosions, can result in negative feedback, like headaches and dizziness that last for several hours. Second, there is no blood; in its place are orange virtual gashes that are seen in the place of damage. Third, magic is implemented to produce a variety of effects, with the incantations being based on strings of words.

While playing SBO, gamers still feel fatigue and hunger (even if their real bodies are not hungry), yet they can also eat in-game to dispel hunger in the real world, which has developed into a form of dieting for some people as a result.

Death or deletion in the game is visualized by fragmentation into thousands of polygon shards. All monsters and items go through such a process. However, players go through a different death scenario: they are engulfed in flames and then leave a Remnant which lingers for a set amount of time, during which the player can still observe his or her surroundings and be revived with magic or special items.

SBO has also incorporated a «Moral Code» feature similar to that of SAO and unlike ALO, where this feature cannot be disabled, SBO's «Moral Code» feature can be removed at the choice of the player themselves.

### Environment

According to Seijirō Kikuouka, the main creator of Spell Blade Online, the environmental data is much like SAO in its code, but the only primary differences are the overlay of changing appearances of creatures, character data, and altered programming of AI's as navis (navigation pixies).

#### Global Setting

SBO is set in the continent of «Ainground» and like ALO's «Yggdrasil», «Ainground» is divided into territories with the main territory divisions consisting of racial territories of which each one houses one of the nine races. Outside of these territories are monster-infested zones that each have their own unique area name; each area has an «Area Boss» which is as powerful as SAO's «Floor Bosses» and as such, are only capable of being beaten with an organized raid party. At the center of the land is the «Neutral City of Rhine» (the neutral city's name is the only major name change of a settlement; all other major settlements have their name from ALO carried over). There are also several sky islands scattered throughout that serve as floating dungeons.

Upon the official release of SBO, the castle of «New Aincrad», a result of the Great Separation following the premature activation of Premiere's «Grand Quest» during the Closed Beta, was permanently added.

## Gameplay

### Initiation and Character Creation

Upon first signing into SBO, a player must first select a race, each of which has special attributes and skills unique to their race; however, the appearance of the selected character is randomized. Customization of the visual aspects of the character are allowed later on, but every change requires an additional fee. After the race is selected, they will be spawned in the race's hometown.

### Main Menu

The main menu is more or less the same as Sword Art Online's original interface but with minor key differences, such as the status of the player no longer incorporating experience, but rather skill mastery instead. However, the main menu is called out using the left hand countering that of how SAO's menu was opened using the right hand.

* **Inventory/equipment**: The icon for the category is a character icon. This is the default screen when opening the Menu interface. The left screen is an image of the body, with multiple points that allow the gamer to equip items or clothes. The right screen has three sub-menus:
	+ **Equipment**: Selecting this sub-menu will open another three sub-menus:
		- **Weapons**: The icon for this category is a sword like the one used in Equipment.
		- **Equipped**: The icon for this category is an armor.
		- **Accessory**: The icon for this category is a necklace.
	+ **Items**: Selecting this sub-menu will open an additional scrolling screen on the left that lists all items. When an item is selected, it materializes in front of the player. The inventory turns red when a player has too many items.
* **Friends/Guild**: The icon for the category is two character icons together. The right screen has three sub-menus:
	+ **Party**: Selecting this sub-menu will open three additional options. The first is "Create", the second is "Invite", and the third is "Dissolve".
	+ **Friend**: Selecting this sub-menu will reveal a list of a player's friends. Selecting a single friend will produce three additional options: "Message Box", "Position Check", and "Profile".
	+ **Guild**: Allows the player to check their guild status, such as whether or not they are in a Guild.
* **Communications**: The icon for this category is two chat box icons together. The icon flashes automatically whenever a player receives a message.
	+ **Befriend**: This option allows the player to send a friend request to another player. The other player is added to the Friend List if the request is accepted.
	+ **Trade**: This option opens a trade window with another player. Trading can be used just to show another player items, or complete a trade after both parties accept the offers put forth.
	+ **Duel**: This option allows the player to send a Duel request. The player being challenged has the privilege of selecting one of the available duel modes.
	+ **Marriage**: This option, located at the very bottom of the Communications category, allows the player to send a marriage request to another player. Married players have uninhibited access to the other's equipment window, and their inventories are merged. (Not present in ALO.)
* **Maps/Quest**: The icon for the category is a balloon location icon. The right screen has three sub-menus:
	+ **Field Map**: Selecting this sub-menu will reveal a map showing the player's location on the field.
	+ **Dungeon Map**: Selecting this sub-menu will reveal a map of the dungeon that the player has explored.
	+ **Quest**: Selecting this sub-menu will open the player's quest window, displaying all the quests that the player has accepted and their description.
* **Settings/Main-menu**: The icon for the category is a gear. The right screen has three sub-menus:
	+ **Option**
	+ **Help**: Selecting "Help" will call a GM (Game Master) on the left screen.
	+ **Logout**: The logout button is available with a quick log-out in a safe area and a 15-minute log-out in a soulless state, in which the player can be attacked if the player attempts to log out in the field.

### Leveling System

SBO does not have a proper "leveling system". This is a trait it carried over from its original. Instead of a leveling system, SBO employs a more advanced «Skill Proficiency» system similar to how «Skills» were trained back in SAO. Unlike SAO, completing a skill does not necessarily mean that the skill can't be advanced further with the exception of Weapon Skills and Hobby Skills. For example, in order to increase one's MP reserves, the «Mana Development» skill must be trained and once completed, the skill evolves to «Mana Development II» which gives the player huge bonuses at the cost of resetting the skill's advancement. For most skills, the upper limit after "Limit Breaking" (a term players created to describe how SBO's skills work) is "V" (5) but some skills are able to reach "VII" (7) before maxing out.

### Combat

Combat in SBO contains multiple elements and strategies. With the introduction of flight, it allows for duels to take place in both the air or the ground. Unlike ALO, Sword Skills exist in SBO and is entirely based on the original sword skills of SAO with some differences, including the addition of magical damage properties. The «Original Sword Skill» system of ALO was also carried over which allowed for further diversification of combat since players were capable of inventing their own sword skills (OSS's that were invented in ALO were carried over into SBO and can be immediately used again by their respective creators).

When a player dies, they will become a Remnant and lose some of their stat progress. The attacker will also receive some of the killed player's items and currency. If a player dies due to self-destruct magic, they will suffer a much greater death penalty than for normal deaths.

Battles with monsters were more or less the exact same as in SAO except that players are also capable of flight which adds a whole new layer to fighting.

#### Equipment Ranks

Unlike SAO, equipment in SBO is given a ranking in which the rank determines how powerful and rare that specific equipment is. This ranking system wasn't present in ALO.

Rank 1
The simplest equipment. It can be found anywhere in low-level areas and can be forged by anyone with a level in blacksmithing. The one-handed sword «Divination» is a one such weapon in this tier.
Rank 2
One tier higher, Rank 2 equipment will need to have the player clear a prerequisite before being able to equip it. Since it is only Rank 2, the prerequisite will be extremely easy to accomplish. Beginner blacksmiths can also forge Rank 2 equipment.
Rank 3
The last tier of the basic equipment, it is also the highest tier that beginner blacksmiths can forge. Like Rank 2 weapons, a prerequisite needs to be met before one is able to equip and like Rank 2 weapons, the prerequisite is usually easy to meet.
Rank 4
Intermediate equipment begins with Rank 4. Skilled blacksmiths will find it easy to forge such equipment. Prerequisites will start leaning more towards the hard side from here.
Rank 5
The second tier of intermediate equipment, skilled blacksmiths will find it easy to forge this type of equipment although a little more time will be needed.
Rank 6
The last tier of intermediate equipment, skilled blacksmiths will find it rather hard to forge this type of equipment although equipment in this tier will be easier to find in rather high-level areas.
Rank 7
Advanced equipment with a rather grueling prerequisite, blacksmiths who have completed their skill in the craft will find it time-consuming to forge these even with their skill.
Rank 8
The highest tier player-made equipment can go. One cannot forge equipment higher than Rank 8. The one-handed sword «Vox Unitas» is one such weapon in this tier.
Rank 9
Only obtainable through hard quests, Rank 9 equipment is equipment that transcends into the divine. Demigods would most likely have Rank 9 equipment on hand. Prerequisites for equipping a Rank 9 equipment will be extremely harsh. The katana «Takemikazuchi Hachishiki» is one such weapon in this tier.
Rank 10
The highest tier of equipment. Rank 10 equipment can be considered divine equipment. Only certain very-high-difficulty quests will give a Rank 10 reward. Prerequisites for equipping a Rank 10 will be extremely harsh, quite possibly harsher than Rank 9's. The one-handed sword «Holy Sword Excalibur» is one such weapon in this tier.
### Magic System

There are four basic magical elements, **Water** (水, *Sui*?), **Fire** (火, *Hi*?), **Earth** (地, *Chi*?), and **Wind** (風, *Kaze*?). Besides these four elements, there are two extraneous elements that deal neutral damage against other elements but are strong against each other: **Dark** (闇, *Yami*?), and **Holy** (聖, *Sei*?).

Spell difficulty was measured by the number of lines used to cast the spell: the more lines the more complicated the spell. Sword skills were the other half of magic in SBO and they had only one property, **Physical** (物的, *Butteki*?). Other than this, magic was very simple.

Upon the game's official release, the implementation of the Original Sword Skill system which allowed players to create their own sword skills pleased players, both new and returning. The next change also regarded sword skills as it added elemental damage properties to them so they are not purely Physical damage. Another change that was suggested through player feedback asked that the magic system be separated into individual tiers like that of the equipment.

#### Magic Tiers

Like equipment, magic is split into tiers.

Tier 1
The basic of the basic. Spells in this category can be activated just by invoking its true name and an experienced mage would be able to use their «Cast Cancel» skill to remove the need to chant a spell entirely. «Fireball» is a spell found in this tier.
Tier 2
The second tier of basic spells. A completed skill proficiency in «Cast Cancel» is required to cancel the cast. «Wind Arrow» is a spell found in this tier.
Tier 3
The final tier of basic spells. A player needs a level of skill proficiency in «Cast Cancel II» in order to cancel the cast. «Shining Javelin» is a spell found in this tier.
Tier 4
Intermediate magic spells begins here. A completed skill proficiency in «Cast Cancel II» is required to cancel the cast.
Tier 5
The second tier of intermediate magic. A player needs a level of skill proficiency in «Cast Cancel II» to cancel the cast. «Black Blade» is a spell found in this tier.
Tier 6
The final tier of intermediate magic. A completed skill proficiency in «Cast Cancel III» is required to cancel the cast. «Flash Storm» is a spell found in this tier.
Tier 7
Advanced magic spells begins here. A completed skill proficiency in «Cast Cancel IV» is required to cancel the cast. «Prominent Inferno» is a spell found in this tier.
Tier 8
The second and final tier of advanced magic. A completed skill proficiency in the highest-level «Cast Cancel», «Cast Cancel V», is required to cancel the cast. «Maelstrom» is a spell found in this tier.
Tier 9
Magic that transcends into the divine realm. A player cannot use this magic normally as a spell in this tier is only capable of being acquired from certain magic NPC teachers or clearing quests as a reward. The chant of a spell in this tier cannot be canceled even with a completed «Cast Cancel V». «Black Hole» is a spell found in this tier.
Tier 10
Magic of the highest caliber. Players are not experienced enough to wield this magic no matter how much they train their magical capabilities. Only select NPCs that help players on certain quests have the ability to use tenth-tier magic. It *is* possible for a player to inherit the knowledge on how to use it but it will be extremely difficult to cast as the delay from the invocation of the spell's name to the actual spell casting is long (ten seconds) and the amount of MP required is equally absurdly high. «Realm of Ice, Nilfheim» is a spell found in this tier.
### Rankings

*Main article: Named Charts*
Like SAO, SBO has a ranking system. However, they are much more refined and profound and as a result, players heavily compete with each other for a spot in these rankings. Rankings are recorded in books known as the «Named Charts» which are published once a week in order to keep pace with the fluctuations caused by player actions throughout that week. Only the top 72 players are shown in them. The top 12 players are known as «Page Ones» and are given rewards from the GMs (Game Masters aka moderators) for maintaining that rank. These rewards can include early information on not-yet-implemented quests, bonus equipment, and extra in-game currency (although it can be translated into real-life currency as well, however, the rates given make sure that a player cannot earn large amounts of money just from playing the game).

To further add refinement, the GMs made 9 separate Named Charts for each of the nine races in SBO. There is also a tenth master Named Chart that shows the top 72 players in all of SBO, instead of the top 72 within each race. **Page Ones** who are strong enough to show up in both their race's Named Chart as well as the master Named Chart will receive even more rewards from the GMs, further enticing the players to compete for a spot in the «Named Charts».