Color Cursor

The «**Color Cursor**» (カラー・カーソル, *Karā Kāsoru*?) in «Sword Art Online» and «Spell Blade Online» is part of the visual display of a player. It appears over the heads of players, NPCs, and monsters whenever the player focuses his or her gaze on the said players or NPCs, or if the said monsters are within the player's detection range, which can be increased by leveling the «Searching» skill. For monsters, the cursor shows the threat level of an entity towards the player.

Color Cursors do not appear inside of a building, as, for example, in restaurants, it would be extremely distracting and almost impossible to eat if the cursor kept appearing whenever a player focuses his or her gaze on another person.

## Known Color Cursors in SAO

### Green

Players that have not directly committed an infraction receive a green cursor. Most players in SAO have green cursors. Non-Player Characters (NPCs) also have green cursors plus an «NPC» tag under their HP bar.

Dangerous characters can still have green cursors by getting around the system. Monster PKing (Player Killing) or Sleep PKing will not turn a player's cursor from green to orange. Attacking an enemy in a safe zone deals no damage and will not change cursor color.

Attacking a player with an orange cursor will not change the player's color cursor. «Total Loss Mode» Duels also will not change a player's color cursor.

### Orange

In SAO, players receive an orange cursor when they commit any form of an infraction. An infraction is initiated typically by the first act of attacking a green player outside the safe zone, as the «Area» effect in towns negates both the possibility of injuring other players and the possibility of stealing items, thus thieves usually earn their orange cursor via attacking players to harass them for items, rather than stealing items.

Players who have orange cursors are usually referred to as orange players, a term that has become a synonym for "criminal", by other players. «The Army» is known for attacking orange players without question, stripping them of their equipment and imprisoning them within the dungeons of the «Black Iron Palace».*[citation needed]* Guilds created by orange players are referred to as orange guilds, though in some cases, several members keep their cursor green to be able to infiltrate other parties and lead them to ambush points.*[citation needed]*

An orange color cursor will gradually restore itself to a green color cursor within several hours for the first four infractions committed.*[citation needed]* For the fifth infraction, the orange color will remain permanently orange.*[citation needed]*

Players with orange cursors are unable to enter villages or streets that have the «Area» effect on. If they try to get into these areas, they will be attacked by NPC guards until they leave the affected area.*[citation needed]* In order for an orange player to move between floors, they must either walk from floor to floor or use teleportation or corridor crystals.*[citation needed]*

Player Killers are granted permanent orange cursors.*[citation needed]* While these players are colloquially referred to as "Red" players due to their interference with clearing the game, their cursors are not actually that color.

### Yellow

Inactive monsters, certain NPCs and pets have a yellow cursor.*[citation needed]*

### Red

All active monsters have a red cursor of various shades. The shade of red can be used as a reference to the monster's power when compared to the player's level. The cursor of monsters that need to be killed for a quest appear with a narrow yellow border surrounding the cursor.*[citation needed]*

* Light Pink - Monsters that are considerably weaker than the player and reward little to no experience points have light pink, close to white, cursors.*[citation needed]*
* Pure Red - Monsters that are equal in level to the player have a pure red cursor.*[citation needed]*
* Purple/Magenta - Active monsters that are of a higher level than the level range of a player receive purple cursors.*[citation needed]*
* Dark Crimson - Monsters with an overwhelming disparity in level and which cannot be defeated by the player, no matter how hard one tries, have a dark crimson cursor.*[citation needed]*
* Black - Monsters that are even more powerful than those with a dark crimson cursor.*[citation needed]*

## Known Color Cursors in SBO

### Blue

A new color introduced in SBO, the blue cursor is given to players as a penalty for assaulting and/or killing NPCs. In addition to the penalties normally suffered for orange cursors, players with blue cursors would be targeted and attacked on sight by any nearby monsters and NPCs, even passive or friendly ones. This makes it near-impossible for them to enter any town.

## References

1. ↑ Volume 19, The Continent of Dreams, Part 1
2. ↑ Volume 1, Dawn Romance, Part 5
3. ↑ Volume 1, Dawn Romance, Part 2
4. ↑ Volume 1, Dawn Romance, Part 7
5. ↑ Volume 1, Memories of Evil, Part 7
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Volume 1, Dawn Romance, Part 1
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Volume 19, The Continent of Dreams, Part 3
8. ↑ Volume 19, The Continent of Dreams, Part 4