AnomalyRO

Started by Ganondorf, Aug 31, 2018, 05:54 PM

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Ganondorf

Good day everyone, and hello to RMS forums! Admittedly, I have been rather inactive for many years now, but will be presenting a rather unique server that I feel deserves an in-depth look due to its breaking of immersion from today's typical monotony that is often found within the SHR community.

Server Specifics:
Administration/Co-Administration: Perry the Platypus & Vanilla
Rate: SHR (Super High Rate)
Released: December, 2017 (Beta)
RMS Listing: http://ratemyserver.net/index.php?page=detailedlistserver&preview=1&serid=19992&url_sname=AnomalyRO

Without further ado, the review of AnomalyRO.

Why Play AnomalyRO???

So, is AnomalyRO truly the anomaly is claims to be?  Is it up to snuff, or is it just another server?

I feel this section is important in this day and age of Ragnarok Online; possibly the most important part of the review really.  Below is a little snapshot of some of the features that can be found on AnomalyRO that differ from the norm.

An intelligible Wiki: https://www.anomalyro.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Whether you need information on levelling, class specifics or even quests, everything you'll need is logged here, and in a professional manner that makes it easy to use.

Numerous QoL Custom Client Edits: From optimisations that phase out some of Gravity's questionable coding choices, to in-game Wiki directories, AnomalyRO's client touts convenience, that's for sure.
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Unfamiliar custom icons are "equipped arrow", Soul Link effect and Maya Purple effect respectively.  Similar instances exist for Elemental Converters as well.

In-Game Help Feature: By using the /helpicon feature, players can see Wiki info in-game, right inside the client.
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Achievement System: AnomalyRO supports a Steam-esque achievement system for in-game feats, and specific achievements grant prizes which are received in your mailbox upon retrieval.
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The prize here was some Enriched minerals for example.
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Less Divide Between the Rich & Poor: Players just starting out may feel overwhelmed, but it's not particularly hard to get up and running functionally to participate in BG/WoE.  This is because of headgear all possessing the same effects (although they can be Enchanted, that is essentially nigh end-game content), and there are numerous custom cards available with Tao-like and Kiel-like effects to help you out.  While slightly inconvenient due to lessened effects compared to true counterparts, these cards will ensure you can compete decently well in a team setting.  Additional to this, donations are mostly cosmetic or convenience, and the Gold Room is very approachable for everyone.

Custom Battlegrounds Queue & Reward System: A system that essentially groups players together based on class, resulting in more interesting and (usually) fair team layouts compared to the default formula that Gravity implemented.  Additionally, extra tickets, Upgraded Card Albums and care packages containing useful consumables are given to players who consistently play BG, giving incentive to play more.

Custom BG Armours: Like most servers, AnomalyRO sports a number of unique custom armours through the BG shop that cater to specific classes or builds and optimise them.
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... and many more.

Headgear Enchanting System: Here on AnomalyRO, all HG is the same, but we have an Enchanting system that allows players to transform their favourite HG into something that wholeheartedly complements their favourite classes and play-styles.  The first column is a Defensive perk, the second column is an Offensive perk, and the third column is a Utility perk.  Effects vary depending on which HG they've chosen (upper, mid or lower) and there are numerous effects that can be chosen as seen below.
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(Credits to Saku for the first image)
As can be seen, rolling the dice ranges from 1 ~ 10% effectiveness for most Enchantments that can be picked, resulting in a Zeny sink for the server that yields a more well-rounded character if desired.  Players who are just starting out who cannot afford many rolls still have a decent chance of getting a roll between 6 ~ 8, while seasoned veterans with heavy pockets can try their luck for a perfect Enchant; the system works well for all walks.  There is of course the chance of rolling undesirable results as well, but there is an achievement for doing so! So don't be too sad!

Technical Ratings: This section will focus on the specifics of the boring but essential side of things.  How well the server functions, how often you can expect to play it, etc.
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Stability: 9.5/10

You can't talk about very many servers without first delving into the technical side of things.  Can you play it?  Does it crash often?  The answers to these respectively are definitely and barely ever.  From a client and patcher standpoint, Anomaly boasts a plethora of customised client features that you won't find anywhere else.  As far as crashes are concerned, there have been maybe a handful since the server's burst from the ashes back in December of 2017, and most of which were immediately fixed since they were hiccups that came along with a custom headgear or a tweak in coding somewhere following an update.  Occasional lag spikes have been noted, but this is mainly seen in the SEA region where ISPs are often to blame; instances of this are incredibly rare.

Availability: 10/10

The server is always up and running, and if it's not, the Admin is working on something.  The amount of time the server has ever been down outside of the Admin's control is so minimal that it's not worth mentioning thanks to the server's auto-boot and notification features kicking in before few even get to the forum's shoutbox.  Hands-down one of the more available servers in all my years of playing Ragnarok Online (and I've been doing it a long time).
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Community Ratings: This section will delve into the community's liveliness and willingness to help out those in need, and will collectively outline its strengths and weaknesses.
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Friendliness: 8/10

There's a saying out there, whether known or not; "an a******'s an a******".  There's really no ifs, ands or buts about this idea.  Whether you're at work, at school, on public transit, dealing with public services or even on you favourite online games, you will not get along with everyone perfectly all the time.  It would be insane to believe otherwise, and in-game is no exception to this where there are many different people from many different places in the world who don't always see eye to eye on issues and decisions that are made.  How does this pertain to in-game?  The community does have a tendency to get cliquey.  This is due to much of the community being composed of veterans of a past server that joined Anomaly together.  Due to this, "islander syndrome" can certainly be seen from time to time.  This is to say, you may feel a pressure to make a name for yourself in order to stumble into these cliques.  That being said, as long as you are respectful when just off the boat, people will direct you to where you need to go without hesitation, and these same players are the same ones who happen to hang around town often anyway.  Gold Room parties, as well as planned future dungeon instances are also a great way to break ice with other newbies and vets alike, so use them!

Eventfulness: 9/10

Although some of what I said above may not look very good overall, the community is responsible when it comes to the well-being of the server, and tends to make decisions for the "good of the many, not for the one".  Whether this be creating Gold Room parties (which are heavily dependent on having full parties for more Gold earned) so that newbies can earn some cash, or whether it be a decision to split a guild when one gets too large, there have been numerous cases where the community has set aside a few differences for the betterment of the server.
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Game Master Ratings: This section delves into GM specifics, and covers what you can expect here at AnomalyRO.
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Friendliness: 9.5/10

The Game Masters of AnomalyRO are quite friendly.  Different GMs naturally have players who they are more fond of than others, but this can be expected in an environment where mingling is so important.  This ODES NOT, however, mean that their relationships with players they prefer to sit in town with will impede on their duties as GMs.  Players are brought to justice in all the same mannerisms, whether they're a personal friend or not.  Break the rules, and there will be consequences; it's clean and simple with the current GM team.

Availability: 10/10

Not much to say here; there are GMs from both ends of the globe on AnomalyRO.  This means that there is daily coverage should you need one for anything.  There is also a custom feature that links the in-game @request feature to the staff Discord, which means your problem is never being echoed over open seas and forgotten if you need something and nobody is online.

Helpfulness: 9.5/10

The GMs, from what I can tell, will always go out of their way to help if they are able, and will direct you to the correct GM if they cannot.  The majority of the GM team can be rather soft on RO mechanics themselves such as class-specific knowledge, PvP knowledge and mechanics, but this knowledge is also not necessary on a daily basis given the server's goal of being more GvG/PvE-oriented, while things like NPC location, quest information and general server specifics are absolutely required for everyday use, and the GMs do this well, and there is another designated team separate from the core GM team that takes care of balancing aspects anyway.  The Admin and Co-Admin are both very approachable, and as long as you approach them with a bit of logic and respect, you'll get the same in return.
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Game-Play Ratings: Here you will see specifics from an everyday standpoint as a player regarding trading, battling and GvG.
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Economy: 8.5/10

The economy on AnomalyRO is comparable to many other SHR servers in the sense that it revolves around mostly high-end gear being mucked about between players.  That being said, there is a real push for a mostly Zeny-based economy because the server possesses a couple of very important features that demand hefty amounts of Zeny in order to get the most out of.

Class Balance: 9/10

Class balance is a hot topic on pretty much every server, and AnomalyRO is no exception here.  The thick of it is, everyone has different ideas of what class balance is and what defines it.  That being said, most servers do not have a goal in mind when it comes to balancing out their classes.  Anomaly does however, and that goal is to give each class a goal during team play.  This is to say, the main focus of the entire server is GvG/BG/PvE/MvP.  The High Priest for example has received buffs to complement its ability to keep teammates alive and healthy, as opposed to getting offensive capabilities buffed through the roof like many servers may do.  This is also true for offensive classes such as SinXs, Snipers, Whitesmiths and other DPS classes who received unique attributes to integrate them into being team players using unique custom status ailments and tweaks.  Further yet, classes such as Stalkers (custom Strip effects) and Clowns/Gypsies (custom song/dance effects) have had their de-buffer identities expanded upon with custom status ailments attached to some of their skills that truly break immersion beyond the norm.  For more information on our custom class changes, visit our Wiki here - https://www.anomalyro.com/wiki/index.php/Balancing_Changes

Although PvP isn't the main focus of these changes as of yet, they will be as time passes and the class reworks are complete.  Patience is important when considering class balance on any server.

Guild Competition: 8/10

Possibly the most subjective part of my review between players.  Some players would rate this a 3, others a 10, and others still a 5 or anything in between.  Personally, I acknowledge that guild competition probably could be better, but it's far from being the worst that it could be.  As a longtime player of SHR servers, I've seen quite a few of them go weeks without WoE taking place at all well after they've been established for months.  This is certainly not the case on Anomaly, which had a pretty strong WoE scene from the very first war.  While there are not many guilds, the guilds that do reside here are consistent guilds who will often act accordingly if one guild is too strong, and negotiate on splitting the guild temporarily if one becomes too strong.  Power has shifted between a few different guilds over the course of the server's life so far, and will continue to do so I'm sure.
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Conclusion: Here you will find the final score based on the above data, and a few final thoughts.
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Verdict: 91/100
There isn't enough room to express everything that AnomalyRO has to offer for a curious player who is bored of the "same old".  I could bore you with a novel I'm certain! However, the choice is now yours whether you want to check it out.

We hope that you do!
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