Title: ExcelRO: Classic Low Rates with New Unique Concepts
POV: Player on ExcelRO since open accessServer Website: https://www.excelragnarokonline.com/Discord link: https://discord.gg/8FAJxV88PsServer Launch: launched in mid March 2022, open access for a bit, its full release now.
Details, unique aspects, and explanation of this server followed by my opinion: - 1x1x1x 99/50 Episode 6 (now) Server with episodic releases:
Ep releases is listed in a 2-year roadmap discord:
https://discord.gg/j9PbtjgttN. Straightforward: This server is a complete episode 6 package, it was just ep 5, the only difference is that skill are operating at trans skills for better balance (ep 9).
Overall I would say this is a very TRUE 1x server. Very classic feel and kind of hard lol. There aren't any BMs or bubblegum that just make this server actually 2x or anything. At the absolutely best of times, with a full party and taps as well as event active, a party shared player can reach no more than 2x of shared exp. Roadmap allows for episode enjoyment for up to two years. True to 1x. True to old times. couple of downfalls is that its ruthless, you are signing up for 1x, and that's what youre getting. The community does help a lot though 
- Global Proxy US (east) server with additional proxies set for the middle east and SEA, and pretty much anywhere you ask them to place it.
They are very good with adding for anyone who needs it. Someone complained of bad connection in SEA and they added it, someone complained of bad connection in Israel and it was added. Don't expect high lag here. I think they use AWS which is very clean. - Dual client enforcement and NO MULTICLIENT of any kind.
They have gms that are hunters for this.
I personally like that if a player is found in the city you can expect it to be a real person. I like that you must work with each other to make parties and not just run around with a slave and play RO with only yourself. Some people have come and left because they couldn't get away with dual client. So for me, good. For some, bad! 
- War of Emperium:
They advertised this "ranked WoE" to encourage guilds of all sizes and skill level to play WoE and still maintain competition. I dont think it ended up following through due to our size (currently 150 or so active), but we have a very big influx as of late which encouraged me to post this. We ran season "zero" WoE, and the admins tested many varying things specifically for our community. Currently, its player capped. They have a council of WoE guild leaders they speak with and poll to get the best ideas.
So far, there was much trial and error in the season zero, but it came out real good. Looking forward to the new guilds for season 1 which starts in January - PvP and KoE:
PvP is a normal for 1x, which is dead. Hope to see more out of it with our new influx of players. KoE ran "instanced" meaning real consumables DO NOT need to be wasted in these activities. It was working for a bit but then it died. They have removed it since then and are reworking it.
KoE has a place in the server i think, but the excessive use of pots made it just a spam fest. but we will see where they go with it. KoE: In case some people don't know (I didn't), KoE is King of Emperium, which is a 30 minute GvG event that is a free-for-all castle to take and defend. Rewards are handed out every 5 minutes someone holds the emperium, and extra rewards are given to the guild that holds the castle at the end of the event.
Cool game, just needs to be reworked - Guild Housing:
One of the best features is the guild housing that they have. They take actual houses in Prontera and allow guilds to get together and buy it for zeny. They'll actually take that house, giving them a sandbox feeling of owning a part of the town. There are currently small features where you must hunt and give zeny to upgrade to more features like a GVG MVP arena with a 24 hour mvp spawn. They are releasing bigger houses and floorplans, DB room and other stuff later. Official post on the feature:
https://www.excelragnarokonline.com/news/guild-hideout-amp-discord This is a feature that is an awesome concept that Gravity was even planning on releasing, fully realized. Nothing overpowering or ridiculous to still stay classic. Sounds fun, will update when it is fully released. - NO P2W Donation and VIP system:
Donations are iRO cosmetics only, they don't add any stats and don't give any advantages. They explore renewal headies and allow for fun player headgear options. The items are also account bound and untradeable so there is no RMT as well. VIP system is $1 USD a month and gives access to the VIP garden, and features like universal tool dealer, stylist, broadcast NPC, and 50% off warps to towns. Here's their info on it:
https://www.excelragnarokonline.com/news/vip-status IMO the only "slight" p2w on this server would be 50% warp discount for VIP, but it is very slight, it was also unanimously voted to keep in, though we have a high hardcore player population. Still, it is mostly helpful for the absolute beginner in the 1x grind and tapers off in usefulness. Fine by me. - Headies!!
One of the best parts of the games are the iRO cosmetic headies. There are so many headgears available for players in so avenues! For example, participating in voting gives votecoins, playing PvP games gives PvP coin, hunting MvPs gives MvP coin. These coins can be collected and used at the Vending Machine in Prontera to get all types of headgears that are updated and cycled every month. There's also custom quests for headgears, donation headgears, and VIP hunt+donation ticket ($1 USD) headgears as well.
To me, a great feature to allow people to have end game goals of hat collecting! - Community led server:
The admins have been very vocal about transparency and player involvement. In the discord there is a suggestions area where players can suggest for changes to the server. If the admins feel the feature lines up to their vision (basically classic but small custom concepts) they'll throw it up to a poll in discord where players can vote and voice their opinion on the matter. If the vote is 66% or higher, it'll pass and become implemented.
Things we have voted on so far: Gutterlines, peco dye colors to be available, color changes in #chats, MVP spawn variability, BS and alche ranking, exp for events, rewards for weekly MvP hunters. Some of them pass, some don't, but you can really feel that they listen. - Events:
So far there have been two events which are entirely custom, but they are very mindful of the whole server and make sure to make them accessible to any level, player, and timezone. For example, there will be certain monster spawns that give 20% more experience than normal, and it ranges for monsters for level 1 players up to 99 players. The monsters will also drop items at low percentage to trade in for event-only cosmetic headies. They run for weeks to allow all players to access it as needed.
To me, the universal approach to making sure everyone feels included is necessary, and I think the events are nothing that if someone misses it they'll be very upset, but it is a way to get everyone involved. Not bad. - Tons of small features:
Customizable #chat colors (#main, #trade, etc.), you can toggle your zoom, Extra 5% exp boost per member of a party on top of tap bonus, Announcement of card drops and rare drops, aura and beam upon drop of rare items which you can customize to your liking, Guild migration package, you can opt to use @nobling to get rid of all crazy cosmetics if you dont like it and its player specific, Lotto NPC for cosmetic headies, Race of the day (10% more exp for a certain monster race, revolves every day).
To me, these are awesome small features that help!
List of @commands: @kc (killcount - keeps track of how much RNGesus hates/loves you), @whodrops, @mi, @duel, @whereis, @whosells, @showexp, @redeemvpoints (to redeem when you vote for the server), /delay to toggle walk delay,
Long detailed review:This server started off with admins Goku and Zee (also the developer). Things started rocky, goals were not met on time, and things took longer than expected to release. However, they have recently included a second dev Basti who has been setting a better standard. The server's classic features in 1x should be great for any player who is looking for a classic server.
They do pretty good with advertisement, as they (Goku) are very open and will tell you everything they are actively investing in to help the server grow if you ask. The server floats in 150-200 players, which is great. There are a good amount of guilds created, and the time zones are spread well between EU, US, PH, and BR areas. Parties are pretty much always going on or being planned on, the discord is VERY active when it comes to recruitment, and the community is very nice.
I would say that my out of 10 score would be 8/10. This has increased from a 5/10 since the beginning of launch because I saw a huge improvement in their staff activities and involvement and I would also say that if things go as they have been planning it (fulfilling their goals and timelines)
I would move it to a 8.5/10 because it shows they are getting better in doing their job as well! I would say the economy is not ideal, though it is expected for the age of the server. The community really is nice, there is always a few toxics but the admin respond to this. Admin is always available in discord and will have a full fledged conversation with you if you want!
I think the flow of the server is headed in very positive directions and I am looking forward to more! Even the small features have these unique touches that sets it apart. Like, I can make my #chats any color I want! Super small details that allow players to just enjoy it how they personally want whenever the option is available. Like, change your personal aura color for any drop you want? It's a great individual experience tbh. 1x is a commitment, that is for sure.
I'll keep this updated, I hope you consider this server for the future! I can't wait to see some of the server's feature fully realized, like the houses!!
