UnchainedRO

[Bavalt]

I've been playing this server for going on a month now, or thereabouts, and as it's a bit of a hidden gem at the moment, figured it'd be nice to get a review up here and see if anyone else wants to try it.

Coming from a primarily low-mid rate background, but having 'played the fun out of RO' in the past, I was looking for a renewal server which offered a middle-of-the-road journey to max level. I knew I didn't want to try Renewal for the first time on a low rate, because I was eager to get the to third classes that I hadn't seen before, but I've always cringed at high rates, as I'm a PvE fan, and like having to put a good amount of effort into maxing and gearing a character. UnchainedRO was one of the only servers I found that was close to what I was looking for rate-wise and turned out to be the best for me in terms of features. My experience so far has been quite enjoyable. Some comments on aspects of the server:


The website has seen a redesign since I've started playing, and while the old look was more unique, the current one is nicer to look at. The site is fairly simple to navigate, and most of the information new players would look for is easily accessible. Overall the site is serviceable and economic. There is a forum, of course, though with the sparse population currently, it serves largely as an archive for bug reports, changelogs and GM announcements.

The rates are 50/50/10, and Eden group is present to aid in levelling. Once a character hits level 150, the rate for base experience drops to 1x, challenging the player to get to the max level of 160. Job exp and drop rates are untouched and remain at 50 and 10 respectively.

The server is heavily customized in terms of activity, but customized very lightly in terms of statistics. There are a handful of automated events that occur by intervals throughout the day, and there is usually (always, in my experience) an ongoing seasonal event in progress. In addition, monsters killed may drop runes which provide buffs to yourself and other onscreen party members, and every once in a while, a giftcode monster is spawned, the name of which can be redeemed for prizes.

Utility NPCs include a healer (free for HP, but you have to pay extra to get SP or buffs), a warper (maps must be first unlocked by travelling to them on an account-wide basis.), a stylist (with a good amount of custom palettes, but not many hair sprites, though I have heard those are being worked on), and a resetter (which requires special items to use). There is a PvP warper, but as the population is still small, WoE has not as of yet started up.

As far as items, skills, and other statistical issues go, Unchained stays as close to official as possible. You won't see overpowered custom donation gears here: there is a donation shop, but it contains mostly boosts, and some items that are noticeably powerful, but exist in the game already. Items that are very tough or impossible to obtain through normal means are sometimes introduced via alternate means.

In addition to the donation coins that can be spent on such items, the server also includes loyalty coins which accrue as you spend time online (though not idling), reward coins gained from voting, and referral coins obtained by bringing people to the server.  All of these can be spent for various boosts, items or services much the same way as donation coins. UnchainedRO does not have command autoloot, though items are available that allow you to autoloot for a limited time (you are given one such item each day you log in, and can buy more with coins.)

The GM team makes a lot of effort to stay up-to-date with official servers as closely as possible, and while there are some bugs, players are incentivized to report them, and they are dealt with in a timely manner. As well, player suggestions are given fair consideration.

As for the community, my first experience upon rolling up my first character was a PM from the server admin welcoming me to the server. The staff here is small but very friendly and helpful, and extremely dedicated. As for the players, there aren't many of us right now, but we're generally a nice bunch.

Because of the low population, the economy hasn't quite gotten on its feet yet, so expect to be farming the majority of your equipment yourself for now. At the moment, this server is good for do-it-yourselfers who like to find all their own equipment.

In summary, UnchainedRO is a solid server that, although it has its share of bugs, keeps balance and fun on the top of its list of priorities. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an up-to-date mid-rate Renewal server with lots to do. I would not recommend it to those who prefer to play the economy rather than hunting their own items, or for those who like the possibilities that come with heavy item customization. Its chief issue right now is its low population, which could be fixed with your help.