I?ve stayed away from video games because I get easily addicted, staying up all night, with bloodshot eyes, and half my brain awake trying to beat one more level and just one more quest. Finally, after several months of rejecting my friends? invitation to play Asheron?s Call, I gave in. I bought the game for $20 (with a $20 rebate) and signed up on Microsoft?s Zone to play. The game can only be played online, which costs $10 per month (first month is free). And now here I am, with half closed eyes, hunched over the computer with a can of coke next to my crumb-filled keyboard, playing all night.

Asheron?s Call is a MMORPG. You may chose a pre-made character or design your own including how you look and what you wear. There are three races to chose from: the Aluvians (Caucasians), Gharu?ndim (Middle Eastern), or the Sho (Asians). Each race specializes in a trait, for instance the Sho are skilled in unarmed combat. After you chose your race, you may chose what type of character you are: mage, sorcerer, swords (wo)man, archer and others. The ideal character is custom made. My character, Leilu, is mainly a swords woman with the ability for magic. Your character may also have a hobby such as cooking or alchemy.

Each monster you fight earns you experience (xp) points. The more xp you get, the higher level you become and that means your character will become stronger and quicker. There is no ending to the game. You fight, and then fight some more. The rewards of the game are gaining levels, killing difficult enemies, finding rare gear like swords, armor, or robes for mages, and interfacing with others. The game creators keep the players interested by updating the game every month with new quests and rare items to find.

For me the most enjoyable aspect of Asheron?s Call is the interaction with other players. Many quests are impossible to accomplish without the help of others so you have to meet and work with other players to be successful. Why else would anyone play online if not to hook up with others? Sometimes quests are announced through the chat system. Often while in a town, you can meet others and agree to join a fellowship, a temporary group created to achieve a quest. Trades and selling items are a common occurrence and a way to get hard-to-find items.

Fighting
When you come across a monster, you change into fight mode. You click the monster with the mouse to target it, then choose from the attack range: high, middle, or low. Then press attack. The attacking is then automated as you watch your character strike at the monster. A health and stamina meter displays how well or poor you are doing against the monster. If your health runs out, then you die.

Graphics & Environment
The graphics are fairly good. The world of Asheron?s Call, Dereth, has everything from deserts, snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, and beaches. The graphics are not too blocky or pixilated. The monsters and character are well defined. The towns though are replications of each other. There are many dungeons and underground areas that the creators try to give a unique look too, like a dungeon with electricity coils or a swampy, mossy one. The armor and clothing provided in the game are diverse so that players can get their own look without looking like everyone else.

One common complaint about the game is transportation. Often players must run to towns or other areas. The game is created in real world ratio, so running a mile may take several minutes. Portals exist, like wormholes, directly transporting players around Dereth, but still running around is part of the game and takes time.

Another complaint is the lag that occurs from time to time, especially after an update. Although there are nearly ten servers, the system will slow down. The lag has been so bad, that I?ve died fighting low-level monsters. They can hit me but I can?t hit them because of the lag.

If you get bored killing monsters, you may design a Player Killer (PK) who may only kill other PK?s. Sometimes a PK tournament will be announced so that all players may watch the tournament in an arena or other designated area.

Learn the Lingo
As you play, you will begin to learn the lingo of Asheron?s Call. Here?s a couple examples:

Buffs ? When a player has had magic cast upon herself to make her stronger. You will often hear the phrase, ?Somebody please buff me.?

Subway ? An underground dungeon with portals to almost all major cities in Dereth. Only higher-level players may use subway due to a huge fall in the dungeon that takes 40+ health points to survive. You will often hear the phrase, ?I need sub,? due to its accessibility from high level mages.

Life Stone ? A blue stone scattered throughout Dereth. It?s a place to ?attune? your character?s life. In case of death, your character will be returned to the last life stone you saved at.

Spawn ? The rebirth of monsters or items.

Mote ? A rare item found on Golems, large monsters ranging from mud to water, that can be combined with other motes to create the coveted Atlan sword.

Some more peculiarities:

I have seen two marriages occur on Asheron?s Call. Yes, players sometimes hook up on the game then have an online wedding. A game administrator will enter the game to perform the ceremony. http://www.thejackcat.com/AC/WhereNow/Archer.htm

I?ve come across a website for an Asheron?s Call bachelor auction. A lady may bid on a desirable bachelor. He in turn will give the lady a personal tour to the cities of Dereth and may bestow wonderful gifts. ?I will take you to the beautiful tower in Tou Tou.?

If you enjoy online multi-player RPG?s, you will definitely enjoy Asheron?s Call. If you do, give me a holler. Then we can both stay up all night, half asleep to fight strange monsters