Gameplay
There are many different ways to enjoy the world of Zenderael. Those interested in story will find a rich and colourful lore to explore. Challenge-oriented players can form teams and raid difficult dungeons with friends. Players can even fight each other, either while exploring Zenderael or in special player-versus-player arenas.
The first step is choosing a class. Classes are described in detail on the class page.
The second step is choosing a build. Not all classes have access to all build types, so it's essential to keep class limitations in mind when creating a character.
Builds:
Combat:
A character specializing in combat concentrates on dealing as much damage as possible as quickly as possible. Combat characters will make up the bulk of a raid team. They come in two types: melee and ranged. Melee combatants fight face-to-face and can typically take a few hits. Ranged combatants are physically weak and easily hurt, but can do massive damage from the back lines.
Defense:
A defense character's job is to defend their allies, attracting the enemy's attention and keeping it. All defense characters are melee fighters, but their damage output is nowhere near a skilled combatant's. They are indispensible for raiding, keeping the less hardy characters from getting hit. If the defense goes down, the rest of the raid will go with them, so keeping them alive is essential!
Support:
Support characters support their allies from the back lines. They come in two types: healers and buffers. A healer's duty is to keep their allies alive by undoing or preventing damage, which makes them an essential part of any team. Buffers support their teammates by making them stronger, shielding them against attacks, or making enemies weaker. A good buffer can be the difference between an easy dungeon run, or a very difficult one.
Disrupt:
Disrupt characters are geared toward combat with fellow players. Not all classes have a specialized disrupt build, because in many cases their normal combat build will do just fine. Those classes that do have disrupt builds will be geared toward preventing players from acting, strong sudden attacks, and damage in bursts instead of sustained.
Weapons and Armour Types:
When selecting a class, it's important to keep in mind what types of gear each class can equip. There are four types of armour and four classes of weapon.
The highest level of armour a character can equip is listed on the class page, along with all classes of weaponry.
Armour:
Cloth: Cloth armour provides the lowest defense boost. Characters that wear cloth armour are relegated to the back row, and must be protected. They can be taken down very quickly if players aren't paying attention.
Leather: Leather armour provides a decent amount of defense, but characters that wear leather still want to avoid taking hits. They might be able to survive a few attacks, but could never survive bearing the brunt of an onslaught.
Mail: Mail armour provides good defense, and characters in mail can take some hits before they'll be taken out.
Plate: Plate armour provides excellent defense. Characters in plate are front-line defenders, able to weather the toughest of onslaughts. Even those without a defensive build can at least fake it for a while.
Weapons:
Light: Wands, staffs (one- and two-handed), small daggers, etc
Medium: One-handed weapons: swords, axes, maces, spears, large daggers, etc
Heavy: Two-handed weapons: swords, axes, maces, spears, hammers, etc
Ranged: Bows, crossbows, guns, etc
Shields: Some classes can equip shields, which are equipped in the off-hand and provide those classes a defensive boost. They can only be used with one-handed weapons.
Dual-wielding: Some classes can dual-wield weapons, carrying one in each hand. This can only be done with one-handed weapons.
Pets, Mounts, and Costumes:
Since roleplay is heavily encouraged in Legacy of Zenderael, these cosmetic additions to gameplay exist to facilitate that. They can be obtained in a variety of ways, from enemy drops to the cash shop to quest rewards.
Pets: Pets are non-combat companions that will follow your character around in the world. They can be named, and each pet has a unique set of tricks it can perform on command.
Mounts: Mounts increase a character's movement speed, and some mounts can even fly, making it much easier to navigate the vast world of Zenderael. The ability to ride a mount becomes available at level twenty, though flying mounts don't become available until level fifty.
Costumes: Costumes allow players to control the appearance of their characters without sacrificing the gains given by their armour. With this system, characters can wear one set of armour for stats, and a completely different set of armour as a costume. This allows, for example, a high-level Cleric character to display the same robes as NPC clerics, while wearing high-end raiding gear for stats.
The Cash Shop:
Legacy of Zenderael will always be 100% free-to-play and will never offer gameplay advantages in exchange for money. However, it does maintain a cash shop where players can purchase cosmetic upgrades in exchange for real money. It offers a variety of unique pets, mounts, and costumes, including limited edition and seasonal items.
There are also frequent sales, where select items will be put up in exchange for in-game money, so even those who can't afford to pay real money can wait for the special sale to get cash shop items.
Player Housing:
A brand new mechanic introduced alongside Berserkers in the last patch, players are now able to own their own residence. Player homes range in style and size, and cost as well. Each class has its own quest to grant players a home, and these class-given housing spaces are free. Fancier ones can be purchased either from NPCs or through the cash shop.
Other players can enter a home if invited, but only if invited. The homeowner can decorate as they wish, with furnishings purchased in-game, found from drops, or from the cash shop. Nobody but the homeowner may adjust furnishings.
Players can set their home as their respawn point, and bank items and gold there.
The first step is choosing a class. Classes are described in detail on the class page.
The second step is choosing a build. Not all classes have access to all build types, so it's essential to keep class limitations in mind when creating a character.
Builds:
Combat:
A character specializing in combat concentrates on dealing as much damage as possible as quickly as possible. Combat characters will make up the bulk of a raid team. They come in two types: melee and ranged. Melee combatants fight face-to-face and can typically take a few hits. Ranged combatants are physically weak and easily hurt, but can do massive damage from the back lines.
Defense:
A defense character's job is to defend their allies, attracting the enemy's attention and keeping it. All defense characters are melee fighters, but their damage output is nowhere near a skilled combatant's. They are indispensible for raiding, keeping the less hardy characters from getting hit. If the defense goes down, the rest of the raid will go with them, so keeping them alive is essential!
Support:
Support characters support their allies from the back lines. They come in two types: healers and buffers. A healer's duty is to keep their allies alive by undoing or preventing damage, which makes them an essential part of any team. Buffers support their teammates by making them stronger, shielding them against attacks, or making enemies weaker. A good buffer can be the difference between an easy dungeon run, or a very difficult one.
Disrupt:
Disrupt characters are geared toward combat with fellow players. Not all classes have a specialized disrupt build, because in many cases their normal combat build will do just fine. Those classes that do have disrupt builds will be geared toward preventing players from acting, strong sudden attacks, and damage in bursts instead of sustained.
Weapons and Armour Types:
When selecting a class, it's important to keep in mind what types of gear each class can equip. There are four types of armour and four classes of weapon.
The highest level of armour a character can equip is listed on the class page, along with all classes of weaponry.
Armour:
Cloth: Cloth armour provides the lowest defense boost. Characters that wear cloth armour are relegated to the back row, and must be protected. They can be taken down very quickly if players aren't paying attention.
Leather: Leather armour provides a decent amount of defense, but characters that wear leather still want to avoid taking hits. They might be able to survive a few attacks, but could never survive bearing the brunt of an onslaught.
Mail: Mail armour provides good defense, and characters in mail can take some hits before they'll be taken out.
Plate: Plate armour provides excellent defense. Characters in plate are front-line defenders, able to weather the toughest of onslaughts. Even those without a defensive build can at least fake it for a while.
Weapons:
Light: Wands, staffs (one- and two-handed), small daggers, etc
Medium: One-handed weapons: swords, axes, maces, spears, large daggers, etc
Heavy: Two-handed weapons: swords, axes, maces, spears, hammers, etc
Ranged: Bows, crossbows, guns, etc
Shields: Some classes can equip shields, which are equipped in the off-hand and provide those classes a defensive boost. They can only be used with one-handed weapons.
Dual-wielding: Some classes can dual-wield weapons, carrying one in each hand. This can only be done with one-handed weapons.
Pets, Mounts, and Costumes:
Since roleplay is heavily encouraged in Legacy of Zenderael, these cosmetic additions to gameplay exist to facilitate that. They can be obtained in a variety of ways, from enemy drops to the cash shop to quest rewards.
Pets: Pets are non-combat companions that will follow your character around in the world. They can be named, and each pet has a unique set of tricks it can perform on command.
Mounts: Mounts increase a character's movement speed, and some mounts can even fly, making it much easier to navigate the vast world of Zenderael. The ability to ride a mount becomes available at level twenty, though flying mounts don't become available until level fifty.
Costumes: Costumes allow players to control the appearance of their characters without sacrificing the gains given by their armour. With this system, characters can wear one set of armour for stats, and a completely different set of armour as a costume. This allows, for example, a high-level Cleric character to display the same robes as NPC clerics, while wearing high-end raiding gear for stats.
The Cash Shop:
Legacy of Zenderael will always be 100% free-to-play and will never offer gameplay advantages in exchange for money. However, it does maintain a cash shop where players can purchase cosmetic upgrades in exchange for real money. It offers a variety of unique pets, mounts, and costumes, including limited edition and seasonal items.
There are also frequent sales, where select items will be put up in exchange for in-game money, so even those who can't afford to pay real money can wait for the special sale to get cash shop items.
Player Housing:
A brand new mechanic introduced alongside Berserkers in the last patch, players are now able to own their own residence. Player homes range in style and size, and cost as well. Each class has its own quest to grant players a home, and these class-given housing spaces are free. Fancier ones can be purchased either from NPCs or through the cash shop.
Other players can enter a home if invited, but only if invited. The homeowner can decorate as they wish, with furnishings purchased in-game, found from drops, or from the cash shop. Nobody but the homeowner may adjust furnishings.
Players can set their home as their respawn point, and bank items and gold there.