Cabal Online (Korean: 카발 온라인) is a free-of-charge, 3D massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), developed by the South Korean company ESTsoft. Different versions of the game are avaliable for specific countries or regions and each is published by various companies, such as OGPlanet and Asiasoft. Although playing the game is free, Cabal Online has a “Cash Shop” which allows players to purchase game enhancements and useful ingame items using real currency.
The game takes place in a mythical world known as Nevareth, which was decimated by an evil entity known as the CABAL. Out of the survivors, seven “Masters” rose up, each wielding the abilities of the “Force Power”. These masters taught the people, and the world was rebuilt. Years later, the CABAL is plotting a return to power by breeding a child to be the new king. The players of the game take up the role of heroes who battle the CABAL uprising and conspiracy.
History
CABAL Online was released from open Beta Testing in Europe on December 21, 2006. In North America, OGPlanet had picked up the license for the game and open beta testing began on February 1, 2008. It had also been stated by IGN that the full release would most likely be by the end of February. On February 28, 2008, the game officially launched in North America, while on March 3, 2008, the open beta began in South-East Asia.
Gameplay
Like many MMORPGs, gameplay centers around killing monsters, doing quests and venturing into dungeons to obtain experience points (EXP) and “Alz”, the ingame currency. Players can band together to form a party, with a maximum of 7 characters. Extra “party experience” is obtained by the members of the party, based on their contributions.
Charcters exist on “servers”, each with its own unique name (e.g. Mercury, Venus). However, players from different servers cannot interact with each other, and chracters cannot be transferred between servers. In each server, players can create multiple characters. Each server offers the same ingame content, and is split into 20 different channels, among which players are allowed to freely switch. There are specific channels for certain activities, like Trading and conducting War.
World
A player going through the warp gate located in Bloody Ice.
The world of Cabal Online is split into different zones or areas. New characters only have access to three of the avaliable zones, but will gain access to more zones as they progress in the game. Each zone has a theme(e.g. desert, jungle and snow) and its own unique set of NPCs and monsters. In order to travel from one zone to another, players must go through the warp gate found in each zone.
Although most zones have a map for players to refer to, there are certain zones in which the map is hidden. Examples include the Forgotten Ruin and the Undead Ground.
Character Classes
- StrategyWiki has more information about Cabal Online Character classes
A low level force blader using magic to fight monsters in Cabal Online. The character and inventory dialog screens are open.
There are six character classes in Cabal Online. Once a character is created, the player must choose which character class that character will assume. The six character classes are: Warrior, Blader, Wizard, Force Blader, Force Shielder and Force Archer. Characters who assume different character classes will differ in several aspects, including the location they start the game and the type of weapon and armor they use.
Weapons & Armor
The 6 character classes use specific weapons and armor. Warriors use Great Swords and Daikatanas, which are 2handed swords. Bladers use the Blade or the Katana, and can equip two blades, two katanas, or one of both swords. Force Archers and Wizards use crystals and orbs respectively. Force Archers also use a magical bows that meake them the best long range characters in the game. A Force Blader has a single sword/orb combo and the Force Shielder can equip one sword and one crystal (which they can use to summon a shield).
There are 3 types of armor: the Amorsuit Set, the Battlesuit Set and the Martialsuit Set. The Amoursuit Set is used by Warriors and Force Shielders, the Battlesuit Set is used by Force Bladers and Force Archers, while the Martialsuit Set is used by Bladers and Wizards.
Accesories like Rings, Amulets and Earrings can be used by all classes and usually give stat bonuses.
Special Skills
- StrategyWiki has more information about Cabal Online Special Skills
A low level blader using Combo Mode to fight NPCs. The combo meter can be seen.
Special Skills are unlocked at certain points during the character’s growth, but only by completing certain quests. These Special Skills grant ablities to players, such as the ability to use the Combo Mode, the ability to use the Battle Mode and the ability to use the Astral Bike. Many of these Special Skills can only be activated by using the player’s SP (Spirit Point), which can be charged after completing a level 10 quest.
Player Versus Player ( PvP )
To start a PvP, players have to target another character and click “Request PvP” on the character menu that will appear. After both players have agreed on a PvP, a 5 seconds timer will count down before the PvP will start. 3 minutes will then be given to end the battle. Players are not allowed to use potions in PvP. The winning character would be informed of the PvP result, while the losing character would be informed of his death, and will be revived from the closest warp gate with no death penalties.
Player Kill (PK)
To start a PK,a player has to target another character and use the Shift key and a skill button to initiate attacks. Both players will receive a message informing them that a PK has started. If there is no interaction between the two characters for a set duration of time, the PK will automatically end. Players are allowed to use potions while PKing. PKing is allowed on channels that are displayed in white, including the dedicated War Channel and the Daily War Channel. Channels that are highlighted in green (such as the Trade channel or the Novice channel) are “PK-disallowed” channels.
During a PK, the opposing player’s name will be highlighted in red. After the PK, the names returns to whatever state it was before PK started. If PK is successful (i.e. The player who started the PK killed his opponent), PK penalty status is applied to that player. (see “1st Killing” below).
Penalties for PKing
Players will receive penalties for PKing.
From his 2nd killing onwards, the player will lose Honor Points for each attempted PK. The player will also lose Honor Points if he kills his opponent in PK on top of the Honor Points he had lost by attempting the PK. If the player continues to PK, the severity and duration of the penalty will be increased.
On top of the Honor Point penalty, the following applies based on the number of killings the player has made:
- 1st killing: Players cannot converse with NPCs for 10 minutes.
- 2nd killing: Players cannot converse with NPCs for 30 minutes.
- 3rd killing: Players cannot converse with NPCs for 60 minutes. Other characters can PK that character without receiving any penalties.
- 4th killing: Players cannot converse with NPCs for 100 minutes, and have the chance of dropping equipment upon death.
- 5th killing: Players will be confined in a laybrinthine prison for 150 minutes.
Nation War
- StrategyWiki has more information about Cabal Online War
At level 95, players can align themselves with one of two nations- Capella or Procyon. There is no benefit between choosing one over another and Nation Alignment is optional.
At certain times every day, a dedicated War Channel, named “Tierra Gloriosia”, will be opened. In that channel, players from opposing nations will go to war with each other.
In the War Experience System, the players involved in the War will gain a certain amount of WEXP(War Experience). WEXP can be traded for Experience Points, Honour Points or Skill Experience.
Player Killing During War
A channel is also available that allows a constant state of War. That channel is marked with a “War” tag. In that channel, players can PK each other freely with no penalties. Interaction with players from the opposing nation is restricted.
In certain War-state maps, War PKing is permitted even when players are not on Tierra Gloriosa or the War Channel.
After successfully PKing a player from an opposing nation, or by killing monsters in the War-state maps, players will gain honour points.
Critical Reception
Cabal Online received mixed reviews from critics. In December 2006, PC Gamer UK gave it a rating of 6.4, commenting that the game was “mindblowingly generic”. It had also critcised the game for sharing many features as other Korean MMPORGs. Despite the negative review from PC Gamer UK, the game was selected as one of the “Top 9 Free MMOs Worth Playing” in the magazine’s June issue.
In a a review by a GameFAQs user , Cabal Online was praised for its good gamplay and its creative graphics, but was criticised for not revolutionising the genre, while the game claims to be “a revolution of action”.In that review, the game was given a score of 7.0.
