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Choices, choices

One of the first things one notices upon launching Asheron's Call is the amount of time it takes to download all the bloody updates. The second thing you'll likely notice is the astounding amount of different options that present themselves, in all aspects of gameplay. When you create your character, you can choose between three different races, two different genders (innovative!) and a multitude of different characteristics, both cosmetic (hair color, face) and functional (statistics, skills, specialties). Your character creation is only the beginning of the process, though, as your character will evolve through his or her life in the game.

When you start out, you can pick from several (7 at the moment) character classes with predefined stats / skills / specializations, or create a character completely from scratch. Your character is in no way constrained by the choices you make at the beginning; they simply help define who your character is at the start. You'll mostly rely on whatever skills you began with to start out, but later, will be powerful enough to learn new and unrelated things. For example, you could start out as a rough-and-ready sword-swingin' barbarian, hack and slash your way up a few levels of experience, and then start training in the mystical arts of magic.

Strike a pose

Temple of glowy-thing

Non-violence?

In the world of Dereth (the huge continent on which the action of Asheron's Call takes place), your life need not center around the battles constantly erupting throughout the land. While 'tis true that most people marauding through the lands are out in search of constant action, you need not be. There are plenty of non-violent skills to augment your brutish human nature. For instance, you can train in fletching, and make arrows out of pointy rocks and long sticks. Or, if you're the mystical type, you can train in alchemy, and bust out with some mortar and pestle action. Of course, the coolest profession would have to be cooking. Unfortunately, those who train in the domestic arts will likely endure constant cries of "hey, make me some pie!"

While it is possible to do things such as the above to gain a bit of experience and money, the game as it stands does rely on heading into monster territory. You need not necessarily commit violence yourself; for instance, you can practice in the healing arts, team up with some marauders, and use your regenerative powers to aid them in their fight. This way, you can work as a team to complete a quest.

Look ma, no smog

What's cookin'?