Starting clans BASIC CLANS
Shaolin
White clan - Male only
Headquarters location : Mount Song Shan, Zhongyuan Province
The Shaolin monk is famous for his fast and powerful unarmed style of fighting. In 9Dragons, the Shaolin are the masters of unarmed combat. Their moves are graceful and flowing, and often based on the movements of animals (e.g. the preying mantis style). They are also renowned for their ability with staves. Their main weapons, should they choose to have them, are padded gloves. However, in the hands of a Shaolin master, even a humble spade can be a devastating weapon. The Shaolin philosophy is based on Buddhism, and they have an innately good view of the world. They are opposed to death and violence, and will try to use their skills to control or incapacitate an opponent. However, the enemy sometimes does not leave them that option!
The Shaolin never admitted women into their training. So in the game, to be Shaolin means that you must play a male character.
Favored weapons
Polearm (Warrior)
Fists (Healer & Hybrid)
Bracers (Caster)
Classes
Luohan monks (Warrior type) - These are the individuals who excel at external strength. They train hard to develop their bodies and master not only unarmed styles, but also weapons and powerful combination attacks.
Exorcist monks (Caster type) - Exorcist Monks accentuate their internal power. Some are so skilled that they can use vocal skills combined with their internal Chi to strike enemies at a long distance. Their Chi enables them to absorb damage that would have hurt any normal, untrained person.
Diamond monks (Healer type) - These monks specialize in healing using their internal powers and knowledge. They are also skilled in fist fighting, and they are great to have on a team if you are going anywhere dangerous - which in 9Dragons, means anywhere!
Deva monks (Hybrid type) - These are a unique form of Shaolin. They tend to be loners, and as such, they have developed their internal skills not only in fist fighting, at which they excel, but also at self-healing. Their reflective skills make them very appropriate for solo play.
<hr>Append on Jul 5 2007, 21:03<hr> Gai-Pan - The League of Beggars
White clan
Headquarters location : Tianjin City, Hubei Province
The Gai-Pan are famous for their use of the drunken monkey style. This style originated because of the tough life of a beggar on the streets of ancient China. Their fighting skills are very practical. Training is mostly based around real life activities such as finding food and staying alive! Gai-Pan fighting skills use deception to get opponents off-guard. Since they are a clan of beggars, most of the skills began as real life activities such as begging, snake-hunting (remember it's ancient China), and chasing away stray dogs, before being stylized into a fighting art. Some of the skills like drunken monkey fighting actually require you to drink alcohol before use!
Favored weapons
Stave (Warrior)
Fists (Healer & Hybrid)
Bracers (Caster)
Classes
Vanguard Beggars (Warrior type) - Vanguards are great brawlers. They understand the drunken monkey fighting style and can also use staves with great power.
Dragon Beggars (Caster type) - Dragon Beggars use Chi or inner spiritual power to enhance their fighting abilities. Although physically weak, they use mind skills to increase their defense or absorb a physical attack.
Strategy Beggars (Healer type) - Strategy Beggars only have a few fighting skills, but can help other players by healing them. They can also increase others' health or defense temporarily, or cure internal or external wounds. Healers are especially essential when player parties want to explore dungeons or to engage in battles with other parties or guilds.
Spirit Beggars (Hybrid type) - They are the jack of all trades. They can use drunken monkey fighting, strengthen themselves with their Chi and even heal themselves. However, remember - jack of all trades, master of none!
<hr>Append on Jul 5 2007, 21:06<hr> Wu-Tang
White clan
Headquarters location : Tianzhu Peak, Hubei Province
The Wu-Tang skills are based on the Great Absolute. This is the principle of Yin and Yang, where the universe is in balance but also in motion. Yin swallows Yang but is itself absorbed by Yin. Wu-Tang are also called the Clan of Heavenly Swords. In practice, this means that their skills are in harmony with the principles of nature. Wu-Tang skills emphasize smoothness and flowing moves. But mastering Wu-Tang skills generally takes more time because of the strong emphasis on mastering the basics.
Favored weapons
Sword (Warrior)
Fists (Healer & Hybrid)
Bracers (Caster)
Classes
Blue Dragons (Warrior type) - These are the backbone of the Wu-Tang fighting power. They learn 'Cloud sword' and 'Wind sword' related skills that give them extra speed and power.
Black Turtles (Caster type) - They embody the tough spirit of Wu-Tang. They have learned how to handle Chi flawlessly and they protect themselves using Chi protective skills.
Red Phoenixes (Healer type) - They need high intelligence to be successful. They help other players using healing and protection skills, but they have a specific attack skill called Tai-Chi fist fighting.
White Tigers (Hybrid type) - They can learn all the Wu-Tang skills except sword fighting because that requires dedicated training. But it's really hard to master all the skills, so they have to keep learning.
<hr>Append on Jul 5 2007, 21:07<hr> Lu-Lin - The Brotherhood of Thieves
Black clan
Headquarters location : Tai Shan Moutain, Zhongyuan Province
Since life was so dangerous in ancient China, becoming a bandit was a lifestyle that many took to. While it was not glamorous, it did offer the poorer people a chance of survival. The great fighting skills that were developed here came from much experience of mountain fighting. These are straightforward fighting skills. They did not believe in embellishing their skills with decoration. Lu-Lin is a hard and direct fighting style. The Lu-Lin believe in winning at all costs. They prefer to use raw power and savagery.
As you might expect in a mountain range, the weapons that the Lu-Lin favor are axes and spears. These developed out of the mountain man's standard working tools. Axes that started as simple tools for chopping wood soon became double edged weapons of great beauty and power. Spears that were simple hunting tools now became strengthened and developed for fighting at a safe distance from the enemy.
Favored weapons
Spear (Warrior)
Axe (Healer & Hybrid)
Bracers (Caster)
Classes
Warrior Bandits (Warrior type) - These are some of the toughest men you will ever meet. They are skilled with the spear and the axe, and they use their physical strength and training to take the enemy down in a combat situation. They learn all the spear skills of Lu-Lin, and some of them develop skills for confusing their opponents, especially when they are in their home territory and can use local knowledge of the terrain to their advantage.
Armored Bandits (Caster type) - Armored Bandits do not like to get too close to their enemies. They prefer to strike from a distance, particularly using the height of the mountains to their advantage. They are good at avoiding or absorbing enemy attacks and then striking back with long-range counter-attacks. As a fighting style, this requires patience and tenacity. The brigand does not seek to win with one clever strike, but will wear down his opponent and then finish him off with a killer blow.
Gold-Rogues (Healer type) - Rogues are often credited as being the only intelligent class in the Lu-Lin - especially by other rogues! This does not mean that they are weak, but they prefer to use their skills in a group situation. If the Lu-Lin are mounting an attack, they need to take rogues with them in the group. Rogues can heal and help other classes by improving their stats. They also get many skills that help them to protect themselves; a gold-rogue's first job is to look after himself!
Taishan Bandits (Hybrid type) - These are the all-rounders of the Lu-Lin. They excel at scouting off by themselves for long periods of time. They are the loners of the bandit clan. Even for a Lu-Lin, they are very untrusting of others, even though they know how to look after themselves. They use axes for close-range combat and can concentrate their chi for long-range. Being essentially loners, they have also learned to heal themselves.
<hr>Append on Jul 5 2007, 21:08<hr> Mi-Gong - Sacred Flower
Black clan - Female only
Headquarters location : Cavernous Lair, Shanxi Province
The Mi-Gong were a race of warrior women. They trained in the deadly arts of assassination, using their beauty and femininity to get close to their targets. They use their skills for evil, and because they were, in history, an exclusively female clan, anyone wishing to play this clan must take a female character.
Mi-Gong fighting skills are based on the concept of "circles" and "changes". They have cunning minds, and are willing to be patient in a fight. This gives them an advantage against weak-minded or impatient opponents. Overall, their skills require less internal chi strength to generate power than other styles. Mi-Gong can use special mind controlling skills such as seduction. Daggers and flying wheels are the main weapons of the Mi-Gong. As assassins, they prefer weapons that can be hidden or disguised as harmless everyday objects. Players can train their skills in accordance with the weapons they choose.
Favored Weapons
Flying Wheel (Warrior)
Dagger (Healer & Hybrid)
Bracers (Caster)
Classes
Mistress of War (Warrior type) - As you would expect from the name, Mistress of war is a very belligerent class! They like to get very up close and personal. They prefer to use flying wheels from a very close range to literally slice up their opponents. Not only are they deadly in close range combat, but they can also use a few mind control skills as disciples of Mi-Gong.
Mistress of Spirit (Caster type) - Watch out for these ladies because they're great at mind control skills. They can use their chi powers to deal long-range attacks. But in contrast to their high inner strength, they are physically relatively weak. Not that that stops them from dominating all around them!
Mistress of Heaven (Healer type) - They're the most intelligent and considerate disciples of Mi-Gong. They use their skills to help other disciples. They are adept at healing and increasing other people's attacks. But don't mistake gentleness for weakness! Their dagger skills are legendary, and many an opponent, thinking the battle won, has found a black dagger sticking out of his heart!
Mistress of Cloud (Hybrid type) - The Mistresses of cloud tend to be the scouts of the Mi-Gong. Their skills cover all aspects of Mi-Gong fighting skills, and this generalist nature allows them to explore strange environments by themselves. While not as individually skilled as any of the other types, they can learn dagger fighting, healing, mind controlling and long-range skills. However, they need to choose their skills carefully because they are seeking to balance the entire spectrum of Mi-Gong abilities.
<hr>Append on Jul 5 2007, 21:08<hr> Mo-Jiao - Heavenly Demon
Black clan
Headquarters location : Cavernous Lair, Mount Yanmo
These are the counterparts of the Wu-Tang; both have chosen to be weapons masters. The Mo-Jiao are also called the Disciples of Evil. They prefer to use the brutal broadsword, with its heavy blade and razor sharp edge. Their style is fast, simple and fatal. The Mo-Jiao believe in the motto that the best form of defense is attack. In fact, they don't care much about defense. They prefer to rely on a strong and brutal attack. As they develop their skills, even normal broadsword fighting skills can have evil chi effects, adding to the potency of their attacks.
Favored Weapons
Saber (Warrior)
Fists (Healer & Hybrid)
Bracers (Caster)
Classes
Blood Demons (Warrior type) - These are the spearhead of the Mo-Jiao fighting force. They are truly fearless, and will attack without hesitation. They are masters of the broadsword and gain special skills such as 'Heavenly demon sword' and 'Infernal sword'.
Storm Demons (Caster type) - These are masters of inner spirit skills. They use 'Iron demon' protective skills and 'Gold demon' long-range chi attacks. They are relatively weak in close combat, but never plan to get in that close anyway!
Phantom Demons (Healer type) - They have unique evil skills that can absorb opponents' inner power or chi. They are also trained in fist fighting skills.
Fire Demons (Hybrid type) - They learn all Mo-Jiao clan skills excluding sword fighting, but as generalists, they can never attain the same level of mastery as the other types.
