ECO – Races and Jobs

The English version of Emil Chronicle Online (ECO) is finally coming out! Run-Up games have announced that closed beta will begin in Malalysia/Singapore on July 8th and it should be open to anyone who wishes to play. It’s been a long time waiting (4 years in total), but it’s here! It seems like they’re going to start at Saga 3 with the Dark Castle. I know I said I wouldn’t play another MMO, but I’m going to play casually.

ECO is a Japanese 3d cel-shaded cute (but grindy) MMORPG produced by GungHo/Broccoli/Headlock. The game system is similar to Ragnarok Online, but is better in many aspects. In addition to full sprite customization, there is also a possession and marionette system which are very useful for combat and partying. I played ECO when it first came out in Japan and it was one of my favorite MMOs. The only problem was that my friends could not share in the fun since they didn’t understand the language. However, with the English release, I hope that we will have a fun time in this heartful MMO!

I’ve written a post before on ECO that explains some aspects of the game, and also contains screenshots. So please do check it out. For this post, I’ll write a bit on the 3 races and 12 basic jobs in the game. Hopefully this will increase your interest in the game.

Races

There are 3 coexisting races in ECO. They are the Emil (humans), Taitania (angels) and Dominion (demons). Each has their own specialties. Jobs are not limited by race, however some races may be more suited due to more appropriate stats.

The Emil are the race with the most balanced stats and have high STR and VIT, making it the best choice for beginners. The default hair and eye colors are all shades of brown. However, you can dye hair with items in game. Due to their high VIT, they make great warriors, as well labors (backpackers, life skillers) due to their increased storage capacity.

Taitania are angels that specialize in magic. They have a halo above their head and wings by their hips. They float except when sitting. They are also the only class that can have heterochromia (odd eye). Since they have the highest MAG and INT out of the 3 races, they are the best mages. However, their VIT and AGI are low, so they are not easy to play early on.

Meanwhile, Dominion are the race with the highest attack power. They have a pair of devil wings, as well as a tail. Both their STR and MAG are high, so they are great warriors and mages. However, their VIT is even lower than Taitania, so they are best utilized by seasoned players.

Basic Jobs

Every player starts out as a novice and have to complete a series of beginner quests before they may change into one of the 12 basic jobs. You must satisfy a stat requirement as well as complete a job change quest, which isn’t too difficult. The basic jobs are split into 3 categories: warriors (fighters), mages (spellcasters) and labors (backpackers). Each of these 12 basic jobs branches out to a second expert job and technical job. However, I will not go into detail about these for the moment. Job levels are independent of base levels and are capped at 50 for each job. Remember that while you are free to wear anything, there are job outfits that give beneficial stats. There are also many job-specific quests and equipments.

Since the English version changed a lot of the names, including switching a lot of ones which already had similar names, I will list the English names first, followed by the Japanese equivalent in parantheses.

Warriors (Fighters)

Swordsman (Swordman)

• Characteristics: High attack power, high defense, low accuracy
• Weapons: Dagger, sword, two handed sword, hammer, axe, shield
• Sample skills: Increase HP Recovery, Sword Mastery, Blow, Attack Boost, Parry
• Requirement: 10 STR
• Expert job: Ranger (Blademaster) – two hand sword specialist
• Technical job: Bounty hunter (Bounty hunter) – PvP specialist

Knight (Fencer)

• Characteristics: High accuracy skills, decent defense and magic defense
• Weapons: Dagger, sword, rapier, hammer, spear, shield
• Sample skills: Lightning Spear, Spear Mastery, Concentrate, Charge, Stun Blow
• Requirement: 10 STR
• Expert job: Crusader (Knight) – ultimate tank
• Technical job: Dark knight (Dark stalker) – combines melee with dark magic

Thief (Scout)

• Characteristics: High attack, low defense, specializes in evasion skills
• Weapons: Dagger, hammer, throwing items, shield
• Sample skills: Hiding, Throw Mastery, Avoid Boost, Feint, Confusion Blow
• Requirement: 10 STR
• Expert job: Assassin (Assassin) – poison master
• Technical job: Secret agent (Commando) – bomb and trap master

Archer (Archer)

• Characteristics: Ranged combat, elemental arrows
• Weapons: Bow, dagger, hammer, shield
• Sample skills: Bow Mastery, Charge Arrow, Ice Arrow, Vanishing Arrow, Dual Arrow
• Requirement: 10 INT
• Expert job: Hunter (Striker) – pet master
• Technical job: Sharp sniper (Gunner) – status-effect ranged attack specialist

Mages (Spellcasters)

Magician (Wizard)

• Characteristics: Non-elemental magic, defense-increasing magic, low defense
• Weapons: Wand, book
• Sample skills: Energy Bolt, Heating, Decoy, Magic Silence, Energy Shield
• Requirement: 10 MAG
• Expert job: Illusionist (Sorcerer) – specializes in non-offensive magic
• Technical job: Sage (Sage) – creator of magic scrolls

Elementalist (Shaman)

• Characteristics: Specializes in the 4 elemental magics (fire, water, earth, wind)
• Weapons: Wand, book
• Sample skills: Fireball, Ice Arrow, Acid Weapon, Wind Shield, Aqua Blast
• Requirement: 10 MAG
• Expert job: Summoner (Elementaler) – increased magical power and range
• Technical job: Wizard (Enchanter) – manipulates elements and party supporter

Priest (Vates)

• Characteristics: Healer and light magic user, really low melee attack and defense
• Weapons: Hammer, wand
• Sample skills: Healing, Holy Light, Cure Sleep, Poison Resist, Resurrection
• Requirement: 10 MAG
• Expert job: Arcanist (Druid) – essential party supporter with targeted magic
• Technical job: Poet (Bard) – essential party supporter with AoE songs

Striker (Warlock)

• Characteristics: Dark magic user (strong against all 4 elements), decent at melee
• Weapons: Dagger, hammer, wand, shield
• Sample skills: Black Widow, Mace Mastery, Magic Freeze, Dark Shield, Shadow Blast
• Requirement: 10 MAG
• Expert job: Theurgist (Cabalist) – uses dark magic to affect targets and the land
• Technical job: Undertaker (Necromancer) – undead summoner

Labors (Backpackers)

Miner (Tatarabe)

• Characteristics: Expert at mining ores, not a good fighter, but can use some support skills
• Weapons: Hammer
• Sample skills: Ore Understanding, Mace Mastery, Campfire, Stone Wall, Throw Stone
• Requirement: None
• Expert job: Blacksmith (Blacksmith) – weapon and shield forger, can use cannons
• Technical job: Mechanic (Machinery) – fights using machines they create

Farmer (Farmer)

• Characteristics: Can make a lot of items (food, clothes, bows, etc), cannot use heavy weapons
• Weapons: Hammer, axe
• Sample skills: Cultivation, Identify, Tree Knowledge, Cooking, Tailoring
• Requirement: None
• Expert job: Alchemist (Alchemist) – potion maker and mandragora user
• Technical job: Puppeteer (Marionest) – uses marionettes to fight

Wonderer (Ranger)

• Characteristics: Well balanced fighter with decent inventory size, great treasure hunter
• Weapons: Dagger, hammer, throwing items
• Sample skills: Bivouac, Shortsword mastery, Bird knowledge, Camp, Pit Trap
• Requirement: None
• Expert job: Adventurer (Explorer) – trap and pet expert
• Technical job: Archeologist (Treasure hunter) – specialist in finding treasure boxes

Merchant (Merchant)

• Characteristics: Greatest inventory, buy low, sell high
• Weapons: Hammer
• Sample skills: Packing, Beat Down, Price Hike, Support, Riot Hammer
• Requirement: None
• Expert job: Trader (Trader) – travels with mercenary NPCs
• Technical job: Gambler (Gambler) – a truly luck-based class

I’m still undecided as to what I want to play. I’ve played shaman, vates and merchant before, while I’ve partied with swordman, fencer, archer and warlock. Maybe I’ll play vates again since I loved being a healer.

What are you most interested in?