History VideoGame / AdventureQuest

* ''VideoGame/{{AdventureQuest3D}}'', a re-envisioning of the original AdventureQuest. Has the distinction of being the first 3D MMO that Artix has done.

It is joined with the following ''sequels'' afterward: ''VideoGame/{{DragonFable}}'' (set 5 years prior to AQ in a parallel timeline), ''VideoGame/{{MechQuest}}'' (5000 years prior to ''AQ'') and ''VideoGame/{{AdventureQuest Worlds}}'' (which is a multi-player version set ten years after ''AQ'' and in a parallel universe), and ''VideoGame/{{WarpForce}}'' (set at the same time as ''[=AdventureQuest=]'' but [[RecycledINSPACE IN SPACE]], just expanding on the SpaceOpera that was going on in the background).

* DropTheHammer: Hammer-type weapons tend to inflict melee damage, [[PowerfulButInaccurate have very high damage, and have very low accuracy]]. Among such weapons are the Ogre Whalloper, Glacius Hammer, [=DragHammer=], [[Franchise/{{LEGO}} Block Hammer]], [[Myth/NorseMythology Mjollnir]], Face Hammer, Whammer, Toymaker's Hammer, [=FlameStop=] Warhammer, Tiki Masher, Oaklore Hammer, Hammer of Unity, Love Hammer, and Wolfhammer.

** While there are horse 'Rider' armors, most steeds the player character can ride on as an armor tend to be fantastic creatures, such as 'Zards, unicorns, [[DireBeast direwolves]], chimeras, dragons, [[FierySalamander salamanders]], [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers butterhooves, and literal horseflies]].

* BonusBoss:
** The Void is used for both testing the difficulty of bosses and for adding optional bosses into the game. When it's being used for the latter, the bosses considered beatable give unique rewards, while those that are undefeatable give just bragging rights.
** Besides boss-only events, quests may offer the player the option to encounter optional bosses.
*** Some, such as the Z.A.R.D.I.S. Baron Darjeeling, or Loco, are strictly optional--in-universe, it's justified as letting the Chosen personally deal with a threat or letting a more capable NPC take care of the opponent.
*** Other bosses, such as Etherseid, are required, and the 'option' is between a standard-power boss fight vs. a challenging one.
*** For Frostval 2007, the player is given the option to battle a weak or strong Nightmare Queen (to get her sword as a temporary weapon) or skip the battle entirely.

** The [[http://forums2.battleon.com/f/tm.asp?m=20936818 TerrorZard]] looks like a standard Zard mook, and it has the power level of a mook. What makes it a [[BonusBoss Void encounter]] and not a standard enemy is the fact that it can't take damage from any element, thus requiring players to resort to NonElemental sources of damage to defeat it.

** Lampshaded by Falerin in "Mostly Harmful", [[JustForPun in the only way possible]]!

** Zhilo the Axemaster was a recurring character from some of the ''very'' early quests, and featured prominently in the introduction of the recurring villain Calladus. He inexplicably disappeared sometime prior to the Devourer Saga, and his disappearance was joked about in the description of Zombie Axe Master armor from Frostval 2012. [[spoiler: He Returns in 2019's Burning Solstice Saga, having spent an indeterminate amount of time trying to steal the power of [[PhysicalGod War]].]]

* DemonLordsAndArchdevils: Ancient Demon Lords and simple Demon Lords from Heck and Stormfallen. [[spoiler: The chosen can become a Demon Lord themselves in a Knight class quest.]]

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
* GiantFootOfStomping: The player character encounters a brobdingnagian Ultra Giant in the "Out to Sea/Little Problems" quest, which is represented by this trope. The Shadow Colossus, similarly, is gigantic enough that the player character attacks its feet.

** Artix's tendencies come to a boil during the "Edge of Extinction" war, where he whips most of the Paladin Order into a fervor, sparking an all-or-nothing war with the Necromancers with the intent of stopping Necromancy forever. [[spoiler: Comes back to bite them HARD when they are not only excommunicated by the Elemental Lady of Light for their actions, but the damage caused to Lore's "ley lines" as a result of the war [[TheMagicGoesAway robs BOTH sides of their signature abilities.]] WordOfGod says that Artix will be going through a MyGodWhatHaveIDone phase for a while.]]

* TheMagicGoesAway: [[spoiler: The Paladins and Necromancers lose the ability to use their talents as a result of their actions in the "Edge of Extinction" event.]]

** Zorbak has healing magic, he just doesn't like to use it. [[spoiler: One of the Boatman quests lets the player control him. He can indeed heal himself.]]

** The next myth arc followed up on several different convergent plot threads, most notable among them being the ''Burning Solstice'' saga, the long-awaited return of the ''Necromancers vs. Paladins'' storyline, the ''Dragonlorn Keep'' saga, and the ''War Between Shadows'' saga. The arc focuses primarily on the consequences of [=AdventureQuest=] having spun off into an AlternateTimeline from VideoGame/DragonFable, and the calamitous event in the Far West that caused the point of divergence. Complicating matters are the return of both Erebus and the ''original'' Mysterious Stranger [[spoiler: aka the Shadowscythe]], whom Erebus had stolen the identity of, as well as [[spoiler: the Chosen's brief AbstractApotheosis into the new War at the end of the Burning Solstice Saga]].

* NeverBareheaded: Galanoth never takes off his armor--a fact that is lampshaded in the Snugglefest 2013 quest. His alternate counterpart is a Dracomancer, so his armor lacks a face-obscuring helmet; to prevent the player character from seeing his face, every quest with alternate Galanoth has some [[UnrevealAngle prop conveniently blocking his face]], except for a split moment in "Us vs. Regeirk!", which shows him with [[spoiler: long, blond hair]].

** Deconstructed later in the revamped Paladin questline. Performing the level of good deeds needed to attain even a fraction of a Paladin's pre-Leyline-bursting might is extremely difficult, and exceptionally few have the talent or experience needed to actually ''succeed'' at doing good deeds the way that Artix or the Chosen do. Not helped is the fact that many civilians still hold a grudge against the Paladin Order for the collateral damage caused by the Edge of Extinction war, so earning gratitude is never guaranteed. [[spoiler: Which is why some former Paladins have agreed to be experimented on by a rogue Necromancer to obtain Paladin-like abilities.]]

* WhamLine: Death (not his servant/avatar The Boatman, ''the'' Death) delivers a major one to the Chosen during the Burning Solstice saga. [[spoiler: Which doubles as a ShoutOut to {{VideoGame/Nethack}}, if you're paying attention.]]

* DoesNotLikeShoes: The Huntress is never seen wearing them.

* BladeOnAStick: Lances, spears, and polearms make up many of the weapons that deal ranged damage. They tend to have higher-than-average accuracy but slightly reduced damage. Using the Spear Master Emblem compensates by boosting their damage somewhat.

* GenderNeutralWriting: The player character is either referred to by name, as the Chosen, or with gender-neutral word like 'friend'. Certain quests imply the player to be male, though--Lucretia and the player character flirt with each other when questing for potion ingredients.

%% commented out as Administrivia/ZeroContextExample, violation of remember this is a wiki * BareYourMidriff: Valencia, pictured above.

* AnAxeToGrind:
** The player can specialize in axes as his/her weapon. Axe-type weapons tend to be [[PowerfulButInaccurate slightly inaccurate and slightly more powerful]] than the average weapon, and axe damage can be boosted further with the Axe Master Emblem weapon.
** Zhilo's iconic weapon is his axe. The 2012 Frostval Gift Delivery rewards allow the player to equip a zombified version of his armor. If the player is wielding an axe, the armor gives the player a buff.

* SaiGuy: Sais are available as weapons from the Ninja class shop and deal Darkness-element damage, fittingly.

** The player can specialize in axes as his/her WeaponOfChoice. Axe-type weapons tend to be [[PowerfulButInaccurate slightly inaccurate and slightly more powerful]] than the average weapon, and axe damage can be boosted further with the Axe Master Emblem weapon.

* MythicalMotifs: Ryuusei has an eastern dragon motif. He has a [[GoodHairEvilHair Fu Manchu mustache]], red clothing with filigreed patterns, his WeaponOfChoice is a staff adorned with a dragon's head, and the first name he chooses, translated from Japanese, can be interpreted as 'dragon'. In addition, he has used the alias "Dragon" in IRC logs, and he's TheDragon for The'Gain before The'Galin abandons him.

** Mutant Dragonblades can swap elemental resistances against dragons. This, coupled with its low highest tier, makes it a very niche choice as a regular weapon. However, this weapon is often paired with [[BalefulPolymorph Dracomorgrify]] to allow the player to swap the resistances of ''any'' vulnerable monster.

*** [[NuclearNasty BioHaZard]]

* AwesomeMcCoolname: The player character can have any name, so many player names fall under this category.

* AnyoneYouKnow: At the start of character creation, the player is asked for a name, and in Death's Domain, the player character can randomly time travel back to change it.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Due to the game having a multitude of writers across its history and a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters very large cast]], this is bound to happen.

* VendorTrash: In the early days of the game, Robina would sell four gems that did nothing but could be sold back at a higher or lower price, depending on random fluctuations. The 2007 Blarney War also rewarded adventurers with leprechaun loot that could be sold at a higher price after March ended.