History VideoGame / Vindictus

** Lynn: She's an agile, acrobatic fighter with a [[BladeOnAStick battle glaive]] who utilizes [[HitAndRunTactics hit-and-run tactics]] to kill her foes. Known specifically for her "Swift Assassin" technique, which lets her stack glowing marks on her enemies, which she can later detonate for a lot of damage. Does not have a secondary weapon yet.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Everything about this game is literally darker than ''Mabinogi''. The general BrownIsRealistic aesthetic directly contracts Maginogi's bright and colorful scenery. Monsters are grotesque and bloody, and the plotline gets dark pretty fast, with certain story characters getting killed off not too far into starting a new character.

* WorldOfBuxom: Notably averted with both player characters and [=NPCs=]. Even the bustiest characters, Shayla and Esyllt, are still well within the realm of realism.
** A few armour and clothing sets noticeably enhance female characters' bustlines, most infamously the "Homebound" clothing set, putting them within reach of this trope. Most of these are uncommon, however, as they're essentially low-level gear that can only be acquired with high-level crafting skills or by paying exorbitant amounts of gold in the marketplace.

* FakeLongevity: As with many MMORPG games, there are a few examples of this, although some may be more appropriately classed as FakeBalance. To be fair, some examples may be intended as AntiPoopSocking devices.

* JigglePhysics: Female characters are prone to [[{{Gainaxing}} rather exaggerated bouncing]], even in heavy armour (it's less noticeable when in heavy armor, though, as the armor itself doesn't jiggle).

** Any Lynn player has to master the timing for her charged secondary smashes in order to land golden marks on enemies and further increase their overall damage output. But with a little practice and better equipment, it becomes easier to master the timing for her best smashes.
* DifficultySpike: The game stops playing around once you hit Ainle. The first two regions, the Perilous Ruin and Hoarfrost Hollow, are filled with slow, inagressive and predictable enemies. The Goblins you encounter early on in Ainle are the epitome of this, but the Vampires you see later are ''very'' aggressive and fast, and each new boss Vampire will throw some new trick at you to screw you up. The next areas just get worse. It becomes important during boss battles to hold back and observe how the boss fights before charging in, or you'll get yourself killed.
** The game's difficulty spikes hard starting with Season 2 because of different raids requiring a very good understanding of their intricate strategies in order to even have a chance at winning.

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* Game site: http://vindictus.nexon.net/
* Game [[WikiRule wiki]]: http://www.vindictuswiki.com/wiki/Vindictus_Wiki

** "White Tyrant Challenge", an unlockable mission in Hoarfrost Hollow, turns this UpToEleven.

** Taken UpToEleven in Ep.10 where you get to fight three of them. At the same time.

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Unlike ''Mabinogi'', ''Vindictus'' fully embraces this trope, especially for its female characters. Not so much with the early equipment, but increasingly with higher-ranking gear. This is turned UpToEleven with the premium shop "inner armor" (aka. underwear) for the female characters. Some of the high-level cloth armour sets for Evie look far more like lingerie than any sort of practical combat apparel. As of "Labyrinth", inner armour no longer grants stat boosts, but while it did, it fully invoked this trope. For example, one set of female underwear consists of a full shirt and pants that resemble a padded motorcycle suit, while another set consists of a skimpy bikini top and bottom. Guess which one gave the higher stat boosts.

** Evie (Evy in the Korean version): A mage who barely escapes being a SquishyWizard by virtue of a strong magical shield. Although theoretically capable of heavy armor, building the necessary skills is quite difficult, and she is typically barely to lightly armored. Evie starts out wielding a staff, and later on has the option to wield a SinisterScythe. Depending on skill build, typically functions as a long-range, small [=AoE=] Nuker and Healer (staff-wielding and emphasis on magic skills), or a short range, wide [=AoE=] Nuker (scythe-wielding and emphasis on damage and defense skills).

** Evie (Evy in the Korean version): A mage who barely escapes being a SquishyWizard by virtue of a strong magical shield. Although theoretically capable of heavy armor, building the necessary skills is quite difficult, and she is typically barely to lightly armored. Evie starts out wielding a [[SimpleStaff staff]], and later on has the option to wield a SinisterScythe. Depending on skill build, typically functions as a long-range, small [=AoE=] Nuker and Healer (staff-wielding and emphasis on magic skills), or a short range, wide [=AoE=] Nuker (scythe-wielding and emphasis on damage and defense skills).

** Sylas (Hagie in the Korean version): The tenth character, slated to be revealed in KR in July 2015. He is the game's first magic-wielding male character, and is a KnifeNut who utilizes magical daggers in the form of a FlechetteStorm, reminiscent of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV another mystical, teenage boy]].

* DangerouslyShortSkirt: The [[DarkActionGirl Succubus boss]] has one, though she wears pantyhose to prevent a real PantyShot. Fiona and Evie also have armour sets that feature these, and Vella practically lives this trope, but in their cases, {{Panty Shot}}s are [[MsFanservice relatively common occurrences]], depending on what underwear they're wearing. A few are see-through as well.

* NotSoDifferent: There are a few examples of this throughout the story, with both sides wanting something and war breaking out. One of the main ones is [[spoiler: the gnolls you grind on in the first chapter. They were defecting from the other gnolls (who have thrown in with the Fomors you are fighting) and trying to avoid war, but some misunderstanding started one. A lot of characters struggle when they learn this.]]

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: A fishing-related character title is called "Master Baiter." The title was only achievable ''by fishing on Valentine's Day''. ([[PerverseSexualLust A hint to all the]] [[ADateWithRosiePalms obsessive players, maybe?]])
** The description of the title: "You know you're a Master Baiter when you choose to spend Valentine's Day baiting your own rod on a boat in the middle of nowhere."

-->...If you could relive your life, knowing that you would one day lose everything... Would you still make the same choices? Is that what we call "destiny"?

* ZettaiRyouiki: Evie's outfits frequently have short skirts or hotpants, often with stockings reaching from mid-calf up to mid-thigh (or higher). Some premium shop female underwear sets also have stockings, which can create this effect for armour sets that feature short skirts (common at higher levels for female characters).

* JigglePhysics: Female characters are prone to [[GainaxBounce rather exaggerated bouncing]], even in heavy armour (it's less noticeable when in heavy armor, though, as the armor itself doesn't jiggle).

While set in the same world, this is a {{darker|AndEdgier}} and {{bloodier|AndGorier}} version, using Creator/{{Valve|Software}}'s Source [[GameEngine engine]]. Although it maintains some of the original's skill-based system and titles, gameplay is far more combat-oriented -- it is being promoted as an "[=Action RPG=]" -- and the game mechanics are simplified. The gameplay is like a mix of ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' and ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'', with just a pinch of ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls''. Also differing from ''Mabinogi'', ''Vindictus'' is far more story-driven, and at least half of the missions advance the main story. There is almost none of the WideOpenSandbox quality that dominated the original game, and most of the side missions are in some way related to the main storyline, typically providing more detail, character development, or a different perspective.

* AntiPoopSocking: Originally, "silver tokens" were required for all missions outside Perilous Ruins. Players received a very limited supply of "silver tokens" per real-time week, and after running a certain number of missions in one real-time day, the token requirements start increasing. This was partially subverted by the availability of [[RevenueEnhancingDevices "crimson" and "platinum" tokens in the cash shop]], which were used in place of silver tokens, allowing players to continue playing (platinum tokens [[BribingYourWayToVictory granting boosts to experience gain and drop rates]]). The token system was phased out with Karok's release; people with remaining tokens were compensated with NX cash.

* ArtisticLicensePhysics: The Troll boss Taonu has an attack where he swings his mace five times in front of him in the span of ''a second''. A being of his bulk could not possibly pull off a move like that, and even if he could the individual blows would be both unwieldy and have very little force behind them due to a lack of momentum. [[ThatOneAttack And yet every one of those five blows hits with ordinary force.]]
* AwesomeButImpractical: Karok's boss moves (Boss Bash and Clash), while they are damned fun to pull off in the earlier boss battles, are considered garbage by the fanbase due to gradually losing their effectiveness in comparison to normal attacks and smashes and many later-game bosses being immune to them.

* BaitAndSwitchBoss: The White Tyrant battle starts off with a small battle against few of the Kobolds you've been fighting in previous missions. Once you defeat them, a group with a big boss-style Kobold sitting around a campfire appears, which looks at first like a typical mini-boss fight (at least half the missions have mini-boss battles). When you approach him, however, the camera zooms in on the group, they give a battle roar, and then a giant bear crashes through the wall and mauls the Kobolds.

* BlackAndGrayMorality: Starts with FridgeHorror, below, and goes rapidly downhill from there once you unlock Ainle and Nyle's storyline missions.
* BloodierAndGorier: The dev team makes full use of the physics engine to render realistic blood splatter effects. Killing mooks, and especially bosses, often leaves persistent blood splatters on the scenery, and some parts of Ainle have large bloodstains already. Achieving a critical hit with certain skills can cause temporary blood splatters ''on your screen'', literally PaintingTheMedium.
** {{Bowdlerized}} in the North American release. While the blood isn't quite gone, it's turned into a black stream, so as to not quite resemble blood.
*** Which quickly becomes pointless, seeing as everything else, from the splatters and pools of blood to the wounds on the monsters themselves, remains an untouched crimson.

* BossRush: Several missions in several regions. Notable mention goes to ''Prepare for Counterattack'' in Hoarfrost Hollow, as it is the first BossRush mission. Other notable BossRush missions are ''The Blood Prince'' (Ainle), ''The Unveiling Truth'' (Ainle), and ''Proof of Courage'' (Hoarfrost Depths). More common as the game progresses, and epitomized in ''Colru the Golem''.

* BribingYourWayToVictory: Mostly averted during the Beta period, compared to the first game. Use of this trope has substantially increased for the official release. The main exception during beta was the "Goddess Grace", which is free only up to level 10, not available through an in-game source, and ''still'' the only option for solo players to revive in dungeons. Since then, a number of additional items have been added that provide boosts to player or equipment stats (the former expiring after 30 days). Other items are available which are greatly improved versions of in-game items (such as healing potions), protect equipment from breakage during upgrading/enchanting, or give ability points for improving skills.

* ChainmailBikini, ThongOfShielding, {{Stripperiffic}}, BareYourMidriff, CleavageWindow: Unlike ''Mabinogi'', ''Vindictus'' fully embraces these tropes, especially for its female characters. Not so much with the early equipment, but increasingly with higher-ranking gear. This is turned UpToEleven with the premium shop "inner armor" (aka. underwear) for the female characters. Some of the high-level cloth armour sets for Evie look far more like lingerie than any sort of practical combat apparel.
** As of "Labyrinth", inner armour no longer grants stat boosts, but while it did, it fully invoked this trope. For example, one set of female underwear consists of a full shirt and pants that resemble a padded motorcycle suit, while another set consists of a skimpy bikini top and bottom. Guess which one gave the higher stat boosts.
* CharacterTiers: In a game with as many characters as this, this was ''bound'' to happen sooner or later. Characters like [[MightyGlacier Fiona]] and [[TheBigGuy Karok]] are valued highly for their high survivability rates, while [[ArcherArchetype Kai]] and [[TheBerserker Hurk]] are great at dealing large amounts of damage without much risk of dying. Variants like [[CombatMedic staff-wielding Evies]] are a necessity due to their healing skills and solid burst damage. [[HitAndRunTactics Vella]] and [[GlassCannon Lynn]] don't take hits as well as they dish them out, but are easy to control in the hands of even inexperienced players. [[FragileSpeedster Lann]] is the only character that is subject to any sort of putdown, due to a very limited playstyle that is difficult to use unless by very experienced players (which are rare and few in between).

* ClothingDamage, BreakableWeapons: Armor can be damaged after taking successive hits, lowering your defense. It can be repaired using a repair kit, and automatically restores after the dungeon is completed, unless the damage is too great. Weapons can also be damaged, but do not break until after the dungeon is complete. All equipment has a "durability" statistic, making armor more likely to break the lower this stat is; any equipment with 0 durability must be repaired before using.

* DemonicSpiders: The bears of Ben Chenner ''definitely'' count, as do the self-destructing Wood Elves.

* JerkAss: Gallagher, mixed with a heavy dose of SmallNameBigEgo. His "quests" generally involve him trying to scam you out of money, or challenging you to impress him and then [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech insisting you still suck]] when you meet the objectives.
** As the story progresses, other [=NPCs=] start calling Gallagher on his JerkAss behaviour, and effectively start treating him as TheScrappy in-universe, to the point that [[spoiler:your choice to become a Dark Knight or a Paladin depends on whether or not you choose to kill him (Dark Knight) or spare him (Paladin) (either way, you don't actually kill him.)]]. Though, as an odd observation, a very early quest [[FishingMinigame to go fishing]] has him acting entirely out of character, almost as if the dialogue was meant for another NPC. Perhaps he really, really likes fishing.

* SelfImposedChallenge: The Oaths of Honor are an official in-game form of this. There are many types, from [[SpeedRun beating a mission within a short time limit]] to [[SoloCharacterRun beating a mission by yourself]] to [[{{Fanservice}} completing a mission in your underwear]]. Clearing them gives you bonus EXP and mission points, and completing a certain number of these and other bonus missions is required in order to advance to higher-level missions.
** HarderThanHard: Hero Mode which can be downright infuriating unless you have the gear for it. What makes it even worse is often times the gear you need for Hero Mode is... only dropped in Hero Mode.

** As of the Episode 5 update, we have the Irukul raid boss. It's notable for being the first boss where you genuinely NEED a strategy in order to complete the battle. Otherwise, even if you have unlimited revival items, you very possibly won't be able to deal enough damage before the time runs out. Even if you use a strategy an average run takes [[MarathonBoss around half an hour,]] whereas previous boss battles could be wrapped up in 10-15 minutes. Also qualifies as ThatOneBoss.

* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Certainly not your typical vampires. They're basically animated skeletons with small horns and fangs.
** They also qualify as MostAnnoyingSound because they constantly scream like crows with severe asthma. And unless you're Karok, you can't grapple them.

''Vindictus'', known as ''Mabinogi: Heroes'' in the original [[UsefulNotes/SouthKorea Korean]] version, is the Prequel to ''VideoGame/{{Mabinogi}}'' produced by [=DevCat=] Studios and distributed by Creator/{{Nexon}} USA. The storyline takes place during the period of ''Mabinogi'''s history referred to in-game as the "[[GreatOffscreenWar Fomor Wars]]", which forms the backdrop for most of the original game's storyline quests. The land that the ''Vindictus'' storyline takes place in [[spoiler:what becomes the dark, hostile "Another World" of the original game]].

* AnyoneCanDie: Late-game story definitely moves in this direction.

* {{Expy}}: Hurk. [[Manga/{{Berserk}} It's glaringly obvious who]].

** [[spoiler:In Chapter 8, characters we already met, Ingkells and Silberin, along with their followers, changed from humans into fomors.]]
* WistfulAmnesia: At the end of Chapter 10, a few extra missions reveal [[spoiler:that while no one has any direct memory of Tieve or Keaghan anymore (along with most of the second half of the season 1 storyline), remnants of their existence (such as Brynn's photo of Tieve or an old friendship ring) stir up emotions in the Colhen [=NPCs=].]]

* {{Wreaking Havok}}: This game may be the first MMO to have a fully functioning physics engine (Valve's Source engine, in fact) and is quite proud of the fact. Many of the higher-tier weapons and armor are covered in chains and baubles that swing about as the player moves, and one of the highlights of the combat system is the ability to break certain parts of the environment, then pick up random objects and use them as {{Improvised Weapon}}s, such as pots or chunks of stone or mid-sized trees. HilarityEnsues.

* CosmicRetcon: [[spoiler:The ending of season 1 has Keaghan AscendToAHigherPlane in his vows to protect her from the prophecy coming true. After he leaves though, Morrighan emerges from Tieve, and you're sent back to Colhen. When you go to the Inn and Mercenary outpost, you find the locals treating you as if you're the new recruit who just arrived in town. Seanna shows up as the first oracle to ever grace Colhen's presence, and you're back to your rookie status as a mercenary. Nobody has any memories of Tieve or Keaghan ever existing, but there are still signs like Clodagh and Marrec's old friendship ring that only leaves them feeling confused]]. You're the only one who remembers anything.

* InventoryManagementPuzzle: Partiallly subverted. The sheer variety of loot and secondary items is balanced by expansions to your storage
chest and quickslots, gradually unlocked as you progress in the main story. Further storage slots can also be purchased, either temporarily or permanently, through the [[RevenueEnhancingDevices premium cash shop]]. However, if you're doing any crafting, the sheer volume of materials needed can quickly fill the available space.

* InterfaceSpoiler: Following along with the story events of season 1, you can tell which important characters you will eventually end up fighting as a boss if you look through areas of the world map you haven't been to yet.

* InventoryManagementPuzzle: Partiallly subverted. The sheer variety of loot and secondary items is balanced by expansions to your storage chest and quickslots, gradually unlocked as you progress in the main story. Further storage slots can also be purchased, either temporarily or permanently, through the [[RevenueEnhancingDevices premium cash shop]]. However, if you're doing any crafting, the sheer volume of materials needed can quickly fill the available space.