Kingdom of Loathing

2006-09-26T00:33:26Z

216.13.51.169: /* Dietary path */ minor typo fixes

{{Infobox CVG
|title = The Kingdom of Loathing
|image = [[Image:Rightswordguy.gif|(missing)The KoL [[logo]]. "An Adventurer is You!" (quote spoofing ''[[Pro Wrestling (video game)|Pro Wrestling]]'')]] <br /><small>The KoL [[logo]]. </small>
|caption= "An Adventurer is You!" (quote spoofing ''[[Pro Wrestling (video game)|Pro Wrestling]]'')
|developer = [[Asymmetric Publications]]
|publisher = [[Asymmetric Publications]]
|distributor = [[Asymmetric Publications]]
|designer = Zack "Jick" Johnson<br />Josh "Mr. Skullhead" Nite
|engine =
|version =
|released = [[2003]]
|genre = [[Turn based]] [[MMORPG]]
|modes = [[Single player]] with some [[multiplayer]] interaction
|ratings =
|platforms = [[Web browser]]
|media = [[Internet]]
|requirements = [[Web browser]], [[Internet connection]]
|input = [[computer keyboard|Keyboard]], [[computer mouse|Mouse]]
|preceded by =
|followed by =
}}
'''''Kingdom of Loathing''''' '''''(KoL)''''' is a satirical [[browser game]] created by [[Asymmetric Publications]] (Zack "Jick" Johnson and Josh "Mr. Skullhead" Nite). It is notable for the usage of simple hand-drawn [[stick figure]] graphics and surreal gameplay.

The game is a [[computer role-playing game]]. Players fight monsters for experience, for meat (which is the game's [[currency]]), and for [[item]]s, through a [[turn-based]] system. Users get 40 "adventures" a day, which can be increased by consuming [[food]] and [[Alcoholic beverage|booze]], as well as certain items.

==Gameplay and features==
The object of the game is to defeat the Naughty Sorceress and free [[monarch|King]] Ralph XI, who has been "imprismed" by her (imprisoned in a prism). Gameplay involves [[adventure|adventuring]] through the kingdom while encountering vampires, knob goblins, bats, snowmen, chefs, gravy fairies, and other such beasts, collecting various items, and accumulating [[meat]], which is the in-game [[currency]]. The game is humorous by nature, and all quests and battles generally include at least one or two jokes.

In a system that is sometimes referred to as turn or tick based gameplay, a player is supplied with a number of adventures each day at a time called "rollover", which currently starts at 11:30PM [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]] ([[GMT]] -4) and lasts about 30 minutes. 40 adventures are allotted to each player per day, and certain items increase that number when they are either placed at the player's campsite, equipped by the character, or used by their clan. Adventures can also be acquired through [[food]] and [[Alcoholic beverage|booze]]; however, only a limited amount of each can be be consumed each day. Although a player can have an unlimited number of adventures, the number is reduced to 200 at rollover.

In addition to the items found while adventuring, players can use "meat paste" to combine items. They can also cook food, mix [[cocktail]]s ("cocktailcrafting"), [[Smith (metalwork)|smith]] [[weapon]]s ("meatsmithing"), and make jewelry ("jewelrycrafting"). Some items can only be created by players with a certain skill, which makes them rarer and more valuable (for instance, Saucerors have access to a skill which allows the creation of the most powerful potions in the game).

The chat system is available after completing a basic test on [[English grammar]] and [[English spelling|spelling]]. There are many channels, including one for people in the player's [[Clan (computer gaming)|clan]], a trade channel for buying and selling various goods, a games channel for various games and contests, a channel for players who have ascended, and even one for discussion in [[haiku]]. Most of the chat channels are moderated; those who violate the chat rules are banned, with ban duration increasing for successive bans. In-game messaging and the official Forums are also forms of communication.

Players may join a clan, a group of players who can share items (through the clan stash), or save up meat to buy special equipment (through the clan coffer). Often members of a clan will work together to accomplish a goal, such as acquiring "bags of goodies" through the in-game clan warfare system (which are only a status symbol, rather than serving any other purpose).

===The Kingdom===
The [[kingdom]] itself is full of references to [[movies]], [[television]] programs, [[pop music]], [[video games]] and other forms of [[pop culture]], especially to [[internet culture]] (including the occasional use of [[leet]] speak, and the grammar and spelling test mentioned above). The Kingdom is under the malicious control of the Naughty Sorceress, who holds its king captive and is fought at the end of every [[Kingdom of Loathing#Ascension|ascension]].

Most of the power in the Kingdom of Loathing is held by the Council of Loathing (ruling in King Ralph's absence), which gives players up to 14 [[quests]] that increase in difficulty as the player levels up. You can also unlock up to 15 miscellaneous quests (with ascension). As much as they care about their king, it seems that they are in no particular hurry to aid his rescue. In fact, they explicitly tell the player this at one point, saying "we would continue to have absolute power throughout the land" if the player does not free the king, and that there is "Seriously, no rush."

The land is filled with monsters, which range from drunken half-orc hobos and "[[SMS language|sk8 gnomes]]", to skullbats and [[furry fandom|furry]] [[giant (mythology)|giants]]. Although there are theories that these monsters were created by the Naughty Sorceress, they continue to attack even after she has been defeated because they "just really hate you".

===Classes===
Players in the game choose from a number of [[character class|classes]] when they sign up for an account. (The classes' descriptions in-game vary depending on the gender chosen. Differences are noted with slashes.)

; Seal Clubbers: <blockquote>"[[Seal]] Clubbers hail from the frigid Northlands, because one character class always hails from the frigid Northlands. They rely on their Muscle to survive."</blockquote>

: An offensive class, with skills that expand their fighting style and help them in combat. They have access to skills which allow them to create many weapons and elemental objects.

; Turtle Tamers: <blockquote>"The [[Turtle]] Tamer's mystical connection with his/her terrapin brethren/sisters imbues him/her with great power. He/She excels at moving very slowly and winning footraces with smug satisfaction. His/Her Muscle is the key to his/her success, and to his/her long lifespan."</blockquote>

: A defensive class, with their skills complementing their defense. They have access to skills which allow them to craft armor and cast a number of useful [[Buff (MMORPG terminology)|buffs]], including ones to aid their [[familiar spirit|familiars]].

; Pastamancers: <blockquote>"With his/her mastery of the arcane secrets of [[noodle|Noodlecraft]], the Pastamancer is a force to be reckoned with. He/She relies on his/her Mysticality to get ahead in the world."</blockquote>

: A crafting/offensive class, with access to skills which are required to make some of the best foods in the game and very powerful, but costly combat spells.

; Saucerors: <blockquote>"Long engaged in an uneasy truce with the Pastamancers, the guild of Saucerors protects the secrets of the Ancient Brotherhood of Gravymakers. Their Mysticality is their most important attribute."</blockquote>

: A crafting/defensive class, with access to skills which make powerful stat-boosting and elemental potions (as well as some ingredients required for some powerful food) as well as to some [[Buff (MMORPG terminology)|buffs]].

; Disco Bandits: <blockquote>"The [[Disco]] Bandit boogies to and fro, hither and yon. Whence comes he/she? No man knows. Whither strikes he/she next? All men live in fear of him/her and his/her [[chutzpah|Moxie]]."</blockquote>

: An offensive class, with very high Moxie (and thus very high evasion), as well as access to skills needed to make very potent [[Alcoholic beverage|booze]]. They also have a number of beneficial passive skills (skills which do not need to be cast), including some that increase item and meat drops.

; Accordion Thieves: <blockquote>"The scourge of [[mariachi]]s and polka bands, the Accordion Thieves have plied their malign craft since time out of mind. Their Moxie serves them well in both their adventures and their interactions with 'the ladies/gentlemen.'"</blockquote>

: A defensive class whose available skills are all [[Buff (MMORPG terminology)|buffs]], able to provide a vast variety of boosts to himself and to other players.

===Attributes===
Each player has three major attributes. By fighting monsters and gaining [[experience point]]s, these stats can be raised. Each class specializes in one attribute, and raising that attribute sufficiently results in gaining a [[level (computer and video games)|level]]. The three attributes are:

; Muscle: Determines the chance of hitting monsters with melee weapons and the amount of damage done with all weapons, and the maximum [[HP|hit point]] of a character - Seal Clubbers and Turtle Tamers specialize in Muscle. A certain amount of muscle is also required to equip non-ranged weapons, some hats, pants, and most shirts.
: (Muscle is roughly equivalent, in mainstream [[role-playing game|RPG]]s, to [[Attribute (role-playing games)|stats]] such as Strength, Constitution or Endurance.)

; Mysticality: Determines the damage of certain skills (mostly spells), and the maximum [[magic point|MP]] of a character - Pastamancers and Saucerors specialize in Mysticality. A certain amount of mysticality is also required to equip most accessories, certain hats, and off-hand items.
: (Mysticality is roughly equivalent to Intelligence, Magic, or Wisdom.)

; Moxie: Determines the chance to evade attacks, and reduces the damage taken when one is hit, as well as the chance to hit with ranged weapons - Disco Bandits and Accordion Thieves specialize in Moxie. A certain amount of moxie is also required to equip most ranged weapons, hats, and pants.
: (Moxie is roughly equivalent to Dexterity, Agility, or Charisma.)

===Familiars===
A [[familiar spirit|familiar]] is a creature that players may hatch from various items, to do various actions during combat. When you are not adventuring with a familiar it is stored in your terrarium at your campground. For each monster that you defeat, the familiar you have with you gains a kill. The more kills your familiar has the more weight it gains. Most familiars become stronger based on their weight.

Each familiar has different abilities. Some give meat, some stats, some do damage to monsters, and there are many other abilities. Familiar equipment is available to aid your familiar in battle.

===Ascension===
Ascension effectively allows players to "win" the game, and then restart their characters at first level. Players can select a new character class, pick a zodiac sign, select a [[diet|dietary path]], and opt to do a "hardcore" ascension. Players may also choose any current skill and add it to their "permanent skills" list: a list of skills the player starts each new ascension with. The extra challenges (dietary path and hardcore ascension) may be removed at any time. Meat and items in the player's inventory are moved to a storage location. The meat and items may or may not be accessible to the player during the next ascension, depending on the player's choosing to undergo a hardcore ascension.

A large amount of content is only available to players who have ascended, both new areas (which depend on the chosen zodiac sign), and new items (either as rewards for ascending, or from combinations of permanent skills).

====Dietary path====
Upon ascension, players can choose one of three [[Diet|dietary paths]]. They may either become a "[[teetotaler]]" (who cannot drink booze), a "[[alcoholic|boozetafarian]]" (who cannot eat food), or an "[[inedia|oxygenarian]]" (who cannot eat or drink). Although taking a dietary path lengthens ascension, a player who completes a pathed ascension receives larger rewards, including special food, booze, or usable items appropriate to that class. A Hardcore Oxygenarian ascension is the hardest of all possible ascensions, but yields plexiglass items, which are very effective.

====Zodiac signs====
The various zodiac signs have different effects on the game, including access to special post-ascension areas (determined by sign). These zodiac signs are not the traditional [[zodiac sign]]s, but ones specific to the game, with names like "The Marmot", "The Blender", and "The Vole".

====Normal ascension====
When a player chooses to ascend normally, that player's items go into Hagnk's Ancestral Mini-Storage and are not fully accessible to the player for the first 600 turns (a period known as [[ronin]]). During that time the player gets twenty withdrawals from Hagnk's each day. For each pull, the player may take either one item, or one thousand meat. In addition, while in ronin, the player may not obtain items from other players, and may not receive buffs from others. Normal ascension is colloquially referred to as "softcore."

====Hardcore ascension====
When players ascend "hardcore", they cannot access items or meat from their previous ascensions until they defeat the Naughty Sorceress and free the King. A player in a hardcore ascension does not have access to skills marked only as Permanent (taken as permanent in a normal ascension), but only skills marked as Hardcore Permanent (taken as permanent during a hardcore ascension). A player completing a hardcore ascension receives a special, untradable, highly-valuable piece of equipment specific to the class that completed the ascension.

==History==
On Thursday 9th June 2005, the Kingdom of Loathing was officially launched, out of the [[Development stage|beta-testing]] stage it was in for over two years. This came with the release of [[Kingdom of Loathing#Ascension|ascension]]. Even though the game is out of its beta stage, content is still frequently added.

During the [[Development stage|beta-testing]] phase, some serious [[computer bug|bugs]] were found and [[exploit (computer security)|exploited]], resulting in a severe influx of duplicate items and meat into the [[Economic system|economy]] on a day now known to players as "Black Sunday." In order to revive the economy without upsetting the player base, a number of "[[gold sink|meat sinks]]" - expensive "must have" items and services - were instituted to slowly leech meat from the economy. The Penguin Mafia, an in-storyline organization of belligerent [[penguin]] criminals, appeared in the game world over the subsequent months, creating a series of in-game events designed as meat sinks. Despite massive amounts of currency leaving the game (according to Jick, one-fifth to one-tenth percent per day), some of the richest players were reluctant to part with their meat and still hoard billions. Most would say, however, that the problem has essentially been fixed.

On Wednesday the 26th of October 2005, Jick accidentally deleted several data tables during rollover, causing all users' alternate ascension inventories (at Hagnk's) to be reverted back to their previous state as of September 6. It took 48 hours for Jick to fix this because he had to use the full backup from September. After he fixed this problem, he apologized to everybody and gave them a special item called "petrified time". He also added "temporal rifts" that sent players backwards and forwards in time. This date has come to be known as "White Wednesday". Jick has promised to try to get people their items that they lost back, and he seems to be making good on his promise thus far.

Another event, which occurred around the same time as "White Wednesday" called "The Gray Plague" caused the players' font to slowly gray out when infected with the plague (eventually becoming very hard to read in chat). The cause was traced to a certain item, which if put into use would infect the user with the plague. A cure could be created through a mini-quest, though the player could catch the plague again just by spending time in chat. Eventually, a new quest was put in that allowed players to create doses of a permanent plague cure ("Ofuxxor"), which could be used on other players. After implementation of this quest the plague was eliminated within a few days.

==Donation==
Maintenance and development of the game is supported by sale of associated [[Product (business)|merchandise]], and by [[donation]]s. Donations of at least US$10 to the game result in a 'gift' of an in-game stat-boosting item being sent to the donating player, known as a Mr. Accessory or Mr. A. These items can also be sold for meat at the game's mall, traded for better items (including Ms. Accessory, Mr. Accessory Jr, and a Golden Mr. Accessory), or used to purchase customization of one's account (such as a unique [[Avatar (virtual reality)|avatar]]). New familiars and items with unique abilities appear every month, and can be purchased with a Mr. Accessory (retired items often later appear at inflated prices in the mall). This helps ensure a steady flow of incoming donations.

Jick also offers a gift as a reward for a donation of exactly $10 [[Canadian dollar|Canadian]] sent via Mail: an in-game item called a Mr. Eh?. The Mr. Eh? is a slightly weaker Canadian version of the Mr. Accessory, and cannot be similarly traded for other in-game items. The reason for the weaker effect is that Canadian dollars are worth less than American dollars. Jick has stated that if the Canadian dollar became worth more than the American, then the Mr. Eh? would be stronger.

==Community==

Many of the regular KoL users have an obsession with proper grammar, spelling and punctuation, and will vehemently correct those who misspell words or use [[leet]] in chat (which contributes to the irony of the game's motto, "An Adventurer is You!"). A possible reason for this is the community's strong belief in the policy of [[noblesse oblige]].

=== Player-based projects ===
There have been several player-based projects that revolve around the game. Successful projects include the official KoL fansite '''KoL Coldfront'''; '''Visual KoL''', which now runs a growing KoL-specific Wiki; '''[http://kol.yqmonline.com/ The Player-Made Music Site]''', a sizable collection of music created by players of the game that features both parodies and original songs about the game as well as non-game-related pieces by or involving players (as well as links to many band and artist sites); and '''KoL Trance''', which has a large amounts of information and various KoL comics.

'''KoL Mafia''' is a fan-made [[Java virtual machine|Java]] desktop client for the game. It provides an alternative interface to the game as well as several [[Computer game bot|bot]] utilities to automate many aspects of the game. Similar projects include KoL Melion and KoL CLI.

==Radio KoL==
A [[World Wide Web|Web]]-based [[SHOUTcast]] radio station, Radio KoL, is the "official unofficial" radio station of Kingdom of Loathing. It is a [[24/7]] [[DJ]]-hosted station, with DJs drawn from the KoL user base.

Radio KoL was founded in June 2004 by Kingdom of Loathing players SeveredToe and Artsychick (all DJs are known by their KoL character names.) As their project gained popularity, they hired inari and EyeSpeculum to be DJs for the station. These four, especially EyeSpeculum, were known to pull insanely long shifts of up to 48 hours in desperate attempts to keep music playing at all hours, but by August 2004 there were enough DJs to take the station live 24/7. During the 2004 holiday season, Radio KoL climbed to the top of the station rankings of its current host, [http://www.fast-serv.com Fast-Serv].

Radio KoL does not have a fixed musical style; it is entirely DJ-dependent. The unifying theme of the station is its connection to Kingdom of Loathing. There is a high degree of interaction between DJs and players within the KoL chat system, from which the station frequently takes requests, and for which the DJs regularly hold contests. The prizes for these contests are typically items or currency within the game, including unique game items created for Radio KoL.

Radio KoL sustains itself solely through donations, with profit going directly back into the station (used for improvements such as the increase in listener slots from 110 to 200 in October 2004, and the addition of an 80-person 64kb stereo server in July 2005). Currently, there are 150 slots for 24kb and 150 for 64kb.

In March 2005 the founders SeveredToe and Artsychick hosted the first official Radio KoL party, Arkanstock 2005, at their home in [[Arkadelphia, Arkansas|Arkadelphia]], [[Arkansas]]. The weekend-long event involved approximately two dozen tents pitched on their property, [[karaoke]], a [[tattoo]] artist for KoL- and Radio KoL-themed tattoos, and many party attendees trying their hand at DJing for the station (often more than one at a time). The success of the party, originally planned as a one-time event, has spawned plans for more Radio KoL parties and meets across the globe, as well as Arkanstock 2006.

In late July of 2005, controversy led to SeveredToe and Artsychick handing over leadership of Radio KoL to DJs Fusilliban and Haplo, who then handed it over to the administration team of EyeSpeculum (who remains in charge of the servers) and Amplitude (the station manager). Jick and Skullhead remained a part of Radio KoL but were otherwise uninvolved in the change.

SeveredToe and Artsychick opted to create a second, unofficial radio station for the KOL community called '''WKOL: We Know Our Listeners''', which lasted until June 2006.

An unofficial radio station run by regulars of the /games chat channel, GKOL, also exists.

==About Spoilers==
[[Spoiler (media)|Spoilers]] are generally discouraged in KoL. Instead, players use haikus and vague answers to help less experienced players (although in the KoL forums people will just write spoilers in black boxes). It is forbidden to publicly give away spoilers in chat. Even so, many spoiler sites do exist, and are extremely popular among KoL players.

==External links==
===Official links===
*[http://www.kingdomofloathing.com/ Official Website]
*[http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/ Forums of Loathing]
*[http://asymmetric.net/ Asymmetric Publications]
*[http://kol.coldfront.net/ Chillin' and Loathin' at Coldfront] — "Official Unofficial" KoL fansite

===Community links===
*[http://pics.communityofloathing.com/ KoL Player Pictures Site]
*[http://pop.shinketsu.net/ Pop Goes the Loathing] — Catalog of pop-culture references in KoL
*[http://www.freewebs.com/butterypie/ Fü Productions] — Popular KoL fan comic, as well as other comics.
*[http://www.radio-kol.net/ Radio KoL] — "Official Unofficial" KoL radio station with forums and DJ schedule
*[http://kol.yqmonline.com Player-Made Music Site] — Music created by players of KoL, often relating to the game. Includes both parodies and original pieces.
*[http://home.comcast.net/~pvangelhair/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html Vera Nice Graphics & Links] Site maintained by RKoL DJ ''Prima Vera Angelhair'' to showcase KoL-related links and art, graphics, music, and other creations of KoL players.
*{{Dmoz|Games/Video_Games/Roleplaying/Browser_Based/Kingdom_of_Loathing|Kingdom of Loathing}}
*[http://www.jickenwings.org/collections/ The Display Case Database]
*[http://planet-geek.com/archives/000238.html An interview with Jick, one of KoL's authors]

===Game information links===
*[http://www.zerokelvin.org/kol.html KoL Walkthrough] — Solutions to KoL's many puzzles
*[http://www.subjunctive.net/kol/FrontPage.html Subjunctive KoL] — KoL Fansite
*[[vkol:Main Page|The KOL Wiki]] — KoL Specific Wiki

[[Category:2003 computer and video games]]
[[Category:Massively multiplayer online role-playing games]]
[[Category:Browser-based games]]
[[Category:Entertainment websites]]
[[Category:Fictional countries|Loathing, Kingdom of]]
[[Category:Satirical computer and video games]]
[[Category:Fantasy computer and video games]]

[[it:Kingdom of Loathing]]

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Kingdom of Loathing