Help System

NAME
hardcore - information on HARDCORE characters

DESCRIPTION
Hardcore Characters (HC) are an experimental option in Materia Magica
that can be chosen during character creation that offer players a
different way of experiencing the world of Alyria.

Playing a hardcore character involves a greater degree of risk than a
standard character, the main risk being a limited number of incarnations.
This means you can only die a limited number of times in the game.
Hardcore characters begin with seven incarnations, and gain two new
incarnation each time they multiclass up to Archon level, at which
point they gain three incarnations.

If a hardcore character has no incarnations left when he dies, he will
become a shade and will remain so until he ends the game session. At that
point the character will be removed permanantly from the game, including
any bank accounts, lockers, or items that were on him at the time of his
death (unless death occured in a CPK area, in which case there may be some
items left behind in his corpse).

Novice hardcore characters are not allowed in the Novice Clan as it is
assumed this is unnecessary for such characters.

BENEFITS
* 33% less experience points required per level
* 33% less practice points required to practice any skill
* 33% less experience required to increase a skill through use
* Chance of dying via a spell surge has been removed
* Hardcore character scoreboard, listing top hardcore characters
   based on total levels and number of incarnations, located:
   http://www.materiamagica.com/community/rankings
* Some equipment is available to hardcore characters only

HARDCORE PK
When a hardcore character reaches level 91, they become PKable by other
level 91 and greater hardcore characters in non PK rooms. There is a 30
level PK limit enforced on hardcore character combat that occurs outside
of a PK room. Once in NPK or CPK (or if the hardcore character joins a
PK clan), however, normal rules apply.

Hardcore characters of any level may only quit the game by using the
QUIT command in a SAFE room.

LPK area (arena) deaths do not count towards a hardcore character's
available incarnations.

MULTICLASSING
Hardcore characters cannot receive transfers made via the CLASS TRANSFER
command.

SEE ALSO
Pk, Multiclass, Quit