I started The Overland Project decades ago, and over time, it has ballooned into a concept that goes above and beyond basic world-building. It has infected all of my creative pursuits and inspired most aspects of this website.

In the real world, my occupation tends to alternate between trades and retail. Currently, I run a convenience store in Middle Tennessee for a living, using my free time to do adult things or maintain creative endeavors such as A Windy Tree.

I intend to be a participant in The World: Overland once it gets up and running, and I hope to make lots of new friends on the forums in general. In the mean time, I will be writing content for both the forums and A Windy Tree in general. You can see a couple posts on the main site now, including a review of the first .hack//G.U. title in the Last Recode release.

Note: Portions of the text in this post are inspired by, or even lifted whole cloth from various places within the .hack games. The World: Overland is a fan game, and no portion of Bandai/CC's intellectual properties are being used for profit or commercial purposes.

Welcome to The Overland
"The World: Overland" is an MMORPG enjoyed by many players the world over. Gain fame as a top-class adventurer! Become Champion of the Arena! Take part in quests and explore the world! Or just relax and take in the gorgeous scenery!

There is more than one way to enjoy The World: Overland and more than one path to take.

You too can become a resident of The Overland and live the life you desire!

Chorus Winds & Artifact Technology<
Windcatcher devices are key to maintaining safe settlements, as the Chorus Winds they exude push back the miasma which covers The Overland, thus holding back the monsters which the miasma brings. Each settlement has at least one Windcatcher, typically located near a Nexus Gate, which you must use to warp into a field or dungeon.

Artifact Alchemy
Devices reverse engineered from Tower Artifacts can be used for a variety of purposes. Among the most notable devices is the Artifact Alchemy device. Just toss in any item, from old equipment to spare accessories, and the device will transform it into a different item.

Although the device was first intended to transform scrap iron into gold, the types of items that can be transformed are now restricted by law as economists worried it would wreak havoc on the economy.

Windrunner
A Chorus-powered personal transportation vehicle invented by Folk Artificers, windrunners are extremely expensive items. Riding around on one of these is guaranteed to earn you jealous stares from people in town.

Blade Dancer - A balanced front-line fighter who specializes in clean, reliable one-handed sword work.

Blade Buster - A heavy-hitting two-handed sword specialist built for breaking defenses and landing high-commitment strikes.

Reaper - A scythe-wielding combatant that pressures targets and finishes weakened enemies with efficient, grim precision.

Wyrdweaver - The primary healer and support class. Uses a staff to restore allies and subtly influence the flow of battle.

Thornbearer - A polearm specialist focused on reach, space control, and keeping enemies at a distance.

Choreomancer - An arts-and-motion class that turns dance-like performance into buffs, debuffs, and battlefield disruption. Wields instruments.

Chorus Adept - The offensive mage. Channels destructive elemental and arcane power through a grimoire.

Shell Brandisher - A firearms specialist who relies on precise, high-impact shots and careful positioning.

Hollowhand - An unarmed fighter who turns the body itself into a weapon. High mobility and close-range pressure.

Echo Blade - A dual-wield specialist that overwhelms single targets with overlapping patterns of twin-blade attacks.

Armsage - A weapon generalist capable of training in any weapon type, though proficiency must be developed separately for each. Favors heavy armor and maximum flexibility.

Party Composition

While solo play is entirely viable, many players will form small parties. A balanced three-player group often includes one front-line fighter, one support or control role, and one source of consistent damage.

Two simple examples:

• Blade Dancer + Wyrdweaver + Chorus Adept
• Thornbearer + Choreomancer + Shell Brandisher

These are only starting points. Many other combinations work well depending on the challenges a party expects to face.

Elements

Every skill or attack belongs to one of these elemental groups (or the neutral group). Even basic attacks from a player's weapon are influenced by the weapon itself (among other factors).

• The element of Fire is represented by the term "Eld".
• The element of Water is represented by the term "Van".
• The element of Air is represented by the term "Vind".
• The element of Earth is represented by the term "Jor".
• The element of Light is represented by the term "Sol".
• The element of Darkness is represented by the term "Murk".
• The Neutral (non-elemental) group is represented by the term "Helt".

Chorus Skills

Chorus Skills are constructed using an elemental (or neutral) term followed by a target term.

• Small, single-target skills are represented by the term "Fam".
• Medium, single-target skills are represented by the term "Ent".
• Large, single-target skills are represented by the term "Gar".
• Small Area-of-Effect skills are represented by the term "Ilfa".
• Medium Area-of-Effect skills are represented by the term "Nori".
• Large Area-of-Effect skills are represented by the term "Alma".

With the exception of Limited or Unique skills, every Chorus Skill in The World: Overland can be constructed with these terms. For example, "Jor Fam" will cast stones at a single foe, while "Eld Alma" will devastate all foes in a battle with overwhelming conflagration.

Weapon Skills

Weapon Skills use the same elemental (or neutral) terms as Chorus Skills, but pair them with a different set of second words that describe how the attack is delivered.

• Single strike skills are represented by the term "Niv".
• Multiple strikes on one target skills are represented by the term "Manje".
• Multiple strikes on random targets skills are represented by the term "Sket".
• Channeled skills are represented by the term "Altid".
• Aura skills are represented by the term "Fylg".
• Buff skills are represented by the term "Brand".
• Debuff skills are represented by the term "Tekin".
• High-commitment / execute / gap-closer skills are represented by the term "Blot".

Examples:

• "Van Altid" is a sustained, single-target water stream.
• "Helt Manje" is a rapid series of non-elemental strikes against one foe.
• "Eld Blot" is a high-commitment fire finisher.
• "Jor Fylg" creates an earth aura around the user.
• "Murk Tekin" applies a darkness debuff.

Limited and Unique Skills

Limited Skills are rare and do not follow the target or delivery terms as outlined above. While they still have an elemental (or neutral) association, Limited Skills tend to use terms that more specifically describe their function. These skills are usually unlocked as a reward for certain quests or events, or for fulfilling some condition.

Unique Skills, like Limited Skills, are rare and do not follow the conventions outlined above. These skills tend to be a fair bit more powerful or useful than even Limited Skills. Only one player will ever possess a given Unique Skill at any time.