"Rebellion hangs in the air. Like a cold mist it lays on the land like a shroud, flowing across the open places and down the small cracks, reaching and curling in its mystifying ways. With roots already woven deep and wide underground, the budding plants of revolution are almost ready to bloom, with anarchy straining to be unleashed. It will spill out onto your streets; it will enter your homes and lives; and it will never leave you alone as long as you walk the dust of Rubi-Ka. War awaits upon the field."
- "The Seeds of Change", Tori Mylanir

Welcome to Rubi-Ka.
This is a place like none you've ever walked upon. Imagine landscapes that range from arid, sun-blasted deserts to lush, dripping jungle, cities that stretch across the limits of the eye, creatures that leave you with mixed feelings of wonder and apprehension, and world that never ceases to astound and amaze, leaving you riveted and enticed, craving more... and more there is.

Cloaks and Daggers
"Delicacy is required as much in war as force, for there is no place in it where deception is not used."
- "The Art of War", Sun Tzu

The current situation on Rubi-Ka is, without a doubt, unique. This is because there's never been a world that's been under the absolute control of a single hyper corporation (Omni-Tek) for 30,000 years before. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The history of really Rubi-Ka began long ago, back when Rubi-Ka wasn't anything more than a rock floating through space, whose only distinguishing feature was its surprisingly abundant source of notum, the building block of all nano-technology. The ICC (Intergalactic Council of Corporations) owned all rights to the golden-red planet at the time, but in 3563 A.D (some 25,912 years ago) offered the standard lease-ownership of 5000 years to the hyper corporation Omni-Tek. This is where Rubi-Ka began to change.

Let several thousand years pass and you see the Rubi-Ka of today (the year 29,475 A.D), hardly the same fledgling settlement it was before. Five major cities, a dozen or so major trading points, and enough outposts and camps in the spaces between to ensure that you're not all alone out there in the wide world. But one thing you'll notice if you take a look at a map is that not everything is under Omni-Tek's control. In fact, about half the world is getting ready to rise up in rebellion... and that's where the fun begins.

You may want to consult our history sections on this, but in brief the political setting is thus: Omni-Tek, with its complete lease rights to the planet, went ahead and started some major notum mining and production operations after having founded Omni-1 as their headquarters. The mine at Clondyke was among the first of these, and currently is the largest. As more and more people came on-planet to find a little plot of their own, Rubi-Ka's civilization expanded north until it reached such far-off places as present-day Sparta and Tir. But somewhere along the thousands of years of Omni-Tek rule the people began to feel edginess: why was it always Omni-Tek at the top? What about a freedom by the people for the people? Ultimately, wasn't it about time Omni-Tek let go of its monopoly?

Well, it wasn't quite that simple. Omni-Tek had by now thoroughly established itself as a major source of notum in the galaxy, and the ICC, being the owners of Omni-Tek's lease rights and therefore entitled to a piece of the nano-pie, were loath to cast such an advantage away. Thus they drew up a new agreement with Omni-Tek, leasing the red-planet to the hyper corporation for a further 30,000 years. Many citizens of Rubi-Ka were, to say the least, put out by this new turn of events. And in the far deserts, the tiny grains of revolution began to stir...

The Art of War
"When the world is at peace, a gentleman keeps his sword by his side."
- "The Art of War", Sun Tzu
"What is life but the battlefield of a war not yet fought?"
- "The Seeds of Change", Tori Mylanir

As has already been hinted at with large, friendly letters, Rubi-Ka is in a state of rebellion, though it isn't quite open war just yet. So what can be expected? Anything from political scuffles about stepped-on toes to outright raids - no one really knows. Consider the entire setup as a mountain range covered in six meters of snow: it's now up to you - that is, the player - to decide where the avalanche is going to go. Thanks to Funcom, who have provided this incredibly intricate and versatile world to inhabit, players can finally grab hold of the reins and steer the course of the events they partake in - even if they didn't know they were a part of it.

Guilds and groups will come to play a rather significant role in the outcome of the conflict, as the various organizations will be given official status and some measure of political sway in the world of Rubi-Ka through guild registration. These points, as well as being the birthplace of a guild, also act as an access point from which people can examine information regarding a certain group, such as its charter, number of members, or similar items of interest. Though not much is known of the system just yet, it certainly will bring an exciting new twist to how a game is played out.

Worried about missing all the fun? No need to fear, for situated right in the cities are numerous "mission booths" where you can catch all the dilemmas of people that need solving, scoring you - should you succeed - a big batch of experience and a fair bit of fame. This Auto-Content Generator system (another innovation of Funcom) provides a simple way to jump right into the action of making Rubi-Ka, in some small way, a better place, and allowing the players to really connect to the world they inhabit. Monster terrorizing your village? Need help exploring the vast expanse of the lonely desert? Want to take part in a bounty? These booths are your key.

Though the world of Rubi-Ka is, undoubtedly, a dangerous one, you need not live in fear of your shadow all the time. In fact, there are certain areas where fighting isn't allowed at all; in fact, it's impossible. This is because the world has divided into several sections, or playing fields, and each has been given a classification: Suppressed, Political, Monsters, or Mayhem.

The first lies in the inner cities, where an invisible Suppression Gas (formerly - and jokingly - known as the "Happy Gas") alters the mood of the populace and makes them completely docile and civil. However, the further away from the centers of civilization you get, the less likely it is that you'll run into one of these areas, so be wary if you go out wandering...

The second type of area, the Political, is designed for all those faction-based scuffles that are bound to crop up given the volatile nature of Rubi-Ka's politics. Generally they lay in those areas whose sides haven't quite been established yet (such as Kapar, or another town on the Omni/Rebel border) or where the security systems don't prowl. Be warned: sometimes just being a part of the opposite faction is enough to get you killed out here.

The third area is for the basic adventurer (though not necessarily only him), filled with plenty of monsters and baddies to keep a player's blood lust happy. That isn't to say that these areas are deadly, as some of the fiercest creatures ever to attack a player can be found in Rubi-Ka. But at least you don't have to worry about getting stabbed in the back.

Finally, there's the Mayhem section. It's everything-goes, no-holds-barred out in these areas, so you'd best be on your toes and those of your enemies if you want to make it out here, though the way Funcom has structured the world means that the death of another player won't earn you as much experience as the successful completion of a quest (of which there is no lack) or even the killing of a monster. Bear this in mind when picking out a profession for you.

The Hunt is On
"Weigh the situation, then move... but never stand still."
- "The Art of War", Sun Tzu

With Anarchy Online just about nearing release, very little is still known about the core feel of the game. However, from the reports that have come in thus far, the world seems to be in very good shape, ready to drop the jaw of any who should enter its realm. Unfortunately, the percentage of us players who have actually seen this place is very low... but soon the gates shall open, and anarchy will reign. Will you join the fight?