EverQuest is a online multiplayer game that features over 12 different races, 14 classes, and an abundance of special skills, spells, and abilities to transform your character into a unique person in a thriving world. As you connect to a server for the first time, you will notice hundreds and thousands of people online — all of whom are either part of a guild (a group of characters playing together), going solo, or looking for an adventure.

EverQuest takes place in the vast world of Norrath. Created by the mighty dragon Veeshan, the land quickly attracted the attention of other gods. Each god then created a race of people who would worship them and attempt to capture and maintain power in Norrath. Since certain gods loathe one another, not all races get along in this world. Naturally, this results in a living society that falls under the beliefs of all types of religion (with the exception of agnostics).

If your character must believe in a god (some classes require it), you have many to choose from. Among the various gods available are Veeshan, a crystalline dragon that looks over The Plane of Sky; Karana, the goddess of The Rainkeeper; Erollisi Marr, The Queen of Love and the creator of the barbarians; and Tunare, The Mother of All. There are 16 different religions in all (not including the agnostics) and choosing one may work for you or against you. Because of religion, followers of a certain god may not be able to purchase goods in a town that doesn't believe in that god. Additionally, they may be treated with hostility by some other players.

As you go to create your character, you have the following races to choose from: Barbarian, Dark Elf, Dwarf, Erudite, Gnome, Half-Elf, Halfling, High-Elf, Human, Ogre, Troll, and Wood Elf. Each race has a particular trait in addition to a starting city (Humans have the ability to choose their city). Depending on which race you choose, you will then be given some options as to what your character's class will be.

Classes include Bard, Cleric, Druid, Enchanter, Magician, Monk, Necromancer, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, ShadowKnight, Shaman, Warrior, and Wizard. Not every race can be every class class, so you'll have to choose wisely. If you want powers of the arcane, you may want to choose the Magician or a Necromancer. A holy person who believes in the power of good would want to choose a Paladin or a Cleric (the ShadowKnight is the exact opposite of a Paladin and uses his powers for evil purposes).

Additionally, your character is given a set of statistics that can be increased. These include your standard strength numbers, agility, charisma, and other abilities. As your character grows, these statistics will become higher and your character will become stronger. They also effect the way your character deals with NPCs (non-player characters). In addition, you are given a wide variety of skills, such as fishing, tailoring, baking, taunting, and sense heading.

As you go about the world gaining experience and looking for adventures, some people may come up to your character and challenge you to a duel. Player killing (or "player vs. player" (PvP)) is controlled in EverQuest. Players who wish to take part in these duels must activate the setting — if you don't want to be challenged, then don't turn it on.

Combat is performed by hitting the auto-attack button, and you are given a wide variety of camera options by which to view the action. The default view is a first-person perspective, but by hitting the F9 key, you can toggle between a third-person view, an aerial view, and various other views. Before each battle begins, it is recommended that you "consider" your opponent. Consideration tells you whether or not you should try to attack a specific enemy. If the message is in red, it's a good chance you'll die trying to kill it; if the message is blue, then you'll probably be able to destroy it.

EverQuest requires a 3D acceleration card and an Internet connection in order to play. ~ Chris Couper, All Game Guide