Ballerium? Wazzzat? Balls?
Ballerium is a massively multiplayer online real-time strategy (MMORTS) game in development by Majorem. And, it's free. FREE. Oh, and a bit addictive as well. Basically, you start out with a small warband. Than, you level up your warband by fighting NPC hordes, make moolah by building mines, or capture NPC cities (think cannons, steam tanks, catapults for sieges). Take on other players for their cities, and form clans to conquer the world (entirely possible, as there is a fairly small [but dedicated] player base).



Think:
Warcraft III style graphics+persistent online world+unique (not Tolkien) fantasy world+player controlled warbands and cities



* Free download and gameplay
* Persistent multi user environment
* Many ways to win the game (trade, role-play, combat, and diplomacy)
* AI that is capable finishing combat for you in case of disconnection
* Warfare on an epic scale: Play with thousands of players on a single map
* Seven Unique races to choose from, each possessing unique units and magic abilities
* Great community features
* Low Bandwidth Requirements



Is it really free?

If you want to pay $7.00 a month, you get a few more game options (one more playable race, and some clan/capture options). I'm sticking with the free version for now, and I'm satisfied. Many players on the forums are as well.

How do I plays?
*Register and download game client at:
http://www.ballerium.com/

*System specs are quite low, and download is only around 130mb.

*Basically, start out by building a few mines to rake in some resources, sell for money, build up your warband. Get XP and create 'heroes' from your warband by taking on monsters. Than, work on mining for specific objects to build catapults, flyers, steam tanks, cannons, etc. Make alliances, conquer game world.

*The wiki is uber helpful:
http://wiki.ballerium.com/index.php/Main_Page

Exploring
To keep it interesting...
Ballerium is a world with a single sun that frequently changes colour (phases). Seven sentient races inhabit this particular world. Each race favors one color above all and has increased hitpoint regeneration and "sunpower" or magic casting point regeneration during this time. The rate at which these two increase and decrease is also dependent upon how close to that colored sun it is in the day. Kablaz are a unique race that has mastered the secrets of life and death. They are the only race to not have a favored sun color.

Each race favors a particular philosophy as well, all of which are included in the game as attribute points for your heroes. Kablaz are the exception, they have no counter philosophy or particular sun they favor.
When fighting, you can take on either roaming solitary enemies, than move on to attacking the dangerous 'Rifts' (bosses and large hordes). Finally, PvP is a big focus of the game-city sieges and the like are regular.
Instead of this experience being transferred to an avatar, however, it is doled out amongst units that participated in combat.

Screenshots:

City
Fight fight (crummy screen)
Interface
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT
Start playing now. Ballerium has only a few players, so it's quite possible for a group of PA players to form a clan, and take over the game world. The last clan to win (to conquer a certain portion) was pretty cocky-it's time for some new players to shake things up. The latest round has just started, and will probably last several months.

Current Game Map (With captured Towns):

I just recently found this game, and it's a blast. It's been out since 2004, but it really hasn't received much attention. Unlike other games in which players work together to 'conquer the world', the smaller player base of Ballerium really gives newer players the chance to actually be useful. The game runs on 'seasons', and this also helps starting players. It's fairly easy to get the hang of it, but there is alot of depth. There's a myriad of unit types, and alot of upgrades for both your main hero units and your troops.

Enjoy! I hope this guide is helpful-plz critique.:P