A "Ragnarok Pre Renewal Server" refers to a type of server for the game Ragnarok Online that emulates the game's mechanics and content as they were before the Renewal Update was introduced in 2010. This update significantly changed the game's mechanics, balancing, and structure, so some players prefer the old version, often referred to as "pre-renewal."

Here’s a breakdown of what makes a Pre-Renewal Server different:

Key Differences in Pre-Renewal:

  1. Stat Mechanics:

    • Pre-Renewal follows the old stat formulas, which were more straightforward but often less forgiving.
    • In the Renewal system, stats like Attack (ATK), Magic Attack (MATK), and Defense (DEF) were rebalanced to scale differently, making them more complex.

  2. Experience and Leveling:

    • Pre-Renewal has a steeper leveling curve, requiring more experience per level compared to Renewal servers, which have smoother leveling mechanics.

  3. Monster and Player Balancing:

    • Monsters in Pre-Renewal have different stats, behaviors, and drops. Renewal added more variability to monsters, making them stronger and requiring different strategies to fight.
    • Damage formulas for players were simpler pre-renewal; post-renewal formulas introduced modifiers based on the distance from the monster and weapon used, adding more complexity.

  4. Job and Class Balance:

    • Some skills and job progression were rebalanced in Renewal, meaning pre-renewal retains older skill functionality. For example, classes like Wizards, Assassins, and Priests may feel different depending on the server version.
    • Third job classes (introduced in Renewal) are not available on pre-renewal servers.

  5. Critical Rate and Flee Mechanics:

    • Critical hits and flee (evasion) were calculated differently in pre-renewal. Critical rate was much simpler, and flee worked with a flat reduction formula rather than scaling with monster levels.

Why Do Players Prefer Pre-Renewal Servers?

Some players prefer pre-renewal servers because they like the nostalgia, simplicity, and challenge of the older version of the game. For many, the changes brought by Renewal were too drastic, and they prefer the slower, more tactical gameplay offered by pre-renewal mechanics. Pre-renewal servers are often run by private server communities, as the official servers have moved on to using the Renewal system.