Martial arts is not just about hand chops and flying kicks, there's also the armaments. 9Dragons, the first authentic martial arts MMO, will showcase the weapons that reflect the period of the Ming Dynasty. Developers of the game have gone through laborious research to get as much authenticity as possible.

9Dragons has seven categories of weapons: Gloves and claws, staffs and staves, polearms, swords, sabres, axes, and spears, and daggers and wheels. Popular shurikens and nunchuks have Japanese origins, hence they have not found their way in China. But that doesn't mean they won't make an appearance in the game. Players who travel far and wide might just get lucky.

In the game, each clan uses the very same weapons that their historical counterparts used. 9Dragons is designed to reward you for thinking about your style of fighting before you decide to join a clan. The basis of the Chinese martial arts is unarmed combat (think Kung Fu). It's for this reason that all the clans have to use gloves in basic training. They're for protection and have very little additional attacking power. Staffs and staves, on the other hand, are used for fast variations and continuous attacks.

Polearms are used by Shaolin monks and are considered "the father of all weapons" because they are easier to handle for a beginner. They give a tactical advantage because they can be used further away from the arms. Of course, there's the familiar sword. Those obsessed with swordplay. like the Tai Chi initiates of Wu-Tang Clan, would agree that they're the most difficult weapons to master. Heroes of the Wu-Tang clan are considered great swordsmen. Giving swords a competition are the sabres. While a sword has two sharp edges, a saber only has one. Using it may give you less attack variations, but since it's heavier, it generates a more powerful attack

For more aggressive style of fighting, axes and spears come to play. Spears are used for longer range fighting. When used by capable hands, they can dazzle anyone.

The lesser known weapons of the period are the daggers and flying wheels, but in the hands of an assassin, they are among the deadliest. They're ideal for women because they are small and lightweight. They're the weapon of choice by the Sacred Flower. The best use for a dagger is when you throw it an opponent from a distance.

Now that you're armed with the knowledge, use it to choose your clan wisely.

EverQuest II: The Fallen Dynasty is now available for download at its official website for $7.99. The third adventure pack for the popular MMO is free of charge to players who have subscribed to Sony Online Entertainment's (SOE) Station Access service for two months or longer. As a treat, players can select one of two bonsai trees as a new in-game item for their house.

The expansion pack introduces new Asian-influenced adventure zones, environments, clothing, and weaponry, in addition to new tradeskill rewards. High level players (55-70) can start with new quests. EverQuest II players who haven't played through the Bloodline Chronicles and The Splitpaw Saga expansions will be able to get in on the new adventures as The Fallen Dynasty raises the base game cap level from 50 to 55.

In EverQuest II: The Fallen Dynasty, players journey into an island with a dark past, inhabited by rival families and an ancient order of monks known as the Whistling Fist Clan. The city of Tanaan once prospered in this dark city until its people challenge the mighty guardian of Zebuxoruk's secrets. Now, adventurers are needed to drive back the bloodthirsty Pirates of Gunthak invading the village's shores.

The EverQuest II: The Fallen Dynasty Adventure Pack features the following:

• Expands the world of EverQuest II for veteran characters (levels 55-70)
• Expands the level cap from 50 to 55 for the base EQII game
• Seven unique areas to explore, including a new village, a large outdoor landscape, and a fearsome new dungeon
• Choice of one of two bonsai trees for player houses
• New solo and small group quest lines, as well as heroic and epic encounters for levels 55-70
• Brand new collection and tome quests
• Unique new artisan rewards that assist in the crafting process
• Many new items, including unique weapons designed with a distinctly Asian flair
• Acquired weapons in The Fallen Dynasty can be used in the main online game

Sony Online Entertainment has started taking Pre-Orders for the upcoming expansion to EverQuest II, entitled The Fallen Dynasty.

EQII:FD takes place on  an island across the Buried Sea (which has a very Eastern look for all you fans of Asian cultures). This island "with a dark past" is inhabited by rival families and a monastic order known as the "Whistling Fist Clan." The island's main city, Tanaan, was a thriving metropolis until its people looked too far and too deep for that forbidden knowledge that destroyed them. Now, brave warriors are called upon to fight the invading Pirates of Gunthak who seek slaves, gold and a "mysterious power" beneath the island.

EQII:FD is for veteran characters at levels 55-70, and features new dungeons, outdoor vistas, a terrifying new dungeon, and some interesting new weapons - as well as a very intriguing lady that looks to be part snake. The Fallen Dynasty Lore will be available this Friday (26 May), and the game is scheduled to be released soon, although an exact date has not been given.