Rogue Players

Biodata

Background

Rogue Players initially lacked the resources and protection available to Corporate Players. In East Wolf Village, some worked on construction rather than venture out alone: being caught could expose their real identities and leave them under corporate control. The village offered shelter, but earning experience safely could be expensive—Zheng Dong charged for monster kill rights, with drops costing extra 7 8.

Corporate persecution extended beyond the game. Companies sought to identify Rogue Players, control them, or seize their game qualifications. Even players who kept a low profile could be found, particularly after Divination improved 9 23 90. Game characters' appearances differed from their real-life looks, offering some protection against identification 36.

Their development was uneven. Many ordinary Rogue Players could not safely lock their levels to perfect a build, and unorganized groups struggled to match corporate teams that concentrated resources. Exceptional Rogue Players nevertheless rose to prominence, including Gao Linzhi and Jiangnan1912 16 30 59.

Survival and Organization

• Safe havens — East Wolf Village sheltered Rogue Players early on. Wolf Snake Island later drew large numbers seeking a Safe Zone where they could act more openly 7 149.
• Work and trade — Players earned income through village labor, monster kills, fishing, and selling quest information. Corporate control of offline supply channels made large-scale two-world trading risky for those hiding their identities 8 157 266.
• Combat limitations — In a battle against imperial soldiers, ordinary players were badly outmatched. Weaker players were reassigned to shelter-building, cooking, medical support, and traps, while stronger players handled scouting and combat 183 184.
• Collective action — Rogue Players debated alliances and a territorial base after conflict with Corporate Players escalated. They argued that scattered individuals were vulnerable to being picked off 285 324 325.

Protection and the Great Yu Kingdom

After a Rogue Player's unusual defensive Talent helped resolve an Anomaly, the Anomalies Countermeasures Bureau argued that even apparently unproductive Talents might prove essential. It called for an end to the killing of Rogue Players for their game qualifications. Subsequent game updates expanded Safe Zones, protected new players' spawn points, and restricted malicious player hunting, though offline attacks remained a danger 321 322.

A later Tourist Module allowed players to bring family members into Safe Zones. Rogue Players saw this as a way to protect relatives from corporate pressure and began planning their own state 323 324. Gao Linzhi declined their proposed kingship, but allowed the organizers to rent a compound in East Wolf Village 325 327.

They founded the Great Yu Kingdom, electing Empty 2086 as its first king. Its organizers proposed helping newcomers level and funding operations through monster materials and manufactured goods rather than increased taxes. Despite its Rogue Player identity, the kingdom had covert backing from the five major companies 327.

Relationships

• Corporate Players — Rival player faction. Corporate executives hunted and controlled Rogue Players, while later appeals for cooperation reopened those grievances 23 285 286.
• Gao Linzhi / Can Xue — A powerful former Rogue Player whose territory offered refuge. He rejected requests to lead their proposed nation 63 149 325.
• East Wolf Village — An early refuge where Rogue Players could work and avoid being caught alone by corporations 7 9.
• Game Operator — Introduced in-game protections for Rogue Players after their diverse Talents proved valuable against Anomalies 321 322.
• Great Yu Kingdom — Organization founded in their name to provide mutual protection and services; its leadership and covert corporate backing complicate its claim to independence 324 327.