The organic planet of Atriana is the setting for this massively-multiplayer adventure and participants play as one of five species native to the alien game world. Unlike the classic swords-and-sorcery setting of many previous and contemporary persistent world games, Atriarch takes place in its own science fiction universe. Players become inhabitants of an alien world designed from scratch to offer freedom and maintain balance. Advancement is skill-based and characters improve quickest in those activities they practice most. In addition to the monster hunting and swashbuckling found in most persistent world RPG's, players may also find strategy-oriented challenges in Atriarch as they aid in the direction of resource harvesting, develop military forces, or help with the design of an expanding colony. Less gregarious gamers can even choose to play as craftspeople or shop owners if they so desire, as each character can significantly influence the interdependant game world in his or her own way. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide