Welcome to Wizard City: Guide to "Wizard 101"

"Wizard 101" is a family-friendly MMO (massively multiplayer online game) developed with kids in mind, but even adults can even enjoy playing this MMO. Released in the summer of 2008 by KingsIsle Entertainment, "Wizard 101" has a large helping of free content that allows you to get a feeling for this kid's MMO, before you decide if you want to upgrade your account to paid member status. Going with a paid account opens up the parts of "Wizard 101"'s content that is only available to members who upgrade their account.

The first thing you'll do when you enter this MMO is make your character, a process which tests you to determine what wizard type would best suit you. After this, you'll meet with Headmaster Merel Ambrose and decide which of the grand adventures included in "Wizard 101" you'll undertake. Where should you go? What should you do?

Wizard City is only one of seven worlds in "Wizard 101", with over 15 zones for you to explore. Eleven of these zones are free to play in, which gives young gamers a chance to explore the game and make a few friends to go adventuring with.

The free zones included are; the Commons, Ravenwood, Unicorn way, Golem Tower, Shopping District, Fairgrounds, Duel Arena, Triton Avenue, Haunted Cave, Nightside and Dark Cave (which is free if you purchase Firecat Alley or Cyclops Lane). Remaining areas may be purchased for around 750 to 1200 crowns each, which is equivalent to about $1 - $2 per zone.

click to enlarge

The Commons is the central meeting area for young wizards to meet and greet each other. Here young wizards will find the fairgrounds located in the western part of the zone with fun games they can use to replenish their health and mana following a tough fight.

Here young wizards will also find the library where Harold Argelston the librarian offers young wizards a chance to buy booster packs with crowns in addition to a large variety of treasure cards to add to their growing deck. Young wizards will also find Prospector Zeke hanging around the same area of this zone. You can visit Zeke if you want to buy items, booster packs or gold with crowns. Standing by Zeke young wizards will also find Eloise Merryweather. Eloise will sell you house items for crowns, including paintings of all the professors.

click to enlarge

Ravenwood is where young wizards are sent to talk with each of the professors and to finish their enrollment. After you have finished enrolling, the game will present you with a Ravenwood banner you can hang in your dorm.

Ravenwood is where you'll go to learn new skills and buy new cards to use in your deck. Here you'll find Grandfather Tree Bartleby, who watches over everyone, and also holds the spires used to move to other worlds. You'll have to complete the quests to progress to this part of Wizard City.

Ravenwood is also the location of the dorms, which are free players homes for all wizards. Later on you'll find amazing house items you can put in your dorm (or home if you decide to purchase one later). Dorms can currently hold 50 house items in the room and include a shard bank so you can put items from all of your wizards in one location for all to use. The dorm room will be empty when you first arrive, but you'll fill it up with all sorts of magnificent items the more you progress through "Wizard 101."