Originally developed by Sigil Games and now SOE, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is a fantasy MMORPG featuring 19 playable races and 15 character classes. One notable feature of Vanguard is that character customization is always possible, even long after creation.
The three main areas of the game --known as spheres-- are adventuring, crafting, and diplomacy. Adventuring is what it sounds like - engaging in the traditional MMO gameplay that includes questing and monster killing, with the former more valuable for gaining experience than the latter.
Crafting is a large part of Vanguard, with a deep system that allows for the creation of many powerful items as well as unique ones. Each continent has its own items that cqan be crafted, making them different in appearance. As skills in crafting are raised, a player may choose to specialize in a particular form, such as Tailor or Blacksmith.
The Diplomacy sphere is handled via a card game and is not as developed as the other two. Released in what many sa as a very unfinished state, Vanguard receives regular updates, with an entire new area having debuted in late 2008 and more content having been added.