Virtual

Gameplay
The game operates like most MMORPGs with a level system and eventual skill mastery of character classes and subclasses.

Initiation and Character Creation
Logging into Virtual is similar to all MMORPGS by registering one's username and email address. Then after registering, the gamer begins to customization and create their character with endless options. They can adjust their characters' appearance of their own choosing if they want to be of an opposite. While players were given an option to choose their in-game appearance however they liked (gender, height, girth, etc.) at first, a character similar to their real life bodies or an entirely different one.

Races

 * Main article: Races

The gamer can choose one of eight playable races in Elder Tale, each with their special attributes and skills.

Classes

 * Main article: Classes

After selecting a race, the player can choose a class of his/her choosing. Once a class is being selected, it is permanent. Each class has unique strengths and weakness. Several classes are unique to their servers, and have a different version in other servers. However, these class variations tend to have similar skillsets and purposes.

Subclasses

 * Main article: Subclasses

There are numerous subclasses in Virutal: roleplaying, production, and special titles. Unlike classes, they can be changeable as long as the gamer is willing to start over from scratch once choosing another subclass.

Equipment
A number of equipment exists in Virtual, including armors, weapons, and so on. Players can equip them on over ten different parts of their body, including the left and right hand, head, arm, body, wrist and so on.[18]

Equipment in Virtual can be divided into two groups: «Player-made» and «Monster-drops».[19] Player-made equipment were usually the better of the two, but even a few rare monster-drops rivaled their counterparts. However, there also exists a third group of equipment, which included those that are purchased in NPC shops.

Level System
SAO uses a level-based system to determine the strength of a player. Once the player gains enough EXP, their avatar glows a golden hue, and their current level is raised by one. Three stat points are awarded at each level-up, which the player can use to raise either their STR attribute or their AGI attribute.[20] SAO did not have a level cap at the time it was cleared, though had the game continued and a cap was needed, the Cardinal System would have generated one.[21]

As for the near-unlimited number of Skills within SAO, the skills have to be utilized in order to be leveled up.[citation needed] After reaching a skill level of 1,000, that skill is said to be «complete» and cannot be further leveled.[22] Sometimes, while training a skill, other skills could be unlocked, such as the necessity of training the «One-Handed Sword» skill in order to unlock the «Two-handed Sword» and «One-Handed Rapier» skills.

Combat
In Virutal, players can use their skills outside safe zone when fighting monsters or PKing victims. All fights are not allowed within safe zones as the Royal Guard will intervene and kill the attacker without mercy.

Parameters
Several factors go into the calculation of damage in Virtual. Among them include the efficacy of hits (a direct hit as opposed to a scratch), the skill level of a player, the Sword Skill used, and the weapon's stats. virutal damage calculation system is more complicated than the system in Virtual.

Interaction with other Players
Virtual features two methods of communication with other players, voice chat and regular typed-up messages, although voice chat is the more popular form, with typing reserved mostly for roleplayers like Akatsuki prior to the Catastrophe. The event, however, naturally cut off the option of typed messages.

Because it was possible to travel to other servers and thus meet players who spoke different languages, Elder Tale featured an automatic translator that translated everything aside from puns (which probably wouldn't make sense in different languages where, in Leonardo's case, phrases such as "my god" or "Cowabunga" are not translated) accurately after a slight  top.
 * Inventory/equipment:[citation needed] The icon for the category is a character icon. This is the default screen when opening the Menu interface. The left screen is an image of the body, with multiple points that allow the gamer to equip items or clothes. The right screen has three sub-menus:
 * Equipment:[8] Selecting this sub-menu will open another three sub-menu:
 * Weapons:[citation needed] The icon for this category is a sword like the one used in Equipment.
 * Equipped:[citation needed] The icon for this category is an armor.
 * Accessory:[citation needed] The icon for this category is a necklace.
 * Items:[8] Selecting this sub-menu will open an additional scrolling screen on the left that lists all items. When an item is selected, it materializes in front of the player. The inventory turns red when a player has too many items.
 * Skills:[8] Selecting this sub-menu will open additional scrolling screen on the left that lists all skills of the player.
 * Friends/Guild:[citation needed] The icon for the category is two character icons together. The right screen has three sub-menus:
 * Party:[9] Selecting this sub-menu will open three additional options. The first is «Create» (作成,Sakusei?), the second is «Invite» (招待, Shoutai?), and the third is «Dissolve» (解散, Kaisan?).[10]
 * Friend:[9] Selecting this sub-menu will reveal a list of a player's friends. Selecting a single friend will produce three additional options: «Message Box», «Position Check», and «Profile».[9]The names of fallen friends turn grey, disabling the ability to contact them.[11]
 * Guild[9]
 * Communications (コミュニケーション, Komyunikēshon?):[12] The icon for this category is two chat box icons together. The icon flashes automatically whenever a player receives a message.[13]Messages cannot be sent to a player who is currently in dungeon.[14]
 * Befriend:[citation needed] This option allows the player to send a friend request to another player. The other player is added to the Friend List if the request is accepted.
 * Trade[citation needed]: This option opens a trade window with another player. Trading can be used just to show another player items, or complete a trade after both parties accept the offers put forth.[citation needed]
 * Duel[citation needed]: This option allows the player to send a Duel request. The player being challenged has the privilege of selecting one of the available duel modes.
 * Marriage:[12]This option, located at the very bottom of the Communications category, allows the player to send a marriage request to another player. Married players have uninhibited access to the other's equipment window, and their inventories are merged.[15]
 * Maps/Quest: The icon for the category is a balloon location icon. The right screen has three sub-menus:
 * Dungeon Map:[16] Selecting this sub-menu will reveal a map of the dungeon that the player has explored.
 * Quest:[16] Selecting this sub-menu will open the player's quest log, which displays information on current quests and their progress.
 * Field Map:[16] Selecting this sub-menu will reveal a map of the  regions  that the player has explored.
 * Settings/Main menu: The icon for the category is a gear. The right screen has three sub-menus:
 * Option[17]
 * Help:[17] Selecting "Help" will call a GTS (Game Tech Suppose) in the left screen.
 * Logout:[17] The logout button.