Crime and justice system
The crime and justice system was one of the original ArcheAge's most innovative features. Players who committed crimes against their own faction faced real consequences, including trials judged by other players and prison sentences.
Crime points
Crime Points accumulated for attacking or killing same-faction players, harvesting other players' crops, and stealing trade packs. Once a player reached 50 or more Crime Points and died in PvP, they were sent to trial.
Trials
The accused could plead guilty for a reduced sentence or stand trial. Trials took place at faction courthouses in Marianople (Nuian) and Austera (Haranian). A jury of five level 30+ players without their own infamy voted on the outcome. Sentences ranged from two minutes to several real-time days of imprisonment.
Jury duty was itself a gameplay activity. Players queued for it and were pulled into the courtroom when a trial started. They could read the accused's crime log, listen to their defense, and vote accordingly. Some trials became genuinely entertaining events, with defendants arguing their case or guild members showing up to watch.
Prison
Imprisoned players received a debuff disabling combat, mobility skills, mounts, and pets. Prison activities included playing soccer, breaking crates, digging, killing rats, and performing labor-consuming work to reduce sentences.
Escape was possible. In the Nuian prison, inmates could dig with spoons to tunnel out. In the Haranian prison, acquiring a tower key and gliding away was the route to freedom.
The pirate faction
Players who accumulated 3,000 or more Infamy Points became Pirates, hostile to both major factions. Pirates operated from Growlgate Isle in Stormraw Sound, north of Nuia. Infamy could be reduced through daily quests or Draught of Forgiveness items, but many players embraced the pirate life permanently.
Chronicles' evolved system
The developers of ArcheAge Chronicles have confirmed an "evolved crime system" is planned but have withheld specifics. They described it as creating "interesting new dynamics" around player actions and consequences.