An Excellent Text-Based MMORPG
For those of us who whetted our appetites for online gaming with MOOs and MUDs, there's something very special about the text-based online role-play game. I played one, Legend of the Green Dragon, last year when I was utterly enmeshed in World of Warcraft, which I have, at very least, temporarily abandoned (going on 6 months now).
Since giving up WoW, one of my best friends reminded me that there was still some MMORPG action out there that entertained without draining away your personal life. Loss of time with family and self being my main complaint with World of Warcraft, it was refreshing to be gaming (and leveling) again.
But what I most enjoy about LotGD is its creative spark, its playfulness, its willingness to risk being obscure in order to make some of its players laugh.
You have encountered SCO Lawyer which lunges at you with Court Papers!Level: 8
Start of round:
SCO Lawyer's Hitpoints: 22
YOUR Hitpoints: 31
A huge fist of earth pummels SCO Lawyer for 10 points.
You hit SCO Lawyer for 3 points of damage!
SCO Lawyer tries to hit you but MISSES!
Next round:
A huge fist of earth pummels SCO Lawyer for 13 points.
There's one lawyer who'll never trouble you again!
You have slain SCO Lawyer!
You receive 10 gold!
You receive 88 total experience!
Text-based games need to design randomness into the gaming experience, and this is where LotGD excels. You're blazing along, grinding (as it were), when all of a sudden a troll will pop out of the woods and challenge you to solve a riddle or play a game of rock, paper, scissors--best two out of three. The PvP action is good, but not obsessively so, and the world is rich, rewarding those who explore it with knowledge that the unadventureous will never receive. Yet, I'm finding that it is the random encounter that keeps me coming back for more.
You have encountered Pirate which lunges at you with Jokes!Level: 8
Start of round:
Pirate's Hitpoints: 13
YOUR Hitpoints: 53
You hit Pirate for 7 points of damage!
Pirate hits you for 2 points of damage!
Next round:
You hit Pirate for 1 points of damage!
Pirate tries to hit you but MISSES!
Next round:
You try to hit Pirate but are RIPOSTED for 3 points of damage!
Pirate tries to hit you but MISSES!
Next round:
You hit Pirate for 2 points of damage!
Pirate hits you for 1 points of damage!
Next round:
You hit Pirate for 2 points of damage!
Pirate tries to hit you but you RIPOSTE for 7 points of damage!
What do you call 1000 pirates in a room? Avast conspiracy!
You have slain Pirate!
You receive 63 gold!
You receive 89 total experience!
I highly recommend this.