Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands

Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands was a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Strategic Simulations in 1996 for Windows 95. Dark Sun Online was based on the licensed Dark Sun campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game. It was one of the first fully graphical MMORPGs. Dark Sun Online was one of the first fully graphical MMORPGs to feature a number of features popularized by later games like Ultima Online, such as nearly unrestricted player versus player combat. Due to the game’s peer-to-peer structure, the game was susceptible to hacking by its players. Dark Sun Online closed in 1999.

Gameplay

The game was set in the desert world of Athas. Like many modern MMOs, it had “classes, guilds, chat windows, grouping, levels, death penalties”. Characters could be built from eight races and eight classes, with the choice of an alignment limited by their class. There was also the option to multi-class under certain conditions. Interaction between players was accomplished via a MUD-like chat interface, and combat was turn-based, with each player having a short timer on their turn. On Athas, PvP is usually possible in most locations except for safe zones. Death results in players losing some equipment and a full level, with a total of 15 levels in the game. The game generated random quests for players. Developers would use the social aspect of the game to schedule roleplaying activities, and could also generate live events using the chat system. Developers encouraged roleplaying through the chat as well, with players of all locations able to communicate.

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