Tag: CRPG

At long last, I have achieved a milestone on this pet project.

The original maps of the Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord computer roleplaying game (CRPG) utilized a wrap-around technique to create the illusion of a larger area than just a 20-by-20 grid. Here is the original grid of Level 1:

My pet project is converting these into maps rendered in HTML from a library of reusable images. These images are (with two exceptions) built as 4-by-4 grids. This allows for actual walls between adjacent areas. I am also “unrolling” all wrap-arounds.

The first milestone was completing Level 1 to my satisfaction. I have flipped and rotated it to place the entry stairs in the upper-left corner:

The game manual for 1981’s "Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord" Apple II computer game contained several humorous cartoons drawn by Will McLean. These are my favorites:

This is the second in a planned series of evocative names of magical items from any media. Names that spur one’s own imagination of what they could be outside of their source material.

The Diablo game series has hundreds of unique magical items. Below is a far-from-complete selection.

Diablo I:

• Arkaine’s Valor
• The Grandfather
• Veil of Steel

Diablo II:

• Azurewrath
• Corpsemourn
• The Eye of Etlich
• Gidbinn
• Stone of Jordan

Diablo III

• Bloodtide Blade
• Convention of Elements
• Reaper’s Wraps

I am intentionally omitting my imaginings for these items so you may do so for yourself.

The power of names.

Unlike Dungeons & Dragons, some early CRPGs (e.g. 1981’s "Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord" and 1985’s "The Bard’s Tale: Tales of the Unknown") had a modular armor system. Helms and gauntlets provided a defensive bonus. Helms could also have a magical bonus. Items like shields and gauntlets had more than one type, each with a different defense value.

Here is a summary of the system from Wizardry I, which is closer to D&D regarding character classes:

Starting Armor Class is 10. The lowest (descending system) AC possible is -10.

Priests in Wizardry cannot wear helms thus enabling the combat primacy of the martial classes. This inspired the blogpost, Armor Class Penalty For Not Wearing a Helmet, and the taboo that a Demodarid sorcerer’s head must be bare to perform magic.

Long ago in the land of Caith, when magic still prevailed, the evil wizard Mangar the Dark threatened a small but harmonious town called Skara Brae. Overnight, all the town’s militiamen disappeared, and Mangar froze the surrounding countryside with a spell of Eternal Ice, totally isolating it from any possible help.

As evil creatures oozed into the sewers to join Mangar’s shadow crusade, the future of Skara Brae hung in the balance. And who was left? Only a handful of unproven young Warriors, some junior Magic-users, a couple of Bards barely old enough to drink, and a few out of work Rogues.

You are the leader of this ragtag group of freedom fighters. Luckily you have a Bard with you to sing your glories—if you survive—for this is the stuff of legends.

And thus the story begins….

— Introductory lore, The Bard’s Tale: Tales of the Unknown video game

This is the first in a planned series of evocative names of magical items from any media. Names that spur one’s own imagination of what they could be outside of their source material.

My first computer roleplaying game (CRPG) was 1981’s “Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord“. Still then being new to Dungeons & Dragons, Wizardry had a considerable influence—good and bad—on my early gaming.

Like early D&D, items found as treasure had to be identified. The game would initially say only “Xenograg found a sword.” Via either of the two provided methods, an item would be determined to be mundane or magical (including cursed). This step delayed the player’s gratification and heightened their anticipation.

The original game has three items with names that have stuck in my mind ever since:

• Blade Cuisinart’
• Lords Garb
• Murasama Blade

The game’s sequel, “Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds“, has only one name of similar evocation:

• Staff of Gnilda

I did not get far in the third game of the series, Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn, and thus never found any of its ‘big name’ magical items.

I am intentionally omitting my imaginings for these items so you may do so for yourself.

The power of names.