Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands was an early massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was developed and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. in 1996 for Windows 95.
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 were 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.
AD&D Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands is abandonware and no longer sold or supported by its publishers. Files are archived here for these platforms:
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