Dungeons and Dragons #1
Description
DND1 is the first CRPG created by Richard Garriott, and the first in a line of development that eventually resulted in Akalabeth: World of Doom and Ultima. It was originally coded in BASIC on a PDP 11, and played over a teletype, with the display printed onto paper. The original version can't be played now as it was never released commercially, but in 2014 Garriott unearthed the code, and ran a competition where the goal was to recreate the game so that it would be playable in a browser. Several of the versions created are still online, and the game is also playable within Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar.
The gameplay is heavily based on the tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons. You randomly generate a character with scores in Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, purchase equipment, and choose one of three classes (Fighter, Cleric or Wizard). Then you enter a top-down dungeon represented by ASCII characters, where you fight monsters and collect treasure. There's no story, and no goal beyond amassing treasure, which you can use to buy more hit points as well as spells.
Groups +
Credits (Terminal version)
| Programmer |
Trivia
Wager
Richard’s father told Richard, that if he could create a whole working role playing game, that he would split the cost of an Apple ][ computer with him. The result was DND #1.
Modern implementation
In 2014, Richard Garriott scanned and published original source code on the Shroud of the Avatar site, offering approximately $550 for the programmer who could create the best modern version that remained faithful to the original code. There were two winners, Mundi King for a web version and Richard Flemming for a Unity game engine version. Neither is available. Version of runner-up, Santiago Zapata, AKA "Slashie", is playable online now.
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Related Sites +
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Datadrivengamer: DND-1
Useful information about DND#1 from Datadrivengamer blog. -
Modern implementations of DND#1
Game implementations based on original source code. -
Richard Garriott’s DND #1 Contest!
Official announce of the contest to create the modern version of DND#1 based on the original code published by Richard Garriott. Including information about the game and source code. -
Richard Garriott’s Handwritten DND #1 Design Notes
Information about game's development with handwritten DND #1 design notes. -
The CRPG Addict: Dungeons and Dragons #1
Useful information about DND#1 from The CRPG Addict blog.
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Nathan Mahney.
Additional contributors: Terok Nor, bull&war.
Game added April 2, 2020. Last modified September 11, 2024.