In this day of graphics-intensive MMOs, text-based games are a dying breed. Still, some manage not only to survive, but to thrive. This review will take a look at Threshold RPG, a text-based MMORPG that’s been up and running for almost 13 years.
While games like WoW and LOTRO seem to be dominating most of the MMO world, there is still a decent-sized group of people who prefer text-based games like Threshold RPG. Often, these text-based games offer a little more in terms of flexibility and creativity. That is, you’re not restricted to the pre-designed graphics already incorporated into the game – you’re free to use your imagination and experiment a bit with well thought out text descriptions and actions.
Threshold RPG is a text-based MMORPG that has been in operation since June of 1996. During the last 13 years, the game has seen a lot of evolution while still remaining true to its core principals. The one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is Threshold’s dedication to the roleplaying environment. In this game, roleplaying is not an option – it’s a requirement. This makes the MMORPG very attractive to those who don’t want an intensive roleplaying situation disrupted by players uninterested in this aspect of the game.
Like most games, the first step in Threshold character creation is selecting a name. In addition, you’ll be asked to fill out a very brief application containing a little information about that character’s history and goals. You won’t be able to go any further in the creation process until this information has been approved by Threshold staff, but the approval process is very fast. Assuming you’ve picked an original name within the scope of the fantasy/medieval theme and your application is not complete gibberish, the approval process should only take a minute or two. It seems that this process is in place mostly to prevent new players from trying to create with names like GandalftheGreat, Dragonzkilla, or just plain Bob.
After name approval, you’ll be taken through a series of steps where you customize your character by picking a race, gender, and heritage. You’ll also be led through the stat allocation process. In Threshold, the main purpose of stats is to determine which guild you are able to join. During the creation process, you can review the stat requirements for each guild and base your allocation on this information. If you make a mistake or if you change your mind about which guild you want to join after completing the creation process, you will get one chance later on to alter your stat allocation.
The character creation process is very detailed, yet it’s also very well explained in game. My only thought here is that I wish this entire process was also laid out on the Threshold web site. Some players like to research and put a little more thought into their characters before creation, so it would be nice if there was a walkthrough of the process where players could plan this offline if they wished.
Continue on to the next page for the remainder of our review of Threshold RPG.