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Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Last Update: June 17th, 1996
Version 1.5
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This FAQ attempts to answer questions relating to SSI's new Dark
Sun Online role-playing game, available on the Total Entertainment
Network. Obviously, it is a work in progress; should you have a question that isn't addressed in this FAQ, please send it to < avrignaud@mindscape.com >. While we won't be able to respond personally to all mail, we will attempt to incorporate your questions into this document.
We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who have already sent us questions. This FAQ would be nowhere near as complete without your help! Thanks again, (especially for your patience) and we look forward to seeing you in Dark Sun Online:
Crimson Sands!
-- Andre Vrignaud, Associate Producer, SSI
LEGAL STUFF THEY MADE US SAY
All information contained herein is Copyright 1996 by Strategic
Simulations, Inc. You are allowed to distribute this FAQ freely, but not to make changes.
Dark Sun and TSR are trademarks of TSR, Inc.
Total Entertainment Network is a service mark of T E Network, Inc.
All other trademarks are of the respective owners.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
1.1. What is Dark Sun Online?
1.2. When will Dark Sun Online be released?
1.3. What are the system requirements?
1.4. What network will Dark Sun Online be available on?
1.5. How can I play Dark Sun Online?
2. General Questions
2.1. Character Characteristics/Generation
2.1.1. Can I import my characters from other Dark Sun games?
2.1.2. Can I play an evil character?
2.1.3. How many different characters can I play?
2.1.4. What races can I play?
2.1.5. What are the classes/level-limits in Dark Sun Online?
2.1.6. What are multi-classed and dual-classed characters?
2.1.7. What are the multi-class options for demihumans in DSO?
2.1.8. Why are my stats rerolled when I choose another class?
2.2. Is Dark Sun Online CD-only?
2.3. Can I download Dark Sun Online from TEN?
2.4. How many people can play Dark Sun Online?
2.5. Player vs. Player (PvP) Combat
2.5.1. What is Player vs. Player (PvP) combat, anyway?
2.5.2. Is Player vs. Player (PvP) combat allowed in DSO?
2.5.3. Are there any checks and balances to PvP?
2.6. You and Mr. Death.
2.6.1. What happens when I die?
2.6.2. What happens to my hitpoints when I lose a level?
2.6.3. What happens to my spells when I lose a level?
2.6.4. How does losing a level affect multi-classed characters?
2.6.5. Is it possible to lose items due to death?
2.6.6. Just how deadly *is* death, anyway?
2.7. Is my character still in play while I'm gone?
2.8. Are there any safe areas in the game?
2.8.1. What about using magic and psionics in "safe areas"?
2.8.2. What exactly do you mean by "magic is forbidden in Tyr"?
2.8.3. Are there any exceptions to these city "safe areas"?
2.9. Do thieves have any use in Dark Sun Online?
2.10. Will Dark Sun Online be expanded in the future?
2.11. Why should I pay more for an inn?
3. Engine-Specific Questions
3.1. How do I talk to other people?
3.2. Are there hotkeys for common game functions?
3.3. Can I save or load my game?
3.4. Does the game have "following" options?
3.5. What commercial game does the game/interface most resemble?
4. Getting Help or Information
4.1. How to get Dark Sun Online.
4.2. Where can I get the latest version of this FAQ?
4.3. Useful and Cool World Wide Web sites.
5. Strange and Useless Dark Sun Online Trivia Section
5.1. Title Candidates for Dark Sun Online
5.2. Just how large *is* the source code for DSO, anyway?
5.3. Who are the people in the "Humans" load screen?
6. Reference
6.1. Hotkey List
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Introduction
------------------------------------------------------------------
1.1. What is Dark Sun Online?
Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands is the latest in the Dark Sun series of games from Strategic Simulations, Inc. Based on TSR's
Dark Sun world, Dark Sun Online (also known as DSO) allows you to adventure on the world of Athas. However, instead of playing alone you'll now be able to explore the barren wastes of this world with hundreds of other *real* people!
As you play DSO, you'll discover new, never-before seen regions.
You'll finally make it to the Silt Sea and visit the port city of
Altaruk. From there you can take silt ships to visit other areas and islands. Be warned, however -- there are reasons few return from the isles.
Closer to home, you'll be able to explore a newly-expanded Tyr like never before! Non-player characters (NPCs) inhabit the streets and buildings; they'll help or hinder you depending on their personalities or agendas. Some will ask you to help them with quests; others will give you tips and information on how to survive in this savage world.
You'll even be able to go on quests with your friends; hopefully they'll help you survive in those tougher regions. You'll *want* friends at your side, too; some of the missions you'll be undertaking will bring you into conflict with other players!
Ahh yes -- conflict . . . always a staple of role-playing games.
Remember all those arguments you had with your friends as to who had the best character? Well, stop talking about it and find out!
Engage in bloody hand-to-hand combat and beat your foe into submission. Hurl destructive spells and turn the peon who dared challenge you into a flaming pyre. The choice is yours!
You'll also take on new roles in Dark Sun Online. Choose to be a
Templar, and you'll work for the good of the Tyrian Council, undertaking quests and harassing innocent pedestrians with the best of them! Sound too slimy? Fine -- join the Veiled Alliance and fight the Templar scourge! No matter what side you choose, you'll often find that your quest or mission might come into conflict with the goals of the opposing group -- better be prepared!
Dark Sun Online has been in development for over two years. The engine has been completely overhauled for online gaming, and is now a Windows 95 application. The interface has been streamlined for multi-player gaming, including enhancements to party commands, easy chat commands, and special options to make multi-player adventuring the experience you've been looking for.
And for those of you who *really* want more of the same, here's some of the relevant text from the Dark Sun Online Web Page:
So . . . you're back, eh? Another one of those die-hard gamers always looking for the next challenge -- the next plateau in gaming. No game is hard or intense enough for you. You see those claims of "40 to 60 hours of game play" and scoff. You've picked your teeth on the shattered remnants of "other" role-playing games, and now, casting about for the next hot thing, you've come across this promising web page. Well, you've waited a long time, but you *have* come to the right place. Because you see, SSI is proud to announce the newest member of the Dark Sun computer role- playing game family -- Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands.
Welcome to a world sucked dry by vampiric defilers, torn and scarred by power-hungry mages, burnt and seared by a sun gone slightly nova; a world known simply as Athas. Athas is bad -- real bad. You've heard of Death Valley? You've heard of the Sahara?
They've got nothing on Athas. You see, Death Valley and the Sahara end. They stop eventually. They run into jungles or forests or even oceans. But not Athas. Athas never stops. It has no oceans.
And you're stuck in the middle of it.
You may have played Dark Sun I and II, chewed them up, and spit out the little pieces. But you couldn't get enough. Maybe you finished the games in mere hours and wanted more of a challenge.
Perhaps the regions we gave you to explore just whetted your appetite, but you *still* wanted to stretch your legs some more.
And perhaps even the biggest battles weren't enough for you, and you went through them like a wood-chipper through sushi. Well, welcome to Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands.
Give you a hint -- it's called "Crimson Sands" for a reason. . . .
Dark Sun Online is the biggest Dark Sun game yet. All new regions guarantee hours and hours of exploration. Forty to sixty hours?
Ha! There's enough here to play for months and months -- and we doubt you'll find everything we've put in here. You want tough?
Some of these areas are *nasty*; you may want to recruit trusted companions for assistance, or make allies along the way. Although there's strength in numbers, watch your back; your strongest ally may become your most formidable foe.
Ahh yes . . . the more clever of you may have noticed something intriguing here. You can now join your friends and play together in the Dark Sun universe! That's right -- instead of dealing with those piddly little monsters, you can deal with the meanest and most devious creatures of all -- *real people*. And this ain't no private party; in Dark Sun Online you'll be in a world inhabited by hundreds and hundreds of these fiends.
Yep -- real, live, flesh-and-blood, conniving, backstabbing, (and occasionally friendly) people. What does that mean to you? Lots.
Now you can test your might against your best friend and find out for sure who's got the killer character. You can join the ranks of the Templars and terrorize innocent citizens (including those aforementioned friends). And if that doesn't sound entertaining enough, you can join the Veiled Alliance and harass those Templars right back!
Quests and treasures abound -- myriad non-player characters speak with you, and often are willing to help you out. Of course, others are just as happy to lie to you and cheat you out of your worldly possessions. Sometimes they'll ask you to help them, or visit strange, far-off lands. Be warned, though -- many of these regions are rarely visited for a reason. . . .
What's that? Sounds hard? Pshaw! Not for you! However, we realize that some people don't have as many years of experience as some of the more advanced gamers out there. So, just because we're nice, fuzzy-feeling sorts of people, we start new players off in the city-state of Tyr. Why Tyr? Because it's protected from evil-doing (at least the physical kind) by the city guard. So don't fear -- you won't get whacked the second you start the game . . . and if you're smart, and listen to what people tell you, you'll do just fine.
Dark Sun Online has been in development for over two years. The engine has been completely overhauled for online gaming, and is now a Windows 95 application. The interface has been streamlined for multi-player gaming, including enhancements to party commands, easy chat commands, and special options to make multi-player adventuring the experience you've been looking for.
1.2. When will Dark Sun Online be released?
Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands is first slated for release in the third quarter of 1996 on the Total Entertainment Network (also known as TEN). For more information on TEN please visit their web site at < http://www.ten.net >.
1.3. What are the system requirements?
Almost any 486-based Windows 95 machine should be able to run Dark
Sun Online easily. Note that while we recommend the following, you
Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Last Update: June 17th, 1996
Version 1.5
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This FAQ attempts to answer questions relating to SSI's new Dark
Sun Online role-playing game, available on the Total Entertainment
Network. Obviously, it is a work in progress; should you have a question that isn't addressed in this FAQ, please send it to < avrignaud@mindscape.com >. While we won't be able to respond personally to all mail, we will attempt to incorporate your questions into this document.
We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who have already sent us questions. This FAQ would be nowhere near as complete without your help! Thanks again, (especially for your patience) and we look forward to seeing you in Dark Sun Online:
Crimson Sands!
-- Andre Vrignaud, Associate Producer, SSI
LEGAL STUFF THEY MADE US SAY
All information contained herein is Copyright 1996 by Strategic
Simulations, Inc. You are allowed to distribute this FAQ freely, but not to make changes.
Dark Sun and TSR are trademarks of TSR, Inc.
Total Entertainment Network is a service mark of T E Network, Inc.
All other trademarks are of the respective owners.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
1.1. What is Dark Sun Online?
1.2. When will Dark Sun Online be released?
1.3. What are the system requirements?
1.4. What network will Dark Sun Online be available on?
1.5. How can I play Dark Sun Online?
2. General Questions
2.1. Character Characteristics/Generation
2.1.1. Can I import my characters from other Dark Sun games?
2.1.2. Can I play an evil character?
2.1.3. How many different characters can I play?
2.1.4. What races can I play?
2.1.5. What are the classes/level-limits in Dark Sun Online?
2.1.6. What are multi-classed and dual-classed characters?
2.1.7. What are the multi-class options for demihumans in DSO?
2.1.8. Why are my stats rerolled when I choose another class?
2.2. Is Dark Sun Online CD-only?
2.3. Can I download Dark Sun Online from TEN?
2.4. How many people can play Dark Sun Online?
2.5. Player vs. Player (PvP) Combat
2.5.1. What is Player vs. Player (PvP) combat, anyway?
2.5.2. Is Player vs. Player (PvP) combat allowed in DSO?
2.5.3. Are there any checks and balances to PvP?
2.6. You and Mr. Death.
2.6.1. What happens when I die?
2.6.2. What happens to my hitpoints when I lose a level?
2.6.3. What happens to my spells when I lose a level?
2.6.4. How does losing a level affect multi-classed characters?
2.6.5. Is it possible to lose items due to death?
2.6.6. Just how deadly *is* death, anyway?
2.7. Is my character still in play while I'm gone?
2.8. Are there any safe areas in the game?
2.8.1. What about using magic and psionics in "safe areas"?
2.8.2. What exactly do you mean by "magic is forbidden in Tyr"?
2.8.3. Are there any exceptions to these city "safe areas"?
2.9. Do thieves have any use in Dark Sun Online?
2.10. Will Dark Sun Online be expanded in the future?
2.11. Why should I pay more for an inn?
3. Engine-Specific Questions
3.1. How do I talk to other people?
3.2. Are there hotkeys for common game functions?
3.3. Can I save or load my game?
3.4. Does the game have "following" options?
3.5. What commercial game does the game/interface most resemble?
4. Getting Help or Information
4.1. How to get Dark Sun Online.
4.2. Where can I get the latest version of this FAQ?
4.3. Useful and Cool World Wide Web sites.
5. Strange and Useless Dark Sun Online Trivia Section
5.1. Title Candidates for Dark Sun Online
5.2. Just how large *is* the source code for DSO, anyway?
5.3. Who are the people in the "Humans" load screen?
6. Reference
6.1. Hotkey List
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Introduction
------------------------------------------------------------------
1.1. What is Dark Sun Online?
Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands is the latest in the Dark Sun series of games from Strategic Simulations, Inc. Based on TSR's
Dark Sun world, Dark Sun Online (also known as DSO) allows you to adventure on the world of Athas. However, instead of playing alone you'll now be able to explore the barren wastes of this world with hundreds of other *real* people!
As you play DSO, you'll discover new, never-before seen regions.
You'll finally make it to the Silt Sea and visit the port city of
Altaruk. From there you can take silt ships to visit other areas and islands. Be warned, however -- there are reasons few return from the isles.
Closer to home, you'll be able to explore a newly-expanded Tyr like never before! Non-player characters (NPCs) inhabit the streets and buildings; they'll help or hinder you depending on their personalities or agendas. Some will ask you to help them with quests; others will give you tips and information on how to survive in this savage world.
You'll even be able to go on quests with your friends; hopefully they'll help you survive in those tougher regions. You'll *want* friends at your side, too; some of the missions you'll be undertaking will bring you into conflict with other players!
Ahh yes -- conflict . . . always a staple of role-playing games.
Remember all those arguments you had with your friends as to who had the best character? Well, stop talking about it and find out!
Engage in bloody hand-to-hand combat and beat your foe into submission. Hurl destructive spells and turn the peon who dared challenge you into a flaming pyre. The choice is yours!
You'll also take on new roles in Dark Sun Online. Choose to be a
Templar, and you'll work for the good of the Tyrian Council, undertaking quests and harassing innocent pedestrians with the best of them! Sound too slimy? Fine -- join the Veiled Alliance and fight the Templar scourge! No matter what side you choose, you'll often find that your quest or mission might come into conflict with the goals of the opposing group -- better be prepared!
Dark Sun Online has been in development for over two years. The engine has been completely overhauled for online gaming, and is now a Windows 95 application. The interface has been streamlined for multi-player gaming, including enhancements to party commands, easy chat commands, and special options to make multi-player adventuring the experience you've been looking for.
And for those of you who *really* want more of the same, here's some of the relevant text from the Dark Sun Online Web Page:
So . . . you're back, eh? Another one of those die-hard gamers always looking for the next challenge -- the next plateau in gaming. No game is hard or intense enough for you. You see those claims of "40 to 60 hours of game play" and scoff. You've picked your teeth on the shattered remnants of "other" role-playing games, and now, casting about for the next hot thing, you've come across this promising web page. Well, you've waited a long time, but you *have* come to the right place. Because you see, SSI is proud to announce the newest member of the Dark Sun computer role- playing game family -- Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands.
Welcome to a world sucked dry by vampiric defilers, torn and scarred by power-hungry mages, burnt and seared by a sun gone slightly nova; a world known simply as Athas. Athas is bad -- real bad. You've heard of Death Valley? You've heard of the Sahara?
They've got nothing on Athas. You see, Death Valley and the Sahara end. They stop eventually. They run into jungles or forests or even oceans. But not Athas. Athas never stops. It has no oceans.
And you're stuck in the middle of it.
You may have played Dark Sun I and II, chewed them up, and spit out the little pieces. But you couldn't get enough. Maybe you finished the games in mere hours and wanted more of a challenge.
Perhaps the regions we gave you to explore just whetted your appetite, but you *still* wanted to stretch your legs some more.
And perhaps even the biggest battles weren't enough for you, and you went through them like a wood-chipper through sushi. Well, welcome to Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands.
Give you a hint -- it's called "Crimson Sands" for a reason. . . .
Dark Sun Online is the biggest Dark Sun game yet. All new regions guarantee hours and hours of exploration. Forty to sixty hours?
Ha! There's enough here to play for months and months -- and we doubt you'll find everything we've put in here. You want tough?
Some of these areas are *nasty*; you may want to recruit trusted companions for assistance, or make allies along the way. Although there's strength in numbers, watch your back; your strongest ally may become your most formidable foe.
Ahh yes . . . the more clever of you may have noticed something intriguing here. You can now join your friends and play together in the Dark Sun universe! That's right -- instead of dealing with those piddly little monsters, you can deal with the meanest and most devious creatures of all -- *real people*. And this ain't no private party; in Dark Sun Online you'll be in a world inhabited by hundreds and hundreds of these fiends.
Yep -- real, live, flesh-and-blood, conniving, backstabbing, (and occasionally friendly) people. What does that mean to you? Lots.
Now you can test your might against your best friend and find out for sure who's got the killer character. You can join the ranks of the Templars and terrorize innocent citizens (including those aforementioned friends). And if that doesn't sound entertaining enough, you can join the Veiled Alliance and harass those Templars right back!
Quests and treasures abound -- myriad non-player characters speak with you, and often are willing to help you out. Of course, others are just as happy to lie to you and cheat you out of your worldly possessions. Sometimes they'll ask you to help them, or visit strange, far-off lands. Be warned, though -- many of these regions are rarely visited for a reason. . . .
What's that? Sounds hard? Pshaw! Not for you! However, we realize that some people don't have as many years of experience as some of the more advanced gamers out there. So, just because we're nice, fuzzy-feeling sorts of people, we start new players off in the city-state of Tyr. Why Tyr? Because it's protected from evil-doing (at least the physical kind) by the city guard. So don't fear -- you won't get whacked the second you start the game . . . and if you're smart, and listen to what people tell you, you'll do just fine.
Dark Sun Online has been in development for over two years. The engine has been completely overhauled for online gaming, and is now a Windows 95 application. The interface has been streamlined for multi-player gaming, including enhancements to party commands, easy chat commands, and special options to make multi-player adventuring the experience you've been looking for.
1.2. When will Dark Sun Online be released?
Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands is first slated for release in the third quarter of 1996 on the Total Entertainment Network (also known as TEN). For more information on TEN please visit their web site at < http://www.ten.net >.
1.3. What are the system requirements?
Almost any 486-based Windows 95 machine should be able to run Dark
Sun Online easily. Note that while we recommend the following, you
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- Dark Sun Online - Crimson Sands FAQ by System on 09/03/2006, 09:50