Land, The DOS Game Online

The Land is an interesting and unique shareware RPG based on the fantasy trilogy "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" by Stephen R. Donaldson. In typical Roguelike games manner, you create a character, travel the lands and dungeons in search of treasure and magic. There is a main goal that you will discover while you play. What sets The Land apart from other RPGs despite outdated CGA graphics (in 1989!) is judicious use of Donaldson's intriguing fantasy gameworld. In addition to novel classes such as "Bloodguard," all characters have some vow or oath to follow, which is done by devoting a certain amount of time to their cause. If the characters don't follow ("service") their own, their abilities will be reduced over time. The amount of service changes from class to class and level to level. You start the game with 6 months of service per year, with additional 1 month added every five levels. This provides a nice break from the mundane "kill monsters, get gold, upgrade equipment" routine, although much of Donaldson's imaginative monsters are present to make the game quite unique already anyway. Well worth a look, especially if you are interested in Roguelikes with a difference. Note: although identical to the registered version except for the "nag" screen, the shareware version for download here doesn't come with detailed manual which is available only to those who registered the game.