UnReal World

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The UnReal World (URW) is a realistic graphical roguelike CRPG set in Iron age Finland by Sami Maaranen.

[edit] Overview

URW doesn't have any character classes and has tribes instead of race. URW doesn't have a plot so players can do what they please. They can hunt, go fishing, build their own house, or even get married—it's really all up to the player. There are no fantasy elements in URW except gods and magic. You create a character by choosing his name and tribe- then the skills in which your character will specialize.

URW features a huge, expansive game world in which the player character will encounter NPCs, both friendly and hostile, as well as animals of all sorts. There are many ways to play using the plethora of skills at your disposal. One can be nomadic and wander from place to place, gathering the necessary food from hunting and fishing. Or one may settle down by building a house to live in. It is all up to the player.

The world is also filled with dangers. The player may starve or dehydrate. There are animals that will eat the player, as well as the belligerent Njerpez warriors. The winter can be said to be the ultimate test of one's resourcefulness as the mere cold will become a lethal antagonist in itself. To top this off, a popular choice among experienced players is the scenario titled "Hurt, helpless and afraid", in which the player will begin with numerous (often quite debilitating) injuries. This scenario is most often picked in winter, as to provide the greatest challenge.

The latest version of URW (3.00) was published on 15 March 2007 for Windows. It is also compatible with Linux through Wine 0.9.10.

[edit] Combat

This is a detail screen describing how well-armoured the player character is. In this example, the face and hands are completely unprotected while the groin is quite well protected.

The UnReal World features a detailed combat system. Instead of hitpoints, the game implements bodypart damage. For instance, if you attacked a knife-wielding Njerpez warrior by kicking his hand, he would be more likely to drop the knife. Or if you kicked him in the legs, he would be more likely to fall. The same rules apply to the player character as well. Also present are different means of attacking the opponent with the same weapon. For instance, an axe can "blunt", "edge", or "point". A blunt attack can cause damage to the opponent without causing bleeding wounds while edge and point attacks may. Drawing blood may drain the opponent of strength and provide the player character with a combat advantage. Various body parts may also be severed by strong edge attacks, leaving its victim (possibly the player character) permanently debilitated.

Besides direct combat, the player character may also use traps. While generally used for hunting, traps may also be used to the player's tactical advantage.

The game also provides for the player character, along with its other inhabitants, various means of defending themselves. A mobile character can more easily dodge an opponent's attacks. A player can also wear armour, including helmets, hauberks, bracers, boots, and many others, of varying materials such as fur, leather, cloth, bark, iron, and others. Different types of armour will provide varying degrees of protection against the different types of attacks. One particular form of protection is "warmth", which is especially important during the winter. Armour of different types can also be layered for cumulative protection effects, although weight and encumbrance are also accumulated.

[edit] Skills

The UnReal World features a broad number of skills. Unlike many RPGs, the character does not level up in the traditional way. The player character starts out with certain skills, and development of individual skills occurs from regular use of the skill. For example, if you wanted to improve your skill in "unarmed" you would punch and kick your enemies.

• Agriculture - Preparing the soil and planting crops.
• Physician - Tending fresh wounds to quicken healing.
• Cookery - Preparing food, which helps it to last longer.
• Ritual - Ask the gods for help or thank them.
• Survival - Starting fires, gathering branches, and building shelters.
• Timbercraft - Chopping down trees and processing the wood into either wood blocks or logs for building houses.
• Fishing - One of the most accessible food sources.
• Weatherlore - Predicts the weather.
• Foraging - Finding wild, edible plants, fruits, and mushrooms.
• Hideworking - Removing and preserving animal skins.
• Tracking - Finding and following footprints.
• Woodcarving - Engraving on wood, hopefully to make them more valuable for trade.

• Climbing - Enables one to observe surroundings from trees and to trek through mountainous terrain.
• Skiing - Enables faster movement across snow with the use of skis and ski poles.
• Swimming - Enables movement across bodies of water.

[edit] External links

• URW homepage
• Review on Home of the Underdogs
• Review on Suomipelit.com