King of Dragon Pass

Release Date: October 31, 1999

Strategy, fantasy, turn-based, mythology, RPG elements, adventure elements, singleplayer

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Steam

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A fantasy-based production combining turn-based strategy elements, adventure games and RPGs. At the head of a small clan, we must ensure its development and prosperity and bring about the unification of similar clans into a tribe under our rule. The main medium in the game is not graphics but text, and the structure of the game resembles popular role-playing book games, in which we shape the action by making a number of decisions and choices.

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

King of Dragon Pass, released on PC, iOS, etc., is a game which is a mix of turn-based strategy, adventure and "paragraph" role-playing games, set in a world combining fantasy with elements of Nordic mythology. The game was developed by A Sharp, consisting of experienced authors and developers, who have worked with Apple, Microsoft, DC Comics and Walt Disney Pictures.

Plot

The action of King of Dragon Pass takes place in a universe called Glorantha, created by Gregg Stafford and used earlier, among others, in the classic RuneQuest from 1978. It takes the player back to the time when people and gods stood shoulder to shoulder on the ground and place them as the leader of a small clan, that, like many others, has decided to settle in the previously unexplored areas of the titular Dragon Pass. During the game, we have to take care of the development and prosperity of our village, deciding about all its aspects - from magical rituals to diplomacy. We are supported in our activities by a seven-person tribal council, composed of personalities with different characteristics and aspirations. The key to success is to balance the survival and economic needs of our clan and to respond appropriately to emerging problems. The final goal of the game is to establish relations with other clans and unite them into one tribe under our leadership.

Mechanics

Starting the game, we have to answer several questions asked by the computer, which will allow us to define the history and character of our clan and determine the initial conditions of the game. The mechanics of King of Dragon Pass resemble, to a large extent, the mentioned "paragraph" systems. In King of Dragon Pass, we don't build buildings and don't produce any materials, and our interference in the fate of the clan boils down to making constant choices, each of which has specific consequences in the future. The game takes place in turns symbolizing the five seasons, during which we can undertake various activities related to breeding and cultivation, hunting, trade, exploration or war. Subsequent turns are interwoven with special events, which the game draws from a list of several hundred possibilities, taking into account the decisions we made earlier.

Technical aspects

Compared to contemporary productions, King of Dragon Pass stands out not only for its unique gameplay philosophy but also for its unusual setting. The authors placed great emphasis on the storyline and during the fun, we have the impression of participating in a fascinating story. However, the main medium in the game is not the image, but the text, and most of the time we spend reading descriptions of our village life, tribal council discussions, battles, catastrophes, and all the successes and failures. Atmospheric, hand-drawn graphics provide only a background for story events, playing a similar role as the illustrations in a children's book.

Last updated on August 22, 2019

Videos and Screens

[1:40] King of Dragon Pass trailer

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