Progress Quest
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:ProgressQuest Screenshot.png Progress Quest is a Windows computer program created as a parody of EverQuest and other massively multiplayer computer role-playing games. It is loosely considered a Zero-player game, in the sense that once the player has set up his artificial character, there is no user interaction at all; the game "plays" itself, and with the human player as spectator.
Progress Quest parodies computer role-playing games, especially EverQuest, for what many gamers consider to be uninteresting game play. EverQuest is infamous for its "auto-attack" combat system where players press a button to initiate combat mode and from then on there is usually little to do other than watch. Progress Quest also pokes fun at traditional RPG races, classes, stories, quests, items, and more.
The program was made available by Eric Fredricksen in early 2002. Fans quickly joined in on the parody by submitting numerous fake reviews to several popular freeware download sites and game review sites giving the Progress Quest the highest scores possible.
The game displays the character's stats on the screen, including several progress bars representing how far the player character has advanced in the game. The character gains experience points, items, and encounters monsters. Items are then sold at a profit to purchase new equipment, relative to the character's level. There are also quests that are part of an overall "plot progression," adding a new chapter after each previous chapter has been completed.
On starting a new game, it presents the player with a few options, such as what race and character class they want their player character to be. Stats are rolled to determine Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Players start off with subpar equipment, eventually earning better weapons, armor, and spells.
Nearly none of the above-mentioned character statistics and equipment has any effect on gameplay, however. The only exception is the "strength" stat, which affects carrying capacity, indirectly influencing the speed of level gain.
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Plot
The story tells of the history of Grumdrig and the creation of the realms. Currently there are four realms: Knoram, Expodrine, Oobag and Spoltog. The story mimics convoluted fantasy plots, using archaic and made up words such as "aberdoxy".
Races
- Battle-Finch
- Crested Dwarf
- Demicanadian
- Double Hobbit
- Double Wookie
- Dung Elf
- Eel Man
- Enchanted Motorcycle
- Greater Gnome
- Gyrognome
- Half Halfling
- Half Man
- Half Orc
- Land Squid
- Lesser Dwarf
- Low Elf
- Panda Man
- Skraeling
- Talking Pony
- Trans-Kobold
- Will o' the Wisp
Classes
- Bastard Lunatic
- Battle-Felon
- Birdrider
- Fighter/Organist
- Hunter Strangler
- Inner Mason
- Lowling
- Mage Illusioner
- Mu-Fu Monk
- Puma Burgular
- Robot Monk
- Runeloremaster
- Shiv-Knight
- Slow Poisoner
- Tickle-Mimic
- Toungeblade
- Ur-Paladin
- Voodoo Princess
For examples of the names of spells, items and monsters, try the Interactive Random RP Story Generator.
History
Players may choose to create an account offline for their own enjoyment, or create an online account that allows their character stats to be saved on a ranking website. This allows characters to compare their accomplishments with others while trying to achieve a higher ranking on their respective realm. Players can also join guilds of Good, Neutral, or Evil alignment, though there is no benefit for doing so.
The game has been upgraded several times throughout its history. One particular upgrade added shaded bars to the screen, which caused players to refer to the new version as Progress Quest 3D. On the game's official forum, most of the threads by old-time users lead newbies into believing that there exist Silver, Gold, Platinum or even Diamond-Encrusted DVD versions of the game which have supreme 3D graphics.
Press
See also
External links
- Progress Quest official site
- Progress Quest at Yahoo! Groups
- Progress Quest FAQs at GameFAQs
- Progress Quest Companion — Fan site (out of date)
- Progress Quest Stats Macro Tool — For rolling character stats
- Progress Quest spell conversions for use with Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition
- SimpleRPG — A much simpler version of Progress Questde:Progress Quest