Usurper Reborn - A World That Lives Without You

// THE EXPERIMENT

This isn't just a game. It's a question.

What happens when you build a world that doesn't need you?

Impermanence

Every NPC in this world has a birthday, a personality, and a death. They fall in love on their own. They have children who grow up and replace them. Log out for a week and the town you knew is different. Marriages, funerals, new faces. Nothing waits. Nothing is permanent. That's the point.

The Cycle

Beat the game, and it restarts. But this time the NPCs remember you. Faintly. By the third cycle, they're asking questions you can't answer. Is the loop a prison or a practice? Does the difference matter? The five endings aren't difficulty tiers. They're philosophical positions: power, compassion, independence, awakening, and release.

The Gods Below

Seven deities sealed in a 100-floor dungeon. Each one is a question wearing a body. A war god who forgot what honor means. A love goddess fading because no one believes love endures. A creator at the bottom, weary of eternity, who just wants to ask you: what should I do? Your answer determines everything. And the game remembers what you chose.

Presence

This is a text game. No cutscenes, no voice acting, no motion capture. Just a blinking cursor and your imagination. The world is rendered in words because the most important things can't be shown. They can only be felt. Play alone at 2am and make a choice about a god who begs for death. Or play online and discover that someone else made a different choice, and the world shifted because of it.

Built at the intersection of philosophy, science, art, and nostalgia.
A living world. A deep dungeon. A question with no easy answer.

Play alone. Play together. The world is already running.

// THE LIVING WORLD

Not a scripted world. An emergent one.

Autonomous Souls

60+ NPCs with personalities, goals, opinions, and memories. They choose careers, form friendships, hold grudges. They remember what you did to them, even across cycles.

Birth, Love, Death

NPCs fall in love, marry, have children, age, and die. Their children grow up and take their place. The population turns over. No one is permanent. Not even the ones you care about.

The News Never Stops

Log in and discover the blacksmith married the barmaid, the king was assassinated, a plague swept through town, or a child you watched grow up just came of age.

Shared World

Play alone or connect to a persistent multiplayer world that runs 24/7. Your choices ripple through other players' experiences. Theirs ripple through yours.

100 Floors Down

A dungeon that never changes layout but always changes meaning. Seven corrupted gods waiting in the dark. Ancient seals. Five endings. The deeper you go, the harder the questions.

A Game Within a Game

11 classes, 10 races, political intrigue, romance, court factions, PvP, companion quests, and a throne to usurp. Inspired by the 1993 BBS door game that started it all.

// THE STORY SO FAR

A tale of gods, corruption, and the mortal who dared to challenge eternity.

~ The Golden Age ~

Long ago, in an age now lost to memory, the world was watched over by the Seven Divine. Gods of immense power who guided mortalkind with wisdom and grace. Under their benevolent gaze, civilizations flourished.

The god of war taught honor in battle. The goddess of love blessed every union. The god of light ensured truth prevailed over deception.

It was an age of miracles. An age of heroes. An age of hope.

~ The Sundering ~

Then came the Sundering. A cataclysm whose cause remains unknown. Some say mortals grew too proud and turned away from the gods. Others whisper of a betrayal among the Divine themselves. Whatever the truth, the result was catastrophic.

The Seven were corrupted. Twisted. Imprisoned in realms of their own making.

The god of war became rage incarnate, drowning in endless bloodshed. The goddess of love withered into jealousy and obsession. The god of light faded to barely a whisper, truth dying with each passing lie.

~ The Age of Avarice ~

Centuries have passed. The Old Gods are now mere legends. Cautionary tales told to frighten children. In their absence, mortals have created new gods to worship, pale echoes of the Divine that once were.

And in this godless age, a new power has risen: AVARICE.

The Halls of Avarice. A sprawling underground complex where adventurers seek fortune, glory, and power. Where the strong prey upon the weak. Where gold is the only god that matters.

Some come seeking treasure. Some come seeking fame. Some come to escape their past. And some... some hear whispers in the dark. Ancient voices calling from the depths. Promising power. Demanding sacrifice.

~ Your Story Begins ~

You arrive at the gates of the realm with little more than the clothes on your back and a hunger for something more.

Will you delve into the deadly Dungeons in search of treasure and glory? Will you find love on the cobblestones of this dangerous town? Will you rise to become a champion... or fall to become a cautionary tale?

And perhaps, if you grow strong enough, you may discover what truly lurks in the deepest halls. You may learn the fate of the Old Gods. You may even have the chance to save them... or destroy them forever.

The choice, adventurer, is yours.

// THE SEVEN OLD GODS

Once benevolent deities, now corrupted and imprisoned in the depths. Each must be confronted to learn the truth.

Floor 25

Maelketh

The Broken Blade

War & Conquest

Once the noble god of honorable combat, Maelketh's mind shattered during the Sundering. Now he knows only endless war.

Floor 40

Veloura

The Withered Heart

Love & Passion

The goddess of love fades with each broken heart. She can still be saved... if one proves love endures.

Floor 55

Thorgrim

The Hollow Judge

Law & Order

The god of justice became the god of tyranny. His scales weigh only power now.

Floor 70

Noctura

The Shadow Weaver

Shadow & Secrets

The mysterious orchestrator. She set these events in motion. Her true motives remain hidden.

Floor 85

Aurelion

The Fading Light

Light & Truth

The god of truth speaks only in whispers now. His light dims with every lie told in the realm.

Floor 95

Terravok

The Sleeping Mountain

Earth & Endurance

The oldest god sleeps beneath the dungeon. He can be awakened... but should he be?

Floor 100

Manwe

The Weary Creator

Creation & Balance

The Supreme Creator. He waits at the end of all paths, weary of eternity. Your choices determine his fate. And yours.

// CLASSES & RACES

Choose from 11 distinct classes and 10 races. Each combination offers unique strengths and playstyles.

Character Classes

Warrior

Melee Fighter

Balanced melee combatant with solid HP, strength, and defense. The reliable choice for any adventurer.

STR

DEF

Paladin

Holy Knight

Heavy armor, high stamina, and righteous fury. Strong defense with moderate offensive capability.

STR

DEF

Ranger

Scout & Tracker

Swift and versatile. High stamina and dexterity make rangers excellent dungeon explorers.

DEX

STA

Assassin

Shadow Striker

Devastating backstab attacks and unmatched dexterity. Fragile but deadly in the right hands.

DEX

STR

Bard

Jack of All Trades

Well-rounded with high charisma. Capable in combat, social situations, and support roles.

CHA

DEX

Jester

Trickster

Unpredictable and agile. Highest dexterity and agility of any class, with chaos-based abilities.

AGI

DEX

Alchemist

Arcane Crafter

Blends science and magic. High wisdom and intelligence with charismatic flair.

INT

WIS

Magician

Arcane Caster

Pure spellcaster with devastating magical power. Fragile in melee but commands 75 spells.

INT

CHA

Cleric

Divine Healer

Holy magic and healing spells. Moderate combat with strong support abilities and divine mana.

WIS

CHA

Sage

Scholar Mage

Highest wisdom and intelligence. Massive mana pool (50 base) for unmatched spellcasting endurance.

WIS

MNA

Barbarian

Berserker

Raw power incarnate. Highest HP, strength, stamina, and constitution. Brains optional.

STR

Character Races

Human

Balanced and adaptable. Solid bonuses across all stats with no weaknesses.

Hobbit

Small but loyal. Lower strength but naturally resilient and surprisingly tough.

Elf

Graceful and agile. Lower HP but enhanced magical affinity and precision.

Half-Elf

The best of both worlds. Good stamina with balanced human and elven traits.

Dwarf

Stubborn and sturdy. Highest HP, strength, and defense bonuses of all races.

Troll

Massive and powerful. Exceptional HP and strength with intimidating presence.

Orc

Ill-mannered but effective. Strong defense and natural combat instincts.

Gnome

Willful and clever. Modest physical stats but resourceful in unexpected ways.

Gnoll

Small and scrappy. Compensates for size with strength and determination.

Mutant

Unpredictable and unique. Adaptive bonuses make every mutant different.

// COMPANIONS

Four souls whose fates intertwine with yours. They can fight, heal, and die. They will change your story.

Lyris

The Wandering Star

A mysterious traveler with silver-streaked hair and eyes that seem to hold ancient sorrow. She speaks in riddles and appears to know more than she reveals.

Once a priestess of Aurelion, the god of light. When the Old Gods were corrupted, she was cast out. Neither fully mortal nor divine. She wanders endlessly, seeking a way to heal the gods she once served.

Hybrid (Magic/Healer) Recruits: Level 15 Romance: Available

"There is something... familiar about you."

Aldric

The Unbroken Shield

A grizzled warrior with scars mapping decades of battle. His eyes hold the weight of those he couldn't save, and the determination to never fail again.

Once the captain of the King's Guard, Aldric lost his entire unit to a demonic incursion he blames himself for. He now wanders, seeking redemption through protecting those who need it most.

Tank Recruits: Level 10 Quest: Ghosts of the Guard

"I've failed people before. I won't fail you."

Mira

The Faded Light

A former priestess whose faith shattered when her temple was destroyed. Her healing powers remain, but her spirit is hollow. She helps others because she no longer knows what else to do.

Mira devoted her life to healing in Veloura's temple. When Veloura was corrupted, the temple turned on itself. Healers became reapers. Mira escaped, but left her faith behind.

Healer Recruits: Level 20 Quest: The Meaning of Mercy

"I heal because I don't know what else to do. Is that enough?"

Vex

The Laughing Shadow

A charming thief with a quick wit and quicker fingers. Vex treats everything as a joke. Including death. But there's a sadness behind the smile that he never speaks of.

Born with a wasting disease. He's been dying his whole life, one day at a time. Rather than despair, he chose to laugh. He steals to survive, jokes to cope, and refuses to take anything seriously.

Damage Recruits: Level 25 Quest: One More Sunrise

"Life's too short to take seriously. Trust me, I know."

// FIVE ENDINGS

Not difficulty tiers. Philosophical positions. Each one answers the same question differently.

The Usurper

Seize divine power. Become the new god. Rule forever. And discover that eternity is the cruelest prison.

Attachment

The Savior

Choose mercy. Heal the corrupted gods. Restore what was lost. Become a legend. But legends are stories others tell. You'll never know peace.

Compassion

The Defiant

Reject all of it. Shatter every artifact. Free mortals from gods forever. Walk into the sunrise as nothing more than a person who chose freedom.

Non-attachment

The True Awakening

See the cycle for what it is. Not a prison. A practice. Become the bridge between mortal and divine. The loop continues, but now you understand why.

Awakening (NG+)

Dissolution

After every ending. After every cycle. Make the choice no one has ever made: let go completely. Not victory. Not defeat. Release.

Nirvana (Cycle 3+)

// USURPER HISTORY

From 1993 BBS door game to a modern recreation. A journey through time.

The Age of the BBS (1978-1999)

Before the World Wide Web, Bulletin Board Systems were tiny digital worlds you dialed into with a telephone modem. You'd hear the screech of the handshake, watch ANSI art fill your screen, and connect to a community of people you'd never meet in person.

By 1992, there were over 25,000 BBSes in the United States alone. Each one was run by a "SysOp" from their basement or bedroom. You could post messages, download files, chat, and play games.

The Door Games

"Door Games" were external programs that BBSes could launch for callers. The constraints were brutal: text only, slow connections (2400-14400 baud), one caller at a time, and limited play time to share the phone line.

Yet from these constraints came innovation. Games like Trade Wars 2002, Legend of the Red Dragon, and Usurper created persistent worlds where your actions TODAY affected what other players found TOMORROW. These were the first massively multiplayer online games accessible to ordinary people.

The Birth of Usurper (1993)

In 1993, programmer Jakob Dangarden created Usurper. At a time when Legend of the Red Dragon dominated, Usurper dared to be different. Multiple races and classes with real mechanical differences, a 100-level dungeon, team warfare, political systems, and complex character progression.

The game was set in the realm of Dorashire, where adventurers explored the Dungeons of Durunghins. The ultimate goal? Accumulate power and usurp the throne itself. Usurper quickly gained a devoted following. It was dark, complex, and rewarded mastery.

Those Who Preserved the Dream

Jakob Dangarden created the original masterpiece in Turbo Pascal. In 2004, he made the historic decision to release Usurper as open source under the GPL license, ensuring the game could live on forever.

Rick Parrish of R&M Software took on the monumental task of porting the original Pascal source code to modern systems, creating 32-bit and 64-bit versions. His GameSrv BBS server software keeps the entire door game era alive today.

Daniel Zingaro provided tremendous help with massive bug fixing efforts, tracking down edge cases in decades-old code to make version 0.20e the most stable release ever.

Usurper Reborn (2024-Present)

This remake began with a simple question: what if Usurper had continued to evolve? What if the limitations of 1990s hardware were lifted, but the soul of the game remained intact?

Created by Jason Knight, Usurper Reborn is built in C# with modern architecture, staying true to the original vision. The core gameplay, class system, dungeon structure, and political intrigue are all here. Enhanced with 60 unique NPCs, dynamic world simulation, deep narrative systems, companion quests, and New Game+ cycles.

The text-based interface is intentional. It's a love letter to an era when imagination filled in what graphics couldn't show.

// COMMUNITY

Join the growing community of adventurers, share strategies, and help shape the future of the game.

► Discord

Chat with other players, report bugs, suggest features, and get the latest news directly from the developer.

Join the Discord

► The Observatory

Watch 60+ NPCs live their lives in real-time. Personality radars, relationship networks, demographics, and live event feeds.

Open Dashboard

♥ Sponsor

Support ongoing development. Every contribution helps keep the world alive and growing.

// CREDITS

Jakob Dangarden

Original Game Creator (1993)

Created the original Usurper: Halls of Avarice in Turbo Pascal. Released as open source under GPL in 2004.

Rick Parrish

Source Code Preservation & Porting

Ported the original Pascal source to modern systems. Creator of GameSrv BBS software.

Daniel Zingaro

Bug Fixing & Code Quality

Massive bug fixing efforts on the Pascal source code. Made v0.20e the most stable release.

Jason Knight

Creator of Usurper Reborn

Built the modern C# / .NET 8.0 recreation with expanded systems and deep narrative.

Special thanks to the BBS community of the 1980s and 1990s, all the SysOps who kept the boards running, and every player who dialed in to explore Durunghins.

Join us on Discord

// WORLD STATUS