What is Stormhalter?

What is Stormhalter?

Stormhalter is the recreation and expansion of the classic online video game Legends of Kesmai (LOK) that launched on AOL in 1996. Legends of Kesmai itself was the graphical interpretation of an even older online game called Islands of Kesmai released in 1985, which was based on an even earlier six player game called Dungeons of Kesmai by two University of Virginia students in the summer of 1980. Before games like World of Warcraft, Everquest, and Ultima Online there was Legends of Kesmai. Legends of Kesmai is in many ways the great grandfather of modern MMORPGs. Although this game is officially called Stormhalter, the player base and developer still often frequently refer to it as LOK. Even the game client is called "Kesmai.Client". So do not be confused if Stormhalter and LOK are used somewhat interchangeably.

For those unfamiliar with LOK, what kind of game is Stormhalter?

Stormhalter is an online adventure RPG with races, classes, skills, levels, quests, loot, group boss fights, and all the things you typically find within an online adventure RPG. The game is grid based with a unique real time/turn based round system at its foundation. Essentially the game progresses by turns in real time. This is accomplished by preventing you from taking an action for a period of time after preforming an action. This period of action and inaction would be considered your turn. However, if you sit idly everything else will continue to move during their turn without you. Outside of very specific situations every creature and player action take one turn to complete. Aside from the nostalgia the game provides to former LOK players, the games combination of grid-based gameplay with its unique real time/turn based system offers a table-top book and dice videogame adaptation that is unlike any other. It is a system that takes some time to get used to if you are unfamiliar with LOK but offers a very rewarding and unique online RPG experience.