Frequently Asked Questions

BrowserQuests™ in an online role-playing game (RPG) where the player leads a party of heroes through a series of text-based encounters within a fictional world known as Sisalus. The game automatically tracks all statistics regarding the adventuring party, utilizing a virtual gamemaster (GM) to interact with the player.

BrowserQuests™ is totally free! There is nothing to buy, nor are there any fees or recurring subscriptions. Donations are encouraged but certainly not required.

Apart from a modern (HTML5-compliant) browser and Internet access (high speed preferable but not required), no special hardware or software is required to play BrowserQuests.™

Yes, BrowserQuests™ is similar to D&D in that there is a (virtual) gamemaster who interacts directly with a single online player, providing encounter descriptions, rolling (virtual) dice, displaying relevant maps and generally refereeing the experience. Specifically, BrowserQuests™ is loosely based on the free, open source Basic Fantasy RPG rules system.

An entire online ruleset is available that provides substantial details regarding how to player BrowserQuests,™ including an overview of the fantasy world of Sisalus.

Just browse our free online registration page to get started! Provide a display name (what you'll see in the upper right corner of the website after you log in), a user name and password (what you'll use to log into the site) and a valid email address--that's all we'll ask for. After you register, check your email for a verification link; click that link and you'll be ready to play!

Sure! Register as many times as you wish. You can even use the same email address, display name and password (just make the user name something different). Using multiple accounts will allow you to play multiple adventuring parties at the same time.

No problem! Just browse our password reset page where you can submit a new account password and get back to playing.

BrowserQuests™ is primarily a text-based game, so there's a fair amount of reading involved (although the browser's automated narration feature can read the text to you if desired). In a nutshell, the virtual gamemaster will display appropriate text in the upper right of the interface (along with an associated image or map to the left). A collection of buttons and dropdown menus are presented at the bottom--click the one you feel will best resolve the current encounter. A complete summary of all your party heroes is also presented along the far left of the interface--click a hero name for complete details!

There are four buttons that appear in the upper right corner of the interface. Use the MANAGE PARTY button to review current party statistics, which henchmen are in your party or even reset the entire party and start the game over from scratch. Use can also use the MANAGE ITEMS button to review and change all hero equipment, the MANAGE SPELLS button to review and select which spells your party should utilize, and the MANAGE QUESTS button to review all current (and past) quest log entries.

When the virtual gamemaster shows you a map, the numbered areas represent locations you can potentially visit. Click the numbered text within an area of the map to read a description. To actually visit the location, use the TRAVEL TO NEW AREA dropdown near the bottom of the game's interface (if displayed). Note that not all map locations are directly accessible (and, sometimes, a few "secret" areas might not immediately display on the map).

Simply click the name of one of your heroes within the party roster that appears alongside the far left of the screen. A popup window will appear providing all manner of detail regarding the chosen hero. Use this process to keep tabs on your heroes, noting whether they have been affected by any sort of "effect" within the game (such as poison, sleeping, level-drained, etc.) as well.

The Music, Narration and Map buttons (found in the upper left corner of the interface) are used to turn the background music, browser-generated narration and map item features on and off. The background music can play during every encounter but can be turned-off if desired. Similarly, the narration feature will automatically read the gamemaster (GM)'s current prose and available party options, but can be turned off if desired as well (especially on mobile devices where the narration doesn't sound good). The Map Items button can remove all numbered areas from the maps if desired, allowing the maps to be more clearly viewed.

Which class and race to play is, in general, a matter of personal taste, as they all have their strengths and weaknesses. In general, fighters are the easiest to play, followed by clerics, magic-users and thieves. Similarly, humans are probably the easiest race to play, followed by elves, dwarves and halflings. Note that elves can be multi-classed; if you choose to be an elf, you can also choose to be a fighter/magic-user or magic-user/thief. Playing a multi-class hero does provide for more up-front abilities in the game, but it also doubles the time it takes to gain new levels.

Level drains are a particularly nasty (and potentially permanent) affliction that can occur to unfortunate heroes. When level-drained, the hero loses an energy level, effectively reduced in permanent hit points and level-based abilities. See the "Level Drain" section of the Experience Points and Leveling-Up ruleset page for further details!

Henchmen are temporary heroes who can be hired into the party for a small fee (100 gold per level). They don't participate in the story but they DO assist the party during combat and hence can make an adventuring party stronger. However, they also share experience points after combat so "core" party members (including the player's own hero) receive slightly less experience over time. Up to two henchmen can be hired at any one time and leave the party when dismissed (via the PARTY button). Hencemen are found in larger cities, such as the Kathaleen Power District.

Every hero in the party must choose which primary weapon, armor, shield, ring and ammunition they wish to use during combat. It's best to set all of these options ahead of time, but they can be changed during combat as well. Simply use the collection of dropdown menus to select which specific items should be used (and watch how elements such as armor class, melee damage and missile damage update depending on the item selected).

First, all missile weapons require AMMUNITION to work, so be sure that the affected hero is carrying ammunition as well as a missile weapon (sling, bow or crossbow). Second, combatants who are already within melee weapon range can't be hit by missile weapons, so they won't appear as targets.

Every item in the game has a chance of being destroyed each time it’s used. For items like potions and scrolls, that chance is 100%, while for items like weapons, armor and shields, it’s currently 0% (which may change in the future, as at least non-magical weapons, armor and shields do tend to break). For Boots of Speed, it’s currently set to 2%, meaning that, on average, they will break and be destroyed every 50 times they’re used. Hence, try not to overuse items in your inventory, as they may break when used and be lost permanently.

Very similar to the 'Boots of Speed' question above, items like a Wand of Fireballs don't have 'charges' in the game. Instead, they have a percentage chance of being destroyed each time they're used. For example, a Wand of Fireballs has a 10% chance of being destroyed each time it's used (providing, on average, ten 'charges' each time the wand is acquired). Note that ALL wands and staves in the game have either a 10% or 15% chance of being destroyed with each use.

Yes! If there's a new item you'd like to add to the game such as a magical sword, suit of armor or shield, contact the gamemaster and make your pitch. Within reason, we'll work with you to try and incorporate your new idea into the game!

Be sure to equip your heroes with the best weapons, armor and shields your party can afford! For your fighters and clerics, equip them with plate armor and metallic shields as soon as you can. Also, invest in magical scrolls such as Web and Phantasmal Force (for magic-users) and Spiritual Hammer (for clerics). Some monsters can only be harmed by magical weapons, so try to acquire "+1" or greater weapons for all members of the party as soon as possible as well!

If you're experiencing any sort of issue with the game--whether you can't seem to defeat some encountered monsters, you can't progress past a certain point or you feel that you may have discovered a bug in the game--click the orange "Leave GM a Message" button at the very bottom center of the browser and let us know! The real-life author of BrowserQuests™ is always standing by to help and will get back to you as quickly as he can.

Magic becomes more and more important as you progress, to the point when some situations (especially "boss" fights against strong opponents) can't be successfully resolved without a lot of magic. So, be sure your spellcasters always have all the spells they're allowed (especially offensive spells) and stock-up on all the magical potions and scrolls you can purchase and acquire as well.