Moria

About

Moria is a dungeon-crawling role-playing game built for cooperative play with up to ten players. Set in a procedurally generated underground maze players navigate shifting corridors and battle foes using text-based commands. Groups work together to explore randomly created rooms and defeat enemies while managing resources like torches and healing items. The PLATO system's network capabilities allowed real time messaging between participants making coordination key to survival. Released in 1976 this early online experiment introduced mechanics later popularized by modern RPGs. Its dynamic level generation and multiplayer focus made it a technical achievement for its time. The game's creator said he developed it without influence from Tolkien's works or existing D&D culture though he was familiar with other PLATO titles. While original PLATO versions are inaccessible today Moria's legacy lives on as one of the first multiplayer dungeon crawlers. Community archives note its impact on later games though exact player numbers remain unknown.