You can play Larn online at larn.org
- download a zipfile of the repository
- open larn_local.html in your browser and play
- viewing the scoreboard and recording high scores won't work
$ git clone https://github.com/primeau/Larn.git
$ cd Larn
$ npm install
$ npm run build
$ python -m SimpleHTTPServer 8000
$ http://localhost:8000/dist/larn/larn.html
LARN is a dungeon type adventure game similar in concept to HACK, ROGUE or MORIA, but with a different feel and winning criteria.
Noah Morgan originally created LARN 12.0 and released the UNIX version to the USENET in 1986. Don Kneller ported the UNIX version to MSDOS (both IBM PCs and DEC Rainbows).
Other contributors from this era include:
- James McNamara: UNIX install notes, source and patch distribution
- Fred Fish: Termcap support for VMS port
- Daniel Kegel: Enhanced ansi terminal decoding for DOS
- Alexander Perry: Port for Linux 2.x kernel and GCC 3.x
Kevin Routley contributed various LARN enhancements. Version 12.1 had a limited distribution. Version 12.2 was distributed to the Usenet community. Version 12.3 was the last version released by Kevin.
Someone made 12.4 through 12.4.2, possibly copx according to roguebasin. Edwin Denicholas took 12.4 alpha 2 and caressed it into 12.4.3 for Win32. Version 12.4.4 includes a bugfix from Joe Neff.
Ularn was written in 1987 by Phil Cordier at UC Santa Cruz. Version 1.5.1 was released by David Richerby and future 1.5.x versions were developed by Josh Brandt. Version 1.6 was a Windows 32 conversion and refactor by Julian Olds. Ularn is currently maintained by Josh Bressers.
Other editions of Larn have been distributed by others, namely LARN13, dLarn, NLarn, ReLarn, and XLarn.
JSLarn 12.5.0 is a JavaScript port of Larn and Ularn, by Jason Primeau. It primarily references the Larn 12.4.4 and Ularn 1.5.4 codebases but takes inspiration from other versions as well. It includes bug fixes, a global scoreboard, and updates to balance the game at higher difficulties.
I hope you enjoy this version of LARN.
Larn's version history can be found here
There is a WIZARD mode for testing features of the game. To get into WIZARD
mode, type in an underscore '_' and answer the prompt for the password with
'pvnert(x)' (do not enter the quotes). Wizards are non-scoring characters that
get magic mapping, everlasting expanded awareness and one of every object in
the game.
Since it's easy to lose your game due to a browser crash, accidental back button press, or closed tab, there are 2 new 'wizard' passwords. Using the password 'checkpoint' will load a backup of a checkpoint file, and 'savegame' will resurrect a previous save game. Obviously this can be used to cheat, but it was already pretty easy to cheat before. Be honorable, always.
Many thanks to BrowserStack for supporting this open source project with a free license to improve cross-browser support.
