This is one of the 48 Liberated Pixel Cup Games. I’m reviewing them.
Disclaimer: I am also competing. I am not a judge!
Lurking Patrol Comrades [Download me!][Prebuilt Clients]
This is a LUA Game. An MMORPG, and damnit, it’s hard to review.
MMOs, by nature, are quite extensive and social, but due to the fact that this is a brand new MMO, there wasn’t anyone around to socialize with at the time of the review, and due to my limited time available to play and write about the games, I couldn’t manage to explore as much as I would’ve wanted.
Lurking Patrol Comrades (LPC, Get it?) is based on the Mana Source engine, but using LPC-Style assets, and bringing brand new quests, enemies and weapons. I didn’t try to compile the game, as the authors kindly provided a Fedora package. Afterwards, I pointed it to their Lurking Patrol Comrades server, created a new account, chose my hairstyle and was set off into the world.
I had previously played The Mana World, another Mana Source-based game, so I was already familiar with the controls: You can click to where you’d like to go, and the character moves in that direction. You can also use the Arrow keys to move. I recommend sticking with the Arrow keys because I had issues entering houses and moving around in narrow paths using the mouse. To attack an enemy, just click on it, and the character will move nearby and use the equipped weapon to attack it.
You can get some free weapons and equipment from a blacksmith nearby, and some training dummies provide, well, training, on how to use your weapon. There are also some beatles, bats and snakes nearby. I highly recommend concentrating on the beatles, as they drop carcasses that you can sell. The snakes manage to kill me even after leveling up a bit, so I highly suggest you avoid them.
On the top of the screen, you’ll find some buttons. The first one, stats, allows you to customize your character’s stats. There are also 6 points you can use to “undo” power grants and fix your characters stats, should you regret it later. Another button lets you view your inventory, while another one lets you equip weapons and armor. You’ll notice your character’s look reflect the newly equiped armor.
Outside the castle, you’ll find some salesmen with super-expensive items. A monk nearby asks for a coin, and tips you off to where you may learn magic. At this point, I was set on a quest by a guard to look for Innkeeper Norman, however I was unable to locate the guy to have him pay his… protection fee…
Down south and to the left, I saw some rebels walking around, and even found their base camp. Apparently they hate the Patrols and the King. They asked if Norman might’ve sent me, but I had yet to locate Norman. Perhaps a quest lets me join these rebels. I am unsure at this point. Heading West from the castle, you’ll find a village, and some citizens. They each have a different story, however none of them could point me to Norman’s general direction. There were mentions of a pub, which I also couldn’t find.
There is a map on the top left corner, however I couldn’t figure out a way to zoom in and look for special places. That would’ve been very helpful 
North of the castle, you’ll find some mountains and some caves. Inside the caves, you’ll find more of the same non-aggresive bats, beatles and snakes, as well as some slimes and even skeletons. The odd thing of these enemies is that they won’t attack you unless you hit them first, so you can explore at your pace without being disturbed by them.
Heading from the mountains and to the right, you’ll find a waterfall with a wooden bridge. Crossing it, you’ll find the Shrine that was hinted, as well as a Princess. She sent me to explore the caves, however I couldn’t go up the ladder I went down to, so I commited suicide (Fought a snake) to get respawned at the Castle.
In the end, I didn’t actually learn any magic spells. I did level up a bit though, and explored the vast lands and dungeon that was around. I did have issues with the combat, as sometimes I would click the enemy and even see the slashing animation over and over without actually hurting it (Or being hurt!). Crossplayers and girls may also be dissapointed to read that you can’t (currently) create female players, due to the limited time available for development. They’ll be added later, after the contest ends.
Finally.. the game is no longer called “Lurking Patrol Comrades”. It’s been renamed to “Source of Tales“. I highly recommend you check them out, as it’s one of the most polished games this contest has brought.
Thanks a lot for the review.