In contrast to the traditional turn-based approach that was, in 1987, most common, "Dungeon Master" added real-time combat elements (akin to Active Time Battle). Other factors in immersion were the use of sound effects to indicate when a creature was nearby, and (primitive) dynamic lighting. Abstract "Dungeons and Dragons" style experience points and levels were eschewed in favor of a system where the characters' skills were improved directly via using them. "Dungeon Master" was not the first game to introduce these features. "Dungeons of Daggorath" for the TRS-80 Color Computer first employed them in 1982. "Dungeon Master" was, however, responsible for popularizing these elements. Other features of "Dungeon Master" included allowing players to directly manipulate objects and the environment by clicking the mouse in the enlarged first-person view. It also introduced some novel control methods including the spell casting system, which involved learning sequences of runes which represented the form and function of a spell's effect. For example, a fireball spell was created by mixing the fire symbol with the wing symbol..