New to WOTMud: Is it worth starting here?

[Devran]

I've been lurking for a few days, reading the forums while at work and so forth, reading about things like remorts, statting, Light side, dark side, uniques and dozens of other things that I am utterly clueless about. It's all very interesting!

However, a couple things stood out to me. First, it seems like the population has thinned from what it used to be. What does this mean in terms of prime time and non prime time online numbers? I'm Australian and in most games I'm around when most Americans and Europeans are either asleep or at work. I don't want to start only to find I'm playing in a graveyard.

Second, that there's this disparity between Light Side and Dark Side in terms of both numbers and ability. I don't have a problem with Dark Side being stronger. If you stop and think for a minute the majority of the book series had Rand and the gang facing pretty much almost overwhelming odds in an uphill battle right from the beginning. That's not an issue for me as I like having an 'enemy' to struggle against. What concerns me is the reports from people that Light Side has a kind of apathetic and elitist attitude towards new players or people not in their immediate circle of friends. Is this accurate or simply rumor?

My final question is how hard would it be for me to begin? I am utterly new to this game but I am an experienced player of other MUDs and online games so I tend to pick things up rather quickly. I don't have a goal as I don't know enough about the world to choose yet, but I generally like having a tradeskill where I can hawk my wares and be useful to others. I very much enjoy PvP and have no issues with grinding for ten thousand years in a dark cave on nothing but a diet of bread and my own tears to fuel the bitter fires of battle within me before going out and 'cutting a fool'.

Knowing that, what would you guys suggest I start with, if indeed you think I should?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[krul]

Hi Devran,

Thanks for taking the time to check out our game and post here.

The population has certainly thinned out. Fifteen years ago there were hundreds of players and there was *always* something happening. You couldn't avoid it. Now you have to seek things out a little. I'm also living in Australia at the moment (Victoria), and the best times for me to play are early morning to early afternoon (6.00-13.00) and very late evening (23.00+). I generally choose the former!

If you're learning the game, I highly recommend DS. It's easier for new players, don't believe the warning that says experienced players only. Log on, make a boarheaded trolloc warrior, and just start playing. 19 strength and 19 constitution are the only stats you need. Hope to see you there!

[Lyren]

Hi Devran.

First off, thanks for looking at wotmud! Secondly, I'm sure you'll get a few different opinions on the following but I'll try to address a few of your concerns.

The population has most certainly thinned, but there is still enough players and content to make this game exciting to a new player. There is a pretty good balance of players from different timezones, so generally you will always have someone to play with. The game does have periods where it is quieter but I see Aussie players often.

There can be a disparity between lightside and darkside sometimes. Usually there are more lightside than darkside on. Darkside is a more "pk" oriented side than lightside. On lightside you'll find pkers, explorers, smobbers, rpers, people hawking wares and people doing nothing at all. Darkside is almost exclusively pk. Other activities do happen, they're just more rare. And really, who wants to roleplay a trolloc? That's just weird.

As in any community, you'll find there are players who are elitist and/or apathetic, but my experience in general has been that people on all sides of the game are friendly and very welcoming to new players. If you have questions or need help learning something, you need only ask.

You may find the learning curve here steep, but if you like a challenge, I have no doubt that you will master the basics easily. My advice to you is to stat a character on both lightside and darkside. Learn pk on darkside and everything else on lightside. Warriors are very easy to stat and you can "tell guardian prerolledstats" on lightside for warriors, hunters and rogues to get a playable character right off the bat.

I have a website with some helpful information on a few of your questions @ http://lyren.me but I encourage you to jump on and avail yourself of the chat channel.

Good luck and hope to see you in game!

[xoco]

Come join the Winged Guard of Mayene, trollocs will teach you bad habits.

Whatever you do, don't make a rogue!

[Mckale]

What all those guys said. When you want to start learning the fundamentals of pk, try ds. Until then make a LS warrior and find one of the more goal oriented clans like Winged Guard or Wall Guard as they seem to be active now. They teach newer players how to play very well!

[Devran]

Some great advice, thank you. More questions!


Why not roll a Rogue?

What on earth are 'smobbers'?

If you're Light Side, are you locked into fighting only Dark Side people? Can you turn on your own?

I don't know if I want to be a Trolloc. I'll think about it!

What does remort mean?

[Thore]

Why not roll a Rogue?

It was mostly sarcasm; the class is scrutinized because of its ability to land a "backstab" skill which deals significant damage or kills someone outright.

What on earth are 'smobbers'?

Smob stands for Super Mob, which is just like an AI boss usually accompanied by smaller minions to make them take a few people to kill. This is where you'll general get loot outside of Player Killing.

If you're Light Side, are you locked into fighting only Dark Side people? Can you turn on your own?

The MUD is completely open PK. Light Side (LS, humans) can fight other humans, though usually they are PKing Dark Side or Seanchan. With larger numbers there was more LS vs LS (samesiding).

I don't know if I want to be a Trolloc. I'll think about it!

I'd say start a Light Side human to learn basic commands and mechanics of the game, but when you get serious about PK you can try out Dark Side. Though, you can stay on LS too, it's really not that big of a deal.

What does remort mean?

Remort means your character changes species? forms? something like that, I guess. It doesn't happen until you achieve some form of greatness via clans/quest points/objectives. But it would be like a human LSer turning into a Dark Sider by being a dark friend. Or a trolloc turning into a fade or dreadlord by reaching that point in the achievement/clan system. Will be a while before you get closer to that, I'd imagine.

[xoco]

I wasn't being sarcastic at all. Rogues usually aren't a fun class to PK with/against. They great solo smobbers, though! Warriors and hunters are much more fun to play.

[Rig]

Unless you are Rig. Rig is fun and terrible in all forms.

[medina]

Welcome!

If you're having trouble getting any good stats, just shoot me a pm and I'll get you something to get going. Or just do it right away and skip the whole statting part