Why do we MUD?

[Aira]

There's always something to do, if you just go out and do it. Perfect your map, stab smobs, money run for self/ treasurer, herb run, mix vials for self/chest, exp if needed, re-eq if needed, take inventory of rents, just wander around reading room descs and room words, do a mini-smob chain, go smobbing, go support, go pk. Stat, help a newbie, help another player, do council stuff, roleplay, write an rp story for your character. Lament the lack of time to join xyz clan. Or just sit around and chat.

I think of all the above, the only thing I don't do once a month is taking inventory of rents. I think I do that once a year, maybe. That's a lot of diversity and I feel I haven't even scratched the surface, as I don't care about uniques, tps, making a remort or getting into a secret clan.

[Mronz]

I found WOTMUD around 1998-1999, while in the 8th grade. I fell in love with the WOT books, and would listen to them constantly, jumping from part1 of one book, to part2 of another book. I think I roughly listen to the entire series, 9-11 times, over the last 20 years.

The initial draw for the mud was getting to be in the world I spent so much time thinking, imagining, and reading about, Randland.

As a blind person, it wasn't like there were droves of games I could play, or if I could play them at all, it took great patience, modification, and I really couldn't compete at all like my sighted friends.

Text-based games, all though still very difficult for blind people, I was still able to master different components of the games, and almost play competitively against sighted people, and usually do pretty well.

I gamed a lot throughout highschool, college, into grad school, and into employment.

It wasn't until I became a business owner that my time truly was monopolized, shrinking my gaming time. Then my daughter came along, and I really learned what having no time ment.

I have a very hard time just dabbling in a game... I can't do the, log in, kill 1-2 smobs, and log out, that leaves me feeling unsatisfied... LOL, I love gaming for multiple hours at a time, which just isn't very practicle anymore.

I've not logged in and actually left a clan rent in a month or three, but I still find myself looking at forums, almost daily.

[Hiroko]

Perfect your map

Good reminder. It's always the last thing I think of, but the first thing I miss if my client isn't working.

[Loomis]

That is a great question. I have often wondered that myself. I am not a gamer at all, except for WoTMUD. Got hooked way back in 98-99, and have played on and off ever since. Given characters away, quit, restatted...the works. I think I play this game because it still challenges me(or can at least)every day I log on. It is the game that takes the most skill out of any that I have played, and it is unlike any that I have played. It's about out thinking your opponent. It's not like a video game where you can see where your opponent is going, you literally have to think and guess what direction people are running/where to block, and on the flip side, where to run if you are being chased. The game promotes teamwork(in group pk), and usually the side that has the better communication/leading/regrouping will win out in the end. It amazes me to think of all the things that are going on in PK, and we just absorb it all. There are always more than 1 fight going on, and people spread out over 2-3 zones(e.g gap/orch/blight), and yet the communication is so well, that it is easy to follow. Generally speaking, people know their jobs, and do them very well. I find all this stuff pretty crazy at how fast we can react/adapt to a situation. I am not sure if there are many left like me who dont use maps at all, but all the zone knowledge(or lack there of) comes from the old noggin. Doornames, room exits, everything stored away and recalled at lightning speed!

There is also just SO much to do in the game. You can always find something to do, even if its just sitting around the well shooting the dung with your fellow nerds. Speaking of which, the people that I have met along the way are great. Most everyone has a good sense of humour, and just wants to hang out and have fun.

I guess that is why I play in a nutshell...also DS > LS...be more like DS

Edit: I also never read any of the books, just saw someone playing it, asked them what it was, and the rest is history.

[Fermin]

I actually think if someone were to get an AI to learn to pk on wotmud it would really do a lot for technology...highly complex like loomis said and need to communicate a lot. Kept thinking about this after watching the chess / starcraft records.

[Kryyg]

This game is very interesting and it actually very truly mirrors life in certain ways. In the PK realm there are so many reasons why this game blows every other game out of the water. First and foremost the reason everyone gets or used to get the shakes: It is the only game that when you die you have a loss of all your hard earned gear. Second chasing, running, mob support, zones, no channel rooms, doors, chokes, the combinations and tactics are endless. On top of all that there is an incredible layer of RP where your actions actually have consequences which is just as important/devastating as dying and losing all your gear.

Plus Jestin is here <3

[Puddles]

One of the big reasons I play as a newer player (bout a year now) is the mud is a game that is maintained and played only for the fun of the game. Every other game is trying to sell me something and it drives me crazy. Even if I don't agree with certain things in the game I know that the people that are making those decisions are doing so with the their idea of what will make a better game and no other bullshit in the way.

The other big reason is the game to a new player seems like such an unbelievable task. But after playing it I realize that I can make progress if I keep the right mindset. Most players I face have advantages over me (especially in knowledge) but I keep grinding and slowly chip away at the gap between me and them.

I agree with Kryyg this game mirrors life in certain ways. I can whine and give myself excuses as to why I can't do things or I can be determined and make as much progress as I can in the ways I can control. Anytime I think about things that are out of my control it serves no purpose other than to give me an excuse to not even try. Honestly that is a life skill and it doesn't just apply to this game

[garwin]

Daddy issues

[granit]

I think pound for pound there's not a more challenging game out there. Like loomis said, the communication aspect of the game is great, and it's really impressive how well people work together (sometimes haha) to accomplish things in PK. Without the PK I wouldn't be crazy about it but, it's fun. It's very challenging and I think Kryyg got it right when he said when you die, your stuff gets lost and you have something on the line. You get better at managing your excitement over time hehe, I doored 3 seanchan last night and I didn't freak out. Now, if you would've caught me doing that in circa 2000 I would've been all over the place shaking like a leaf hahah! I still had trouble falling asleep late last night, for what it's worth

I like that clans take some time to get into and work through (I have never had a master haha, I'm worthless!) and I enjoy the people mostly. There are some idiots but, you can kill them so it works out haha. I enjoy the ride! I can't explain it all but, I've tried to quit multiple times and I feel like I just end up coming back, learning more, and getting better. I'm in a good place right now as a player. I have fun, gear is easier to come by, I'm still perpetually broke as a joke in game but, besides that it's all good. Lovely place to spend time really.

[granit]

One of the big reasons I play as a newer player (bout a year now) is the mud is a game that is maintained and played only for the fun of the game. Every other game is trying to sell me something and it drives me crazy. Even if I don't agree with certain things in the game I know that the people that are making those decisions are doing so with the their idea of what will make a better game and no other bullshit in the way.

The other big reason is the game to a new player seems like such an unbelievable task. But after playing it I realize that I can make progress if I keep the right mindset. Most players I face have advantages over me (especially in knowledge) but I keep grinding and slowly chip away at the gap between me and them.

I agree with Kryyg this game mirrors life in certain ways. I can whine and give myself excuses as to why I can't do things or I can be determined and make as much progress as I can in the ways I can control. Anytime I think about things that are out of my control it serves no purpose other than to give me an excuse to not even try. Honestly that is a life skill and it doesn't just apply to this game

You never got to meet mesa huh? haha, Herons for sale!