[Leech]

Very reasonable concerns, Justin. I've been playing at the MUD for two years now, give or take a few months, and in my time there I've seen masquerade balls, players tackling nests of demon serpents (that was a fun one... tense RP is always the best), prophets of doom spouting their sentences upon the world - and then attacking their listeners, and a few more things including marshal law and heretic burnings. Another thing, which I think was logged, was when a PC assassinated the current Queen (NPC currently puppetted at the time), or what was believed to be the Queen. It was pretty shocking, and the effects were felt all around.

Ultimately, there isn't code in the game that will stop you from developing your character. Staff are pretty supportive of the player base on that subject. There've been painters who, while there is no painting code, have simply collected the items one would logically need to paint a picture or do what they must and then sent a 'petition' to staff. The staff member would make them a painting, with the look description of the players choosing.

Of course, staff-player trust only goes as far as theme goes in these concepts. I'm sure you'll realize that you can't exactly say "I want to be the King of the Vek" and expect it to happen.

However, as we are just reopening, it'll probably be a few weeks before staff decide to do anything. Usually when that happens there are players to fill the void. I hate tavern RP just as much as you do, and I'll admit, when nothings happening, you can definitely see it on Dark Isles. I've always liked games that, in times like these, facilitates the players making their own events - which Dark Isles does wonderfully with IC forums you can use to announce events or rumors (rumors are monitored and reviewed by staff before being posted so that we don't get crazy ones, or ones that are too overt).

Hope to see you there. Sorry for the long-winded and fragmented post. I'm dead tired! ^.^