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Interesting replies here. Let me take a stab at being unbiased and honest. :smiles to herself with new insight thanks to another Forum member:
I am a long time player of Simu's Dragonrealms game. I actually just 'stumbled' onto the game way back when AOL was not 'unlimited access'. It was my FIRST introduction to on-line text based RPG's. I had previously been a long time AD&D player, and when I couldn't find groups to play with, I'd often play 'solo adventures' designed for that system.
I was lucky enough to be among some of the first players of DR, and with that came a sense of comraderie and adventure, and the thrill of learning and exploring together the New World that they provided. I was hooked pretty much from the get-go.
At the time, I had made some new friends who mentioned other games that were 'free', and I did check them out but found them lacking. However, in these last 6 years much has evolved, and I've been astounded at the quality of some of the free MUDs listed here, and have even sent a donation to one of them already.
I'm fairly computer savvy, and I have not had much trouble with 'ease of entry'. I found a decent client (Fire Client) that works well for my explorations into these other MUDs. I DO NOT like Telnet at all. I'm spoiled I guess.
I know that I will continue to play DR, but I am also looking to find a few other MUDs to play as well. Why? Because of the time and effort I have put into my characters there. Because of the friends I have there. It is NOT simply because I think think its superior. I certainly know the difference between IC and OOC, and any gamer will know what I mean when I say that some folks confuse the two and do not have the ability to keep lines firmly drawn between them. My character there is richly developed, has a complete history, and I have allowed her to evolve and change as 'events' or 'occurances' or other char's have impacted her life. She has turned out significantly different than I expected, and that is very interesting to me. Losing her, would be a sad, sad thing. But that in no way means I confuse IC/OOC, it simply means that I have a lot of time and emotional investment into this character.
So... why would I even be interested in playing other games? Because I would be lying if I said that all is wonderful and fantastic and never goes wrong within the game I do play - DR. I'd be lying if I said that no change they've made has upset me, or impacted my character in a negative way. I've taken many sabbaticals from DR. I understand that this game is ever evolving, and that they must make changes as the world grows, as systems get updated, as they need to keep on eye on game balance and make adjustments as our characters begin reaching the upper levels of experience, and more creation systems are developed. That, however, does not lessen the disappointments I have had over the years.
I am happy to have found a few other MUDs that I can enjoy and begin anew. A new world, a new character, and new friends to make.
I came into these Forums initially with the bias that no free MUD could possibly offer me the fun and adventure that I have enjoyed playing DR. I have since changed that theory. Things have certainly evolved out here in the MUDing world from my first experience on-line. I am happy to find some other games, to try my hand at becoming a member of a new world. Simu will always have me.... but there is room in my imagination for new horizons.
The only downside I've found in some of the MUD's I've explored is either not enough help initially, or oddly, too much help, someone comes along and just whisks me through areas without explaining to me whats going on. <g>
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