[Lueinden]

[macdaddy7]

I would recommend either Elysium at or Achaea at Elysium has been my home for almost two years. But Achaea is also a great play. I'd recommend Elysium if you would like a smaller player base of around 15-20, 40 at peak times. Achaea can get a little big for me at 400+ peak. Achaea also has levels but they are much different from your average hack n slash. Check them out.

[Frostflower]

If you haven't yet, I suggest giving a good try.

No levels, a lot to explore if that is your thing (going out there alone is not recommended), RPI...

And completely free to play. Always.

[Lueinden]

[macdaddy7]

You can pay to play on Elysium if you want. Many people play and dont pay and still love it. If you're looking for roleplay, then I would definitely give Elysium a try. If youre just looking for a place to gain skills really quick and kill everyone and everything, then if you dont want to pay, I wouldnt recommend playing. But its the best MUD ive played and like I said, you dont NEED to pay to play it.

[Lueinden]

[Traithe]

Hmm. If you're interested in RPIs, you might check out our MUD, .

It's Tolkien-based, so if fantasy is up your alley you might enjoy it. Good luck in your search.

[Hephos]

[prof1515]

I highly recommend both Shadows of Isildur and Harshlands. I've been playing Harshlands for four years now and Shadows of Isildur since it opened earlier this year.

I too searched and searched for a great RPI MUD, trying over 800 MUDs in the process. Of course, most turned out to be H&S, not RPI. The difficulty in finding a good RPI MUD is akin to finding a virgin at the Playboy Mansion. But, the following list includes the better (and free) ones I've found, plus a short review of each:

Harshlands: My first RPI and still one of the best. The (highly-modified DIKU) code is great and eliminates all the H&S elements that most MUDs possess, including so-called "role-playing" ones. Based on the Harn system, it's got incredible detail and depth that is hard to find, and even harder to top. Rating: ****

Shadows of Isildur: Just opened this year and already looks great. Using the same code as Harshlands (though tweaked in several ways), SoI derives its theme from Tolkien. However, unlike many MUDs that claim to be accurate representations of Middle-Earth, this one makes good on the claim. Rating: ****

Forever Ends: Presently retooling, this game offers an original world. Using an earlier version of Harshlands' (DIKU) code, it too offers a great RPI experience. Hopefully, it'll be back up and running soon. Rating: ***1/2

Armageddon: Using its own version of (highly modified DIKU) code, Armageddon offers a larger playerbase than the above MUDs. With a world even harsher than Harshlands, Armageddon's a bit tough to succeed in, but then again, that makes success all the better once achieved. Rating: ***

Southlands: Another unique modified DIKU MUD, Southlands features all-Elven characters. Not quite as good (in my opinion, that is) as the above four, but that's still like saying a million dollars isn't as good as two million. Rating: **1/2

There have been other RPI MUDs that no longer exist that could compete with these, but at present, this is my Top Five list of RPI MUDs.

Take care,

Jason

[the_logos]

I'm not familiar with Elysium but probably because a requirement to pay is a barrier of entry that is hard to overcome with the marketing budgets most muds can afford. Giving people the option to pay and speed up progress in certain areas of the game is a way of maintaining a commercially viable environment while removing that barrier to entry. It's also a way of allowing people who have jobs and families to compete with people who don't. Time is just as much a resource as money and just as ooc, remember.

--matt

[Eagleon]

Accursed Lands is leveless, classless, has a huge world and history to explore, and interesting theming. Sadly we've experienced a dip in playerbase because we've had to move the server several times recently, so it seems a little empty (about 12 players at peak times), but the RP with people you happen to encounter is pretty good IMO.

I don't think the listing has been updated yet from the move, but here's the new IP even if it has been. 66.11.164.23, port 8000.

[macdaddy7]

The_logos is right. Elysium runs off of an expensive server. They have however lowered prices by 3/4ths. What use to be $32 for 250 credits is now $8. Heres why paying for credits can help. You gain lessons much faster and with those you can use them to learn different abilities in different skills. You can also use 54 lesson skills while having credits. Of course, you can be just as advanced or even more without them. If you still devote the time, you will gain lessons. Also, if you put forth the time and effort, even without credits, there are many other things you can do. Become an emperor of one of the nine cities or become a minister assisting the emperor. You could become a guildhead or the High Priest of a religion. Money doesn't build the character, time does.

[relic]

Give aardwolf a try, aardmud.org. Something for everyone, large player base(300+ at all times) but an even larger world (15,000+ rooms). If I listed everything it'd be a little overwhelming and no one would read this post, but give it a shot. :)

Good quick testimonial is the fact there are many past immortals who have stepped down from that post just to play full-time again. 7 years and going stronger than ever now that we're using more than word-of-mouth as of last month.
Reviews

[Grendal]

From the Accursed Lands

This is rather long

A library

Obvious exits: west
It is shadowy here.
------------------------------------------------------------------
This cozy library holds just enough books on a shelf to meet the needs of the residents.  It has two large windows that face the side yard allowing plenty of light to enter.  Along the far wall, there are several comfortable couches with nice reading lamps on the adjacent tables.  The wood floor is covered by a creamy white rug which brightens the entire area.  
This area is large.  
------------------------------------------------------------------
A female braman with round amber eyes is sitting down on a green and white striped couch close by to the south.
A small wooden end table is close by to the northeast.
================================================== ================
> l female
You look at a female braman with round amber eyes.
A female braman with round amber eyes, floppy ears, a light gray complexion and smooth skin.  She has two long arms, two long legs, with a head mounted on an elongated torso.  She is about your height, about your weight, and seems to be
about as strong as you.  She is sitting down on a green and white striped couch here looking well rested.

She is wearing a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles over her eyes, a leather sandal on her right foot, a leather sandal on her left foot and an embroidered white robe on her body.

> A female braman with round amber eyes exclaims in Moorvic, "Hello there!"

slap female
You slowly walk to a female braman with round amber eyes.
> You slap a female braman with round amber eyes.

A female braman with round amber eyes glares at you.

'how dare you
You say "How dare you."

> A female braman with round amber eyes appears to be thinking.

'i heard you were seeing someone else
You say "I heard you were seeing someone else."

'behind my back
You say "Behind my back."

> A female braman with round amber eyes nods to you.

scoff
You scoff at the situation, making a loud and disbelieving sound.

'how could you ?
You ask "How could you?"

> A female braman with round amber eyes grinds her teeth.


'what do you have to say for yourself ?
You ask "What do you have to say for yourself?"

> fume
You fume!
> curse
You let out a string of curses that would make a drunken sailor blush in shame!

> name female as Moira
Done.

> Moira glares at you.

'don't even look at me like that
You say "Don't even look at me like that."

> spit Moira
You spit at Moira.

> 'who is he ?
You ask "Who is he?"

> 'who are you sleeping with ?
You ask "Who are you sleeping with?"

> emote shakes ~Moira
You shake Moira

'you better tell me his name
You say "You better tell me his name."

> Moira nods to you.

'well ?
You ask "Well?"

> 'speak up, tell me his name ?
You ask "Speak up, tell me his name?"

> eyebrow
You raise your eyebrow.

> 'it's  not a man is it
You say "It's  not a man is it."

> Moira grinds her teeth.

'it's a woman !
You exclaim "It's a woman!"

> 'you've been sleeping with another woman ?
You ask "You've been sleeping with another woman?"

> 'i can see it in your eyes
You say "I can see it in your eyes."

> 'you have been haven't you ?
You ask "You have been haven't you?"

'talk to me damnit
You say "Talk to me damnit."

> 'who is she ?
You ask "Who is she?"

> draw knife
You draw a knife from your  sheath.

> emote points a dagger at ~Moira
You point a dagger at Moira

> 'tell me now or so help me.....
You say "Tell me now or so help me....."

> fume
You fume!
> poke Moira
You poke Moira.

> 'say something
You say "Say something."

> Moira nods to you.

'so, it is a woman
You say "So, it is a woman."

> 'what is her name ?
You ask "What is her name?"

> poke Moira
You poke Moira.

> Moira appears to be thinking.

'have there been so many that you can't even remember ?
You ask "Have there been so many that you can't even remember?"

> ignore
You turn your back on the world, ignoring everything around you.

> kick table
You slowly walk to a small wooden end table, holding a bone knife.
> You kick small wooden end table.

emote turns back to ~Moira
You turn back to Moira

Sheath knife
You sheath your knife

Moira shifts her weight.

go Moira
You slowly walk to Moira.

> 'that's it, I can't take it anymore
You say "That's it, I can't take it anymore."

slap Moira
You slap Moira

'we're through
You say"We're through."

Moira suddenly jump you!
You turn to fight Moira!
>
You lunge in and clout her head with your fist!

You sneak past her defenses and graze her body with your fist!

mercy on
You will grant your opponents mercy.



A young female braman with intellectual emerald eyes jogs in from the west.


A young female braman with intellectual emerald eyes blinks.

A young female braman with intellectual emerald eyes says in Tradespeak,
"Hey..."

You get past her defenses and sting her body with your fist!

'is that her ?
You ask "Is that her?"

||| > A young female braman with intellectual emerald eyes looks at Moira.


name female as miss


Miss exclaims in Tradespeak, "What art thou doing?!"

You feint to the left and sting her right arm with your fist!


'it is her isn't it
You say "It is her isn't it."

'the one you've been seeing
You say "The one you've been seeing."
.
Miss stares at you.


You rush forward and graze her left leg with your fist!

'the one you've been cheating on me with
You say "The one you've been cheating on me with."

|||| > Miss says "Sir..."

Miss asks "Why art thou hurting Moira?"

'you two thought I wouldn't find out
You say "You two thought I wouldn't find out."

Miss blinks.

You feint to the right and bruise her head with your fist!

Moira's head is crippled!
Moira slumps to the ground.
Moira's body goes limp.

'the husband is always the last to know
You say "The husband is always the last to know."

||||| > go miss
You slowly walk to Miss.

||||| > Miss stares at you.

poke miss
You poke Miss.

|||| > Miss asks "Look, what's going on here?"
Miss says "I don't even know who thou art."

'how long has this been going on ?
You ask "How long has this been going on?"

|||| > Miss blinks.
Miss exclaims "Art thou insane?!"

'how long have you been seeing my wife
You say "How long have you been seeing my wife."

|||| > Moira's head is no longer crippled.

Gradually, Moira becomes aware of her surroundings...
Miss says "I haven't been."

'she admitted that she was seeing someone else
You say "She admitted that she was seeing someone else."

'then you walk in
You say "Then you walk in."

Moira slowly walks to you.

Moira suddenly jumps you!

You draw an iron longsword
You draw an iron longsword
You retaliate against Moira!

You get past her defenses and score her left arm with your iron longsword!

Moira's left arm is crippled!

You feint to the right and slit her head with your iron longsword!

Moira's head is crippled!
Moira slumps to the ground.
Moira's body goes limp.

Miss says "I wasn't aware that Moira had a husband."

fume
You fume!

|||| > sheath sword
sheath sword
You retire your iron longsword
|||| > You retire your iron longsword

|||| > Miss shrugs.

Miss says "I didn't know her that well."

sniff miss
You sniff Miss.
It smells pretty much like Miss.

|||| > Miss says "Even if she was cheating..."
Miss says "Attacking her is wrong."
Miss frowns.
Miss asks "Who art thou?"

|||| > Miss stares at you.

'she has always been hot headed
You say "She has always been hot headed."

|||| > 'now our marriage is over

Miss says "Moira hath always been peaceful, from what I canst recall."

You say "Now our marriage is over."

|||| > Miss snorts.

'and you
You say "And you."

|||| > Miss asks "And so thou art trying to slay her?"
Miss asks "Why?"

'you are the cause of it
You say "You are the cause of it."

|||| > Miss says "I've done naught to thou."
Miss frowns.
Miss says "Thou art obviously insane."
Miss says "I'm leaving."
Miss jogs to the west.
Miss goes out of sight to the west.

glance w
You look west.
|||| > You glance west.


A dim hallway  (E, S and N)
It is nearly pitch black over there.


======================================

Moira was an NPC - Non Player Character - I think our creators have a good job creating them.

Miss was another player character who wasn't sure about what she had just walked into.

I edited out a lot of the battle spam. It really took a lot more than just a couple hits to cripple her head. The fight itself lasted about 1 minute. There were plenty of punches, blocks and strikes to all of the areas of health (Head, Body, Right Arm, Left Arm, Right Leg, Left leg, .....and some have Tails)

Using Mercy on, I only planned on knocking Moira out.
With Mercy off, she would have been killed.

I don't know if this is the kind of action or roleplay that you like, but in the Accursed Lands, you can pretty much do any kind of roleplay you like. (Within good tatse)

[Delerak]

Yeck. That's crap. No offense.