[Molly]

We do both restrings and crafted items in 4D, but we still retain quality and no-cheat control over the items.

Over the years I have learned that giving the players 'the benefit of doubt' is a bit naive, at least when it comes to the ability of creating powerful items. If you allow them to choose their own stats, the majority, if not all, will go for maximum, which will soon make all existing equipment in the Mud obsolete and probably unbalance the game too. And as for the spelling and grammar of some players... well, imms may make the odd typo too, but at least with them you have some guarantee of the standard of writing.

What we are offering our players when it comes to Crafting are two things:

The first one is the option to 'buy' restringed items. The prize in Mud currency is dependent on the type, either you can buy a totally stat-less RP item just for show, or you can get a new item made from an existing one, with the same stats as the original. In both the cases the players write the descs themselves, and then note or mail them to an imm, who makes the actual item. In this way both creativity and security are satisfied.

The second feature is a Craft system that we are in the process of implementing. It allows the players to craft weapons, armor and some other items, based on a step-by-step system, where you have to gather the raw materials and process them in various ways, before you can make the actual item. In this system the end productss are all pre-made, but the quality is dependent on the material for certain parts, colour, decorations, finishing and of course the crafter's own skill. To avoid crafted items competing with the ones in the game, you can only craft armour or clothes for certain wear_locs, which are only used for crafter things.