[Will]

They look like the exact same game.

[KaVir]

Apparently First Age "is the original format of the classic Avalon role playing game before civilization evolved and removed the rough edges".

As far as I can tell, it's basically a spinoff which focuses more on combat.

KaVir is right in a broad sense (thanks KaVir), but there is quite a lot more difference.

Avalon has gone through a number of evolutionary steps. First Age was the game in its original design because some of the players at that time were against new additions of in-depth skills and specialisations. They preferred comfortable surroundings with no changes... needless to say, firstage has now gone pretty dormant, since most players do not like a mud that isn't supported and cared for.

So it was kept online for a while, and the creator and other players who supported new changes went over to the now actively played version: . As of 2014 - its 25th year - it is now free to play through your city, guild, or divine patron. It has a lot to offer and recently had over a thousand bugs fixed, as well as new additions added in-game and out, including their forum-like website: meetplace.net (based off of the very location every newbie starts out in when first entering the game).

[WarHound]

Avalon was the very first mud I ever logged on. I found it on Askjeeves in like 98.

Then I found TMS, and through it, Armageddon, so....

Thanks.

You can't thank me - I'm just a humble Sorcerer trying to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Shaitan.

[the_logos]

That was me.

[Elsalvador]

Logos is Shaitan eh?

I'm unfortunately way too young to have played Avalon during his time (much to my regret) but even now he remains famous as an ordination winner / gemholder / feared fighter etc.

To stay on topic somewhat: Firstage is founded on Avalon's original precepts and original gamesystem in its more visceral and raw state; much of the protections afforded players are not present in Firstage, in addition to much of the skill evolutions of the last 15 years since Firstage has been online.

The main game (what players now colloquially call Legends is almost unrecognisable as the precursor of Firstage. In those years hence there's been a massive evolution of the gamesystem across all areas and indeed, they've finally made some sort of free to play system that depends on whether you can get someone to like you enough to do it.