This isn't the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything, however I did think it was quite interessing and indeed very truthful. It especially applies to us all as a lot of it talks about the current graphical MMOs, which in many ways are very similar to text MUDs.

Also, it's by a very funny webcomic artist, and his comic is good, so read it!

This is the article:
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/?t=news&date=2005-09-07

If he notices his usage go up, make sure to let him know it was due to us, can always do with more publicity.

Tim is the man.

That magic... is still with me in Lusternia. You cannot find the same type of people in a graphical mud. People who love to RP. People who actually care about a story.

Someone needs to invite him to Lusternia.

Funny you say that, because I pretty much share the same feelings with Tim. I played EQ when it first launched, and I agree - it was magical. I've tried other MMOs afterwards, but it simply wasn't the same, and never will be, unfortunately. Lusternia is good in its own ways, but it's not the same. As Tim said, I think it's one-time experience, and I had a blast during that time. That being said, convincing him to give Lusty a shot might be fun.

I agree with that, the first few months of me playing MUDs was truly wonderous, and when I first went to Achaea the whole place seemed so big, magical and amazing.

Later everything seemed very normal, and I just thought "oh it's again".

Of course that doesn't mean a game can't have a lot of depth and be wonderful later on, but there is something just truly special about it at first.

Have you ever read a book or seen a film twice and felt exactly the same both times?

I think this is an excellent article, and if he didn't include names, he could have been talking about Lusternia. People really need to quit whining so much about "nerfing classes" or someone being "overpowered", and quit looking down on those that choose to financially support the game.

The reason there is so much idiocy on the internet is that you have as much of a chance of being heard as the next guy, and your opinion is valued about the same. While the president might be able to get a press conference, and his opinion could be valued, here on the internet, Bob1138 could spam messageboards, make blogs, and do whatever the hell he wants.

People on the internet need to not suck as much. This is still real life, just that you're able to express your feelings to a wider audience. And if your feelings are those of a whiner, well, we all get to hear about it.

I can easily imagine Estarra or Roark printing this article and sticking it on a wall in their office

Familiarity breeds contempt.

That's the problem behind it all.

When I started on Aetolia, it was wonderful. A world I'd never understand. A book I'd never finish reading. Then I moved to Imperian after a certain male hacked/suicided my character not long before it opened. (Still on Imperian, but as per usual, it's lost the magic). And came to Lusternia as well.

Now, I'll admit that the magic is lost. But doesn't everything seem magical when you don't understand it? If you found something completely different, completely new, don't you think perhaps you'd feel that magic again?

Staying somewhere, seeing the magic of a realm isn't just about being small, and full of wonder. It's about seeing the potentials, understanding that even though the book isn't finished, those who write it (the players) can't avoid those lulls, those who edit it (the admins, coders, builders) can't avoid the occasional bumps. Much of it is finding your own magic in it again.

Sure, Robert Jordan's 10th WoT book sucked. But there was still some of that magic in there somewhere that brought you through the first nine.

And yes, he could certainly have been talking about Lusternia. The problem with being able to spend money or exorbitant amounts of time on improving your character(s) makes people think their opinions count. Not their logic, based on facts that are already there - that counts sometimes. Their opinions, and their emotions. And some people with their opinions... well, they really should be thrown in a chest, padlocked in, wrapped in plastic and thrown in the sea.

Now, it's 6am and I've lost what the point of that last paragraph was, so this fairy's off to bed. But think about trying to hold onto that magic yourself.

Yep. I had that magic in Achaea, and actually when I started in Lusternia too (which I didn't expect.) Gone now, mind. Still.

*not pointed at Shiri*

If you refuse to see any of the magic of the new, smaller things, or the everyday, then you're ruining the fun for yourself.

Viravain just pointed out to me what appears to be an IRE ad on Ctrl-Alt-Del.

If you go onto the site (www.ctrlaltdel-online.com) and look at the latest comic, refresh a few times and you should see it.

I had no idea he had been commissioned to do this, and my bringing his site up at this time was total coincidence.

Hmm. I don't see it.

The exact URL you want (if you're lazy) is http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/index.php...hives&date=last

If you refresh a few times you should see it.

Its neat! It looks like a book mark! I WANT A LUSTERNIA BOOKMARK!

Yea, I kept seeing the same ads. None changed. That's frigign' wicked. I agree - I want that as a bookmark.

A question. This advertising brought something to mind. What if someone were to commission a bunch of pens with Lusternia's Web address on it, and perhaps a nifty logo, or trademark saying, and distribute it to the bookstores, computer areas, well anywhere? Everyone loves pens!

i've just recently gotten that same feeling that you get from playing a game like that for the first time with the real world, not quite shure why, but it's really good.
lusternia wasn't like that for me, when i first got here, achaea was though.

The first time I played Achaea... I was utterly overwhelmed... Especially after I saw a map and realized that the 200 or so rooms I'd acctually explored was just a sliver of the place...

It took me... About two months RL to get used to it completely, then another year before I acctually managed to pay attention to a few of the more obvious political and religious things of the world...

Lusternia was completely different from that... Here was a place that made sense, but was virgin powder on a newly opened slope... Few people knowing everything about it, growing from infancy... All I'd wished when I joined is that I'd managed to join in closed Beta... Thats my only regret... I don't know if I've had that magical feeling in a MUD, but I know I have in a good book... All the time... I do know that at this moment in time, there isn't a game, book, or movie in existence that I'd spend 500+ hours of my life enjoying... That I leave to Lusternia and no other

There's an important difference though - we don't talk about nerfing and overpowerness IN GAME. In game, (unless you're one of those ... people in OOC clans), the immersion is there. Nothing detracts from it except the very occasional OOC slip, or mischan from an OOC channel/tell. That game, not the game we play here on the forums - that game has the 'magic' still, and always will. New players aren't bombarded with 8-year-old leet speak, they aren't pelted with the unfounded complaints, and the desires born of ignorance and arrogance.