For my school newspaper, since I'm in Journalism thus it is mandatory for me to write for the school newspaper, I shall be doing a article on....MUDs. I will actually be going around, looking at different MUDs and asking other people. I'll post questions that you all can answer if you wish. You don't have to answer all/any of the questions, and if you wish not to be known then I shall put you as anonymous.

The basic outline of my article is "are muds addictive?" HECK YES! "are the well known?" "how many people play them?", etc.

Thank you, in advance, for helping me out! And if any wants to see my article before the Final draft, I will post it, and I'll post the first one too, if any wants to see it.

~Cassie/Ksilrinda.

Edit: Here are some questions. Others will be added. (My brain is not longer functioning..I neeed a sugar high!!)

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s?

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs?

3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month?

4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)?

5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18?

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+?

7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.)

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)

9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play?

10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most?

11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?

Yeah, we have to review it to make sure the info on Lusternia is as hyped up and accurate as possible.

Remember this'll probably have quotes from people from Achaea, aetolia, Imperian, Lusternia, Aardwolf. Any MUD that has a forum site, I will go and ask people to answer my questions!!

This might be a rather big article since I have to do 600 word min. and I tend to have around 900+ words..So yeah! I hope ya'll enjoy it once I've got the first draft done! I really want this to be one of my bestest best articles of the year.

She said bestest... Run!

*RAWR* Fear me for I said BESTEST!

Sooo far, only one Achaean has been kind and answered my questionsss!! I'm not trying to be rude but my first draft is due next monday!

I'm not sure if you wanted them answered in a PM or what.. so here ya go. I hope this helps some.

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s? Amanda. Joli is my primary character, the rest are unimportant and/or secret.

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs? I started my sophmore year in high school, so around 3 years.

3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month? I don't spend any money at all on mudding. My parents don't allow me to spend money on it, because well.. my mom hates it with a passion.

4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)? I spend at least an hour a day, sometimes more if something is going on or if someone I like to talk to is around.

5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18?
Only one or two people in real life, lots in games.

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+?
I know several in game, but none in real life.

7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.)
I've been grounded a few times for wanting to stay on the computer for longer than I should. I lost my best friend in real life, but she wasn't a very good friend anyway, so it wasn't much of a loss and it turns out that since I was too "dorky" for her she started having sex and doing drugs, so yes.. I don't really think I got the bad deal here.

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)
Yes, it has. But it's not like I missed out on a lot.

9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play?
The people here and environment.

10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most?
The roleplaying and social aspects

11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?
Too many younger kids being childish/annoying/ect. Plus it gets boring with nothing to do in game.

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?
Drama in real life? I don't really understand this question.

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s?
Gemma C-G, Diamondais Riverflame

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs?
Since I was 13 years old

3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month?
Ive just about reached a year and I have a total of 100 days, 7 hours and 37 minutes.

4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)?
As long as I can lately though its growing less and less

5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18?
About oh..three people I know know real life, and five in total for in game

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+?
About four ingame none real life

7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.)
Ive been grounded for overplaying and for awhile people though I was obsessed..

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)
I think so

9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play?
Narid introduced me to it, and I feel in love with the depth Lusternia goes to.

10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most?
The feeling of it, story behind it and such

11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?
I couldnt progress myself

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?
Lusternia is the biggest drama in my life, my real life is a reprive from here sometimes.


Hope thats helpful.

1. Ethan Oates, my character is Athalas.
2. About 1 1/2 to 2 years.
3. Money spent per month averages out to... 4 dollars or so!
4. Weekdays, 4-6 hours, weekends 10-12 hours.
5. In real life? Don't know anyone else that plays muds here.
6. Same as 5.
7. Only problem is I play it when I should be doing homework, so I end up rushing later.
8. Yes, my soul is gone.
9. The people, i'd probably not play as much if it wasn't for certain people.
10. Obtaining goals, such as level 80, so forth.
11. Tons of "leet" people, who act like they are all that.
12. Just the drama of my mom talking to me about how she doesn't understand how I play something with no pictures.

Im an achaea, an aetolian, and a lusternia I sent you my answers to your questions though if you want to talk more id love it help with your project.

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s?
My name is Charlotte, my character in lusternia is ferlas, Ill tell you in private if you really want to know the other realms characters.

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs?
Since I was 13 or 14 I think

3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month?
erm well in total I spent about between December and now over 100 British pounds on lusternia, I've spent a hell of a lot more on achaea though and about the same on aetolia

4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)?
Im a student, I go to college three days a week, im in a mud like all day Monday, Tuesday, Saturday morning and Sunday, plus I play for an hour or so Wednesday to Friday.

5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18?
One In real life guy friend from Ive know for ages, I got him hooked , But ive met a bunch of people online I chat to on instant messagers out of the games

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+?
None at all, other than failed attempts to get my older sister interested, shes pregnant and is borded out of her mind most of the day

7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.)
wellll.... I dont do as much work on college work as I should but its not really the muds fault id probably find something else to spend my time on instead of working.

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)
O not yea, Im trying to sell it on ebay for credits :F

9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play?
Aetotolia was pure random luck when I was a kid and bored just selecting links and found it, then ive gone on to play achaea and lusternia because they were made by the same people as aetolia.

10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most?
The interaction and the amazing roleplay from some people, you know who you are , the conflict in lusternia is amazing though and the pk and combat system is unique and suburb.

11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?
Aetolia got a bit one sided with the forces involved, it was like 5 cities vs the one, Achaea got kind of stale and I really disliked jesters and shamans in the game ARG.

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?
O but dramas part of the fun of a mud

1.) Grant my main is Saran, but i have also been Dide.

2.) umn, 5 years maybe?

3.) ... umn... i've spent nearly $1000 australian on Saran, it's the most i've ever spent on a mud (mainly as i played discworld and swrs before)

4.) I seem to be playing atleast a 24 hours a week, generally more.

5.) Don't really know ages. i only know one for sure.

6.) Don't know but i'm in this group

7.) Nope, if my parents ground me i'll be in my room with my computer, the only time it becomes a problem is when i lose track of time and decide i don't want to go to work but i have to as it funds my credits.

8.) ...Yes (though this implies i had a soul to begin with )

9.) Well i first played Discworld and loved it, Mainly because i was a fan. Then after a while i looked for other muds, eventually i came across Achaea (pre-houses *shudder*) after a bad experience for my character i tried lusternia. I enjoyed it and stuck around.

10.) Talking, Hunting, Threatening to turn people into toads, all of it.

11.) Achaea repelled me mainly because a single mistake there left me guildless for 2 in-game years, without making major changes in my characters attitude i was left weak and unable to do much. Others vary, if there is something i don't like i generally don't stick around too long.

12.) Aside from annoying people with constant remarks about how they should play muds, and how they can't call themselves real gamers if they can't play ALL types of games, nop

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s? Ed - Aiakon in Lusternia, one inactive in Achaea

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs? roughly 3 years

3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month? Ideally, nothing. I only buy credits if I decide I specifically need something and there's a sale on, or if I'm feeling flush. I rarely feel flush.

4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)? Currently a maximum of an hour and a half or so a day, usually split into smaller chunks. Over the last weekend, a few more than that... Unfortunately, I'm really quite busy at university, currently.

5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18? In my real-life circle of acquaintances, none. Nor does anyone bar my long-suffering girlfriend know that I play here.

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+? ditto.

7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.) No. I aim to resist the evil lure of muds sufficiently that my real life does not end up distorted.

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.) no

9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play? I was bored, and googled for some variant on games and found Achaea.

10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most? Firstly the variety that one finds in any computer game in which more than yourself and computer participate. Humanity is endlessly variable, and a mud provides a novel way of enabling people to interact.

11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?
Admin decisions.

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?
no.

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s? - Ashley - Alyssandra in Lusternia, Achaea and Imperian - HOwever I have many many other characters

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs? - Since the dawn of time, or about 11 years which ever is earliest.

3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month? - A year its usually about £1000, in a month anywhere between £0 and £300. With my worst ever spend in one month being £1500 when I was REALLY addicted.

4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)? Not as much as I used to maybe an hour or so on each MUD each day.

5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18? Personal Friends - none. People who I am close to from the MUDs I play(i.e have met in person at least once) about 5.

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+? Personal Friends - about 15 including my Fiancee. People who I am close to from the MUDS I play(i.e have met in person at least once) A hell of a lot maybe 40 or so

7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.) I pretty much screwed up my A-Levels thanks to MUDs

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)

9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play? I have played Achaea since its very early days I heard about it via word of mouth on some of teh other MUDs I play. Since then I have at least Tried every MUD that IRE brings out.

10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most? The escapism of an alternate reality.

11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play? Burn out - you can only play a DIKU variant for so long before you want to actually kill yourself.

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud? I met my Fiancee because of Achaea (no we weren't involved in the Game we just met because we both played it).

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s?

Bruno. My main character is called (Brace yourselves, kids!) Verithrax.

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs?

Seriously? Since July 2005.

3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month?

Roughly nothing, not counting the costs of an internet connection.

4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)?

I used to spend up to 3 or 4 hours, but now I rarely stay on for more than an hour.

5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18?

Virtually everyone I know who MUDs and who has told me their age.

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+?

A couple of people.

7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.)

No, never.

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)

Didn't have one to start with.

9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play?

Mostly roleplay; generally, it's the people I care about.

10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most?

Again, I enjoy the roleplay above any other aspect of the game.

11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?

I usually don't play any game that doesn't catch my attention instantly. Generally, it's because I get tired of grinding for levels easily.

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?

Not really.

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s?
Simimi, character name is also Simimi

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs?
~9 years

3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month?
as of yet, 0$

4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)?
Literally 90% of my freetime
5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18?
10+

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+?
5+

7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.)
No, bt there are times I stay up a bit too late for an ingame event, when I should be sleeping or studying.

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)
I openly admit that I am addicted to mudding in a way that is unhealthy for my person, yes.

9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play?
The ineph roleplay and ability to make true friendships through a game, where we all share so much in common, and the ingame events and feelings really get to us outside the game. I love the fact that I can be hurt out of the game by things that happen inside the game.

10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the indepth roleplay and the true ability to lose myself in the game for long periods of time.

11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?
Repetition and the lack of maturity among the playerbase, aswell as lack of roleplay and a less than professional administrative team.

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?
Oh yes, me and my current fiance really 'met' while mudding, and we oftentimes talk of the events in our characters lives as our own. IE, when my fiance asks "How was your day?" He wants to know what happened to me, ingame.

love-mimi

Edit: Here are some questions. Others will be added. (My brain is not longer functioning..I neeed a sugar high!!)

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s?
Avi
Daganev
Kantaval
Kalah
Behamah

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs?
Since 1992

3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month?
I spent $0 from 1992 to 2005, then I spent around $1000


4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)?
When addicted, 8-12 hours a day, when not 2 -4 hours a day.


5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18?
Currently? 0

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+?
Currently? 5

7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.)

I have been forced to Withdraw from college for a year because of Muds, however, dropping out of college for that one year allowed me to meat my fiance. They have also made me late for class and meetings innumerable times.

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)

Once every year and a half I tend to get my soul back.

9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play?

Your not just playing against players ability to remember commandser, your playing against the minds and ambitions of other people.

10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most?

The politics

11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?

The mindless 'fighting systems' and the lack of immersive roleplay. (i.e. Your actions did not affect the world at large)

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?

Muds have taught me a lot about people and I have been able to use those skills to help people in my community deal with banal politics.



Hope that helps!

Thank you all, I'll hopefully get writing sometime tomorrow or over the weekend. From all the Iron Realms games, many people have been kind and answered my questions!!!

Everyone!!!

Oh, and if any of the divine feel kind and want to answer, please dooo!!


Also: if you have any comments/suggestions/extra tid bits go ahead and post 'em!!

1.) My name's Alex, and my character is Leile.

2.) Hmm, three, almost four years now?

3.) Per year, maybe $100. Per month is hard to say, unless I just averaged it out and said $8.33

4.) Depends. Now, about 3 hours. When I'm addicated/obsessed...up to 8 hours. My character with the most time is 150ish days of playing time (but that's from Achaea)

5.) Personal friends from my RL area: three (two have stopped), From games: 9 that I can think of off the top of my head.

6.) I can think of nine there, too

7.) Parents have had problems with it, put limits on computer time, etc. Friends have gotten annoyed at it.

8.) Long, long ago

9.) A friend of mine had already been playing MUDs for maybe a year or so, I tried the one she played, and hated it (was all chat-roomy, kill-maim-destroyish). So I googled MUDs, found Achaea as a top ranked one, and got addicted. To Lusternia: Got bored with Achaea

10.) Interacting with people, having the opportunity to act like someone completely different (aka roleplaying ), and getting to know different people from around the world OOC

11.) The ones I played a looong time ago: chat-roomish, lacking in RP, not enough development

12.) My OOC friend and I used to play a MUD together, got in a fight over something really stupid and were mad at each other for a few days...then realized how totally and completely pathetic we were, and didn't let it happen again. Other than that, nope.

1.) What’s your name? Your character(s)’s?
Gavin, and my character's name is Laneth.

2.) How long have you been playing MUDs?
Since almost the start of Lusternia, so edging towards two years now? I can't keep track.


3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month?
It's hard to say exactly, but I've spent a few hundred in total.


4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)?
It varies from week to week. Some times 20+ hours and others I'll be lucky to get in 4 or 5.

5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18?
Outside of the internet, none.

6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+?
As above.


7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.)
No

8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)
This question assumes I had one to to start with .


9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play?
The backstory, history and mythology.


10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most?
The context we have been given to work from and within is beautiful.


11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?
I tried Achaea and it was not very new player friendly in my opinion, especially the ridiculous novice requirements in some guilds.

12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?
I'm not sure I understand the question, but let's just go with no.

1.What is your name/character's name?
Steve. Arix is my main character, I think I have a few alts, but I'm not sure
2.How long have you been playing MUD's?
I actually started playing the other Iron Realms games about 2 months before Lusternia opened for beta players. I did have a beta character, but I only signed on with him once, and then I created Arix when Lusternia was out of beta.
3.) How much or roughly how much money do you spend a year on your mud(s)? A month?
I think I have spent a total of about $150
4.) How much time do you spend playing your mud(s)?
I log on at least once a day, for varying amounts of time.
5.)How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 13-18?
Outside of the Internet, none. Most of my friends and acquaintances don't play MUD's
6.) How many people do you know that play a mud and are between the ages 20+?
same as above
7.) Has playing a Mud become a problem for you? (E.i. You lost a girlfriend/boyfriend, your parents have grounded you, etc.)
No. My last girlfriend played Evercrack, so she can't get mad at me for playing Lusternia.
8.)Has it stolen your soul? (J/k, answer only if you really want too.)
Gaming in general has stolen my soul. Lusternia just owns one of the bigger pieces
9.) What drew you to the mud(s) you currently play?
The story, the whole multi-planar aspect, and the fact that it was more interesting than the other Muds
10.) What about your mud(s) do you enjoy the most?
the interaction between players. And the Forums
11.) What repelled you from the mud(s) you used to play?
Achaea, Imperian, and Aetolia all sucked IMO
12.) Has anything started, drama per se, from playing a mud?
Not really
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I hope that helped some