Top MUDs: The Journey of the Individual
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Anyone who's played an MMO has a sense of the vast scale of the internet. Millions of players online, with dozens of identical servers hosting similar iterations of the same world. Standing out in this vast community is nearly impossible – sure, there are a few famous players well known among the crowd of their particular game, but for the most part, the game world is a persistent place, rather untouched by those who live in it.
But that idea is shattered by MUDs. By their very design, MUDs are much smaller realms, and part of what makes them so appealing is the level of impact individual characters can have on the game world. In IRE games, for example, players lead houses, guilds and cities, with the process to learn class skills based entirely on interaction with other residents of the game. This makes for a very rich, player-driven system – people within the game, rather than arcane mechanics, lay out the foundations for progression and this creates an intricate system of politics and interpersonal interactions.
To advance in your city or guild, you earn favors from the organization's leaders and high ranking residents. Essentially every organization has set tasks you can complete, with additional perks and rewards often given for members who demonstrate that they are valuable and hard working. This setup makes for a vibrant, interactive world that draws people in – you aren't just grinding away to get to some abstract level or earn x amount of coin; instead, you are also working to prove yourself to your organization's leadership.
The concept unfolds in engaging ways: if you are a promising novice, it is quickly noticed. If you demonstrate aptitude for combat, you often find that you are recruited to assist with city- or guild-based conflicts. And the recognition extends both ways – those in power are known throughout the land. Guild or city leaders become household names, and their characters often find themselves in the spotlights of the land's activity.
Beyond this, events are sometimes held where the land itself is changed....due to the result of player actions. For example, in Aetolia, a giant sea monster threatened the entire world. Not only was his emergence a result of a magical ritual cast by the Magi guild, his eventual defeat came about through the efforts of many players. In game lore, posts, scrolls and stories documented the roles various characters played in his defeat and many players have found that their characters are now part of the game's canon mythology and ongoing story as a result of their participation in this event.
In short, to become known in a MUD is not only possible, it's a rite of passage. The communities are smaller and more tight-knit, and players thrive on interactions. Individuals can make an impact on the world in impressive ways you will never see in an MMORPG, be that for their leadership style, their roleplay of a certain race, or their frightening ability for combat. Fame is not only possible, it is, arguably, one of the reasons why we play our characters!
So, how do you view it? Is your character renowned/hated/revered/loved? If you could be famous for anything in your game of choice, what would it be?
Author: Moirean of Aetolia