Glassy pool. You are wading through the shallow waters of a glassy pool, the stillness of its surface barely rippling as you move. Above you arches a graceful bridge of bamboo, and growing all around the pool are cedar trees. So peaceful is it here that it's almost eerie; so perfect the scene that it simply seems WRONG. Of course, it wasn't meant to be viewed from this angle... Hanging prettily from the underside of the bamboo bridge is a Chinese lantern.  (Karya the melancholy witch) waves. Clarkkent bows. Clarkkent says "Hmm - atmospheric". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clarkkent asks "Does it have special significance for you - or just a nice view?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It's just the nice view. I found this place early on when I started playing and loved it then, and always have done since". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Not many people come here too". Clarkkent says "Well of course a lot of the time its closed off - though of late its been a lot more accesible it seems". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Which has been really good. I think a lot of people had got rusty in this area so it gives them a chance to rediscover it". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "For those that don't know, we're north of the Pagoda". ----*qw (Karya the melancholy witch) Blacknight the sorcerer Clarkkent Carrott the swordsman Theman the sorcerer Anelka the swordsman Heiachi the surrealist guest Clarkkent says "Yes, in an area that mobile bashers hate when it opens near the end". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Clarkkent exclaims "OK - lets do the obligatory preamble stuff - when why and how!". Clarkkent asks "When did you start playing mud, and why? As in how did you stumble across it?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I first started playing MUD2 in late May of 1998". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I used to play another MUD a number of years before then at university and really enjoyed it, so when I got internet access later on I tried to find a MUD to play". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I found LOADS but the problem was telneting to them. The telnet programme on my PC wasn't having any of it". Clarkkent asks "Oddities of your pc or their systems?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I think it was oddities with me and my PC". OK, (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Clarkkent smiles. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I talked to a friend who I went to uni with and played MUD with, who said that at some point he would take a look at my PC and fix the problem, but before that happened I discovered this MUD". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Another friend regularly got whichever PC magazine it was that gave away the Wireplay CD's and he pointed out the ad for MUD2 knowing that I had been looking for a MUD". (Karya the melancholy witch) exclaims "the Wireplay software came with everything so my problem was solved - I could play MUD again!". Clarkkent says "And a Witch was born". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "a while later, yes". For your information: Zeon the mage is worth 58,176 points if killed. Clarkkent asks "Have you always played a female persona?". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clouds are gathering overhead. Clarkkent asks "Any reason - apart from the fact that you are one in RL?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I was never into role-playing when I was mortal, so there was no need not to play female". Clarkkent asks "And do you feel that there's any difference in the way you get treated?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Yes". Clarkkent asks "Really?". Clarkkent grins. Clarkkent asks "How so?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "the first name I played under very briefly was Fudge". It has started to rain. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "but Fudge didn't get much help or many peole talking to her (I was very shy in those days)". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "but once I started playing as Karya which I think has a more obvious female feel about it I got loads of people approaching me". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "And the other main difference came later ...". Clarkkent asks "After immortality?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Once MUD2 became much more popular with younger generations I got a LOT of hassle, sexual orientated hassle". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "So much so that I changed persona names - ironically enough to another female one". (Karya the melancholy witch) chuckles. Clarkkent asks "Is that common amongst the female (ie really female) players - getting grief?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I believe so. But in those days there were very few real female players and not that many more female personae so I think the attention was more concentrated". Clarkkent exclaims "And as you say there was a more hormonal crowd on!". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clarkkent asks "How would you compare those days to now - apart from sheer numbers ?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "When I first started playing it was before the game went free and before it became really busy.". It has stopped raining. (Karya the melancholy witch) exclaims "Back then the numbers were numerous enough not to be quiet but not so busy that you were fighting over flowers!". Clarkkent laughs, out loud. Auto-reset initiated, you have 120 seconds to finish up. No further warnings will be issued! (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It got alot busier later on". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Perhaps too much so for one server". Clarkkent says "Yes - so much so that two new areas had to be created". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I see MUD now as it was probably just before I started playing, on the up, more and more people playing all the time". Clarkkent asks "Old timers returning, newbies, or the best of both worlds?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "we've got both which is nice, but not just old timers from Wireplay". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "but REAL old-timers, from VAX, Dragon etc". Something magical is happening. +- The database has started initialising -+ +- The database has finished initialising -+ Glassy pool. It is raining. Hanging prettily from the underside of the bamboo bridge is a Chinese lantern.  Clarkkent has just arrived. (Karya the melancholy witch) waves. Clarkkent bows. It has stopped raining. Clarkkent asks "Its been interesting seeing the range of people coming in - apart from the fact that its mud, do you attribute it to anything in particular?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "That's a hard question ...". Clarkkent beams. (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I can only think of an analogy, its like a fantasy novel ...". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "it appeals to people from all walks of life and age". Clarkkent nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Its a form of escaspism and there is always people who  want to escape". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "they just have to find the right place to escape too". Clarkkent says "Now before I forget - I really would be failing in my duty if I didnt get more personal stuff from you (no don't worry I mean game stuff)". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. In the distance, you hear the rumble of thunder. Clarkkent asks "So a few off the cuff ideas - apart from making Wiz - a big moment for you in your gaming life?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "When 2 warlocks teamed up and killed my near-mage with the aid of some firewood". Clarkkent says "Oooh - you know you're getting good when they have to team you". (Karya the melancholy witch) chuckles. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Another significant moment was when I ran my first event". Clarkkent shudders. Clarkkent says "I made a right mess of mine :-)". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Clarkkent asks "Sorry we digress - what was it?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It was a sorcerer war, nothing fancy, but we hadn't had an event in ages". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I think I took it upon myself to encourage more events and ended up running most of them myself". (Karya the melancholy witch) chuckles. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "That was back in the summer of 1999". Clarkkent exclaims "Yes well thats what you get for volunteering!". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "which brings me onto another significant event - the first Extravaganza which I also organised". (Karya the melancholy witch) exclaims "that was brilliant, over 50 people turned up!". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "That seemed to be so much fun for everyone involved". Clarkkent says "I can't imagine playing in one like that - never mind supervising". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "you were playing in it". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Clarkkent grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "If I remember correctly, you were one of the unforunate few who died to the touchstone after the first points boost". Clarkkent says "Lucky was always my middle name". Clarkkent asks "Right then - how did you make Wiz - the final thing that sent you, as it were, over the edge?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "5 icons". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It wasn't meant to be that way though". Clarkkent says "Never is". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I was really unsure about making wiz". Clarkkent asks "If you were 5 icons short of it - wasnt that a little late for second thoughts?". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "My whole wizrun was a mistake". (Karya the melancholy witch) chuckles. Clarkkent asks "Why unsure? mortal things still undone or more deep than that?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I created Melancholy (and Angelene) to get away from people mentioned earlier". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "but I'd also faced a lot of attacks from some very good players". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "once I left behind the persona Karya I seemed to leave behind something that was always holding me back, I'm, not sure what". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "My playing improved so much as Mel and Angelene, so I used those two personae to just play, not to achieve, but play, explore, experiment, fight with wizmorts". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I used to welcome and go out and seek fights with wizmorts". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "consequently I gained points very fast on those two peronsonae". Clarkkent says "Best way to learn - if a little dangerous". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clouds are gathering overhead. Clarkkent asks "So was it as Karya you made it or was that a name change?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I made it as Melancholy, hence the prefix". It has started to rain. Clarkkent says "Ah - nice touch". Clarkkent asks "What was it like for you second time around - on mud2.com?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I'd been playing on mud2.com for a number of years, always as Melancholy". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "but at this point I was getting into roleplaying so where else then mud2.com for the perfect place to practise". Clarkkent says "Far from the mad(ding) crowd as it were". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I already had a second account so I started playing as Silesia, the aim of her was to see how far I could get before anyone worked out who I was". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Silesia was a right bitch too, attacked most people (unless of course they were a much lower level)". Clarkkent asks "Your alter ego?". (Karya the melancholy witch) laughs. Clarkkent says "I'll take that as a no then :-)". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I don't know about the wizzes there, but I don't think any mortal knew who I was". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I made it as far as 198k I think it was". It has stopped raining. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "something really close anyway, and I was going for wiz then". In the distance, you hear the >CRACK< of a cannon going off. Clarkkent exclaims "For the faint of heart - the following is a distressing tale - do not carry on if you are on a wiz run and of a nervous disposition!". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Clarkkent asks "Of course up till that everyone assumed 198k and you were there - was it so?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I had come on about 20 minutes or so before a reset and had done a little kitting up with whatever was left, made a few points. Did keep or dragon or something like that". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I was really nervous too, there was a kindly wiz present who helped calmed my nerves ...". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "enough so in preparation for the next reset". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I started the next reset, entered, went invisible, the usual stuff". Clarkkent nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "As per most resets in those days on mud2.com, it had been empty the reset before". (Karya the melancholy witch) exclaims "But I soon became aware of someone else in the reset with me, a mage in fact!". Clarkkent asks "So you quit - right?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "A mage who I had come across before even, one who took a dislike to me when I entered their reset part way through a few days previously". In the distance, you hear a wolf baying AAAOOOOOOHHHH. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "No, I didn't quit, I tried to attack them". Clarkkent shakes his head. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "but being as nervous as I was, and even though I had synned them I kept on typing WH MAGE, then K MAGE when it appeared there was a mage in the same room as me". (Karya the melancholy witch) laughs. Clarkkent says "mad mages". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "of course it was only myself I was trying to attack, THIS mage was holed up in the Bathroom". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "probably needed a wee or something". Clarkkent exclaims "At 198k - i bet you couldnt wait for him to leave so you could have one!". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Clarkkent exclaims "Bet he left the seat up too!". Clarkkent tsks. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Anyway, instead of doing the sensible thing and getting some protection, I went off to get something to snoop him with so I could catch him when he left". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "and on my way back from getting said snoop item I got forced to do something that led to my death". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "This was all within 5 minutes of the reset start". Clarkkent says "Deadly forces - apart from mortal fods probably the worst way to go". OK, (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I was a little stunned to put it mildly". Clarkkent says "I heard that". Clarkkent asks "How long before you tried again?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "This all happened literally as this mud was being set up here, so for two reasons I didn't play at mud2.com for ages". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I was very annoyed at what happened - the way it happened  so I didn't play on principle, plus I was very busy here". Clarkkent says "Principles a dangerous thing for mages to have". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "A few months later (I had deleted all the personae on that account by the way) I started playing again, just because I was getting rusty as a mortal  and wanted to play on a different system". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Then rumours and talks about a merger started happening". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "So I put aside my principles about not wishing to be a wiz over there, and started wizrunning again". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "unfortuantely I chose a very bad time to do it.". Clarkkent asks "How so?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I was offered a new job - which I took, things started getting very hectic here". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "there was a family crisis too going on at the time". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "so there was a lot going on, but I really wanted to make wiz before a merger happened, if it was to happen, so I carried on playing when I could". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Which wasn't as often as I would have liked, but I seemed to be racking up the points ok". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "and more people were playing overe there by then which helped". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I didn't play a cruel Pking persona this time". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I took role-playing to another level for me". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I played as Kitten, who NEVER spoke, only communicated in cat fashion - I think this frustrated a lot of people". (Karya the melancholy witch) chuckles. Clarkkent says "And did you enjoy the different style that role playing gave you? I hear a lot of people regard it as a waste of time". (Karya the melancholy witch) exclaims "Nah, it was a lot of fun!". Clarkkent nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It was fun watching people trying to figure out who you are, it was fun behaving so very differently to how you would otherwise". Clarkkent asks "And how hard was it to stay in character?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It was fun trying to keep up the pretense all the time, it was so hard concentrating on not talking. There were times when I really, really  wanted or needed to speak". Clarkkent asks "Did you play other personae too?". Clouds are gathering overhead. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Yes, I played as Kebab also, who was male". Clarkkent asks "And did kebab ever find himslef miaowing?". (Karya the melancholy witch) laughs. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "no". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Kebab was created for a very good reason". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Once I got into playing Kitten I got very attached to her but I also realised that it was yet another female persona". It has started to rain. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "so I created a male on as a sort of diversion". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I'm also vegetarian so Kebab is an unlikely name for me". Clarkkent says "Very! Unless there's a tofu kebab I am unaware of". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Kebab didn't speak that much. I'm very aware that speech patterns and so on can give away a personae". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "hence playing a cat". Clarkkent asks "Any ambitions now that you're doubly Wizzy?". (Karya the melancholy witch) ponders. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "My only ambition currently is to make this MUD a roaring success". Clarkkent exclaims "Well you're certainly working hard enough at it!". (Karya the melancholy witch) smiles. It has stopped raining. In the distance, you hear the terrible RHOAAAUUUAURRRRGGGGGGHGHHHGHHHH of a dragon dying. Clarkkent asks "An interesting counterpoint there to the roaring success comment - got any plans you can mention?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Getting the price change was a pretty large achievement that took a lot of time in coming". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "And that was where most of our engery had been for a while". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Other plans - nothing really big, mainly trying to open out the advertising, reaching more people". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I'm also trying to come up with new ideas for events". Clarkkent asks "Well with the advent of two new Wizes presumably we'll have a golfing day and a Marmite tasting?". OK, (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "The next event will be run by Azrael though, I'm taking a break from the whole event thing". Clarkkent asks "Will it have happened before this goes to print?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Ah yes, it will". Clarkkent exclaims "Then the outcome of the first annual firefarting competition will already be known - but retrospectively - good luck Az!". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Clouds are gathering overhead. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It's his first event I believe, and that makes me feel so old now". Clarkkent says "Well what with the blue rinse and all - you may as well face it". It has started to rain. (Karya the melancholy witch) laughs. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It's very different being an "old wiz"". Clarkkent asks "Do you still have the same enthusiasm for mud as you used to - I ask because so many people say OK you make wiz - then what?". (Karya the melancholy witch) ponders. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I was very lost when I first made wiz". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I loved being mortal, I enjoyed it so much and on  reflection I probably became a wiz too soon". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "And I realised that soon after I made wiz, but it was too late then, you CAN'T go back". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "So there I was a lost wiz who didn't do or say much for while". Clarkkent says "My god - thats a first". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Actually, I did do something ...". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "first time I've openly said it, although I'm sure a lot of people know now". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "when I was mortal I NEVER Pked". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I wasn't against it, I just didn't do it, wasn't my thing". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "When I made wiz though, I was so lost, and very confused". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "So I played a mortal a lot, which really involved pking a lot". Clarkkent asks "So you turned to the dark side?". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Perhaps it was lashing out at the mortals, what I really wanted to be". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I don't know ... but I did pk a lot, probably too much". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "and was told so too". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Then MUD went through a bit of a bad patch, too much pking I think". Clarkkent exclaims "there you have it folks - in - um - black and yellow - there IS game management! even for wizzes!". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) exclaims "I could see the game needed more than just logon, play reset, quit, the mortals need more, the wizzes needed more!". Clarkkent says "Isn't it supposed to be a cycle - PK's - balance - dare i say vegetarians (or non pk's?) - and round again". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clarkkent asks "So events are you're safety valve now?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "yes, that and Muddled Times". Clarkkent says "Ah yes - and even there you get trapped :-)". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Muddled Times was the success that wasn't supposed to be". It has stopped raining. Clarkkent asks "Why - it seems to be doing well to me?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "SO many people told me it wouldn't last, and even more slated it behind my back only I got to hear about it". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Before it even started I had people telling me it wouldn't last more than a couple of issues". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "That of course made me even more determined to make it work". Clarkkent asks "Is it a steady core of players that contribute - or do you have to torture different people each issue?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It tends to be a steady core with other people contributing the odd article here and there". Clarkkent says "Some odder than others". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "very much so". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I guess about half of the people will contribute off their own back, the other half need encouragment". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I know people who say that they have been writing articles about mud for years but are too shy or embarassed to put them anywhere". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "So I try to encourage those type of people". Clarkkent says "I have fond memories of Witch? magazine, which you are now reprinting - Lexley seemed to get a hard time from people - and printed that - it must put people off". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "put people off running magazines?". Clarkkent nods. Clarkkent says "And contributing - in case they get knocked back". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It didn't put me off starting Muddled Times, I guess I couldn't really believe that people would be so nasty". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "And yes, I think you're right, it must put off people contributing". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "A number of people contribute under a pseudonym for that reason". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "And yes, people are that nasty, Perhaps childish is a better word". Clarkkent says "Sticks & Stones". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clarkkent says "Whoever wrote that was wrong - words can hurt you :-)". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Well yes, that is true too". Clarkkent asks "So you run the magazine - you run (ok at print date ran) the events mainly - whats next - the first Arch Witch?". (Karya the melancholy witch) laughs. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "You don't aspire to be an arch, you get lumbered with it when the previous one doesn't want to do it any more, is what I gather". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Clarkkent exclaims "Sounds like a nasty job - you're better of without it!". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clarkkent asks "I heard a rumour that when you made Witch - you actually had 9 tasks? Can you say any more about that?". (Karya the melancholy witch) chuckles. Clouds are gathering overhead. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "That elusive 9th task ...". Clarkkent nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) exclaims "I couldn't give away that secret!". Clarkkent asks "But it IS true?". It has started to rain. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Yes, I have got 9 tasks". Clarkkent says "There you go folk - cutting edge reporting at its finest! You read it here first.". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Clarkkent says "I hate to admit it - but I think I ran out of questions that are safe or decent to ask :-)". OK, (Karya the melancholy witch) laughs. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Ask an unsafe one". Clarkkent asks "Do you (hypothetically because wizmorts do not exist) still actively PK here?". Clarkkent grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) mutters something. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Ok, I'll answer that one". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I believe because of circumstances mainly to do with loosing players since the move, that we've got to that part of the cycle where there is a  lot of pking going on". Clarkkent nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I wouldn't add to that pking, at times it has got too much in my opinion considering the number of players there were". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "so what I have done is to Pk the pkers to help readdress  the balance". It has stopped raining. Clarkkent says "I actually just thought of one more question - if you don't mind". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "sure, go ahead". Clarkkent asks "What question should I ask you?". Clarkkent grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) laughs. Clarkkent exclaims "Now thats a killer question I reckon!". (Karya the melancholy witch) exclaims "very!". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "that's probably the hardest question I've been asked". (Karya the melancholy witch) chuckles. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I know, ask me something about mystique, that's one of my favourite topics". Clarkkent asks "The mystique of mud?". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clarkkent asks "Do you feel its been lost to some people?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Very much so". Clarkkent says "Any ideas why - cos I happen to agree". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "to be perfectly honest, unless you're a newbie I'd be suprised if you still felt that MUD2 held even a small amount of mystique that it used to". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I have a few theories". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "the first one being mudmeets". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I'm not putting down mudmeets, I enjoy them very much". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "but there was a phase when there were quite a few meets over a short period of time and a lot of people turned up". Clarkkent says "That can't be bad surely". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "no it's not a bad thing at all, but it contributes along with  other factos". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "the next thing is the advent of ICQ". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "after ICQ became popular I noticed how people would sit in the tearoom "afk" presumably talking to each other over ICQ rather than in-game.  So a newbie or a lonely sole would pop on and receive no response to their questions". Clarkkent says "Oh god - the Uh Oh noise". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "ICQ also made multi-lining and looby looing a lot easier". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "BUT, on a more positive note, it also brought of people  closer together, either by phone or in flesh". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "this one is peculiar to wireplay:". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "with WP mud you could only play my using their ISP (or BT) and you couldn't surf the internet at the same time". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "but when Gameplay game along (boo hiss) they made it open access so you could use any telnet programme to access mud which also meant you could surf the net too". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "which obviously led on to use of ICQ, but other things too, so if people weren't afk, they would ne sitting there chatting about websites and so on - the game started getting a lot more cliquey at this point". Clarkkent says "You could with wireplay if you had dual modems - um - allegedly". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "if you could with dual modems I don't think many people did". Clarkkent says "No well it required two phone lines". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "there has also been a new generation of players which I believe to have added to the loss of mystique in a huge way". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "those who believe they know better than Richard and generations of arches and decide that they should distribute game information like a "cheat book"". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "the destruction of mystique HAS forged friendships, that's no bad thing". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "But I think real-life friendships could have gone hand in hand with mud mystique too". Clarkkent asks "And yet I notice recently more - respect? - from players when wizzes appear- perhaps its the wizzes and their ways rather than anything else that helps - I mean meets have been happening since the dark ages of mud's inception?". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clouds are gathering overhead. Clarkkent says "And icq just replaces mails etc or being in same room". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "meets have always happened, which is why I think real life friendships and mystique can co-exhist. It was more of a combination of things I think that destroyed the mystique". It has started to rain. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It probably has a lot to do with a new generation of gamers. Gamers used to different environments". Clarkkent asks "Gamers used to graphics?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Those too". Clarkkent says "I still think the words paint a better picture in my mind". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I do too, but there are others who believe the other way around". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "As long as everyone is happy in their own environment then that's fine". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It's when you get people who insist on slating and complaining about an environment they don't enjoy or like. You have to wonder, WHY? If you don't like this game then just drop it and find something you do like". Clarkkent asks "And yet at the end of the day M stands for multi - has it not always been the fact that not all players get along - but it does spice up the environment - within reason?". It has stopped raining. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "That's true. This game it as it's best when there is a multitude of different types of people all co-existing in the same place". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "PK-ers have to learn to accept that there wouldn't be MUD if it weren't for socalisers and vice versa". Clarkkent says "Especially when the socialisers gang up". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "It annoys me though when pkers gang up on a socaliser simply because they enjoy socalising more than achieving". Clarkkent asks "Thats one thing I noticed - houses are less active now - or is it just nobody wants to invite a mild mannered reporter into one?". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I've seen one house in particular start to become active again - ERM". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "and APK is another one, although it has been quiet lately". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I think with more people coming back the houses will become active again". Clarkkent says "Interesting times". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Clarkkent exclaims "Thank you for letting me interview you - that was a most elucidating chat!".