Ring of stones. You find yourself overawed by the huge ring of stones which encircle this, the highest part of the island rock. As the wind sweeps over from the rugged cliffs to the east and north, the desolation of this place is all-pervading. To the south and west are steep slopes downwards. Far, far away in the distance on the southeast horizon can be glimpsed the sail of a wrecked ship. In the centre of the ring of stones is a large, heavy, slate, sacrificial slab, still stained by the blood of the multitudes sacrificed upon it in druidic times. The slate slab looks too heavy for you to move.  Noodles the warlock is here. Noodles the warlock waves. (Karya the melancholy witch) waves. (Karya the melancholy witch) waves at the dragon. Noodles the warlock glances around. Noodles the warlock smiles. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "When did you start playing MUD2?". Noodles the warlock says "about 6 months before WP shut down". Noodles the warlock says "not sure how long back that is". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "That'll probably make it Autumn 2000". Noodles the warlock says "yea that sounds right". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "How did you hear about MUD2?". Noodles the warlock says "I found out about MUD from my brother". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Who does your brother play as?". Noodles the warlock says "Maverick". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Who did you first starting playing as?". Noodles the warlock says "Mike". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Why did you chose that name?". Noodles the warlock says "Well, it is my real name and I'm not that good at thinking things up names so I go for easy ones :)". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What were your first impressions of the game?". Noodles the warlock says "well it was quite hard to learn at first but back when I started there were lots of people willing to help, so I though it was friendly and it was also a challenge". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Who do you particularly remember helping you?". Noodles the warlock says "Astral, Maverick helped a little and also I remember being in the house ERM so the people in that house helped alot". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Apart from helping you, who else had/has a large influence on you?". Clouds are gathering overhead. It has started to rain. Noodles the warlock says "most of the wizards and witches that were on during that time helped me a lot and most of the pk's helped me learn about fighting other players". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Are there any PKs that you especially remember?". Noodles the warlock says "yea, Foz, Droo, Azrael and Po I seem to remember". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What are your views on PKs and Pking?". Noodles the warlock says "I think it is OK but when it happens all the time it's just annoying. Everyone I think would get annoyed if you couldn't leave the tea room without getting attacked.". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Do you PK?". Noodles the warlock says "occasionally". Noodles the warlock says "but I'm not that good at it, I tend to flee". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What prompts you to PK?". Noodles the warlock says "the fact that if you don't take them out they will probably end up taking you out :)". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. It has stopped raining. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Ok, the reverse now. What are your views on PP's?". Noodles the warlock says "PP's are ok. It's a good thing to do when you don't know what to do yet in the game. A good way to learn the basics ...". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Is there anything that can be improved in the game, in your opinion, that will help newbies get settled in?". Noodles the warlock says "more players". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "How would you achieve that?". Noodles the warlock says "not sure but if all the old players came back it might tend to bring in other new players". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Do you remember your first highlife death?". Noodles the warlock says "what do you class as a highlife?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "warlock or above". Noodles the warlock says "well I remember losing my very first mage in the scriptorium". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What happened?". Noodles the warlock says "that was to a sorcerer I think - Firestar or something". Noodles the warlock says "he attacked me and I think I was on about 10 stamina and stupidly I thought I'd try and get away with a free flee so I did drain.fo.qq". Noodles the warlock says "I did my first drain and then he reattacked". Noodles the warlock says "I pressed the same again which was drain.fo.qq". Noodles the warlock says "I passed out on 1 stamina". Noodles the warlock says "free shot ...". Noodles the warlock laughs, out loud. (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "How did you react to losing your first mage?". Noodles the warlock says "annoyed". Noodles the warlock says "I tended to flee high after that for a while". Noodles the warlock says "in the 30s and 40s :)". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What is your favourite part of the game?". Noodles the warlock says "getting as much from a set as possible". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Which area of the game do you like best?". Noodles the warlock says "the giant area was always a big favourite place". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Why's that?". Noodles the warlock says "well easy access to the cabbages and the giants were always a challenge :)". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Noodles the warlock says "and lots of points when you know how to get them". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Is there any part of the game that you feel you need to get to know better?". Noodles the warlock says "Hmmm". Noodles the warlock says "I wouldn't mind learning a bit about all the land". Noodles the warlock says "but if i had a choice I think I'd want to learn about the giants". Noodles the warlock says "because I never had that much practice in there". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Yes, it's a shame it doesn't open more often". Noodles the warlock says "but I think it would probably open on event nights if a few more turned up :)". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Are there any memorable events that happened to you that you'd like to share?". Clouds are gathering overhead. It has started to rain. Noodles the warlock says "well if there was a favourite event it would have to be the transfer event from WP to phoenix Extravaganza :)". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "over 50 people turned up". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Noodles the warlock says "that's why it was so good". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "How did you do in that event?". Noodles the warlock says "not bad I don't think I won anything though". Noodles the warlock says "but was still a really good night". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "If there was one thing that you would like to change about the game, what would it be?". It has stopped raining. Noodles the warlock says "I'd make the pagoda and giant realm open even with noone on.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Why?". Noodles the warlock says "I cant even remember doing a set with giants pagoda and everything open". Noodles the warlock says "more things to do". Noodles the warlock says "you can do all the main things from a normal set in an hour so something fresh to do". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Do you think there isn't enough do to if you are on your own as it is?". Noodles the warlock says "yes doing the same things over and over tends to get boring". Noodles the warlock says "and if the giants are open and pagoda I can learn some things about those areas". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What do you constitute as being "everything" to do in a reset?". Noodles the warlock says "well tasks, the main areas like dwarfs, keep and goblins". Noodles the warlock says "once they have been done just surface treasure and the odd mobile to kill". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Is there anything else you'd like to say? Noodles the warlock says "just that I'll be back after my college term is over for  christmas :)".