Dining room in alpine cottage. This is the dining room of a cosy, alpine cottage. Snow heaped high against the shuttered windows outside only serves to emphasis the warmth and inviting cosiness within. A small cupboard to the northeast looks like the only exit apart from the main doorway to the east. A cheerful fire is burning in the fireplace.  Mustek the swordsman says "nice and cosy <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) smiles. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "How did you discover MUD2?". ]Mustek the swordsman says "I had heard of MUD1 many years ago (micro adventurer, around 1984) and, being a fan of text adventures I /really/ wanted to play". In the distance, you hear the terrible RHOAAAUUUAURRRRGGGGGGHGHHHGHHHH of a dragon dying. Mustek the swordsman says "a while ago I got the idea of seeing what had happened to the game, which was when i heard about MUD2". Mustek the swordsman says "this was a couple of months ago". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Why didn't you try MUD out when you first read about it back in 1984?". Mustek the swordsman says "I was 14 and i didnt have a modem, and my £3.20 a week paperround money wouldn't have covered the phone costs <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "There are two MUD2's currently. Why did you choose this one to play?". Mustek the swordsman says "I had a brief poke around on both, but it seemed more logical to play the UK based one ... web site seemed more up to date too". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Has MUD2 lived up to your expectations? 18 years is a lot of years worth of expectations". You hear a rushing sound in the distance, as if a huge torrent of water has just started to flood somewhere. Mustek the swordsman says "ha ha". For your information: there are 125 mobiles still alive. Hovering before you is Eros, wearing a blindfold.  Eros pulls his bow and shoots Mustek the swordsman! Eros gives a satisfied smile, and flies away. Mustek the swordsman says "I played another MUD a few  years ago so I knew pretty much what to expect. it is pretty much how I imagined it, but maybe more fun <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What was the other mud you played?". In the distance, you hear a loud ~R~I~N~G~. Mustek the swordsman says "it was an abermud, but I can't rememberer which.  non PK, I remember a character called shiva ut that was about it". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I've played an abermud before too. They seem to be a good preparation for the puzzle side of this game". Mustek the swordsman says "I didn't get too far, I managed to get myself killed regularly <g>". In the distance, you hear a wolf baying AAAOOOOOOHHHH. Mustek the swordsman says "you had to WIELD a weapon before youd use it, I realised this much too late". Mustek the swordsman frowns. Mustek the swordsman says "the main problem was the phone bill since broadband wasnt around in those days". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Mustek the swordsman says "I might still have the mpas and stuff somewhere, but they'll  likely be buried under half a decade of junk". (Karya the melancholy witch) smiles. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What were your first impressions of this mud?". Mustek the swordsman says "hmm. it's difficult to say ... I rememebr wondering where everyone was <g>  the folks I met were helpful and friendly, and they helped me get the hang of things a bit". Mustek the swordsman says "the game seemed very polished, not to mention BIG". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Is there anything that you don't like about the game?". Mustek the swordsman says "there are annoyances, but they're /part of/ the game rather than /with/ the game". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Mustek the swordsman says "ocasionally the parser seems a bit unfair, but thats just nitpicking". For your information: there are 100 mobiles still alive. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "How about player-killing? You said that you came from a non-pking mud? How have you found this aspect of the game?". Mustek the swordsman says "it can be pretty frustrating, but its just part of the game.  Once you're worth a few thousand points you have to change the way you play the game - you can't just potter around, making maps <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) smiles. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Have you ever taken part in any of the events run here?". Mustek the swordsman says "I've done several mobile bashes, plus the quiz night". Mustek the swordsman says "lots of points get doled out, so its well worth attending <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What do you think of the events?". Mustek the swordsman says "the ones I've done are a lot of fun". Mustek the swordsman says "they normally attract a fair crowd, too, which livens things up". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "As a newbie, how do you find the resources associated with this game? Both the ones available in game and the websites about the game.". Mustek the swordsman says "there are a lot of useful websites out there, althought sadly a lot of them haven't been updated for a while". Mustek the swordsman says "the game help gives a lot of useful info, as do user sites - game logs are usually rewarding reading <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Mustek the swordsman says "there are some game features that would be difficult to figure out without such clues". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Would you recommend this game to anyone else?". Mustek the swordsman says "I have done <g> some people are cynical about the lack of graphics, but once you start playing you realise they're not necessary for this kind of game ...". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "was the person you introduced to the game reticent initially because of the lack of graphics?". In the distance, you hear a loud "MOO". Mustek the swordsman says "I'm not sure actually - people I've spoken to about the game imagine it must be dull since its text only". Mustek the swordsman says "having said that, the coloured text does make a big difference since you eye can pick out interesting bits more easily". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I can't imagine playing in "black and white" anymore, although I'm sure the abermud I played was only 2 colours". Mustek the swordsman says "it's just something you get used to I guess ... you can get by without it, but it's hard to do without once you've had it". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Have you played any graphical muds?". Mustek the swordsman has started glowing! Mustek the swordsman says "I was toying with trying ultima or the like". Mustek the swordsman says "I still plan to try, just so I see what they're like". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. Mustek the swordsman says "although another player made the point that they're less personal than MUD - there are so many people around you don't get he chance to chat much". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Which area of The Land do you like the most?". Mustek the swordsman says "It's hard to say". Mustek the swordsman says "I like discovering someplace new, especially if its full of treausre <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. Mustek the swordsman says "I haven't explored much of the sea yet, or beyond the great gate". Mustek the swordsman says "maybe I like the tea room best, since you can talk to people without worrying about being attacked <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Is there anywhere that you've heard about that you want to visit but have never been too?". Mustek the swordsman says "Isn't there a special room which only wizards can visit? that would be interesting, I bet <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Is there anything about the game or The Land that you would change?". Mustek the swordsman says "nothing I can think of about the game itself - its all seems logical and well thought out". For your information: there are 75 mobiles still alive. Mustek the swordsman says "the mobiles which get in your way are annoying, buy they're there for a reason <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) smiles. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Is there anyone who has had am influence on you, either in a good or bad way?". Auto-reset initiated, you have 120 seconds to finish up. No further warnings will be issued! Mustek the swordsman says "can't think of any one person whos had an influence, but for example the first time I got attacked by aother player I realised learning to  fight was an important part of the game <g>". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "I think that brings us nicely to a close. Is there anything else that you would like to add?". Mustek the swordsman says "just suggesting that everyone tells their friends about the game to try and get more people to try it". Mustek the swordsman says "it seems that many people are entirely unaware of this kind of game". Mustek the swordsman says "it's hard to think of where to advertise where you're not preaching to the already converted". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Thank you for letting me interview you". Mustek the swordsman says "no problem". Something magical is happening.