Concerning the life of Simutronics

[Zanagodly]

How long do you all think Simutronics and Gemstone will exist for? Is gemstone going to last forever? Will simucon 2075 take place in a nursing home?

[Dighn Darkbeam]

As it should be. Mine is the only vote that counts.

Kris na Su'ta

[Gokkem]

I think it'll be a few more years, but that'll be the end of simutronics. Unless they can .... get current with their games.

Kids today are going to get very bored with a text based RPG. I mean, they were raised with nintendos, gameboys, xbox, PS, etc. Alot more will be demanded out of MUDS and no way they will be able to raise subscription prices again to counter declining subscriptions. It's no secret most of the 'old timers' no longer play and have moved on. Current customers will continue to play for a period of years (change is hard to make!) but once they give up I don't see anyone replacing them. I don't see the true 'newbies' taking up the slack. Why pay $12.95 + $1.00 per extra character ($30 if you really wanna get ripped by simu) when you can play an updated, suppoted graphics based game that is $14.95/month for unlimited characters (DAoC) ..... games that treat everyone equal instead of segregating prime/premium. I'm not sure about EQ or Asheron's Call, but I assume they are about the same price. If I ever had the desire to play a MUD I'd play a free one. I'll never, ever pay for a text based game again.

Just my 2 cents........

[Edited on 07-15-03 by Gokkem]

[Taernath]

I agree with most of what Gokkem said. A lot of the older players have left, and I rarely see truly new players, so I believe the customer base is stagnating. Plus there's all the competition from the graphical MMORPGs. I give GS another 5 years, depending on how GSIV turns out.

[Parkbandit]

I said the same thing 5 years ago...

It's still going strong. No matter how many graphical games there are out there... many prefer this method of gaming. No technological advances will change that.

[CrystalTears]

I don't think the concept of playing text-based games is going to die out because there will always be people who are more inclined to play those over graphical ones. However, I don't see the steady stream of PAYING customers when there are more out there that are cheaper and/or free to play. Gemstone makes way too many drastic changes to the game that makes it hard to stay loyal to it. Sure a game needs changes, but not so many that you don't recognize it anymore and ultimately damages the character you have been building and creating for years.

Text games will always be popular, paying for them won't be, IMO.

[Edited on 7/15/2003 by CrystalTears]

[Gokkem]

Well, 5 years ago was a little different I think. 5 years ago the internet revolution was really taking off, and graphics based games were seldom seem. The best mmorpg's were text based. Computer were too slow to run graphics intensive games, and broadband wasn't popular yet. Technology changes though, and although I think there will be a demand for text based games for a while I think those people are us (adults) that will be playing them. I really don't think today's teenagers are going to carry simutronics, or any other text based game like we have.

All the time I meet friends in DAoC, and usually talk of 'what game did you come from' comes up. I tell em GS, they ask me if it's cool. I tell em it's text based and I always get the same response: Oh, nvm then.

To summarize, I think the demand for all text based muds is going to steadily decline.

[Bobmuhthol]

September will be the 16th year of Simutronics. It's not going to fail that easily. What a lot of people also forget is GemStone does not have as many players as DragonRealms. DragonRealms is THE Simutronics game. GemStone is a lot cooler. And better. But DragonRealms is more popular for some reason. Last I heard, there are over 10,000 GS accounts and over 15,000 DR accounts. I don't think Simutronics will fall for another 15+ years.

[CrystalTears]

I don't love the game as much as I used to so I'm only speaking from personal experience. I don't want to invest time to relearn how to play a character I've been playing and enjoying for years the same way.

I'm all for slight changes to games, like bugs or things that didn't work well, but the way they've been doing it, it's not necessary. They say other games change. No, they don't. Players are not forced to change with them. If we're talking about graphical games like Diablo, Sims, all that... even DAOC and Everquest.. all have expansions or a whole new version. Don't like it, don't buy it and you can continue to play the game you originally wanted. This "having" to adjust to games is bull and it's asking WAY too much of their clientele.

One thing is "we added a spell... we fixed this spell... we made this critter easier/hard to kill" but to change how you look, how you eat, how you roleplay, how you train, and how you hunt all in one breath is just ridiculous.

People have to completely relearn how the skills work, what they need to train in, how they should hunt. I mean c'mon. That's messed up. And many people aren't as enamored with the game the way they used to, so to ask them to do it all over again is pushing it, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not doing it and I know quite a few who actually started playing a whole other game, and since they would have to learn the game anew anyway, may as well start with something fresh and enticing. It's like they're taking a GI Joe, flapping fins on him and packing him in seaweed and pronouncing it a new fun toy (yeah I stole that from "Big"... sue me :P)

[Edited on 7/15/2003 by CrystalTears]

[Bobmuhthol]

Multiplayer games change. If it does, you can't play Multiplayer if you don't update. Since when is the Sims a multiplayer game with new patches? It's single-player that has an upgrade. I can't speak for the other games, but if a game changes, you change with it.

Counter-Strike. I started playing again, and had to upgrade everything because I didn't have the most recent version of it. No server didn't have the most recent version. Guess what! I couldn't play and had to adjust.

[imported_Kranar]

Where can I get some logs of how hunting in DragonRealms looks like?

[CrystalTears]

Sims DOES have a multiplayer game, and guess what, when they made SO many changes to the game that it changed what it originally was, many people stopped playing. TOO many changes breaks the fun component.

[Bobmuhthol]

Yes. I said The Sims has a multiplayer upgrade. It's still a single-player game.

[Gokkem]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
It's like they're taking a GI Joe, flapping fins on him and packing him in seaweed and pronouncing it a new fun toy (yeah I stole that from "Big"... sue me :P)



oooo, wasn't that Navy Seal Joe?

Excuse me for my lackluster attempt at humor.

[CrystalTears]

It's not an upgrade. It's a separate online, multiplayer game.

[Xcalibur]

Originally posted by Kranar
Where can I get some logs of how hunting in DragonRealms looks like?

www.zone.com
get a free account, start a dr game
i tried
oh man it's crap, it's all hidden!
I was a thief, i even got to the guilde, but got too bored

[Soulpieced]

Last I heard, there are over 10,000 GS accounts and over 15,000 DR accounts. I don't think Simutronics will fall for another 15+ years.

.

Actually, I have heard numbers along the lines of only 7000 different people have actually had Gemstone accounts. However, I don't know if that number was the CURRENT amount of paying accounts either.

[Bestatte]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
I don't think the concept of playing text-based games is going to die out because there will always be people who are more inclined to play those over graphical ones. However, I don't see the steady stream of PAYING customers when there are more out there that are cheaper and/or free to play. Gemstone makes way too many drastic changes to the game that makes it hard to stay loyal to it. Sure a game needs changes, but not so many that you don't recognize it anymore and ultimately damages the character you have been building and creating for years.

Text games will always be popular, paying for them won't be, IMO.

[Edited on 7/15/2003 by CrystalTears]

Wow, I would've posted pretty much the exact same thing. I would have, except if I did I would've been flamed for trashing Gemstone and trying to convince people to try free games.

So, I'll just let CrystalTears' post speak for me and say I agree.

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by Bestatte
Originally posted by CrystalTears
I don't think the concept of playing text-based games is going to die out because there will always be people who are more inclined to play those over graphical ones. However, I don't see the steady stream of PAYING customers when there are more out there that are cheaper and/or free to play. Gemstone makes way too many drastic changes to the game that makes it hard to stay loyal to it. Sure a game needs changes, but not so many that you don't recognize it anymore and ultimately damages the character you have been building and creating for years.

Text games will always be popular, paying for them won't be, IMO.

[Edited on 7/15/2003 by CrystalTears]

Wow, I would've posted pretty much the exact same thing. I would have, except if I did I would've been flamed for trashing Gemstone and trying to convince people to try free games.

So, I'll just let CrystalTears' post speak for me and say I agree.

Sorry to disagree... but free games will never be as detailed as one you are paying for. They are more of a hobby than anything else. The makers will get bored and start looking for a real job.. there goes your character that you've invested 3 or 4 years to make.

No thanks.

[Bestatte]

Yes Parkbandit, there are dozens and maybe hundreds of games that are exactly as you describe. But there are MORE games that have existed, continue to exist, and continue to improve that started years before Gemstone was first created.

There are also other games that have existed, continue to exist, and continue to improve with a healthy lifespan of well over five years. Some are pay-to-play, some are "donations accepted," some are free, and some are hybrids with various skills or other in-game benefits for pay, but base play is still free.

And I agree with you (or whoever said it, maybe Neildo?) that some of those games posted on topmudsites claim to be one thing but are actually another.

But there -are- games that have staying power and have proven their ability to attract players over the years.

Achaea is one of them. A hybrid in terms of payment, it's free unless you want add-on game stuff. It has a -higher- player base than Gemstone and has been around for many years.

[edited to note: I do not play Achaea, nor have I ever played it, nor do I have any interest in that particular game. I just looked at their website and know a few people who do play it, and have read discussions on topmudsites about this particular game and it seemed like a good example to use here.]

As for whether or not text games will die, this is brought up regularly in discussion forums all over the internet. There are also a myriad of articles about this very subject, and the unswerving answer is: no. Text games will never die. And in fact their popularity is increasing.

But so are -all- internet activities. When I first realized the internet existed, there were only a few thousand people interested in it, who also had modems which could allow us to reach each other. This was back when getting on the 'net meant connecting to a BBS and posting in topics of interest.

There are millions and millions of people world-wide who get on the net now, and more people have home computers than ever before. They're more affordable now than they were back then. Text games are one very narrow interest compared with the rest of internet usage, and within the demographic of people who -would- be interested in text games, the population is increasing.

[Edited on 7-16-2003 by Bestatte]

[imported_Kranar]

Is this debate about Simu or Gemstone?

We need to clarify that, because Simu will be around in 30-40 years I have no doubt of that. If that means they have to make graphical games, then that's what they'll do. Simutronics is as serious a company as any other game company, they're just a little more "intimate" with their customers because the product they sell is very personal/important to many. But apart from that Simu is a force to be reckoned with. We make fun of them all the time, and we try and belittle them too, but in the end they are racking in big bucks, they are always innovating themselves and they seem to be getting more and more professional.

I don't think Simu will die in a very long damn time. GS... maybe... I don't know... another 4-5 years is pretty good and if GS can last that long then it's a true testiment to how solid of a game it is. But even if GS goes down, Simu will always be alive and well.

[Kosh]

I doubt graphical games will be the death to Gemstone nor any other text-based game because graphical games lack engaging the player's imagination which text-based games do now.

As far as player base population, there are games with less than 100 players and are just as viable as Gemstone. It depends on the GMs mission statement per se and if the game was created to make money or to fulfilling the creator's life long goal.

[Scott]

Isn't Simutronic's already currently making a graphic game? Could have sworn they've been working with it already.

[Edited on 7-17-2003 by Gemstone101]

[imported_Kranar]

<< I doubt graphical games will be the death to Gemstone nor any other text-based game because graphical games lack engaging the player's imagination which text-based games do now. >>

That simply isn't true. That argument is always thrown out there and why? I just don't know.

I've play SINGLE PLAYER graphical games that engage my imagination. Why can't a graphical multiplayer game do the same? You still play a character, you're still in charge of that character, you define him as a person, why is that any different in a text game than a graphical game?

The key to having a vivid imagination, is being able to put it to use under any circumstance.

[Dighn Darkbeam]

I have yet to see anything but a pale shadow of RP in graphical multiplayer games.

[CrystalTears]

Originally posted by Kranar
That simply isn't true. That argument is always thrown out there and why? I just don't know.


Probably because of the actual roleplaying actions that can't be conveyed as well in a graphical game as in a text based game. In a text game, you are given the scenario and background and it's up to your own imagination to draw out how it appears. In a graphical game, all you have is what you are presented with and you can't veer from that. In a text game you can enact an event, have personalized actions either through the verbs and/or acts and put on a show, so to speak. Most graphical games don't have as much of that. Sure you can do that standard laughs, chuckles, hugs, but they are not as convincing. Sometimes you can use the hug command for someone on the other end of the room and therefore it looks stupid. In text games you can suspend that. It's rather hard to explain. :?:

[Ilvane]

I didn't find everquest or daoc to be as good as Gemstone, period.

I'm getting bored with GS too, though. I think maybe after all the changes go through, I will enjoy it again.

I'd say Simu will be around for a long, long time.

-A

[imported_Kranar]

I simply disagree. I've played some amazing space RPG games and all I can say is damn... was my imagination put to the extreme.

The biggest difference between graphical RPGs and text RPGs is the term RP. In a text game, roleplaying is all about interacting with other characters, carrying out a role with others. In graphical RPGs, RPing is about interacting with the environment, the world itself. Like in Final Fantasy, or Earth and Beyond, you get so immersed in the actual environment.

So yes, I agree that a text game is better for interacting with other characters, but they are absolutely garbage when it comes to interacting with the environment. So many aspects of a text game make no sense, specifically movement and distance. And so my position on this is that to say that graphical RPGs don't engage your imagination like a text game I think is incorrect. There are absurdities in both games, and there are qualities of both games that are unique, and overall I tend to enjoy the graphical ones more because of the fun factor. Text games are good too though.

[Edited on 7-17-2003 by Kranar]

[Parkbandit]

As a player of both genre of games.. I find that if I wish to actually roleplay.. I need to play Gemstone. I've yet to see a graphical roleplaying game that is actually a roleplaying game that I can completely immerse myself within a character.

For this reason, text based games will always hold my imagination and my interest.

[Warriorbird]

I think DR has a longer lasting life...and it's a pretty good game, just you folks who are used to GS have less tolerance for learning what the messaging means, and automatically go, "It's all random!" when it's just another means of expressing the numbers.

Gemstone could be around too, if they're willing to continue to make changes and advertise better.

[Warriorbird]

I think graphical RP will improve when they get real time speech.

[Weedmage Princess]

I agree with the lot saying you have more freedom in a text-based RPG, such as Gemstone, as opposed to graphical RPGs. While a creative imagination can do lots for you in either game, there's less room for individuality in graphical RPGs. You can say whatever you want, you can't "do" whatever you want, and you look like probably 100+ other players running around. In a graphical RPG, you see So and So the Elf, you know what they look like. All the other elves. In a text based RPG, you see So and So the Elf, they don't necessarily look like all the other elves, save a few similarities, like ears, etc. I think individuality is a big part of RP, and that's why a text based RPG like Gemstone is able to hang in there as long as they have.

Now, with the popularity of such games like EQ, DAoC, etc. on the rise, big name companies with the cash to spend have the ability to invest a lot of cash into their games, adding different types of features. I don't think graphical RPGs will stay as they are now. I think they will add elements to the game to change the appearance of your character, and you'll be able to see it, creating player individuality and originality. EQ certainly has the money to do it with Sony's backing, I'd think. Once that happens, I feel THEN we will see text based RPG's begin to die down.

[CrystalTears]

Very well said, Weedie. That's exactly what I was trying to convey.

[Red Devil]

Originally posted by Kranar
Where can I get some logs of how hunting in DragonRealms looks like?

"Greetings ye goodly folks," says a friendly voice from across the way. Looking over, you see a small boy mounted atop a prancing unicorn. The boy waves you over, "My name is Qikflash," he says, "what is yours?" Before you can answer Qikflash hits himself over the head, saying, "Oh, I'm sorry this is my unicorn Rainbowshine, I'd let you touch him but he can only abide the touch of a virgin." With a grin, Qikflash wheels his Rainbowshine about, and rides off to the north. "Come on," he shouts, "Hing awaits!"
www.hingfdiuh.com

heres a log

Ass-Kicking 101
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[Northeast Wilds, Bramble Thicket]
The bramble thicket is not very dense here, and its tangled,
matted shrubs seem to shrink back from the north side of the clearing,
almost as if shunning it. Just beyond the clearing rises a massive gate.
Sere vines and dead vermin are scattered about its base, but nothing, not
even moss, mars its surface. You also see a small thin path.
Also here: Adept Duath, Jainur, Scout Drizzts
Obvious paths: north.
>
Versaz came down a small thin path.
You notice Duath slip into a hiding place.
>
Versaz just went north.
>
Jainur gestures at Drizzts.
Jainur's cambrinth lion emits a loud *snap*.
A sheet of slippery ice forms under Drizzts!
Drizzts screams as his feet slide out from under him, and he
goes crashing to the ground, landing hard on his back. (this is icepatch, basically a weak version of boil earth, knocks them to ground sometimes stuns)
>
Jainur begins to advance towards Drizzts.
>
Jainur says, "Uhoh"
>'Ouch
You say, "Ouch"
>
Duath comes out of hiding.
Duath gestures.
Ice crystals begin to form in the air.
Your ethereal shield crackles with energy!
Duath's ethereal shield crackles with energy!
Jainur's ethereal shield crackles with energy!
Drizzts shivers as his body is coated in frost!(this is frostbite, it drops your fatigue, if you have really low fatigue, you'll rarely hit, and if you have REALLY low fatigue youll just fall down when you try to attack)
>
Jainur says, "Someone is paralyzed"
>
You notice Duath slip into a hiding place.
>
Jainur closes to pole weapon range on Drizzts.
>
Jainur closes to melee range on Drizzts.
>
Moving in with powerful grace, Jainur slices at Drizzts.
Drizzts fails to dodge, moving directly into the blow. The broadsword lands
a light hit to his chest! (DR has a better comat system then GS in my opinion, you have to use strategy when attacking, instead of just typing 'attack soandso', you have jab/bash/slice/thrust/lunge/charge/chop etc, each with their own bonuses to balance, negatives to fatigue, etc )
>
Drizzts says, "what the hell? we ain't started"
>
Moving with incredible power and control, Jainur slices at
Drizzts. Drizzts fails to dodge, taking the full blow. The broadsword lands
a hard hit that etches a light cut into the right side of the chest, lightly
stunning him!
'we didn't?
>You ask, "we didn't?"
>
You hear the voice of Duath ask, "we have to wait?"
>
Jainur asks, "Oh no?"
>
Moving in with powerful grace, Jainur slices at Drizzts.
Drizzts fails to evade, leaning wrong and blundering into the blow. The
broadsword lands a solid hit that nicks his left forearm!
>
Duath comes out of hiding.
Duath traces an arcane sigil in the air.
You recognize the spell as Frostbite.
>'you started when all three of you attacked Jain
You say, "you started when all three of you attacked Jain"
>
Jainur says, "We started in town"
>
Jainur moves into a position to parry.
>
Duath seems to be looking for a hiding place.
>
Drizzts says, "good job people"
>
* Drizzts was just struck down!
>
With the speed and temerity of swooping falcon, Jainur
slices at Drizzts. Drizzts fails to evade, taking the full blow. The
broadsword lands a massive strike that slices through the neck and sends his head
flying through the air!
* Drizzts is slain before your eyes!
Drizzts's white pine crossbow falls to the ground.(People still drop their weapon when they die, kinda like how it used to be in GS awhile back)

>
You hear the ghostly voice of Drizzts say, "that's fair"
>
You notice Duath slip into a hiding place.
>'We don't play fair
You say, "We don't play fair"
>
Jainur puts his lion in his journey pack.
>
Jainur picks up a light white pine crossbow.
Your concentration slips for a moment, and your spell is
lost.
>rel
You weren't preparing a spell.
You weren't holding any mana.
>prep frb 24
hide
You come out of hiding.
You feel as if that will use up about half your current
harness.
You trace an arcane sigil in the air, shaping the pattern of
the Frostbite spell.
>Jainur puts his crossbow in his journey pack.
>
You see Jainur glance at you as you hide.
You blend in with your surroundings, but cannot shake the
feeling that you drew attention to yourself.
Roundtime 3 seconds.
>
You hear the ghostly voice of Drizzts say, "jainur. tis
graverobbin"
>
Jainur asks, "Yea, so?"
>
Jainur sheathes his broadsword.
>
You feel fully prepared to cast your spell.
>
Jainur gets a majestic cambrinth lion from inside his
journey pack.
>
You notice Jainur slip into a hiding place.
>
Jainur comes out of hiding.
look
>[Northeast Wilds, Bramble Thicket]
The bramble thicket is not very dense here, and its tangled,
matted shrubs seem to shrink back from the north side of the clearing,
almost as if shunning it. Just beyond the clearing rises a massive gate.
Sere vines and dead vermin are scattered about its base, but nothing, not
even moss, mars its surface. You also see a small thin path.
Also here: Jainur, the body of Scout Drizzts who is lying
down
Obvious paths: north.
>
* Amberdream was just struck down!
>
Jainur says, "Man, that was a weak IP"(IP=ice patch)
>drag jain path
You come out of hiding.
Jainur pulls away from you.
>drag driz path
Drizzts's body seems rooted in place and can't be dragged!
>hide
You melt into the background, fairly confident that your
attempt to hide was not noticed.
Roundtime 3 seconds.
>
Everburned comes out of hiding.
With the speed and temerity of swooping falcon, Everburned
fires a crossbow bolt at Jainur. Jainur evades, leaning to one side with no
room to spare.
The crossbow bolt lands nearby!(DR's exp system is basically, the more you do it the better your at it, people usually have 2 weapons, a bow/crossbow/sling and a melee weapon)
>cast
You come out of hiding.
You gesture.
Your cambrinth ring emits a loud *snap* as it discharges its
power to aid your spell.
You manage to channel most of your energy into the spell.
The rest is wasted. (cambrinth is basically a battery, you can put mana into it for later use)
Ice crystals begin to form in the air.
Everburned shivers as her body is coated in frost!
Duath's ethereal shield crackles with energy!
Jainur's ethereal shield crackles with energy!
Drizzts shivers as his body is coated in frost!
>
Duath comes out of hiding.
Duath gestures.
Ice crystals begin to form in the air.
Everburned shivers as her body is coated in frost!
Your ethereal shield crackles with energy!
Duath's ethereal shield crackles with energy!
Jainur's ethereal shield crackles with energy!
Drizzts shivers as his body is coated in frost!
>
Awkwardly, Everburned fires a crossbow bolt at Jainur.
Jainur evades, twisting easily away from the blow.
The crossbow bolt lands nearby!
>
Jainur yawns expansively.
>fire ever
Mirieen comes out of hiding.
Looking as if this was a bad idea, Mirieen fires a crossbow
bolt at Jainur. Jainur dodges, with a practiced hand.
The crossbow bolt lands nearby!
>
< Moving as one fluid extension of power, you fire a bodkin
arrow at Everburned. Everburned attempts to dodge, taking the full
blow. The arrow lands a hard hit that drives the kneecap clean off the left
knee and savages the surrounding ligaments.


The bodkin arrow lodges itself deeply into Everburned!
[You're winded, solidly balanced and in dominating position.]

Your bodkin arrow just broke!

[Roundtime 1 sec.]
>
Jainur holds a majestic cambrinth lion in both hands and
closes his eyes in concentration.
>
You notice Duath slip into a hiding place.
>
Everburned flounders about on the ground.
>load
You reach into your quiver and get one of your bodkin arrows
to load your short bow.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
>fire ever
Everburned says, "that's so sad"
>
< Moving strongly, you fire a bodkin arrow at Everburned.
Everburned fails to evade, taking the full blow. The arrow lands a grazing
blow to Everburned's right leg but damaging your bodkin arrow on
Everburned's leathers.
The bodkin arrow falls to the ground!
[You're solidly balanced and in dominating position.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
>
Everburned leaps to her feet!
>
Mirieen rises to a kneeling position.
>
Mirieen stands up.
>
Everburned slings a light white pine crossbow over her
shoulder.load
>Jainur traces an arcane sigil in the air.
You recognize the spell as Dragon's Breath.
Mirieen says, "hah"
>
You reach into your quiver and get one of your bodkin arrows
to load your short bow.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
>
Jainur turns to face Everburned.
>
Everburned slings an Elothean silverwillow crossbow over her
shoulder.
>fire mir
Everburned retreats from combat.
>
Everburned retreats from combat.
Jainur gets a bottle of naphtha from inside his journey pack.
...wait 1 seconds.
>fire mir
Mirieen appears to be trying to avoid being engaged.
>
< Driving in like the irresistable force of a cyclone but
moving in an unexpected way, you fire a bodkin arrow at Mirieen. Mirieen
fails to evade, failing miserably. The arrow lands an awesome strike that
punctures deeply, sending a stream of pulsing blood everywhere (Nice spleen
shot!), dealing her a vicious stun and she falls to the ground.


The bodkin arrow lodges itself savagely into Mirieen!
[You're solidly balanced and in dominating position.]

Your bodkin arrow just broke!

[Roundtime 1 sec.]
>
Jainur splashes some naphtha on Everburned and makes a
gesture.
Jainur's cambrinth lion emits a loud *snap*.
Everburned bursts into flame!
>load
You reach into your quiver and get one of your bodkin arrows
to load your short bow.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
>
Jainur puts his naphtha in his journey pack.
>fire mir
...wait 1 seconds.
>
Jainur gets a broadsword from inside his wooden sheath.
Jainur draws forth a broadsword.
>fire mir
Jainur moves into a position to parry.
>
* Mirieen was just struck down!
>
< Moving with powerful grace, you fire a bodkin arrow at
Mirieen. Mirieen fails to evade, leaning wrong and blundering into the blow.
The arrow lands a light hit to Mirieen's left leg but dinging your bodkin
arrow on Mirieen's cuirbouilli coat.


The bodkin arrow lodges itself shallowly into Mirieen!

* Mirieen is slain before your eyes!
Mirieen's light crossbow falls to the ground.

[You're solidly balanced]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
>load
You reach into your quiver and get one of your bodkin arrows
to load your short bow.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
>
Everburned retreats from combat.
>
Everburned retreats from combat.
>
You hear the ghostly voice of Drizzts say, "jeez. attacks me
when i'm off to come tell the people we are in cemetary"
Everburned just went north.
>fire ever
...wait 1 seconds.
>
You hear the ghostly voice of Drizzts say, "you people make
me sick"
>
Jainur blinks.
>
Jainur's group just went north.

[Hilltop Cemetery, Lich Gate]
The ground beneath your feet is black and dead, as though it
had once been engulfed in a great inferno. Oddly enough, the Lich Gate
before you appears pristine and intact, unscathed by the apparent waste and
desolation that surround or perhaps radiate from it.
Also here: Jainur
Obvious paths: south.
>hide
Jainur searches around for a moment.
>
You melt into the background, fairly confident that your
attempt to hide was not noticed.
Roundtime 3 seconds.
>
Jainur sheathes his broadsword.
>
Everburned comes out of hiding.
>fire ever
Everburned screams as the flames continue to consume her
flesh!
>
You come out of hiding.
< Driving in with naturally fluid movements, you fire a
bodkin arrow at Everburned. Everburned fails to dodge, mis-stepping and
blundering into the blow. The arrow lands a good strike to Everburned's left
eye but dinging your bodkin arrow on Everburned's leathers as she staggers
to the ground.


The bodkin arrow lodges itself shallowly into Everburned!
[You're solidly balanced and in dominating position.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
>
Jainur puts his lion in his journey pack.
>
Jainur begins to advance towards Everburned.
>load
You reach into your quiver and get one of your bodkin arrows
to load your short bow.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
>
Jainur gets a light white pine crossbow from inside his
journey pack.
>fire ever
* Everburned was just struck down!
>
Driving in like the irresistable force of a cyclone, Jainur
fires a crossbow bolt at Everburned. Everburned fails to evade, taking the
full blow. The bolt lands a hard hit that pierces the bones of the upper
arm and gets temporarily stuck (Wipe the marrow off!) but dinging his
crossbow bolt on her leathers!


The crossbow bolt lodges itself deeply into Everburned!

* Everburned is slain before your eyes!
>
Everburned is already quite dead.
>
Jainur says, "LOL"
>
You hear the voice of Duath exclaim, "yay!"
'never mess with Jainur
>You say, "never mess with Jainur"
>'ever
You say, "ever"
>
Jainur says, "I killed you with your friends xbow"
>
Jainur says, "That's awesom

[Edited on 7-20-2003 by Red Devil]

[Edited on 7-20-2003 by Red Devil]

[edge]

Heroes Journey was suppose to be their graphical game. But they lost funding years ago. They told us this at a Simutronics tour the first Simucon I went to. But look at it this way. Simu has hardly no overhead. They can last a long time. They pay their employees nothing to McDonald wages. Gemstone or Crackstone is a addictive game like a bad drug that ruins lives. But they will always have some addicts that need a fix no matter what the price is.

[Dighn Darkbeam]

Wow, that combat system is really something. The engagement system looks weak but everything else was quite entertaining to read.

Dragon Realms looks to be a very polished game.

[Soulpieced]

I just like seeing the numbers.

[Drew2]

Originally posted by Bobmuhthol

Counter-Strike. I started playing again, and had to upgrade everything because I didn't have the most recent version of it. No server didn't have the most recent version. Guess what! I couldn't play and had to adjust.

I don't know if anyone pointed this out yet, because I haven't finished the thread, but I had to emphasize that Bobmuhthol, Lord of Grammar and Spelling, used a double negative in his sentence.

[Warriorbird]

Mind you, that's a Hing log. While Hing stuff is demi entertaining, its not actually "HUNTING" per se, typically.

[Bobmuhthol]

Yes, Tayre, I used a double negative. HOly ccrap. I have such poor grammar. :( :( :(

The problem with Simu is that they treat us like dirt and we take it. Picture the poor battered beaten wife that stays with her abusive husband... She says "But I love him!" and continues to take the abuse. The reason Simu will never learn is because we take their abuse with a grin. The phrase, "Thankyou sir may I have another?" comes into my head...


Seazarius

[StrayRogue]

Dragon Realms has less people in it on average (about 700 peak time). No idea on the Active accounts though. I feel the higher end txt based Rping (GS being there) will stay, however the very way it is run will kill of the crowd who come here BECAUSE of it being txt based (which is often associated with being much more interlectual, much more mature than graphical MUDs).

In terms of Mechanics and Managment (in regards to GMs etc), GS is at a peak. GS4 is a needless risk. Many people are happy with GS3. As the human condition dictates, change is often percieved as bad.

I believe in one of Malok's last comments before he left:
GS4 will kill or save Gemstone.