Game Review: A Review of the Lensmoor MUD

What a MUD is, basically, depends on how you first learned what M.U.D. stands for. Most commonly it's known as a Multi-User Dimension/Dungeon. What this means is there are no pictures, you play the game via text. Yes, consider it an older 'school' version of role playing games. These games allow you, the user, to use your imagination to picture the world, using their provided descriptions of rooms. Lensmoor is one that has been around since the late 90's and has created a vast world in part due to those who originally began building the game and those that have come and gone since then. Without their creativity and ideas, Lensmoor might not even be as grand as it is today.

There are two sides to the game Lensmoor. One is the lush, green continent of Lensmoor, while far to the east is their arch enemy: Antrippa. These two continents are absolutely different in every way possible. From the characters that are available to playing there to the very towns, cities and other areas that your characters can create, this kind of option gives more playability and more of an adventure for players.

Antrippa

Antrippa is considered the harsh continent. Full of hot, scorching desert and the desolate towns that have been left in the wake of a war that has been going on for many years between Antrippa and Lensmoor. Some consider this the more difficult continent to play on because of the fewer amount of people that play on this side. However, it often times is the most helpful of the two sides, so, I suggest trying out the Antrippan side first. It's slower paced in many aspects and players tend to be more willing to help aquire weapons, armor and magical jewelry to help your 'lowbie' character out initially.

When you sign onto the game and choose Antrippa, you are given a series of choices. What race you wish to play. There are quite a few races available exclusively to Antrippa and vice versa to Lensmoor. Those that are most played on Antrippa are the louryls, which are humanoid like creatures that are extremely attractive and have pointed ears. There are also the shadow dwelling human-like skulks who keep to themselves generally, the cyclopses - which are just like the ones in mythology - large, human-based beings with one eye centered in their head. You also have the alaemn which are like imp-bats with leathery wings, small, hairy bodies and tiny nub-horns atop their head. You also have the water-based creature known as the xorrto - who have scaled bodies and no eyelids. Of course, orcs also dwell upon Antrippa, which are your nasty, foul pig-crossed-with-a-human breed. There is also the arachnaia, which are human-like beings who are descendants of spiders, who have extra legs that are often small and useless. They also carry poisonous fangs to land deadly blows to their enemies. Finally there is the Gandor race, who are a toughened group of ogre-like beings. These are playable by anybody and can be created as both male and female - depending on the choice.

There are other small differences in Antrippa. Questing timers are 1 minute shorter between quests, as the immortals have deemed Antrippa more difficult. Antrippa also hosts its own set of religions from all walks of life: good, evil, chaotic and neutral. Who you chose and what you make of these opportunities is solely up to you the player. However, Antrippa also provides helpfiles which may give insight as to how each race SHOULD be played, such as gandors are known for being chaotic.

Lensmoor

Lensmoor is the green continent to the west. Full of her own set of races such as humans, which since we all are this there is no need to elaborate upon them. There are also the very fair and attractive sidhe (pronnounced shee) who are elf-like in appearance and very dedicated beings. They complete everything they set their minds on. There are also the tiny sprites, who measure around six inches in height and have the same beautiful wings that dragonflies are known to have. Ents, however, are a large tree people who due to their size are slow movers. There are also gnomes, who are short, stocky creatures and the selkie, who are seal-based beings with claws and fur coats - the water being of the Lensmoor continent. Lensmoor also offers quicklings, which as their name suggests, they are a flighty hyper race that can confuse the living daylight out of people. Also, Lensmoor hosts the most complex race they have: the haikjadeam. The best way to describe these beings are cold-blooded snake like beings with fangs. They are neither human nor mammal, so they often can be the most interesting ones to play.

Both continents offer remort races that are shared between the continents. A lot of determination in what you remort as can depend on your roleplay or even what your character follows religiously. There are the Tauthas which can be played in regards to any alignment. Simply put these are super-humans who are evolved. There are also knaelis which are your typical leprechaun-like person that can 'pop' from place to place and build up static electricity. These are quite mischevious and awfully fun to play.There are numerous types of dragons to play, which are just like the ones in most stories. Scales and actions vary depending on the type, be it a fire dragon or a swamp dragon. Angels are under a strict code of ethics, being a sign of everything pure to the point they MUST follow a good deity at all times and act properly in character. Shapeshifters are just that - they can shift their bodies into various forms - from dogs, birds to any animal that is native to the lands. This can be beneficial to fights depending on what animal they shift to. Liches are the undead, who preserve their bodies and using necromancy (dark spells) they can continue to thrive. They can not breed and are considered an evil race. The troll is a large rock-based being that bonds with the earth to become a troll. They are large in stature and deliver a strong fight. Finally, there are the demons who descend to become this. They live under a code of demon ethics, which state that they MUST act evil at all times and only tend to assist others where it somehow benefits them. There is also the rebirths - which remain the same race they were previously but aquire +2 to all stats.

Characters can chose to roleplay instead of fight or fight and avoid roleplaying. Those who do roleplay can aquire points to both status and roleplaying which can help advance a character. Depending on how you play you can be statused loved, hated, ignored or even ridiculed - among other things. If you are a good, dedicated roleplayer you can earn 20 roleplaying points and earn free 'restrings'. A restring is where you can have an item and rename it whatever you want (within reason) and even change the description. Up before you get 20 points you have to use quest points to buy tokens in order to do this task.

Lensmoor as a whole also offers the ability to marry and procreate. Not every race can breed together and remort races have a higher infant mortality rate. If you do marry and breed, children are entered into the game at 7 years of age. These are often excellent resources to roleplay with and many, many people opt for this. Pregnancies and durations vary depending on the race of the mother - some are extremely short and some seem to carry on forever.
Like in real life, characters age and after they hit a certain age they begin to lose abilities. This can be reversed with a 'restore youth' spell which may be aquired at level 80.

Lensmoor also offers various specifications. You can be a witch, a paladin or even a crafter. There are infinite possibilities to what your character becomes in life. There are always people on day or night depending where you live and most everyone is willing to answer questions. If you're curious you can always log on as a guest (which how to do this are available through the site) and inquire to any of the many willing helpers or ask the staff of the game for assistance. They can even give you helpful suggestions on where to start, how to find your way about the mapped out areas and perhaps even give you a little helping boost. One thing Lensmoor is reknown for are the helpful staff. They are always prompt to assist in problems when they do arise and they try to resolve problems as peacefully as possible in a timely fashion.

Lensmoor is classified as a newbie friendly MUD and one that I reccomend to anyone. In fact, I play it quite regularly and offer my own assistance in playing. However, who I am I won't give out in this article - you'd have to ask personally to find out. But happy MUD-ing and best of luck finding a game you can feel good about playing. Even if it is only to take your mind off of real life for a while.