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[Fikes]

Gemstone IV is a highly developed MUD. It is very old, apparently it launched in 1988. Anyways, it is a Role play enforced, text based, pay to play game. Hit the back button yet?

Overall the game is very fun. It has options and mechanics you will probably never find in another MMO style game. For instance, while you have hitpoints, you also get wounds. It is possible to lose a leg in a fight. To get your leg back you have to go see an player empath (or eat herbs). The empath will then take your leg damage, transferring it to himself, not healing you directly, and then heal himself down, regenerating his leg.

Also, instead of getting experience when you kill a monster, the exp that you earned goes into a pool to get "absorbed" over time. This leads to plenty of role playing around town.

There are various combat maneuvers you can do as well, some of which knock down or stun an enemy. In this game, getting knocked down generally results in death.

The game offers a 30 day free trial, if you supply a credit card. After that it is 14.95 a month + 2.95 for any additional characters. That is right. For a text game. Beyond that there is also a "Platinum" subscription which is far more expensive and puts you on the "awesome" server that the developers pay more attention to and host events on.

Even beyond that are the events that come up, like the Halloween event. It was something like 80 bucks to attend. Seriously, I have never seen such a money hungry company.

Anyways, the game has a pretty strong community and has lead to many many enjoyable hours over the years I have played it off and on. If you are as bored as I am, supply a credit card and check it out. Everyone is willing to help new players.

[x2yzh9]

I played it. Was very fun, only second to HellMOO. I was an empath i'm sure. Was fun, anyway just sitting in the plaza center and roleplaying doing weird cutting rituals and making the cuts glow as part of empath magic was fun with people freaking out. I also got an escort to the cold dwarf town far south, kept slipping over there and someone dragged me back up the slope so i wouldn't fail futiley.

If you ever go to a cold place, make sure you've got nice stability. I hated slipping.

[Mr. Boh]

I played this a long time ago (I think it was Gemstone III back then) and enjoyed it. It's a shame to hear they're milking their customers so much these days - events and all that used to be free.

Another empath here, as well. I think it was the most enjoyable fantasy themed MUD I've ever played. Modus Operandi, a modern one set on a tropical island, was decent too.

[mithra]

I first played it back on AOL, and I've played the IV version a couple of times.  Got one character to Lord status.

It's a neat game, but I'll never play it again.  For one thing, it's a HUGE grindfest to actually make any kind of high level (partially caused by the xp absorbtion mentioned in the OP, which I actually think is a leftover from the days when they charged by the hour).

[Fikes]

I first played it back on AOL, and I've played the IV version a couple of times.  Got one character to Lord status.

It's a neat game, but I'll never play it again.  For one thing, it's a HUGE grindfest to actually make any kind of high level (partially caused by the xp absorbtion mentioned in the OP, which I actually think is a leftover from the days when they charged by the hour).

I think the XP absorb part is more a matter of encouraging people to go role play, which was always a big part of the game. If you are going to benifit from just sitting around, you might as well strike up a conversation and flesh out your character. I've made a war Mage. A wizard that uses and very large sword. He is a dwarf named Urists.