Shattered Kingdoms

Here's the obligatory "Hey guys, can I play too?" newbie post. I like the game so far but I have one concern.

How can I get involved with the playerbase? This is the most important thing to me when trying a new MUD. As someone who has played an RP MUD or two in his lifetime, I enjoy exploring, questing, killing things, PvP, and making an effective character. That said, without other players involved in the experience it is ultimately pointless.

At the time of writing I lounge in the Inn to meet people in between grinding NPCs and poking around the world cautiously. Sadly, when I run into to people, I find that my greetings and RP are usually ignored or given a cursory nod at best. I am guessing there are a few reasons:

1) The holidays are over and everyone is getting back to the hamster wheel of work and/or school.

2) It is unwise to cough up your name or interact with just any old person you meet for PvP and conflict RP reasons.

3) In MUDs with small-ish active players and a slow trickle of newbies, one runs into a lot of alts and rerolls- people often assume a new character is played by an existing player that they've ran into a million times before.

4) My character is boring as hell, as I know next to nothing about the game and setting. I can read all the files I want but the setting of a good RP MUD is something I have to experience before I really grasp it.

As for my playstyle when a newbie, I tend to start characters with a vague idea of their persona and backstory, choosing to develop it organically over time once I get a good feel for the setting, theme, player conflict and storylines. I no longer have endless hours to pour into a game and am looking to play a consistent 5-15 hours a week. I like to quest, explore and kill stuff while roleplaying (it may not cater to an RP snob, but the best RP memories I have had involved just those simple things with some cool people). Will any of this be a hindrance on SK?

At any rate, I would appreciate any advice as to how I can get involved in the community. Thank you for reading my post.

Welcome!

I think, as far as cursory greetings go, you've just hit a streak of bad luck. Friday nights tend to be sparse, so perhaps people are returning to inns with less thought of socializing, and more thought of resting up to continue whatever they were about.

Personally I love the random encounters that inns can provide, but there are those times when I'm tired, I just have that one more goal I want to attain and then log off...

If you present yourself as new (to the inn, the city, the country) and esp. if you have 'New to Pyrathia' in your title, most will make more effort to slow down and interact, in personal experience.

Also, don't forget you can use the TELL command...find a likely title on the WHO list. (I have trouble with this one myself, but we can't all be introverts. )

Hope this helps, and have fun.

Thanks for the advice.

First I would lower your expectations.

If you want drama then deal with characters that get into a lot of it. Illianah. Terrell. Jorinthia. And so on.

If you want simple fun ask people if you can join their groups to go "do stuff" - which 99% of the time is collect kewl armorz and stuff.

Right now you're seeing one of the lower playing times. Sometimes, really early in the morning, it dips down below ten players, but it usually hovers around 30. Really active periods will bring us above 50.

Personally, I know exactly what you're talking about. Quite frankly, I can't keep a character unless I find someone interesting to play with within the span of several weeks. I usually find those people in the popular training areas, actually, and in the inns. In fact, the Bakemono Caves have been the spot where quite a majority of my characters have really come to life so far. I really wish I had some sort of formula for figuring it out, but so far it seems like luck of the draw to me.

We as a playerbase need to learn how to be more friendly. I think too often we assume that every char we run into is being operated by a seasoned SK player when clearly that isnt the case.

Great roleplay is always rewarded with conversation.

Well, except when I gave you the silent treatment just now...but there was still great roleplay. ^_^

No there wasn't. Not on your part at least. I just feel bad for the lowbie that sought my help right before you ganked me.

That lowbie was me.

Also, might hit up people with PAR at the beginning of their title in the WHO list, they gain the Paragon title for exceptional RP and may be able to help in some way (if even just to hook you up with some other characters around your level / style).

Also, every country has a Tribunal, and there are some Cabals out there you might want to learn about and get involved with one, as well as Religions (see 'help gods' if you havn't already for a general idea and each god's individual help file too for that matter).

And above all, welcome and enjoy!