Shattered Kingdoms

The thing is, most people really aren't as into roleplaying as players of Shattered Kingdoms are. Check the thread on [REDACTED].com and you'll see that nearly everybody who still plays plays for the stories (not sure about peso ) Other muds (i.e. Achaea, Aardwolf) are far less focused on the RP aspect. SK is the only MUD I've ever come across with anything remotely like the greeting system. Frankly, SK does its damndest to limit OOC interactions, at least compared to other MUDs, and it does it well. Of course, that's not necessarily the answer. Perhaps we should have an OOC channel? I know for certain that I'd always have it turned off, but it might give the pbase a boost, hate it as I would.

If we have to become a clone of other games in order to succeed, what's the point? We've always known that SK's relatively unique mixture of PK and RP was going to make us more of a boutique game.

That doesn't mean it's the end of the line for us. People predict our demise every year and it hasn't happened yet. But the advent of super MMOs like WoW means that we have to try a lot harder to get our name out there. We hadn't made any serious efforts to recruit players from the existing mud communities in ten years. (The TMS Vote is helpful, but doesn't represent the staff actually making an effort.)

SK Bonanza was the first try at doing it and I think it's shown that there are people out there who are still willing to give our mix a shot. You can be sure that we will continue to do more. It may not be exactly like SK Bonanza, but we will continue to reach out to various venues to recruit new players.

SK Bonanza = kickass.

I think monthly bonanza's and large global events associated with it can only help us. Yes, the twinks will take advantage of it, but they will take advantage of anything.

SK Bonanza once per month + GRPs, no matter how small = SK growth

*smirk*

So tempted to edit the title of this topic to "why SK player count is increasing"

Wise-ass.

I came in during the Bonanza, but things like this could drive me away pretty quickly:

> open se
You open the cell door.

[HP:100%] [ME:100%] [PE: 84%]
> se
You walk southeast.

A large cell
This room looks to be quite shabby, one corner is obviously soiled by
urine and other wastes. There are a number of leg irons attached to the
different corners of the room. A small window in one corner allows no
sunlight in, but still allows the snow and other poor weather patterns to
make you feel their touch.
Obvious exits: nw
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
This humanoid has the appearance of a young, molting insect.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
This humanoid has the appearance of a young, molting insect.
This creature is a bizarre, flying crustacean with calculating eyes.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
This humanoid has the appearance of a young, molting insect.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
This creature is a bizarre, flying crustacean with calculating eyes.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
A humanoid insect larvae is here.
This creature is a bizarre, flying crustacean with calculating eyes.
This humanoid has the appearance of a young, molting insect.
This humanoid has the appearance of a young, molting insect.
A heavily muscled peasant stands here, eating more than his share of food.
A heavily muscled peasant stands here, eating more than his share of food.
A heavily muscled peasant stands here, eating more than his share of food.
A heavily muscled peasant stands here, eating more than his share of food.
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your chest is deflected by a dark red chainmail shirt.
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your right leg is deflected by a pair of heavy cloth pants.

[HP:100%] [ME:100%] [PE: 83%]
>
You slash at a molting insect humanoid's right arm, cutting a painful wound across it!
A molting insect humanoid misses you.
A molting insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your head, but its blow is deflected by a fur cap.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your left arm, but its blow is deflected by a pair of seal skin sleeves.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A flying insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A flying insect humanoid claws at your right leg, causing a sore wound.
A flying insect humanoid claws your forehead, causing a small wound.
A flying insect humanoid claws at your right leg, tearing open a bleeding wound!
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your stomach, but its blow is deflected by a thick cloth belt.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your chest, but its blow is deflected by a dark red chainmail shirt.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your left arm, but its blow is deflected by a pair of seal skin sleeves.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your right leg, but its blow is deflected by a pair of heavy cloth pants.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your left arm, but its blow is deflected by a pair of seal skin sleeves.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your head, but its blow is deflected by a fur cap.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your chest, but its blow is deflected by a dark red chainmail shirt.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your stomach, but its blow is deflected by a thick cloth belt.
A flying insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A flying insect humanoid claws at your left wrist, causing a big gash.
A flying insect humanoid claws at your left arm, tearing open a big bleeding wound!
A flying insect humanoid misses you.
A molting insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A molting insect humanoid misses you.
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your right leg is deflected by a pair of heavy cloth pants.
A molting insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your chest is deflected by a dark red chainmail shirt.
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your head is deflected by a fur cap.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your left leg, but its blow is deflected by a pair of rough brown boots.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your chest, but its blow is deflected by a dark red chainmail shirt.
A molting insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your chest is deflected by a dark red chainmail shirt.
A molting insect humanoid claws your right finger, scratching it slightly.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your right leg, but its blow is deflected by a pair of heavy cloth pants.
A molting insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your left arm is deflected by a pair of seal skin sleeves.
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your chest is deflected by a dark red chainmail shirt.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your stomach, but its blow is deflected by a thick cloth belt.
A flying insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A flying insect humanoid claws at your left arm, cutting a painful wound across it!
A flying insect humanoid claws at your chest, barely scratching you.
A flying insect humanoid claws your chest, cutting a small but painful wound.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your stomach, but its blow is deflected by a thick cloth belt.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your stomach, but its blow is deflected by a thick cloth belt.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your right arm, but its blow is deflected by a pair of seal skin sleeves.
You double over as a flying insect humanoid's thrashing tail strikes you!
A flying insect humanoid misses you.
A flying insect humanoid misses you.
A flying insect humanoid claws at your chest, causing a deep gash.
You double over as a larval insect humanoid's thrashing tail strikes you!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your stomach, but its blow is deflected by a thick cloth belt.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your left arm, but its blow is deflected by a pair of seal skin sleeves.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid screams and attacks!
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your right leg, but its blow is deflected by a pair of heavy cloth pants.
A larval insect humanoid misses you.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your left leg, but its blow is deflected by a pair of heavy cloth pants.
A larval insect humanoid tries to sting at your head, but its blow is deflected by a fur cap.
You double over as a flying insect humanoid's thrashing tail strikes you!
A flying insect humanoid claws your right leg, cutting through a muscle!
A flying insect humanoid claws at your stomach, scratching you slightly.
A flying insect humanoid claws your chest, causing a gaping wound!
You double over as a molting insect humanoid's thrashing tail strikes you!
A molting insect humanoid misses you.
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your chest is deflected by a dark red chainmail shirt.
A molting insect humanoid's claw at your stomach is deflected by a thick cloth belt.
A molting insect humanoid misses you.
Overall, a molting insect humanoid has a few scratches.
And on and on till death...

Now I am all for invasions and role-play events and such, but hundreds of aggressive race-helping creatures in the new player school is a bit much for me.

I have to agree, actually. They load everywhere: low level areas, noobie areas, heavily-trafficed wilderness areas. There is certainly a reason for their presence and some of us are working to find the IC solution to the problem, but it might get on the nerves of several low-level or even mid-level characters if they have to fight the things every two rooms or so.