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" Once you begin gaining in power, you can select any of the myriad beasts you see prowling the landscape to be your own pet Titan. You will magically enhance the creature, causing it to grow to gargantuan proportions, towering meters above the land and the villagers. But the beast comes to you stupid; you must teach him what to do and what not to do. This is done simply through slapping him when you want to discourage his behaviour and stroking him when you want to encourage his behaviour."

"Fucking Hell, if you had a nickel for every time you lag-killed me ... oh, nevermind, you DO."
;)

--The Kid
The Citadel

I played MUDs. This is my story.

It started out easily enough, my dad brought me a clipping from a local newspaper, it talked about these "Online Role Playing Games" called MUDs. I thought "What the hell..." This was the insidious beginning of a horrible tale of abuse and neglect.

It didn't take much... just that first little glimpse of the Telnet screen, then I was hooked. That's how they getcha, first, it's just a login... then it's just one more level... pretty soon, I was needing four or five levels just to cop the same buzz. I was no longer satisfied with a simple hack and slash MUD, now I needed immersive automated Questing, and Spec_Proc MOBs that would deliver customer EQ designed in the OLC engine. There was no limit to my insane desire for more!

I would stay up for days on end, just playing. Nothing mattered anymore. The whole world went away when I logged on, all my problems seemed to fade. My family started getting worried... asking why they never saw me any more... I was so ashamed. of my addiction. I just put some Visine® in my blearied, blood-shot eyes, and escaped to my terminal... to take another hit.

I, fortunately, am a survivor. I eventually became on of the pushers. I made "IMMortal" status. After a while, I stopped using, just pushin'. I'd tell people at school, even people I hardly knew... anything to get a few more users. The first one was always free...

Soon, I grew weary of this, and I started abusing my power, and the other Czars started to get angry. So what if I loaded sense_life MOB into a !PRIVATE room, and then switched into that MOB so as to vicariously partake in a not-so-private conversation? Is that so wrong?

I was sitebanned. *gasp*gasp*. I didn't know what to do with my life, I needed a fix, I had no where to turn! I didn't want to learn a new engine! Fuck MUSHs! I need a buzz!

Heeeeeeyyy... these computer things are pretty fuckin' cool... not bad... yeah, this is fun... I can make money doing these web pages... kickass...

And with that, I had found it. My true calling. MUD-free, and on the straight-and-narrow (snicker, right), I was still a reclusive hermit rarely retreating from the cool glow of my CRT, but none the less... I was MUD-free.

This is my tale of survival. If anyone else has anything to add, please, do. :)

--The Kid (Formerly, Baldor) The Citadel

Ironic. Comedy Central was running a back-to-back-to-back showing of "Revenge of The Nerds" this weekend. ;) *grin*

--The Kid
Webmaster, The Citadel

It has 300-foot cows, for Christ's sake, what more could you want?!

--The Kid

You can check out the original open source dialouge also @ The Citadel, here's a direct link for you lazies. ;)

--The Kid