Review Submitted By: Cirrem
Author Status: Player
Started on Avendar: The Crucible of Legends: December, 2003
Submission Date: May 27, 2004
TMC Listing: Avendar: The Crucible of Legends
The following review is the opinion of the review's author [Cirrem]
and in no way represents the opinions of this website or its staff.
Like some players, I have come to enjoy and appreciate the world of
the text medium. There are some things that can only be expressed
in this world, that simply can't be done in a graphical fashion.
One of these things is roleplaying, and even then I still feel a
desire to become embroiled in complex game mechanics. I have come
to find a beautiful mixture of these two components in the world of
Avendar.
With a number of unique races with specific traits and stats, and an
entire selection of classes that range from the form-assuming
Swordmasters to the mastery of fire and steel of the Fire Templars,
there are always classes and races that can suit a specific role
that you wish to create.
All of the areas are fully original, and every mob is abundantly
described, and typicaly very interactive through use of mob
programs. Quests range from the quaint collection and errand type,
to those where one unlocks the proper ritual in summoning demonic
powers through translation of riddles and studying the history of
various areas. Whenever I need a break from roleplaying, I can
always grab the explorer part of me and take heart in exploring an
area and realizing its beauty and uniqueness.
The mud itself is fully customized and heavily modified. The level
of complexity that exists within the class system has brought night
long discussions to the Avendar IRC channel, ranging from full blown
debates on playerkilling tactics to how certain spells and skills
can be used to maximize roleplaying potential. Some veteran players
have even gone on a limb to say that Avendar is possibly one of the
most complex games in terms of game mechanics and balance.
The learning curve in the Avendar world is steep, but extremely
rewarding. Playerkilling is limited, but is recognized as a
necessary tool in the world of roleplaying. Whether it is the
violent highwayman, or the evil purging of the zealots, there is
always something happening at the peak hours.
Needless to say, I have come to find a home in Avendar. The
learning curve is undoubtedly the largest drawback to Avendar. Many
lose their resolve in playing after becoming the victim of a
playerkill, and losing a number of their things. But for those who
can persevere and move past this, will find a very rich and
rewarding atmosphere for roleplayers, gamers, explorers, and
playerkillers.
