TMC Player Reviews: LegendMUD

(The following review comment is the opinion of the comment's author [Dietric] and in no way represents the opinions of this website or its staff).

I considered not responding to this review at all, instead letting
the review I wrote a few weeks ago stand on it's own as stark
contrast to the opinions of WilliamHung, but then a few things
occurred to me:

1. Hey, I'm a new player. Why don't I feel the same way this guy
does? Why is it that I didn't find the same flaws he did? I began
playing LegendMUD just recently...and while I found the xp process
difficult, I didn't find it debilitatingly so. The game DOES require
some effort so as to weed out those who would simply make throw-away
character after throw-away character in an attempt to achieve the
ultimate in powergaming monsters. I've managed 35 of 50 levels in my
first month of play.

2 - Hey, I'm a new player who made a magic-using character...why
don't I find the magic system as complicated as this guy? Certainly,
it's not as cut and dry as most 'ca fireball' magic systems.
However, I find the difficulty in obtaining and figuring out the magic
system balanced by the sheer number of spells and, dare I say,
coolness the system affords. Amount of time to figure out how the
magic system worked: 3 days. Though I bet I was a slow learner. Amount
of time it took to realize how cool the magic system was compared to
others I'd dealt with: 1.

3 - Hey, I'm a new player who sees new players everyday on the
MUD... how is the player base dwindling? No words necessary: I am a
living contradiction to this claim. As far as the 'Only the cynical
and unfriendly remain' claim...let me get back to that. Keep it in
mind.

4 - Hey, I'm a new player and I just read all about how the
immortals are in the process of revamping post-level 50 (the maximum
level) gameplay. Though, currently there are rewards in place for
experience garnered after level 50.

5 - Hey, I'm a new player and I've found all of the immortal staff
pretty helpful. Maybe this is because of recent restructuring or maybe
its because:

6 - Holy cow! WilliamHung IS IN FACT one of the cynical and unhelpful
players he alludes to in his review! While I certainly can't refute
such obvious evidence, I can assure new players that there ARE very
helpful and nice folks on the MUD. For more information on that, read
my player review...or any of the others that are up, for that matter.

While I generally adhere to a no-retaliation policy, I feel it
justified in this case because I really believe that WilliamHung's
review is a mean-spirited attempt at ceasing the growth of LegendMUD.
Either he doesn't play the same MUD I've been playing, or he hasn't
played it in a while, OR he's bitter about something or another and
just can't get over it...hence the need for an anonymous review.

In the end neither WilliamHung nor myself are what make or break
LegendMUd. The MUD itself has been quite capable of existing by virtue
of its own merit for 11 years now. So judge for yourself...log on and
write your own review!

(The following review comment is the opinion of the comment's author [Zillah] and in no way represents the opinions of this website or its staff).

Alright, normally I wouldn't be responding to this review either,
but apparently I'm not the only person who feels this way about the
above review, so here it is.

I've been playing LegendMUD for four years, give or take, and have
been playing seriously for around three years. I haven't seen
everything to be sure, considering how long Legend has been up, but
I've seen enough. Whenever I meet another MUDder, I immediately
mention LegendMUD as a recommendation. In fact, it is the -only- MUD I
recommend -- partly because after I started playing Legend, I never
played another MUD again. Why? Because even though Legend is thirteen
years old, it is constantly evolving. There are new features, areas,
items, quests, mobs, and players on a monthly basis. One never runs
out of things to explore and learn; there are a wide variety of
classes and subclasses to choose from, a very flexible stat and eq
system, a myriad of areas in an enormous world to explore or lay the
smack down on from ancient to medieval to industrial. In addition,
Legend boasts one of the hardest-working and most helpful staff
you're likely to find anywhere else. Some of the people who are
working behind the scenes at LegendMUD have been doing so for years,
and are consitently active... and that's saying a lot, especially
taking into consideration that LegendMUD is entirely FREE.

Yes, I will agree: as a new player, you are going to encounter some
difficulties. That's to be expected when playing on a new system that
you don't know yet.

We're all gamers here. You know the drill.
Leveling and learning come slowly at first, but once you get the
knack for it, you'll find that it really isn't that difficult. And
as far as help and support go -- the playerbase is fantastic, (the
above bitter commenter aside,) and we -will- help you. Legend even has
a clan of characters dedicated purely to helping new players to get
their bearings: 'NPH' or the 'New Player Helpers,' (of which I
myself am a member.) And again, I point to Legend's immortal staff,
who in my experience are also eternally patient and helpful. If you
are respectful, people will without fail come to your aid. I don't
know when the above post was made, however I can also say that the
statement that 'there is no endgame for characters achieving max
level' is patently untrue. Among some other intensely exciting recent
changes is the 'eralevel' system, allowing characters who have
reached max level to earn experience points toward rare new skills and
abilities. Playing is what you make of it. If you expect everything to
be handed to you, maybe it isn't the game for you. If you want
something easy, something that doesn't occasionally challenge you,
then look elsewhere. This game gives back what you put into it.

In conclusion, I will say this: yes, LegendMUD has its flaws. It is
not 'the perfect MUD.' There's no such thing. Tastes vary, and not
every MUD is for every player. But if you're at all intrigued by the
concept that Legend is based around, chances are you will enjoy your
experience. All in all, the downfalls are far outweighed by the merits
of this gem.