Review Submitted By: Hazgarn
Author Status: Player
Started on Buffy Mud: More than a year ago...
Submission Date: Dec 24, 2005
TMC Listing: Buffy Mud
The following review is the opinion of the review's author [Hazgarn]
and in no way represents the opinions of this website or its staff.
I can't honestly say my experience with MUDs is extensive. I've
played on five or six, usually for the space of about an hour or two.
I rarely come back a second time...
That said, I have been absolutely hooked on this game. My love is
rather lengthy, so if you wish you can skip to the bottom section
marked ==Summary== for pros and cons.
==Location== The arena is much smaller than that of most other MUDs,
confined to the town of Sunnydale, but the local is fully and
faithfully realized in the spirit of the shows on which it is based.
The small scale and enforced focus on roleplay make for an intimate
feel. Faces become familiar, and the sense of being part of a real
world full people interacting with one another.
Not that there is any shortage of places to be. Streets several rooms
long span the city, leading to interesting locations often ripped from
the show itself. The Bronze, Sunnydale High, the college, The Magic
Box, even the Hellmouth and the Initiative base are present and
accounted for. Others include the Demon Bar, the local mall, movie
theater, city features such as the courthouse, police station and
hospital, restaurants, parks and--of course--cemeteries. Extensive
tunnels twist and turn under the city's streets, full of danger
==Roleplay== Roleplay is mandatory. There are no tells, though
players are able to communicate through cellphones.
Characters are incredibly customizable. Even within the bounds of
your race, steps can be taken to make your character stand out by
choosing a subrace (ethnicity, or species if you're a demon) and an
accent to color your speech. Demon characters in particular are varied
in appearence, able to define it almost however they please, including
features such as horns, wings, claws that can be attained. Half-demons
can change between human and demon forms, and can choose what their
transformation will look like. Custom strings can be set for the eyes
and build, and hair can be set and reset in a similar fashion to fit
your character's mood. From weapons to clothing, items can be bought,
altered, and adjusted to create a unique look. Clothes get dirty, or
even covered in blood, so make sure you have extra outfits at home.
Frequent the gym to improve your character's appearance. Get a job
and earn money by mixing drinks, working as a lawyer or doctor, or
even catching kittens. A housing system also exists, though
real-estate prices are competitive to say the least. But everyone
starts with a generic house.
Alignment is starkly polarized between good (people with souls;
humans and half demons) and evil (the soulless; demons and vampires)
with scarcely the narrowest margin in between. Interplay on the most
basic level hinges on the battle between good and evil waged in the
city's streets.
==Races and Classes== There are four races: Human, Vampire, Demon and
Half-Demon. Each is played widely different, with separate rules
attatched. Naturally, vampires cannot go out after dawn without
suffering damage. Demons are mostly confined to the tunnels as well.
Half-demons can more easily pass for human, and can roam freely. But
catch any of them in public with their game face on and watch as the
SWAT shows up to clean house. Each race has different classes
available, with some exclusive only to that race. Only humans can be
Watchers or Slayers, and only demonic characters can be Devils or
Brutes.
==Combat== The combat system is based on real-life martial arts
styles kickboxing, aikido, karate and kungfu. Though fighting is
mostly automated, your choice of style can have a big impact on how
the battle goes and who gets out alive. Once an opponent's health is
dropped down, a finishing blow is needed to conclude the fight. This
can be a deathblow from a weapon, or a vampire's bite, but other
skills allow you to break necks, rip out hearts, or even tear your
enemies heads off. There are plenty of skills to help you out during
combat as well, moves to be added to your repertoire and combative
socials which can be used against your fellow players. Demons and
half-demons have unique skills/weapons exclusive to them, including
claws and fangs, wings, and magical abilites like ice breath and x-ray
vision.
==Magic== Also called Magick, but I will refrain. Various disciplines
of magic exist, from General magic, to Mental (psychic abilites) and
powerful Aligned spells. Many spells, like locations, come straight
from the show like 'rat transformation' and the floating pencil
trick. Aligned spellcasters can use an aspect to boost their power,
becoming familiarly dark and veiny. Magic users are subject to
withdrawals like in the show. Voodoo dolls can be made of player
characters and used to cast spells on them remotely or to injure and
torment with embarrasing control over socials.
==Player Killing== While player killing is allowed, it is regulated
to some degree. Inter-player fighting is encouraged if a part of
roleplay, but even disabling a player opponent can hold an experience
penalty. Death, be it dealt by man or mob, is generally just a narrow
escape. A near kill that leaves the person with a significant hospital
wait and plenty to think about during. More permanent fates exist
though. For a sizable amount of experiece a person can generate a
showdown with another player, during which time they can be rk'd
(real killed), ensouled, desouled, or sired if certain conditions are
met. Characters who began as human may not stay that way...
==Summary== In the interest of making a lengthy review less long,
I'll summarize my pros and cons... -Pros- *A game world built
accurately in the spirit of the series. *Setting and policy lend
themselves to immersive roleplay. *Combat system is easy to learn, and
not difficult to master. *Character customization is extensive,
detailed and full of untapped potential. *A small, but steady
playerbase of colorful individuals.
-Cons- *MUD website isn't updated regularly. *The small number of
players and polarized alignment system occasionally lends itself to in
character cliquishness. *Helpfiles are lacking, though players are
willing and able to provide help. So, what're you waiting for?
