I started on ROS when it first started up. Or within the first 6 months anyways. I took a break for awhile and came back to a MUD that was revamped and with multiple features on it. Was pretty impressed to be honest. Triple classes, multiple tiers for classes, and the mud is almost completely original. I know for a fact that it is currently being added to in areas as I'm writing a few and know of another doing the same. It's pretty small, which isn't shocking in this day and age with the types of games you can play on today. That said, if you love mudding, this is a great one to go to. It's not hard to learn and the staff/players are willing to help. You can choose player-killing or non-PK. Great for those who just want to immerse themselves into the game if not into the competitive part of it.

Greetings fellow mudders. I am here today to tell you all that the Realm of Shadows (RoS) is back!!!!! I have been playing this mud since 2004 off and on. I have yet to find another mud that is anything like this one. I have tried many over the years and most are very confusing and not that easy to learn. RoS is very newbie friendly and always has someone one to help if needed. We have an Immortal led following system(like clans but not like clans lol) and a random code like i have never seen in any game. The random code creates random gear with random stats and puts in on a random mob. (Random hunting)

This allows all players to have unique gear. No players will have the same exact gear. Does it get any better than that?? Not in my opinion. :) This is just a couple of RoS's features. I can not list them all here as I would be writing a book. Lol. Come check us out!!!!!!!!

I was banned due to asking for my gear that the implementor took from me. The conversation was get new gear. I found this to be unfair, so at a later date of trying to get 3 years of work done in a few months. I posted a note. The implementor contacted me on my personal facebook and verbally abused me. I would not play here, and I do not suggest it for anyone else.

Just started with this MUD after a recommendation from a current player.

Great MUD to start with, really newbie friendly. The multiclassing facility makes getting your char started a bit easier rather than frustrated.

Seems easy to navigate around, lots of newbie areas to keep things interesting and a nice retrieval option.

Level based quest system also to help build up quest points to be exchanged for eq.

Some areas will be familiar, but it seems mostly unique. Join in and have some fun. No need to bother about wandering into the wrong area and losing everything!

Random eq is a really nice option, I'd not seen this before heavily customizable.

Imms are good, followings are an option so they'll keep and eye on you.

First thing - Great MUD, This MUD is great for experienced players and newbies alike. For an experienced player the multiclass feature allows for various combos within the standard classes this makes solo play easier

For newbies there is lots of support available from the experienced players who will always help but also from the IMMs one of whom will normally be around.

A clan system is available too. For a fee there is a nice corpse retrieval system to give new people license to explore, without fear that they'll lose their eq etc

The random items enhance the standard eq nicely. Meaning no two chars will ever be the same, but also anyone has the chance to find really good eq without having to know the MUD backwards.

Level tiers are a really neat touch, not only for additional stats. but also enhanced skills.

Some more redevelopment and skill changes are being looked at to further enhance playability. There is a forum to air views and have your chance to develop the MUD.

The MUD just needs a bigger playerbase, but if you do take a look you won't be disappointed. Stick around and help the MUD develop to its full potential. We need groups!

Overall: Imms - great and open to suggestions of improvement. Players - willing to help Playability - developed enough for experienced, easy enough for newbies.

I have played many muds, hack and slash, roleplaying, goofy chatty muds. But when it came down to it, i really wanted something that could keep my attention more than a month. Most of the time i'd hit top level and piddle around trying to find something to do, someone to roleplay with, something more to explore, anything.

One of the best ways to describe Realm of Shadows: It has a lot for just about anyone. If you are new to mudding, or new to this mud it will be very easy for you to pick up and start playing. The newbie zone is full of useful information as well as it's own newbie doctor there to spell you up and help you out!. PK is completely optional. If you choose to pk you will have the option to convert back to Non-pk if you choose. There is a lot to do other than just run around gaining levels. Mob master quests involve tracking down a designated mob in an allotted amount of time and slaying it. Aquests work similar to the mob master except you earn points to get objects instead of experience points. Another kind of quests on Realm of shadows are the invasion quests. Invasion quests allow an area to be invaded by a senior staff member with a specific mob - up to 300 instances. The NPCs will randomly be assigned values, some are worth extra experience points, some are worth quest points, some carry extra gold and some will have a 100% chance of holding a random item.

The main goal of players on Realm of Shadows is to have fun. There are no strict RP rules no requirements to level, and no quests that must be completed for advancement. Basically, it's up to the players to determine how they want to spend their time on. The immortals are particularly friendly, helpful and very engaged with the mud and player base. There are generally always immortals around to assist with any questions you may have. So if you are sitting here reading this, why not log in and see whats going on. I can promise you will have a great time.

Realm of Shadows is a SMAUG based mud that has been clearly heavily modified. Having experience working with the 1.4a codebase it's clear that a lot of time and effort has been worked into the mud to create a sound foundation MUD.

The MUD staff are all quite friendly and Roleplay safe. Their 'FLI' system allows for players to worship specific immortals within their realm and reap extreme benefits for the cost of your loyalty. I find this to be a unique interactive system which has added a level of depth and interaction. I had cause to contact the Implementer directly with a small problem, and it was quite literally resolved within minutes.

The Areas are well designed and connected, allowing for a variety of places to explore. The NPC's are well balanced and places to level are available making the leveling as challenging or as safe as you prefer, of course with higher rewards for higher risks. The leveling system is well balanced and so far has been enjoyable. I personally have been leveling slower than others, but the time I do spend on time is sometimes accompanied by double experience which has been a most helpful gift when it becomes available.

Naturally I'd like to see more players, but thats up to all of you reading this review. This MUD is a great home, and it's welcoming to new players. It had been 8 years since I stepped into a MUD before this one, and I found the staff and other players helped me get back into it with ease.

I hope to see you all on Realm of Shadows!

Hi. I think that this mud is worthy of a review so here it goes.

1. Class system 9/10. Has alot of classes, and the triple class feature. Each one is built on a different basis so you dont have a bunch of warriors running around. You know Warrior/Knight.

2. Racial features: 8/10 Each race gains stat bonuses along with extra bonuses implemented into the code, and there are enough to choose from.

3. Mud features: 9/10 Damage absortion to balance out those damage seekers. Nice random drops. Fun leveling zones. Helpful staff and players.

Overall Rating 9/10 Give it a try...cant hurt right?

I haven't been playing at Realm of Shadows for very long, in fact, only about a day or so, but I truly believe it is a game worthy of great credit. When I first started up my character, I wasn't expecting much, I've been through plenty of rinse-and-repeat creations and zoned out at level 5 then never came back. This time was different though, when I logged on I was greeted by an extremely friendly player who offered to help me out and aid in me getting to know the game. It wasn't long before I was getting tips and help in order to help improve my character, it was a very nice experience. Not long after that a staff member, notably Syriac, joined in on welcoming me to the game and helping ensue that my experience there was pleasant. Which it really was!

Given a chance, the game has extreme potential to get a hold of you and make an addict out of you, I found it very hard to stop leveling once I discovered how powerful your character could become. It's a very classic and fun experience, while offering a multi-class system that really justifies itself. The staff are great and friendly and from what I've seen the community seems to be fairly close-knit and homely, which is a great thing and something I've been looking for, for a long, long time.

If you're tired of the same old MUDs packed full of nameless 'cool kids' where you're just a faceless head in the crowd, then come and give RoS a try, or even hang out on the forums and get to know the community. Lord knows every MUD needs more players, but I think it's rare to find one that truly deserves them. :)

Hey all you Mudders out there! I have been with Realm of Shadows for quite some time. They are rebuilding the realm and adding in some extremely nice code. Triple Classing allows for us to be unique, and the players are very helpful.

The Immortals...Not sure what to say about them. They are helpful, involved, and know the game top to bottom. I have put in a few request for things to be added and if not that same day within the week they were added.

If you like pvp, running areas, friendly players, and roleplaying come to Realm of Shadows.

I'm not sure what I can add that Aldous hasn't covered. However, I did want to make a sort of amendment to his review. The Multi-Classing in this game has been upgraded from Dual-Classing to Triple-Classing. That means that you can choose a third class as your player matures. I find myself quite addicted to this game, and I have been since it went public back in 2002. The owner/coder, Syriac, has always been open to the ideas presented by the players. I have seen a suggestion added very quick, and sometimes within the same day of it being brought forward to him.

It is very refreshing to have a game like this that is very friendly to its players. Not only that, but the staff on this game is truly one of the best you will find. They do not hide from the players. They are very interactive with the players, and will sometimes go out of their way to see that whoever is on the game is having a good time.

And while it may not be the largest world you can find, the staff seems to be putting a lot of effort into making it a unique and interesting realm to explore.

I've been following Realm of Shadows since the beginning and have watched it evolve into a completely unique and exciting experience. Realm of Shadows is derived from SMAUG code, but I have played many other SMAUG MUDs and I've never seen anything like this.

RoS has truly random items, random names, random affects, random pops - it really adds a lot to the game. There also is a TRUE multiclass system - not that crap remort stuff. You start as one class and later on you can dual to a second class and switch between them back and forth.

There is automated questing, random experience point bonuses, tiers, a god lead following system, optional PK, stat re-rolling, stat training, and so much more.

One of the best parts is the dedicated staff. They are always willing to help out - way more than any other place I've ever seen! They are very open to player ideas. I, myself, have submitted ideas only to see it implemented within a few days or less! I really wish there were more players and I'm hoping that this review will entice more people to come and give it a chance.