Players of the Month
Biography

It appears that we have fallen a little bit behind: this month, we have not one, not two, but a grand total of three POTM biographies! They come from three of the Land's most prominent mortals in search of the elusive goal of 204,800 points: Beermug (December 1997), Lestat (January) and Sirkilalot (February). Now that they are no longer affected by the "POTM curse", perhaps their quest will at last be successful.

Beermug (POTM, December 1997)

It was just another day playing guitar, listening to music and well, enjoying myself. As I sat on my friend's bed, I was going through the usual routine whenever we get together, unaware of the new world I would soon be sucked into. I casually browsed around his room, looking for something to keep me occupied when I saw his computer flicker into life. A connection here, a program there, and before I knew it, a strange picture of a castle appeared on the screen. I read the words "MUD2: The Quest for Immortality." He gradually explained to me what he was doing, and that the next few minutes would be very confusing to me since I wasn't used to this type of "text" only game. Well, I found out exactly what he meant...the computer screen ran wild with action and was followed with brilliantly quick typing of indecipherable nonsense. After adjusting my eyes, I noticed him glancing back at me and asking if I would like to try. Mazzic the sorcerer logged off, and Beermug was born.

I stumbled around, scoring about 250 points after an hour (heh, I learned the art of sipping T, so I was one step ahead of the game). The commands sunk deeper into my head, and with the occasional input from Mazzic and another friend, known to everyone at the time as Inferno the warlock (POTM), I completed the dangerous journey from the Narrow Road Between Lands to the Cottage Hall! Being so confident at this point, I didn't realise how easy it was to die...until I attempted to practice my newly mastered art of ZWing from anywhere in the game--with a lit brand in my hand. WHOOSH! I decided to press my luck another time with Beermug, as the loss of about 40 points was too great to handle. With Mazzic's approval, however, I could return and temporarily use his 3rd persona slot!

Deeply indebted to him for his gratuity, my addiction began. My heart broke a few times as a couple of heroes bit the dust, and someone even attacked me and killed a superhero! <sigh> Hours of work down the drain again. Anyway, sometime later, I made it to the mind-boggling rank of Champion and held my first encounter with the touchstone. This only drew me deeper into MUD2 and my irreversible addiction. With a few chats from Innocent the white witch, I managed to learn some strategy (I thought that swamping flowers all set was perfectly acceptable, but she disagreed.) Another few sorcerers died before I had my first necromancer. This was still in the same month, mind you be wondering, and Beermug the necromancer was part of Mazzic's account. The time came for me to get a new account, and thus my prized necromancer was wiped out. The horrors! I rebuilt my character from scratch and after discovering the mirror and having my first snoop on Lucretia the necromancess, I learned the secrets of the Crypt, Dragon, Wolf, and Druids in no time!

It has been 3 months since I first started playing my first ever MUD, and many of my earlier friends such as Inferno, Mapper, Grumpy, and Deianneira have made WIZ, leaving me behind to fiddle around with the rest of the Land's mortals. Currently, I am at my highest score ever, 81K. And I end this with a piece of advice to new players: Don't be intimidated by the vast array of information that you don't yet know, or of how good others seem to be at MUDding. Just play at your speed, have some fun, and with a little bit of practice (and snooping) you will be able to hold your own in no time!

Lestat (POTM, January 1998)

I started playing MUD2 back in 1990 when it ran on a system called The Dragon (appropriately enough). I'd never played a multi-user game of any sort before, and the thrill was unbelievable. I remember my very first death as a superhero to the Exceptionally Large Goblin - he attacked me, I fled into a brick wall; he blocked my exit, so I fell asleep on the spot.... I was so upset I phoned the Arch-Wiz, Roger at his home to complain at how unfair it all was!

The Dragon system was a violent playground, and that death was only the beginning in an uncountable series of dramatic, daft, courageous, stupid, well-planned and random deaths that followed. It was there I met some of the players, both mortal and immortal, I have come to consider friends (although they might at times have disagreed - ehehe). It was a sad day when I left The Dragon and MUD2, with the expectation never to play again.

Then, once day, I heard rumours of a new MUD2 site on the Internet called MUD2.COM. It was with great excitement that I ventured into the Land once more, greeted by friends from years before. After digging out my old maps, and wiping the cobwebs from my memories, Lestat was back to his old ways again. Once again I died all manner of grisly deaths, from losing a necromancer to radiation sickness to inadvertently helping a mage to wizdom by my untimely demise. The coveted (?) DOTM was mine on more than one occasion...

However, from time to time I'd take one with me, once again know the thrill of draining another's life and hear that sweet bell tolling in the distance.

Unfortunately, real life pressures began to intervene, and I decided to make one last try for wizdom before hanging up my longsword for a while, at least until my finals were over.... I was well on my way, when disaster struck - I was awarded the POTM! I struggled valiantly to beat the Curse and make it through the final hurdle, but alas it was not to be. The Curse was in league with my two nemeses, namely the Lag Beast and the Dragon. The three teamed up to destroy me, and it was all over - beaten to death by the Dragon, held helpless by the Lag Beast, while the Curse looked on and laughed...

Thanks to all those who've made MUD2 so much fun: Richard for making it possible, Viktor for playing the gracious host, and all those mortals and immortals I've had the pleasure of knowing over the years.

Sirkilalot (POTM, February 1998)

Player of the Month. <Gulp> Hmm... who would have guessed what it would cost me to get to such an exalted status, huge phone bills, many sleepless nights, reams of paper and an extremely aggravated Fiancee. Well let me tell you, its worth it! (Well, maybe not the Fiancee bit.)

Sirkilalot lives in quiet anonymity in Surrey, England. He likes it that way as people would probably shun him otherwise. He does wish he had chosen a different name, like Fluffybunny or something. People always seem to think the worst of him, until they get to know him of course. Hes 30 years old and works for himself from home, which explains why he is always playing MUD.

I discovered MUD 10 or 12 years ago, I was still in school and running it from my BBC 32k computer (whatever happened to them?) at every opportunity. It was the most exciting game I had ever played, treasure, dragons and other assorted goodies all boggled my mind, as well as being able to interact with other live(?) players. It didnt last too long as exams interrupted my play and then I lost touch with the game for many years <sob>.

I never forgot my adventures in the Land and last November while searching the Internet, I stumbled upon the MUD2 site. I couldnt believe it. After all this time, could it be the same game? YES it could. I e-mailed Viktor immediately with my details.

After so long away the only thing I could remember was that there was a cottage by the road somewhere, which I quickly realised didnt help much <Sigh>, and that mapping was a good idea. I stepped tentatively into the Land, after thudding into most of the walls in the Tearoom, and proceeded to seek my fortune. After much hardship, heartache and constant assassination, that is the burden we all have to carry, I have finally made it to Warlock <Flexes>, for how much longer I dont know.

I am sure every player and mobile in the Land is going to take a shot at Rainbow and I now. Well all I can say about that is... fine with me! Bring it all on Bad Boys (and Girls). Umm... just start with Rainbow please.

I would like to say a huge thank you to the two players who befriended and took pity on a poor Newbie, and helped point me in the right direction, Crab and Tethys, (Sirkilalot gives you a great big hug!), undoubtedly two of the finest (mortal) players in the Land! Shame Ive got to kill them <G>.

Good luck to everyone and remember, dont carry a lit brand into the swamp!