Lochness is one of the older muds, but what it lacks in modernization, 
it makes up for in atmosphere!  Both players and wizards are generally
friendly and helpful, especially to newbies.  Geographically, the mud is
divided into a multitude of domains, each with a different theme and a
different team of wizards working on areas.  There are six distinctive 
guilds to choose from, and plenty of quests to challenge players.  It is 
not, and has never been, Lochness' policy to instawiz players, but once a
player reaches a certain level, he is presented with the option of either 
wizzing, or playing the higher levels.  Obscenity on public communication
channels is frowned upon, although players may say what they like to each
other in private :)  As for the number of people who play Lochness, it is 
certainly a small mud in that regard, but we look at it as having a 'small
town' ambience in which everybody knows everybody else.