I have to start by admitting that starmud has me hooked. I've quit starmud and quit mudding every so often, but I always end up back there.

There are a unique set of races and professions (classes), as one might hope from any mud. But what I find especially pleasing about these sets is that your choices actually do impact the way that you play the game.

Some races don't use armor, relying on their natural defense or their extraordinary healing ability to recoop damage. Some prefer to use their claws or tentacles instead of wielding weapons. Also, different races have different vulnerabilities, making your choices of weapons, etc. actually matter especially when it comes to pk.

The professions you can choose also yield very different experiences. I honestly can't think of examples to provide that don't sound cliche but their strenghts are really very varied.

Above everything else, though, the major pro for starmud is the organic feel to everything. The interface is so nice to use, being able to type commands like 'get all into any backpack' takes away some of the annoyingness of mud commands. You aren't limited to 100% in your skills-- as long as you keep using it, you'll keep on getting better at it. There are a few artificial-feeling limits, but deservedly so-- your stats are capped (a cap which you won't reach until at least a week of playing time) and there are ranges on pk (should you choose to participate).

Part of the organicness of starmud is in it's ever-changing nature. This is a good thing at times, with new areas or features being introduced to try. But other times, it can be frustrating as stuff gets changed or disappears for apparently no reason. Currently being fixed are pk, tactics, and guns among other things that have been available in the past.

Regardless, though, it's an incredibly original mud, some fairly intelligent if opinionated regulars, and for those who don't want role play and don't mind swearing on the channels or coming out of the monsters' mouths, a cool place to waste some time.