Crazy

That's what you'll have to be to play on Elendor. I don't use the word in the bad sense; it is a strong point of the MU*. I use the word crazy because Elendor, when played to the max, requires some weird state of mind. Let me explain. First of all, it is based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, and although you can start playing without having read any of the books, I think you cannot enjoy the MUSH fully if you do not know the stories behind it. Almost every player has a love for the world of Tolkien that allows little change to what actually was written, and theme is, as mentioned in another review, indeed a point that is enforced quite strongly. But not without reason. The RP - and yes, this is really an RP only MU* - is generally of high quality, which becomes really clear when you see that some players have been playing and developing their character for years.

This MUSH is cantered on _role-playing_, and players try to make a story that is as close to Tolkien's world as possible, and just as entertaining to read. Proof of that are the thousands of RP logs on the Elendor site: people are proud of what they do here.

Secondly, indeed the combat system is not as developed as on other MU*s, but that is with a reason. If you have a character that's been around since 1996, you'd think twice before getting him or her on such trouble that he would die. And you _die_. No compromise: player gone. Start a new character. This doesn't mean there is no battle on Elendor, because there is - a lot. But it is used to enhance the story, and frequently players will even stop using the combat system and just _RP_ the battle.

Due to the commitment of its players, Elendor is very newbie friendly. Most players want to help the newbies to get the same joy in playing on Elendor as they have, and one other nice aspect of commitment and attention for detail is that people will _know_ you. You will develop a distinctive, unique character with his or her part in the culture, and you will not be just another faceless player roaming around trying to kill stuff. You will have a History, well thought out description, a Persona - you will become your character. Players will love or hate your character, but it is all RP. And when out of character, people will discuss the RP, compliment you on it and tell you they enjoyed it. You will feel part of a new family.

Check it out, and be prepared for a slightly more demanding game, that offers unique advantages over other MU* games.