Duris is a great game with lots of classes/races and the PKill is unrivaled anywhere. There is also full looting so if you don't like someone, just kill them and take their equipment.

Duris's website also has automated logs that show a fair bit of backscroll in pvp raids. It's definitely helpful for new players as they can get accustomed to what things do what.

All the other reviews are accurate in regards to the upsides of the mud, yet not a single one mentions any of the downsides. There are 3 main problems with the mud: -- the administration is awful -- the game source has been leaked numerous times -- balance

The administration has been littered with people who are of less than scrupulous character. Many have been caught using their admins to scout to gain knowledge their player character could not have achieved (Rethan). Others have modified zones while their player character was in them to make certain parts substantially easier (Fotenak/San). Even worse, others have directly modified the game source to give ridiculously ungodly benefits to their player character. Kvark did this with ogre slam (his character could walk in perform 1 command and instantly kill almost any player), ship 'automatons', and mercenary's grappler combat. Astansus's lich proc'd at least once a round, and Dakta's psi had unlimited mana (when Dakta switched to druid, psis lost the unlimited mana, but druids had a 'bug' that allowed them to cast unlimited spells).

As stated above, the code to the mud has been leaked multiple times, and many of these have been verified in the code, despite numerous admins swearing against this. Admins have also refused to enforce rules against their friends when their friends get caught cheating (the weblogs often reveal various cheating). Then there are the regular power trips associated with any position of power.

The administration this wipe had a significant change in heads and so everything was hyped up at the beginning of the year, but once again, the people in power always abuse it. Fotenak is back to modding zone bosses whenever he's in them and Venthix refused to enforce raid rules against a group of people where at least 5 were caught cheating on the weblogs (the worst part is that Venthix had repeatedly reiterated the rule they broke just an hour before they broke it).

Although the leaked source has been good to catch cheating admins, it also makes it so learning zones is rather awkward. Anyone with a few hours of linux experience can set up the mud on their own box and walk around as an admin to learn all the zones (they can also invite friends because it's the full blow server source). In contrast, exploring a zone from scratch for the first time takes anywhere from a few hours to a whole real life day (yes, there are big, very detailed zones). And since the mud is full pkill, sitting in the same zone all day is just asking to get fragged. The result is that anyone with access to the source knows tons of zones, but everyone else pretty much can't learn any zones at all because they get fragged every single time without fail.

As for balance, the admins refuse to use DPS to balance the game, and instead 'balance' by using lists of pros and cons, and sticking two players in a room and saying fight.

As for player cheating, the most controversial rules are raiding naked and botting. Both of these could easily be addressed with simple code (making spell damage, duration, and slots more dependent upon equipment), yet the admins adamantly refuse to address this 'in the spirit of he game'.

Also, the 24-49 'minimum players online' is inaccurate. There's generally between 5-10 on during offtimes (although the who_list might show more 10-20, most are AFK'ing in safe areas). At peak times, there's generally between 30-40 players on. Since the game is racewar sided, you generally only have half of those people on your side.

Overall, it's a great mud, but the admins have no credibility and really ruin the game. The adrenaline rush of the pvp raids is amazing, but every single time you're on the receiving end of someone cheating, you get a sour taste in your mouth. Save your time and pass Duris over.