I have been a mud player for almost 10 years. I have participated in player-killing, non player-killing, roleplay intensive and roleplay optional muds. I have never bothered to review a mud in that entire time, finding most games to be so like each other that there would really be no point. Until now.

Recently, I was born into a world called Lensmoor. From the outset, this realm was different - more immersive, more creative, and much more flexible than I was used to. The racial system is intriguing even for a rank beginner, and depends upon which of the two continents you choose to live on. Remorting (being reborn upon achieving a certain level of experience) is an option, and the remort races interesting enough to provide quite the motivation to achieve.

This world features an auto-quest system with useful rewards and bonuses for grouping (which helps create player bonding and roleplay opportunities). In addition to auto-quests, players will meet interactive non-player characters who need their assistance in one time only 'zone quests', which are relevant and plot driven, and reward you amply for the time and intellect used to solve them.

Roleplay is intensive, required, and indeed rewarded (or punished!) by your peers, with immortal review ensuring fairness and a minimum of bullying or abuse of the 'points' based system. Players are encouraged to build and customize their own locations and equipment, with enough investment to ensure the results are in character and indeed, add to the overall atmosphere of the world itself. The immortals themselves participate in the roleplay, run fun global quests and games, and lead religious orders which afford not only richer roleplay opportunities, but the chances to obtain one-only and unique skills.

This world is absolutely HUGE and is constantly being added to not only by their active building staff, but by long-time players whose talents and deep knowledge (and indeed, love for, these lands) are not allowed to go to waste.

The classless skill system is well thought out and balanced, allowing for skills to be gained through learning (from players - which a bonus is given for doing, again encouraging interaction and roleplay - and non player characters) or, best of all, through actual use of the skill, and an amazing variety of equipment is available throughout to accommodate different skill and experience levels. You can specialize in several different walks of life, from Necromancy to Healing to Crafting and receive boosts and benefits from your expertise in your chosen field. Lensmoor features a rich commodities (materials) driven crafting system, which actually affords a pure crafting type experience gain and growth through participating in their chosen craft - typical hobbies such as alchemy and herbalism are available, as are more unique and roleplay-driving talents such as distilling, farming, or weaving.

Finally, an amazingly interested and patient staff and playerbase made MY time as a clueless newbie not only survivable, but FUN, as I was invited into groups, clans, and indeed, checked on by friendly, concerned immortals constantly, though without being harassed or feeling spoonfed.

My formatting of this review may leave something to be desired, due to my inexperience in doing such things, but I encourage anybody who happens to read this to drop my the 100% free text realm of Lensmoor to whip a character up and spend some time there, questing, exploring and hunting.

You will enjoy this interesting and unique world and no doubt, choose to return time and time again.