I no longer MUD with 'The Gathering...', however unless their ways have changed in the last couple months that I've been away, then I'd have to agree with Jayson's review.

The Staff: They are competent, needless to say, else the MUD would have died long ago with all its other faults, but they fail to maintain time and again the proper attitude for running a 'newbie-friendly and welcoming' gaming environment. True, they are the law within the game, and true, they can smack folks around for breaking the rules. However, when the admin believe themselves not only within a storyline, but in person to be a god... then naturally, they become selfish, whining, and self-righteous.

You sit on this MUD long enough, you'll get to hear a couple of the staff ranting of how they do so much work for their people and yet ask for so little. It's soap opera Olympus style, to be blunt, and unless you're interested in finding a lifestyle and all the drama included, then this MUD is not your cup of afternoon relief. I'd suggest those looking for an enjoyable environment with friendly staff and a pleasant gaming experience to look elsewhere.

The Players: You can reference Jayson's comments for this. You walk down the street, hookers, then stumble into a bar, lesbians making out, and you run screaming into a nearby inn to escape, and everyone and their mother are sleeping with their mothers...Which for those who play here seems construed as an asset rather than a black mark. It's my opinion, and yes I say opinion, that this should be labeled as a Sex-Based MUD with some sprigs of bad manners and a dash of personal agendas.

But, who am I to speak. The staff have all the fun in the world with creating extra characters for themselves to join in the 'rp'. I'll also note that, sad as it is, a friend of mine even after three months away couldn't get rid of all the muck and problems that swirl about this MUD. One of the players (who I will also not name) continued to make every effort to contact this friend, getting information from those still on the MUD, and making life difficult for the person in every way possible. The one responsible for these issues is the average player you'll find here and last I checked was still allowed a place on the MUD.

Here I will however give credit to the few staff members and players who have managed to keep it alive thus far with some semblance of good sense. I wont name them, but if you do for some strange reason decide to move your roleplaying and mob-bashing talents here, you'll pick them out easily enough. They are the white dots on the black backdrop. Though I can honestly suggest you take up knitting rather than attempting to scrape through all the mounds of vile here to find those few good people. It'll be much more rewarding in the end.