Arx, this MUSH gets a lot of things right off the bat. It feels like a very interesting story where players have a great amount of freedom to change events. This can be observed in the first review given. However for all its good and strong points, I wish to present the other side of the coin in terms of balanced criticism.

The Compact

Arx, as its name implies, takes place in the largest city of Arvum. It is a very huge city. Looking at it's map shows that. However as good as the city reads and feels, not everything is the color of roses. Even with every Major House having its estate as well as several more districts, the map is not even that big when you can easily travel through it

Take a look at the world map: http://play.arxmush.org/topics/

This world map is huge! Look at where Arx is! This map is known as the Compact formed by all the territories that have 'bent the knee' to the main great Houses: Grayson, Valardin, Thrax, Velenosa and Redrain. Each Great House is completely led by a player character. And each area shows the amazing detail they put on the city to represent each fealty.

There is just one problem, that's basically all you have aside from several outer rooms. There is no real sense of exploration. The actions taken can be put in an 'instanced room', which all PRP use unless it takes place in Arx. That means that's all you get. And for its trumpeting of changing things, well yes it does. That is not a lie. The changes are permanent to the lore. But these are all off screen places. It's not like you can travel at -least minimum- to the main capitals of the Houses. And some other locations.

But that's not there. Yes there are some areas. But most of the world doesn't really exist. And those changes are pretty much written down. Not like you can go and see such things, unless they working on that. Which would be my suggestion: make at least a more sizable area of exploration and offer the ability to travel to at least the main cities like Sanctum. Or Lenosia. I hope they do add such areas for real true exploration. Because otherwise there is not much offered here in that sense.

The Noble Life

URRAH! Nobles that are portrayed in a different light! I like how the Nobles are built. They usually are made to enhance RP. And they aren't like OH EM GEE KNEEL OR OFF WITH YOUR HEAD! Nope, they are actually noble in every sense of the word. There is definitely a great code of chivalry and the respect between both genders is huge. You won't be accused of being a slut if you are a promiscuous woman. So that's great! There is only one catch to the Noble Life: Arranged Marriages. So it is your duty to marry whoever the House Leader wants. Because you are effectively a treaty. And the Pantheon forbid you attempt Divorce without a very -real- and -tangible- reason. On the good side they -do- make an effort of doing it as enjoyable as possible. So that's good. But expect that to happen if you are a Noble.

Arx Politics

Arx seems to have been setup for there to be conflict between the Houses. I'm not sure how this is supposed to work, given the above concerning Noble intermarriage should have managed some kind of lasting peace. But still I was expecting something more out of this. There is a great show of the every Fealty of playing their bad side and being conflict brewing in the, paraphrasing of the game: 'the dangerous political waters of Arx'. And this sounded completely awesome. On paper at least. In practice with everyone else trying to kill the Big Bad who seems to have incredible amounts of power, there is really no reason to attempt this. It would be extremely stupid to do these things while there are several 'alien' (read elves, demons and other serious stuff) that want to wipe the Compact out. Thus why in the world would the population split up if they run huge risks of getting wiped out for being prideful? Therefore the politics were barely felt. Even if you do play a political character. It feels more like an empty show then any true conflict. Besides everything, aside from severe crimes like devil worship, can be solved super easily with the Honor Duels.

The Good

The good news? The Arx team will be adding new features like crime, as well as fighting stances, poisons, magic and the dominion style mini game, which is probably, as addictive as it sounds. And the Arx team are heavily committed in a serious game. Heck Arx's staff is the first staff I know that doesn't even -play- the game so that no one is screwed. Everyone is given an opportunity to shine. So these was more an exercise in constructive criticism.