From FK’s TMC entry:
“Forgotten Kingdoms is an RPI (Role-Play Intensive) game”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Ummm…no. Try it and see.
“Roleplaying Is Enforced”
Ummm…I specifically recall being told, by an FK Imm (Immortal, person who runs the game) (in my words, but accurate IMPO) that it was acceptable for players to logon and simply type “kill (mob)” over and over for hours. Hours in FK equalling days. How this is “RP Enforced” and not “Powergaming Accepted” is beyond me.
Also, since Anachronisms are HORRIBLY rampant…and not just subtle ones; blatant, in-character references to specific modern-day items, terminology, etc…that are then explained, in-character, weakly and without any merit…I hardly think “RP Enforced” is an appropriate label, unless the “RP” being enforced is “Mediocre characters who stand around chatting like angsty, giggly teens and make rampant anachronisms”. If that is what they mean, then spot on.
“The game has over 250 unique areas and is still growing rapidly, thanks to a large team of builders who continuously update existing areas as well as adding new areas and
challenges.”
Quite true. The “game” is constantly growing, “areas” are constantly being updated and improved, etc…all completely accurate.
However, none of this changes the fact that roleplay is almost universally mediocre. And has been…for years. Good players come, and go…I assume, like myself, to better RP MUDs. No exaggeration…YEARS. The roleplay level, with a few RARE exceptions, has not improved AT ALL in YEARS.
“New characters can choose from a huge range of races and subraces, including shield dwarves, moon elves, mountain orcs and even planetouched characters such as genasi, aasimar or tieflings.”
Incorrect. Or, at least, very misleading. New “characters” may be able to choose these things…but NOT new “players”. New players have limited access to races – no genasi, no aasimar, no tiefling, no moon elf…
“Once you have selected your characters race, you must choose a base class of Warrior, Wizard, Rogue or Priest, each of which offers a different roleplay experience, and can be further customised by joining one of almost 50 guilds.”
To a limited extent, yes. Warrior makes you fight with big weapons. Wizard makes you fight with small weapons, and spells. Priest makes you fight with medium weapons, and spells. Rogue is not allowed to new players. That is basically the difference in “roleplay experience”, since virtually all characters currently playing are interchangeable personality (or lack thereof) wise.
“The last major decision to be made by any new character is to decide where they grew up – possibilities include several famous Forgotten Realms locations, including Waterdeep, Zhentil Keep, Menzoberranzan and Mithril Hall.”
Again, incorrect…or, very misleading. New “characters”, perhaps…but not new “players”. New players start in Waterdeep. Period. Since this was carefully worded to say “characters”, I must conclude it is propaganda.
(EDIT, 8/17/15: New PLAYERS may be able to start in a few other cities, depending on alignment. However, since the vast majority of characters are in Waterdeep, and the only other considerable player base AT ALL is in Zhentil Keep, all non-evil characters can start in either A) Area where noone else will be to RP with, so they travel to Waterdeep or B) Waterdeep. I’m not certain because I’ve NEVER tested it out…play is in Waterdeep and ZK, with VERY RARE exceptions. Period. And roleplaying alone is not fun.)
That is, it is written for players who don’t know about the MUD. These players will assume (rightfully so, IMPO) that this means they can pick any race, hometown…and that’s just false.
I mean…trying to attract new players is great. But deceptive advertising (IMPO only, of course) in order to bring in new players before they find out the ACTUAL choices…is just a numbers-grab. It’s an attempt to bring in everyone, regardless of quality. Hence, why FK’s mediocrity stands the test of time. One reason of many, but still.
“A unique ‘spell memorisation’ system based on system used in
Dungeons and Dragons. This means no mana!”
Semantics. Spells “regenerate” in your character through time and a random element. That this isn’t called “Mana” really doesn’t change how it works, IMPO.
“Many avenues for character development, including joining up with factions such as the Black Network or the Grey Hands, joining the inner circle or even becoming the high priest of one of 30 faiths…the possibilities are myriad!”
Suggested Disclaimer: ‘Black Network, Grey Hands, Inner Circles, and High Priest positions unavailable to non-clique members unless one is willing to RP with clique members and pretend they don’t suck.’
And, even without that…it doesn’t matter. No matter who you become, how powerful, in what way, in what organization…you will be roleplaying with a vast supply of mediocre role-players. If that is your limit…then go for it. If you have higher aspirations, they will NOT (IMPO, over years of study) be met here, with VERY few exceptions. And if you’re one of two good roleplayers logged in out of 25…why are you on the MUD, instead of in a chatroom, where the mediocrity can be dispensed with?
“Forgotten Kingdom’s greatest strength is its large population of superb role-players…”
No, no…”large population”, yes. “superb role-players”…two. Maybe three. Not counting myself, because I don’t consider myself “superb”…just…pretty good. However, even “pretty good” would be incorrect, IMPO, if substituted in the quote for “superb”.
Here is, IMPO, an honest replacement statement:
“Forgotten Kingdom’s greatest strength is everything else which hides the mediocrity of the vast majority of the large population of its role-players…”