Hey Guys

I was just reading through some of the forums. I like to check back every few weeks/months just to see that CF is still kicking. There's a post a few pages back about CF dying and I wanted to ask a few questions. I started playing CF in '92 (or was it '94? it wasn't too long after CF came online) and I've seen this same post several times over the years. I admit that I get a knot in my stomach at the thought of CF going offline. I haven't played for almost 3 years now but it's still comforting to pull up Dio's and browse the logs and main forums. I played pretty solid for 7 or 8 years and then in spurts after that until work and school had to take precedence. I miss it. If I had the time I would still be playing. A few of you mentioned that a lot of us "grew up" and the younger generation is more attracted to WOW and the like. I agree with this. I've played WOW and really enjoy it but nothing beats the imagination. That's always been the draw for me. Those of us who started playing here before the WOW's HAD to have good imaginations because the graphics and sounds of today simply weren't around. Don't get me wrong, the graphics and sounds are great but text based games appeal to a very specific genre. I miss the days of 150+ players. The players *make* the game. Sure you can explore and spam when there's no one else on but the interaction is really where the excitement flourishes.

If you go to mudconnect or similar sites there are listings for over 1100 muds. The top 20 boast claims of hundreds of players (450+ at peak times even). So my question is what does that particular mud have that draws such a large player base? My guess would be (and I'm speculating here) that the level of RP and the caliber of the characters on that mud would be considered ridiculous by most of us. We have come to expect a certain level of game play with CF mainly because it's been enforced and I think that's a good thing... to a point. Which would you rather have: 300 players online most of which are characters named Luvstospooge and act like 13 year olds or 40 players online that are quality characters with solid RP and game skills? Personally, I'd like something in the middle. 100 players is great especially if most of them are quality characters. You're always going to have newbs which is also a good thing because without newbs attrition would eventually kill the player base. But newbs either learn to RP and contribute positively to the game or realize this environment is not a good fit for their immaturity and bail out.

This is starting to ramble so I'll try to get to my point. If there are 1100+ muds out there some of which have hundreds of players then muds (in general) have a solid foundation. I imagine some research into the more popular muds would help shed some light on why CF's numbers have dwindled. What do those other muds have that we don't? What can we change to attract as many players as the other muds. I refuse to believe that CF couldn't be just as popular as the bigger muds given the right elements. We just have to figure out what those elements are. Vladamir and I have been toying around with the idea of building our own mud for several years with that exact mentality in mind. Check out all the popular muds, see what the draw is and build a CF with all those positive draws incorporated. I think the new changes to CF are great. A mud has to change and develop else it becomes stagnant and has no draw. God, how I miss purple potions, lode stones, Masters, Elemental Mountain (was it mountain or cavern? it had the harps made of elements: lightning harp, etc), the mob factory (not really), red dragon orb, Coprophagus(sp?), I could go on and on. Yes things were simpler then but new challenges require more. More choices, more options, more areas, more quests. Growth doesn't come without complications. CF has to grow and we have to grow with it. Nature of the beast.

Anyway, I miss you guys. Hope everyone is doing well.

Ekirhal