Realms of Despair

"Realms of Despair" (RoD) is a free multi-user online game (or a 'MUD') hosted in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada using the SMAUG MUD codebase. (SMAUG is a derivative of Merc, which in turn is a derivative of DikuMUD.)

Opened to the public in July of 1994 [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.bbs.majorbbs/msg/33d0c2ad222e977f?dmode=source&hl=en] , "Realms of Despair" marks a significant chapter in the evolution of the DikuMUD family of medieval fantasy text MUDs by putting far more power into the hands of the MUD administrators through the addition of functionality to allow modification of operating parameters through the MUD itself rather than having to manually edit configuration files, or even the source code itself. This benefit was contributed back to the MUD community through the release of the SMAUG code.

"Realms of Despair" itself raised the bar by focusing on developing an environment friendly to new players, a pleasing color scheme, a wide selection of races and classes, regular quests, numerous clans, guilds and councils, and a dedicated server machine. "Realms of Despair" has hosted annual reunions in Ontario since 1999 with about 100 to 150 regular players attending each year.

"Realms of Despair" can be connected to via telnet to address realmsofdespair.com, port 4000.

Organisations

RoD has several organisation systems:

Councils

"Realms" has several Councils where mortals work alongside immortals to better the game. The Symposium works to develop new ideas and projects. The Newbie Council strives to assist new players to the game, offering friendly advice to all and much practical help with corpse retrievals. Other Councils, composed of representatives from Orders and Guilds, help to develop and run mortal designed quests. The Pkill Conclave, composed of clan representatives, works to improve the pkill (deadly player) system.

Orders

Orders have thematic restrictions, some enforced more than others.

The Order of Arcanes only allows magic users into its membership, denying entry to Warriors, Barbarians, Thieves and Vampires. The Order of Maidenstone is themed as an organisation solely for female characters (no enquiry is made as to the gender of the player behind the character). The Order of Baali requires applicants and new inductees into the order to be of evil alignment. This is in contrast to Guilds, who have coded class restrictions.

There are currently eight Orders: Arcanes, Ascendere, Baali, Dragonslayer, Inconnu, Maidenstone, Ringbearers, and Sanctus Irae.

Guilds

Guilds are class specific. There are eleven guilds in the game:Guild of Clerics, Guild of Druids, Guild of Mages, Guild of Rangers, Guild of Thieves, Guild of Vampires, Guild of Paladins, Guild of Warriors, Guild of Nephandi, Guild of Augurers, Guild of Fathomers

Clans

Clans are for deadlies only, and are the only organizations deadlies can join. Deadlies are players who have opted to become playerkillers. They may only attack and kill fellow deadlies. The Clans are Maleficae, Excordis, Catarrh and Feralis.

Bands

In 2005 another class, Barbarian, was added to the game. These cannot join Guilds nor Orders, but have 'Bands' for themselves. There are currently 3 Bands.Band of the Bear, Band of the Wolf, Band of the Boar.

External links

General

* [http://www.realmsofdespair.com/ www.realmsofdespair.com]
* [http://ts.silverwolf-den.com The Symposium of Realms of Despair.]
* [http://nc.silverwolf-den.com Realms of Despair Newbie Council.]
* [http://forum.realmsofdespair.info The People's Republic Forums.]
* [http://game.org/forums Official Forums]
* [http://www.silverwolf-den.com Silverwolf Family's Realms of Despair Equipment Database.]
* [http://www.nelkum.com Nelkum's page, good newbie EQ section, and dirs and deity info.]
* [http://rodpedia.poromenos.org/wiki/Main_Page Rodpedia: Maps, etc.]

Guilds

* [http://www.dirtycarrot.net/ Guild of Clerics Website]
* [http://paladin.silverwolf-den.com/ Guild of Paladins Website]
* [http://www.guildofwarriors.org/ Guild of Warriors Website]
* [http://rangers.silverwolf-den.com/ Guild of Rangers Website]
* [http://nephandi.silverwolf-den.com/ Guild of Nephandi Website]
* [http://gof.tputter.com/index.html Guild of Fathomers Website]
* [http://gom.mivok.net/ Guild of Mages Website]
* [http://www.dcdruids.org/ Guild of Druids Website]
* [http://www.guildofthieves.info/ Guild of Thieves Website]

Orders and Clans

* [http://thebaali.awardspace.com Order of Baali Website]
* [http://www.realmsofdespair.info Order of Dragonslayers Website]
* [http://www.ascendere.com Order of Ascendere Website]
* [http://www.inconnu.org Order of Inconnu Website]
* [http://www.awomanscorned.org/ Order of MaidenStone Website]
* [http://sanctusirae.atspace.org Order of Sanctus Irae]
* [http://www.ringbearers.org Order of Ringbearers]
* [http://www.orderofarcanes.org/ Order of Arcanes Website]
* [http://excordis.silverwolf-den.com/ Clan Excordis Website] Note : For a more comprehensive list of orders/clans/guilds, see * [http://www.realmsofdespair.com/links.phtml realmsofdespair.com External Links]

References

*cite news |first=Chris |last=Frampton |title=Guru of low tech |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/421681501.html?dids=421681501:421681501&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+12%2C+2002&author=Chris+Frampton&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=LI.01&desc=Guru+of+low+tech+ |work= |publisher=Toronto Star |date=Mar 12, 2002 |accessdate=2007-05-17
*cite web |first=Nick |last=Herber |url=http://www.mudconnector.com/reviews/muds/Realms_of_Despair.html |title=TMC Reviews: Realms of Despair |publisher=The MUD Connector |accessdate=2007-05-17