My previous online experience was confined solely to the world of MUDs and the very limited RP that was to be found there (at least in the MUDs I had played). However, after the initial thrill of hacking, slashing and questing my way for three years or so on my favorite MUDs, I realised that I was enjoying the rare moments of RP that had occurred along the way more than the gameplay itself. It was with some curiosity that I clicked on the website for Crossroads, deciding to explore this alien world of MUSH and pure roleplay. I was stunned, there were pages upon pages of history to the MUSH; its theme, backgrounds, timelines, geography, character bios, logs of events, explanations for etiquette and currency, and most importantly a newbie information section. Logging into the MUSH I was instantly greeted by both players and staff alike, and I was eased gently into my first character. Coming from the world of MUDs I hadn't a clue on how to cope with the different code, and I was constantly asking how to form a pose, how to send pages, tells, switch channels on or off, etc. I was probably a complete pain, but if I tried the patience of anyone, no one showed it and once I had my character out on the grid there were more than enough people willing to invite me into a scene and allow me to find my feet. I chose a simple commoner, but should anyone wish a higher status there are numerous spots open within the noble classes, along with a complete list of characters being looked for on a +wanted list (useful for anyone wanting a character concept to jump right into since ideas on what the character should be like are quite detailed). I've now been a part of Crossroads for about eight weeks and have loved just about every minute of it. The staff are helpful and respond quickly to queries, problems or suggestions. The roleplay is amazing, far and away above anything I have ever experienced on a MUD. People really 'live' their characters, scenes unfolding like a rich tapestry with each pose laid down. I don't think I truly appreciated just how far inside a character's head you can get until I joined Crossroads and I began empathising with what my character might feel or think in the situations she found herself. Perhaps that's a little sad, who knows, but for most people the reason they roleplay is for the escapism it affords when they go online, and if one is looking for escapism then I can think of no better place to do that than this MUSH. Having said that, this isn't the place for those who would create some super-powered all omnipotent mage that casts fireballs at those who would oppose him. The focus is on cooperation between players, exquisite roleplay and the furthering of the MUSH'es unique storyline. There is political intrigue aplenty going on amongst the nobility for those that wish to be involved in it, but don't rule out us lowly commoners when considering creating a character, we have our own lives too and as much fun can be had in our ranks as those of the ruling factions. This is probably why those nobles are often to be found out of the castle, mingling with the mere citizens...

Crossroads MUSH: We're Baaaaaaaaaack. In August of 2006, the game suffered a rather devastating blow in the passing away of our head wizard, Loki. The night before Loki left us, we'd broken a record with logins and we were on an all time high. In under a year, we'd made a successful game that both staff and players adored. The next day, our world seemed to crumble. It's felt like such a huge task to find out all of the pies that Loki had her fingers in, so that we could pick up the pieces, dust them off and keep moving forward. Though the hole that was left when our head visionary passed was huge and there have been many bumps and bruises in the process, it finally feels as if the game is getting back to where it was. Our login counts are high again with good quality RPers at all hours. Game wide and individual TPs are easily available for long-timers and newbies to all get involved. Features are available as well as a full +wanted list for characters that we would love to see actively played. We have a strong commitment to Age & Experience being in accord as well In Character Actions = In Character Consequences. That combination results in an environment where overly powerful young characters that are impossible to phase just do not exist. (And if they do, they tend to not last long!) Though our fantasy world will never be the same as when Loki was with us, we do feel that we have a high quality and welcoming product that is rebounding even through difficult adversity. If anything can prove the strength of a group of people, it would be the difficulties that seem to devastate us that we, as a group, have overcome. I can say that CrossroadsMUSH is not only enduring, but thriving in abundance. I gladly extend an invitation for you to join our base of zany, fun-loving group of players.

I can simply say that Crossroads is the best Mush I've played on. The theme is medieval fantasy, and you can read up a lot about it on the detailed and comprehensive website. Suffice to say that even though it is an original world, the theme is extremely well detailed and consistent across. Now to get to the real meat of this review. Anyone reading this has probably read about friendly admin and players on a plethora of Mush's/Mud's. Crossroads is the first one I have found to have these qualities in reality!! From the moment I came on, I was almost innundated with attention right from the designated newbie helper straight to the head wiz. Within 2 hrs and I kid you not of having sent my app,I received a reply confirming approval. On the website they say it takes 48 hours for approval, its nothing close to that:). Having such a responsive setup also means that players take their cue from this and pretty much invite you to Rp with them. I live in a different time zone from the states and its therefore a big problem for me to Rp coz my timings are so different. No such problems with Crossroads...I've never found anything less than 14-15 players minimum at a time when I've seen other Mushes completely deserted. The players here are a mad bunch, dedicated to Rp at all odd hours of the morning:)) Enough said if you're interested in a friendly, fun and yet intense Rp environment, give Crossroads a try.

I have been a part of Crossroads MUSH for several months now and find that I grow to love the place more and more with each day that I have spent there. Not only is the quality of roleplay there -exceptional-, but the stories keep coming regularly and the players there do a fantastic job of always having something interesting to roleplay about. The admin are amazingly friendly and helpful and it is a delight to be at a place where people have such a positive attitude towards the MUSH and other players both. Newbies are welcomed warmly and I have found the place to be a great MUSH for people new to find their roleplaying feet. The theme, based on medieval fantasy is a fascinating genre to play within, and has just the right mix of magic and unusual creatures within the game world to add an interesting twist but certainly not so much as to become ludicrous. The essence of the theme is five Isles, Draught, Green Fields, Guardian, Mists, and Gateway Isle, the latter of which is the Crossroads for none of the other isles can be accessed without first travelling through Gateway due to the unique currents that run between the Isles. Each of these Isles historically grew to have their own specialities, in partly due to the terrain and features of these Isles. In that, the Isles are also quite interdependent upon each other, and the whole has together grown to form a symbiotic relationship. Draught is an Isle of scholars and intellectuals, of healers and scientists. Green Fields a beautiful verdant land where many farm and enjoy the bounty of nature’s fruits. Guardian is a rough land, mountainous and even hostile in places where its people have grown to produce the Empire’s best warriors and Knights. The Isle of Mists, so called for the low lying Mist that often lies across it is an Isle of mages, for such people are born imbued with the gift of magery. And as for Gateway Isle... sitting upon a shelf of pure Granite it rests directly above the Vortex, the prison in which the Demon Lord of the Abyss is kept safely entombed by the Emperor himself. I can't recommend this mush enough - it's a sheer joy to roleplay at and I have to rate this game as one of the best (possibly even -the- best) I have ever played at in my near 10 years as a musher. Come and give it a try - you won't regret it!

CrossRoads Mush is Medieval Fantasy Role Play at its absolute best. An exciting time in the world as the barrier which has isolated and protected the five isle Empire for the last 170 odd years of its 500 year existence will be lowered by the Keeper. The Empire of Gateway consists of five isles, four of which are unique to themselves. Mists is the Isle of Magic, Green Fields said to be the most beautiful of all the isles, Guardians a harsh isle where the warriors hail from, Draught the Isle of intellectuals - and Gateway itself. Gateway is where all RP is truly centered. Opened in Nov 05, Crossroads has an active RP'ing group of players, the wizzen staff did a masterful job in creating the world and truly care and listen to the players. I started in late Feb 06 and have happily been a part of a vibrant growing mush. Still open are noble, merchant and a number of other prime opportunities. I strongly recommend CrossRoads to all who are interested in a high quality, newcomer friendly, RP intensive, staff friendly Medieval Fantasy world. Stop on by!

When I first joined Crossroads, I recall being intrigued by the character concepts on the +wanted list. The names themselves were creative and detailed, suggesting lustrous family histories and complex political rivalries (yes, you can get a lot of that from a name. Just count the syllables!). The character bios themselves were indepth and engaging. I very quickly found a concept that resonated with me and that I felt would be fun and challenging to play. It's obvious that I'm not unique in this regard. Knowing what I do about the players I've been privileged enough to meet so far, it is clear that I'm only the latest bit of proof in the pudding. Simply put, Crossroads is a jewel. The very day I took up my character, I was innundated by a wave of welcome messages, IC missives, helpful hints, offers of assistance and encouragement to roleplay. Honestly, how many MUSHes out there claim a similar level of 'family' and inclusion, yet disappoint you the moment you emerge from character creations and leave you to languish in the OOC Lounge? Not so with Crossroads. The news files and bulletin boards contain a wealth of information on the MUSH and its history. Astonishingly, a large portion of these posts and files aren't staff-created. The players here are so energized about their characters and the ongoing stories those characters help to create, that the entire MUSH is constantly in flux, alive with creative energy, rife with good will and positively bursting with potential, all fed directly by a highly motivated and talented player base! The political structure of the MUSH is as stable and well-defined as the grid. The staff are far and away the most helpful and patient I have encountered. The descriptions and layouts are sumptuous and realistic. The overall impression of the world in which you roleplay is just fantastic enough to offer mystery and possibility, but just realistic enough to lend itself to natural reactions and comfort on the parts of your characters. I love the fact that character sheets are nonexistent on Crossroads. The focus is on creative roleplay, where it should be. No, not just creative... cooperative. Crossroads allows you huge leeway on -how- you play your character, while at the same time leveling the field so that twinkish metagamers have no motivation to make themselves super powerful or implausibly unique. People work together at Crossroads to further the story, not their own self-aggrandizement. In short, this is the MUSH you've always dreamed of joining. Crossroads is positive proof that creative, quality roleplay is not only alive and well out there, but actually growing through the diligent efforts of some of the best people I've ever met online. Check it out. You definitely won't be sorry.

As a veteran of online mu*ing since 1993, I have been incredibly amazed at the quality of RP to be found upon CrossroadsMUSH. Unlike many games the emphasis is upon actual character development and evolution and less upon a character's statistics -- in fact, there are no character sheets. The grid is quaint and easily navigated, allowing for plenty of interaction while offering room for expansion as the playerbase grows. The staff is incredibly approachable and open to feedback for game and story enhancement. The theme, itself, remains an ideal blend of medeival society with pure fantasy along the vein of the Arthurian legends of old. Perhaps what makes this game most alluring is the overall ambience generated by the actual players. Whether you are young or old, newbie or veteran, or just plain nostalgic for the days of epic tales and roleplay -- Crossroads aims to please. If you are looking for a place to hang your roleplay hat ... If you are longing for memories worthy of recounting to friends... If you have a passion for chivalry and the days of yore... ... Come on over to Crossroads and live the epic journey!!

The development of Crossroads MUSH has been quite a whirlwind. I think we broke records when we went from conception to opening in three days. But I think that just shows how truly dedicated our staff and players are - we never lacked for assistance on anything we wanted to do, from the moment we proposed the idea. Yes, our MUSH was built in three days, but in those three days we packed it full of a rich history and culture that provide unlimited opportunities for intrigue and roleplay. We have dedicated staff and players who are friendly and open. Newbies are never left adrift on Crossroads MUSH; from the moment they log in, they are greeted warmly and offered any assistance needed to get their characters set up and to dive right into our world. We have mush-wide events planned on a monthly basis, and smaller events dotted in between the larger ones. We are also preparing to open up the Barrier to the outside world, and are actively seeking submissions of other-land concepts from our players. Crossroads MUSH is a lot like a big family, where everybody actively participates in the success of the MUSH as a whole. Every day when I log in, I am impressed anew by the quality of the roleplay on our grid, as well as the friendliness of our community. Our feature characters are open for application by anyone, not just staff, and we welcome new ideas and contributions to the world we are building. I would recommend Crossroads MUSH to anyone who is looking for a mature and fun roleplaying experience. To coin a phrase - I'm not just the co-headwiz, I'm also a player, and everything that I could want in a roleplaying environment is found in Crossroads.

I found Cross Roads Mush when was looking at Electric Soup, the write up intrigued me and I went to check it out in mid Feb 06. For a mush less than 3 months old I was very impressed with the depth of theme information and warm welcomes from the staff. Took me a few days to decide on a persona and a background. Elphin was created on 26 Feb and I've been amazed at the quality of RP'ers and overall dedication of the staff. This is positively a Mush where I intend to be for a long time and grow my personna as the Mush grows. For anyone who enjoys medieval era theme Cross Roads is the Mush I enthusiastically recommend!