The Eternal City is a Fantasy (Pay-To-Play, free trial option)-themed LpMUD (Multi-User Dungeon) founded in 1996.

The Eternal City is a Roman Based, Fantasy MUD connecting players in a world unlike any other available on the internet. Recently having gone Free to Play with Subscription Options (no cash shops or pay to win) I returned to this MUD to find it advanced in combat, role-play, and GM interaction to a level not seen since the glory days of MUDDing in the 90s. It is not without it's issues, but those are eclipsed by the active, passionate, and dedicated players and GMs. Pros Sandbox -The Eternal City allows a player to embark in a true sandbox, where ones own actions, skills, etc affect how that character is perceived in the game world. Players run the Army (Legion), the police force (Constables) and participate in a government and legal system based off of early/mid Republic Rome. A new player is brought through a tutorial and thrust into the action, sometimes without guidance, but players quickly step in to provide advice, armor, and basic equipment to get your started. You can then set off building a gladiator, Legionary, Thief, Bandit, or aid to one of the cities wealthy patrician families. Combat - Combat itself is fast paced, extremely detailed with a body part and critical system, and dozens of skills that can make or break you in PvE and PvP fights. You need to keep on your toes in battle and simple macros of slash, jab, strike will no work. PvP and PvE entail some strategy and in large battles, especially involving the war between Iridine (Rome) and Cinera (Gauls/Etruscans) things can move very quickly and get your heart pounding. The GMs - Responsive, bug fixing, event holding, team of dedicated indivuals The Lore - The world, Midlight, is extremely rich in lore and players are put in the forefront of it through their daily interactions. The world is rich with history, religion, warfare, adventure, and danger. RP - Always there. Usually excellent and it is enforced. Neutral Player base - This game needs more people. When Skotos took it over and it became Pay-To-Play the numbers declined. A few hearty folks can -definitly- make a name for themselves getting involved now and I have done that. Now that is has a free to play option, slowly growing but dedicated players base, it has great potential. Cons Evolution - The game progress slowly, with time seemingly dragging on. The war between Iridine and Cinera, for example, has not progressed much from 10 years ago. The Government has never had an election in recent memory. However, this is not a drastic problem as the game revolves around the players building stories and not some of the background info. Learning Curve - Initially Steep, but what MUD isn't? Once you get a friend or two you're well on your way. Economy - Not much of one to speak of. No real money sink as players have made oodles of cash. You can act as a trader and broker move... Read More

– MudConnector.Com Review by xiphos82 on Feb 19, 2016

This review is entirely accurate and, to boot, the GMs just released a huge combat overhaul that has been long coming. It addressed many of the issues the players have been reporting and has really helped level the playing field. Quite exciting! There's also a new area, Franlius, being tested that is essentially a big battlefield between the forces of Iridine (Rome) and Cinera (Gualish).

– MudConnector.Com Review by Roast on Aug 13, 2013

As a follow up, the players and GMs are striving to provide a better experience with a smoother learning curve for new players. There is now a comprehensive wiki being worked on that is an on going project. Big thumbs up! I would add, however, that it is by no means complete. The new player experience is still heavily based on your own interactions with players. Getting your name out there, asking questions, and interacting with people is still the best way to progress. Do not be afraid to use the public channel, think net, to ask for help. Some players continue to be rude and unhelpful, but most will take time from their day to give you advice, armor, etc. Try browsing the wiki here: http://eternal-city.wikidot.com

– MudConnector.Com Review by Xiphos82 on Aug 25, 2013

As an update for certain cons listed here: There are now a couple player run shops Great efforts have been made to address the economy, and prices are now starting to regulate much closer to what they were before things started getting wonky. In addition to money sinks, earning money is also a bit more difficult, but even the former 'super rich' are feeling the crunch at this point meaning everyone's getting closer together in overall wealth rather than farther away from each other

– MudConnector.Com Review by Ilkilyn on Feb 8, 2016

Don't believe the hype. There's only one real crafting system, tailoring, and it's limited at best. There's no PK without stringent authorization and acceptance by the party to be killed. The mechanics of the system are torqued and unstable, as is the server. There are no quests, and skillsets get nerfed instead of fixed because the staff of coders they have don't have a clue how to do their job. If you pick a stat modifier in character generation that's bugged you deal with it, because it won't be changed or fixed anytime soon.

– MudConnector.Com Review by JB on Apr 24, 2012

Literally everything about this review is so out-dated it is almost comical. Tailoring just by itself has been so improved upon it is one of the most diverse, complex crafting system in the game, and it is not the only one anymore. PKs are approval-only, yes, but you only need give sufficient reason as to why your character would want to end the life of another. Aside from PKs, you can remove someone's tongue, or even just break their legs. Either does not require approval. The mechanics of the game have been so improved upon and streamlined that the current staff is able to do more work, and continue upon the gameworld and it's mechanics faster and more often then any point in the game's long history. Skillsets have been balanced to a fine standard that both staff and players are, overall, very impressed with. Only the few people who find a way to abuse something never intended, who never report it, and eventually have it fixed, whine that their skillset was 'nerfed'. Even the general playerbase will support the staff in these instances, because they know that we have the game's best interest at heart. Current staff's record of bug-fixes and balance adjustments to streamline play, role-playing, and mechanics is better than it ever has been. As one of the Game Masters responsible for reviewing Feedback from players, I can say with honesty that the players as a whole believe in us, and support us as never before. The Eternal City is at the peak of it's glory. I urge anyone, old player, or new, to come and be a part of that glory, and I dare you to prove me wrong.

– MudConnector.Com Review by Game Master Tale on Mar 3, 2012

The Eternal City is a game I've been playing off and on since 1998, and one that anyone who enjoys Roman Themed games and role-playing games in general should try. The strongpoint lies within its unique combat system. Instead of automated attacks where you input skills, you choose how, when and where you want to attack. All skills use a skill-based system, controlling the difficulty of the skills making way for strategic approaches to fights. But the detailed combat system isn't all that the game has to offer skill-wise... The game also has detailed non-combat playability. Aside from role-played non-combat abilities, which the game provides for with its plethora of essential items and free emote commands, the game has skills for hunting, outdoor survival, pickpocketing, sneaking around the streets, tailoring, and healing. All of these skillsets are just as, if not more, detailed than the combat structure of the game. The gameworld is very expansive, and includes many different environments and cultures within in. It is loosely-based on Roman times, which is shown through the equipment in the game, as well as the technology available. The main location, Iridine, is even based off of Rome itself. The game itself is free to play and you get a free month to try the paid service. Come on by and give us a look, you might be surprised with what you find!

– MudConnector.Com Review by Lykatos on Apr 22, 2012

The Eternal City... A game I've been playing since 1999, and one that anyone who enjoys text-based games and role-playing games in general should try out. The game's strongpoint lies within its unique gameplay. TEC's codebase is fully original, and the only game it shares similar mechanics with is another game run by Worlds Apart Productions (Grendel's Revenge). Within these mechanics, combat is one of the most intricate and realistic features of the game. Combat in TEC is nothing like your common MUD; you are in control of it. You choose how you will attack, you choose where to attack, and you choose how to focus your defenses. The combat is a fully skill-based system, meaning that for any given weapon (or unarmed), there are maneuvers which much be trained individually and must be used in combat with their appropriate commands. While skills like this in other MUDs simply means you type the skill once and you continually use that skill on a target until you choose another one, every command must be made independently TEC. They also must be use strategically, as repeating the same maneuvers will make the maneuver increasingly difficult to use on an opponent, and an opponents' defenses will affect how useful maneuvers are. But the detailed combat system isn't all that the game has to offer skill-wise... The game also has detailed non-combat playability. Aside from role-played non-combat abilities, which the game provides for with its plethora of essential items and free emote commands, the game has skills for hunting, outdoor survival, pickpocketing, sneaking around the streets, tailoring, and healing. Other non-combat skills are in the works, but aren't yet available. All of these skillsets are just as, if not more, detailed than the combat structure of the game. The gameworld is very expansive, and includes many different environments and cultures within in. It is loosely-based on Roman times, which is shown through the equipment in the game, as well as the technology available. The main location, Iridine, is even based off of Rome itself. Mechanics and gameplay aside, however, TEC has one major flaw: the administrative staff. For nearly a year now, the administrative staff has failed to meet the demands of players. Requests for GM assistance, problems with mechanics, and other issues go unnoticed by the administrative staff. However, for a new player of casual player, this is not as much a problem as they tend to not require things that can't be taken care of by other players. That is the only complaint I have about the game. Overall, everyone should give the game a try. It's part of the Skotos network, so it has a monthly subscription cost associated with it, but the price includes all Skotos games, and they offer a free trial month to give everything a try. Sincerely, SirLocke

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by SirLocke on May 4, 2006

Are you tired of stomping through Moria and battling orcs? Do you get sick of combat that's so mundane and uncustomizable that you may as well be playing Diablo? Well, I'd like to introduce you to a game called The Eternal City. The Eternal City is a roleplay enforced game which takes place in a fictional Rome-like city called Iridine. Its culture, history, and social structure mimic that of Rome as well. Unlike other roleplay intensive games, The Eternal City does have a global channel, though it is not OOC in nature. It's called the think-net, and not only is it kept IC, the conversation is normally of extreme importance to the gameworld. Combat in the Eternal City is very advanced, with each individual round of combat controlled by the person behind the keyboard. If you want to jab with your gladius (sword) you can jab. If you want to sweep with your stave, you can do so. And if you want to drive your opponent to the ground, impaling through their entire body with your spear, well you can do that too. Combat effectiveness is controlled both by stats rolled when you first create your character, and skill gained from the time you begin your combat training. Some weapons also have different styles, offering you a variety of ways to fight using the exact same weapon. Because of the depth of the combat system, you'll never find two combatants exactly the same. Is combat not your thing? No worries. The Eternal City also has a number of non-combat skills to occupy you. My main character, Leafus, is a hunter and outdoorsman. This means he can set traps, make torches, even build crude shelters to protect him from the elements and from animals he might encounter in the wild. There are also skillsets for locksmithing, healing, and even tailoring. The Eternal City also boasts the most advanced pickpocketing and thievery mechanics on the entire web, and I stand by that. Working up your skill in these works exactly like it does with combat, by actually using the skills involved. Do both of these sound fantastic to you, but you don't think you'll be able to master all of them with one character? No worries there either. All accounts to the Eternal City boast a number of OOC features, including two characters per basic account. Not only that, but for every hour you're logged into the Eternal City, you'll be earning role-points, which you can spend on fun OOC items, in-game skill points, items, character alterations, even custom attacks to help you slay your foes. Here we come to the bad news about The Eternal City. It is a pay to play game, with a monthly cost of 12.95 USD. Keep in mind that there is a 30 day free trial, with nothing required of you but your name and an email address. This trial account won't only grant you access to the Eternal City, but a whole of... Read More

– MudConnector.Com Review by Eddy Galuszka on Mar 20, 2006

The Eternal City is a unique MUD that isn't for everyone. For starters, RP'ing isn't optional; it's enforced. There aren't 'traditional' classes such as warrior, rogue, etc. The skill systems are fluid, allowing you to be anything you want to be. You can be an innocent healer, tending to the wounded by day and a nefarious cutpurse by night. You can be a stalwart legionary with the know-how to signal his comrades with Thief's Cant. You can be anything you want to be, the only limit is your imangination. The game world is enormous, alive, and full of mystery. Venture into the God of Death's realm to attain a cure for someone afflicted with the sun curse, head to the holy city of Monlon to visit the Temple, explore the town of Rock Valley and the barbarian tribes to the south, or gaze at the undone hidden among the throngs of people in the city's slums district. The combat system is incredibly complex with many, many skills and sub-styles. One can wield sword and shield, the mace, a stave, the knife or fighting dirk, the gladiatorial weapons such as tridents, whips, and the cestus (spiked gloves), the one-handed axe or venture to the barbarian tribes in order to learn the two-handed axe. One can become a freelance mercenary and learn the Avros style of swordsmanship in order to better distance himself and deal with multiple foes, learn the Nelsor style of sword combat to make flashy strikes and show-off in the arena, or become a member of the Legions and employ the Pardelian style of shield-to-shield line combat. If fighting isn't for you, there are also non-combat based skill sets. Outdoorsmanship such as building a lean-to shelter out in the woodlands, foraging for grubs and berries, and making rope. Hunting Lore in order to track and kill game, set traps, fish, and skin your kills. Healing, such as cleaning a minor scrape or stitching a near-fatal bleeder. Pickpocketing, with skills to lift a purse, or pull off the feats of an escape artist. Setups to mark a victim of the thieves' trade. Street Smarts to navigate the grimy backalleys of the slum district unseen. Tailoring to stitch together a traveling cloak for the poorest commoner, or the finest silk toga for a noble patrician. Locksmithing, to forge and replace new keys and crack open those bothersome locks. There are hundreds of professions that don't depend on skills or player-interaction, either. Open a locked coffer for a citizen who misplaced his keys, guard a caravan from bandits and brigands, dive for clams and pearls, grind flour, clean nets, scavenge through the dumps, etc. There's plenty to do in The Eternal City, so why don't you take a look?

– MudConnector.Com Review by Gorathos on Mar 20, 2006

A lot of changes have taken place in the world The Eternal City calls its home. From the vast range of combat weapons you can choose from, to the pattern additions of tailoring, to crafting a key as a locksmith. Living the life of a warrior, a humble tailor, a loner hunter, these are just a few of the many aspects of The Eternal city. With such a large scale world and roleplaying happening all around you, you can't help but get involved and enjoy the game.

– MudConnector.Com Review by DV on Mar 20, 2006

The Eternal-City is one of the best MUD's ever created, if not the best. It has everything you can wish for: combat skillsets, non-combat skillsets, pickpocketing related skillsets and many more. Roleplaying is mandatory in this game, meaning that you have to keep your character in a roman-set theme all the time. You can play mostly anything you wish, but there is no magick involved in this game. All the skillsets provided are of weapons or skills that were actually used in the roman times. The gameworld is huge, it has well over 30,000 rooms and well descripted ones. The gameworld keeps on improving and getting bigger every year. The combat system is one of the best to ever be created, it isn't as simple as Achaea's or other games of the like. You can actually aim your attacks and there will be various blocks for different attacks. In this game, you do not have EXP, it is based on SP; skill points. Skills points can be earned throughout a weekly cycle which is restarted every cycle (meaning that you keep any SP made, but that it will be easier to make new SP's at the beginning of the next cycle). If you are looking for a world where you can submerse yourself into, TEC is for you, since it has great role-playing capacities and many skillsets as well as politics that are well established and written. In this game, your actions can have an impact on various political outcomes. If you get arrested too many times, you may end up having a trial and being penalized. I've played this game for a very long time and I must admit that I have never seen any other MUD's that could possibly come close to this one. The author of this game is the one who made Star Chamber, known as the best independent game of 2005. Come give it a try, it's free for the first month and then you can decide whether or not it is worth paying for this game.

– MudConnector.Com Review by Anonymous on Mar 20, 2006

The Eternal City is a long running, stable, well developed role-playing MUD with a fine attention to mechanical development and game balance. What seems to appeal to most players is there are so much to get out of this game and that it supports so many gameplay styles. This game is definitely a work in progress, but that is not to say it's not a fully functioning, well developed game. The GMs actively work to balance the game, develop skilsets, and code new areas. In addition to this, there is regularly at least one GM run role-playing event a week in addition to player and guild run events. Whether it's mechanics or the story arcs that are a part of Iridine's larger story, the game is immersive and extremely fun. With the free month offered for new players and the incredible effort to help new players learn the game, there is no reason for people to try it out.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Flower on Mar 17, 2006

The game system is truly amazing. The big down side is the bickering and immaturity and cliques amonst the playerbase.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Walter on Mar 13, 2006

Looking for something a bit more creative than your standard MUD? Welcome to The Eternal City - probably the most creative and unique text-based roleplaying game on the internet. From experience, I know that you are probably used to trying new MUDs, and finding the same tired setup - a character who can use little more than the "attack" command, slowly gaining experience, and unlocking certain skills at predetermined levels - ultimately achieving exactly what hundreds of players before you have achieved. Fear not - I am confident you will find that The Eternal City is a much different and much more exciting world to craft your characters within. In The Eternal City, characters are entirely and completely customizable, and you choose how you would like to play your character by adding certain skillsets to their repitoire. You may add as many skillsets to your character as you like, in any order that you like, allowing you true and absolute freedom to decide how you would like to play your character. Furthermore, characters remain entirely customizable throughout their entire lives - decide that you want to give up fighting and learn to heal for the temple? Maybe you'd like to pick up locksmithing as a hobby.. Or perhaps your gladiator character decides it is time to learn a new weapon, years after mastering her first - no problem! We currently offer eighteen combat skillsets, including many interesting fighting styles. Learn to wield a sword and fight in the ranks of the Legion, master the art of swinging a two-handed axe, shooting a bow, lashing your enemies with a whip, or even fighting with your bare hands. There are also currently eight non-combat skillsets, for those who prefer a less dangerous lifestyle, or for those who would like to supplement their fighting skills with the ability to heal wounds or live off the land - even tailoring clothing is a possibility! Furthermore, The Eternal City boasts one of the most amazing skill systems available - for each skillset your character learns, there could be anywhere from ten to thirty subskills to learn within that skillset - or even more than this in some cases. And perhaps most interesting of all - YOU choose when your character learns the skills you want to learn, and in what order they learn them. That's right, no more waiting until level seventy to be able to knock people down with a stave - make it your first learning priority! This applies to non-combat skills as well - Learn whichever healing skills you wish to learn first - or specialize in tailoring whatever sorts of clothing you'd like - the possibilities are endless, and no character is ever the same in the world of Midlight. Beyond the amazing skill system, The Eternal City offers some of the most in-depth and customizable role-playing possibilities of any game online. The game has a profound political system that is simply mindboggling. For those who care less combat... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by A woman in a mask made to resemble the face of a duck on Mar 11, 2006

Are you tired of stomping through Moria and battling orcs? Do you get sick of combat that's so mundane and uncustomizable that you may as well be playing Diablo? Well, I'd like to introduce you to a game called The Eternal City. The Eternal City is a role-play enforced game which takes place in a fictional Rome-like city called Iridine. Its culture, history, and social structure mimic that of Rome as well. Unlike other role-play intensive games, The Eternal City does have a global channel, though it is not OOC in nature. It's called the think-net, and not only is it kept IC, the conversation is normally of extreme importance to the gameworld. Combat in the Eternal City is very advanced, with each individual round of combat controlled by the person behind the keyboard. If you want to jab with your gladius (sword) you can jab. If you want to sweep with your stave, you can do so. And if you want to drive your opponent to the ground, impaling through their entire body with your spear, well you can do that too. Combat effectiveness is controlled both by stats rolled when you first create your character, and skill gained from the time you begin your combat training. Some weapons also have different styles, offering you a variety of ways to fight using the exact same weapon. Because of the depth of the combat system, you'll never find two combatants exactly the same. Is combat not your thing? No worries. The Eternal City also has a number of non-combat skills to occupy you. My main character, Leafus, is a hunter and outdoorsman. This means he can set traps, make torches, even build crude shelters to protect him from the elements and from animals he might encounter in the wild. There are also skillsets for locksmithing, healing, and even tailoring. The Eternal City also boasts the most advanced pickpocketing and thievery mechanics on the entire web, and I stand by that. Working up your skill in these works exactly like it does with combat, by actually using the skills involved. Do both of these sound fantastic to you, but you don't think you'll be able to master all of them with one character? No worries there either. All accounts to the Eternal City boast a number of OOC features, including two characters per basic account. Not only that, but for every hour you're logged into the Eternal City, you'll be earning role-points, which you can spend on fun OOC items, in-game skill points, items, character alterations, even custom attacks to help you slay your foes. Here we come to the bad news about The Eternal City. It is a pay to play game, with a monthly cost of 12.95 USD. Keep in mind that there is a 30 day free trial, with nothing required of you but your name and an email address. This trial account won't only grant you access to the Eternal City, but a whole of... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Eddy Galuszka on Mar 10, 2006

Just thought I'd add my two cents about TEC. Lots of pros and cons about this game. I've been playing TEC since 1998. I'm an "on again off again" kind of player - mostly since I'm older and busier than I was when I started playing. The game always manages to draw me back though, mainly because of the family type feeling that's developed between a lot of our players. I guess the best way to describe TEC is like a small high school: everyone knows everyone, but still likes to stick to their own "cliques"; there's all the relationship drama of a high school; we have all the high school 'stereotypes' - the jock, the bully, the 'cool' crowd, the quiet crowd, and so forth. This, of course, is the main gripe of a lot of our players - the melodrama and cliqueness that you see a lot of in TEC - but it's also one of the greatest things about the game, IMO. It's realistic. You'll find that many of our players have met each other, become really great friends, even started relationships and marriages outside of the game. I think this says a lot for what a strong community we have. A lot of people have written reviews saying that the game veterans can be icy and rude to newcomers. I think a lot of this is written vindictively, or simply misinterpreted. We have very good support for new players - a whole team of players are dedicated to equipping and answering questions a new player might have. Any slip ups are generally excused by simply whispering to the offended character that you are new. They will understand and leave you alone. You may get jumped on if you do something Out Of Character, or something that isn't the "generally accepted norm" of the playerbase - but again, a simple "I am new" whispered can quickly ease any of these misunderstandings. A lot of our playerbase does tend to focus on the cons, leading to the biggest problem in this game - a lack of understanding and a lot of negativity from the loyal players of this game. I would suggest staying away from the forums and looking for help rather from the newbie websites or In Game, as the forums are what keeps this viscious attitude going. In closing, I want to make a note about the person who said it's $29.95 a month to play this game - that is for a premium account, which gives you access to some of the cooler features and also is supposed to get you better GM support, etc. A regular subscription is $12.95, which gives you access to all 14 of Skotos games. I think 12.95 is a more than resonable price. You do get a full month free without having to enter payment information at all, so that is more than enough time to evaluate this community for yourself.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Bianca on Nov 24, 2005

The game mechanics are very good all in all. The GMs however are biased and vindictive. Certain players become GM pets and get most of the goodies. Customer feedback is atrocious. $29.95/mo is an absurd price to pay for lousy customer service and a jaded player base.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Walter on Nov 7, 2005

I think this is probably the best MUD out there, with enforced role-playing, the most detailed combat system available with a variety of different weapons and tactics which can be employed, and the ability to really immerse yourself into a new, gigantic world. Opportunities to join groups from everything from the underworld, the army, the constables, and the gladiators, or even eventually make a patrician elite character. The possibilities are endless, it's left up to you what you want to do with it.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Will on Nov 6, 2005

TEC, once one of the greatest MUDs out there would score in the top three for a number of weeks and months here. It remained immensely popular with an extremely large playerbase, and the gigantic city and world was always populated, interesting, and exciting. It truly was the eternal city. However, as the Republic and Empire it was created to mimic, it's buildings crumble, it's walls collapse, and it's reach slowly creeps inward towards nothingness. After playing before, during and after the switch to Skotos, I noticed a serious change in the way players conducted day to day business and a gradual decline in role play. While the game was combat oriented, and remains so, the amount of role play, events, and excellent storylines made it a one of a kind MUD unrivaled in it's class. The combat system itself, though by far one of the best coded and applied system I have seen, has begun to loose it's appeal, giving way to a power struggle by the rich and noble veterans. Though few remain true to their roots, playing their characters well and helping the new, a newer player will generally find it nearly impossible to connect with the extraordinarily wealthy and well rooted characters and their human counterparts. An alley beating, verbal abuse, or overall lack of compassion is the sad majority of welcomes for new players. Though some play well, get lucky, and prosper, the uncomfortable environment is hard to overcome. The game had a glorious past and could have an excellent future. The direction that it has taken appears to me to be quite deadly and that is why I have left.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Sadius on Oct 5, 2005

Good whatever this finds you in. I have been playing this game for a near six years, starting when I was a freshman in high school, and I think it is time for me to give my two cents. The Eternal-City is indeed a roman-based MUD, one of which I have enjoyed all my time. If I didn't, would I still be here? Don't get me wrong, my main character isn't exactly what you would call a 'Vet' with his own little niche and all that, he is instead a middle-one, not a newcomer and not a vet. I've played and started out with this game, through combat changes, through revamps and nerfs, and each time was better than the first. Is this a perfect RPG? By no means. However, it is a RPG where your actions will have consequences, a RPG where you CAN make a difference. Last night, we had an event where people did indeed make a difference, and where someone being wise or stupid could have easily changed how it went. The only concerns for me is that fee, but try it and all of Skotos, and if you add all that up, it's actually not that bad. And the GMs... granted, they are not always there as I have seen in other MUDs, but when they are there and when something does happen that affects the playerbase as a whole, I have yet to see anyone match the amount of care and concern they put into it. If you are looking for a MUD that is deep in prose and poetry, deep in your involvement, to a MUD to really sink your teeth in and enjoy, this is it. If you are looking, however, to be uber man and wield tyranny over everyone, go somewhere else. If you are looking to be a solo player, you might be able to fit in, but not likely. For those of you that want to enjoy a truely memezmerizing MUD that will demand your involvement and mature you for it, this is it. I have played this game through the ups and downs, and there were some really bad downs, but I have yet to see another MUD that matches with it in prose, interaction, and character depth. It is definitely worth trying out, and that first month is free. Enjoy Karsa

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by JendoKarsa on Sep 12, 2005

The Eternal City is the ultimate RPG. The flamers will say that there is nobody to help new characters. This statement is false, those flamers have not given the game long enough. There are IG oranizations made just for helping out the new players. And there is a very nice tutorial to get you used to some of the most common commands. The playerbase can be cynical at times, however, you are dealing with people. And in dealing with people you will meet some that will be cynical. The descriptions are beautifly done, and the GM's do a wonderful job keeping the world at peace, and crafting some amazing story-arcs. If you want an RPG where a GM is always there for you to fall back on, no, this is not your RPG. However, if you're looking for a game to truely get into then this is the best RPG available.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Pasterin on Sep 8, 2005

As a former addict to this game, it lost it's luster of shine, the lack of GM involvment, alot of broken promises, and the player's themselves elitism idealism, this game is not newling roleplayer friendly at all. No real direction, where you can spend "role-points" which are gathered via being in game, not for actually doing roleplaying to gain higher powered text based roles such as patricans. If you enjoy a roman based theme and have plenty of patience to deal with alot of stupidity at times, its worth the second to look it over, but worth the money for what services offered and actually get, i would disagree. Promises made, promises very rarely kept. Doot.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Kered on Jun 27, 2005

This game is arguably one of the best of its' type online. I've played quite a few of them in a search for something similar, or better- the simple fact is it blows everything else out of the water. The gameworld is huge, the descriptions highly detailed, the skillsets incredibly intricate and engrossing, the level of depth one can have in simulating a character in a romanesque environment is stunning. Simply put, if you're addicted to MUDs, this will give you your fix for life. However, the game is not without its' problems. The staff, while growing, is still far too small to correct some of the problems quickly, or to provide necessary interaction with the playerbase regularly. They have been, however, making a colossal effort to change this, and it has been well-received. That problem, however, pales in comparison to another people problem- the playerbase. Generally a rather vicious, fractious assembly of people all trying to measure the length of their characters' genitalia, they don't do too much to inspire new players to continue playing. This is further exemplified in the forums of the game. They represent exactly how much a community the players of this game aren't. More than that, it could quite simply be the culture that's been fostered in the game (perhaps from a lack of admin intervention/interaction more often than not). For some reason a "Wild Wild West" attitude has been encouraged (not deliberately) by the manner in which player-characters can get away with crimes, and a very sarcastic, snide, cynical atmosphere is evident within minutes of playing the game. As such, it makes playing the game particularly testing at times, when several of these players are using think-net (the gameworld-wide channel) to announce themselves and their behaviors. More than that, despite the fact that this is a 'roleplaying-enforced' game, so many characters get away with abuses so often (the adage, "when the cat's away, the mice will play" fits here perfectly), you sit back and wonder if this is really true. Furthermore, players are generally too self-absorbed to really support any changes that, while removing an advantage from their character, would be better for the gameworld as a whole. It leads to a feeling of discontent that shouldn't really exist. In summation, I'd have to say that this is a fantastic game that is being crippled by one thing and one thing alone- the players. Until many attitudes change within the playerbase, it will never be much more than a niche following.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Wraith on Jun 11, 2005

The good - A huge world, nice newbie tutorial. Good skillsets, good combat, beautiful imagery; almost everything you could look for appears on the shell. The okay? - The few and in far between revamps. The lack of new player assistance. The lack of assistance from the staff. The Bad - The nerfing of skills, the elitism, the inability to be recognized as a good roleplayer because of the lack of all character involvement. The Ugly? - Incessent, perpetual flaming on forums, the use of OOC information in the game. You decide. I thought it was worth the first few years of playing. But because of the lack of acceptance, (into a huge world that could quite possibly be the best game ever made), the elitism involved, and all of the aforementioned annoyances make it one of the games that is going downhill. Its playerbase decreases daily. It will never be as good as it once was.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Brianne on Jun 10, 2005

A horrible game, this is, with idiots to look out for like Blackening, Marnevel, Unauthorised to name a few, all of whom make this game unfriendly towards new players. The game a player controlled constable guild, all of whom use OOC knowledge to assist with arrests, own at least one criminal character, and are corrupt anyway, making this game disgraceful. Most characters have OOC ties with other players, meaning roleplay is demanded in this game, but impossible unless you are a long-time player, as everyone will treat you like crap. The Auxilii is a group dedicated to helping newbies, but don't worry, they are never awake anyway, most of them don't even know the mechanics enough to help you anyway, the rest are just rude. This is one of the most OOC games I have seen up to date, and I wouldn't reccommend it to anyone, as it is a waste of time and money. But don't take my opinion on it, try this game out yourself. Either way, you'll get pissed off at it and eventually quit. Good luck.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Tectonic on May 29, 2005

The Eternal City is one of the largest environments I've been in. A number of the rooms, however, are more or less unused. With little to nothing happening in them at any one point. My favorite aspect of TEC would have to be the degree of roleplaying involved. OOC (Out of Character) comments are left to be involved in whispers and in brackets only. Eleven of the twelve places to choose from have thier own language, and though possible, at the moment it is very hard to learn a new language without involving the traits system (which I'll talk about later). While creating your character, you will be asked specific questions about thier background. This will help determine a backstory for your character and help you roleplay even better. Stats, (like in real life) are increased by going through a training course, and even though it sounds easy, it isn't. And even if you make it through, you'll have to do it many times before you see an increase, and it only goes to a certain. Which is really a good thing. Since the character can't completely max out and become the best fighter in a week. About the traits system. It allows you to pick a group of things which will each give a unique twist on your character. The catch being that they use a point system to score each trait. Positives increase the point scale, negatives decrease it. And if you're above 0, you can't continue on. This lets your character be unique, even furthering thier personality. The amount of skills you can choose from, varies from: Swords, to bows, to healing, and outdoors. The game has 11 combat abilities with 6 additional skillsets made for the combat with ethier a particular weapon, a shield, or moving around to not get hit. The non-combat skills make up another 7 of the abilities, using things from stealing, to skinning a pelt of a corpse, and unlocking a chest. The skills revolve around a system in which by using the skill successfully, you will gain a slighty bit of 'experience'. But it will take a good bit of swinging a sword hitting the rat, or a bandage around the leg to make you the best around. The law system is controlled by the players IG called constables (with other NPC constables also roaming the streets). Meaning, if you break the law by stealing, attacking someone on the street, or cursing in the open public, you can almost always expect a person to be trailing you down, and trying to make sure you get your just desserts. The organizations in the game are pretty well structured. Organizations are always taking root in the world of Iridine. Some fail, some succeed, but even if the flop down onto thier face, it's almost always a great time even if just to be around your fellow players. Now, I have probably missed a few things in this review, but I'd to... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by The Guard on May 29, 2005

One of the better MUD's on the internet to date, with a large variety of skillsets to be learnt, both combat and non-combat. One of the best skill increase structures in any game. This game is friendly to newbies in that they have an organisation of players, dedicated to getting newbies on their feet, and helping them with basic commands, etc. Choose from a large variety of skillsets, and play that skillset in any way possible, ranging from thief to healer to warrior. A great game not to be missed, with a month free trial.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Aundae on May 27, 2005

This is a mud better avoided. Despite a large world, extensive combat system (not necessarily good or balanced, but extensive), and an active playerbase, the big downfall of The Eternal City is its staff. Unprovoked bannings, flame wars in the forums, and constant nerfing of skills are not uncommon occurences. The elitist playerbase is typically hard to penetrate, leaving most new players to fend for themselves against the incredibly high learning curve of the custom ColdC interface. Add in the required pay to play and The Eternal City adds up to a bad value and a waste of time all around.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Puukar on Jan 26, 2005

What is in a game? So few now a days can hold the interest of players. Look at many of the PC games out that use to have over 100 players on at a time, that can barely lay claim to 10 at peak hours. So, what is a game to do? Well, this one, The Eternal City, has been around for years and years. And they keep getting players. How does such a game, any game in fact, complete such a task? Change. The Eternal City not only offers yourself change between skills, items, armor, etc. But the Game Masters themselves do more then just 'tweak' the system. But bring about whole new skillsets, adding new moves to old, and even revamping the whole system on how to gain experience. Then again, that's only happened this year, and their is still 6 months to go. ;) Many types of people play this game, as they would anyother. But that is what makes this a vivid and great community to play in. To answer a few quick questions, yes, the world is large, yes, you can have more then one character, yes, PKing is allowed. And in fact, is in the works for change as we speak, so the Game Masters can provide us with even more independence then before. They strive for balance, demand to make change, and why? To better the game and the community as a whole. Is this game balanced? I would say no. Is this game fair? Again, I would say no. Is this game, by far, one of the best? Sadly, I can not continue my trend, and must say yes. No game is balanced, and will clearly have a better role. No game can be said to be 'fair'. Life itself, is not fair. Will the bad guys always win over the good? It all depends on the player, and how they play. But for the most part, the game is balanced. Few weapons need to be changed, but it is clearly on the road to becoming the greatest, if not longest running game around. I play this game, because it is up to the player to decide how good they become, it is up to the player to see if he will be good or evil, if he will follow the law, if he will be rich and famous, or just part of the crowd. This game, unlike so many others, gives me, the player, a chance to stand out, to be something 'else' or to just hang around and talk. The Eternal City has by far, come a long way, and will continue to grow and become a great, and far superior game.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Diabolus on May 18, 2004

Where to begin? This game has been going on for so long, 8 years, approximately. Since the start of this huge MUD, many things have changed and many characters have came and left. This review will reflect my opinion and only my own. In this game, you could do whatever you wanted, but some of those things would leave you with consequences which could result in the death of your character. It has changed, the GM's have limited the training, the money and other things. You can no longer play this game without thinking about making money in it or training before the time expires. Freedom was a part of this game, it no longer is. Everything that you have can be lost so quickly, you have to treasure the time that you do have what you like. The majority of the players are ethnocentric; it means that they strongly believe that this game is the best and that no others or anything can even make it seem bad. It is false, this game isn't the best anymore unless you like the newest changes. This review isn't meant in anyway to bash the staff or the players of the game. The use of messengers are strongly frowned upon, but without proof you can't do anything about it and everyone knows how easy it is to fake a screenshot, so you can't send valid proof about this concern. Rumors are spread over the various messengers (MSN, AIM, Yahoo). Players are supposed to keep their characters IC (in-character) at all times, but it isn't true since so many players abuse the messengers and use the information that they received in such ways, IC'ly. I have had several characters come up to my character and ask me about stuff that noone in the game could have even known. How did they know? Through the use of messengers, the players have spread the information and made it 'common' information for anyone that uses those messengers. The link between characters and players are no longer what they used to be. When I thought that everything was 'better', I soon realized that this game didn't lose those OOC (out of character) players. The gameworld is fantastic, it is well described and you can easily make out the images in your mind. It is, by far, one of the best of this game. It also has a roman time setting which makes it great. This game has the best combat system of all the MUD's. It is, by far, the best thing of this MUD. The combat system is very complex, but rather easy to get a grip on, once you learn the basics. The combat system is what made me play this game, it was just too good to be true. This MUD is a role-playing MUD. Role-playing is not encouraged, it is in fact NEEDED or you will not go very far. There is a certain lack of Role-playing in this game. players... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Huisden on Feb 27, 2004

I am new to TEC, and have been reading posts on here and feel I must comment. Although I've only been playing around a month, I'm finsihed with my free month and will continue to play. I played a RP game before, a couple years back my first year of college, and while it was fun and all, I got really sick of all the OOC junk that went on. Guys were constantly hitting on ya and asking to cyber and all that junk. It got really old really quick. I took a break, and then looked for a RP game last month. I found TEC, and was pulled in because of the free first month. I thought great, if I don't like it I can cancel or whatever and go on with my life. I started reading in the forums a bit, and looking at all the sites for newbies. As soon as I began playing, I had tons of help. Everyone that I met seemed eager to help with any questions I had. I also loved ~reveled in fact~ that everyone was IC at all times. I picked a job I wanted to do, made up a little story for the background of my player before she appeared and was instantly sucked in. I've made lots of friends and have been warmly greeted by even the games Veterans. I hope that I can add to their gaming experience with my warm attitude and outlook. The world is huge, the people have been great despite what I've read here, and the RP is awesome. My only regret is that I did not find this game sooner.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Michelle C.* aka Mishy *aka Irine on Feb 26, 2004

Well, I've been playing TEC since about September-October of 98, About 5 and a half years. Just judging from the length of time I've played this game, one would consider that this game is amazing and awesome if it can keep a player hooked and into it for almost half a decade. Yes TEC is that great, but it isn't flawless or without problems. Recently there's been a combat revamp, making it very hard to train up with a single character or be the best of the best. A lot of things had depended on TEC's combat system, as it use to be the main feature people came to this game to do. It's still rather an amazing combat system, but it's got a lot of flaws that use to not exist. In spite of this point, the VOLUNTEER Gms, do an amazing job of running events. GMJapes, though he did start this new combat revamp, has added more skills and moves to the game to spice things up a bit [though I believe he's spent way too much time in one area of combat, the gladius, and made it too powerful now]. One feature I love about this game, unlike other games, is it gives you the chance to explor other RP areas by playing multiple characters. I've played many other MUDS and they don't allow multiple characters. TEC is non guild, non class type of game, which is another HUGE plus side. One character could use, wield, and perform every skill in the game! Though a VERY hard feat to do, it's not impossible. I've yet to see another game that gives you that kind of opportunity. The Entire Skotos company offers a lot of different things if it's your style. They offer i believe 8 different games, including TEC. The GM staff is under appreicated at times, though with good reason at times, for only being Volunteers. I give TEC about 9 out of 10. Loyal TEC player, Vince aka saviorseth aka Corvous.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Corvous Blair on Feb 24, 2004

I've been playing TEC for close to three and a half years. I've tried other MUDs, but none of them provided anything close to the immersive role-playing experience of TEC. For such a vast game, the level of detail is astounding. Subtle insights into ongoing plots and game history can be found throughout the gameworld. Explorer types will especially enjoy this aspect. TEC has a very rich history, and a casual walk through the main city, Iridine, will reveal a wealth of information as well as mysteries, hints and puzzles. The GMs are nothing short of brilliant in their efforts to provide challenging intellectual puzzles for the playerbase. And there are many older players who are happy to discuss game history and current plots with curious newcomers. TEC is based loosely on Republican Rome, and it's obvious that the game designers are genuine history buffs, because the historical details incorporated into the game are accurate and engaging. TEC maintains a unique balance between fantasy elements and hard-core historical precision. This balance is probably one of the hardest things for a new player to grasp clearly. For instance, magic exists in TEC, but under the strict control of priests. Illegal magic is a serious crime, and not something to be discussed openly... The treatment of magic and religion in TEC is subtle, believable, and it can be confusing for new players. A thorough reading of the player's guide, and appropriate questioning of older players, will clear up the confusion, however. Since the world of TEC is so rich and detailed, I strongly recommend reading the player's guide before trying to develop a serious character. TEC strictly enforces roleplay. You have to be in character at all times. This is how the immersive atmosphere is maintained. That sounds harsher than it really is, since there are vast possibilities for character types in TEC. The skill system is extremely well designed. Aside from a wide range of weapons, TEC offers non-combat skills such as thieving, healing, tailoring, and hunting and trapping. Training skills is its own reward, but the GMs also reward roleplay, so it is possible to have a successful character of ANY type within the overall story of TEC. Warrior, scholar, professional criminal, patrician or slave - I've played all of those, personally, and enjoyed every one. Bottom line, TEC is an absolutely splendid game. I strongly urge people to try it.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Miriam on Feb 24, 2004

I've played TEC on and off since it first went online. Since then, it has gone through an incredible number of changes -- some positive, some negative. This is the way life goes though. I too, want to defend TEC from the rantings of a few disgruntled players. The main problem that TEC has right now is a lack of a newbie support system. This game is stunningly complex -- right down to the culture that has evolved over the years. Luckily, some very helpful players seem to be working extra hard toward building some sort of support structure. The best thing that anyone starting TEC could do for themselves is to ask for help right of the bat. Do it in person and stay IC! People are naturally less forgiving toward ooc newbies than they are toward ooc veterans. Aside from the problem mentioned above, TEC is simply the best game I have ever played. Sure, it has an amazing combat system, geography, etc.. but what I personally love most about TEC is the role-playing. Don't get me wrong, we aren't a bunch of "tea-sipping tailors" as would be said in game, but the balance between combat and rp manages to keep the rp here more real. We aren't walking around bowing to each other all day and talking about the blessed queen... blah-blah- blah. No, we're talking about who killed who -- who is in jail for heresy - which constable went rogue -- who the bandit is on Vet road. I guess the word here is intrigue -- but this word is very cliche when used to describe a mud and I wish I could find something better. Simply put, you should play TEC. At least check it out. It will be difficult for you to get involved in all the "intrigue" right away. This is normal in a well-developed mud. Be a fly on the wall and listen to what is going on.. ask people things. Be patient. Naturally, a new character is not going to be the head of the constables on his second day. The other night my character went to the colliseum and watched characters fight while people called out for blood. Then he chatted over ale with some buddies before heading out of the city to try and catch a bandit who had been terrorizing people along a remote country road. A game couldn't get any better than this one.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Been Playing Awhile on Feb 23, 2004

I've read some of the more recent reviews of The Eternal City as was somewhat surprised at the negativity and bitterness in some of them. Until now I've never written a review of the game, but I find myself wanting to defend it against some unfair characterizations. Now, I really can't address the issue of GM favoritism to any great extent. Though I've probably played this game longer than 95% of the current player base, I've never really sought any kind of clique with other "old-timers" (long term players) or "veterans" (those uber-characters you've heard about). I typically have one central character I play and a couple or three secondary characters that I just play around with and that don't last long. Even my primary characters tend not to live more than a sixth months before I erase them and try something else. So, I'm not normally in the game long enough with one single character to get into the old-timer cliques. As such, I don't hang out much with characters whose players might have been around long enough, and have an ingame powerbase large enough, to have garnered any kind of GM favoritism. I have, however, witnessed one or two minor instances of such favoritism. So, I can honestly say it does happen. A player whose character is head of the whatever Guild or holds whatever high patrician office, or is simply very popular, and whom him/herself has also been with TEC for a long time, probably knows the GMs on a first name basis. As such, there are likely to be small incidents of favoritism now and again. Maybe even not-so-small incidents of favoritism. But, as I've said, I've been around TEC for a long time, too. And, though I may not know all the GM's by name, I do know some. I even GM'd myself for a short time years ago. And knowing those GM as I do, and knowing Scott's opinions on such matters, I can honestly say I would be greatly surprised and deeply disillusioned if favoritism of the kind proclaimed here existed in the game in any form. That aside, on to the game itself. Though hardly a "newbie" (new player) myself, I often play around with new characters if only to get a fresh perspective on the game. I started a player website called Vino's Vineyard targetted at new players and created to give helpful information and tips to try to make starting out in TEC a little easier. And yes, the Vineyard is one of those sites referred to in an earlier reviews as being outdated. (I really am going to do something about that soon ;). Still, as such I think I can give a fair review of TEC for those considering trying it out. First of all, The Eternal City is huge. It's a big game. The central city in TEC, Iridine, really is a city. A big city. Fully mapped out and full of interesting places visit;... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by saintmatthew on Feb 14, 2004

A few things i left out on the last review. The GM staff does work hard to implement things, its just that they are usually something unimportant such as sticking a head on a spear or unused building a massive area that gets used by less than 10% of the players. They claim to have bigger and better things ahead of us but with the pace they work there will be a man on Mars and Bush will read a newspaper. In the last post i mentioned them not addressing the bugs, some of that may have a bit to do with players abusing the system to get ahead, such as someone learning the knives skill to gain skill points to spend on their shielding and dodging skills just because the knife can strike faster and they'll gain skill points at a faster rate even though they have no intent on using the knife in a real fight. With things like t hat i wouldnt want to give the players anything new, right now there are probably a group of people who have found a way to abuse this system and no one will know about it until it is common knowlege. OOC is another big issue with this mud. If there are 50 players online, chances are 35 of them have some sort of messaging service that they are using to help plan attacks with friends, help find a meeting place, talk about in character things, or help friends in trouble. Players not being able to deal with the fact that they just got whupped on by someone who was smarter, has less of a life or got lucky will use ooc knowlege to get revenge on their attacker. This creates a whole slew of problems when it goes through the "justice system". Since the majority of this review and the previous was spent pointing out the downsides i'll give a few positives too. It's highly addictive, best combat system around, some interesting people , large world, never ending list of things to do, free for the first month, and if you end up paying for it there are plenty of other games at Skotos for you to enjoy.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by TEC vet again on Feb 14, 2004

Right off the bat, TEC is not and i repeat IS NOT a mud for people new to roleplaying. While it is not hard to learn how to play the rude and often unhelpful make you not want to venture far from your spawn point. Old, outdated and useless helpfiles and a PNPC who gives out 5 year old information is what you will have to rely on until you make friends. Other than that until you can fight fairly well get used to trying to serach for other newbies and being ignored. By far TEC has the best combat system on any mud although with it's flaws there is no other that even comes close. Which brings us to our next problem, there are a wide variety of weapons but only a few get any attention paid to them. There have been some weapons with major bugs in them since they have been released and haven't been fixed or even addressed. For example, you can block using an axe and a sword block without even holding a weapon in your handm or use a cestus block that requires two of the weapons to execute with just one of them. These are hardly things that should be overlooked. But if there is something that you report to them because you aren't sure if it is a bug or not because it may be something as simple as typing go west instead of just west... prepare to be accused of abusing a bug that you didn't know was a bug because they didn't bother telling you not to do it after your report or disabling it altogether. Remeber that kid in class that always had their lips glued to the teachers rear, or always had brown smears on their nose? Well thats who you'll have to be if you expect the GMs to set aside time to answer your questions. I can recall 3 specific times where my proclaims to them were being ignored, then asked a friend to proclaim for me and got an almost instant response. Also it seems like those who complain the most and try to cause the largest uproar (though they are few in numbers) get the biggest response. Locksmithing was a fine example of this, the skill was basically ignored for a few years then enough of them whined about being useless and boom 1 day of coding and testing later they have an almost fully functioning skillset from almost nothing. My final complaint about TEC is the customer assistance... it's non existant on most days and on others questions may be taken... but they don't get answered or noted. If you can stand all of that or are lucky to have a pair of lips that fits their hind parts rather well feel free to check us out you get a month free.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by TEC VET of 6 years  and current player on Feb 14, 2004

The Eternal City (TEC) is a game in transition. Here's how it was a few months ago. There were a collection of skills a character could develop. He could be a warrior, or a thief, etc. The warriors were the most important, and they competed in their training. The most successful warriors had done things like slash at rats for hours each day, for several years. The mechanics for fighting made defense easier than attacks, so in general if someone could hit you without help then it was almost certain that you mostly could not hit him. It was and is also a roleplaying game. Some players enjoyed doing complicated roleplaying. The game allowed (and allows) free emotes. If your character is named Jonquil you can type: : casts a magic spell that leaves you frantic to have sex with the nearest donkey. Everyone nearby will see: Jonquil casts a magic spell that leaves you frantic to have sex with the nearest donkey. It is no coincidence that magic is a capital offense except when used by the government priesthood for official business. The general rule is that it is considered rude to use emotes in a way that tells other people how to respond. I should mention that free emotes are a great aid to ingame cybering, for those who enjoy that. The people who enjoyed roleplaying could not be the best warriors because whatever time they spent roleplaying was time they could not train. Great trainers did say, though, that they enjoyed the roleplaying they did while slashing rats. There was essentially no PK, because it irked people too much to put in hundreds or thousands of hours of boring training to get a good warrior and then lose him in less than a minute to a group of other fighters. Since most PKs resulted in a player quitting, the GMs didn't like that and so they mostly did not approve PKs. Kill someone without permission and the character would be restored and you would be punished. On the other hand it was perfectly acceptable to knock out a character and steal everything on his person, leaving him naked and bleeding -- provided he did not die. But if he could identify you to the constables they were likely to arrest you for it, and after repeated crimes you might have a long prison term or even be sentenced to die in the arena. So it was a big deal to own an expensive hood or mask that could hide your identity. There was (and is) a big emphasis on GM-run "events". The GMs would have an interesting plot line established using NPC characters, and players whose characters participated well and advanced the plot could get important ingame rewards. Notably they could get custom items, unique things created by GMs, that they could use to impress people. But of course, if they took custom items someplace that a team of guys in hoods could rob then... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Roadstrom on Feb 11, 2004

If your looking for a game that is alleged to be "player run and GM supported" but is actually "GM run and player supported" This is the one for you. You'll have fun if you suck up to the GMs and remain in awe of them. The GMs don't bother to tell you that they have a mysterious thing called "Game Balance" until they enforce it on your unbeknowing ass however. GMs favorites mysteriously manage to get all the action and good stuff at events. Personally I wouldn't waste my money on such a game when their are much better games out there.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Vern on Feb 10, 2004

Alright, I was asked to clarify on my last post. TEC (herefore referred to as The Eternally Sh1tty) sucks for these reasons: The staff cheats, players cheat, but as long as you kiss butt, you're safe. I got a story to tell... Most recently... Lazily, a Thieves Guild head in TEC was scheduled to die for her setting another character, Doping, up to die. For that, she was also set to be killed. One of the GM's, likely Jen "Bulldike" Harleygirl, animated a GM Character and warned her of the death by giving her a black rose just hours before she was allowed to be killed. Off the point, after she was killed she likened herself to Christ himself, and said "Lazily died for your sins." Before that, I busted two characters swapping items, and posted the log in entirety on the forums, because I believe the players should know when scum like AnalLeak and Minimind are passing around items, and had to have arranged the meetings oocly. This gave a chance to bust someone and hang them out as an example. That was a bad thing.. why? I don't know, but I got in trouble for busting a few cheats. This wouldn't be a bad thing, but AnalLeak is a well known thief, and one of the leaders of the Thieves Guild, which was already under great suspision by the playerbase of using OOC channels of communication to do their 'hits'. This proved that even their leader was using Out of Character information in the game. I got in trouble for doing it.. Bacterian, one of the only two decent people who run the game, investigated it and didn't do anything about it. Why you might ask? Humility from getting popped red handed and strung out on the clothesline for all to see had already been administered. In the middle of the public lynching, Minimind popped off in defense of himself, or to just belay the gazes off himself that I used to play a character that was banned. Remember this because it comes into play later. So I just strung AnalLeak and Minimind out on the laundry line wet, and accusations start heading my way from his friends, including Lazily start saying I was a cheat *gasp*, and that was totally unexpected *smirks*. Lazily didn't stop at having GM's inform her of her death no, lets go forward from the last instance a bit... First off, having a power position character, like a Patrician and a Guild member (Thieves Guild, the local hot house for old used up characters to vie for popularity), is illegal. So what Lazily does is get two accounts, and play the Guild head on one account, and the patrician power character on the other account. Even though she openly admits to playing a power position character, and a guildie in the forums, and having been reported, it's "ok" for "her" to do. This, with the first part that focuses on Favoritism,... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Glistium on Feb 10, 2004

TEC is a joke. If you don't believe me, read the forums. It's a mud gone bad, and not worth wasting a cent or second on. I was a player for a while, and during that time I've seen cheaters ignored because of GM favoritism, the system changed to proffer the lazy, and GM's warning players before a legal PK (which is supposed to be illegal to do in the game). The staff cheats as bad as most of the playerbase, and the customer support? Write a question to this email address and watch how long it takes you to get a response: mailto:support@worlds-apart.com It's not worth playing, even if it was free.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Glistium on Feb 10, 2004

Given an ancient Rome setting, The Eternal City gives a unique perspective on role-playing MUDs - whether your forte is one-handed swords or locksmithing, there are multiple opportunities for everybody to enjoy this game. The Eternal City has at least 22 skillsets (I can't be completely sure, as I quickly made a rough list of the skills, and I'm bound to have left one out), 8 of which are non-combatant. Not all of the skillsets are available at character creation, and of course, any of your characters can have multiple skills. To enhance gameplay, The Eternal City offers many different player-run guilds, ranging from the highly secretive thieves' Guild to the highly acclaimed Legio. The Eternal City has a few different cities within this completely original gameworld (that means, it doesn't take place in Midgaard, or a replica of Midgaard), but most of the people reside in the city Iridine, and all of them start out in Iridine. This isn't to say all of your characters are -from- Iridine, as there's multiple countries and backgrounds in the world of Midlight that you can give to your character. There's also a player-run guild dedicated to helping newcomers to The Eternal City, and they can answer any of your questions, but always remember to stay in character. Another great part of TEC is the completely OOC Welcome Area. This is where you can converse or ask questions with other players, spend role-points, or choose which character to enter the actual gameworld with. The GM staff works constantly to better the gameworld, whether they're adding new skillsets, revamping old ones, hosting weekly events, or planning surprise events! The best part of the GM staff, in my opinion, is how they always try to involve the playerbase. For example, before making any huge changes, they always consult the playerbase either in the forums or through a poll. My favorite example is the recent "Creature Design Contest", where players could submit original creatures they want to see in the gameworld! While this game is unlike any other RPG, it does cost money to play. It's part of an expansive collection of games all under the Skotos network. These games include graphics games, text games, completely role-playing games, and completely kill-based games, so if you don't find your place in TEC, it still would be a good idea to try out the other games and sign up with Skotos anyway. Of course, you get your first month free, which is more than enough time to try out all of the games. :)

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by LS107 on Feb 7, 2004

TEC is still the very best. Currently undergoing a much needed revamp, new skills, new areas, NPCs being tweaked and added....all done with the usual tip top eye to quality, detail and balance that the TEC staff customarily give. Big change is the way you train up. Gone are the interminable hours of senseless boredom doing the same routine to get hadly anywhere in terms of skills and so where you can play in the gameworld. Noobs can get a foot in the door fairly quickly...still a loooong road ahead of them if they want to be the very best or get to the very tastiest areas of the game, but then thats how it should be. There's also some NPCs spawning at the difficulty level your char is. Too many changes to describe here or explain fully. There'll be some problems no doubt as these new things are tried out, what new arrangements doesn't have problems ? But they wont be major problems because the TEC GMs love their game and they just do not rush into things. Their involvement with the game community is good and they work hard. It's a measure of their ethos that before introducing the big changes now in place they explained that changes were going to happen, they outlined what to expect, they then explained fully why they felt the changes were necessary and they introduced them The icing on the cake is that the community feeds back how stuff now works in game for them as players...if it isnt working properly the GMs act on it. Ive played TEC for well over a year and was never happy with the time training was demanded of players if they wanted a char to get anywhere in the game. Nor was I happy with noob support. Now I dont have anything to complain about. Umm, no, not right now anyhow. Check the game out if you havent done so already, have a look around if you already did play in the past. TEC has changed, changed for the better, it still ROCKS and is still the best there is, just keeps getting better.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Wicker on Nov 28, 2003

I've been playing TEC for three years now. It was a fabulous game, despite negligent staff who are known for being tilted towards favoritism. Recently they have revamped the game, making it just as fair for the whiners who don't want to work to improve their skills. If you enjoy pvp or combat in a MUD, Its not worth it at tec anymore. Go and try it, better yet just skim their forums before plunking out a cent. Trust me, after reading it, you will be full aware of what occurs when a MUD goes wrong.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Monlondweller on Nov 12, 2003

-An earnest look at The Eternal City- After two years within the community of Worlds-Apart Productions’ Roman-themed text-based RPG, ‘The Eternal City’ (TEC), I felt it was high time I compiled my observations and experiences into a review. This text will be somewhat long, but it will most definitely be an in-depth look at the game, and worth the read if you’re considering playing the game. If you’d rather skip the specific details about the game and get right to the review, scroll down to the section titled, “Review”. So, here’s a take on TEC. The majority of this MUD’s events take place within the great city of Iridine (loosely based off Ancient Rome), capital city to the Republic of Iridine in a world called Midlight. Characters can choose to hail from one of eleven nations upon Midlight (including the Republic) and each has it’s own history and profiles for players to base their characters’ personas around. Once character creation is completed, all actual gameplay then takes place in and around a few select places within the Republic, the city of Iridine of course being the largest and most active. But before jumping too deeply into things, let’s take a quick look at some of the game’s processes, policies, and features one at a time. Accounts: Premium and Basic: TEC is a member of the Skotos gaming community which currently offers 10 games in total within the Prose, Graphical, and Strategy genres. For either $12.95/month (basic account) or $29.95/month (premium account) you receive access to all 10 games. There is also the option to be billed quarterly, or yearly. The first month of play is free of charge, so that you have the opportunity to test the games before committing to purchase. For TEC specifically, perks for paying for a premium account include a wide variety of character benefits (GSPs and Role-Points/Role-Point purchases, to be explained below), beta-testing, guarantees of more frequent and faster GM completion of requests, more character slots and the ability to play NPCs, to name a few. Character creation: TEC’s character creation process involves selecting your character’s sex, homeland, skills, and appearance. There is also a brief character history questionnaire and a “Traits” selection system that have an effect on a character's attributes and a variety of abilities. Characters can choose from one of twelve “Skill-Sets” at character creation, seven of which are weapon Skill-Sets. Healing, Outdoor Basics, Hunting Lore, Pick-pocketing and Basic Tailoring make up the non-combat end of the spectrum. The Skill-Set chosen at this time will serve as the primary focus of the character’s life, and will be easiest to advance in, though learning multiple skill sets is a viable, and often traveled road. Some Skill-Sets cannot be chosen during character creation, but can be learned in-game at a later time. The most prevalent complaint to be had with character generation seems to be that while the choices you make do have an effect on what kind of character is out... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Shades of Feysal on Oct 23, 2003

I want to like this game but it's just too difficult. An enthusiastic community, long time regulars and a huge world - what's to dislike? Worlds can be too big. Sure, it's nice to walk with a group of people to some far location but when you live where I live, you tend to be walking by yourself. No one's online. Regulars. Regulars can be alright when they're not level 100 grand masters boasting constantly and trying to start fights with you. Mean while your pitiful level 20 (took me a few months to get that) character shudders in fear. Sure, the box says 'level-less/class-less' but this is kind of a lie. Earning 0.5 skill points an action, taking five seconds an action, judging that the action is successful, you'll make 0.5 points average every say 10 seconds by constantly doing the same thing over and over again. It takes ages to get anywhere near competent and some people you'll never catch up on. Good for those of us how play the game for a living, bad for the rest. This also means that roleplaying is slightly stunted. You can be known as a 'decent fighter' among three or four people but as soon as a 'master' comes in, let the sucking up begin. The combat system is interesting but, when five level 20 characters struggle to hit one character convincingly through armor - something is wrong. There's a slight maths problem. The attacks are done thus: (attack skill + agility) - (blocking skill). Easy in theory right? But when each attack has three or four blocks that are applicable, along with dodges, shield blocks and the like... What can you do? Unless a player is 'n00b bashing' a convincing victory is out of the question. This kind of rules out PvP combat for me, I don't have the time and I just can't be bothered. So, where next? Non-combat skills exist but they tend to lack substance. A lot of the items you can produce aren't exactly in need. So, you think you'll make 200 torches and sell them right? Bad idea, everyone already has more than enough. Well, how about I become a healer and sell my services? Fantastic, you stand and watch people beat up on one another or rats while typing the odd, 'bandage {character} arm' text. Healing would've been a lot more interesting if some form of decision making was involved but there just isn't anything of the sort. The economy is very much an 'infinite' thing. Things spawn, you kill things, you sell things, money is given. What happens to the rat pelts and bits of old leather is a mystery. Most MUDs are the same this way, so thats not so bad. If you have a lot of time on your hands, I think you could enjoy the game for a time. It's very slow in expanding though, so don't expect to see a lot of new features in a amount... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Termin on Sep 27, 2003

Just came back to The Eternal City, after playing every single-player and online multi-player game I could find. And I came back to TEC - what else can I say? Good question....What can I say about TEC? First, they enforce roleplaying....your character will suffer if they start discussing the latest sports results. If you want a chat-room with swords, this ain't yer place.... Otherwise....I came back after 2 years. The GM's had made so many changes I feel like a newbie. This is a world with massive support, and much of it is driven by the higher-level player characters....can't wait until I'm one...lol...look forward to changing the world...:-) Gotta keep this short I guess, so here's the summary.....total submersion in the ancient/fantasy atmosphere.....leans more to reality than magic....big bonuses for good roleplayers.....fantastic people in-game. My only advice....talk like it's real....no stats or mechanics chat.....and ask anyone for help.....they give a great welcome to new arrivals

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Anach on Sep 26, 2003

Before you invest your time signing up for this mud, be aware that MUD clients other than Telnet are banned from this mud. They do however have their own Javaclient, which is almost identical to telnet. I just wished I had known this before I spent the 10 minutes signing up registration for this place. Waste of time.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Halojinix on Sep 15, 2003

The Eternal City is the most complete rpg to be found, every aspect of this game has been worked over, the players of this game expect nothing less we are spoiled brats. Roman legions, battles, secret groups in the darkness, or soft chatting with friends over an ale, this game can do it. When you pay for this game, you get a collection of games that anyone would love to play, Skotos offers the best in roleplaying, graphic and stratagy...one of the better features of pay. Pay less for more games of better quality.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Lanciuss on Sep 10, 2003

I started playing TEC back in 2000 I think it was. I played for another two years before leaving the game. Recently, I returned to find it more impressive than ever. The world is incredibly huge and the possibilities endless for your character. You could build a name for yourself as a fine tailor for the rich or an expert thief. You could join the Legions in their effort to defend the nation in a time period similar to that of Republican Rome. The host, Skotos, offers 8 other games to you when you sign up for their service. All of them are excellent. Worlds Apart Productions, the builder of The Eternal City, has recently become a huge name in the RPG industry, taking on many projects from MUDS to the Star Trek Online Card Game. Both companies offer excellent service and help with your every need. The game is excellent, the combat system better than any MUD listed here (trust me, I've tried them all), and the social aspects limitless. Give it a try, along with other Skotos games, and you will surely not be disappointed.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Lucky83 on Jul 27, 2003

Been playing this game a while and thought I'd throw in some thoughts that might inspire people to have a look. Far as I am concerned, an online game needs three things to work. Solid mechanics. A fairly stringent level of realism (as little OOC chatter in-game as possible) and helpful and fair staff. I've always thought the strength of TEC is the strength of the mechanics. To be honest, every game here would have its great RPers, and those who just want to be the king of the hill. But the mechanics of TEC are fairly rock solid. Seen one bug in the time I've been there. The emoting could be a bit better (currently free emotes without being able to direct at people), but by and large if you can do it in RL, chances are you can do it in this game. Now the game isn't that great for new comers as it does have a steep learning curve. But the more you stick with it, the more you appreciate that people spend a lot of time developing a character with a true persona. Not everyone in RL will give you the time of day either. With a patrician class, head counts and foreigners of many nationalities (each with strengths and weaknesses), there are multiple levels of RP opportunities. The staff have always been on task. Holding weekly events, constantly building areas of the gameworld (at least seven new potential hunting grounds, along with a virtual wilderness system that makes everywhere you walk outside the cities a potential danger), introducing new skillsets, and policing the myriad of inter-personal complaints that occur in any of these types of games. Just a part of what they do. Now no game is perfect, and TEC isn't special in that regard. But considering the options available to a new player, their only limitation is their imagination in what they can achieve. It's the same game and more since it used to consistantly win this poll. Well worth a second look. Just don't make a Gadaene.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Ailell on Jul 5, 2003

Well, The Eternal-City or TEC as it is called is a roman-time based MUD with several things going for it. First off there is the advanced form of combat which actually allows you to control every aspect of your character in a fight, from moves to stance to target on the body. One problem with this MUD though is the amount of "vetran" players that run around and ruin the game for the rest of the lot. Basicly you get warriors who have upped thier levels so much that they actually control the game. Rather disappointing. For a newbie to MUDs this might not be the game, but rest assured it is one of the most addictive.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Mike on Mar 1, 2003

This is in response to a question posted earlier, one below. Yes, you do need to pay to play. However, you do get a month to try the site, and the games out. If you want to continue beyond that month, it'll be 12.95 a month, or something around that. However, you do get access to currently four games, two of which are constantly on the top ten of the Top Mud Sites rankings. There are more on the way, and once those get up and running, there will be more into development. First game would be Castle Marrach. This is a fantasy RP game based upon a midevil times, and is staged in a castle where people wake up, remembering one memory, but that's about it. It's a very high roleplaying game, and thrives on the plots of the characters within that. It has advancement for characters who want to get involved into the game. By thy deeds thy shall be known. Second game is The Eternal City. You can read about that in reviews on this site. It's a fantasy based RPG based upon a roman culture. Each one unto his own abilities. Third Game is Galatic Emperor: Hegemony. In this game, in order to win, you need to outwit, outdeal, and outlast your opponents in a science fiction game with one premise: Conquer the universe. You and 11 or 13 other players go at each other in a real-time simulation game of a galaxy at strife. Fourth Game is Monsters! Monsters!: Grendel's Revenge. A monster is trying to make a decent life in a land call Uthgol. However, all of a sudden, these pink-skinned freaks keep on coming around, and killing your friends and family, and raiding your lair. What's a good little monster suspose to do? After all, Monsters are people too. There are also at least two games coming up in the works. First one is Devil's Cay. How much are you willing to pay to make your dreams come true? Would you be willing to give up your soul in order to live out your greatest fantasy? As a guest of a resort on the island of Devils Cay, this is the constant question you will be faced with. Second one is Lovecraft Country: Arkanium by Night. Don't know what this one is about. But if it's half as good as the rest, it'll still be one of the best games out on the net. Eventually, they will have these up and running. When you take into account the amount of games that Skotos lets you have access to, it's not a bad deal. By the time that the current projects get done, you'll have access to six games for 12.95

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Dunst on Aug 26, 2002

I was considering checking out this mud, but I'm not sure now. Am I reading right.. you need to pay to play?

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Shocked on Aug 17, 2002

TEC is an excellent MUD, in my opinion. It has a higly advanced combat system, there are great non-combat skills, plenty of ways to make money, and thousands of areas to explore. This game offers a great challenge, and its fun. It has a large playerbase, most of whom are friendly and great roleplayers. Overall, this game owns all (*glares at RoD and mutters* stupid cheaters...)

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Zephir on Jul 13, 2002

I've played many games online but I keep coming back to Eternal City. It has better design and allows players enough latitude to fully develop their characters over time. A good balance between combat and politics etc.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Cleb on Jul 2, 2002

This is the best MUD/MUSH out there on the internet. First, let me clear up a few things given by previous reviewers. TEC has one of the most developed gameing systems that I've seen in a very long time. It combinds two aspects of gaming that a lot of games either take one or the other. The first is training, in which a very complicated system is set up. You don't exactly have character ranks, such as in most of the MUDs. What you do have is ranks for individual skills. This means while you may be excellent in the sword, you might not know how what side of the stave to hold. The second aspect is almost pure RP. TEC allows you to have three characters. Word of advice, spread out those characters, if you choose to play all of them. Each character is developed with a backstory and a personality created and controlled by the player. For instance, I currently have an easy going locksmith who will help anybody out especially with information. My second is a shy, non-confidant warrior who has aspiriations of becoming a constable, and will treat the lowest piece of street scum with sir or ma'am. My third is an arrogent tailor who also knows a lot of the criminal justice system, and is trying to get a law practice going. There are so many different ways you can take your character in this. Your not confined to the classic classes of 'Rogue', 'Barbarian', etc. The limit is your imangination. You could be a healer who picked up a weapon so that he could become a field medic for the Legio. You coulds be a lowly thief who is involved with the underworld. You could be a noble soldier from the Legio, coming home to tell of his exploits. The possibilities are endless. I currently have 3 different characters, who have very extensive backgrounds created for them by me, and are working out backgrounds for possible future ones. This MUD is currently hosted by Skotos tech, located in Sunny California, which has 2 more MUDs/MUSHes of their own, a very social cooperative fantasy MUSH set within the confines of a midevil castle, and a competitive Political Sci-Fi MUD where different lords compete for power, and to become the Galatic Emperor. Worlds Apart Production, in accordance with Skotos, is working on their fourth game for the site, which will be a classic fantasy game, set up from the bad guy's point of view. Knowing both these companys, this one will be very good. If you don't like one, you can try another. Your payment goes to your ability to play Castle Marrach, Galatic Empire: Succession (currently in Beta), The Eternal City, and in the future, this Monster Game (set to hit Beta in May). This is all one set fee for all these game, as it has been acknologed before. 4 games for $100 a year, not a bad deal, in my (Note:... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by dunstvangeet on Feb 7, 2002

This is the best MUD/MUSH out there on the internet. First, let me clear up a few things given by previous reviewers. TEC has one of the most developed gameing systems that I've seen in a very long time. It combinds two aspects of gaming that a lot of games either take one or the other. The first is training, in which a very complicated system is set up. You don't exactly have character ranks, such as in most of the MUDs. What you do have is ranks for individual skills. This means while you may be excellent in the sword, you might not know how what side of the stave to hold. The second aspect is almost pure RP. TEC allows you to have three characters. Word of advice, spread out those characters, if you choose to play all of them. Each character is developed with a backstory and a personality created and controlled by the player. For instance, I currently have an easy going locksmith who will help anybody out especially with information. My second is a shy, non-confidant warrior who has aspiriations of becoming a constable, and will treat the lowest piece of street scum with sir or ma'am. My third is an arrogent tailor who also knows a lot of the criminal justice system, and is trying to get a law practice going. There are so many different ways you can take your character in this. Your not confined to the classic classes of 'Rogue', 'Barbarian', etc. The limit is your imangination. You could be a healer who picked up a weapon so that he could become a field medic for the Legio. You coulds be a lowly thief who is involved with the underworld. You could be a noble soldier from the Legio, coming home to tell of his exploits. The possibilities are endless. I currently have 3 different characters, who have very extensive backgrounds created for them by me, and are working out backgrounds for possible future ones. This MUD is currently hosted by Skotos tech, located in Sunny California, which has 2 more MUDs/MUSHes of their own, a very social cooperative fantasy MUSH set within the confines of a midevil castle, and a competitive Political Sci-Fi MUD where different lords compete for power, and to become the Galatic Emperor. Worlds Apart Production, in accordance with Skotos, is working on their fourth game for the site, which will be a classic fantasy game, set up from the bad guy's point of view. Knowing both these companys, this one will be very good. If you don't like one, you can try another. Your payment goes to your ability to play Castle Marrach, Galatic Empire: Succession (currently in Beta), The Eternal City, and in the future, this Monster Game (set to hit Beta in May). This is all one set fee for all these game, as it has been acknologed before. 4 games for $100 a year, not a bad deal, in my (Note:... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by dunstvangeet on Feb 7, 2002

*RolePlaying* I remember once seeing the comment "Who made you the roleplaying God of Doom?" when someone said to a friend of mine that their roleplaying was horrible. The statement stands: Who made you the God of Roleplaying? There is no set scale that determines bad roleplaying from good roleplaying; abhorrent roleplaying from excellent. No person has a right to say that a person's roleplaying ability is horrible. There are different styles of roleplay, and some are more acceptible to the masses than others. TEC's world is fairly hard to be a pure roleplayer in, simply because it takes the mechanics of a mud, and the roleplay of a mush, and combines them. TEC appeals to people for different reasons: Roleplay, hack and slash, the roman historical element, etc. This means that TEC's gameworld is going to have a wide variety - a mash, if you will - of different roleplaying styles. That makes TEC unique. Most games have set styles, rather than a mash. If I wanted to sit around all day and diagnose my head for skill points, I could. I could say that I was roleplaying a dedicated healer who wanted to be able to help people to the best of her ability. On the other hand, I could never train (in specific), and tend to people as the day brings them, and train from the skill points I get that way. I can say that I'm a dedicated healer too, because I'm not closetted up somewhere studying, but out helping people. For someone to say that either scenarios is bad roleplaying is inherently wrong. It's not your place or right to judge how people play their characters. Some may be more acceptible to you whereas others may be particularily abhorrent, but unless they're blatantly not roleplaying (i.e. I need 6 more sp to learn this move! Let's go whack things!), there shouldn't be a problem. Roleplaying doesn't necessarily revolve around the skills either. I have three characters, my primary is Govan. She is one of the better healers in the game world skill wise, but I know people who have been around a few months who are better than me AND know a weapon AND know ACMs. I rarely train the character - I prefer to socialize more. On the other hand, I also have a swordswoman, who spends her days at the dummy, or hunting. She has a backstory, she is in character - but until she knows her weapon a bit better, her backstory doesn't work. So, I need to work at that. Does that mean I'm not roleplaying? Er. No. I've had a character with NO skill. I made her a thief, and unlearned the skill. She was FUN! She sold things, was a merchant, worked for a patrician, and in a month was richer than any of my characters ever had been. All without a skill. So saying that the world is dependant on skills for roleplay is wrong and... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Duckling on Feb 7, 2002

I'm going to do my best to write a detailed, unbiased review of TEC. Except for this paragraph, I'm not going to refer at all to the other reviews that have been written recently. However, I would like to say that some of the accusations made by the negative reviewers were groundless, although they did have good points. I am glad Sesvirat clarified his first review, and have to say that his second one was more objective. Most importantly, though, I think that the response from TEC players to both negative reviews says something about the player base: we really care about and love this game, so much that some of us take it as a personal insult when the game is insulted. I don't see how that can be viewed as anything but great. Now, TEC is a roleplaying mud set in an Ancient Romeish world. That word - "roleplaying" - is important; one of TEC's greatest strengths is the quality of is roleplaying. The skill system and combat is also very good. Therefore, I see TEC as a balance: I have played one or two MUDs with better roleplaying opportunities, and one or two with better skill systems, but never a MUD that does as good a job with both and integrates them as well as TEC does. The GMs host several weekly "events" in which they take on some persona and involve the players in some excellent roleplaying. At these events, a poor lady might need help finding her dog, a merchant company might want to hire some guards for a difficult trade route, a ship might be available for a pleasure cruise, or an exotic merchant might be in town to sell characters unique items. The events are a great opportunity to interact with other players and with the GM's characters, who are always roleplayed excellently. However, GMs do not have their own powerful characters as they do in some MUDs, and they are never seen in the game except in some roleplayed persona. I see this as a good thing - they never get too close to players and give them unfair advantages, and they aren't around to spoil the atmosphere. They can be contacted through messages that only they see, called @requests, or through the game forums, or in the Welcome Area. The Welcome Area is an integral part of the game community. It is just a few rooms that you see every time you log in, where you can interact with others using your account name rather than a character name. It's completely OOC, and is a nice place for players to meet with other members of the TEC community. This helps bring players together, even if their characters are hostile to each other. There is a buzzer that requests the attention of any free GMs, and GMs also show up from time to time for discussions in this Welcome Area, or WA. You can have three characters at one although... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Percivellian on Jan 31, 2002

It would seem rather unfair for a person to post two reviews about the same game, but after reading some of the reviews that followed (more like arguments, but I would say that is up to the writer[s]) I feel that this game deserves a bit of a re-cap. Do not get me wrong. Baestial makes a point in saying that TEC is, without a doubt, the greatest currently-standing MUD. Text in its raw form has no tone, and thus is open to the interperatations of the readers. I made the previous mistake of focusing on the negative parts of TEC in my last review, for which I apologize (although this does not go out to certain people who went as far as to accuse me of lying and attacking me rather than defending TEC). So, let's have a remiss, hmm? Any review should began by listing the positive and negative sides of any part of the subject in question, and so I will. Let's start with the theme of TEC. I previously stated that the game appears to be the product of random roman-atlas checks. I am going to hold with this up to a certain extent. This is my opinion on its own. There is a good reason that TEC feels like this. TEC is NOT Rome. It is based around the roman CONCEPT. I understand keeping titles in their native tongue, but to design a game inwhich you try and mix modern dialect with a pretty-much dead language doesn't always work out. This aspect of TEC kinda reminds me of all of those games, books, and/or MUDs where the reader/user had some kinda character who was in a medieval setting and tried to talk in old-english. Those people almost always manage this half-way, but end up talking english in the end. Using a latin word where "leggings" would do NICELY doesn't make sense. But let's look at the positive aspect of TEC's theme - it IS pretty damned original. From theme a person must always roam onto role-playing. I previously stated TEC hosted the worst role-playing I had seen in my life. This is true. I have never seen a MUD with the kinds of players TEC attracts, but this doesn't mean that the role-playing IN GENERAL is bad. Miscommunication there, my bad. I hate to insult the role-playing of one bloke in this MUD who used so many commas and abbreviations for his character's very thick accent that it often took most of us quite awhile to decipher. TEC has recently started moving from the combat-oriented game it has to a more government-founded one? This I'm going to disagree with - strongly. TEC is defined by skills. You never see anyone under rank five being active in role-playing because they are ignored. TEC does not force a person to react to a situation. This is good, and bad. YOUR opinion here. Don't attack me because you strongly disagree with this. Moving on...events. TEC's role-playing... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Sesvirat on Jan 31, 2002

Recently, you published a review of World’s Apart’s game, The Eternal City. Even though I, as a player, am obviously biased, even I am objective enough to realize that this review was harsh. TEC has its faults, yes, but there were several things within the previous review, which are false. I’ve been role-playing since I was 15 (I’m 21 now). First, tabletop games, then muds (the first I ever played was called Mordor on an irc channel). I’ve role-played in chatrooms, on forums, and by email. And, in several other muds, including the Eternal City. I have been building muds and helping flesh out a tabletop game for the last two years of my life, while staffing on a volunteer basis at Evernight Games. So, while I assuredly don’t know everything…I do know a little bit. In previous reviews, the authors have said the game was basically stagnant. That may be their opinion, but I disagree. TEC is ever changing – it never holds still. From two years ago when I first joined this community, it has evolved and evolved and evolved. Mostly for the better, too. The game tried to cater to the hack and slash types, while emphasizing role-playing. Now that they’ve moved to pay to play, they are really pushing out role-play advancements. One of those is the class system. No, I don’t mean the class system a.k.a. ranger, mage, and warrior. I mean social class. Based on Ancient Rome, the city is finally seeing influential player characters enter the world as Patricians. This has put a whole new spin on things, since warriors used to be the social top of the pyramid. When the previous authors have said that the changes that are being made in TEC only benefit the older players, I believe they HAD to be talking about the patricians. Because Patricians are so influential, they are given out to those who have proved that they can follow the rules, role-play, and have put time into the game world. You see, patrician characters need to be purchased by role-points. You get one per every hour you are in game. The world does not revolve around Patricians though. There is SO much out there available to the new player. And some of it is new too. You can be a healer. A fighter. A thief. A tailor. That’s as close to TEC gets to classes. Those are mechanical though. Through role-play, you can be a member of the Iridine Legio, the supreme and formidable army force of Iridine that pushes away the invaders. Or, you could be part of the notorious “Guild,” the shady organization whose name strikes fear into the hearts of the listeners. You can work for a Patrician; you can be counsel to the accused. The possibilities REALLY are endless. Combat in the Eternal City isn’t as awful as the previous writers explained. No new player should be hunting in the sewers. It’s not geared for right, brand new Once... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Duckling on Jan 31, 2002

I am going to be fair here; Eternal City is the best of the modern generation of MUDs. I won't deny this; it truly is. However, this says nothing, as most modern MUDs are rather terrible. Most seem to be either MUSHes, or modified MUSHes. I have coded with both C++ and Java(I am, admittably, not fluent with Java, but they share most of the same syntax and characteristics.), and I can understand the underlying code fairly well. With most of them, the hardest thing to program seems to be the networking itself, something completely foreign to me. Eternal City is special, there; it was coded extremely well, at least in my opinion. There are problems, such as a one-way door(My brother's character might have starved to death in the two weeks before the GMs thought to fix that problem), suggesting a simple tile movement system. Well, I'm not here to talk about code, so we'll move on. I am now going to offend several GMs. I have seen a couple polite ones, or maybe just one, but mostly I have seen the sort of people who delete your account for talking - in the OOC room - about other MUDs. They also seem to think they are more important than the players; I will agree with Sesvirat, on this. Their purpose, at least in my opinion, is to manage the MUD FOR the players. Many within Eternal City, admittably in the less popular circles, feel that the GMs control the MUD with too heavy a hand. I will point at the Thieves Guild. There is NO point in being a thief, in this game, at all. Don't even try it. The Guild kills independent thieves, and rumors suggest the head GM runs it, which I do not doubt in the least. The Guild is also the only connection for any who wish to RP a dark or gloomy character, without getting nailed to a board by the constables. I won't get too heavily into it; there are things outside thieving, in Eternal City, that need attention as well. Another thing about thieves is that you have to pick someone out of a crowd to do it; constables have arrested people for holding a pouch, simply because an NPC is sitting there like a duck, and missing his. This wouldn't even be bad if they would be realistic, somehow, and maybe even pretend to ask the NPC about the pouch, but they do not. This is horrible role-playing, and detrimental to the game. I only wish to point out one more thing: The only skill a thief will ever know, outside the Guild, is how to grab something from someone's hands. Not something easily trained. Now, the combat system is very nice. Sort of. The approach system is stupid; I will go back to thieves, for a moment, as that is the only other thing requiring approach; I have been arrested for APPROACHING someone. What the hell up... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Baestial on Jan 31, 2002

Well since someone went through the trouble of writing a scewed negative review, I'd best post one setting the record straight on a lot of points the previous reviewer out and out lied on, or just twisted the facts. First off, TEC is a leveless system. If you've played any D&D, or any of the MUDs that are based on levels (The vast majority are) you'd realize this at a glance. There are no levels, no way for your character to advance all his skills, stats, and everything else in one fell swoop. Yes TEC does have ranks which are scored in each of your skills, and each action within those skills (All of which you have to apply your hard earned expierence to seperatly. IE You can advance in the overall skill at the expense of individual actions, or specialize in specific actions). That is a leveless system, which still allows for players to advance their characters. Secondly, being someone who has studied quite a bit of history, specifically aimed at the Roman period, I can honestly say the Game Masters at the Eternal City went much farther then just looking things up in an atlas and throwing them haphazardly down into their MUD. The setting, the NPCs, the way they interact with the players, even weapons, armor, clothing and homes have all had loads of research put into them. Onto his next point the so called 'Criminal use of a think channel' and the way everyone knows your name. Quite frankly I've played a few MUDs in which no one knows your name, and work on an introduction system, such a system has even been discussed for the Eternal City, but it has far more flaws then advantages. First is the fact that human beings are all unique. If someone robs you, or attacks you, you should be able to give a description of who did it. Unfortunatly I think as anyone whose played a great deal of MUDs knows, thats not possible unless you allow (and force) all players to have unique descriptions (And with a massive player base, patrolling all those descriptions to make sure they stay IC becomes a greater and greater headache). Complicate this with the fact that doing so would mean we'd have 300 short balding men with big nose stealing from everyone, and you've got a major headache. Granted if you prefer absolute anonymity this game probably isn't for you. As for the think System, it's not well liked, and I know there have been some plans to scrap it once other more IG message systems are in place. As for the claim that the above complaint means TECs roleplaying suffers, it's pretty much false. I've never played a MUD in my life with RPing as good as TECs. Hell I've heard more arguments over this one point alone (should we know peoples names or not) then I can shake a stick at. Next point, he claims the skill system... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Annatar on Jan 29, 2002

The Eternal City (TEC) is the Best MUD RPG I have found out there. While it takes a couple days to get started, the possabilities are endless. Unlike must RPG's, where you just hack at eachother and try to kill things, there is a whole lot more in TEC. You don't have to be an attacker at all. Other skills included Healing, Tailoring, Outdoorsmanship, Locksmith, and even cooking. The Role-Playing is amazing in this game also, almost anything is possible. Whether you want to join the Legio (Iridine's army) Healers of Light, Auxilii, or any other orginization, or even stay independant and develep your skills and get to know people, TEC never gets tiring. There is a constant war with Cinera that is exciting the entire step of the way. The new pet system is amazing also. Fully interactive pets that respond to you and how you treat them make these things delightfull. Another thing that I personally love about this is the relations. Weddings, or even just simple casual relations, are all available in TEC, making it an exciting, sensual, and wonderful experience. With TEC ever expanding and becoming more complex, it is my favorite RPG ever and I will continue playing it until something drastic prevents me.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Henna on Jan 29, 2002

I read the other review and figured I'd respond. I've been playing TEC for a couple of years now. Perhaps you could call me an established player... I've certainly stuck it out with TEC for long enough. There's a reason I've stayed on so long, though. TEC's not perfect, but it is a pretty damn fine game. An intriguing story line, an excellent player base and generally solid mechanics combine to make a good playing exerience for mature role-players. I'm not going to respond to some of Sesvirat's more ridiculous ad hominem comments about about the GMs and the game itself. He evidentally wasn't in a very good mood when he posted. I will respond, though, to his various allegations about the real fun of the game being "restricted to grandmasters" A) The events are not restricted to grandmasters. Yeah, a lot of the times, when it's a major event that's been building for a while, the people that have been involved since the beginning are going to take center stage. And yeah, sometimes it'll be easier for a veteran character to jump into an event. They have the know-how, and they want to have fun, too. And yeah, sometimes older characters can be jerks, just like sometime new characters can be jerks. In total, though, there is absolutely nothing in the game that restricts new characters from joining up with the appropriate events. B) There are generally several GM storylines going on at once, not to mention the storylines that individual players start and perpetuate. It's a failing that people think only GMs can move things along in-game. C) There are no classes. It really isn't that hard to learn new skills, especially with the new traits system (oops, an improvement that wasn't mentioned...) that allows you to pick more than one skill on creation. Additional skills can be learned after you've gotten 200 role-points, or even less if you attend events and impress the GMs with solid role-playing. D) You have beefs with the advancement. Well, don't train! I'm saddened by the fact that you seem to feel that the only way to become involved in the game is to train hard. Ask some of the best role-players... the best veterans, even... who the best characters are, and you'll invariably come up with names of characters with little or no skill whatsoever. You'll also, I'm sure, come up with names of people who devote their whole time to training. Well, that's just kind of what you have to deal with. It seems like this review was entirely motivated by frustration and impatience. I'm sorry that you didn't find the better parts of TEC, Sesvirat; you missed out on a lot. Later, Livy

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Livy on Jan 29, 2002

Just read a review a while ago, and thought i'd put up some point as well. I appreciated that the person gave reasons for the negative things said, be glad to discuss the game with anyone who cares. That said.. I've spent three years playing this game. I'm not saying this to brag or whatnot, I'm saying this to show that some people don't go out for ranks or money. None of my characters have ever had more than around four talents to their name at any given time. Only one had that much, every other character had maybe one or one and a half at most. None of my characters are grandmasters in anything they do.. far, far from it. The game can be based around ranks if that's what you want, but it doesn't have to be. There were comments on the 'think' net. So everyone knows this is a universal.. line. You think aloud something, and everyone who wants to listen can. A IC channel of sorts. We don't have an OOC channel, by the way. The player base is split.. half want it, half hate it. Everyone has good reasons for their side of the story as well. You can see people's names without looking at them, or meeting them. It's not a great feature, I'll admit.. I believe it's just a lot of coding to change it at the moment. However, I'd be willing to say that almost everyone agrees about the thinking out a thief's name. I certainly do, if the person happens to be a 'honest' thief. Not just some character made to bother people, as the problem seems to turn out. At the moment (January 2002) we're going through a transition from a more fighting based economy to a patrician/patron based one. And, at this time, it's rough to be a warrior. Training is a rough thing, and making money isn't nearly as easy as it used to be. However, you face the same problem with the non-combat characters. For the most part, they have less of a chance of survival than the warriors. We have weekly events, usually on the weekends, and some non-announced events. I'll be honest.. I don't go to them. It's simply not in my character to be around ten thousand other persons. However, they are not totally and completely based around grandmasters or oldies. (Whatever you consider an oldie to be.) If you roleplay, if you get into it and stay consistant with your character.. you're a part of the event. Sure, the GM's and the players know what characters are consistantly roleplayed, doesn't mean that they don't care about your character. Pets.. someone said that pets were something you saw on 'every decent mud'. Eh.. I've only played a few others.. but pets are pretty much.. how to say it, lifeless, in other games. In TEC, the pet forms a personality based on how it is treated. It is NOT a fighting animal. for... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by GamerD on Jan 29, 2002

At first glance, TEC comes off as probably one of the greatest MUDs ever developed. They eliminated the drafty class-systems, and while they are listed as having no levels, this is not the case. TEC uses ranks, and they are based into categories of skills and then subskills. However, as original and curtain-breaking as TEC is, it has some of the worst role-playing I have seen - in my life. TEC's theme is a rome-like city, which after you've been in there awhile it becomes apparent that the GMs(game-masters) found a roman atlas, looked up some synonyms for common words, and stuck them in the game. Also, this game shows other player's names, and like many MUDs, it has a chatroom-like network inside it called Think. Basically, you think something, and everyone with it toggled sees it. And your name. There's a criminal side to this game. You can get into the dark side of this MUD. Quite fun. Until you realize that a guy who has no idea what your name is (who didn't even take the time to look at your character), can just Think "Bob stole my sack!". Isn't this lovely? Nothing like a role-playing system where everyone knows your name. Some people might like TEC's leveling system, and I do as well. But it withers once you realize a simple fact - this is nothing more than another MUD where some lazy punk who can put 8 hours a day into a game dominates the whole thing. It's actually quite depressing to put every spare hour you have into this game, only to be pushed around by grandmasters (people who have infinite spare time for some odd reason) who you cannot POSSIBLY touch. This game has some SERIOUS balence issues. Curiously enough, TEC has shown very little growth potential in three years. Players haven't seen many changes aside from newly introduced servant/pet systems (yay...who hasn't seen THIS feature in every other decent MUD?). TEC's entire growth in storyline revolves around their event system, which despite the GMs' claims, is restricted to grandmasters. Unless you've spent a few months working yourself to looking like a kazoo just so you could reach a decent level, you will either not have enough in-game money or a high enough level to participate in these events. Almost all of them involve some bloke in town selling something you can't possibly afford or high-leveled combat. You can't even sneak-attack people in this game. To attack someone, you have to approach them. That makes sense, right? Except there isn't anything else in the game besides combat that you ever approach someone for. So if you approach them, they know they're about to be attacked. Bit obvious, hmm? Combat in this game sucks. Most MUDs make combat quick and death not too much of a biggie. In TEC, it can take an hour to kill someone, and death by players is permanant. I mentioned that TEC dropped the class system. This true... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Sesvirat on Jan 29, 2002

This game has changed my view of internet gaming entirely. The descriptions are so detailed that you can picture the many areas to explore. This game is not only entertaining, it really gets your imagination going. I am honored to play with the many veterans of this game, and I hope Worlds-Apart and Skotos are both successful in expanding this ever-growing RPG. I play TEC to escape the madness of everyday life. I can really make a perfect life to live in TEC. How many RPG's out there can honestly say they don't revolve around combat? In TEC, you can lead the life you want. This game is fabulous for Roman history buffs. I recommend that everyone try this game for the free month, if you aren't satisfied... you must be on cocaine.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Saules on Jan 28, 2002

When I first left Federation, the IBGames space fantasy game, I wanted to find a MUD that had a fully developed economic model. When I stumbled onto The Eternal City, I was amazed and shocked to find that the economy was fully developed, including a tailoring, and upcoming metalsmith, skill set that allows players to take inputs and turn them into finished products. In addition, a constant war rages for those who appreciate killing human opponents. To make all of thise more interesting, TEC contains an almost unlimited advancement capability - and progress is slow enough to make it challenging without also making it tedious. Finally, role playing is manditory, even to the extent that friends you become your character. Truly a wonderful experience.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Catuluscaesar on Dec 13, 2001

I've been with this MUD a loooooong time, and I can honostly say I have not seen so much positive change within the game in such a short amount of time since I started. First off, they've finally completed a 63 page Players Guide (in .pdf format) which can be printed out. It forms an excellent guide for new players to the game, giving them step by step instructions in how to get started, and how to use The Eternal City's (TEC's) unique parser. The guide also gives important historical information on the games uniquely Roman themed world, as well as insights into the various cultures that make up that world. Plus the artwork is very well drawn, and flushes the guide out nicely (available under the Players Guide link on the Eternal city website). In addition to the players guide, they have added in code to handle pets. These aren't the kinda pets you find in some SMAUG or DIKU MUDs, that just follow you around and occasionally carry belongings for you. These are interactive pets they learn. Their loyalty to you will change depending on how you treat them and feed them. They will recognize people they like, and their moods towards those people will change again based on how they are treated. Eventually they will be able to learn tricks, and even guard their owners posessions (well at least dogs ;)). And least you think pets and player guides be all they've added, the Game Masters at The Eternal City are hard at work at adding a whole set of new trades to play. Thats right, tired of playing a warrior who fights his way through life, you can now play a craftsmen in the Eternal City. Again unlike many other MUDs out there, TEC's crafting system is completly unique. You can't simply type MAKE TOGA and poof have a fully made Toga in your hand, you have to go out buy supplies (thread and cloth), then you have to learn all the various parts in making it, sew them together, and then add in your own special touch (like jewels or special embroidery). While it may seem complicated, the crafting system here is easilly learned, and can lead to a richness in Player Crafting you don't see without specific Immortal assistance in other MUDs. The beginings of a mission/quest system have also been put in place, with begining level missions for new players to the game, that seek to start a new player where the Player's Guide leaves off. In the future, however, this system will encompase the entire game, allowing for a very dynamic questing expierence. Finally, least your ambitions be not so base, the Patrician's (nobles) have finally come into their own. With additions into the Patron/client system, a hiring system, and servant code (which functions much like the pet code but with more intelligence) With all the new improvements comming weekly at the Eternal City, now is the perfect time give... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Annatar on Oct 22, 2001

TEC was and still is the best MUD on the net! No other comes close to it. It is immensely rich in detail from buying and selling, to fighting, from basic communication, to the system of currency. The list goes on and on, all other RPGs on the net are basically the same! Sadly, I have had to leave TEC because of payment, but I'm sure there are some TEC players out there who will remeber me - Hi, it's meh, Timothius :) Don't let anything put you off, this is one amazing game :)

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Tim on Aug 9, 2001

This game is the best ever. I've been playing it for years and it just gets more exciting every single day... Although it is too bad that it is no longer free to play!

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Cire on Jul 2, 2001

This is THE best MUD in the world. Anywhere. Ever. All of the rest of the MUDs (even the ones above it) are stupid and all the same. This one makes sense. And it's an RPG. But not like other RPGs. In this one, you actually roleplay, and things that happen make sense.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Stup CoolGuy on Jun 13, 2001

This game is the best I've ever played. And I've played a lot. The command set makes so much sense, the ability to role-play and create an excellent character with a diverse history is unmatched. The fighting system is so much more than: Kill mob You swing. You hit. Mob is dead. It is diverse, with dodges, blocks, disarms... It's amazing!

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Dirk Pitt (Swor/Lonas) on Jun 7, 2001

TEC is great! It's so nice to get away from every other MUD that takes place in Midevil times. TEC required lots of RPing and interaction with other people. Friends and enimeies can be made, there are invasions on the city that require citizens to stand up and defend their homeland, and people can raise up to become master criminals or great fighters that go down in history. Nothing even comes close to The Eternal City, in my opinion. :)

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Santos on May 22, 2001

What a great game!!!! The greatest MUD on the net by far, Eternal City isn't just a game, it's a lifeline, with masses of people, interaction, and most of all reality that just can't be found in any other MUD on the internet.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Liz Ellis on May 17, 2001

If your looking for one of the best MUDs out there, your reading a review to it. Eternal City, or Iridine (the eternal city), is the most addicting MUD I have ever played! You have to actually "live" in this game to survive. You need money and when you go hunting, you don't know if you will even come out alive! Play this and you won't regret it! Signed, Skiddity of Iridine

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Jay on May 16, 2001

TEC is totally text based, leaving much to your imagination, but then, isn't it better that way? Would you rather see your pretty stola, your amulet, and your boyfriend (all examples for my character of course, many other characters don't wear dresses and have boyfriends *grin*) or imagine what they look like, maybe the things don't really look too good (cept for my boyfriend, of course HE looks good *blush*) so you can imagine them better than they are. Relationships and friendships are inevitable. Unless you stay hidden in the woods all the time, you will encounter many other characters, and unless you're really shy or just anti-social, you will develop friendships. You will have to check out the reat for yourself though, TEC is awesome, and I HAVE to get back to it.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Karana Skye on May 14, 2001

This is easily one of the best MUDs on the net. It has a fairly simple interface, gameplay and plot. The only thing that might be tough at first is staying in character when asking how to do certain things... most of the seasoned players get mad when people talk about game mechanics ingame. There are a few problems with the game but they aren't anything that would keep you from enjoying yourself. Hope to see you there! ^signed Iridine's best trident wielder^ Lykatos

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Justin (Lykatos) on May 12, 2001

This MUD is the only MUD i've ever played and After only 3 weeks of playing, i've become sort of an "addict" staying up to late hours of the night, endulging myselfself in the Unknowlegably vast world of Midlight. Alot may tell you the same, Many may tell u otherwise, but I believe that this is an Easy MUD to learn Quickly, if your respectful. Or a woman... see ya there.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Gfonzarelli on May 11, 2001

Looking for a damn good Mud? Looking for the best all time mud? (at least in my opinion and many others) then go to TEC and you will find what you seek.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Shadius on May 11, 2001

A great game where you can smell the breeze, and feel the breath of the beast who is at your throat, you don't play this game, you survive it.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by willie on Apr 25, 2001

I think this is the best game on the internet. It's the variety that makes it great. One player can be a soldier, fighting enemies on the battlefield, and seeing far-off places. Another could be a constable in the city, stopping crime and settling a few disputes. He may never leave the city itself. It's just fantastic that ever player can lead a totally different life from one another. Another plus to this game is the detail in descriptions. Almost every room has a detailed, unique description. You can imagine exactly what the room looks like, and your mind usually adds a few things here and there. With mostly friendly people, great roleplaying, great detail, and great fun, this has to be the best game on the internet.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Gwelo on Apr 25, 2001

If you guys are looking for a great game to play, come to TEC. I've been playin the game for over 2 years now. The game is great, and is hard at times, mostly if your a newbie, but the sky is the limit...or the buildings as of yet. :) TEC is changing eacy day...some by a little and some a lot...It's up to each character to keep the game cool...The more the better. :) You can become anything you like...from a Healer/Fighter like me to a constable (like a cop back then) and more.....and with all the new changes up ahead...there will even be more to choice...So come on down to TEC and join the game.....make a character and become your character (not in real life)and see what TEC has to offer...For it may be a MUD...for some...but for me it's a way to get away from life..and relax. :) So have fun on TEC and hope to see you around the game...Hopefully you don't break your bones or get hurt too bad, for me to heal you. :) Zurnanion Osulli, Friend to all. P.S. HAve fun.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Zurnanion Osulli on Mar 28, 2001

This game, is awesome. Anyone who doesn't like it is weird! I mean that this game is so good that someone could become literally obsessed with it. With the way it has been set up and the excellent job the GM's are doing helping out and adding new things, I believe that many others would agree with me that this game could not possibly be taken lightly!

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Vegento on Mar 27, 2001

I have been in Midlight for about 1.5 years now and this was the first RPG I played since my high schools D&D way back when and definitely my first MUD, and I gotta say this is one helluva awesome game, although I have no comparison as I have never even checked out any other MUDs at all, I fell in love with the Midlight people and history, I started a lowly nothing gladsmen (swords) and have risen to a very powerful gladsmen in a short period of time in my mind at least. The gameplay is awesome, the people in game are awesome (well most of em at least ;)), the GMs are awesome....Hell everything is awesome bout the game, the only thing that is difficult is the beginning but once ya get past that newbie part of life the sky is definitely the limit in Midlight, this game is off the scale and giving it a rating on a number scale would be doing it an injustice and if ya don't try it fer yerself yer doing yerself an injustice as well

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Chris on Feb 19, 2001

I have played many games online, Age of Empires, Need for Speed, so when i saw this game, my first thought was that if it had no graphics, it must suck. But after a few days and alot of wandering, i found that it was an incredibly deep world with so much to do. You could be a hunter, soldier, theif, healer or many other occupations. If i had to rate this game out of 10 it would get a 10. 2 thumbs up. :)

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Jason Montgomery on Feb 15, 2001

I’m not a MUD veteran. I grew up in the cradle of the Role-Playing industry long before computers were really a consumer item. My experience comes from a game design, and a role-playing perspective mainly, and I cannot claim to be able to compare it to other MUDs or MUSHes for that matter. TEC has many unique strengths. It’s a very unique setting with it’s own developed history. You will feel a little odd if you come from a traditional swords & sorcery type game. Some may not like it, but I am drawn to something so deeply detailed and different. The world is a society, with everybody interacting as a culture, not just as players and guilds/clans. Perhaps the greatest strength of TEC, lays in what I’ve struggled to put my finger on for a definition for a long time. It’s engrossing. Many games I’ve read reviews on (including this one) may indicate that role-playing is not only encouraged, it’s required. That being the case I’d like to contrast that with what TEC provides. The scope of the environment, the attention to detail, and the behavior and mannerisms of the populace (both players and npc’s) creates a world that is inescapable of it’s own reality. It’s this submersion in another world that I entered only for the experience of a ‘game’. What I found out though, was that with the overwhelming ‘presence’ of the world, that I could not help but become more and more involved with the history, my character’s motivations, and so forth… and that role-playing became inevitable for me. Such is the inclusiveness of the backdrop for me. Its second greatest strength would be it’s staff, and how they contribute to TEC as a whole. There are no ‘immortals’ per se. The staff is considered GM’s as in traditional table-top RPG’s. This distinction is not only of name. They do not have their own powerful characters. Besides the usual building and coding, they are moderators, and tellers of the story of Midlight. You are more likely to have a GM role-play a beggar, than an overshadowing, powerful character. The GM’s play with the players, and vice versa. BOTH contribute, to develop the outcome and eventual history that ties all of TEC together. Each player has the opportunity to put his or her permanent mark on the world. The GM’s are excellent in not overshadowing the players. The best analogy (although corny) would be a coach, with a player. The guidance, expertise and final say are obviously with the more experienced one, but it’s the player and their performance, that ultimately is what is counted. GM-run events are usually scheduled 2-4 times a week and are announced, with various unannounced plotlines, random encounters and unexpected twists that can and do happen at any time. TEC is almost notorious for it’s unforgiving nature of OOC comments in public. Surprisingly, it’s the other players that seem most demanding that the air of allusion and continuity of experience... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Bartimus on Feb 12, 2001

I've been playing the game for over 2 years now. It's the best game out there. The Combat system is the best I've seen and the Role-Playing is excellent. The Events that are held regularly make the game even more fun. You can start up groups, train your warrior-type character to become the best, or even stay away in the woods picking flowers. This game is great and gives you lots of options as to what you can do. With the GMs working hard to provide us with more and more spiffy things, TEC is the best game out there. So, I'd definitely suggest trying this game out, and as the guy from PC Gamer said, "This is a game you can really sink your teeth into." Retalq Blade

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Retalq Blade on Feb 9, 2001

I've been playing this game for about 7 months now and have had experiences with other MUDs. This is -the best- MUD out there. The GM's are always there for help and so are other players, known as Auxilia, who assist new comers with the rules, how to play, and what not to do. Every little thing your character does actually has an affect on someone else, as it would in real life. The game is so realistic, it is mind boggling. Try it, I think you'll like it, I know I do.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Cladius Maximus on Feb 6, 2001

My friends first introduced me to this game around the beginning of 99, so I've been playing for around a year now. It was my first experience with playing a MUD. I love the entire idea of MUDs. It totally brought me back to my early gaming days with those wonderful text mysteries and adventures from Infocom (Hollywood Hijinks, Leathered Goddesses of Phobos, Deadline, etc.). I love the whole atmosphere of this game. It is very true to life. They didn't make the game overly unrealistic, and you can sense that just by walking around in the gameworld. You feel what your characters would feel. I have tried 2 or 3 other MUDs since I started playing this one. I have to admit, the others had their good points, but they didn't give me the same overall sense of realism. The Welcome Area of the game and the Players Forums offer all sorts of opportunities to give your own personal imput into the game's design. The Game's designers and regulator's (known as GM's) are on hand a good percentage of the time to make sure everything is running smoothly. Pest Characters are dealt with quickly and smoothly. Events are held on a regular basis to allow your characters to help in molding the gameworld. But the one thing that stands out is really just how much time, energy, and work the other players put into creating and rounding out their characters. Some people get so into the game that it actually will affect them in their real life. If someone rob's them, they are depressed for real for the rest of the day. It blows my mind that people can get that involved with a game, but then again, when you have a game as broad, well thought out, and richly detailed as The Eternal City, it's not so far out. From the Notebook of Quotes from Beyond: "All men die...Not all men really live..."

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Eccohawk on Jan 25, 2001

This is just a quick response to the review on 01/24/01 - 10:50:11 by Oona. One of the nicest things about The Eternal City, is that we have something known as the OOC Welcome Room. This is a place where players gather to discuss various topics related to the game, rant at each other, or just socialize. It is also the place that you appear when you first log into the game. Players in the Welcome Room are known by their Account Name, rather then their character name(since TEC allows for each player to have 3 seperate characters). It is not actually part of the game, rather just a meeting area. To play the actual game simply type PLAY (or click on the little button marked PLAY) followed by the appropriate menu choice.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Annatar on Jan 24, 2001

Logged in hoping to find a quality RPing Mud. Logged out after a minute after seeing player names such as "Babiegirl76", "Mental" or "James12".

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Oona on Jan 24, 2001

This was the first mud I've ever played, so I decided to investigate the other candidates before asservating the excellence of Iridine. TEC has many features that are convenient, albeit easliy overlooked. For instance, there are customizable colors, the ability to see what you're typing before you hit [enter], the OOC welcome room, and a useful toolbar. TEC also has a proper calibre of detail. Too little makes for a boring game, whereas excess accouts for an immense learning curve for the newbies. No mage skills are available; I don't know wheter I like that or not, but it simplifies things appreciably. The only complaint I can bring to mind is that the healers have no means to directly replenish HP or energy.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Adraine on Jan 22, 2001

Now that the our newness to Top Mudsites, has worn down, and the 'Whoohooo this is the best MUD I've ever played' reviews have come to a stop, I've decided to write a little longer review for the Eternal City. Like a few others, I've been roleplaying online since about 1996, and have been pen and paper RPing since long before that. I came to The Eternal City[TEC for short] in 1998, and have been playing since then. The Eternal City is in my opinion an excellent game. The world is all original based off of Ancient Rome (from the republic period). If you know your history well enough, you'll have no trouble placing many of the items you'll come across in game. Because of this grounding in history, rather then something like a fantasy novel, the Eternal City tends to have a more realistic feel to it then most MUDs I've played before. Roleplaying in the game is enforced. Players making Out of Character comments (OOC), are given three warnings, each more severe, before being censored. The GMs hold weekly events(In some MUDs these are called story arcs), in which players get a chance to really involve their characters in the goings on of the events taking place in the game universe. From giant battles in the current IG war, to small story telling events, they are all expertly handled by the GMs. The GMs here, are very profetional and deal with problems IG very quickly, though they are occasionally hard to find. The player base is large (generally about 100 people online), and most of the characters are very well played. Outside of the weekly events, players have many chances to include their characters in the goings on of the city. They biggest organizations IG currently are the Thieves guild, the Constables, the Legion, The Black Vine Militia, The Guild of Locksmiths, and two seperate healing guilds. All of these groups are player run, and player organized. One doesn't have to join a group, however, to have fun, there are plenty of chances for solo characters. The players themselves are very committed to the game, and many of them run web sites to help new players get used to the roleplaying challenges TEC offers. Be it maps of the game, descriptions of items, or even just advice. Characters can have up to five different skills that they can know. There are no classes in the game. The current skills in game now are generally combat oriented, however the GMs are hard at work at adding in more passive skills everyday. Each skill can be learned to a maximum rank of 140, and contains at a minimum of at least 8 sub skills that a character needs to master as well. PKing is allowed, however it is restricted. A player who kills another character without any reason, will quickly find himself in trouble with the GMs, not to mention in character problems he will run into of... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Annatar on Jan 22, 2001

I would just like to take a small amount of time to extend on the Character development and Role Playing this MUD offers. I have played the game for over three years now, and I in my three characters I have a City Constable, A spear wielding Greenie, who by proffesion is a Bodyguard, and I have an Artist charcter. I play all three of these Chars and try to make sure that they are totaly seperat people in the World of Midlight. The combat system and the social interaction in the game allows friendships to be made to allow group hunts in some of the harder areas. The death system is real and if a Player uses his/her luck points and dies then that Char is dead, however the game staff also sees that people want to keep the same character. Therefore role points are gathered as you plat the game. With these you can get more luck, better skills, speacial items. It's up to you how you use them. Bonus points are also rewarded for good role play and there is a Roleplayer of the month contest with a grand prize of 2000 role points. Events are real and fun, and not all are fights, some you actually have to think and figure things out on your own. Just my thoughts, if you are looking for a great MUD to play stop in, read the rules and history, check the linked sites first. The game is so in depth that even expeirenced MUDDERS can get lost and overwhelmed with all that goes on in the Game. Learn the commands as well. The help files are available In Game and Out. Players will help newcomers, and there is a Player staff just for this called Auxilii. Well enjoy and this is a rather great mud.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Weyrldr on Jan 22, 2001

The Eternal City is rich with a variety of roleplayers, storylines, intrigue and an amazing staff of gamemasters. I've played TEC for almost 2 and a half years now and have rejoiced with characters ingame at their personal triumphs and mourned the loss of others. TEC has provided a background in which you, the roleplayer, can decide how colorful or bland your thread is in this ongoing tapestry of events in a culture based on Ancient Rome. I don't recommend this game to anyone who isn't willing to spend time reading the helpfiles, background, or checking the links provided as the world is so totally immersive that the players begrudge references to the modern ammenities in public areas. If you miss doing research to develop a 3 dimensional character and if you enjoy RPG's that encourage character interaction over hack and slash, there is a place for you here.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Brassy on Jan 22, 2001

I have played TEC for nearly a year, and it is without a dobut the best game i have ever played, it has an intracite History that no other game has, it's realism is fantastic, and, in TEC you can do practically anything you want to do, i, in the past and present have played many charachters who have had a wide range of skills, histories, and mentalities, if you are into the basic "hack and slash" game, then TEC is not for you. TEC is a game that values it's role-playing, and it's storyline, if you are the kind of person who just wants to come in and bug people in a game, then TEC is *DEFININITALLY* not for you. TEC's administration are friendly, polite, helpfull, and courtious, unless you break the game's rules or policies, at which time they turn into evil, evil people who have nothing better to do than delete your account. again, TEC is the best game i have ever played, and i do not forsee me quitting it ever.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Lucentius on Jan 20, 2001

Hmm...why do I like The Eternal City (TEC) over other MUD's? Well, I guess you could say that it's the possibilities. The possibilities are endless. I will cover the other reasons as follows: Characters The character creation system is the best I've seen. No random rolls. No strange alotting of points. No classes. It is realistic. You choose traits like agile and empathic instead of rolling stats, giving you control over what type of character you want. There's no class, so there is no specific set of abilities. Instead, you learn what you want as you go along and get better at skills by using them. Role Playing Roleplaying isn't just tolerated, it is enforced. And it is heavily enforced. You won't get people saying out of character comments for long as the GM's keep a good watch on it. In addition, roleplaying is rewarded with extra GSP (general skill points) and a contest for the best roleplayers every month. Uniqueness Due to the fact that there are no classes, the possibilities for characters are endless. Perhaps a character who knows how to use a gladius and knows how to heal who refers to himself as a field medic. Or an outdoorsman who knows a bit of locksmithing and goes into buisiness selling forestry goods and opening locks on the side. The choices are endless. Groups There are no traditional MUD style guilds. No clerics guild or paladin's guild or elf's guild. The groups and guilds actually make sense. There's the Legio, the army of Iridine. There's the Guild of Locksmiths, which actually devotes it's time to opening locks. There's the constables, the law enforcement of the city. Heroes and Villians You don't have to be good. You can play out heroes or villians or a mixture. The laws are enforced by fellow players as well as NPCs. Storyline The storyline is not stagnant. Neither are the events. Players can start their own groups ICly and can even suggest or organize events. Feedback The GM's actually listen to feedback and respond. They are very fair in their decisions and do not make them lightly. Also, they will give a reason for any of their descisions. Newbie Friendly The game is newbie friendly. It has a group set up for the sole purpose of helping new people in the game. The people in the game are also friendly about helping newbies. Realistic Magic The game has a low level of magic and a good storyline around why. You won't find wizards running around everywhere throwing magic as if it was as easy as talking. Detailed History The game has a detailed history in which characters can even make an impact on. The history also has an effect on the game. There are many other good points, but if you really want to see what is so good about the game, the best way is to play it yourself.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Polo on Jan 20, 2001

After perusing the various other reviews, I see the various praises of such a great game being sung, and rightfully so. I myself have played just about every MUD in the top 50 on the list, and must say The Eternal City is a cut above the rest. (not to mention the only one I still play) The game interface and combat system are simply unsurpassed, and characters are highly customizeable. From a tribesman, to a slave, to a hunter, to a warrior upon the floors of the Colosseum, no other game offers quite the same in-depth character development. No skills are out of reach, just as in real life. The different peoples of the land are partially (or at least it appears so) based on the various powers that existed during the peak of the Roman Empire. The tribal hunters and feared warriors of Parcines (Celtic or Germanic), the mighty Iridinian Legions (Rome, of course), and the sea-faring Tucheans (late Greece). There are many more, and enough to keep you coming back for eternity. Nothing is to far from your grasp. A world molded by true gamers, for true gamers.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Diabolist on Jan 19, 2001

I've been playing TEC regularly since August of 1998, and I dipped my toes in a few times before that. Things have changed exponentially since those first few days. Player numbers range from a hundred and fifty at the on-peak times to forty or so on off-peak times, up from forty to ten players roleplaying together at a time way back when. Along the way, there have been growing pains, but through it all TEC's kept being the same game I've loved, with all its quirks. If someone had to ask me what the best part of TEC is, I would respond without hesitation, "the story." The entire plotline of Iridine, the Eternal City, is beautifully sculpted and played out. Not only that, but players actually do make a difference in the various events that occur. Rather than being merely spectators as GMs act out intricate plots, each and every character can be intrinsic to their own storyline. I could go on for some time about every great part of TEC, but the truth is that you have to experience it before you can get a glimmer as to its complexities. I suggest that you visit the Eternal City site (maintained very well, I might add, by several players), and read up on TEC. I think you'll like what you find. Later, Livy

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Livy on Jan 19, 2001

This Mud is one of the most in dept and Role Playing Muds around. It's visual Java front with clickable stats, with the appeal of a text based RGP. It's online GM'ing Staff is one of the most friendliest I've encountered, and the plots and events they come up with are both intricate and involving for a player to get into. It's fighting and experiance system is totally original, allowing for you to learn as many skills as you'd like, also with a conditional PK allowed. This game is one of the best Mud's around, and for the price ($0) to play, it's well worth a visit, I promise you might not want to return to your old mud after comming here!

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Taliseman on Jan 18, 2001

The Eternal-City is the best mud I have ever played it is super ! It is like living another life in the past, but better ! The detail and hard work put in by the administrators is astounding KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ! 10/10 SUPER !

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by DN on Jan 18, 2001

About 6 months ago I went on a search for a new mud to play. A veteran of muds for over 12 years I have played the likes of Avalon, Legends of Future Past, Midnight Sun, Realms of Dispair, Clandestine and Waterdeep to name a few. I stumbled upon TEC by accident 3 months ago. After looking around I was genuinly suprised by one detail over all others. Sure the gameplay is rich and the staff, well, top-notch to say the least. You can look at all the reviews on The Eternal City and may even decide to check it out for the reasons listed, or for the reason I have: THE DEDICATION OF ITS PLAYERS IS SIMPLY INCREDIBLE. Sorry for yelling, but, in my opinion, there love and involvement in the world truly makes it an experience worth visiting.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by dELv on Jan 18, 2001

Two good reasons to play TEC... 1) The characters In TEC, the skills and proffesions are realistic and believable. Thieves are not just another class of fighters who use knives and have agility and dexterity bonuses, to make a living they have to actually steal. Slipping through crowds, picking the right targets, swiping a patrician's purse... all in the everyday life of a good thief in TEC. Healers don't just cast the 'cure' spell, or restore HP. They bandage, they stitch, they set and align bones, apply burn salve, use smelling salts, etc. Its as challenging to play a healer as it is to play any warrior. Not only that, experience is done more realistically, with skill being gained based on the practice of your skill rather than the killing of 'MOBs'. To become a good at basic outdoor survival, you practice finding firewood and building lean-tos, not killing random enemies. The weapon skills have been well developed over time, tested in-game and debated in the player forums for balance and enjoyability. Your choice of weapon involves much much more than damage and speed mods, as the skills you will learn and the strategy you will use will vary a great deal depending on whether you choose to use a gladius or a trident. Secondly, the background of your character, and the way you role-play him or her is extremely important. Issues of nationality and citizenship become extremely important, especially when war breaks out. Characters often pride themselves on whether they were born in the great Iridine Republic, or if they came from the mercenary nation of Altene, or if they are a proud tribesman of the Parcine lands. 2) The role-playing Characters are encouraged to stay in their roles at all times, with OOC being kept to a bare minimum in the gameworld. Players are actively rewarded for good role-playing and GMs recognize such role-playing in events. In TEC, you'll find people motivated more than just money and getting experience. Military ambition, political affiliations, religious divisions... all of these are found in varying degrees among many characters in the gameworld, often setting them against each other. Player-killing and player combat is allowed, but only with good reason. Killing randomly or simply to loot other characters is not allowed, and wanton killing of new characters is strictly forbidden. Consequences come with every choice your character makes. Wantonly violate the law, attacking people in broad daylight, and generally disturbing the peace will have the local constabulary (composed of both player-characters and NPCs) right on your heels. Begin talking about overthrowing the Republic, or attacking soldiers and public officials will earn you the brand of treason and, if you're not careful, will get you impaled before the Vetallun fort. Preach against the state religion, cry out blasphemy in public areas, or claim to practice forbidden magics, and you will soon find yourself hunted down for heresy. And of course, poaching on the territory of the thieves' guild is a way... Read More

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Rafols on Jan 17, 2001

This game IS the best out there, but why is there a need to re-iterate the point? Just read all of the other reviews, they all support this. So much thought, so much effort, has been put into this game by Scott and the GM staff. While I have only been playing this game for slightly over six months, I have become addicted to the point that my friends will not play, "in case they get as addicted as I am." It is truly a world where you can immerse yourself. The beautiful descriptions of marble colonnades to ever-realistic descriptions of the town sewers and dumps, it is all there to imagine and believe. The storylines are so well-thought-up and the room descriptions are so stunning that you are not just staring at a computer screen, you are actually IN a world. A world based on ancient Rome, with its own languages created and a whole world created just for the purpose of enjoyment. It is roleplaying at its true finest. The options for a character are limited only by the imagination. With new skill sets being added, and always new events to participate in, this game is not one to pass up and blow off. This is the world of The Eternal City, and it is real.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Marnevel... on Jan 17, 2001

Having played many other muds with little or no interest I took a shot at this last year, and WOW! I was amazmed at the depth this world is played on! Deep and revelant histories of the countries wars. Organizations run solely by the players themselves! and the size of the world is amazing!

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Cauzway on Jan 17, 2001

The Storyline, the skills, The culture and languages, the occupations, the communication with other player, the events, the roleplaying...This game is positively a high ranking MUD and a "must play" game.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Ciden McCay on Jan 17, 2001

T.E.C is one of the most in depth games anyone is likely to play. Its extenisive choice of different skills is impressive and its character generator is generally simple but very effective where the place which you are born has a huge affect on who you strive to be. However it is you who chose what happens to your character and you alone have to for fill his/her destiny. This is what makes it so great! The unrestraining boundaries make the game huge and the interactions between computer controlled characters and real characters is intelligent. -- FANTASTIC!!! --

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by M.D on Jan 17, 2001

This MUD is the best out there. I have played many text based ones but this one combines excellent RP'ing with the perfect enviornment and endless possibilites for your character. GM support is incredible and they like to interact with characters and create unannounced events at a whim. It is the best out there.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Cladius on Jan 17, 2001

The Eternal City is a world of enriching visions. It’s by far the best text based MUD I have ever seen in my 15 years of playing such games. It is also the most ‘newbie’ friendly MUD I have ever found. The GMs seem to take pride in their work and are constantly working to improve the game to make the world of Midlight more enjoyable. I would highly recommend this game to anyone that wants to immerse themselves in a rich roll-playing environment.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Daryl Walker on Jan 17, 2001

This has to be one of the best games out there. The great range of characters combined with fantastic GM support in an interactive and evolving world make this an unforgettable gaming experience.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Owen on Jan 17, 2001

The Eternal City was brought to my attention in by the December 1998 issue of PC Gamer. I have been a steady player of the game for over 2 years now, and I must say that it is truly one of the best games I've ever played. The skill-based advancement allows for a great deal of character development and individuality, and more skill sets and actions are being added all the time. The world is large and constantly receiving additions as well. Roleplaying is done well, and grief players are quickly dealt with. Events are held most nights of the week, and the vast majority of them are very good. The game's staff is friendly and professional, listening to players' concerns, answering questions, and overall working hard to improve what is already the best MUD/RPG out there.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Brak on Jan 17, 2001

I was always negative about rpg's, and muds, and when my friend told me about this I laughed at him. Until I saw the game, its interesting choices appealed to me. I was glued to it right away and have been since. This game is amazing, and it never, I mean never gets boring.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Boris Berman on Jan 17, 2001

I LOOOOOOVE this game even though they need to make some new occupations.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Homerus on Jan 17, 2001

This game, is by far, the best MUD available. I have tested hundreds, and still this is where I roleplay. Everyday, I delve into this world, and everyday I learn something new.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by RaJean on Jan 17, 2001

excellent game! I have played many many games and none compare to this one :) Well done :)

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Jonathan Tin on Jan 17, 2001

this game is absolutly amazing i've been playing it for like a year now very addictive. Truely the best gave i've played.

– TopMUDSites.Com Review by Steve on Jan 17, 2001