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I play MUDs because I want the MMORPG experience... with features modern MMORPGs should already have at this point:
Guild Housing
Personal housing
A myriad of clothing options
A myriad of roleplaying options (you can be human, elf, dwarf, sure, but more exotic options should exist and be encouraged)
A myriad of roleplaying opportunities (you know, actual roleplaying, not just the number combat stuff)
A persistent world that has been developed in conjunction with the users of the MUD; you can leave a mark on the world with your actions
A persistent world with consistent 'lore'
Tense, exciting combat or action that matters; few safety nets, just low 'safety' in general - your items can be stole, lost or broken, your enemies can kill you if you aren't aware and careful
Death matters
The game isn't just a grind (all RPGs are grinds, but they shouldn't just be grinds)
The game has alternative paths of advancement (combat isn't necessary up to a point)
Genuine secrets
One of the only MUDs I've played to hit most of these marks is... well, HellMOO. It's a shame it's run by a bunch of apathetic asswipes who barely bother to play or develop the game anymore, but it's got a lot of great game mechanics. You can advance your character solely through crafting and exploration is really rewarded... well, it was when I played it aeons ago, it's all been spoiled by a wiki by now. It's a shame the staff there actively discourages roleplaying (you basically have to hide and carefully feel out people before trying to roleplay with them). It's also a shame the game was wildly imbalanced when I played it (rip empaths and chuds). But... I still think it has so many elements to it that are great that are totally missing from modern RPGs and all mainstream MMORPGs.
Playing Hellmoo, for the longest time, was like walking down a dark corridor, never knowing what to expect next. A horrible diseased mutant that will give you AIDS and a fungal infction after leaving you with a slither of life and no batteries left in your flash light? Or maybe a trove of junk you can haul home to make into an airplane that's worth more experience when built and worth more money when sold than grinding a bunch of text zombies for hours on end. RPGs are best when they combine the elements of exploration, item management, character advancement, and 'roleplay', yet most modern RPGs can barely get a single aspect of these right anymore.
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