Hello all.? I recently purchased a copy of the SR4 rulebook, and I like the setting and gameplay very much.? However, since I don't know any nearby Shadowrun players (or any RPG players, for that matter), I haven't been able to play an actual game yet.? Additionally, my hectic schedule makes it difficult for me to schedule times to play with online groups.? I think this MUSH is exactly what I've been looking for, so I have a few questions.

1.? I saw some announcements stating that this server was adapting to 4th edition rules, which is good for me because I am only familiar with 4th edition rules.? Is there a solid estimate of when the conversion will be completed?? Also, as someone who's never read or owned 3rd edition material, would it be a bad idea for me to try to create a character while the 3rd edition rules are still up?

2.? As I mentioned before, it's difficult for me to schedule sessions with other people since my schedule is constantly changing.? I'm looking for some sort of persistent world where I can freely come and go as I need and, while I'm at it, possibly meet and interact with some interesting people along the way.? Is that something like how this MUSH works?? I've never played on a MUSH before, but that's the impression I've gotten so far.?

Hey hey and welcome. We'll try not to bite too hard. 

To answer the last first... That's pretty much how our mush works. We're more focused on the RP of living in the shadows compared to constantly running.  And in a mush environment, you can almost always find someone on your time schedual or hours. We do have schedualed runs at times, but some can be schedualed around a time frame as well. 

I don't think we have a solid date as to when the 4th edition will be up and running, other than 'soon'.  But if you know the theme behind Shadowrun, I don't think it would make 3rd too hard to play. Yes, the rules for tests are different, but a lot of people have played without owning even one sourcebook.  We have a lot of material available on the mush and we're normally pretty helpful.

Thanks for the info; it sounds exactly like what I was hoping for.

You're welcome.  And I'm glad.

Thanks for the quick replies, Dreamer.  After browsing the forums a bit, I have another question: what's the status of the community in terms of size and activity?  I couldn't help but notice that many of the boards in these forums haven't had new posts in weeks, and during the few times I've logged into the MUSH, I've only seen 2-4 other players online.  Is the community in a bit of a slump because of the conversion?

That's a part of it.  But we also had ten or more logged into the mush the other day and have quite a bit logged in here.  I can't give you actual numbers because I don't know what they are.

Another part of it is that there's simply not much to say on some boards. Stuff, game rules, and a few other sub-forums are surprisingly active.

Hey, hey.  Welcome.

I think you'll find a MUSH is precisely what you're looking for.  Particularly the pick-up-and-drop-at-your-leisure angle.  And I'm sure we'll all be looking forward to catching you on the grid, once it's finally complete*coughlazycoderscough*d.

-CM

Hey, hey, none of that. It's a lot of work, coding an entire base from scratch. It'll be up when it's up, just be glad we have coders at all.

Well, I'm willing to wait as long as it takes for the new grid to come up.? For now, I've managed to create a character on the current grid, but I'm still finishing off the background.  Hopefully I'll be on the streets soon enough.

Bah.  You've just bought into the whole 'coding is hard work' line of thinking that those lazy coders want you to believe.  Most of the time they're just sitting in the breakroom, sipping on coffee.  It's a scientiffic fact.

-CM

Our coders don't get breaks... Only people who get paid get a break room.  Our coders work strictly on a compensation-free slave labor basis.  When they're away from the keyboard it's called escape, not a break.  Don't worry though, it's just a matter of time before we find them and chain them up again.

Tear is that true if so i'll need to mail erlkoning to say i can't do it because of lack of free time.