Ishar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ishar is a free Multi-User Dungeon (MUD) game that is available by telneting to ishar.com on port 9999. Ishar has been in operation since May, 1994, and as of June, 2005, typically has about 25 players online during peak hours.
Ishar is available to people all over the world in every country, and is completely free of advertising, mandatory donation, or fees. Within Ishar, a person takes on the virtual form of what is popularly called a "char", or character, with their own gender, race, and class of adventurer.
Ishar is set in a fantasy world, with a sword-and-sorcery theme. Players are free to interact with each other, free of moral laws and rules. However, the only general rule of Ishar, released by the Gods, is "Don't make the game less fun for others."
Contents |
[edit] Gameplay
[edit] Introduction
Players will start out as a lowly level 1 character with only a single experience point in one of two areas - Mareldja or the newly established Tutorial area. From there they must battle against mobiles, or "mobs" (computer-created characters within the game) to gain experience points. Periodically their total will reach the required number of XP needed, upon which they can level up. Spellcasters can learn new spells with each level they gain, whereas warriors and thieves can gain new skills. The number of XP required to level doubles each level.
Players are given health points (HP) and movement points (moves), both of which are recovered slowly as the game goes on. If a character's HP goes to 0, they are stunned but will recover; if the total goes below 0, death will follow. Movement points allow characters to move from room to room, taking movement points depending on their load and the terrain. When the total goes to 0, characters cannot move again until they recover. Spellcasters will receive spell points as well (mana) which allow them to cast spells. The points taken depends on the spell used - for stronger spells the cost will be higher and for weaker, it will be lower. The cost of all spells will decrease as the player levels.
At the beginning of their quest, players must specify which class, race and gender they wish their character to be.
[edit] Classes
In playing Ishar, characters can choose one of five different classes of player. No class is better than another as they all have their own strengths and weaknesses.
- Magicians
The magician has the weakest physical capability of any class. This weakness is more than made up for by the Magician's plethora of offensive spells (e.g. Magic Arrow, Flaming Hands, Frostbite, Lightning Bolt and Fireball) and stat-increasing powers (Armor and Strength). This is the class with by far the greatest magical power.
- Clerics
As the Cleric's power is supposedly of divine origin, his physical power is much better than that of a Magician. The spells of a Cleric tend to be based on defence rather than offence; Clerics learn many healing spells, which can replenish HP and cure poison, blindness and paralysis and disease, and offensives such as Flamestrike and Harm.
- Necromancers
Necromancers have more physical ability than Magicians but less than Clerics. Their spells tread the thin line between offence (e.g. Bone Shards) and defence (Empower and Rigor). Their special abilities are based around the use of corpses, which they can resurrect to use as their slaves.
- Rogues
Unlike the previous three classes, Rogues do not have magic. Their skills are suited to their class as they learn how to pick locks, backstab people and climb to hard-to-reach places. They can steal money from other players and mobs, but this is taken in a dim light when discovered.
- Warriors
The most powerful physical class, Warriors learn a range of combat skills from Kick and Bash to Rescue. They are usually the backbone of any strong group as they can take (and deal) the most physical damage. Warriors are the easiest class to raise thanks to their offensive abilities.
[edit] Races
Players may choose one of several races:
- Human
- Elven
- Half-Elven
- Gnome
- Dwarf
- Hobbit
[edit] Renting
To prevent casual players from using Ishar occasionally, a rent system is in operation. Players must earn money by killing and looting and use this to pay for food, equipment and rent. Innkeepers are found all over the world of Ishar, some more expensive than others. The amount of rent you pay depends upon what equipment you have and what level you are.
[edit] Popularity
Although the cost to rent with any particular piece of equipment is set, if many characters have it, the equipment may incur a popularity charge. This will increase the cost to rent with it by a certain percentage. The extra charge will depend upon how many other people have the item and what level they are. If you have obtained a piece of equipment that is popular, the extra charge on that item will increase for everybody that has it. To encourage players to seek out different items, the charge for the person who has added to the popularity is raised more than it is for everyone else. It will decrease back to everyone's charge in time.
[edit] Immortals
The game is continuously created, run and policed by the Immortals, who come in many varieties. In their role as administrators of the game, they help those who need it, and in times of great need, smite the wicked who prey on the innocent. They can come in many varieties: The Immortals, Eternals, Forgers, Artisans, and of course, the Gods. At present, there are only a handful of immortals, and only one God. In order to qualify, a player must go through the game and reach the final level, proving themselves worthy of immortality.
