TF Mushing - a statement

This is an edited version for general reading of an original post made to the Public B Board on TLY Mush today, by me as Kimakaze (my OC char there).

Thanks for posting what most have been thinking, Swivel.

I am a TLY loyalist. I was playing this very char, Kimakaze (my first ever MUSH char anywhere) before the place officially went IC, and have been playing hard right up until it became very quiet. I play in one or two other places and have no where else to replace it with, nor any wish to do so. I play on one other TF mush (TFV II Mush) and one non TF mush (ask me). TFV II is probably the most important place to me right now simply because it is where the Destrons dwell, and they are my passion.

Mushing in general seems to have taken a bit of a dive, mainly due I think to the increase in MMORPGs which are image based, and a lack of new blood interested in TEXT based gaming - this fact is disputed but I prefer not to count sex-play mushes and giant themes which allow everything and anything as 'proper mushing'. There's also the fact that Transfans in general are still of the older, retro variety and for us, life is getting pretty busy and manic these days. We're not at college or uni anymore and most of us have jobs, families etc now. New Transfans are NOT replacing the old in numbers or in interest in mushing, period.

My only thoughts on this are for Transfans still mushing to do 3 things:

1 - Try to keep playing if at all possible. Even if it's just one night a week, regular play is what keeps plots and chars alive. It is better to play for 3 hours a week regularly than a burst of 10 hours one week, then 3 months gap followed by another 10 hour bash.

2 - Advertise and plug the mushes, however pointless it may be. If your adverts don't work, ask yourself why. Maybe adjust the mushes a bit to accomodate non Transfans mushers?

3 - Don't be a TF mush purist, take chars on any surviving TF mushes and try to play them (see suggestion 1). Don't spread yourself too thinly and take loads on a single mush, even if it's your fave. if it comes down to it, TF mushers may have to agree to close down all but 2 or 3 TF mushes and just play on those from now on, because having a fragmented playerbase set between 5 - 7 stubborn directors isn't helping matters.

Also, directors I think need to be more flexible in terms of what they allow players to do on their mushes and face the facts that those left have desired things they'd like to rp. If your mush won't let them, they aren't going to rp on your mush, simple. Obviously if something is stupid, impossible or rated inappropriately for that mush then that's a different story, but I am talking here about being anally retentive over plot details and 'we don't do this on OUR mush, thank you'.

My thoughts.