@Kestrel said in Cultural differences between MUDs and MUSHes:
It is a lot easier to be a Mary-Sue on a MUSH, because if you don't want to, you never have to expose yourself to anyone who would rain on your parade.
True, like those who would claim ownership of a public place, you learn to avoid these.
The wish fulfillment, true. On a mud you get what you find, or someone gives you. You don't get to play something cool out of the gate. On a Mush, if you apped it you got it, a cool sword, car, powers.
You sit around waiting, or you make something happen. No mobs, you make up npcs and monsters. There's a good thread recently discussing staff aproval versus player run/initiated.
You can go fight something without knowing were the special mob is on the grid. You can do murder mystery, plot sleuthing, save the village.
You do lack the pride you get in a mud for beating uber mob, or finding unique item ... More sweat and blood on the mud.
See also my bafflement on this thread. It weirds me out that people would strictly arrange for and only play out perfect relationships, even perfect friendships, or expect other players to alter their characters' normal behaviour to minimise conflict.
That is an extreme, most players prefer spontaneity versus full arranged. I think most agree if its that planned out, why not write the book instead of playing.