How would you describe Achaea to a friend?

Alcinae

I've been pondering this question for quite some time now, as one of my friends has taken a small interest in the combat logs I keep reading in between breaks. I find it somewhat difficult to explain the whole premise of Achaea beyond that its a fantasy MUD (and what a MUD is, of course) and how the game is extremely fun, as I am not exactly good with words. So I ask you all this: how would -you- describe Achaea to another?

Wysteria

Text based sandbox roleplaying game set in a fantasy world loosely based in Greco-Roman and a bit of Norsk mythology. Think Dungeons and Dragons, LOTR and Magic the Gathering without taking turns and complete free for all. 

Scares them, but when they see me play sometimes, it works. 

Mishgul

Its like riding a bicycle.

Orzaansyn

I present it like a "choose your own adventure" books that has no end.

Cidusii

Heroin but cheaper.

Hasar

A drain to your GPA.

Sylvance

I wouldn't. Because I want my friends to continue talking to me.

Jozlyn

An interactive fantasy world that is constantly changing with your input and the input of others. Basically your imagination with some limitations.  Otherwise I call it this awesome game that I play. When they ask for details I mention that it's text based and they treat me as if I were insane. 

Now when the non-believers ask, I say I don't want to talk about it, just come over here and drink the kool-aid already.

Shadizar

I just say its a little chatroom game I do. This is all they see anyways unless they're incredibly curious, which is rare.

Averi

It's kind of like writing a story except the setting is predetermined and each character is played by a separate person.  

Siana

When a friend looked over my shoulder yesterday, he said "What language are you programming in?"

Iocun

Did you reply "Achaean"?

Kresslack

A text-based roleplaying world which, while lacking graphics, more than compensates with a level of creativity and unpredictability that you can't get outside of a MUD. It's a place where you can be anyone and do anything; where the possibilities are only as limited as your imagination. A place where you can be a warrior, a scholar, a merchant, a dragon, or even a god someday. Everything is possible in this world which directly changes based on the player community and what they do within it.

Cathy

I equate it to other games like reading a book vs watching a film. Then point out that it isn't an 8 hour and it's time to sell it again kinda game, that you can do pretty much whatever you want.

Trevize

Cidusii said:

Heroin but cheaper.

You sure about that?

Blujixapug

"It's like World of Warcraft, but in text. You know those old text games? You stand in a cave. There is a goblin. There are exits leading north and east. TAKE BOAT. Wait seriously you don't know those old text games? Zork? Hugo's House of Horrors? Do you even know Commander Keen? Do you know what a DOS prompt is? How old are you? God, how old am I? What were we talking about? Oh right. So yeah it's like this huge world. It's all in text. It's kind of disorienting at first, and... Yes, like Dungeons and Dragons. Man whatever, you're the one who asked."

Sylvance said:

I wouldn't. Because I want my friends to continue talking to me.

Direv

Have had this conversation multiple times already:

"It's a text based mmorpg"
"wow you're so fucking lame dude i swear to god"

Jozlyn

It's okay @Direv. They're just jelly. 

Aepas

You never have to explain that it's text right away. Just tell them awesome stories of what's going on. About the huge battle that broke out, how you managed to vivisect a person by breaking each limb then ripping out their sternum. How awesome incinerate looks, complain how difficult affliction locking is. Now that you have their attention about this confusing and awesome world, tell them it's like a text game from the DOS days.

When they scoff and think that words are lame, begin berating them for enjoying the harry potter movies more than the books, or the Eragon movie more than the book, or any other movie you can think of, more than the book. When they get defensive and say they liked the books more (as any normal human or eldrich abomination should say) throw your hands up in the air and yell "NOW WHAT BIATCH!", knock their papers off their desk and take their girlfriend out to a fancy dinner.

Trevize

I'll second what's been mentioned a thousand times: I've always made the analogy of books versus movies, poetry versus paintings, et cetera. Each has virtues, and while you may be completely wrong, silly, etc for preferring graphical MMORPGs, I can see where the simplicity, lack of imagination, and boring endgame could hold the attention of... certain people.

Eld

I usually just start with "It's a MUD", and possibly follow up with some of what separates it from other MUDs I've played. Most of my friends know what that means, and the ones that don't are unlikely to be interested.

Trevize

Eld said:

I usually just start with "It's a MUD", and possibly follow up with some of what separates it from other MUDs I've played. Most of my friends know what that means, and the ones that don't are unlikely to be interested.

Most of my friends aren't even into games, let alone know what MUDs are.

Mannimar

Siana said:

When a friend looked over my shoulder yesterday, he said "What language are you programming in?"

every time. every damn time.

 I just tell them I bypassed the firewall of a major security firm and am looking at their medical files. At this point they get this look of panic in their eyes, and back away slowly. I honestly have no idea why...

Arditi

"It's a text-based MMO where I started playing because I was sorta depressed in Korea, somehow ended up in a leadership position, and 90% of my time in it consists of sniping bitches and cackling about it."

The lady friend approves.

Platonus

The simplest way I've always done it and have generally gotten favorable impressions is, "The best way I can describe it, is it's like a book, but you're a living character in it."  

Synbios

I have no friends. 

Kresslack

Synbios said:

I have no friends. 

You'll always have the person in the mirror. 

Valdus

"Watch out for the Bonko's!!"

Jozlyn

Synbios said:

I have no friends. 

I thought we were friends. Forget it, I don't even like you anymore.

Synbios

Kresslack said:

Synbios said:

I have no friends. 

You'll always have the person in the mirror. 

The thing on the mirror looks upon me like OH WAIT NO DON'T LEAVE ME, REFLECTION.

Jozlyn said:

Synbios said:

I have no friends. 

I thought we were friends. Forget it, I don't even like you anymore.

Apologies, human, you never really liked me - you only liked the organic shell that I sometimes inhabit to interact with your fellow fleshlings. That's understandable.

(Besides, even if we were friends, I wouldn't need to describe Achaea to you since you're already playing it. :< )

Strata

Most of my friends are in some sort of infosec job so I just tell them it's a text-based fantasy land where you can code shit to kill people.

Edit: best response I ever got from that was "so you're trying to pwn noobs with 'sploitz like it's 1995 statd bonanza again? i see you haven't changed a bit."