Around about January of 1998 I discovered a new love - role-playing. Role-playing games are interactive games that you play on the internet, set up like very complicated chat rooms. Most are based on a world created by someone else through books or movies, such as Pern or Star Wars, although a few are completely new. To join the game, you telnet in or join using a server like SimpleMu, (which I highly recommend) ZMud, MUSHClient, ect., and create a character. You describe the character and, through your actions, create a personality. The character then 'lives' in the world, usually getting a job or becoming a student, and doing everyday things like going for a swim or flying a ship, depending on the world. To play, you 'pose.' For example, if I wanted the other people in the room with me to think my character sat down, I would type Aerrin takes a seat in a nearby chair. Basically what you end up doing is creating a story, much like a book or movie. The difference is that you can only control your end of it. You can't control how others react to you. It's a lot like improv acting. I will warn you, if you feel up to it, role-playing is a blast, but it is also highly addictive!
