Castle Marrach
| Castle Marrach | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Skotos and volunteer game staff |
| Publisher(s) | Skotos |
| Director(s) | Carlin Reid (aka: Kurzon) |
| Engine | SkotOS |
| Platform(s) | Web browser |
| Release |
Beta: September 21, 2000 Released: April 2, 2001 |
| Genre(s) | MUSH roleplaying game |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Castle Marrach (abbreviated within the Skotos family of games as "CM") is an online multiplayer storytelling fantasy produced by Skotos. The game revolves around the world of Queen Vivienne, a half-fae, half-human sovereign queen, and the mysteries of Her secluded realm atop Mount Ardan. Players take the role of "newly awoken" individuals who can barely remember their past before being revived in the Castle.
Castle Marrach is a browser-based game, though it can be played on telnet, other MUD or MUSH clients for both desktop, tablet and smartphones. A graphical element of a map in the web-based client allows the player to see where his or her player is located in the game-world, and occasionally items in the game will create pop-up windows with player-created or staff-created images. Castle Marrach was first introduced in beta on September 21, 2000, and commercially released April 21, 2001,. It has consistently been expanded by the player-run game staff.
Players are encouraged to build social networks to gain favor, which results in both soft social friendships (or enmities) as well as an explicit rank on the Great Chain of Being. The Queen is at the top, and players begin at the bottom, working their way up.
While the game has traditional game systems such as combat, crafting, and sorcery, the social structure of the game and emphasis on social roleplaying distinguishes it from most other games. For instance, the game also has different languages unique to its world which players can speak, either from the time of their awakening (an uncommon talent), or through learning through in-game lessons. Social status may be determine one's ability to learn some of the more elite languages of the Castle's society.
Teaching and learning are also elements of the game's social networking. Players are required to learn from other players, and to remain together for a half-hour while the roleplayed lesson is conducted.
The game also has a strong sense of roleplaying, discouraging the use of leet-speak, and encouraging social acclimatization of the "Newly Awoken" guests of the Castle. Sometimes they are pejoratively referred to as "Newlies," until they attain "Middlebie" status, and finally, "Oldbies" for players who have been around for a while (usually a year or more).
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Wikipedia