I've been reading this forum for about 2 hours now. The more I read, the more compelled I felt to post. So let's talk memories!

I've been around a long time. I first got into DR way back when AOL charged you a per minute charge for access. I was fresh out of high school and headed into college when I stumbled across Dragonrealms while furiously searching AOL with my remaining minutes. As a kid, I had been big into a text-based game called "Zyll". Thus, I had little problem getting into DR. I can't remember what my first months phone bill was, but I remember my parents called me about it (as the bill went to them). Yea, they were not happy. ^_^

Anywho, I remember when AOL went to $20 for unlimited monthly access (This was sometime around late 1996 IIRC). It was like a dream come true! I could play DR 24 hours a day if I wanted to! (I never did, truth be told. It was only much later in a game known as Evercrack that I started logging 12+ hour sessions).

I started playing DR more in early 1997. The single most significant thing I remember about back then was how different the social dynamic was. The Crossing was SO busy, especially evenings. But it wasn't just the number of people, it was the general mindset of players.

Back then, min/maxing was relatively rare. A few players did it, but most did not. Most people were far more concerned with hanging out with friends than making sure the greatest number of skills were locked simultaneously. I remember spending entire play sessions sitting in the Empath guild talking with friends. Hunting alone was......kinda boring, and I didn't do it all that much.

Dragonrealms was more of a true social community back then. Role-Playing back then was more predicated on not talking about the new Die Hard movie or how your family went to Prague on vacation as opposed to "taking on the role of your character". Some people took it really seriously though. I remember a high-level Paladin named Diamonde yelling at me in the Paladin guild one day. I can't remember what I said, but I remember being confused - and a little hurt - at being scolded. I probably deserved it though, truth be told.

I never had many friends. I would be willing to bet that none of you playing today knew me back then. I played for a few years and never got my Paladin above Circle 12 or so. Maybe 15. Sadly, I developed a bad habit of rerolling a new character every time I left and came back to DR over the past 12 years.

My first friend ever in DR was a guy named Malheur. Or something like that. I REALLY looked up to him. Malheur was his second character, a Barb. His original character was a Trader, but I can't remember his name. He met a lady named Nazare and they got married and we had a lot of fun together. I remember meeting a kind Empath named Leabella. Erdrik and her actually got married. We had a lot of fun. I miss her, too.

So some more specific memories:

I remember some moron popping boxes in the Empath guild (which was usually PACKED). If I remember right, this was right after a big disarm revamp. If I recall correctly, the original boxes only had one of three traps: Acid, Boomer or Poison. The box rewrite introduced some of the more "interesting" traps, like gas. Sure enough, the Rogue Popper blew a gas trap and people started dropping dead all over the place. Luckily for me, I had Lavender! (Who didn't back then?) And as we all KNEW at the time, Lavender was a veritable miracle herb. No one was 100% sure what it did, but if you were in dire circumstance, you ate it like it was going out of style. So I did. AND I LIVED! This was proof positive that Lavender was the GM's gift to us players. I sung the praises of Lavender for years after that. ^_^

There were no Jugglies back in the old days, so training Perception was done by going to the Bank. Sounds funny, but back then, the Bank was packed with people. It was a favorite place for hiding practice. I remember searching and finding 10 or more players hidden at time. You could lock Perception wicked quick.

I remember someone accusing me of stealing their Web Key. I never stole anything, but this lady was convinced it was me who had Grave-Robbed it. For some reason, Waveshell's name sticks in my head, but that can't be right. I remember the situation really bothering me. I spent several weeks trying to talk to this lady and clear my name, but she wouldn't listen. So anywho, if you are still out there Ma'am, I never took your Key! You got the wrong guy! =)

I remember some event that centered around Wyett. A bunch of assassins were trying to kill him for some reason. I remember a HUGE crowd gathering outside the East gate and Wyett getting up and telling us we were all in grave danger. I always thought Wyett was Uber because he had a DSX.

I remember the first War Mage I ever met. Her name was Dhynara, or something very similar. I was always fascinated by the little Gerbil that followed her around. I got lost in Stone Clan once and wandered around for like 3 hours until that Gerbil came and rescued me.

I remember hunting in Reavers with Leabella the Empath. As we were going down the lift, a Granite Gargoyle showed up for a wonderfully timed invasion. I was NO match for a Garg, and I remember telling Lea to log to avoid a death. We both did (yea, I was not always the most courageous Paladin) and she got a warning for combat logging, but I didn't. I felt bad about that for quite a while.

Speaking of dying, I remember heading up the NTR not long after I started playing. I desperately wanted only a few things. A Gleaming Longsword from Theren. Some GSWP from Theren and a Dwarven War Helm (or something like that). I was wicked poor though. Suddenly, I come into a room and there is a veritable treasure trove of weapons and armor laid out like a buffet. I had NO idea how it all got there but one thing caught my eye: A shiny, Dwarven War Helm! The Gods saw fit to bless my little Paladin! I walked back to Crossing with my head held high (and well protected with my new helm!) It was only WAY later that I realized I had most-likely Grave-Robbed someone. I felt horrible.

I remember a lot of "old" crew. Not that I ever spoke to them. They were WAY too awesome for little people like me and Malheur to speak to. I think Edgee said something to me once and I was too scared to answer him back. Soim always scared me too. I remember Rock, Steeler, Edgee, Airaman, Vibrato, Cloudcrest, Dritzfury, Meanne, Blasword...... (And by "remember them" I mean to say "saw them talking over the gweth and/or at the bank").

I remember Malheur being fascinated with Steeler. I remember Mal telling me one day: "Do you realize that Steeler has WELL OVER 100 in HE? I was like: "No way!" (Over 100 in any skill was brag-able. WELL OVER 100 in a skill was god-like to us) When player-based weapon forging was still in the development stage, Malheur made up his mind that he was going to get a Steeler Forged Broadsword if it was the last thing he did. He talked about that for weeks.....

I remember when Shard first opened. Someone started a rumor that the Gondola randomly "fell" and anyone that was in it lost everything as you couldn't recover the bodies. I was TERRIFIED of the Gondola for years.

I remember the fest that sold those neat Black Trothfang Gauntlets. Wow, I wanted a set SO bad, but 2 gold was a bloody fortune for me back then.

Well, I've rambled enough. This was a great trip down memory lane for me. DR is a lot different today. The game itself is a lot more polished, but the atmosphere is very, very different. I miss the old days. I miss the large crowds of people. I miss training Perception in front of the Bank and being terrified of the Gondola falling into the gorge. As several others have said in this forum, those days were Magical. "Magical" really is the perfect word to describe it......

Cheers,

~Dyn

I remember:

Warmages attacking people who stood outside the MM guild for no reason. (no one ever reported that I knew of)

Fluffy, the MM guild guardian.

Making 10th circle and getting into and argument with somone who thought I was lying about it.

Somone who had a "dragon bone" handled sword from a fest, but the dragon bone flaked off to reveal it was really just steel.

Room messaging as if you were catching glimpses of maybe dragons in the sky.

Some kind of spirit thing a cleric would do to dead critters where they could purify their spirit and release it all happy like. I was crazy impressed with that. Now that I think about it though, it could have been somone playing around with the smile verb. Was that ever an ability?

A guy named peashooter. He was the ranged god as far as I was concerned.

Unfortunaly when DR went to the web I was too young for a job. I couldn't afford to pay monthy to play the game so I left untill a friend got me back in in 2003.

3 days of wandering the observatory because people seriously would not help you with it.

-Serc
Idon Raider



"We, the disenfranchised men and women of Elanthia do, by the publishing of this accord, cast off the oppressive yoke of all law and nations and choose for ourselves a path of loyalty unto ourselves"

Now we can't be forgetting abut Nambel setting up the moon gate at the NE gate to guardians. People who couldn't climb down the slope there getting stuck up there in guardians. The reason it got changed to moongate.

A bit funny now, but aggravating back then when was not many who could drag down the slope.

Brabs

memories:

raiding the WM guild as a Barbarian.
the old s'lai guard in front of the traders guild that would squash fams.
trying to figure out thief things.
the demis
people piling into the aol chat rooms whenever DR would go down, which it would on a frequent basis, and playing /roll games
vrulle, purloin,nishu,kainen,squirt,gurt,wyett,rock,steeler,mir,sunnie, -- each making their own "unique" contribution to the atmosphere of the times...

Bing back Taisidon.
kplzthxur2qt4me2c


~
The best weapon against an enemy is another enemy.
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Before Theren, before Shard, remember Arthe Dale being a big place for empaths, being one, that is where I and a few others hung out instead of the guild.

Hunting Rock Trolls with my 5th circle Barb (had to dragged over the barricade), hunting crocs at 10th circle.

Getting lost in the tile area under the warehouse. No one telling secrets about anything.

And many many more.

The reason I moved to Plat many years ago was that the atmosphere was very familiar to DR when I first started.

In response to Dyn's Post

What a blast from the past. I remember Rock and Steeler. They were the popular guys that all the realm girls would socialize with. Soim ruled the thief guild much like Galain was untouchable for War Mages.

Even before then in my ranger days, there was Aislin who was helpful to all of us, who were sitting outside the ranger guild practicing our only spell, Sphere of Uselessness. I remember Starbright and Starcatcher.

I never knew the first Wyett, but I trained with the second Wyett for hours in the silverfish hunting grounds underneath crossing. He went from circle 1 to rezzing at circle 20 in a week. Unheard speed at the time.

Ann, Wonn, and Soim were great to nag lockpicks from. Cressida, my long lost ranger friend where are you? Larcia.. lol we had a lot of "fun" didn't we. "Werd!" to the Haven crew.. Giselle, Passionata, Mortas and his dual take-every-word-literally moon mages. Crory, Lagerby. Ganjarkne, best Prydaen empath and quarterstaff brawler in the realms. Ripsterr.. your hands were quikk. Gwynath, best battle empath at the time. Nausikaa, who I hopelessly and desperately tried to surpass as best empath box popper. Sophrona and the first aid empath crew, in the desert pulling leeches off nonstop.. watch out for the black ones! Shaunn, the irresitable halfling empath. Elayahm and Solura, where are you guys. I'm back!

I know I missed countless others. I can't really remember names, but when I run into one I'll remember. See you in the realms.

An Editted log of Rock hard at work in his duties as Dazalia's and Holbroke's FlowaHo! Enjoy!!!

Rock minces down the aisle on tippy-toe.
Aaiyaah winks at Rock.
Rock says, "If anyone makes funna me bein Da MaidaHona FlowaHo yer gonna be sorry"
Romeode chuckles at Rock.
Smegul says, "Rock, I'm makin funa you right now"
Lukrani says, "flowaho"
Rock shakes his wicker basket!
Fandella asks, "Rock, I love your dress. Can I borrow it sometime?"
Romeode pats Rock on the back.
Deloria exclaims, "i think youd look great in pink rock!"
Rock narrows his eyes.
Candidus nods to Rock.
Miphek asks, "Flowa Ho?"
Saughterangele says, "Even though we all know ya wanted to be Maid 'O Honah."

Rock sings:

"Daz is an old bud of mine, neva liked my pick up line
Holb is nice, we alll know dat- but married twice will make ya fat"

Rock sings:

" Holbie Holbie what da hell, ya got divorced and seemed real well
But now ya goin back fer more- you Sucka Sucka big Barb bore"

Rock sings:

"Enuffa Holbie- he is lost, gonna pay da biggest cost
Married twice dey wanna be, HEH, tortured twice if you ask me"

Dvinn grins at Rock.
Alyie snorts at Rock.
Raynedust giggles at Rock.

Rock sings:

"So dammit les be happy now, salute and hug and smooch and bow
Make dis day a special one, wit lotsa drink and lotsa fun...

Dazalia babbles something incoherent at Rock.

Rock sings:

"I end dis tune witta prayer, ta show Da Daz I really care
I pray ta God she feel really happy, thats da end cause now its sappy
So shaddup, da end"

Holbroke says, "aim rock"
Fandella beams at Rock!
Smegul snickers at Rock.
Dazalia laughs!
Raynedust lets out a hearty cheer for Rock!
Striderr ponders Ahhh the heart of a poet trapped in the most twisted disgusting body ever.
Dazalia beams at Rock!
Rock says, "Shaddap when I throw flowas too"
Romeode lets out a hearty cheer for Rock!
Durah leans on Rock.
Rock says, "jus shaddap about that"
Elsbecca whistles at Rock.
Rock gets a handful of rose petals from his basket, strewing them upon the ground in a gentle arc before him.
Striderr asks, "rockie poo if you catch the bouquet who's the lucky guy gonna be?"
Raynedust says, "Um rock the petals be ye"
(Rascalt quickly draws up a picture of Rock tossing flowers to show everyone.)
You notice that Rock has a rose petal stuck to his eyebrow.
Rock says, "Dis is exactly what I need"
Rock accepts Kalira's rose petals.
Rock stands near Sadar.
Deloria ponders only a real man can wear rose petals
Rock puts his petals in his wicker basket.
Daedrac leans over and licks Rock.
Rock puffs up his petals imposingly.
Rock narrows his eyes.
Rock gets some rose petals from inside his wicker basket.
Rock puts his petals in his wicker basket.
Rock smiles like a Flowa Ho.
Travail laughs at Rock.
Dvinn sniffs at Rock.
Romeode pats Rock on the back.
A tear runs down Rock's face.
Rocks jaw drops.
Holbroke asks, "Is there anyone here that doesn't acknowledge me as a Barbarian God?"
Smegul says, "me"
Joubeyrt raises his hand.
Alishana raises her hand.
Branwen nods to Holbroke.
Kalira raises her hand.
Romeode raises his hand.
Suthe raises his hand.
Deloria raises her hand.
Kerai raises her hand.
Branwen raises her hand.
Mortas raises his hand.
Rascalt raises his hand.
Dvinn raises his hand.
Striderr raises his hand.
Rahll raises his hand.
Kylii raises her hand.
The entire room raises their hands.
Allarsk raises her hand.
You raise your hand.
Wispra raises her hand.
Erefayna raises her hand.
Rottcloar raises his hand.
Johndrew raises his hand.
Rock says, "I always thought you were kinda sexy, but dat's because Im holdin di basketa flowas"
Twelvestars raises his hand.
Rock grins at Holbroke.
Dvinn laughs at Rock.
Rock says, "OK dont make me remove ya, shaddap"
Rock gets some rose petals from inside his wicker basket.
Rock throws some petals in the air and dances under them.
Rock asks, "Should I feed it flowas?"
Rock glances at Candidus.
Simonea says, "Rock, throw some petals on it."
Raynedust says, "Rock use ye flowers"
Rock puts his petals in a gem-encrusted wedding chest.
Rock smugly says, "Heh"
Scooping out a handful of rose petas from his basket, Rock gently tosses them upon the ground as he walks toward the altar.
Rock says, "I think I dated that thing once."
Anthraax cackles at Rock!
Rock says, "Gnome, check me out- da most supahetero flowaho eva"
Rock says, "OK Shaddap, tenda moments and stuff are comin up"
Fandella says, "Yeah, right Rock."
Rascalt asks, "You going to do more dancing Rock?"
Rock says, "Tenda and bootiefew, so jus shaddap"
Rock scoops up a handful of rose petals, scattering them along the ground as he makes his way toward the altar a few steps ahead of the bride.
Rock gets a handful of rose petals from his basket, strewing them on the ground in a gentle arc before him.
Rock looks tender. Rock look beautiful. Rock smells like a pansy.
Rock says, "Ok, that jus aint right"
Rock gets a handful of rose petals from his basket, strewing them upon the ground in a gentle arc before him.
With a gentle smile, Rock strews a handful of rose petals along the ground as he makes his way toward the altar.
Latirah says, "Remember, Rock? You are Sweet."
Durah says, "Das goin down in history bud..."
Rock says, "This is exactly what I need all da punks ta see me doin I swear"
Raynedust says, "Flower Child Rock"
Karlich says, "You know you're never going to outlive this>"
Galain says, "Rock a pansy"
Twelvestars flirts with Rock.
Striderr ponders a new paladin title.. Pansy, just for rock.
Rock waves his petals menacingly.
Roock narrows his eyes.
Rascalt asks, "Is it time for Rock to dance again now?"
(Rock smile like a damn Flowa Ho)
Rock gets a handful of rose petals from his basket, strewing them upon the ground in a gentle arc before him.
Rock scoops up a handful of rose petals, scattering them along the ground as he makes his way toward the altar a few steps ahead of the bride.
Smegul says, "flowaho, stop playin wif tha flowers"
Rascalt says, "Dance Rock"
Rascalt says, "Dance"
Deloria says, "rock I have a pink silk chemise that would look lovely with your coloring"
Rock says, "Heh"
Rock says, "Id like ta go on record as sayin..."
Rock matter-of-factly says, "I hate all of yas"
You say, "Rock need pink bunny slippers"
Striderr says, "We love you too Rockypoo"
Kerai says, "We love ye too, Rock."
Durah asks, "rockypoo?"
Rock says, "Shh let Daz talk"
Holbroke just hugged Rock.
Paragos says, "Don't let Rock catch it."
Rock says, "Good one, I hate you too by da way."
Rock smiles as he tosses a handful of rose petals on th ground, scenting the air with their delicate fragrance with each step of the bride's slippered feet.
Khiana ponders Rock getting into being flowergirl just a little to much.
Dazalia offers Lecylle a fragile crystal gardenia nestled within a group of delicate black silk orchids.
Rock says, "Whew, dank god that aint few me."
Rascalt asks, "Rock, how does that dance go again?"
(Rock suaves)
Raynedust says, "Flower child rock"
Rock says, "Whew"
Rock smiles like a happy lil flowaho!
Rock scoops up, emptying his basket. He scatters them along the ground as he reaches the altar, then steps aside to make way for the raidiant bride.

thanks for that post...made me laugh and cry at the same time...how I miss those folks

Daz

While bunnies are useful for a great many things, they do not as a general rule serve well as janitors.

My memories are what keep bringing me back here. I remember when there used to be things in the guild halls which displayed the top members in each guild. I was so proud to be on the warrior mage list...for about a day, haha.

I remember the first night of the migration to the web, if I remember correctly that was the night that the black leucro/rock guardian area opened up. I was a little weak to be fighting in rock guards, but I was with a big group. Shisaeron, Steeler, Sophrona...can't remember everyone but it wasn't a small group. People kept dieing and Wyett had to come down and rez in rock guards. We were having a blast trying to protect him and the newly resurrected. That was the first night I stayed up all night playing DR.

The people that I played with the most from mid '96ish until mid '97...well turns out that most of them who remained at the "top" of the guilds were afk scripters. I was sad that I couldn't keep up with them, but besdies not wanting to break the rules I also didn't know how to write a script well enough to do what they were doing.

I remember s'lai invasions, gorbesh invasions (my barb still has a gorbesh bow), even DS invasions. I remember some GM make up this little mouse character one night in the cleric guild. I interacted with the mouse and the mouse made me this little bronze cheese wedge charm. I still wear it to this day :)

One thing I really do miss about this game, is just like the original poster said. I miss a lot of the social interaction. I've been playing off and on for more than 12 years and I'm only 50th level. Having been gone for a long time, I am finding it hard to make new friends to spend time with. It seems like most everyone is really only concerned with keeping skills locked.

>One thing I really do miss about this game, is just like the original poster said. I miss a lot of the social interaction. I've been playing off and on for more than 12 years and I'm only 50th level. Having been gone for a long time, I am finding it hard to make new friends to spend time with. It seems like most everyone is really only concerned with keeping skills locked.


Come to Therengia and look up Valelaer, she can be a real chatty cathy at times and loves to socialize in her own Outcast way.


Save a Thief, kill a paladin in 2009.

>>Come to Therengia and look up Valelaer, she can be a real chatty cathy at times and loves to socialize in her own Outcast way.

>>I hear the Outcast way lately is dead

ZING!

I remember on my first day in DR years and years ago, Mykas and his wife gave me some leathers. They were cool. Afterward I picked up a nice pair of hunters with leather leaves on them, which were promptly destroyed by an acid trap. I said to myself, "Never again!" and bought some oiled leathers (Take that acid!) , those too met their end during a rock troll hunt. Tired and annoyed I went out and bought some leathers from Taisidon quest, despite weighing a ton they were decent at the time. Im sure if I restored that charater now, he would probably still have them. Yay for memories!

---

Anyone who has lost track of time when using a computer knows the propensity to dream, the urge to make dreams come true and the tendency to miss lunch.
~Tim Berners-Lee