Ishar is an interactive, multi-user, text adventure game -- also known as a MUD -- where players do battle with fearsome foes and sometimes each other so they can win great wealth and wrest rare prizes from the treasure hoards or bloody corpses of their enemies. Victories also give the player experience and advancement in game standing. I can hear some people groaning out there. 'A TEXT game? *yawn* Where's the graphics? Where's the flash? Must be booooooring.' Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong again. I have known players of many different types of games and have played many of them myself. I have never seen a game, or even heard of one, that inspires the emotional highs and lows a MUD does. This is at least partly due to the fact that it is a long game. You start a character at level 1 with very little money and only the meagerest of possessions. As you play the character, it gets stronger. You accumulate money, hone your skills, and get better equipment. You make friends; good friends you can count on in a pinch. This is important because you will probably also make bitter enemies who will kill you if they get a chance. Playing Ishar starts by connecting to the game and typing `new' at the login prompt. The game walks you through the few steps of creating a new character, then drops you into the virtual world with a few meager possessions and the lowest standing in the game, level 1. You'll enter the game in the center of Mareldja, the largest city: Central Plaza You stand in the center of a spacious plaza, its periphery adorned with potted plants and carved stone benches. People stroll about you, clad in bright silks and chatting amongst themselves. A bronze seal at your feet declares you to be in Mareldja, Crown on the Water. A breeze tinged with salt and brine blows eastward, and shorebirds wheel and dive gracefully overhead. Four wide streets lead from the plaza at each of the compass points. A noticeboard is mounted here. (100 unread) An alert young guard patrols the city streets. 100H 100M 0X Exits:NWES> In this example, "Central Plaza" is the name of the room or place you are currently located. Following that is a paragraph with a detailed description of Central Plaza. Below that is list of people or objects that you can interact with in the room, in this case a noticeboard use to read or write messages to other players along with a guard, which is one of many game-generated characters called "mobiles" or "mobs". The last line is a "prompt", which is the MUD's way of asking you for a command while giving you a quick overview of your current status. Commands are how you interact with the virtual world through your character. For example, typing `north' moves you into the room north of your current location, or `look' will describe your surroundings again. Most commands allow you to be more specific, such as `look at young guard'. Assuming one is in the room with you, it would offer: The guard is clad in grey and deep turquoise livery. He radiates order and benevolence as he wanders the city streets, protecting the innocent and keeping the peace. A city guard is a mighty warrior standing here in very good condition, looking well-rested. He appears to be of human origin and is taller than you. Wearing: Legs-> leather pants Wielding-> a long sword You don't need to use the full names of most commands. As you are learning new commands, try to learn the short version. Instead of typing `north', you can just hit `n' and <Enter>. `Look' can be shortened to `l', `say' to single quote, etc. To find the short form of any command, look for Minimum in the help for that command, available at any time with `help <command>'. Similarly, you can use just the first three letters of the names of mobs and players and leave out unnecessary words. So `look at young guard' could actually be shortened to `l gua'. The first hour you are in the game is the hardest. It takes a little while to get used to the command syntax and get a feel for moving around in the world and interacting with everything in it. Don't be afraid of typing `help', which offers a list of commands, or `help <command>', which will offer detailed information about any command. You'll quickly run into other players who talk to you; see `help communication' on how to reply. Once you make it past the first few hours and want to advance your standing in the game, see `help levelling`.
422 topics
- default
- Help
- Commands
- Prompt
- Drag
- Split
- Reboot
- Inventory
- Purse
- Quests
- Start
- Complete
- Abandon
- Varenya
- Challenges
- Equipment
- Quit
- Who
- Where
- Examine
- Scan
- Look
- Say
- Address
- Quote
- Tell
- Reply
- Emote
- North
- Go
- Watch
- Ignore
- Protect
- Open
- Lock
- Attack
- Exits
- Ishar Minutes
- Encumbrance
- Account
- Titles
- Memories
- Achievements
- Score
- Follow
- Title
- Quitting
- In
- Wait
- Stop
- Pause
- Save
- Social Media
- Safety
- Walking
- Criminal Status
- Gather
- Loot
- Get
- Put
- Drop
- Give
- Present
- Eat
- Drink
- Wield
- Hold
- Wear
- Remove
- Recount
- Cast
- Quaff
- Recite
- Use
- Flee
- Conditions
- Stand
- Sit
- Rest
- Sleep
- Wake
- Beep
- Pour
- Fill
- Static
- Clear
- Wimpy
- History
- Chat
- Mount
- Dismount
- Glance
- Lead
- Group
- March
- Yank
- Order
- Disband
- Display
- Config
- Skill
- Practice
- Train
- Remort
- Copyright
- Guilds
- Money system
- Rent
- Offer
- Unclaimed
- Balance
- Deposit
- Withdraw
- Read
- Write
- Push
- Reset
- Systat
- Date
- Consider
- Levels
- Sneak
- Search
- Hide
- Unhide
- Disengage
- Pick Locks
- Hemlock Poison
- Nightspore Poison
- Cobra Venom
- Unpick
- Steal
- Listen
- Rogue Skills
- Backstab
- Distract
- Climb
- Find
- Remove Traps
- Shield Block
- Trip
- Bash
- Assist
- Rescue
- Disarm
- Parry
- Cleave
- Second Wind
- Hunt
- Kick
- Evade
- Feint
- Enrage
- Riposte
- Taunt
- Die Hard
- Critical Specialization
- Rallying Cry
- Warrior Skills
- News
- Bug Bounty
- Bug
- Typo
- Idea
- Quiet
- Shout
- Yell
- Pray
- Game Types
- Ask
- Whisper
- Gtell
- Change
- Resize
- Buy
- Sell
- List
- Value
- Password
- Chdescr
- Names
- Deleteme
- Spell Retribution
- Divine Purpose
- Recall
- Spell Scry
- Spell Remove Paralysis
- Spell Flamestrike
- Spell Translocate
- Spell Summon
- Spell Heal
- Spell Harm
- Spell Mist
- Spell Detect Magic
- Spell Magic Arrow
- Spell Arcane Barrage
- Spell Earth Spike
- Spell Acid Arrow
- Spell Portal Mareldja
- Spell Portal Jrel
- Spell Judgement
- Spell Endure Heat
- Spell Endure Cold
- Spell Feather Fall
- Spell Waterbreath
- Spell Flaming Hands
- Spell Detect Invisibility
- Spell Invisible
- Spell Sleep
- Spell Trance
- Spell Blink
- Spell Conjur Food
- Spell Frostbite
- Spell Infravision
- Spell Dispel Magic
- Spell Imbue
- Spell Enhance Ability
- Spell Fear
- Spell Cleansing Touch
- Spell Purify
- Spell Divine Intervention
- Spell Heroism
- Spell Waterwalk
- Spell Knock
- Spell Lightning Bolt
- Spell Wizardlock
- Spell Lesser Gate
- Spell Summon Familiar
- Good Familiars
- Neutral Familiars
- Evil Familiars
- Spell Fireshield
- Spell Confusion
- Spell Charm
- Spell Gust Of Wind
- Spell Fireball
- Spell Tempest
- Spell Inferno
- Spell Teleport
- Spell Teleport Mareldja
- Spell Teleport J'rel
- Spell Legend Lore
- Spell Haste
- Spell Energy Drain
- Spell Second Sight
- Spell Gate
- Spell Meteor Swarm
- Spell Deathstrike
- Shaman
- Spell Elemental Strike
- Spell Wellspring
- Spell Winds of Comfort
- Spell Elemental Boon
- Spell Favorable Winds
- Spell Cleansing Flames
- Spell Arctic Wind
- Spell Stoneskin
- Spell Earthen Step
- Spell Soothing Rains
- Spell Spirit Sight
- Spell Thunder Clap
- Spell Misty Veil
- Spell Summon Elemental
- Spell Spiritual Renewal
- Spell Glacial Encasement
- Spell Wildfire
- Magician Spell List
- Necromancer Spell List
- Cleric Spell List
- Shaman Spell List
- Socials
- Craft
- Enchanting
- Disenchanting
- Totems
- Totem of the Howling Wolf
- Totem of the Mystic Eagle
- Totem of Draconic Rage
- Totem of the Rymaran Phoenix
- Spells
- Sustained Spells
- Release
- Bankers
- Shopkeepers
- Invisibility
- NPCs
- Rooms
- Objects
- Classes
- Avatar
- Warrior
- Rogue
- Thief
- Mage
- Cleric
- Necromancer
- Class Expertise
- Grouping
- Experience
- Ethereal Bond
- Levelling
- Level Restrictions
- Rent Points
- Communication Points
- Communication
- Potions
- Alignment
- Boards
- System basics
- MUD Basics
- Background
- Randomness
- Reimbursements
- Feedback
- Combat
- Karma
- Peaceful rooms
- Forgive
- Sacrifice
- Player Killing
- Rules
- Immorting
- Wizlist
- Artisans
- Movement
- Multiplay
- Triggers
- Mind
- Races
- Saves
- Weapons
- Armor class
- Festival of the Dancers
- Remorting
- Renown
- Essence
- Renown Upgrades
- Hardcore Renown Upgrades
- Deaf
- Slang
- AFK
- Idle
- Affinities
- Critical Attack
- Spell Potency
- Help topics
- World
- Area White Forest
- Area Port Larceny
- Area Abandoned Coastal Fortress
- Area Dwarven Demesne
- Area Hills North of Mareldja
- Area Brown River Valley
- Area Catacombs
- Area Homestead
- Area Goblin Lair
- Area Sleep Tag Zone
- Area Prairie and Grasslands
- Area Mareldja
- Map West Cadain
- Map Cadain
- Map Mareldja
- Area Palekana
- Area Kulani
- Area Sewers Beneath Mareldja
- Area Palace and Rooftops
- Area City of Erolos
- Area Kingdom of Jolnara
- Area Shadowguard Keep
- Area Torm Sarvek
- Area Talrynian Forest
- Area Village of Ingeen
- Area Temple of Isvaelin
- Area Oldgate
- Area Cemetery
- Area The Fallen Tower
- Area Orcan Clans
- Area Pirates
- Area Cadain
- Area Clicker Mine
- Area Elven Homelands
- Area Tomb Of Grimkell
- Area Fortress of the Sorceror King
- Area Wolfnacht Carnival
- Area Jrel
- Area Belly of the Beast
- Area Teralea
- Area The Red Ziggurat
- Area Port City of Barcas
- Area Zoo at Barcas
- Arena
- Users
- Spell Reanimate
- Spell Empower
- Spell Fade
- Spell Skeletal Grasp
- Spell Haunt
- Spell Phase
- Spell Locate Corpse
- Spell Sentinel
- Spell Life Transfer
- Spell Blight
- Spell Bane of Frailty
- Spell Bane of Clumsiness
- Spell Bane of Ineptitude
- Spell Exhaust
- Spell Guardian
- Spell Reave
- Spell Summon Corpse
- Spell Hone
- Spell Disease
- Spell Jinx
- Physical Stats
- Mental Stats
- Charisma
- Memory
- Death
- Stat Pairing
- UDC
- Gold Auras
- Birthdays
- misc secrets