Having been through enough in Star Wars RP, I have decided to test the fantasy waters in a sim that has no combat system, other than freeform combat (FFC), and a freeform appeal that I hadn't seen since Doomed Ship. In the Realm of Mystara, you are given the option of playing a character in a fantasy setting inspired by famous titles, such as Dungeons and Dragons. Spread across two sims, Stromness and Krillian, it is incredibly populated by a vast number of roleplayers of different backgrounds and styles.
As the rules state, there is a long list of races anyone can play without having to apply for extended membership. That said, some of the more popular races--of this season, at least---do require an application, such as the undead.
If one doesn't want to apply, they have nothing to fear. The group, by default, is open enrollment and you can still be kept up to date with all the events in the two-sim large RP area. The most you would end up receiving is a Mystarian Wanderer tag, but you still have access to some of the more famous races, such as humans, elves, dwarfs and even nymphs.
Appealing? Certainly!
Mystara has a few redeeming qualities, such as its popularity and large space filled with fine sculpting and natural surroundings. Yet, there is still a problem within that community as well.
To start, Mystara's application system has gone from bad to worse. The administration is often backed up to the point where a lot of people never receive so much as a second or third word on their application. Basically, you start by applying online at their website and fill out a pretty straightforward form. If you are lucky, you receive word from an administrator and an associated "appointment card" to set a date in which you both can "review" your application. That said, it has been--before my very own eyes--a long, drawn out process with an unnecessary wait time and a lack of service at the end of it all. The applicant is expected to reply with the appointment card within twenty-four hours of receiving on pains of having the application backed up even further within their system. So, with that in mind, I wonder why the system is still considered a complaint, even with it being revamped only recently.
There is also a problem with the general roleplay in the sim. Famous conflicts, such as most sentient creatures versus demons, are borderline nonexistent. See, Mystara attempts to take on an MMO appeal by having a "race neutral" tavern in the HUMAN village, in spite of having an underground tavern in the neighboring sim for the realm's more darker inhabitants. Creatures that were originally feared in their respective mythos, like vampires and demons, are kind of treated like your next door neighbor rather than met with the impact they were intended for. Some even have intimate relations with them. Mage hunters are also laughed at and "understandably" so, considering most there are a mage or a sorcerer of some type. The very concept is considered beyond even the management team.
That said, Mystara borders less on a fantasy setting with conflict with the divine or the demonic and more on an idyllic couple of sims with a few players that a true to the Dungeons and Dragons inspired setting. With less incentive to be a villainous character, one can imagine there are very few of those to go around. One asked a roleplayer there, "why not lead the charge?" To that, I ask, "why?" Why lead a hopeless, futile charge when no one else is willing to help you lead nor follow behind or next to you?
The sad part of this is that there is no right or wrong answer. There have been complaints of certain members of the management team reflecting a sort of personal bias, such as allowing certain people to take a major part in an event. The major flaw with Mystara is the lack of trust---the lack of incentive to trust, at that---the management as well as the difficulty in grabbing RP that is mutually satisfying for all parties involved.
What CAN be done is basically a total recall on all administration practices, start with a fresh slate and focus on the new applicants. Rather than practice such a direct attempt at control, what they should do is look for basic red flags and, if anyone displays those in their application, let the applicant know and move on. If they do not, accept them. It requires far less work on the management's part and will ensure they won't be backed up with four-month-old applications, left and right. They also need to crack down on their godmoders.
Is Mystara without any redeeming qualities? Certainly not.
FFC is the only combat that takes place there. No meters, only a fight with words and nothing but roleplay. That said, there is a great consistency with a character's skills and growth. While it does leave room for godmoding, there is also the consistency, which does tend to be a rare jewel in any RP sim. Mystara is also not without a few qualities players out there that play against the idyllic scenery and add a certain zest to a story. The sim is also beautifully built, the ruins being a treat for the eyes.
Mystara is not an entirely terrible sim. A new player simply needs to be aware and kind of mold their own experience to their liking with their eyes open, and their arms folded boldly across their chest.