1.2 ACHAEA'S CONCEPT

Achaea is a massively multiplayer online text game. These kinds of games are
often referred to as MUDs, or MMOs, or MMORPGs, or other similarly unwieldy
acronyms. In it, you take on the role of a male or female of eighteen years of
age, of one of a range of races, who has recently left home to begin to seek
his or her fortune. Through a myriad of experiences ranging from sojourns into
the deepest dungeons to roles of political leadership to, if you prove worthy,
Ascension to the ranks of the Gods themselves you will grow as a character in
depth and if you desire, in fame.

The first thing to understand about Achaea is that it is not a game as you may
be used to if you have not played MUDs before. There is not a single ultimate
goal that all players share. Some players may try to reach the highest levels
of experience and become a Greater Dragon. Others may choose to aim for
political domination or religious influence while still others may only want to
live a quiet life in the forest communing with the dryads and treekin. For
some, the ultimate goal is achieving greatness in personal combat while to
others greatness is measured not by the sword but by the coin. The point is
that it's really up to you. Think of it as a virtual life more than a game.

By thoroughly reading the help files that Achaea has (type HELP to see a
chapter list), you will find out enough to get started, and enough to get some
glimpses of what may lie ahead of you. By no means however is everything in
Achaea included in the help files. We choose to try to fully document
everything that new players will encounter, but we prefer to leave the things
more advanced players may deal with for them to discover.

If you're completely confused, the best place to start is probably to create a
character (to go http://www.achaea.com/ and click on Play Now) and take the
newbie introduction. It will guide you through an exciting tutorial that will
familiarise you with how Achaea works.