Eternity`s Trials, or ET for short, is one of many Multi-User Dungeon games, which are commonly called muds. Muds are multi-user in that many users can telnet to a mud via the internet and play at the same time. Dungeon refers to the fact that muds are similar to the medieval fantasy role-playing game called Dungeons and Dragons. Muds are text-based adventures created during the early days of the internet, and even though graphics games are very common today, the number of muds available on the internet continues to grow. Muds are composed of many towns, villages, mountains, forests, seas, and so on, all of which are places you can adventure in via the character you create.

You create a character based on the variety of races available. Each race has its own distinct strengths and weaknesses. Then, after choosing the class (profession) that you want to be, such as warrior, thief, mage (magic user) or cleric (healer), among others, selection of particular class skills ensues. A wise player usually chooses the class best suited for his character`s race. As you adventure, your power increases as you become better at the skills and spells of your class. The adventurers on a mud are referred to as mortals, since they can die. The people who develop and oversee the game are called immortals, since they cannot die and are omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.

On muds, players can interact with mobiles, also called mobs, which are programmed characters (to the left is a picture of Bassam, who has a programmed character based on him in the ET area Twin Peeks). Players usually fight mobs to hone their skills. From mobs, players can acquire weapons, armor, food and other useful objects. Further, a player can interact with other players from around the world. One can also group with other players and fight mobiles and, if the mud allows it, fight against other players. On many muds, players form groups based a certain principles. On ET such groups are called clans. Groups fight or ally with one another based on their principles and other day-to-day factors. These groups often have their own keeps to live in. Further, they often have to be on guard against attack in case the location of their keep is discovered.

On some muds, such as ET, players can fight and kill each other. On other muds, they can`t fight one another at all, can do so only at certain places, or can do so only if both parties agree to fight and meet at a place where it`s allowed. It is the interaction with other players that makes muds emotionally and intellectually engaging, exciting, and meaningful. As in real life, one can make both friends and enemies on a mud. It may be a game, but it often feels like you`re really living through it.