Jane Austen MMO game lets you live in Regency England

[fjtorres]

From CNET:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-...proper-mmorpg/

World of Warcraft may be the gold standard of massively multiplayer online role-playing games, but it's mostly about monsters, warriors, and physical battles. Sometimes you just want to cut your enemies down with a well-timed bit of gossip. If that sounds more your speed, then you should check out Ever, Jane, an MMO raising funds on Kickstarter.
You choose a proper English gentleman or lady as your avatar and move about through a world of high-stakes ball invitations, gossip, and curtsies. It's all about building up your reputation and status while subtly tearing down others without getting caught.
Everything about this MMO is a bit different from the norm. Personality traits don't hinge on magic skills or brute force, but rather qualities like duty, happiness, and kindness. There is a gossip system that lets you spread rumors and lie about your rivals. But, if you're not careful, your actions can backlash and erode your own status. It's all about the psychological intrigue.

If this were coming from an established gaming company it might be easier to take it seriously. As is, the kickstarter funding terms seem a tad...ambitious.

A $10 pledge gets you access to the game during development. Move up to $15 and you'll get a virtual ball-gown or a man's evening dress for attending a ball. The $25 level comes with an in-world horse to help you travel around.
If you want to vault yourself into the ranks of Ever, Jane royalty, then go for the $10,000 pledge and get a whole town named after your estate, the title of "Earl," and an actual Regency-style scarf for you to wear while you gossip and embroider your way through the virtual world of Jane Austen

I suspect earls and dukes are going to be in short supply...
...unless it's the duke of earl...

[Xanthe]

As someone who's logged a lot of Regency romances - especially by Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer - this proposed game sounds really interesting.

A finely crafted verbal cut can be as satisfying as a cut with a sword.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

As someone who's logged a lot of Regency romances - especially by Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer - this proposed game sounds really interesting.

A finely crafted verbal cut can be as satisfying as a cut with a sword.

Well, it *is* more or less real so you could drop a ten-spot to help test and debug. They'd welcome your expertise. (And the money. )

[Xanthe]

Perhaps I shall open up my reticule and see if I have four shillings to spare...

[Suzanna]

My fear of having to talk to strangers in real time is totally at war with my inner Janeite right now!

[Grace Elliot]

Loving the idea - if only there were more hours in the day. As it is what do I give up to fit a Jane Austen related come in?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Grace Elliot

Loving the idea - if only there were more hours in the day. As it is what do I give up to fit a Jane Austen related come in?

Sleep.
It's how I fit in my gaming: 11PM to 1AM.
It helps that I have a short sleep cycle and I can get by indefinitely on 6 hours sleep. (But not 7.)
Yes, I'm disgusting... my (chronically sleep deprived) sister reminds me of it regularly.

[sun surfer]

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a massively multiplayer online game.

[BeccaPrice]

I've never been much for gaming, but this would tempt me except that we don't have the bandwidth to handle MMOs. I think I'm glad.