About this series: From the Basement is a column for players of multi-user text games. It aims to give newcomers an idea of what they're getting themselves into as well as to provide advice on how to get the most out of time spent online. Kathy Pulver has been roleplaying since the late 1980s and MU*ing since 1999. In addition to gaming she also moderates and maintains the Idealistic Gamers website, a forum for the constructive discussion of MU* gaming.