Non-MUD interests:
My wife Gro Mari (yes, she's norwegian) and new-born son Jonathan. When not trying to be the perfect husband (and father), I work as a waiter (Yes, I have the education) at a gourmet restaurant within bike range.

What other MUDs do you work or play at the moment? What's your position there?
I've never been too much of a roleplayer. Because of this I rather enjoy 'out of character' games like strategy (turn based, preferably). I stopped actually playing muds a couple of years ago, because I couldn't stop myself. I simply got lost in the game. Yes, I was a muddict. I am now in control.

What are some of your experiences learning, building, or teaching on TBA?
Do not take this personally out there... I'm not a very patient person. Teaching takes patience, just as building does. My areas aren't the most fabulous around, and I've been known to let others do the teaching, while I concentrate on coding. To a smaller extent (I don't like spam either) I enjoy chatting over the public channels with the rest of you guys. The role of 'dedicated coder' fits my temperament better than I had thought before I started out. I'm no politician.

How long have you been working on or playing MUDs? How did you start?
I've been playing mortals on muds since the autumn of 1993 (Ack - is it nearly 10 years already..), when I started studying computer science at the local university. Spending no less than 60 hours a week mudding I was a dedicated player of first MozartMUD and later "The crystal shard" (the original!). While playing this, I met Zemial, who also became a close rl friend. I skipped the university and only had scarse acces to muds for a couple of years. Then, about half a decade ago, Zemial suggested we started our own, and thus Cruelworld MUD was born. Cruelworld has since then disappeared, but the former builder port was already at that time transformed to TBA, a concept Rumble came up with, after he joined the staff a couple of years ago.

What appeals to you about MUD building (coding, administrating . . .)?
Actually, you should just look two paragraphs higher...

Give a sample of something you've built:
On TBA, I'm the builder of:

• The dwarven city of Aldin.
• The Orc Camp
• The dwarven trade route.

What are you working on right now?
As usual, improving TBA and trigedit, and getting the result to people around the world.

What advice would you give a less experienced builder or someone new to TBA?
Learn patience. And check out the help files. And if the help files don't work for you, check out my site. And if that doesn't work for you, think it over again. Then ask for assistance.

Describe a character you enjoy playing on any game, and why.
I've never been too much of a roleplayer. Because of this I rather enjoy 'out of character' games like strategy (turn based, preferably). I stopped actually playing muds a couple of years ago, because I couldn't stop myself. I simply got lost in the game. Yes, I was a muddict. I am now in control.

Anything else you want to say about yourself?
An old friend once told me to stay true to my beliefs. As I recall, I answered him that I'm an atheist, and that sentence doesn't fit my world view very well. Regardless of the fact, I've got the benefit of being raised in a loving and caring family, that gave me what I'd like to call a decent morale. I believe that

• if you know something another one doesn't, give the other a chance to learn.
• if you do what you do out of love, it can't be that bad.
• if pushed, bend like a fresh branch, and snap back when you get the chance.
• if a friend needs you, help him.
• if, at all, you may be able to solve a dispute with your voice, do so. Violence is not the way.