A thing we could do to improve conversions, would be if someone could create a self-extracting installer which does the following:

1) Unpack a standalone mud client and a starting script to a folder (c:\carrionfields by default). The starting script comes with some helpful aliases, and some triggers to show extra information to new players. When the starting script is loaded, shows a message that the player should type 'carrionfields' to start playing the game. Just to get them used to the fact that it is a text based game.

2) Create a start menu link to play carrionfields

3) Adds icons in the bookmark toolbar to forums.carrionfields.com and (maybe at the staff's discretion) qhcf.net

4) Executes the mud client and loads the starting script


For mud client, i like ytin because it is free, standalone, and I use it.. But I am sure there are other good choices as well, that perhaps are more newbie friendly...