Arabian RP

So, I've been trying out Kingdom of Sand.  Here!

The interesting thing about KOS is its thoroughgoing meter system.  It's not just a combat system, but has currency, compliments, age, level advances, a criminal justice system, and I don't even know what else. 

It's the attempt at providing an economy that I find fascinating, as it relates back to concerns about SL RP I was going over years ago.  In KOS you can pick one of a couple dozen jobs, and work at them a bit every day.  You get game money for this (not L$), and ultimately special items you can sell or use, and after 42 days a "skill".  Most of the items ultimately relate to increasing health, so they're not quite as diverse as they seem; some relate to combat or trials, however.  E.g. as a fighter you can get an item that immediately cause 30 HP of damage.

On the plus side, it gives you something to do-- you only age in game terms if you spend 30 minutes in the sim,  plus you have to go get your skill points, grab something to eat, and all that gives some encouragement to talking... if nothing else, you have to explain the system to newcomers.

But..... well, I am not yet convinced that all this is better than just RPing everything out in text.  People get focused on the mechanics.  And there's something offputting about a levelling system; it means that newbies are always at a disadvantage. Still, points for effort.