Families on ShadowMUD are strictly a role-playing aspect of the game. You will not receive any special powers, rooms, or objects for being a member of a family but for a family line. However, your title will display the surname of your family. The surname will appear whereever your title is normally seen. Each family is headed by a single player (usually the founder), who has the ability to <add> and <boot> other players from the family. Only a High Mortal may start a family. To join a family you must be at least 6th level. A player may <leave [family name]> at any time. If the leader leaves the family, it will be disbanded. The cost for creating a family is 2500 copper. It costs 500 copper for a new family member to join. When creating a new family name, keep in mind that it must be unique from all other family names. Use <list> to see the listing of current family names in use. Family names may only be one word and with the exception of ' and -, must only contain letters. Be very careful when entering your family name, because it will be displayed in your title -exactly- as it is entered. Use <record [name]> to start a new family. The family leader can use <change [player]> to give leadership to another member of the family. Should the family leader leave the family, the family will be dissolved at the court's earliest convenience. Any eligible member of the family may use this command to claim leadership prior to final dissolution. Families are created at the Kieron court house east of the town square. When you join a family you will gain access to the family chat line, to use simply use <family [message]> as with any standard line but only your family members will see the message. <list family> will list all family members even those not online. You can disable the line like any standard chat line. NOTE: The leader of a family must be at least 20th level. NOTE: Family names are not automatically capitalized! This allows names such as d'Abo, al'Rasha, etc to be created. Do NOT use this feature to create silly (or offensive) names. Not only will you lose the name, but further action may be taken by LAW.