Where is a good place to seek builders for a smaugfuss based mud?

Unfortunately no good places anymore builders, coders, players won't bother with developing muds for most part unless they are your friends. You really need an established player base b4 most will even try your game. But you might get lucky on mudconnect advertising. Worth a shot.

I'd say the past 10 years has been. Players or potential staff will stumble upon your game log on and type who. If they see zero players and or 1 staff member online they usually won't bother trying your game and just go link dead.

Too much competition with big muds and mmorgs for a developing mud to stand a chance unless your super persistent and make friends over the years to get them involved.

yeah, too bad it's not 1970 anymore