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Frequently Asked Questions on MUDding
1. Where are MUDs located?
MUDs are run on many computers around the world. To play a MUD, all you need to do is
telnet to the MUD's Internet Protocol (IP) port. HOTL3 is located in Singapore/US; our IP
is hotl3.com and the port is 23. So just head to hotl3.com
23 to start playing.
2. Don't I have a right to
MUD?
No, it must be stressed that MUDs are not a right, and your access
is granted out of trust. People usually have to pay to use processing
time on the large, expensive computers which MUDs often run on,
and you're being given a special deal. If you're using a school
account, you might want to check your school's computer policy.
Some institutions have banned MUDding and games.
3. What should I do to connect
to a MUD?
There are a couple of ways to connect to a MUD, the most basic being
the 'telnet' function on your Windows or Unix system. HOTL3 is at
the network address 'hotl3.com' at port 23, you could
type (on most UNIX systems) telnet hotl3.com 23 or, on
some VMS systems, telnet hotl3.com/port=23 and you'd be
ready for action
The other way is to use a Windows client such as ZMUD, which
is a program that gives you a nice, user-friendly interface for
MUDding.
4. What's a client program?
Do I need one?
A client program is simply another program you use instead of telnet
to connect to a MUD. Clients also provide useful things such as
macros, triggers, and cut-and-paste editing. Face it, using plain
telnet is boring. You can't really see what you're typing and you'd
be missing out on colours too.
5. I'm connected! What do
I do next?
Once you're connected, you'll be prompted for a name and password.
Of course, if you've never played before, you won't have any. You'll
need to create a new character - the game will guide you along the
process. Once you're in, you'd do well to type 'help' to see what
you can do and how you should go about doing it. In most MUDs you
play by issuing commands, sometimes with arguments. MUD School will
help you familiarise yourself with the common commands and soon
you'll be able to venture further.
6. What kind of name should
I use for my character?
Obviously, nothing vulgar or socially offensive. To keep with the
medieval/fantasy theme, try to go for fantasy names. Probably something
pronounceable too, so that people can identify with you.
7. What should I use as a
password for my character?
Pick a password just as you would do for any computer account. Use
a word, or better yet, a phrase or anagram, that isn't obvious.
Don't, for instance, use the same name as your character, or your
own first name, or your girl/boyfriend's name. And never use the
same password as the one on your computer account.
8. What can or can't I do
in terms of player interaction?
You shouldn't do anything that you wouldn't do in real life, even
if the world is a fantasy world. The important thing to remember
is that it's the fantasy world of possibly hundreds of people, and
not just yours in particular. There's a human being on the other
side of each and every wire! Always remember that you may meet these
other people some day, and they may break your nose. People who
treat others badly gradually build up bad reputations and eventually
receive the NO FUN Stamp of Disapproval. The jury is still out on
whether MUDding is "just a game" or "an extension of real life with
gamelike qualities", but either way, treat it with care.
9. What's the difference
between IMMs and IMPs?
IMPs (Implementors) are the people who write the game and own the
database. IMPs can do whatever they want to whomever they want whenever
they want. A more appropriate name for Implementors would probably
be 'Janitor', since they tend to have to put up with responsibilities
and difficulties (for free) that nobody else would be expected to
handle. IMMs, or Immortals, are lower-ranking gods. They assist
the IMPs in the day-to-day running of the MUD, such as answering
player queries and enforcing MUD policies.
10. Can I approach IMMs
and IMPs for help?
Feel free to approach them for questions regarding administration
or gameplay, but don't expect them to reveal everything there is
to know, such as how to calculate dates. Some element of mystery
and anticipation should be maintained in a fantasy RPG. DO NOT
ask IMMs or IMPs to retrieve your corpse, help you get equipment,
help you kill a mob, give you karma or experience points, or basically
cheat in any way.
11. What's a newbie?
A 'newbie' is someone who has only recently begun to participate
in some kind of activity. When we're born, we're all life newbies
until we get experience under our belts (or diapers, whatever).
You're a newbie until you've got the hang of MUDding, basically.
12. How can I get help?
First, read help files to learn more about commands and some game
concepts. Also, players who have been logged on for a long time
(which you can check using the 'who' command - they'll be near the
bottom of the list) are often helpful, as they are usually the veterans
who've seen and done it all before. Asking relatively high level
characters is usually the way to find things out.
13. Why do some people delight
in bullying others?
This question can be answered in a variety of ways. Suffice to say
some people are basically caught up with their egos to ever think
of anything else other than themselves. MUD is home to the good,
bad and ugly. Just play by the rules, and if things get personal,
its best to settle them outside the MUD, rather than involve innocent
bystanders, unintentionally or not.
14. What is a flame?
Flames start when people take their differences into a public arena,
for instance, the BBS or chat channel. Basically, flamers try to
convince each other that the other party is either wrong or stupid
or both. Avoid getting into flame wars, and if flamed, laugh it
off or ask someone else what you did wrong, instead of provoking
more flames and making other people suffer.
15. What is a BOT?
A bot is a computer program which logs into a MUD and pretends to
be a player. Using bots is illegal on HOTL3.
16. What is a log?
MUD administrators keep online files that log connections and certain
actions. Certain client programs allow logs to be kept of the screen.
Logs are useful for recording interesting or useful information
or conversations, as well.
17. What is lag?
The Internet is made up of thousands of interconnected networks.
Between your computer and the computer which houses the MUD, there
may be up to 30 gateways and links connecting them over serial lines,
high-speed modems, leased lines, satellite uplinks, etc. If one
of these gateways or lines crashes, is suddenly overloaded, or gets
routing confused, you may notice a long time of lag time between
your input and the MUD's reception of that input. Computers which
are nearer to the computer running the MUD are less susceptible
to lag. Another source of lag is if the computer which hosts the
MUD is overloaded. When lag happens, it is best to just patiently
wait for it to pass.
18. What's the easiest way
to annoy a veteran MUD user?
Demand something. Whine. Follow them around. Beep or tell them over
and over after they've asked you to stop. Steal a kill.
19. What's the easiest
way to be a mean veteran player?
Don't give help to the new players. Kill them, ignore them, shout
"get a life!" at them. These are the best ways to kill off MUDding
in general, actually.
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