Chapter 12: Telnet Guide

Originally, Telnet only supported text-based games such as card games and multiple-user dungeons (MUDs). However, the introduction of graphically-enabled application software has spawned an evolution in Telnet gaming. Now many of the games which are available via Telnet rival other computer games in their appealing visual presentations.

Since most of the games offering "enhanced" visuals require the use of specific application software, they are often "fronted" by a Web page which explains the game environment that is available via Telnet and points players to the site where the graphical interface can be downloaded. Many of these games can be found in the other sections of this book and will not receive further coverage here. Instead, let's turn our attention the quintessential Telnet games, the MUDs.

A Quick Guide to MUDs

For those unfamiliar with MUDs, a good place to begin learning about these text-based games is to read the three-part FAQ prepared by Jennifer Smith (a.k.a. Moira). It offers a general introduction to MUDding and explores the kinds of MUDs which are available. The FAQ also examines the Telnet interfaces, or clients, which work best with various computer platforms and where they can be downloaded. The FAQ can be found on the World Wide Web at http://math.okstate.edu/~jds/mudfaqs.html.

An alternate version can also be found at http://www.lysator.liu.se/mud/faq/faq1.html.

Another good source for general information about MUDding is The MUD Resource Collection posted by Lydia Leong (a.k.a. Amberyl). This collection of information can be found on the Web at http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~lwl/mudinfo.html.

Beyond learning the basics, it is left to each individual player to search out and find the MUD environments which prove most enjoyable. To assist in that task, the following list points out hundreds of MUDs organized by type. Known as Doran's Mudlist, this popular roster is the work of Adam Wozniak (a.k.a. Doran) and Kristin Amundsen (a.k.a. Indium) and is posted to the Usenet newsgroups rec.games.mud.diku , rec.games.mud.lp , rec.games.mud.misc , rec.games.mud.tiny , and rec.games.mud.admin. The list is also available on the World Wide Web at http://www.cm.cf.ac.uk/User/Andrew.Wilson/MUDlist/ and http://shsibm.shh.fi/mud/Mudlist.html. Or, for the most recent issue, players can send e-mail with the word ISSUE in the subject line to: mudlist@satellite.eorbit.net.

The list organizes all the MUDs presented by the type of programming code used to author the game. The name of the code heads the grouping and, where available, a brief description of the code follows. Many are referred to as "hack and slash type" MUDs, an indication that combat is a key element of those games. Each MUD entry includes the game's name and the two forms of its Internet address. The first address is comprised of the remote host's name and the port where the game is found. The second address is the numeric conversion of the first address-what is known as the IP. For most players, the first address will work fine.

Key codes are used to advise players of the features found in many of the individual games. These are the two-letter codes found underneath a game's name. Not all entries have these codes, however. Only those games whose authors have provided the codes will have this detail in their entry. Another set of codes advises players when the Doran's Mudlist maintainers last attempted or succeeded in connecting to a game. These are the symbols which precede the games' names. Again, not all game entries carry these codes, but the extra information is made available where possible.

Doran's Mudlist

Key
?-no successful connect on record-may be removed from future lists
*-last successful connect more than 7 days ago
#-last successful connect more than 3 days ago
@-last successful connect more than 1 day ago
MO-More than the four standard classes (mage, thief, warrior, cleric)
MR-Multiple Races
PK-Player Killing
RE-Rent: some MUDs charge rent for you to keep equipment when you quit
MC-Multiclassing
QU-Quests
AC-Automated Character creation: you do not need a wiz to do it for you
RH-Restricted Hours: the MUD is not open 24 hours
CO-Color
$$-Pay MUD: you have to pay money to play on this MUD
NB-Non-Restricted Building: anyone can build on this MUD
OA-MUD contains at least 75% Original Areas (areas not on ANY other MUD)
Theme
SF (sci-fi), FA (fantasy), HO (horror), TO (toon), FU (furry), MI (mixed)
Copyright 1995-1996 Adam Wozniak (Doran) and Kristin Amundsen (Indium)