Keith Devens .com

I used to play on various LPMuds in the late 80s/early 90s. LPMuds have a C based language called LPC, and after you play for a while, they usually promoted you to the point where you can start coding your own areas of the game. I always enjoyed the coding part more than the playing part. I think the LPMud driver is dead, but the mostly compatible DGD driver is currently being maintained and looks technically impressive. The driver is paired with a "mudlib" which implements the character of the game. some of these games have had programmers accreting on them for over a decade and have a very rich and very large mudlib.

If you are interested in being a coder on a mud versus a player, you might want to select a smaller, less established mud, where you can have more of an impact.

Also, the difference between players and NPCs is obvious. Computers are dumb and people are social. Some muds are geared toward dungeon crawl and some are geared more toward role playing, where you are penalized for saying things or behaving "out of character". Skotos has a commercial mud which is more role playing oriented.

As far as combat against other players, this is sometimes allowed and sometimes not, depending on the mud. NPCs are dump tactically, but some people won't play muds where PvP is unrestricted. This is a another issue to consider when selecting a mud.

I don't play or code anymore, but I still subscribe to the MUD-DEV mailing list, which is a moderated, low volume, high information mailing list for discussing the programming and industry of MUDS and MMORPGS.

You can find muds to play at The mud connector.

BTW, these things are HUGE time sinks. enjoy.

Those things are like crack. I've known far, far too many people who wandered off one day in to Norath (EverQuest land) and never came back again. My advice is to stay well clear!

I've written about my disillusionment with MMOGs here:

http://www.gamegrene.com/node/347

It's based on my experience with an Evercrack-like game: Final Fantasy XI. If I were you, I'd definitely stick with browser based games (which I've always had a love for - see my August 2000 article on browser based development: http://www.gamegrene.com/node/12). Anyways, you can find a gazillion of 'em at http://www.mpogd.com/ and http://www.gamesites200.com/mpog/

I had a great time wandering around Astonia awhile back, but since it cost me a few weeks of my life, I've been afraid to return or find an alternative.

I want to try Puzzle Pirates I've had it recommended.

Puzzle Pirates is one of the best I've EVER tried. Definitely. It's a chunk of change, however.