BatMUD
BatMUD is a free Multi-user Online game or a 'MUD'. BatMUD is Finland-based and operated and owned by a non-profit organization Balanced Alternative Techniques Ry (est. 1994).
Introduction
The MUD was one of the first lpMUDs and has been online with only a few minor breaks since 14th of April 1990. The game was initially created by a wizard (a wizard is a person who is an administrator and creator in a mud) called 'Jaf'.With a few hundred players simultaneously online, it is also one of the largest traditional MUDs. However with the rise of Massively multiplayer online games its popularity has fallen off in recent years with few new players joining the action. Aggressive efforts have been made to make the MUD more newbie friendly but most players continue to be well established players who have invested months or years into the game.
Though the vast majority (about 2/3) of the players are Finns, the mud itself is wholly in English and therefore hosts a large player base from several countries, including most European countries, USA, Canada and Australia. Like most other MUDs, BatMUD is also constantly developed. Over the years there has been over 200 wizards (developers) contributing to the large codebase. It is expected on BatMUD that a coder will actively work on development of the MUD with those who are not productive being periodically purged.
The name of the BatMUD originates from the name of the server the game was initially installed (batman.cs.hut.fi). One room, the humpbacked bridge, remains in the game from the original AberMUD code (look in OBC).
BatMUD is free game, but occasionally needs upgrading. BAT RY maintains BAT hardware with donations they have received from the players during the years. From various tasks from wizards and in return for their donations players can get special taskpoints. Taskpoints can be used to obtain special/additional powers. Substantial donations of money are rewarded with substantial taskpoints. A donation of $1,000 gives enough taskpoints to make characters with enhanced characteristics.
The world
In BatMUD player initially creates a fantasy character by choosing a race, background (civilized, magical, evil religious, good religious or nomadic) and name for the character. As usual in role playing games, there is no specific goal in the game. Players get experience points for various things their character does in the virtual environment of the mud. For example player character gets experience points from finding new rooms.It is illegal for player to have multiple characters in BatMUD. The reason behind this policy is that it is problematic to maintain fair tune in the game. Because BatMUD doesn't require special client program, it would be relatively easy for a player to multiplay effectively (leading into experience/virtual currency inflation) compared to other types of modern multiplayer online games.
Rooms
The room is a concept of single unit of space in BatMUD. Rooms contain players, items and non-player characters such as "The last mystical Navigator" in the following example:
This is the adventurers' guild. Adventurers come here to tell stories about
their quests and to listen to stories from other adventurers. Through the
doorway leading south you can see all sorts of training taking place. In the
east is a doorway to a rather empty room. A winding staircase leads up through
the ceiling. There is something written on the wall: Moon affects your
spellcasting. It also affects your luck..
Obvious exits are: w, s, e, u, d and n.
a torch
Two red poker machines
A green poker machine
A blue poker machine
Vitrine of the Leaders (glowing)
The last mystical Navigator stands here
Batmud has over 15000 unique rooms plus moderately large ourworld.
Races
BatMUD has a very wide variety of races.From races help file:
There are 44 different races that are divided to 31 races available
for everyone, 10 special races for the rebirthers and 3 player-owned
races one needs an invitation from the leader for.
Each race has its own characteristics and special abilities. You can
access information about races in the Vax Museum (find it from the
City of Bats) or in ';'. Also during the character
creation or reincarnation process the information is available.
If players are not happy with their character's race, they can reincarnate and choose another race/background. Old, experienced players also have an option to Rebirth their character allowing them to not only choose new race and background, but also to change their name. With Rebirth they lose all of their current experience, but get some minor bonuses and a chance to feel the joy of being newbie again in return.
Player interaction
Player interaction is very important in BatMUD. Players can communicate using ingame tells, says and channels. There is a wide variety of public channels for almost every game related topic and a great amount of player maintained secret society channels covering everything from politics to trance music. The language used in these channels is usually english, so intercultural debates about hot-topics are quite common.BatMUD has reasonably well working virtual economy with players selling rare items and favours to each other in BatMUD's virtual currency. Sale of characters or equipment for real life money is forbidden. If it has occurred it has not been a major problem.
Given all the options in the game and the social aspects the mud, it is not a big surprise that some players get hooked to the game for several years. Some still active players have been playing for over 10 years.
Player killing is moderated in BatMUD. It is not totally forbidden if there exists a valid reason or the killer is registered playerkiller (which makes him open prey for anyone). Registering as playerkiller has some possible benefits: Winner of the week gets a special bonus. Complaining about player killing may result in harassment which can continue for as long as you play the game.
Due to the structure of the game with players devoting a year of more of their real time life to the game combined with the possibility of building a super character by donating money to the MUD a number of players have a dominant position which makes them for all practical purposes invulnerable. Players are expected to "show respect" to these established players.
Player killing is accepted in the MUD, often for little or no reason. According to their site repeated playkilling will be disciplined, but obtaining relief can require months or years of complaining to the administration of the MUD. Even a successful complaint about player killing may result in harassment by the bully and his friends which can continue for as long as you play the game. In addition to random killings there is an assassin guild which for a modest fee will dispatch a group of players to kill another player.
There is from time to time a thieves guild which has skills which allow them to break into the rooms where your equipment is stored and loot them.