Roleplay Inquiry...

[Luuko]

Alright, I'll admit it -- I'm both rather intriqued and facinated with the world that's been and is being created in Twokinds...

Is there currently, or will there be a chance to role-play in this environment perchance? If so, in what format and where? And if there currently isn't, what are the chances of such being approved if someone were to volunteer server space to setup a MUCK on in order to build a world based on what appears here? (The 2d game mentioned elsewhere, while interresting, isn't exactly what I have in mind... More text-based role play that isn't primarily hack-and-slash commonly found in MUDs and the like, but rather more focused on merely the day-to-day events and such with large emphasis on quality roleplay and poses.)

(Amend: After the initial post, the story-writing section was discovered - and while it may somewhat answer part of the question, some questions remain unanswered. Ergo, this post remains in place... at least for the moment.)

-Luuko
[e-mail]
_________________________________________
"A chance to escape reality and be whomever I want to be... count me in." -Luuko's Acceptance, part of 'The Rememberance'.

[gobleteer]

Well, I've (Natuarally. This IS my job...) started a MUD now. It won't just be Twokinds, you'll kinda have to play to understand. Basically, there's paralel dimensions; one is the real world, Earth. The other is... something else. Anyway, if you visit Tom or some fan's house, they might have made a Twokinds area portal there. (Portals connect the dimensions). So basically, you can put whatever you want in the corrosponding area for your real world dwelling.

This is a MUD, not battle-oriented. Also, it's NOT ACTUALLY RUNNING YET(So don't bug me) because I'm having a bit of trouble with Perl, which it's written in. Should be working somewhat soon.

Edit:
Crap, forgot. Could someone move this to the gaming board?

[gobleteer]

DOUBLE POST!

No, does anyone know of a MUD server they can get to run in the Windows enviroment? If so, I could use help.

[Luuko]

... Aye actually - my younger bro dinked about with one that was WinDon't based, though I'm not sure why you'd want to use it. ; It crashed rather frequently. r_r; A pain to troubleshoot as well. e_e;

Linux is a much more stable and usable environment to work with in any case - not to mention most MU*'s are geared torwards this OS. c_C;

Anywho, any particular reason you're looking into MUD code? There's less one has to code for more bang in a story-based environment in other MU* formats - I should know... I administer several and used to host a few. What's got you in a jam?

-Luuko
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

[gobleteer]

And I'm afraid I can't switch from Windows; my sisters use my computer too. (Though I'm trying to get a $20 laptop to run V2_OS on.)

Hmm... I really don't know what you mean by "story-based". Role-playing, or everyone going along a certain story, or what...

Oh, and I won't compile C code, that's the main prob.
C++ and some others are OK, though. But I'm looking for pre-made binaries.

[Luuko]

...Your sisters use the computer as well?

... Bear with me for a moment, but why are you putting this on a desktop unit? A server needs to be on 24/7 and tends not to double as a workstation. ; Too much can happen to it if people have access to the unit. c_C;

We'll get back to that shortly, but one of the problems you'll quickly find with any Windows-based MU* is that it will run in a command window on the desktop - leaving it out in the open to be 'accidently' or otherwise closed or exited without your knowledge, the user logged off, or the system completely shut off. In other words, just too much can happen to it. Granted it /may/ be possible to trick the system to run the program as a service, but then administration becomes difficult and there still is the problem of people having access to the unit. And this is all before getting to the logistical issues involved with having to remain online all the time - I'd hope you're not trying to run this off of a dailup connection, but a broad-band one with a static IP. Otherwise you're going to run into issues. In addition, have you possibly considered a domain-name to make it easier on your users to recall the address? IP addresses are bulky and sometimes difficult to recall...

In any case, in general a dedicated linux box is probally the way you want to go and there are several MUCK code-bases available to work from. I'd recommend Glow or Proto Muck first, as either will give you the most features actually built into the code - in a pinch, I'd try Fuzzball... but you'd have to install colour ANSI yourself and without expirence using the muck's internal programming language (One can actually write programs in MUF {A derative of the language Forth}) This can be a daunting task.

Now, I'm not trying to discourage you, just making sure you're aware of all the logistics involved. ... Tell you what, if you need a dedicated linux box to run things on, I may be able to assist in that department or if not, know of someone I can ask to consider hosting you -- maybe even introduce you to a MUF programmer or two in order to help you get things off the ground.

... As for story based... ... There really is no direct way of describing it aside from saying it's most definately /not/ hack and slash like the majority of MUD's are - there are relatively few commands a player has to memorize (primarily 'say', 'who', 'look' and 'pose') as most of what a player says or does is all posed out in typically paragraph-long segments - usually with two or three other people in a 'room' each taking turns in posing.

One of several advantages of MUCKS over MUD's (in general) is they are relatively simple for the uninitiated to pick up and begin using. In addition, MUCKS are much less processor and system intensive than MUD's, making it easier to run on older systems (I've successfully had 8 running on an old P-133 linux box with no noticable lag... I could easily have gotten many more on before performance would have been affected) and take up usually less than 10-15 MB whereas MUD's tend to be rather large space, memory and processor hogs easily running into 50+ MB of storage due to all the special programs, weapons, items and stuff that generally lies around uselessly. In addition, MUCKS tend to require far fewer environment rooms (less than 200 in most cases) for the players to interact in as things are more story-focused rather then breezing through a room and spending less than 30 seconds in one place while looking for 'items' or 'monsters' to fight. While MUCK's are derived from MUCKS, they're more social places and tend to focus more on creative writing and interactive skills... kind of like an oversized chat-room with many more options available if one wants to really mess things up.

There's much more, but I'm beginning to ramble on and could probally go on all day about such... but really, the best way to understand just what a story-based enviroment is and how it operates is to spend a little time in one. If you get a spare moment, why don't you drop on into SunRise Muck (telnet into: dovienya.net port:1994) and have a look around. Speak with Yvonne, Maiza, Xian, Nishati or any of the staff or wizards if any questions arise or if you'd like a tour - if you're lucky, perhaps one of them will invite you to watch or even participate in a Role Play (RP) if one is currently running.

I hope that helps!

-Luuko
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

[Yotem]

If you want to use linux with windows then there is Cygwin, works fine with command line but I’m not sure if it can pull of graphics. Takes up a bit of hard drive space however you can even run linux programs as services under windows. If you just want to code but not run things 24/7 under Linux then you can try Knoppix (CD based linux) or just a separate linux partition.

If you’re in the Bay Area, which I don’t think you are, I could give you an old Pentium 200mhz or so which would work rather well for a small server. Of course they are somewhat big so they may not be of use to you due to being rather slow. It’s also not all that hard to get such a system for under $20 or so.

I also will have one or two dedicated 24/7 linux boxes starting in October, and they’ll basically be on all the time until June so if you want to I can give you access.

[gobleteer]

No - no Cygwin, sorry. Linux is really out of the question, I already know about this.

And I'm running a webserver already, and used to run a mail one, so I know a tad bit about all that Stuff already.
That said, know of any in particular.

And yeah, basically without character rules and such. But I'd still like objects and everything, so I'm going to use a MUD. (Tried ProtoMUD, liked it a lot, if that's any idea.)

And at risk of sounding impolite(although better than sky diving.... wait, THIS is why people say I blather on...), could you just help with getting a server? If I don't like it, I can just stop running it(I don't expect a ton of people to play, ever).

And in answer to your next suggestion, NO FREAKING LINUX ALREADY!!!

[Yotem]

Linux is simply easier for me run as a server, remote access is simpler than windows and it’s more stable (and theoretically more secure but I’m lazy). You also, don’t need as much hard drive space, ram or cpu power. But I digress.

If you want to you can run it on my main computer which I don’t mind assuming you have some way of remotely accessing/administering it which would not interfere with my every day usage of the computer. I basically run the thing like a server in terms of uptime, but besides that I really don’t have much to offer in terms of window’s servers.

As I said before I have two other computers which I’m going to set up and run Linux on (can’t really change it since windows doesn’t suit my needs for them), and the other three I have access to are Pentium 1s and they simply can’t run modern windows decently/at all (and I’m going to get rid of them if I can). Well, there is another one I’m building but that’s a semi-HTPC thing for the room to run videos/mame on (and will also run linux).

Potentially, I’ll build another one by the end of the year (probably earlier) assuming I find cheap parts and I can set that up as a windows server, however I’m hesitant to stick yet another 24/7 comp into my somewhat small dorm room. Then again, I’m already up to 6/7 (counting my roommates comp) so another won’t make much of a difference. Yes, I'm a geek.

[gobleteer]

"And in answer to your next suggestion, NO FREAKING LINUX ALREADY!!! "

Um... OK, I though this was simple.

[glow=red,2,300]
I (Meaning me)
would like to run a Windows
server on my computer
do you know of one?[/glow]

WHAT IS SO FREAKING HARD?

BTW, I'm actually interested, but I really want an answer. To my question, not an imaginary one.

[PaulTB]

Gobleteer said:

"And in answer to your next suggestion, NO FREAKING LINUX ALREADY!!! "

Um... OK, I though this was simple.

[glow=red,2,300]
I (Meaning me)
would like to run a Windows
server on my computer
do you know of one?[/glow]

WHAT IS SO FREAKING HARD?

BTW, I'm actually interested, but I really want an answer. To my question, not an imaginary one.

Cygwin does not equal Linux
Cygwin does not equal Linux
Cygwin does not equal Linux
Cygwin does not equal Linux
Cygwin does not equal Linux
Cygwin does not equal Linux

and

Cygwin does not equal Linux

In case that didn't quite penetrate I currently have a MUD (SMAUG code base) that I have compiled and run with Cygwin from a Windows XP computer.

[gobleteer]

Cygwin is an emulator... the use is the same, if not the speed/lack of windows.
A windows server is not a linux server running in windows.

OK, if there's another post about anything vaguely related to linux I'll just delete all my posts instead.

[Luuko]

Here: www.gammon.com.au/downloads/dlsmaug.htm

There is a version of SMAUG that runs under windows and my younger sibling has used it in the past, but I think we've all made our points and views rather clear on the issue. There is a large mulitude of reasons running any MUD, MUCK or anything server related (for the most part) on Windon't boxes is a bad idea, but that's a debate for a nother time.

If that's the way you want to go then good luck bud - don't say we didn't warn you.

-Luuko
[e-mail]

[PaulTB]

Gobleteer said:

Cygwin is an emulator... the use is the same, if not the speed/lack of windows.
A windows server is not a linux server running in windows.

www.cygwin.com/
"What Isn't Cygwin?
Cygwin is not a way to run native linux apps on Windows. You have to rebuild your application from source if you want to get it running on Windows. "

Luuko said:

Here: www.gammon.com.au/downloads/dlsmaug.htm

There is a version of SMAUG that runs under windows

Which is the one I compiled with Cygwin.
Quote "Note - the FUSS files are not precompiled, you will need to compile them before running a MUD. Windows users are recommended to download and install Cygwin to do this. "

[seigfox]

This is getting way to technical for my tiny little brain...