#1411
Using World-Building Programs~
Various people have written programs to help builders create worlds offline
without having to understand the complex details of the world file format.
World-building programs are becoming more popular, especially the fancy
graphical builders that run under Microsoft Windows. You may prefer to use one
of them rather than trying to use a simple text editor to build offline and
understanding the format on your own. New world-builders are constantly being
written and released. The best I have yet to come across is CircEdit:
@Chttp://ftp.m-l.org/pub/CircleMUD/contrib/olc/offline/@n
Note : Very little help is available on how to use this program.
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#1412
Resources~
There are numerous resources out there for MUDs. Here are a few I have used
in the past:
Dictionaries:
@Chttp://www.yourdictionary.com/
http://m-w.com/
@nOthers:@C
http://msrp.com
http://share1.esd105.wednet.edu/bishopcj/EYES_on_IKE/graph_templates.htm
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/areaswap
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/buildersclub
http://Builder.listbot.com/
http://www.egroups.com/group/circle-newbies
http://www.egroups.com/group/MUDbuilders
http://dgscripts.listbot.com/
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/warlocksrealm
http://www.flatearth.com
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/codersclub
Linux distribution with circleMUD, supposedly everything you need:
@Chttp://mujweb.cz/www/vladon/@n
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#1413
Houses~
Some major misconceptions about houses. You do not set any flags for a
house. Just use hcontrol to build the house, that is it. All the flags House,
House_control and Atrium are for internal use only. When the house is created
they will be set. Currently we do not use houses here.
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#1414
Tips from Other Builders~
@CLance:@n
When building, there are some things that separate a great builder from a
weak builder. Items such as not using "you" in any descriptions, using
Capitals in title (except for prepositions). For example, "Dracula's Room of
Horrors" instead of "dracula's room of horrors." Some other common problems are:
Not putting in Room Extra Descriptions (Command B) and not using /fi to format
and indent after descriptions (in any of the edits and also in messages). To
know the commands while writing a description, type /h. It will tell you what
all the / commands do).
@CSnowlock:@n
Not everything present in my zone was in my original plan. I got a lot of
ideas from everyday life, unexpectedly, rather than from a quest for a certain
style or taste. The only thing significant that I think I've done, which most
builders do not realize, is to keep my eyes open all the time, and look at
ordinary things with a stranger's eyes, as if seeing them for the first time.
Thus the descriptions do not end up as a list of boring details, but rather,
exclamations of wonderful, magical, and perhaps even horrible things yet to be
noticed.
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#1415
Tips from Elaseth~
An in-depth document by Elaseth can be found under @RHELP STYLISTICS@n.
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#1416
More Ideas~
When building rooms, try to allow characters some freedom of movement. Do
not create paths and trails that force you to go a certain way without any
choices. Try and let characters get from point A to point B in a number of
different ways, if possible. One suggestion for this is to have one pathway
through part of your area, using exit, extra, and room descriptions to show
where the path lies. This way, observant players will be able to find the path
easily, whereas those players that are not quite as observant will get lost
much more easily. Such hints can be hidden two or three extra descriptions deep
and be as small as a scrape on the side of a tree, a thread on a bush, or
whatever.
Remember that for working two-way doors, the rooms on each side must have
matching door flags, doors, and zone commands to close them.
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#1420
&)%#*@()$$ Typo's!!!~
I Have been noticing alot of typos. There is no excuse for this. Get a
dictionary. Plain and simple, if you are going to build you will need one.
Here are a few resources to help you with your typo's:
From Manivo @Cwww.babylon.com@n
Babylon is a dictionary containing many languages in it, and a LOT more
available for download. I do mean a lot, they even have Klingon... The
sweet thing about it is that you can right-click a word in your screen, and
it will translate it automatically. You can also, of course, enter words
manually. Once you download the program and a language pack, you can use it
both on and offline, so it's great if you're on a dialup and are using some
offline editor program. The downside though is that it's not freeware.
Though in it's demo-state it WILL translate english, so it's still a 'good
buy'.
Another resource is @Cwww.dictionary.com@n - This one's like any
other online dictionary, but its usefulness comes in the form of a typo-
checker. When you suspect you didnt type a word in correctly, or your
memory regarding the spelling of a word is a bit foggy, you can enter it
there, and it will return all the words that are a close match to the
spelling of what you entered. Useful!
From Rumble @Cwww.m-w.com@n
This is what I use. It is a web-based dictionary and thesaurus, so you do
not have to download anything. Of course this means you cannot use it offline.
It is only in english.
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#1421
Hall of The Storytellers~
Welcome to those who would wish to write elegantly, and create wondrous
places in the hearts and minds of mud players.
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#1422
Hall of The Storytellers~
Stories have captivated human beings for thousands of years. And mud
players are human beings... So let's get with the program!
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#1423
Welcome to The Builder's Academy~
Your first task is to apply for builder status at:
http://welcor.n3.net/application.htm
When you finish and submit the application tell anyone level 32 or higher
and they will advance you to begin your training.
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#1424
But You Promised!~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
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#1425
New BuildWalk Room~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
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#1426
New BuildWalk Room~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
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#1427
New BuildWalk Room~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
@@@rr@YY@ @w@
@R@@@q
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#1428
New BuildWalk Room~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
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#1429
Beginnings, Middles and Endings~
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#1430
Point of View~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
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#1431
New BuildWalk Room~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
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#1432
New BuildWalk Room~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
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#1433
New BuildWalk Room~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
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#1434
New BuildWalk Room~
This unfinished room was created by Fyre.
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#1435
A Quick Mob Quest Tutorial~
See: @RHELP TRIGEDIT-MOB-TUTORIAL@n
@RSTAT QUESTMASTER@n. Notice the attached triggers. @RTSTAT 1400@n.
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#1436
A Quest Room~
In this room you may be able to finish the Mob Quest Tutorial.
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The questmaster awaits people to complete the example quest.
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#1437
Advanced Trigedit Example~
Begin by @RSTAT GATEGUARD@n and then tstat each trigger individually to see
what they do. This example follows the tutorial under @RHELP
TRIGEDIT-ADVANCED-TUTORIAL@n. Including triggers 1404-1408.
To pay the gateguard take the pile of coins, then: @RGIVE 10 COINS GUARD@n.
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#1439
Another Example With Quest Variables~
These triggers are a little more complex. The complexity gives the builder
more flexibility. By setting a variable on a player you can later call on
these variables. The most basic usage is to set a quest as completed when the
player is done. Another use would be to set something else like
player_can_breathe_water and prevent a player from entering a certain room
unless they have this variable set. To see what variables are set on a player
simple stat that player. @RSTAT SELF@n.
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#1440
Trigger Help Files~
I have added extensive help files on every type of trigger. Please use them
and give feedback. The easiest way to get to them all is through:
@RHELP TRIGEDIT-MENU, HELP TRIGEDIT-TYPE@n
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#1441
Quest Variables Example~
I used triggers 1409 thru 1412 to setup this example. Simply tstat each to
see what they do.
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T 1412
#1442
Another Example~
A beautiful bed lays here with the ability to restore life to those who use
it. Once again @RSTAT BED@n to see what triggers are attached and then tstat
each trigger individually to see what it does.
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#1498
Welcome to The Builder's Academy~
A builder is a term usually used to describe a person who designs MUD zones
for other characters to explore. Any player with motivation, ideas, and good
writing style can be a builder as well as a player. As a Builder, your job is
to create the virtual world in which players can roam around, solve puzzles,
find treasures, and gain experience. A Builder creates the rooms, objects,
mobs, shops, and triggers with which players will interact.
If this is something you are interested in doing then you have come to the
right place. Be warned, building is not easy and will require hard work,
patience, and the ability to take constructive criticism.
Your first task is to apply for builder status at:
http://www.geocities.com/buildersacademy/application.htm
When you finish and submit the application tell anyone level 32 or higher
and they will advance you to begin your training.
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#1499
The End of the Hallway~
You completed a hallway. Great Job!!! Hope you are not bored to death
yet, this is just the beginning. Remember, if you don't understand something
ask. Do not try to just figure it out on your own later through trial and
error. Now, Quickly check your pulse to make sure you are still alive and
then drive-on. Many more things yet to cover. Keep with me and keep on
reading. Go north to return to the beginning of the academy and tackle
another hallway.
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$~