This is a bit off topic, but I’m just wondering what the experience of playing a MUD is like?
Not sure if this is what you’re asking, but, well, you control a character you’ve created. Every time you move, or “look”, you get a description of the location you’re in, who else is there, what objects are and what obvious exits. You can interact with some objects, for instance “drink well”. You can interact with other players, talk to them, join organisations, develop your roleplay, and of course you can attack people. Example:
Tower Square This side of the square is the southern section of the Tower Square. In the center is the walled off White Tower. To the south a large boulevard opens up leading to the Southharbor. To the north you see the southern gate of the tower grounds. The square continues east and west. A large banner rests here, depicting a map of Tar Valon. [ obvious exits: N E S W ]
An oil lamp, set in a steel cage, hangs from a high wooden pole. An elaborately sculpted marble fountain splashes merrily. A stout wooden barrel stands nearby. Saldria the Wearied Novice is standing here. Yasmi of Murandy is standing here, riding a gray palfrey. A sailor is here. A gray palfrey prances skittishly nearby. The Tar Valon town crier stands here, spreading the news.
HP:Healthy SP:Bursting MV:Fresh >
(Yasmi and Saldria are other players).
Exploration is definitely there; for instance on WoTMUD there are AFAIK about 400 zones of about 100 “rooms” (locations) each, there are a lot of little secrets to discover; also, good zone knowledge (at least in the areas you frequent) is necessary to be successful as a fighter. As to freedom, yeah you do pretty much what you want, unless you join some organisation that provides more structure.
Depending on the MUD, combat may be voluntary or unrestricted, and the MUD may be heavy on roleplaying or light. Some MUDs I’ve seen basically are all about story and/or interecting with people by writing out elaborate descriptions of your actions. Others are more about PK (playerkilling).
WoTMUD has unrestricted combat—indeed combat is a major source of advancement in ranks, which earns combat bonuses—and is fairly light on the roleplay (but it’s definitely there if you want it, especially in some of the more RP-oriented clans). Though unrestricted combat doesn’t mean you can just whack people on the head without consequence; if you attack someone within the jurisdiction of some country, people who serve that country will give you a criminal warrant and hunt you. Mobs (=NPCs) from that country too. Unrestricted just means it’s not against the overall game’s rules for anyone to attack you.
how much lore would I need to fit in this MUD?
The wikipedia article on the Wheel of Time should pull you through if you don’t try to join one of the roleplay-heavy clans such as the White Tower. Some more googling over and above that will likely prove useful, especially if as you say you are interested in in-character interaction.
Any ideas for my class? At the moment I’d particularly welcome ideas for practical examples of applying Bayes’ Theorem, fit for a non-modern setting. (“urn problems” are not what a nonmathy person would call a practical application.)
Not sure if this is what you’re asking, but, well, you control a character you’ve created. Every time you move, or “look”, you get a description of the location you’re in, who else is there, what objects are and what obvious exits. You can interact with some objects, for instance “drink well”. You can interact with other players, talk to them, join organisations, develop your roleplay, and of course you can attack people. Example:
(Yasmi and Saldria are other players).
Exploration is definitely there; for instance on WoTMUD there are AFAIK about 400 zones of about 100 “rooms” (locations) each, there are a lot of little secrets to discover; also, good zone knowledge (at least in the areas you frequent) is necessary to be successful as a fighter. As to freedom, yeah you do pretty much what you want, unless you join some organisation that provides more structure.
Depending on the MUD, combat may be voluntary or unrestricted, and the MUD may be heavy on roleplaying or light. Some MUDs I’ve seen basically are all about story and/or interecting with people by writing out elaborate descriptions of your actions. Others are more about PK (playerkilling).
WoTMUD has unrestricted combat—indeed combat is a major source of advancement in ranks, which earns combat bonuses—and is fairly light on the roleplay (but it’s definitely there if you want it, especially in some of the more RP-oriented clans). Though unrestricted combat doesn’t mean you can just whack people on the head without consequence; if you attack someone within the jurisdiction of some country, people who serve that country will give you a criminal warrant and hunt you. Mobs (=NPCs) from that country too. Unrestricted just means it’s not against the overall game’s rules for anyone to attack you.
The wikipedia article on the Wheel of Time should pull you through if you don’t try to join one of the roleplay-heavy clans such as the White Tower. Some more googling over and above that will likely prove useful, especially if as you say you are interested in in-character interaction.
Any ideas for my class? At the moment I’d particularly welcome ideas for practical examples of applying Bayes’ Theorem, fit for a non-modern setting. (“urn problems” are not what a nonmathy person would call a practical application.)