Materia Magica

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Materia Magica
Image:red mm logo.jpg
Developer(s) Ingenii Interactive
Publisher(s) Ingenii Interactive
Engine Custom
Release date(s) 1996
Genre(s) MMORPG, MUD
Mode(s) Multiplayer
Platform(s) OS Independent
System requirements Internet with Port 23, 4000, 6666, 8000, or 9000 open, Telnet or other Client

Materia Magica, originally entitled Moongate Online, is a MUD (Multi-User Dungeon, a type of computer role-playing game). It has been in operation since 1996 when it diverged from a MUD known as Nevermore. Materia Magica is now one of the most widely played MUDs in existence. Its popularity during peak playing hours can reach over 500 simultaneously connected players.

Contents

[edit] About the Realm

The fantasy world of Materia Magica, known as "Alyria", consists of several continents, unique playable areas, and clanhalls. The overall theme can be compared to the likes of Middle-earth wherein different races live in strife and bloodlust is commonplace. The lead implementor, Vassago (Ryan Addams), administers the game along with several other "immortals" (so named because of their "godlike" status in the game).

[edit] Game play

Though hailed by players for its detailed, text-based environments, Materia Magica is based on the principle of endless killing and leveling up. MUDs of this type are often disparaged as "hack and slash". Nevertheless, Materia Magica remains strong in player loyalty and its world is constantly being expanded and improved upon.

The histories of Alyria are based upon several official stories, as well as player-contributed material, which adds to the interactive element of this game. Player and clan websites devoted to Materia Magica are encouraged and even rewarded through an annual competition.

The players move around the world of Alyria and strive to improve their status in the world. Despite the competitive element, it is a friendly game, where it is easy to get to know other players well. Each character is built around four classes, one of each of four types: thief, fighter, mage, and cleric. Arrival at the highest level of the four classes bestows the title of "hero" on the player, which is followed by a separate fifth class, "Archon", that each hero has the option of becoming.

[edit] Questing

Players can also ask quest masters for quests, in which they must complete a series of tasks in a timely manner for the quest master in return for quest points, practice points, experience points and gold. Quest points can be used to purchase important items which help with gameplay. Quests are one of the main ways, besides leveling, marks, and miniquests, to acquire practice points in Materia Magica, and as such is a popular aspect of the game.

Quests that fall outside the official quest system are known as "miniquests", do not usually have a time limit, and often are much more complex. Rewards from these can be virtually anything.

In 1996, Vassago released a version of the game's (then known as Moongate) quest code that had been modified to work with generic MUDs. The quest code, known as "automated questing" because it generated quests with random goals upon request, quickly became a popular code snippet and was used/modified by many MUDs. It is through this code snippet that the concept of "automated questing" was introduced to the MUD community. The quest snippet is no longer supported but can still be found (along with several variations and derivations) for download on several websites.

It should be noted that Materia Magica itself no longer has what can be termed "automated quests" anymore, having replaced their questing process with the release of the 4.0 version of the game with thousands of pre written quests. The quests now have their own story lines and the goals are no longer randomly chosen.

[edit] Marks

Materia Magica also features a system of measuring progress throughout the game known as the Mark system and is one of the alternative ways to questing and leveling by which a player can gain experience and practice point rewards. The granting of a Mark often comes with a one-time (Each Mark can only be obtained once per player) practice point or experience point reward. Marks can be obtained automatically when the player reaches certain predetermined goals within the game (such as completing a certain number of quests) but can also be sought out by completing miniquests. Marks can also be obtained just stumbling upon them.

[edit] Available Races

Players may choose from one of twelve adventuring races. Most of these races are standard fantasy fare, with the exception of the two faerie races, Fey and Sidhe, that are unique to Materia Magica.

[edit] Available Classes

Materia Magica allows players to choose from one of fourteen available classes (depending on race) and allows progression in that class from level 1-60, at which time in order to progress in the game the player must change classes and can then gain another 60 levels, etc. This can be done up to four times. Players can select only one class from each of the four class groups: Fighter, Mage, Cleric, and Thief.

When a character reaches level 240 (60 levels in each class) they are known as a Hero and have the option of undertaking a special quest known as the Domain of Arbaces. Upon successful completion of this quest they are granted the highest player level achievable in the game, level 241, are given a power boost along with additional skills, and are known as Archons.

The current classes available are listed below:

[edit] Fighter

[edit] Mage

[edit] Cleric

[edit] Thief

[edit] Archon

[edit] Connecting to the Game

The game address is materiamagica.com, available on ports 23, 4000, 6666, 8000, and 9000.

In order to connect to Materia Magica you must have a client. Materia Magica provides its own custom developed client known as the Moongate Client, but any standard telnet or MUD client will work. A list of such clients can be found here.

[edit] Moongate Client

While Materia Magica can be played with any standard telnet client or MUD client, it offers its own Java-based game client that is custom developed for Materia Magica. This client is known as the Moongate Client and provides the following features:

  • Cross-platform, browser-based Java applet
  • Full ANSI color support
  • Selection of fantasy-related graphic backgrounds
  • Separate command entry window/history scroll
  • Resizable window can stretch or be maximized to fit your screen
  • Allows in-game movement by using numeric keypad
  • Separate Tell/Whisper/Clantalk communication window with customizable buffer length
  • User-definable Alias support
  • Eight user-definable easy-access buttons
  • User-definable Key Bindings support
  • User-definable Variables support
  • User-definable, regular-expression-based Triggers
  • Configurable main window scrollback size
  • Configurable command history buffer
  • "Stackable" command ability with delay character
  • Visual Hit Point, Spell Point, Stamina display
  • Panic button for the nervously employed
  • Experience Points/Archon Points-to-next-level display
  • Current combat Enemy Name and Hit Point display
  • In-game Time and Date display
  • Client settings are saved directly to the game server

[edit] External links

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