MajorMUD
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| MajorMUD | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Metropolis |
| Publisher(s) | Metropolis |
| Distributor(s) | Gameport |
| Version | 1.11p (January 13, 2006) |
| Platform(s) | PC (MS-DOS, Windows) |
| Release date | November 4, 1994 |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Text |
| System requirements | Major BBS or Worldgroup |
MajorMUD is a MUD for the Major BBS and Worldgroup BBS software. It can be played over a dial-up modem connected to a BBS, or more commonly over telnet.
Contents |
[edit] History
MajorMUD was created by Lance & Cathy (Dog) Neumann, Michael Skupa (Cat), Craig Young (Morukai), and Geoffrey Rosen (Orfeo) in the early 1990s. Collectively they were known as West Coast Creations, or WCC. Based in Canada, WCC ran a BBS called Dreamscape Online Entertainment Services (DSOE) that players and potential customers could use to try out their software. It was also one of the few places that players could go to ask questions directly of the designers. Prior to being called DreamScape it was called Nightline BBS, and from playing TA and Lance not able to get reliable updates, Lance, Dog, Cat, and Orfeo decided to make their own game, along with all the users on Nightline for beta testers.
MajorMUD itself was initially offered as a separate game module for the MajorBBS. Despite its significant price tag (nearly $1000 USD for a 256 user version), MajorMUD was noted by Logicomm to be one of the most wildly popular packages to MajorBBS sysops. A total of 9 expansion modules, or "mods", were released over a period of several years, each in kind for an additional fee to the system owner.
The game itself was written in C and compiled with Borland C++ (as were all modules for Major BBS and Worldgroup.) MajorMUD was extremely popular for its intuitive, simple to understand user interface. Compared to other MUDs of the time, MajorMUD provided more help for the beginner and a simpler combat system that was easier to understand. WCC frequently introduced new content to the game and made corrections to bugs and gameplay. Further, unlike "internet muds" of the day, each game of MajorMUD was basically the same. All editing or "building" of the game was restricted by WCC, so a player could be assured of a consistent gameplay experience wherever he or she may play.
[edit] Expansion modules
On November 11, 1996, WCC released their first mod for MajorMUD - Dragon's Teeth Hills. Over the years, a total of 9 content modules were released (WCC released the first 6, while Metropolis released the last 3). These expansion modules added many new monsters, weapons, items, and places to explore to the base MajorMUD install. Module 1 also introduced the Reputation based "Quest Lines" - with quests for "Good", "Neutral", and "Evil" players.
Module List:
- Module 1: Dragon's Teeth
- Module 2: The Cursed Ruins
- Module 3: Strangers in the Night
- Module 4: Terror from Below
- Module 5: The Rising Dawn
- Module 6: The Sands of Time
- Module 7: Savage Lands
- Module 8: A Call to Arms!
- Module 9: Prophecy of Plague
- MajorMUD Plus - Entertainment Edition
The MajorMUD website still lists Module 10 as a future update, however seeing as how there has been no news about this module since 2003, and since Module 9 was released in 2001, many now believe that Module 10 will never be released. On March 19, 2007, Metropolis announced that their current programmer had resigned to move on to another company. No replacement was announced, although it was stated that they would be interviewing for the position over the next one week to two weeks.
[edit] Races
There are a total of 13 races available to choose from when a player creates a character in MajorMUD. The original release included 11 races, with the Nekojin and Gaunt One added in later modules.
- Human
- Dwarf
- Gnome
- Halfling
- Elf
- Half-Elf
- Dark-Elf
- Half-Orc
- Goblin
- Half-Ogre
- Kang
- Nekojin (Added as part of a mod)
- Gaunt One (Added as part of a mod)
Each race has six base stats; Strength, agility, intelligence, wisdom, health and charm. These stats are increased manually as levels are gained through skill points which are accrued as the character levels up. Each race has its own attributes and special racial abilities, such as nightvision, stealth, and increased resistances. Some races are better then others, having higher starting stats and more special abilities. This can come with a cost however, with a sharp increase in the experience modifier. At higher levels a racial modifier on experience can mean hundred of millions of experience points.
[edit] Classes
MajorMUD features 15 different classes, many with incredibly differeing play styles. There are several different schools of magics, and each class receives a rating of 1-3 in its effectiveness for that school. A higher magic level unlocks more spells, and grants the class additional mana. Of course not every class has access to magic, but every class does receive a melee combat rating, from 1 to 5. The combat rating acts as a modifer on the number of swings, accuracy, dodge and damage that a class has.
| Class | Class Type | Combat | Magic | Armor | Weapons | Special Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mage | Mage | 1 | 3 | Robe | Staff | none |
| Warlock | Mage | 3 | 2 | Chainmail | 1-Handed | none |
| Gypsy | Mage | 2 | 2 | Leather | 1-Handed | stealth |
| Druid | Druid | 2 | 3 | Leather | Blunt/Staff | none |
| Ranger | Druid | 4 | 1 | Leather | Any | Tracking, Stealth |
| Priest | Priest | 1 | 3 | Robe | Blunt | none |
| Cleric | Priest | 3 | 2 | Plate | Blunt | none |
| Missionary | Priest | 2 | 2 | Leather | 1-Handed | Stealth |
| Paladin | Priest | 4 | 1 | Plate | Any | none |
| Witchhunter | Melee | 5 | none | Scale | Non-Magical | Magic Resistance |
| Warrior | Melee | 4 | none | Any | Any | none |
| Thief | Melee | 2 | none | Leather | 1-Handed | Stealth, Pick Locks, Theiving |
| Ninja | Melee | 3 | none | Ninja | Any | Tracking, Stealth, Dodge, Crits |
| Bard | Bard | 3 | songs | Leather | 1-Handed | Stealth, Pick Locks |
| Mystic | Mystic | 2 | kai | Robe | Staff | Stealth, Crits, Martial Arts, Dodging |
[edit] Scripting
Due to the long time it takes to reach higher levels in the game, MajorMUD was one of the first popular online games to give birth to game "scripting". Scripting involves automating all aspects of your characters movement and combat to automatically play the game and gain experience. Scripts can range from extremely simple to extremely complex full-fledged scripting clients such as MegaMUD.
As scripting became more popular, a debate over the fairness of the practice raged across practically every MajorMUD realm. Many MajorBBS Sysops enacted harsh penalties for those caught using a script in the game, while others accepted or even encouraged it. An ongoing concern for system operators of smaller bbs's were the availability of phone lines. Should a customer who is away from the keyboard (AFK) scripting be allowed to use a valuable access node when a live visitor is trying to get online? One of the popular compromises of the day was to allow players to script, but only while sitting at their keyboard. Players who did not answer messages from the staff and were deemed AFK could be kicked offline, or worse.
In the beginning, scripting required basic programming abilities and knowledge of the commands in your terminal program such as Telemate or Telex. Simple scripts of this time would move the character or ("roam") through a pre-determined set of rooms. The script would look for the types of monsters known to spawn there, and send commands to attack and then loot any items or coin that dropped following the battle. More advanced scripts would heal or run in and out of rooms that had too many monsters, luring a few out to better the odds of the battle. Typically more advanced scipts were guarded more closely by those who had written them in order to maintain an advantage over others, but this was not always the case.
[edit] Evolution of a cottage industry
Out of the continuing demand by players, developers began releasing a multitude of programs designed to automate MajorMUD gameplay and give their customers an advantage. These programs were designed and sold specifically for MajorMUD players.
The introduction of MMTERM for DOS and later Windows proved to be a significant event in the world of MajorMUD scripting. Designed entirely for MajorMUD, this terminal program allowed players to script by inputing data about their character, and using an "auto-roam" features which would walk your character around a particular area. While it missed many of the features that an advanced custom script might have, MMTERM was easy to use and made up for its down falls in its ability to script nearly anywhere for any length of time.
Synterm for Windows was a similar MajorMUD terminal program. Synterm added custom triggers and managed group healing and tactics at a level more closely aligned with advanced scripts. Both MMTERM and SYNTERMs popularity were short lived as they were eventually overshadowed by another MajorMUD scripting program.
Megamud for Windows took scripting in MajorMUD to a new level. Featuring the ability to "Goto" any part of the realm, from any part of the realm with the click of a button. Megamud also recognized when other characters used Megamud, and would communicate between clients exchanging information in order to keep the group alive, while earning the maximum experience points per hour. Megamud could also be configured to allow other players to remotely take control of their character, and created a database of players in the realm where you could modify individual permissions. With Megamud, MajorMUD players were able to automate an incredible amount of their gameplay, even training a players character after leveling while AFK.
[edit] Game editors
Despite warnings against editing the game from WCC, MajorMUD edits have long circulated under the radar of WCC. Sysops and players commonly edited MajorMUD in its early infancy to introduce items such as the laen longsword that were present in the database but usually unobtainable within the game.
[edit] Sale to Metropolis
On May 25, 1999, WCC sold MajorMUD to Metropolis, a company based in Kansas, USA. Metropolis promised to continue the work done by WCC in an e-mail that was sent to owners and others on the mailing list maintained by WCC:
Attention All MajorMUD owners: On May 25, 1999, MajorMUD and Dreamscape BBS were sold to Metropolis Inc., a Kansas, US, based corporation.
A NOTE FROM WEST COAST CREATIONS:
We at West Coast have enjoyed working with all the sysops and users these past five years. It is truly a nice feeling to have so many people around the world enjoying a product that we have built. The support we have received from so many of you over the years has been amazing. Without the encouragement and ideas from around the world, MajorMUD would not be what it is today.
For a variety of reasons, we feel that we cannot offer the time and energy to the game that we once provided, and Metropolis has a group of dedicated people who will inject fresh life to the game.
A NOTE FROM METROPOLIS:
Greetings from the Metropolis staff. We're thrilled to be a part of MajorMUD. This game is known as the best on the net, and we are dedicated to continuing its tradition of excellence in entertainment.
We are working hard with the West Coast team, learning about its history and goals for the game. We pledge to continue the vision for MajorMUD and to make this changeover as seamless as possible. We are currently working on the release of version 1.1x and Module 7. Be assured that our team will continue to develop games with the same thought and consideration as the original West Coast team.
CONTACTS
Email support will continue to be 'support@majormud.com' or 'ml:support@wcc.' Sales contacts will continue to be 'sales@majormud.com' or 'ml:sales@wcc.' Phone support has changed to 913-661-0601; and fax support is at 913-663-3200.
On April 10, 2008 Metropolis Gameport shut down and sold all 7 of their Worldgroup BBS Game Servers. After 9 long years, Metropolis Gameport is now looking to sell the rights to MajorMud to another party. Metropolis posted this notice on their Sysop Support Forum.
Metropolis Entertainment is announcing that effective April 10 we will no longer support our BBS Systems and are offering them for sale.
These systems include the three Worldgroup BBS systems, seven Worldgroup game servers and their respective file servers. We would prefer to sell this system as one package, but will consider offers on individual pieces. If you are interested in making an offer or if you have questions about what's included, please contact Shannon via email (shannon@majormud.com) or call 913-663-9633.
The sale does not include the development and internal beta systems for MajorMUD development.
We will be shutting down those systems that have not been transferred on April 10 and will refund any paid time remaining on subscriptions ("telnet" or "plan2" accounts).
We want to thank all of our valued customers for their years of support and participation in the Metropolis community.
Systems Included:
- Clubmet BBS
- Masterpiece BBS
- The Dump BBS
- 3 Novell File Servers
- 3 Snap Servers running as Novell Servers
- Underground Game Server (undgs1)
- Big 10 Game Server 2 (b10gs2)
- Big 12 Game Server 2 (b12gs2)
- Clubmet Game Server (metgs1)
- The Louisville Connection Game Server (tlcgs1)
- Rock Garden Game Server (rockgs1)
- The Dump Game Server (dumpgs1)
