From: quirk@pioneer.unm.edu (Gym Z. Quirk)
Subject: What is PernMUSH?  (Monthly posting)
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 22:30:53 GMT
Organization: Nit-Pickers for a Better Tomorow Afternoon

[Originally written by morpheus@cco.caltech.edu (Ken Bartlett).  I
have made facutal correction where necessary.  Additional commentary
is shown by inclusion in brackets. -Quirk]

Last modified: 24 September 1992

Introduction to PernMUSH:
-=======================-
(or, what the heck _is_ that thing that they're talking about all
 the time on alt.fan.pern???)

A MUSH is a variety of MUD.  MUD stands for Multi-User Dungeon or something,
and MUSH stands for Multi-User Shared Hallucination.  Something like that.
It's not really important what it's called, it's what it is. :)  (If you're
curious about muds in general, and what other types of MU*-worlds there are
out there, several other newsgroups, the rec.games.mud.* heirarchy, are
devoted to the subject.)

[Of particular interest would be the newsgroups rec.games.mud.announce,
and rec.games.mud.tiny.  rec.games.mud.misc may also be of interest,
but to a somewhat lesser extent. -Quirk]

PernMUSH is a theme MUSH, based on Anne McCaffrey's world of Pern, as
described in her Pern novels.  Obviously, you know something about it, or
you wouldn't be reading this group.  :)

[Also, these instructions can be applied to a somewhat lesser extent on
the other Pern-Theme'd MU*s out there.  Persons affiliated with those
MU*s are welcome to submit suggestions/addendum which is specific to
the MU* in question. -Quirk]

PernMUSH is a multiplayer roleplaying enviroment, in which you can interact
with the other players and the enviroment around you, visiting different
parts of Pern and chatting with interesting people.  You could also get the
chance to build part of the world, or to write 'machines' to perform various
simple tasks, or even become a dragonrider and fight thread!  (Threadfall
is currently being programmed by our top-notch PernMUSH programming folk!)

[Threadfall has been reported to be 'real soon now' for several months
on PernMUSH.  DragonsDawn and, I beleive, Spellbound's Pern area
already have some form of thread implemented. -Quirk]

The MUSH runs on freya.arc.nasa.gov, on port 4201.  To use it, you need to
be able to telnet to the site, or use a client program.  (more on that
later)  The usual command is 'telnet frey.arc.nasa.gov 4201' from a UNIX
machine; I've been told (thanks Moonchilde!) tht on a VMS system, the
command would be 'TELNET frey.arc.nasa.gov/PORT=4201'.
 
You will connect to the game (if there's no net problems between you and
freya, that is) and will see a welcome screen.  As a new player, you need to
create a character.  Choose a name for your new character, and password
that you can remember, then type 'create <name> <password>'  (Don't type the
<brackets>, just whatever you want your name and password to be.)

This will create your character.  You will start in a location called the
'Birthplace', where all players start.  Now, you have to set up a few things 
on your character.  First, type '@sex me = male' or '@sex me = female'.  (Your
character doesn't have to be the same sex as you are; most people, though,
find it easier to play someone closer to themselves.)  Next, you'd probably
want a description.  Type '@desc me = <whatever you want to look like>'  Your
description should fit the world of Pern; no tennis shoes or space-helmets! :)

At this point, you should learn the 'look' command.  Type 'look me' to see
what you look like.  Type 'look here' to look at the room that you're in.
Type 'look <object name>' to look at one of the objects in the room with you.

Now, you're probably wondering at this point, who else is playing?  Type
'WHO' (all in capital letters) to get a list of the characters who are
connected.  If you want to send a message to one (and please do, we're very
nice to newcomers!), type 'page <character name> = <message>'  Such as,
'page Malachite = Hi, I'm new here!  Help!'  :)

After the player's name, connect time, and idle time, you'll see a field
on the WHO list called the 'Doing'.  This can be set by using the @doing
command:  '@doing <whatever you're doing>'  You might want something like
'@doing I'm new here!' to tell people that you're a visitor; we're usually
quite willing to help.  Anyone with the word 'STAFF' in their doing is here
especially to assist you with problems; if you need help or would like to
meet someone friendly, give them a page!  :)

To talk to everyone in the same room as you, type 'say <message>'.  Instead
of typing say, you could just use a " as well.  '"Hi there.'  You will see,
'You say, "Hi there."'  If you wish to indicate that you're performing some
kind of action, type a colon, then what you want to do.  ':dances.' will
give you 'Malachite dances.', if your name is Malachite, that is.  This is
called 'posing'.

To explore, you'll need to know how to get around.  The simplest way is to
walk through exits.  In each room (type 'look here') you'll see an exit
list.  Type the exit name to walk through it.  Most exits have several names,
so you could type 'Master's Office' 'office' 'west' 'w' and end up in the
place, if the western door leads into the Master's office.

You're going to want to leave the birthplace, so walk through it and choose
where you wish to be 'born'.  This will be your initial home on Pern, although
as you learn the commands and the world, you're free to move elsewhere.

One place you want to eventually go is to the 'hangout'; it tends to be the
center of activity and a general hang-out place (hence the name. ;-)  The
easiest way to get there is to type '@tel #0' or 'hangout'.  There are other
ways, such as the transport wagon or hitching a ride on a dragon, but you'll
discover those as you explore.

Okay, now let me tell you a little about your character.  (You might want to
type 'news characters' at this point, and see some official info, too.  In
fact, the 'news' command tells you a lot about the MUSH also.)  Your character
basically starts out as a nobody.  You have no history, you have a temporary
home that you come from, you have no family, you have no craft or hold.  Note
that nobody can start life as a dragonrider; you must go through candidacy
and impression in order to ride.  Also, you can't start with a firelizard
companion.  :)

Sounds glum, eh?

Well, let's look at what you can do:

1.  You can live at a hold.  Contact a holder (ask around, read the news,
    page a lot); holders are always looking for more residents.

2.  You could become a crafter.  Check 'news crafters' for a list of avail-
    able crafts, and contact the master of the craft you like.  Masters are
    always looking for more apprentices.

[Most of the crafts have adopted a 'no recruiting raw newbies' policy
which means that they won't accept you fresh out of birthplace.  This
isn't a real problem.  Spend a week looking around, meeting people,
etc.  The crafts will still be there. -Quirk]

3.  You could become a candidate for the next dragon hatching.  Find a search
    rider or a weyrleader, and sign up.  You'll be required to do some work,
    and learn how to build on the MUSH--but it's a good way to learn!  The
    weyrs are always looking for more riders.  (See a pattern?  We're all
    glad you're here!)

[Again, the Weyrs seem to prefer that their Candidate applicants spend
a little time getting to know the environs.  For some perverse reason,
they even suggest apprenticing to a craft for a short while before
applying. -Quirk]

3.5.   There are a few more options available to you, as far as a 'prof-
       ession'...you could be a trader, or be craftless/holdless, or
       explore and just hang out...you're not forced into joining a hold,
       craft, or weyr if you don't want to. 

[However, do give some thought as to what your character would do on
Pern; i.e. how (s)he supports him/herself, etc. -Quirk]

4.  You really want a firelizard?  Well, you can get one--they're what we
    call 'puppets' and they're keen.  They relay information back to you, and
    you can control them, and teleport them around, and all sorts of nifty
    things.  The way to get one is to ask around until you find out when a
    firelizard hatching is happening, then go there and try to impress one.
    Firelizards are always looking for more pet humans.

(Get the idea that everyone's looking for you?  Don't you feel _wanted_? 
*grin*)

Well, that's enough to get you started.  Ask around, devour the news and help
files, explore, and soon enough you'll get the hang of it.  Hope to see you
there!

[I do wish to emphasize that new players should take full advantage of
the information supplied in 'news' and 'help'. -Quirk]

(By the way, I mentioned I'd say something about client programs.  A client
is a program that you compile and run from your account that takes the place
of 'telnet'.  Different clients exist; tinytalk, tinyfugue, etc.  The best
way to find out about them is to read Moira's monthly FAQ postings in the
newsgroup rec.games.mud.announce; email me or page me on PernMUSH if you're
unable to find these.)

				--Retired Master Miner Malachite
                                    Holder of Brum Hold

PS:  I _think_ I covered everything you'd need to know...if not, I'm sure
     someone will cover for me.  :)  OH!  I just remembered...how to exit
     the game!  First, type 'home' -- this will put you in back in your nice
     cosy home.  Then type 'QUIT' (in caps), and your character will be safe
     until the next time you log on.  And don't forget your password!  :)
-- 
Capt. Gym Z. Quirk  (Known to some as Taki Kogoma)  quirk@pioneer.unm.edu
 I'll get a life when someone demonstrates that it would be superior to
                          what I have now...