From: jneedles@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Jack L Needles)
Subject: Re: Unique MUD themes!  (and some "need sites")
Keywords: themes
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 23:04:09 GMT

In article <Aqz-Kv=@engin.umich.edu> jfine@engin.umich.edu (Jonathan Fine) writes:
>LPmuds are now flooded with fantasy-themed muds (nothing new ;) and
>there are many players out there who are tired of the same fantasy
>stereotypes in muds.  But despite the demands, there aren't that many
>non-fantasy themed muds out there, in relation.
>
>So a friend and I decided to come up with a list of mostly non-fantasy
>themed muds which would be really cool to see implemented.  These themes
>are unique, playable, and most importantly, would be fun.  We hope these
>spark some interest and ideas...
>
>(Note: I've also listed muds that I know of which *do* use various of
>these unique themes, and also muds which use these ideas but are looking
>for a site.  This is to point players to those unique muds already opened,
>and to hopefully point people with sites to those unique muds still looking
>for one.)
>
>
> 1.  Western - players are cowboys, cowgirls, or bandits.  They could have
>     such skills like pistol, rifle, quick-draw, horse-riding, safe-cracking.
>     Players can shoot it out at high noon, stop train robberies, mosey on
>     down to the local saloon, or rob banks.  Fun quests!

Scattered Realms was to have this type of mud on it.. alas it died...

>
>
> 2.  Prehistoric - players are cavemen and cavewomen, and would need skills
>     such as fire-making, stone-chiseling, spear, club, etc..  They would
>     have to get food by hunting dinosaurs, defend their tribe from rivals,
>     and maybe develop technologies.  Challenging quests, if done right.
>
>
> 3.  Super-hero - self-explainatory.  Admin would have to choose
>     between a four-color theme ("POW!  BAM!" like Batman TV shows),
>     a "dark" theme (like _The Dark Knight_ and "Batman" movies),
>     and other such possible subgenres, and perhaps even choose in
>     favoring DC, Marvel, Comico, et al.
>
>     * There was the old Hero LPmud, and Hero II is approaching finish.
>       While this mud currently has a site, it could really use a faster
>       site.  The current machine is too slow for the 300+ players eagerly
>       awaiting this sequel; obviously it's not expected that these 300+
>       players all play at the same time, but it'd be nice to accomodate
>       20-40 of them at a time, instead of the current maximum 10-ish
>       playtesters. ;)
>
>
> 4.  Futuristic - the admin would have to choose a subgenre here:
>     science ficition, cyberpunk, nuclear war, etc.  Trick here is to
>     really make the mud *futuristic* and not just another fantasy
>     mud with different names.
>
>     * Currently these LPmuds (that I know of) offer these themes:
>       Abacus, Cyberworld, Kobra, Star Raiders.

There was soon to be another one at Scattered Realms, but alas it died..

>
>
> 5.  Evolutionary - this one is tricky.  Players would begin as a
>     unicellular lifeform, and depending on what they do for survival,
>     they can evolve into various forms (not necessarily "human"...)
>     Probably a different environment (i.e., game world) would have to
>     be made for each evolutionary form (i.e, "level") to simulate
>     the world around the player evolving.
>
>
> 6.  TOON - the world of cartoon brought to life on the internet!
>     Lots of flying pies and falling anvils.  Lots of violence.
>     Players shouldn't die.  Hilarious quests.
>
>     * There is a TOON MUD in the works, which is looking for a site.
>       This is a very non-LPmud LPmud, i.e. standard LPmud goals aren't
>       used to such a degree (when used at all).  The social and
>       role-playing aspect of muds are stressed, along with going out
>       with a bang, and the bottom line is fun.  :)
>
>
> 7.  Amber - based on Roger Zelazny's Amber series.  (Yes, we realize
>     that there is already a MU* based on this, but not an LPmud.)
>     This one would also be tricky, since there would have to be a
>     system for allowing characters to walk through shadows of their
>     imagining, and rules for how items can be transferred between
>     shadows.  Even trickier yet, how actions and objects in one
>     shadow affect other shadows.  But this would be a damn fun
>     LPmud.  Don't forget to ask for permission here!
>
>
> 8.  "Seven Cities of Gold" - much like the computer game of said
>     name.  Players take the role of "Christopher Columbus"
>     (hopefully not as racist) and explore new worlds.  Through the
>     actions of the players, natives of new-found lands can change
>     their reactions, from worship to utter hatred.  A cool navigation
>     system would have to be implemented, for sailing across the
>     oceans and finding new lands, and "wizards" would have to be
>     willing to always be at work, to create new lands to that
>     the game retains its "wonderful discovery" feel.  Quests
>     would be really interesting.
>
>
> 9.  Asian - "ancient" Asian setting.  (Yes, I remember (and loved)
>     the old, original Tsunami, but, no criticsm meant, the current
>     Tsunami ain't the same thing.)  Players could have "honor points"
>     along with alignments.  This would best be handled by admin who
>     understand Asian culture/folklore.
>
>     If a more Japanese-based theme were taken, characters could join
>     classes like: samurai, ronin, ninja, etc. and learn skills such as
>     kendo, karate, aikido, etc.

This was tried on Warhammer II, unfortunately, you need a large portion of peope who are coding to be 'up' on the various aspects of Japanese culture to pull it off..  

>
>     If a more Chinese-based theme were taken, characters could go join
>     "guilds" like the White Lotus Society, master various weapon forms,
>     and study various wushu.  (If a more cinematic and super-hero-like
>     approach were taken, players could gain and train powers like "Fatal
>     Ice", the Iron Robe, "Absorbing Hands", "Lightning Palms", etc.)
>
>
>10.  Mythological - a mud based on actual mythologies, such as Greek/
>     Roman, Egyptian, Chinese, etc.  (Cthulhu fans, see #15. ;)
>
>     * Currently Akropolis has this theme (although it's down now?).
>
>
>11.  American Colonial - two approaches, either a settler approach,
>     where players can be Davie Crockett-like explorers, or the
>     setting could be circa Revolutionary War.  Either way, rich in
>     history and high in adventure.  Could have really informative
>     quests if done right.
>
>
>12.  Swashbuckling - Errol Flynn and Zorro, here we come!  Players could
>     be swordsmen, pirates, etc. with skills ranging from cutlass and
>     rope-swinging, to piloting.  And of course, charming members of the
>     opposite sex.  ;)
>
>
>13.  Diplomacy - any mud involving player politics.  In a fantasy
>     setting, players could be kings, hirelings, peasants; in a
>     modern setting, world leaders, politicians, citizens.  Players
>     should be able to make policies, advance in the political
>     arena, make alliances with other countries/parties, and the
>     occasional war, and even invade other countries.  Would have
>     to take serious thought as how to be implemented, but would
>     certainly add a *huge* dimension to the mud if done right.
>
>
>14.  Economics - any mud involving mud-wide economics.  (Yes, I
>     realize their are muds with player-owned shops, but I mean
>     *mud-wide* economics.  With recessions, inflation, etc.)
>     Would work with most any other theme.  Like "Diplomacy",
>     would have to take serious thought for implementation, but
>     again, would also add a new dimension if done right.

This is in the works...  just be ready for it when it finally gets working..

>
>
>15.  Horror - self-explainatory.  The admin would have to choose which
>     subgenre of horror to go with: classic, gothic, slasher, etc.
>     The trick is keeping the horror-theme in mind, or else it merely
>     degenerates into a fantasy mud with different names.  And another
>     trick here is scaring the *players*, not just the characters.
>
>     * For horror fans, and more specifically H.P. Lovecraft fans, a
>       Cthulhu LPmud is indeed in the works.  The trick is making the
>       mud in theme with Lovecraft's style, *and* making the mud fun
>       and playable at the same time.  LPmud players are just too used
>       to becoming invulnerable fighting machines.  (Of course, like
>       everyone else, Cthulhu LPmud needs a site.)
>
>
>16.  Game-oriented - a mud completely devoted to mud game(s), none
>     of the standard hack-n-slash.  For example, Grid Wars, Mechwarrior,
>     poker, etc. not just mere player-killing, boxing/sparring, and/or
>     "assassin".  I believe there is a project to do something like
>     this already, but probably not LPmud?
>
>     For those unfamiliar with Grid Wars, it is a combination of laser
>     tag and capture the flag.  It was originally written by Tree of
>     ex-Shadow World LPmud, and brought over to various other LPmuds.
>     Hero II currently has an improved Grid Wars; the code is all original
>     by Ayeser, the idea-using approved by Tree years ago.  Guile also
>     wrote a "Grid Wars" on TMI, based on Ayeser's Grid Wars.  (It is
>     heavily-modified enough to be considered a new game, and not a
>     "real" Grid Wars.)
>
>     For those unfamiliar with Mechwarrior, it is a game which allows
>     players to enter huge, mechanical military robots and battle it
>     out.  Several attempts have been made on this on various LPmuds,
>     there was even a Mechwarrior LPmud in the making, but so far I
>     have yet to see a succesful implementation.
>
>     Those are just a few LPmud games which I'm familiar with and
>     have had the chance to play, I know there are plenty others,
>     and obviously the possibilities are endless for creating new ones.
>     (Obviously, a completely game-devoted mud wouldn't be the best
>     theme for an LPmud (which are adventure-based by nature), but
>     so many of us are familiar with LPmud and LPC.)


You can always try Vincent's Hollow at mud.iastate.edu 1992 and play Chess, or even Clue.. with more to come to be sure..
>
>
>17.  Time travel - self-explainatory.  The trick here is coming up
>     with rules for time-travel, and rules for bringing objects back
>     and forth through time.  Even trickier would be how actions in
>     one time period affect other periods.
>
>     * Currently End of the Line implements an idea similar to this.
>       The LPmud Dreamshadow uses this idea, and has even implemented
>       rules for the transferring of items between time zones.  It too
>       is looking for a site.
>
>
>Well, these are just a few ideas we came up with.  Hope it sparked
>your imagination and creativity.  (And if anyone happens to use any
>of these ideas, I only ask you notify me when it's up, so I can
>play it. :)  Here's to hoping we see a bunch of quality, unique,
>non-fantasy LPmuds soon.  :)
>
>
>// Shadowjack
>

I think the ideas are interesting, and yes, variety in LP's is badly needed right now.  I think too that merelt changing genre's is no longer the issue though.  I think maybe it's time some people start considering evolutionizing LP's for the sake of improving them, and thgen release the improvements...

Of course there are Admins out there who are doing this, but then, they refuse to release some of their code...

Prydain@TMI, VH, Overdrive, DR, Adversary
F'hadd@Dragon's Dawn
Fionchadd@Pern,Iron

>
>PS:  If any of the "muds looking for a site" above interested you, and
>     you have a possible site, please notify me.  I am can relay the news
>     to the admin(s) in charge of those respective LPmuds.
>
>
>[33m
>----------                                                         ___
>Jonathan H. Fine                   The University of Michigan,    (o o)
>sinister.stairs@um.cc.umich.edu    Ann Arbor  "Let's Go Blue!"     |||
>
>[0m


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