Movement is categorical, accomplished by typing directions or destinations offered by the game. Players in the MUD may type 'N,' for example, to wind up in a room immediately to the north. A description presents this new room and its occupants along with suggested exits. Users instantly relocate episodically with a directional command. The experience of MUDding is similar to reading a book.
Characters converse in a described setting.
Users and computer conspire to create a living literary fiction - the text equivalent of a masquerade. The following is an example taken from a session on hte MUD HoloMUCK recorded by Michael Buldo, a former student at the School of Architecture at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Naima and Dex are avatar names of other MUD citizens. Other occupants of the MUD see the name of his avatar, Kilian. Spelling errors reflect speed of interaction since the dialog happens in real time.