Genesis MUD

Ever tried playing a MUD?

MUD, stands for Multi User Dungeon. Basically they are, in my opinion, precursors to MMO, at least as far as the general concept goes. You have a common game world, in which a number of players / users, interact with each other and the world.
Many MUDs where born in the very early years of the Internet, before most people had PC's that could barely produce graphics at all. So too Genesis MUD, hence, the game, is text based. However, don't make the mistake to think of it as a simple text based game, it's actually more of a virtual world where some "mobs" are capable of far more complex interactions that in your average MMO. As far as player interaction goes, there are far more emotes etc than in most modern MMOs. if you enjoy solving quests, there are plenty of those to go around, usually spiced with plenty of roleplayng.

How to play the game

The game is free, hosted by Chalmers University, and being kept alive by some hard working enthusiasts.
All you need to play is a Telnet client. It is easier if you get a dedicated MUD client, but in order to take a look at it, any Telnet client will work.
Btw, to activate the Telnet client in Vista: Start -> Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features -> Turn Windows Features On or Off

In Telnet, simply connect to: genesis.tekno.chamers.se 3011

A short patrol along the Anduin in Ithilien

While I rarely get to see the green forests of Ithilien these days, I did manage a short patrol the other day, in an effort to entice you. I grabbed my camouflaged hooded green cloak, a simple sword taken from the corpse of an orc, and silently moved out to take a look:

---

A street in the northern parts of East Osgiliath in Ithilien.
Daylight shines across East Osgiliath. It is afternoon. You are standing in the north end of East Osgiliath, with old ruined stone buildings all around. A street leads through the ancient city to the south. The street leading north seems to end in a sudden appearance of undergrowth; it does not look as if anyone has been maintaining the ruins for the last few decades. Crumbled stone buildings still partly stand, but have long since ceased to be used by civilized beings. To the north and east are the forests of Ithilien.
There are two obvious exits: north and south.
> rhear south

You stretch yourself upon the ground, with your ear pressed against the turf, listening for sounds from
the south.
You hear a normal sized human moving.
You hear a small orc moving.
You hear a small orc moving.
You hear a small orc moving.
[Hmm, what could that be, I think I'll sneak in and take a peek]
> sneak south

You feel fear creeping upon you as you look at the dark, menacing figure, and you struggle to control yourself!
A street in the eastern parts of Osgiliath in Ithilien. Daylight shines across Osgiliath. It is afternoon. You are standing in the east end of Osgiliath, with old ruined stone buildings all around. A street leads through the ancient city to the east. To the west the remains of a stone bridge reach out partly across the river Anduin towards the central isle of Osgiliath.
There are three obvious exits: west, north and east.
A large black-cloaked shape riding a black horse and three large male orcs.
> exa shape

The black shape looks like a man, wrapped in a great black cloak and hood, so that only his boots show below. His face is shadowed and invisible, save a deadly gleam of eyes. The threatening shape is riding a large black horse.
He is wielding a flaming black broadsword in both hands.
He seems to be feeling very well.
He is smiling coldly.
He is wearing a black hooded robe, a black platemail and a black plate helm.
He is one of the Nazgul of the Society of Morgul Mages.
> exa horse

The horse is black as night, and one of the largest you have seen. Its eyes gleam with a maddening red light, as if controlled by some terrifying evil.
> compare stats with shape

The large black-cloaked shape riding a black horse is stronger than you.
The large black-cloaked shape riding a black horse is a bit better coordinated than you.
The large black-cloaked shape riding a black horse is healthier than you.
The large black-cloaked shape riding a black horse is a bit smarter than you.
The large black-cloaked shape riding a black horse is a bit wiser than you.
The large black-cloaked shape riding a black horse is a bit braver than you.
The large black-cloaked shape riding a black horse turns to the East and stares gravely towards Mordor.
>shiver

You shiver from the cold.
[Ouch, that does not look good at all! Good thing it seems I have been able to stay hidden, better move on...]
> ddstare

You stare grimly at the storm clouds in the East, gauging their distance.
>sneak  e

You sneak past the orc!
A street in the eastern parts of Osgiliath in Ithilien. Daylight shines across Osgiliath. It is afternoon.
You are standing in the east end of Osgiliath, with old ruined stone buildings all around. A street leads out of the ancient city to the east, and another cobblestoned road leads southeast towards a stone bridge.
There are three obvious exits: east, southeast and west.
> se

A foul smell clouds your thoughts as you approach the bridge crossing the Morgulduin. The stone bridge looks ancient, but still unscathed, leading southeast across the reeking stream towards the southern forests of Ithilien. A cobblestone road leads northwest into the ruins of Osgiliath, and further northeast you see a long road running in a straight line up the slopes east towards the looming mountains on the horizon.
There are two obvious exits: southeast and northwest.
A mean male orc and a dangerous male orc.
> exa orc

This is an ugly and dirty orc, with long arms and crooked legs. On its armour you can see a crest painted:
A red eye.
He looks handsome.
He seems to be feeling very well.
He is wearing a leather armour.
He is wielding a heavy mace in both hands.
[Looks like we have some filth that need to be removed here!]
> runcloak

You fling back your dark-green spotted cloak, preparing for the fight.
> rbattle orc

You shout out: For King and Steward!
You join battle with the mean male orc.
You are no longer hidden.
The mean male orc shouts: I want to have his silver-clad ivory horn!
The dangerous male orc swings at your legs with his iron scimitar, but you easily dodge his attack.
The mean male orc swings at your legs with his heavy mace, but you easily parry his attack.
You seriously cut the mean male orc's left arm with your orkish longsword.
The dangerous male orc screams loudly. ARRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!
You stab the mean male orc's legs with your orkish longsword.
The mean male orc swings at your body with his heavy mace, but you easily dodge his attack.
>brawl

You prepare to brawl the mean male orc.
A fetid smell drifts past.
The dangerous male orc swings at your left arm with his iron scimitar, but you easily dodge his attack.
The dangerous male orc strikes at your left arm with his left fist, but you easily parry his attack.
The mean male orc swings at your body with his heavy mace, but you parry his attack.
You seriously cut the mean male orc's body with your orkish longsword.
You jab the mean male orc's head with your orkish longsword.
The mean male orc swings at your body with his heavy mace, but you easily dodge his attack.
The dangerous male orc swings at your legs with his iron scimitar, but you easily dodge his attack.
You raise your knee, hitting the mean male orc in the groin, with a devastating result.
The mean male orc died.
You killed the mean male orc.
You feel calm again.
>kill orc

You attack the dangerous male orc.
The dangerous male orc swings at your body with his iron scimitar, but you easily dodge his attack.
You cut the dangerous male orc's head with your orkish longsword.
>bcry

You shout the ancient battle cry of the Edain of the North: Lacho calad! Drego Morn!
You seriously cut the dangerous male orc's legs with your orkish longsword.
The dangerous male orc just nicks your body with his iron scimitar.
The dangerous male orc swings at your body with his iron scimitar, but you easily dodge his attack.
You feel calm again.
You seriously stab the dangerous male orc's left arm with your orkish longsword.
You seriously cut the dangerous male orc's body with your orkish longsword.
The dangerous male orc swings at your left arm with his iron scimitar, but you easily dodge his attack.
The dangerous male orc swings at your body with his iron scimitar, but you easily parry his attack.
You seriously cut the dangerous male orc's legs with your orkish longsword.
The dangerous male orc died.
You killed the dangerous male orc.
>look

A foul smell clouds your thoughts as you approach the bridge crossing the Morgulduin. The stone bridge looks ancient, but still unscathed, leading southeast across the reeking stream towards the southern forests of Ithilien. A cobblestone road leads northwest into the ruins of Osgiliath, and further northeast you see a long road running in a straight line up the slopes east towards the looming mountains on the horizon.
There are two obvious exits: southeast and northwest.
A corpse of a dangerous male orc and a corpse of a mean male orc.
> rtroubled

You study the environment, feeling troubled.
> rwipe

With a piece of cloth you wipe your orkish longsword clean of blood to prevent it from becoming rusty or dull.
It looks like it is in prime condition.
[Might be best to move on, never know if that dark rider might have heard something]
> se

You walk across the stone bridge, trying not to breathe in the fumes from the stream beneath.

... to be continued