MUD terminology

This is a glossary of terms common in multi-user dungeon (MUD) multiplayer virtual worlds.

A–Z

bot

Character controlled by a computer program^[1]

consider

con

A command to assess an enemy's relative power^[2][3]

dino

A long-standing MUD player^[1]

equip

A player's active items^[1]

exits

Options for leaving an area^[1]

furry

Anthropomorphic animal^[1]

god

admin

arch

imp

implementer

The MUD's administrator or owner; see wizard for similar uses^[1][4]

guess-the-verb

Situation in which the player intends to perform an action but does not know the proper syntax to communicate it to the game^[5]

IC

Behavior "in-character" for the player's assumed role, as opposed to breaking character (OOC/"out-of-character")^[1]

haven

A designated place where players cannot be killed^[1]

hit points

Numeric representation of a character's life, i.e., when health is depleted, the character dies^[1]

immort

See wizard

inv

The player's carried possessions, or inventory^[1]

log

A record of activity in the MUD instance^[1]

mana

Numeric representation of a character's magic energy^[1]

maving

To interact incorrectly, such as using incorrect commands^[1]

mob

mobile

An enemy monster^[1]

movement

Numeric representation of how far a character can move at once^[1]

mudflation

An online game virtual economy phenomenon in which endgame players become rich in currency and drive down the cost of rare items.^[6]

multi-boxing

dual-boxing

To play multiple characters simultaneously^[7][8]

newbie

A new or inexperienced player^[1]

OOC

To break character or act "out of character" from the player's assumed role^[1]

PK

player killer

To kill another player or be known as someone who has; also used as a verb (PKing or "player killing")^[1]

remort

To undo one's immortal status^[9]

rent

Virtual currency paid to preserve the player's inventory in-between play sessions in a persistent world^[10]

spamming

To post excessive text, scrolling the screen^[1]

stats

score

The player's numerical statistics, such as hit points and experience progression^[1]

tinysex

Cybersex through MUD commands or text^[1]

wiz

To be promoted to wizard status after completing the game^[1]

wizard

immort

immortals

Players with special rights, such as rights to create new MUD content; usually either MUD administrators, players who completed the game, or players appointed by an administrator to assist in its operation^[1][9]

See also

• Glossary of video game terms

References

1. Maloni, Kelly; Baker, Derek; Wice, Nathaniel (1994). Net Games: Your Guide to the Games People Play on the Electronic Highway. Random House. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-679-75592-0.
2. Benedikt, Claire Lisette; Ciskowski, Dave (1995). MUDs: Exploring Virtual Worlds on the Internet. BradyGames. p. 208. ISBN 1-56686-246-9. consider, con In combat MUDs, usually a command to gauge the relative strength of a monster against yourself. Often used as a verb. "If you had con'd that mob before attacking it, you'd have known it was suicide."
3. Shah, Rawn; Romine, James (1995). Playing MUDs on the Internet. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 74. ISBN 0-471-11633-5. You should use the consider command as a good way of guessing whether you should attack a mobile. Usually, it will take into account your current equipment and level, but not your status in general (i.e., hp, mana). Often, consider will only compare your level to your opponents. This command is sometimes buggy, so be prepared to flee if you have not fought the mobile before.
4. The Internet Complete Reference, p. 559.
5. Douglass, Jeremy (December 2007). Command Lines: Aesthetics and Technique in Interactive Fiction and New Media (PDF) (Ph.D.). University of California, Santa Barbara. p. 83. ProQuest 304880875.
6. Chester, Chris (May 5, 2008). "Curing mudflation before it starts". Engadget. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
7. Kücklich, Julian (2014). "Cheats". In Ryan, Marie-Laure; Emerson, Lori; Robertson, Benjamin J. (eds.). The Johns Hopkins Guide to Digital Media. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-1-4214-1223-8.
8. Bainbridge, William Sims (2012). The Warcraft Civilization: Social Science in a Virtual World. MIT Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-0-262-28837-8.
9. Yahoo! Wild Web Rides, p. 166.
10. Yahoo! Wild Web Rides, p. 157: Some MUDs will allow you to simply type quit to log off. That's it. Will you have your stuff when you come back? That depends on the MUD. On some you'll keep your stuff, on others you'll only return with part of it, and on some really painful ones you won't come back with anything. (You'll return with your money, though, so sell the stuff you have before you leave.) Other MUDs may require that you rent at an inn. This will usually allow you to keep your stuff, but if you're a long way from the nearest hotel you could be in trouble. Some rent is free and some will cost you a certain amount of money per item. This can be a pain, but sometimes it's your only choice when you think the MUD is worth it and you want to keep your stuff.

Bibliography

• Hahn, Harley (1996). The Internet Complete Reference (2nd ed.). Osborne McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-882138-7.
• Shah, Rawn; Romine, James (1995). Playing MUDs on the Internet. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-11633-2.
• Towers, J. Tarin; Badertscher, Ken; Cunningham, Wayne; Buskirk, Laura (1996). Yahoo! Wild Web Rides. IDG Books. ISBN 978-0-7645-7003-2.