MUME
Encyclopedia
MUME, Multi-Users in Middle-Earth
, is a MUD
, one of the early offspring of DikuMUD
, founded in 1992. MUME enjoys a measure of popularity in the MUD world. In a September 2000 interview Raph Koster
, the lead designer of Ultima Online
and the chief creative officer of EverQuest II
, lists MUME as one of the games that influenced him as a game designer by "doing such interesting things with player conflict".
's world as described in The Lord of the Rings
. MUME has since released several new versions, incorporating new changes and areas that recreate Tolkien's world in text format.
In April 1998, MUME was named MUD of the Month at The Mud Connector
.
MUME is included in The Historical DikuMUD List hosted on the official DikuMUD web site, marking it as one of the longest-running DikuMUDs.
, before the War of the Ring
. Players characters may belong to any of several races of Men (including Dúnedain
, shape-shifting Beorn
ings and Black Númenóreans), or be Dwarves
, Hobbits, Elves
, Half-Elves
, Orcs
or Trolls
.
MUME maintains a player-killing aspect by allowing the players of evil characters to battle the players of good characters, but restricts other player-killing, promoting a balance of player versus player
conflict with non-lethal role-playing
.
This factionalization promotes camaraderie between those on the same side. Player killing is generally restricted to fighting those of the opposite side, and players not desiring this style of play can usually find areas safe from the war. (Though nothing is guaranteed — players occasionally band together to form raids that invade enemy lands.)
The Race War aspect has spawned many fansites for MUME, where text logs of combat between the sides is uploaded and shared with others, to be commented on and rated. This can bring about long-standing player involvement, with those who have stopped playing sometimes continuing to read logs on popular fansites.
" (experienced characters who still play the game as mortals but have also volunteered to help) encourage newbie
s to roleplay, some going as far as to discourage use of the global chat command "narrate" because it is unrealistic.
, publicly available. Mudlle was created by David "Nada" Gay and developed by him and Gustav "Dáin" Hållberg.
. The core of MUME is written in C
, while the mudlib
(global critical code, such as game commands, justice system support and shop functionality) and game world (code for specific rooms, mobiles
, and objects) are written in Mudlle
.
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
, is a MUD
MUD
A MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
, one of the early offspring of DikuMUD
DikuMUD
DikuMUD is a multiplayer text-based role-playing game, which is a type of MUD. It was written in 1990 and 1991 by Sebastian Hammer, Tom Madsen, Katja Nyboe, Michael Seifert, and Hans Henrik Staerfeldt at DIKU —the department of computer science at the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen,...
, founded in 1992. MUME enjoys a measure of popularity in the MUD world. In a September 2000 interview Raph Koster
Raph Koster
Raphael "Raph" Koster is an American entrepreneur, game designer, and author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design. Koster is widely recognized for his work as the lead designer of Ultima Online and the creative director behind Star Wars Galaxies...
, the lead designer of Ultima Online
Ultima Online
Ultima Online is a graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game , released on September 24, 1997, by Origin Systems. It was instrumental to the development of the genre, and is still running today...
and the chief creative officer of EverQuest II
EverQuest II
EverQuest II is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sony Online Entertainment , based on EverQuest, and shipped on 8 November 2004...
, lists MUME as one of the games that influenced him as a game designer by "doing such interesting things with player conflict".
History
MUME was created in 1991 by Philippe "Eru" Rochat, who was soon joined by Claude "CryHavoc" Indermitte, Pier "Manwë" Donini, and David "Nada" Gay. The game was built as an homage to J. R. R. TolkienJ. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's world as described in The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
. MUME has since released several new versions, incorporating new changes and areas that recreate Tolkien's world in text format.
In April 1998, MUME was named MUD of the Month at The Mud Connector
The Mud Connector
The Mud Connector, abbreviated TMC, is a computer gaming web site which provides articles, discussions, reviews, resource links and game listings about MUDs. The site allows mud owners, administrators and enthusiasts to submit information and reviews about specific MUDs...
.
MUME is included in The Historical DikuMUD List hosted on the official DikuMUD web site, marking it as one of the longest-running DikuMUDs.
Context
The setting of this MUD is in the Third AgeThird Age
The Third Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. The history of Middle-earth is to be taken fictionally as a history of the real Earth....
, before the War of the Ring
War of the Ring
In the fictional high fantasy-world of J. R. R. Tolkien, the War of the Ring was fought between Sauron and the free peoples of Middle-earth for control of the One Ring and dominion over the continent. The War of the Ring took place at the end of the Third Age. Together with the Quest of Mount Doom,...
. Players characters may belong to any of several races of Men (including Dúnedain
Dúnedain
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the Dúnedain were a race of Men descended from the Númenóreans who survived the sinking of their island kingdom and came to Eriador in Middle-earth, led by Elendil and his sons, Isildur and Anárion...
, shape-shifting Beorn
Beorn
Beorn is a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien. He appears in The Hobbit as a shape-shifter , a man who could assume the appearance of a great black bear.-Literature:...
ings and Black Númenóreans), or be Dwarves
Dwarf (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Dwarves are a race inhabiting the world of Arda, a fictional prehistoric Earth which includes the continent Middle-earth....
, Hobbits, Elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
, Half-Elves
Half-elf
In Norse mythology, a half-elf is the offspring of an elf and a human.Notable examples include the Danish princess Skuld of Hrólf Kraki's saga, and the hero Högni of the Thidrekssaga , and the royal line of Alfheim, which was related to the elves and more beautiful than other people, according to...
, Orcs
Orc (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
or Trolls
Troll (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Trolls are large humanoids of great strength and poor intellect.While in Norse mythology, the Troll was a magical creature with special skills, in Tolkien's writings they are portrayed as evil, stupid, with crude habits, although still intelligent enough to...
.
MUME maintains a player-killing aspect by allowing the players of evil characters to battle the players of good characters, but restricts other player-killing, promoting a balance of player versus player
Player versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
conflict with non-lethal role-playing
Role-playing
Role-playing refers to the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role...
.
Locations
MUME includes numerous locations based on Tolkien's works:- Grey Havens: An elven city on the west shores of Middle-earth
- Blue Mountains: A dwarven city in the western mountains, far away from the war.
- ShireShire (Middle-earth)The Shire is a region of J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, described in The Lord of the Rings and other works. The Shire refers to an area settled exclusively by Hobbits and largely removed from the goings-on in the rest of Middle-earth. It is located in the northwest of the continent, in...
: A peaceful area of hobbits, where magic and warfare are not tolerated. - BreeBree (Middle-earth)Bree is a fictional village in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, east of the Shire and south of Fornost Erain. It is thought to have been inspired by the Buckinghamshire village of Brill, which Tolkien visited regularly in his early years at Oxford...
: A central city where all races can meet, trade, and rest during their journeys. - Fangorn: The domain of the immensely tall and giantlike, treeish Ents.
- Fornost: A half-ruined Númenórean city on the northern borders where spirits still roam.
- Tharbad: A city of scoundrels and thieves, where Black Númenóreans often lurk.
- RivendellRivendellRivendell is an Elven outpost in Middle-earth, a fictional realm created by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was established and ruled by Elrond in the Second Age of Middle-earth...
: An elven city of magic, safe from the surrounding dangers. - MoriaMoria (Middle-earth)In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Moria was the name given by the Eldar to an enormous underground complex in north-western Middle-earth, comprising a vast network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls or 'mansions', that ran under and ultimately through the Misty Mountains...
: A deep dark pit of secrets, traps, and a fearsome balrog. - Warrens: The home of trolls, it is a series of tunnels northwest of Rivendell.
- OrcOrc (Middle-earth)In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
caves: Both races of orcs have guarded caves nestled within the Misty Mountains. - MirkwoodMirkwoodMirkwood is a name used for two distinct fictional forests in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. In the First Age, the highlands of Dorthonion north of Beleriand were known as Mirkwood after falling under Morgoth's control. During the Third Age, the large forest in Rhovanion, east of the Anduin in ...
: A dark and misty forest where it is easy to become trapped. - Lothlórien: An elven forest protected by archers and elves.
- RohanRohanRohan is a realm in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy era of Middle-earth. It is a grassland which lies north of its ally Gondor and north-west of Mordor, the realm of Sauron, their enemy . It is inhabited by the Rohirrim, a people of herdsmen and farmers who are well-known for their horses and cavalry....
: A zone that is home to IsengardIsengardIn J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Isengard , a translation of the Sindarin Angrenost, was a large fortress. Both names mean "Iron fortress" In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Isengard , a translation of the Sindarin Angrenost, was a large fortress....
, the Rohirrim, and the Fangorn forest.
The Race War
In MUME, players can join several factions in the on-going war between good and evil:- Armies of the West: Men, Elves, Hobbits, Dwarves, and Beornings.
- Armies of Sauron: Trolls, Black Númenóreans, and (Tarkhnarb) Orcs.
- The Renegade Zaugurz, a splinter tribe of orcs hated by both sides.
This factionalization promotes camaraderie between those on the same side. Player killing is generally restricted to fighting those of the opposite side, and players not desiring this style of play can usually find areas safe from the war. (Though nothing is guaranteed — players occasionally band together to form raids that invade enemy lands.)
The Race War aspect has spawned many fansites for MUME, where text logs of combat between the sides is uploaded and shared with others, to be commented on and rated. This can bring about long-standing player involvement, with those who have stopped playing sometimes continuing to read logs on popular fansites.
Role Playing
Role-playing is encouraged on this MUD in a number of ways. New players are encouraged to select a character name which fits into Tolkien's world, and if the name they choose is blatantly inappropriate, they will be forced to change it. Different towns have different local laws which characters will be jailed for violating; for example, using magic is a crime in the Shire unless you are a citizen. Many "Istari" (immortal characters who gain experience by helping newbies) and "RangersRanger (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the Rangers were two secretive, independent groups organized by the Dúnedain of the North and South in the Third Age. Like their Númenórean ancestors, they appeared to possess qualities closely attributed to the Eldar, with their keen senses and ability to...
" (experienced characters who still play the game as mortals but have also volunteered to help) encourage newbie
Newbie
Newbie or noob is a slang term for a novice or newcomer, or somebody inexperienced in any profession or activity. Contemporary use can particularly refer to a beginner or new user of computers, often concerning Internet activity, such as online gaming or Linux use...
s to roleplay, some going as far as to discourage use of the global chat command "narrate" because it is unrealistic.
Publications
MUME makes the standalone version of its building and scripting language, MudlleMudlle
-External links:*...
, publicly available. Mudlle was created by David "Nada" Gay and developed by him and Gustav "Dáin" Hållberg.
Technical details
MUME is based on DikuMUDDikuMUD
DikuMUD is a multiplayer text-based role-playing game, which is a type of MUD. It was written in 1990 and 1991 by Sebastian Hammer, Tom Madsen, Katja Nyboe, Michael Seifert, and Hans Henrik Staerfeldt at DIKU —the department of computer science at the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen,...
. The core of MUME is written in C
C (programming language)
C is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....
, while the mudlib
Mudlib
A mudlib, short for mud library, is a library of code forming part of the technical infrastructure of a MUD. Though different varieties of MUD may be considered to have mudlibs, the term is most often used with LPMuds. In an LPMud, the mudlib consists of interpreted code written in the LPC...
(global critical code, such as game commands, justice system support and shop functionality) and game world (code for specific rooms, mobiles
Mob (computer gaming)
A mob, mobile or monster is a computer-controlled non-player character in a computer game such as an MMORPG or MUD. Depending on context, all such characters in a game may be considered "mobs", or usage may be limited to hostile NPCs and/or NPCs vulnerable to attack.-Purpose of mobs:Defeating...
, and objects) are written in Mudlle
Mudlle
-External links:*...
.