Advanced MUD Concepts

Shao_Long · 05-10-2002, 02:14 PM

I dont like to write a lot,and I dont know what to write too,except for the idea,soo...

#1. PLAGUES.

This could be something like a regular spell like curse or poison,but with pair of major differences.First,it could be spawned not by a spell or something,but also maybe by some mobs or locations (A diseased goblin,or a marsh with mosqitoes,etc).Also,it would not show that you are diseased,until some time will pass.So you never know are you allright or sick already,and almost ready to die . And,second,it could be carried over from person to person,or maybe even from mob to mob.This could make a lot of fun situations.
For example,someone gets infected,and then comes to city's central square.Lots of people are walking around,often stopping by,so they get infected too,and carry infection farther and farther on..Also it could be carried over through sources of food/water,so if that infected one drinks water from a fountain,soon all city becomes infected cuz they all drinked from that fountain too.It could create a really cool situation : All players sick,mobs dying,clerics cant handle flow of patients

whaddya think,would it be succesful ?

#2. SHORTAGES (food and water)

this one is pretty much simpler.For example,in some city there is drough.So you cant buy any water in shops,and gotta wander alot just to stay alive.
Or,food shortage somewhere.You cant buy any food in shops, so you have to make long trips to stock up..This could encourage lots of people to do exploring,and also speculation of otherwise unnecessary warez..
What about it ?

Alexander Tau · 05-12-2002, 06:17 AM

Those are both ideas that can be used in interesting ways, but what
really matters is what is behind them? If the plague simply pops up
now and then it cannot be stopped.

If that is the case then you are treading a fine line between adding
spice to the world, and tormenting the players for your own amusement.

The same mostly applies to food shortages, if then happen because of
something the players can prevent then it can add drama. Players pretty
much always explore and look for new areas, but if the orcs block the
river it gives them a cause to fight for.

A.T
(-)

mhc · 05-12-2002, 08:25 AM

Having seen more than one time the effect of rampant diseases on a MUD, I'd say that the plague idea is a very bad idea. It is very hard to implement it in such a way that it has some balance.

As for shortages, I have never seen such an event make players explore. Instead, they whine and stop logging on until the shortage is gone.

weiss · 05-12-2002, 11:22 AM

I would have to say that plagues are a very nice idea in theory but very difficult to actually carry out correctly. We tried one on austin a while back, pretty much the entire mud got infected, as soon as you got cured and then met another person, you where re-infected, so total infection

Weiss

Shao_Long · 05-12-2002, 01:14 PM

hrm hrm and triple hrm..
if say,disease hrm..maybe some herbs growing somewhere which can prevent it ?
so that you ate a herb - you're not affected by it.. ?
and,hmm..well..why wouldnt food shortage encourage exploring ? i think its rather fun..

Alexander Tau · 05-12-2002, 10:57 PM

Players explore, so I do not know of much that would 'cause' them
to explorre cause it just happens.

I think you are just thinking in too broad of terms, trying to do anything
that affect a wide group, or all, players, is complex. Players prefer to at
least feel like their actions matter, they do not like to be played with.

If there is a logical reason for the food shortage, it might be preventable,
and there is a way to fix the problem, that would be a good motovator
for a small group of players perhaps.

But really, you have to define what sort of game you are talking about if
you want to really evaluate what works, even these things.

What Style of game, what is the basic gameplay focused on, if it is full
RP you have a lot more latitude in creative events, if it is pure powerplayer
then you are advised to stick with solid code.

A.T
(-)

Dre · 06-19-2002, 06:12 PM

Heya all,

I just found this old thread. Thought it would be funny to respond on the plaque thing. I know of a mud that has this implemented. It's actually the mud I play on. It's not unbalancing and can be caused by evil clerics. Mobs and pc's spread the disease, mobs won't die of it though so not to make it a mass kill spell.
Our good and neutral clerics have the cure disease spell and all clerics have a spell immunity. Mages have a spell detect disease so people can detect it before someone festers and it gets spread.
So it can be done

About the shortage, well I think it would be some fun although won't people just hoard some food somewhere if they really feel lazy?

Greetings Dre

05-10-2002, 02:14 PM	#1
Shao_Long Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: belfast, UK Posts: 505	I dont like to write a lot,and I dont know what to write too,except for the idea,soo... #1. PLAGUES. This could be something like a regular spell like curse or poison,but with pair of major differences.First,it could be spawned not by a spell or something,but also maybe by some mobs or locations (A diseased goblin,or a marsh with mosqitoes,etc).Also,it would not show that you are diseased,until some time will pass.So you never know are you allright or sick already,and almost ready to die . And,second,it could be carried over from person to person,or maybe even from mob to mob.This could make a lot of fun situations. For example,someone gets infected,and then comes to city's central square.Lots of people are walking around,often stopping by,so they get infected too,and carry infection farther and farther on..Also it could be carried over through sources of food/water,so if that infected one drinks water from a fountain,soon all city becomes infected cuz they all drinked from that fountain too.It could create a really cool situation : All players sick,mobs dying,clerics cant handle flow of patients whaddya think,would it be succesful ? #2. SHORTAGES (food and water) this one is pretty much simpler.For example,in some city there is drough.So you cant buy any water in shops,and gotta wander alot just to stay alive. Or,food shortage somewhere.You cant buy any food in shops, so you have to make long trips to stock up..This could encourage lots of people to do exploring,and also speculation of otherwise unnecessary warez.. What about it ?

05-12-2002, 06:17 AM	#2
Alexander Tau Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 101	Those are both ideas that can be used in interesting ways, but what really matters is what is behind them? If the plague simply pops up now and then it cannot be stopped. If that is the case then you are treading a fine line between adding spice to the world, and tormenting the players for your own amusement. The same mostly applies to food shortages, if then happen because of something the players can prevent then it can add drama. Players pretty much always explore and look for new areas, but if the orcs block the river it gives them a cause to fight for. A.T (-)

05-12-2002, 08:25 AM	#3
mhc Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Linköping, Sweden Posts: 31	Having seen more than one time the effect of rampant diseases on a MUD, I'd say that the plague idea is a very bad idea. It is very hard to implement it in such a way that it has some balance. As for shortages, I have never seen such an event make players explore. Instead, they whine and stop logging on until the shortage is gone.

05-12-2002, 11:22 AM	#4
weiss New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6	I would have to say that plagues are a very nice idea in theory but very difficult to actually carry out correctly. We tried one on austin a while back, pretty much the entire mud got infected, as soon as you got cured and then met another person, you where re-infected, so total infection Weiss

05-12-2002, 01:14 PM	#5
Shao_Long Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: belfast, UK Posts: 505	hrm hrm and triple hrm.. if say,disease hrm..maybe some herbs growing somewhere which can prevent it ? so that you ate a herb - you're not affected by it.. ? and,hmm..well..why wouldnt food shortage encourage exploring ? i think its rather fun..

05-12-2002, 10:57 PM	#6
Alexander Tau Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 101	Players explore, so I do not know of much that would 'cause' them to explorre cause it just happens. I think you are just thinking in too broad of terms, trying to do anything that affect a wide group, or all, players, is complex. Players prefer to at least feel like their actions matter, they do not like to be played with. If there is a logical reason for the food shortage, it might be preventable, and there is a way to fix the problem, that would be a good motovator for a small group of players perhaps. But really, you have to define what sort of game you are talking about if you want to really evaluate what works, even these things. What Style of game, what is the basic gameplay focused on, if it is full RP you have a lot more latitude in creative events, if it is pure powerplayer then you are advised to stick with solid code. A.T (-)

06-19-2002, 06:12 PM	#7
Dre Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 65	Heya all, I just found this old thread. Thought it would be funny to respond on the plaque thing. I know of a mud that has this implemented. It's actually the mud I play on. It's not unbalancing and can be caused by evil clerics. Mobs and pc's spread the disease, mobs won't die of it though so not to make it a mass kill spell. Our good and neutral clerics have the cure disease spell and all clerics have a spell immunity. Mages have a spell detect disease so people can detect it before someone festers and it gets spread. So it can be done About the shortage, well I think it would be some fun although won't people just hoard some food somewhere if they really feel lazy? Greetings Dre

Advanced MUD Concepts

Two in one : Plagues and shortages ?