[Crystal]

Someone asked me today about finding another client to use. They didn't want to pay for zMUD, didn't like SimpleMu, and even though I gave them a list of like 20 other clients, they couldn't find one they liked. So I'm curious what everyone uses and why they prefer that client. Maybe one I've never heard of.

[Santrilla]

Gmud all the way, baby. Simple. Comprehensive. Versatile. And, best of all, free!

[Matthew]

I use GMud as well. There was a point in time that I used MUSHclient, but it was not GMud so I went back.

[DSer]

Most of our players use JMC (while I prefer and do pay *yeah yeah* for ZMUD).

You can find a link to JMC at Devil's Silence MUD Clients

It's a great client for scripting. At any rate, try it out. My players seem to like it and can't live without it.

[shadowfyr]

Mushclient! - www.gammon.com.au/mushclient

Things it has:
1. Speed
2. Windows scripting support for JavaScript, VBScript and PerlScript.
3. Basic MXP support.
4. The usually triggers, aliases, timers and variables.
5. XML based plugin method that allows triggers, aliases, timers, variables and associated scripting to be placed into a file that you or others can simply add to the plugin list for a world to use.
6. Speed
7. MSP, though through a trigger and scripting, not directly.

Things in next few versions:
1. A way to set custom colors for hilighting that isn't limited to a set of 16 user defined one.
2. Direct setting of variables from aliases (currently requires a script call, even if all you do is set one variable).
3. Custom buttons.
Probably others I am forgetting.

Future plans:
1. Complete recode without using MFC.
2. Linux and MAC versions.
3. Adding inline images and some other features that are waiting for the redesign.

The bad news:
1. Currently you only have a notepad window you can open from scripting, no chat window or the like, but then nothing prevents someone for coding a ActiveX program to do this and using through scripting. All the sample code and linking information is available and at least one person has already created a graphical map for a Battletech based mud that uses such a program.
2. No direct support for proxies.
3. No ZMud style mapper (though it does have a speedwalk and path builder of sorts).
4. An annoying nag screen that you have to stare at for a while when it loads, if you haven't payed for it yet.
5. There are no plans to provide support of the text positioning commands that a relatively small number of muds use for ANSI graphics and the like.
6. Help is mostly through online documentation and forums. The program has changed so rapidly in the last few years that updating the built in help was placed on a back burner about 15-20 versions ago. There is some hope that once we get Nick off caffeine he will slow down enough to actually update it. However, so far we have been unable to cut off his supply. I suspect sabotage of our efforts by people asking for new features. lol

All in all, unless you use ZMud, you won't find any where near as flexible or feature rich a client. And if you do use ZMud then I pitty you for how slow it runs compared to Mushclient.

[Samson]

Much as they claim not to like it, SimpleMU seems to be about the best choice right now for Windows. Gmud is nice - assuming you can tollerate it's questionable ANSI color support. And yes, I *HAVE* tested this, so don't jump down my throat about how it isn't broken, because the version I tested most certainly is!!

If said person is considering a move to Linux, then Kmuddy is the way to fly hands down.

[Azhon]

I use the freeware version of zmud, and it suits me very well.

I've tried the later ones, but I still prefer the old reliable 3.62a. I don't need all the advanced features of the later versions, so I keep the the old one and am very satsified.

If you're running an NT version of windows this isn't a possible option though...

[shadowfyr]

Originally Posted by (Azhon @ Feb. 23 2003,22:48) I use the freeware version of zmud, and it suits me very well. I've tried the later ones, but I still prefer the old reliable 3.62a

I would suggest caution if trying the free version of zMud. It really isn't that stable. Some people have little or no problem with it. Others, including myself, had it crash on a regular basis, often more than once a day. It really is a case by case issue wether it will or will not work right. For myself, I wouldn't touch the old version with a ten foot pole.

I have heard good things about GMud and SimpleMu myself though. I still suggest trying Mushclient, if for no other reason and the expanded features set. The only real advantage I could see to the others is a 'slight' improvement in speed. However, I know one person that has used Mushclient since version 2.5 or so, still uses a 100mhz system and who claims it runs faster than most 'smaller' clients. It is now in version 3.32, has had numerous features added and still shows no significant decrease in speed. Now if you happen to be running an old 486DX 66.... lol

[Orion Elder]

For Windows I use GMUD. It has a few quirks, or course... mainly the color bleeding problem. But, aside from that it's the best MUD client I've found for Windows. Some people don't like that it doesn't have blinking but for me that's a plus.

For *nix, which I use now almost 100% of the time, I suggest KMuddy. It's a lot like GMUD, but without the quirks, and a number of added, useful features.

[jornel]

I too am a fan of GMUD. I used it with no problems (except the color bleeding one) on Win95 and Win98 machines.

For some reason, on my Win2K machine, I can't paste text (it seems to lose sync with CRs and LFs) then I have to quit GMUD and restart it again. Very painful when you're trying to build. Anyone know of a fix?

[Ogma]

I personally prefer tinyfugue. It's clean, simple, flexible and GPL'd. Don't need no stinking gui for a fricken' text based medium. Then again, I code in emacs in a virtual console and use the console ftp to upload my code.

[Santrilla]

I've never really been bothered by Gmud's color problems. I can live with wonky color occasionally.

The paste problem is a real annoyance. However GMUD does include a 'paste text file' feature- it's in the file menu. So, just open up notepad, put what you want to paste into it, save it and import it. Bingo.

[jornel]

Thanks, Santrilla - I tried that but I get the same thing. I'm convinced it must have something to do with win2k, especially since I never had this problem on win95/98

[zombiedepot]

Pueblo UE. It's not the best, but I've grown to like it. I like zMUD, but I've never owned it. The demo was nice anyway.

...Nothing like ressurecting an ancient thread. I know I haven't been here long, but I don't recognize any of those names.

[Ide]

Well, since zombie opened this back up...

No one has mentioned it, so I will -- I use wintin, lots of nice features and it's free.

[Smith]

Given how often gmud is mentioned here - I should recommend donclient - which tries to combine the free nature of gmud with the actually being a good mud client of mushclient, zmud, etc.
Currently MSP support is in the works - with MXP to follow.

Ofcourse I wrote it, so I am a little biased, but I'd say its easily the best free mudclient I've seen.

Don't be alarmed when it automatically connects you to DoN when you first start it up - you can change the connection details in settings to your favourite mud.

You can get it from here.

[SirTank]

Yeah I'll second Wintin. I grew up in the early days unsing tf, tintin and tintin++ under *nix. I like Wintin95 for a simple client and WinTin.net for a bit more power. The colors are nice, the scripting is easy.

But, I will also second DoN client... Although it's still lacking a few things that the big boy pay-to-use clients have, you can't knock it for being free. I spent about 2 days making custom scripts, actions and buttons and packaged it up for my MUD, so that new players without a clue how to mud could use it to get their feet wet. It's really smooth to use once you get it all setup how you like it. I recommend everyone playing for the first time, or just out looking for a new client to try DoN Client.

I have been half-ass looking around for years for someone to sit down and make a custom client for my mud, utilizing a custom graphical map display, and special info window display, but for now DoN Client does a decent job when I pipe that text to other windows. Im my opinion this is really the main thing that seperates the pay-to-play muds and Medieval Times...the purty java or custom client window with sexy overhead map and custom mud UI. For now I'm content with a text based overhead map and the DoN Client

Tank
www.timesmud.com

[Mabus]

I have to admit I was quite surprised to find that I was not alone. My MUDding friends lauigh at me when I tell them I use GMud.

Still a GMud user. Haven't had to change for years. I have several clients on my computer but nothing matches the simplicity of GMud for me.

Only problem I have ever had with it is trying to copy text from the screen.

I would love to get a copy of the source and an "OK" to modify it. Been wanting to add numpad directional support and more trigger button support. Love to add an additional window and MSP/MXP support.

So "Three cheers for Daniel Kelly!" from me for a useful, simple and free client.

[SlothMUD]

After seeing SirTank say that Wintin.NET adds a tad more power than wintin95, I figured I would chime in with my opinion

The newest stable wintin has just about everything an everyday mudder could wish for(except for a mapper-which is on its way). Wintin.Net is fast and responsive. With Wintin.Net's scripts you can set up aliases and function keys to send commands quickly. You can also write scripts to respond to events automatically. Wintin.Net's script language implements all the Tintin++ commands, and introduces many new ones. It implements all the terminal display standards you will need for good communication with your mud. It works with firewall proxies, supports Mud Extension Protocol (MXP) and Mud Client Compression Protocol (MCCP). With the built-in chat client, you can communicate peer-to-peer with other Wintin, Zmud and MudMaster users. If there is something that you want and it isnt there, simply request it or if you can code simply write your own addin.

You can do everything from opening maps inside your client with html windows to clicking spells, etc to recast them. Here is a great screenshot of what can be done with wintin.NET...
http://wintin.org/Portals/0/screen10.JPG

The latest Beta includes the ability to have multiple sessions, 256 colour support, - C# and VB.Net scripting.

I would say that almost 50-75% of our players use this client.

Wintin.Net is free. It is open source software, published under the Gnu General Public Licence. The source code is downloadable from this site, and is available to you to review or change as you wish.

I've often wondered why people haven't helped with this software, that is obviously quite advanced, and created an ubar client that can compete with the zmuds(although many of us use wintin.net over zmud already). The opportunity is certainly there.

SlothMUD
www.wintin.org
www.slothmud.org

[gth]

I use zMUd (paid for, latest version) - zugg's re-writing a new client from the ground up, so expect a new toy this christmas.

For the sake of adding a new name to the list, what about puTTy? Still hosted on the author's original homepage, still fits on a diskette (school, anyone?), and ssh support too, if you want -
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/