Run Your Own MUD

You can run your own MUD if you have sufficient computer resources and technical know-how.

If you want to run your own MUD world, then you need to obtain a MUD server and either learn how to maintain it, or find someone to do it for you. If you have a dedicated Internet line that is always connected then you can run the server on your own computer, or you can check with Internet service providers, computer clubs, and possibly local universities or colleges to find someone willing to host it for you.

MUD’s are the most computation intensive of Internet technologies, and can use several hundred megabytes of hard disk and several dozen megabytes of memory. The amount of processor time they consume depends on the complexity of the MUD, the speed of the host computer, and most importantly the number of users playing the game at any one time. Modern computers are usually fast enough to host most MUD’s serving several thousand users simultaneously.

Resources. Sources for MUD server software for those that wish to host MUD’s themselves can be found below.

Indexes:

Sites:

  • CircleMUD. Developed from DikuMUD Gamma by Jeremy Elson. Can be compiled with gcc on most Unix machines, and Microsoft Visual C++ on Windows computers.
  • DGD. Combat style MUD, based on LPMUD source.
  • DikuMUD. Combat Style Mud, named after the university where it was written, Datalogisk Institut Koebenhavns Universitet (Dept. of Datalogy, University of Copenhagen).
  • LPMUD. Combat style MUD.
  • Mordor. Written by Brett Vickers and Brooke Paul. Includes a combat system, and some social features. Runs on Unix versions BSD, System V, NeXT Mach, and IRIX, and on Windows.
  • MudOS. LPmud driver for Unix and Mac OS.
  • MUX. Runs on Unix and Windows.
  • TinyMAGE. Combination of TinyMUSH and TinyMUCK.
  • TinyMUCK. Developed by Lachesis, who added a programming language called “multiple user forth”, or MUF, enabling wizard-level configuration capabilities.
  • TinyMUD. The first socially-oriented MUD, runs on Windows.
  • TinyMUSH, also here. Runs on Unix versions BSD and System V. The second spin-off of TinyMUD, written by Larry Foard. Added JUMP_OK, @destroy, puppet’s, listening objects, and a scripting language including mathematical functions. A version called TinyMUSH/Mac runs on the Macintosh.
  • TinyMUSE. Based on TinyMUSH. MUSE stands for “Multi-User Simulation Environment”.
  • SMUG. Developed by Jim Aspnes, and also known as TinyMUD v2.0. Includes a programming language, and inheritance. SMUG stands for “Small Multi User Game”.
  • UnterMUD. Written by Marcus Ranum, and network oriented, so that users can travel to other UnterMUD’s connected together into something called the Unterverse. It runs under Unix BSD and SVR4, and DEC VMS.