MUSH Commands

These are the basic commands that you will need when playing on a MUSH. If you are new to these kinds of games, please make sure that you read these pages and learn what you can from the information this page contains.


MUSH Introduction

MUSH, or Multi-User Shared Hallucination, is what Colorado Dreams and other internet-based, multi-user role-playing experiences are known as.

MUSHes run on an entirely text-based platform with simple commands to perform most functions. They require that the users be imaginative and are able to create their own stories through their writing.

You must be comfortable with the fact that you and your fellow players will, for the most part, shape your own story. The staff on Colorado Dreams will try to help you as much as we can, but will not hold your hand, or coddle. Instead, the staff are here to bolster your self-created story in addition to providing guidelines and structure.

Being as it is, your creativity and ability to interact with other players is crucial to having an enjoyable experience on this game.

Character Generation (CharGen)

Chargen, short for Character Generation, is where everyone on a MUSH creates and defines their character through choosing a variety of stats.

Colorado Dreams has an apply chargen, meaning that in order for you to be allowed to go In Character (IC), you must submit an application for the staff to review and approve.

Information about the types of characters (archetypes) that are needed on Colorado Dreams are located in a sign in the main OOC room. You will get back to the main OOC room at the end of the tutorial.

Basic MUSH Commands

These are some of the basic commands that will allow you to move around, make yourself heard, and take some basic actions while in the game. As always, we recommend typing '+help' in game at any time you aren't exactly sure of what you're doing.

Character Commands

  • Creating a Description
    • What does your character look like?

The description code on this MUSH can be used in several different ways. If you are going to use more than one description for your character, you will have to have a way to change from one description to another (i.e. changing clothes, different hairstyles, whatever.)

If it is possible for you, it is probably easiest to just create macros (this may be built into the terminal or com program you are using) to change your description. If you do not use macros, you can use the descer for changing your description (+help +desc).

If you plan to only use one description or you are just setting a temporary desc until you have more time to desc yourself completely, you can use the command '@desc me=<whatever you look like>', which will set your description.

Descs should be long enough to really describe what you look like. No two line descs, please.

  • Aliases
    • A shorter version of you.

You may create an alias for your character by typing '@alias me=<your alias>'. Aliases are used mostly for sending +mail and pages to other players. An alias is usually a shorter version of your name or something short that is easy to remember. Example: Charity's alias is C. For a character with a short name, it is not that important, but when paging a character with a name like Jonathan Doe, it is much easier to type 'John'.

  • Background
    • Who is your character?

The background of your character is an important part of your character concept. In order for you to know what stats to put on your character's sheet, you need to know where he/she comes from, what he/she has done in the past, and why he/she is here.

Here on Colorado Dreams MUSH, we ask that you set a background text on yourself in order to have a written record that you may refer to about what your background is in case you forget, and so that the wizards may also check to make sure that your background is in order with your actions/stats/etc. This does not have to be very long. All we ask for is a paragraph or two.

To set your background, type '+bgadd 1=<your background>'.
For help on the background section, type +help BACKGROUNDS

  • +FINGER
    • What can we find out about you?

The +finger system on Colorado Dreams MUSH allows you to reveal a lot or a little OOC information about your character. You should type '+finger me' to read what is currently on your +finger.

There are many types of information that you may set on your +finger. To see what types of information can be set and how to set them, type '+help +finger'. Remember that the information in your +finger can be accessed by any player, any time, from any location.

  • +OOCNOTES
    • Other stuff we know about you.

When you come into IC situations, there is some IC information that will be obvious about your character, depending on the situation. OOC notes are a medium by which you can allow some information about your character to be evaluated by the other players in the room without allowing them comprehensive knowledge of your character or your character sheet.

Sometimes there are bits of information that you would like to add on yourself that do not have a place to be put anywhere else. For this, +cnote was created.

To find out how to set your cnote, type '+help cnote'.

  • +VIEW
    • Your smaller parts.

In many instances, there are small details about the appearance of your character that may be important in many situations but are too minuscule to be mentioned in your description. For these cases, +view was created.

+view is a command that allows you to add smaller details to your character that may be important - descriptions of tattoos, jewelry, or physical deformities, among other things. Some characters need no +views, but some characters use many.
For instructions on setting +views on your character, type '+help +view'.

  • Your Home
    • How to make it your home.

Once you set up an IC existence, you will probably have a place where your character resides. Although a home is not really a necessity on the MUSH, many characters have rooms that are their homes.

The command 'home' will automatically take you to your room from most anywhere on the IC grid. In order to use this command, though, you have to set a room as your home (when you begin, your home is set to the main OOC room).

To set a room as your home, if you own it, you should set it linkable ('@set here=link_ok'). If a room is not linkable, you cannot set it as your home. Once the room is linkable, type '@link me=here'. This will set your current room as your home room and 'home' will take you to that room. To remove the linkable setting on a room once you have set it as your home, you may type '@set here=!link_ok'.

  • Finding Yourself
    • Are you set findable?

Both the 'WHO' lister and your +finger will usually show your character's location to other players when used. If, however, you would prefer that your location not be displayed, you may set yourself 'Unfindable'. This flag erases your location from both your +finger and the WHO lister.

To set yourself 'Unfindable', type '@set me=unfindable'. If you would like to set yourself findable again, type '@set me=!unfindable'.

MUSH Info

  • IC/OOC
    • How to get from one to the other.

There are two major divisions of Colorado Dreams' MUSH structure: IC and OOC. They are designed to be completely separate, and are kept that way by making each inaccessible from the other. The only legitimate ways between one and the other is to use the +ic and +ooc commands.

+ic will take you to the central tube station on the IC grid. From there, you will be able to access any city on the IC grid.

+ooc will take you off of the IC grid and will place you in the main OOC room. From there, you will be able to access the rooms which contain the OOC bulletin boards and the OOC discussion and activity rooms.

  • WHO/+who
    • 'WHO' are you playing with?

There are two commands which will help you to identify other people on the MUSH. 'WHO' and '+who' are both very well described by their associated help files, and using them is particularly easy.

Type '+help +who' for help on using the +who command.

Type 'help who' for help on using the WHO command.

  • Views
    • How can you +view?

The +view command is handy for use on both characters and locations. It allows you to view smaller details of a room or a character without having to include them in the description of the room/character. For help on setting +views, refer to the character info portion of this room or type '+help +view'.

Viewing +views allows you a fuller understanding of what you're looking at. In order to see if anyone or anything in your current area has +view items set, simply type '+view'. It will automatically display a list of the items in your area with +view items.

To discover what the set +views are, type '+view <item name>' or '+view <character name>'. If one of the items on the list is 'your current location', you can simply type '+view here' to see the +view items.

  • CNOTES
    • Things you know about others & rooms.

In many rooms and on many characters, there will be some information that is not reflected in the description that may be obvious to you when you see it/them. Things such as appearance level, manipulation, and charisma will be things that may not appear in a character's desc, but may be obvious when you RP with them. These things may appear in a character's cnote. Bartenders, fight rules, and owners wishes my appear in the cnote of a room.

In order to find out which characters/items have cnote set on your character, simply type '+cnotelist'

  • Communicating 'In Character'

In order to communicate 'In Character' with other players in the same location as you, you will need two commands:

say <whatever>

pose <whatever>

These commands are very simple to use, and are probably easiest learned through use. You do not need to add the < or > to what you want to say.

Please note that the 'say' command can be abbreviated with a (") and the 'pose' command can be abbreviated with a (:). If you would like to pose without a space before the next word/character, you may use (;).

  • Communicating 'Out of Character'

In order to communicate 'Out of Character' with other players, you will need two commands:

page <player>=<message>

ooc <whatever>

Paging allows you to communicate with any connected character on the MUSH, regardless of his/her location. 'ooc' allows you to emit a message OOC to everyone in your current location. Trying these commands is the easiest way to learn them, so have at 'em! If you would like to try the 'page' command without disturbing another player, try

'page <your name>=Hey, I just learned how to use pages.'

  • Movement
    • Moving around on the MUSH

In order to move from one place to the next on the MUSH all you have to do is type the name of the exit or the abbreviation. Available exits are listed at the end of a room's description. Exit abbreviations appear in <> next to the name of the exit.

Some rooms have dark exits which you will not be able to see.

  • @mail

You may send an @mail (MUSH-based mail system item) to any player on the MUSH at any time. This is completely explained if you type 'help mail'. Again, the easiest way to learn how to use @mail is to use it, so begin by typing '@mail me=Test/First mail'.

@mail <name of recipiant>=<subject>/<message>

You will also receive @mail from time to time. To see what mail is in your mailbox, type '@mail'. To read a mail item, type '@mail <item #>'.

  • Staff
    • Who runs this place?

There are a number of players who volunteer to be staff of the MUSH. This means that they undertake all of the necessary steps to insure that the MUSH operates smoothly and that the players are taken care of. The staffers are usually long-time players who have specific knowledge in the sphere for which they are staff.

In order to find out which staffers are on duty, simply type '+staff'. This will give you a listing off all staffers that are connected and on duty. You may then page any of them and bug them about any problems/questions/concerns/ gripes you have. Please remember that most of this MUSH was created and it is all maintained by staffers, so please be patient and courteous when dealing with them — they are volunteers.

  • +Sheet
    • Your character sheet

As you have probably seen in character generation, your character sheet will keep track of all of your character's stats. You may type '+sheet' at any time to view your current stats. If there is a space that is blank on your character sheet, that space needs to be filled before you are allowed to go IC. Please consult the +help files or page an on-duty staffer for assistance.

Commands

MUSH is new to some of you and probably a little daunting. To ease your feelings of panic, we offer a very basic list of commands that will get you looking around and using the various features of the game.

Command What It Does
"<message> You say <message>.
Say <message> See above.
ooc <message> Makes an OOC statement or pose.
page <person>=<message> Pages <person> with <message>.
look Shows you the room you are standing in.
look <object or person> Shows the desc for that object or person.
pose <message> You pose <message> EX: pose grins.->John Doe grins.
:<message> See 'pose" above.
WHO Shows a list of who is connected to the MUSH.
+who Shows a modified WHO.
+help The global +help system.
+staff Shows connected Staff.
+staff/all Shows the staff roster.

NOTE: MUSH commands may be case sensitive. You can always page a staffer for help.

Power and Meta Posing


Twink, n.
Player who is only interested in scoring points. Typically twinks abuse channels, do not follow rules and communicate little using terse idioms consisting entirely of acronyms. They will do anything to obtain the best equipment, stats, accessories, etc. Obnoxious and boastful. Probably exclusive to combat games. Also referred to as a power gamer.


Power posing is mostly something that is not accepted on many other sites and the same goes for here as well. It is the unwritten rule among players that one never poses the outcome of an action without the results of a roll. If no dice system is used, then the player that the action is against will pose the result.

Meta posing is a term I have seen in reference to posts that describe a character's thoughts or intents. Such posts are distinct from Emotes that describe a character's actions, postures, gestures, or facial expressions. In chat, you should present your character as others are able to perceive him/her. Thoughts and intents cannot be heard and they cannot be seen, and need not bother listing the other senses.

Dialogue, actions, postures, gestures, and facial expressions make a strong impression and constitute role playing. Posts that describe thoughts or intents fail to portray a character and fail to provide other players appropriate access to interacting with that character. If someone already knows what you are thinking, it has cut out a lot that can be discovered during the course of normal roleplay.

Examples:

Power Posing:

Player 1 punches at Player 2's jaw landing the punch perfectly and causing Player 2 to be knocked unconscious and bleeding from Player 2's broken jaw.

Meta Posing:

Player 1 walks down the street as he smiles. Happy from the successful bank robbery several nights back. Player 1 stops as Player 2 passes by, the rage building up in Player 1's gut grows as Player 1 sees his nemesis, Player 2.

Recommended Reading

Information on MUSHing:

Code Archives

Everyone should read the following websites if you want to code:

We ask that if you want to add a coded item to your character, please ask staff for permission. They'll either create the object for you or they will give you permission and a blank object for you to code your object to. Do NOT create objects on your own and without permission.

Usenet

Check out these Usenet groups for mushing information:

  • rec.games.mud.announce - Announcments and advertisements
  • rec.games.mud.admin - For MU* administrators
  • rec.games.mud.misc - Miscellaneous, lots of stuff
  • rec.games.mud.tiny - TinyMU* family
  • rec.games.mud - Generic MU* stuff
  • alt.mudders.anonymous - More generic MU* stuff

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