MOOVING ON

This section provides  information about:

Moos have different categories of player.  When you initially investigate a MOO, you will log on as a guest, but, if you decide you wish to use the MOO regularly, you may wish to obtain a permanent character.  The permanent characters on most MOOs are divided into different categories.  These are: and the first permanent character you obtain will usually be at player level.

GETTING A CHARACTER

How to apply for a permanent character is made clear either in the login area or in a specially-designated 'character request' area of the MOO.

Different MOOs offer different ways in which to apply for a character and some even require applicants to fill in an online questionnaire explaining why they want a character at that particular MOO.  All MOOs, however, require that you provide the following information:

If your application is accepted, your character name and password will be sent to the email address you provide in your application.  You should login to the MOO by typing:

connect <character name> <password>

You should then:


NB: Most MOOs do not permit players to have multiple characters.

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GETTING A ROOM

Once you have a permanent character on a MOO, you may wish to have your own private virtual space or 'room'.  Again, how you obtain this space varies from MOO to MOO.  Many MOOs allow you to build your own room, by typing <@dig <roomname>> but others require you to apply for a room of your own.  Each MOO provides information about how to get a room.

When you have a room, you will need to:

You may need help to do this.

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BUILDING

As a permanent member of a MOO community, you may find that you wish to be able to do more than just chat with other users and describe yourself and your room.  You may wish to make new objects or to build new rooms.  It is at this stage that you will probably wish to become a builder.

Once again, different MOOs have different requirements for builders.  Some MOOs allow any player to become a builder if s/he applies to do so.  Others only allow this progression to occur when certain conditions have been met.  Usually, such conditions include the necessity for all character and room information to have been set appropriately.  Many language learning MOOs require 'interesting and original' use of language in the descriptions, and it has been known for a 'builder's bit' (promotion to builder) to be refused because of inappropriate or ungrammatical descriptions.

Information about obtaining a builder's bit can usually be obtained by asking other players or MOO administrators.

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PROGRAMMING

As a builder in a MOO, it is possible to create new objects and to build new rooms, entrances and exits.  It is not, however, possible to program new actions or reactions for objects.  If you wish to do this, it is necessary to obtain a programmer's bit and to become a programmer.

Again, the ease with which it is possible to become a programmer varies from MOO to MOO.  Language learning MOOs, on the whole, require players to have 'proved' themselves as builders before allowing them to progress to the programmer level.  Such proof may be provided in the form of original ideas for enhancements to the MOO which could not be carried out merely by building.  An example of such an idea can be found at Schmooze University MOO in the form of MOOrrey's, the virtual bar.  This was the brainchild of two players, and required the creation of complex and totally new objects such as the bots which inhabit the area, resulting in both players becoming programmers as a result of their idea.

The quickest way to find out how to obtain a programmer's bit in any MOO is to ask other players or MOO administrators.  Information about the MOO programming language is readily available and basic programming tutorials are usually available in-MOO.

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MOO ADMINISTRATORS

The administrators of a MOO are known as wizards.  They are responsible for maintaining and backing up the database, creating players and generally ensuring that the MOO runs efficiently and deciding policy.  Wizards can deal with queries from players, provide advice about how to progress in the MOO and are generally happy to help 'newbies' (new players).  They cannot and will not, on the whole, write character or room descriptions for players or provide extensive programming tutorials, nor should they be asked to do so.

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Last updated 30th January 1999
Authors: Lesley Shield and Markus J.Weininger