Multi-User Dungeon
In computer gaming, a Multi-User Dungeon, Domain, or Dimension (MUD) is a multi-player computer game that combines elements of role-playing games, hack and slash style computer games, and social chat rooms. Typically running on a bulletin board system or Internet server, the game is usually text-driven, where players read descriptions of rooms, objects, events, other characters, and computer-controlled creatures or non-player characters (NPCs) in a virtual world. Players usually interact with each other and the surroundings by typing commands that resemble a natural language, usually English.
Traditional MUDs implement a fantasy world populated by elves, goblins, dwarves, halflings, and other mythical or fantasy-based races with players being able to take on any number of classes, including warriors, mages, priests, thieves, druids, etc., in order to gain specific skills or powers. The object of the game is to slay monsters, explore a rich fantasy world, to complete quests, go on adventures, create a story by role-playing, and/or advance the created character. Many MUDs were fashioned around the dice-rolling rules of the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) series of games.
MUDs often have a fantasy setting, while many others are set in a science fiction-based universe or themed on popular books, movies, animations, history, etc. Still others, especially those which are often referred to as MOOs, are used in distance education or to allow for virtual conferences. MUDs have also attracted the interest of academic scholars from many fields, including communications, sociology, law, and synthetic economies.
Most MUDs are run as hobbies and are free to players; some may accept donations or allow players to "purchase" in-game items. There are also many professionally developed MUDs which charge a monthly subscription fee.
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