Build Rules
From Aeonian Dreams
Back to: Building on Aeonian Dreams.
We do try to be pretty flexible with our rules regarding building on Aeonian Dreams. There do however have to be some restrictions, otherwise zones could be created that could possibly be found offensive or out of character for the theme of the MUD. There is nothing more soul destroying than to pour hour upon hour into creating something, only to have it dismissed as inappropriate.
So here they are:-
1. Theme
Aeonian Dreams is aimed towards the medieval fantasy style theme. Whilst it might be fun to battle cyborgs and two headed aliens with gamma ray guns, its unlikely to happen in this MUD. Unfortunately, though you might have built the ultimate zone with amazing descs, mobs and objects, it will get rejected if its not in theme.
2. Profanity
Profanity in room descs, mob descs, objects... well just about anything, is not allowed. You will be pulled up over it. Also racial and religious slurs will get stamped upon. If boundaries are unclear or your zone demands you fly a little close to the wind, then please speak to a member of admin for clearance.
3. Room Descriptions
Rooms to be formatted with /f. This is done automatically if building with the VM program, otherwise /f in OLC after entering the desc. Rooms descs should be at least four to five lines in length, and not consist merely of describing the various exits out of the room the player is standing in.
Room after room of 'cloned' descs are not acceptable, unless creating a wilderness type area where two to three descs can be swapped around, or a maze type zone where the aim is to disorientate the player. Looped rooms where a room with an exit to the east connects to a room that graphically is placed far over to the west for instance is not allowed, however if a builder feels it is imperitive to his zone, please talk to a member of the building staff.
4. Power Desc'ing
Avoid use of you when describing a room. For instance, You walk slowly down the darkened tunnel, fear prickling the hairs on your nape. Firstly, the character might be a fae, flying. They might be a vampire and positively enjoy walking down a dark deserted tunnel and rather than feel fear might be the one more likely to instil fear into whatever lurks there. Never attempt to tell a player how their character feels, more describe the room, the atmosphere and allow them to decide for themselves how the room makes them feel.
Never describe a mobile as being in a room, quite often someone may have just passed through and killed the mob, thus rendering the room desc nonsensical.
5. Room Names
Room names should be done in this way:-
A Room in the Potion Sector
rather than
A Room In The Potion Sector
It should be obvious which words should be capitalised and which not, if unsure, check with a member of admin.
6. Colours
Please avoid colours in room descs, room titles, mob short names, long names, object short and long names. Also, please avoid putting ascii pics into room descs, although putting them into extra room look descs is fine.
7. Long and Short Descs
Mobs and objects should all have both long and short descs.
A long desc is what you see when you enter a room, for instance:-
A tall gremlin stands here, scratching his nails down the wall.
A silver necklace lies upon a small table.
The description should start with a capital letter, and finish with a full stop (period).
A short desc is the way the mobile or object is seen when being interacted with by a player.
Your sword slashes a tall gremlin wildly.
You put a silver necklace in a small velvet bag.
The short desc should never start with a capital letter, unless it is a proper noun/name, eg Silas, Cuthbert and should never have a full stop (period) after.
8. Look Descs
All mobiles and objects must have a look desc on them. There will be no exceptions. There are a lot of older zones on the MUD that are slowly being gone through to correct this defect. It is simply not acceptable for any new zones to go in with this omission.
9. Continuity
Mob and object names/aliases must contain similar words. Its all very well saying A grumpy dwarf is standing here, being grumpy but then giving him the name alias of Silas and not referencing this anywhere for the player to find and thus make it impossible to interact. Aliases in this case might be dwarf, grumpy, silas with a short name of Silas. This way when the player types kill dwarf the interaction will show up as - You slash at Silas with your sword.
10. Zone Linking Rooms
Use the first room of your zone to give an overview of the zone, including level, outline of any quest and rewards within it and a note of eq/objects contained. Any rooms that are intended to be the link rooms into the MUD should be set as NO_MOB to contain your NPC within your zone and keep out any wandering ones.
Back to: Building on Aeonian Dreams.
