LPMud
Encyclopedia
LPMud, abbreviated LP, is a family of MUD
server software. Its first instance, the original LPMud game driver, was developed in 1989 by Lars Pensjö
(hence the LP in LPMud). LPMud was innovative in its separation of the MUD infrastructure into a virtual machine
(known as the driver) and a development framework written in the LPC programming language (known as the mudlib
).
and AberMUD
. He wanted to create a world with the flexibility of TinyMUD and the style of AberMUD. Furthermore, he did not want to have sole responsibility for creating and maintaining the game world. He once said, "I didn't think I would be able to design a good adventure. By allowing wizards
coding rights, I thought others could help me with this." The result was the creation of a new, C
-based, object-oriented programming language, LPC, that made it simple for people with minimal programming skills to add elements like rooms, weapons, and monsters to a virtual world.
To accomplish his goal, Lennart Augustsson
convinced Pensjö to write what today would be called a virtual machine, the LPMud driver. The driver managed the interpretation of LPC code as well as providing basic operating system
services to the LPC code. By virtue of this design, Pensjö made it more difficult for common programming errors like infinite loop
s and infinite recursion made by content builders to harm the overall stability of the server. His choice of an OO
approach made it easy for new programmers to concentrate on the task of "building a room" rather than programming logic.
The LPMud approach also enabled the development of gaming frameworks built in LPC that game builders could use as the foundation for their worlds. The original mudlib
was the Genesis Mudlib that came with LPMud drivers up to LPMud 2.4.5. As LPMud matured, the separation between driver and mudlib grew to the point that the developers of MudOS
and DGD did not ship their drivers with fully functional mudlibs. Popular LPMud mudlibs include:
Though an LPMud server can be used to implement nearly any style of game, LPMuds are often thought of as having certain common characteristics as a genre, such as a mixture of hack and slash
with role-playing
, quests
as an element of advancement, and "guilds" as an alternative to character class
es.
Notable early LPMud games still in operation as of 2010 include Pensjö's original Genesis LPMud
, Ancient Anguish
, BatMUD
, Darker Realms
, DartMUD
, Genocide
, Lost Souls
, NannyMUD
, Nanvaent
, Shattered World
, and StickMUD
.
talker
, Cat Chat
, which opened in 1990, and the ew-too
code that was the most popular talker code base until 1996.
:Category: LPMud gamedrivers
:Category: LPMud mudlibs
MUD
A MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
server software. Its first instance, the original LPMud game driver, was developed in 1989 by Lars Pensjö
Lars Pensjö
Lars Pensjö of Sweden is the original author of the LPMud MUD engine and the LPC programming language, and is one of the founders of Genesis LPMud, notable for their part in the history of MMORPGs as well as the Pike programming language. He attended Chalmers University of Technology in...
(hence the LP in LPMud). LPMud was innovative in its separation of the MUD infrastructure into a virtual machine
Virtual machine
A virtual machine is a "completely isolated guest operating system installation within a normal host operating system". Modern virtual machines are implemented with either software emulation or hardware virtualization or both together.-VM Definitions:A virtual machine is a software...
(known as the driver) and a development framework written in the LPC programming language (known as the mudlib
Mudlib
A mudlib, short for mud library, is a library of code forming part of the technical infrastructure of a MUD. Though different varieties of MUD may be considered to have mudlibs, the term is most often used with LPMuds. In an LPMud, the mudlib consists of interpreted code written in the LPC...
).
Motivation
Pensjö had been an avid player of TinyMUDTinyMUD
TinyMUD is the name of a MUD server codebase, and the first MUD running that codebase. The MUD itself has subsequently come to be known as "TinyMUD Classic" or simply "Classic", or occasionally "DaisyMUD"...
and AberMUD
AberMUD
AberMUD, pronounced , was the first popular open source MUD, named after the town in which it was written, Aberystwyth. The first version was written in B by Alan Cox, Richard Acott, Jim Finnis, and Leon Thrane based at University of Wales, Aberystwyth for an old Honeywell mainframe and opened in...
. He wanted to create a world with the flexibility of TinyMUD and the style of AberMUD. Furthermore, he did not want to have sole responsibility for creating and maintaining the game world. He once said, "I didn't think I would be able to design a good adventure. By allowing wizards
Wizard (MUD)
Wizard is commonly used in MUDs, particularly LPMuds, AberMUDs and MU*, as a term for the MUD's developers and administrators. The usage originates with Richard Bartle's original MUD1 and MUD2. It is frequently abbreviated "wiz", which is sometimes used as a verb; to wiz is to become a wizard...
coding rights, I thought others could help me with this." The result was the creation of a new, C
C (programming language)
C is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....
-based, object-oriented programming language, LPC, that made it simple for people with minimal programming skills to add elements like rooms, weapons, and monsters to a virtual world.
To accomplish his goal, Lennart Augustsson
Lennart Augustsson
Lennart Augustsson is a Swedish computer scientist. He was previously a lecturer at the Computing Science Department at Chalmers University of Technology...
convinced Pensjö to write what today would be called a virtual machine, the LPMud driver. The driver managed the interpretation of LPC code as well as providing basic operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
services to the LPC code. By virtue of this design, Pensjö made it more difficult for common programming errors like infinite loop
Infinite loop
An infinite loop is a sequence of instructions in a computer program which loops endlessly, either due to the loop having no terminating condition, having one that can never be met, or one that causes the loop to start over...
s and infinite recursion made by content builders to harm the overall stability of the server. His choice of an OO
Object-oriented programming
Object-oriented programming is a programming paradigm using "objects" – data structures consisting of data fields and methods together with their interactions – to design applications and computer programs. Programming techniques may include features such as data abstraction,...
approach made it easy for new programmers to concentrate on the task of "building a room" rather than programming logic.
Evolution of LPMuds
Pensjö's interest in LPMuds eventually waned. By the time it did, in the early 1990s, LPMud had become one of the most popular forms of MUD. His work has been extended or reverse engineered in a number of projects:- LPMud 2.4.5
- CD LPMud driverCD gamedriver and mudlibCD gamedriver and CD mudlib are popular LPMud gamedriver and mudlib. The name CD comes from Chalmers Datorförening , which most of the developers were members of.- History :...
- LPMud 3.1.2LPMud 3.2, better known as the Amylaar driver, after its lead developer, Jörn "Amylaar" Rennecke
- MudOSMudOSMudOS is a major family of LPMud server software, implementing its own variant of the LPC programming language. It first came into being on February 18, 1992. It pioneered important technical innovations in MUDs, including the network socket support that made InterMUD communications possible and...
- DGD, Dworkin's Game Driver, a conceptual rather than code derivative of LPMud developed by Felix "Dworkin" Croes
- LDMud, a forkFork (software development)In software engineering, a project fork happens when developers take a legal copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct piece of software...
of LPMud 3.2 by Lars Düning - UriMUD, a derivative of LPMud 2.4.5
- FluffOS, Discworld MUDDiscworld MUDDiscworld MUD is a popular MUD, a text-based online role-playing game, set in the Discworld as depicted in the Discworld series of books by Terry Pratchett.-History:...
's forkFork (software development)In software engineering, a project fork happens when developers take a legal copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct piece of software...
of MudOSMudOSMudOS is a major family of LPMud server software, implementing its own variant of the LPC programming language. It first came into being on February 18, 1992. It pioneered important technical innovations in MUDs, including the network socket support that made InterMUD communications possible and... - SWLPCSWLPC (programming language)The SWLPC programming language, "Shattered World LPC", is a variant of LPC developed and maintained by the staff of the MUD Shattered World. It is a fork of the LPMud 2.4.5 server. The SWLPC server software was originally distributed privately, but was later made publicly available. Its primary...
, Shattered WorldShattered WorldShattered World is a long-running MUD founded in August 1990, and is the first Australian LPMud.-Game characteristics:Shattered World is set in a medieval fantasy world with a player-run legal system and economy. "Guilds" are found as an alternative to character classes...
's forkFork (software development)In software engineering, a project fork happens when developers take a legal copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct piece of software...
of LPMud 2.4.5 - Psyclpc, a forkFork (software development)In software engineering, a project fork happens when developers take a legal copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct piece of software...
of LDMud - The Pike programming language, written by Fredrik "Profezzorn" Hübinette, along with its predecessors LPC4 and µLPC
The LPMud approach also enabled the development of gaming frameworks built in LPC that game builders could use as the foundation for their worlds. The original mudlib
Mudlib
A mudlib, short for mud library, is a library of code forming part of the technical infrastructure of a MUD. Though different varieties of MUD may be considered to have mudlibs, the term is most often used with LPMuds. In an LPMud, the mudlib consists of interpreted code written in the LPC...
was the Genesis Mudlib that came with LPMud drivers up to LPMud 2.4.5. As LPMud matured, the separation between driver and mudlib grew to the point that the developers of MudOS
MudOS
MudOS is a major family of LPMud server software, implementing its own variant of the LPC programming language. It first came into being on February 18, 1992. It pioneered important technical innovations in MUDs, including the network socket support that made InterMUD communications possible and...
and DGD did not ship their drivers with fully functional mudlibs. Popular LPMud mudlibs include:
- Discworld MudlibDiscworld mudlibThe Discworld mudlib is an LPC framework, or mudlib, originally written for the Discworld MUD.It has been regarded as one of the more advanced mudlibs around: according to , the Discworld mudlib was only the second widely available mudlib. At the time of its release it had the most advanced...
from the Discworld MUDDiscworld MUDDiscworld MUD is a popular MUD, a text-based online role-playing game, set in the Discworld as depicted in the Discworld series of books by Terry Pratchett.-History:... - CDlibCD gamedriver and mudlibCD gamedriver and CD mudlib are popular LPMud gamedriver and mudlib. The name CD comes from Chalmers Datorförening , which most of the developers were members of.- History :...
from Genesis LPMudGenesis LPMudGenesis LPMud, a multi-player computer game, is the original LPMud founded in April 1989 by Lars Pensjö, now running on CD gamedriver and mudlib, and previously hosted by Chalmers Computer Society, though hosting has since been moved to a dedicated, private server. Medieval fantasy is the general... - Nightmare MudlibNightmare MudlibThe Nightmare Mudlib is a set of LPC programming language frameworks created by George Reese for building multi-user role playing games using the MudOS LPMud driver...
from Nightmare LPMudNightmare LPMudNightmare LPMud, founded in 1992, was one of the oldest continually running LPMuds still played until its closure on September 12, 2005. Its roots go back to the original LPMud, Genesis LPMud, when Forlock of Genesis along with some students at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine founded Orlith in 1991... - TMI MudlibTMI MudlibThe TMI Mudlib from The Mud Institute was an attempt to create a framework driven mudlib for the MudOS LPMud driver. It consisted of many contributors to MudOS as well as people who became influential in the LPMud community. When TMI began work in 1992, a mudlib was generally packaged with both an...
from The Mud Institute - Lima MudlibLima MudlibThe Lima Mudlib is an LPC framework for building multi-user role playing games. It was originally written for the MudOS game driver by Zachary "Zakk" Girouard, Tim "Beek" Hollebeek, Greg "Deathblade" Stein, and John "Rust" Viega...
from Lima Bean - Dead Souls MudlibDead Souls MUDlibDead Souls is a MUD library , a software infrastructure for creating a text-based virtual world. It is classed in the following versions:* Dead Souls 1.1 was the final release by its original head developer, George Reese...
- Sapidlib, known at one time as the LPUniversity MudlibLPUniversity FoundationThe LPUniversity Foundation was an umbrella community project founded on April 2, 2005 by C.A. Wayne "Tacitus" Somerville that aspired to revive the LPC community through offering community driven services, offering mutual location for education, research, development, discussion and certification,...
Though an LPMud server can be used to implement nearly any style of game, LPMuds are often thought of as having certain common characteristics as a genre, such as a mixture of hack and slash
Hack and slash
Hack and slash or hack and slay, abbreviated H&S or HnS, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat. "Hack and slash" was originally used to describe an aspect of pen-and-paper role-playing games , carrying over from there to MUDs, MMORPGs, and video games in general...
with role-playing
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, quests
Quest (gaming)
A quest in role-playing video games — including massively multiplayer online role-playing games and their predecessors, MUDs — is a task that a player-controlled character or group of characters may complete in order to gain a reward...
as an element of advancement, and "guilds" as an alternative to character class
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
es.
Notable early LPMud games still in operation as of 2010 include Pensjö's original Genesis LPMud
Genesis LPMud
Genesis LPMud, a multi-player computer game, is the original LPMud founded in April 1989 by Lars Pensjö, now running on CD gamedriver and mudlib, and previously hosted by Chalmers Computer Society, though hosting has since been moved to a dedicated, private server. Medieval fantasy is the general...
, Ancient Anguish
Ancient Anguish
Ancient Anguish, abbreviated AA, is a fantasy-themed MUD, a text-based online role-playing game. Founded in 1991 by Balz "Zor" Meierhans and Olivier "Drake" Maquelin, it opened to the public on February 2, 1992...
, BatMUD
BatMUD
BatMUD is a medieval fantasy MUD, established in 1990. BatMUD is Finland-based and operated and owned by a non-profit organization, ry , officially registered 1994 in Helsinki, Finland....
, Darker Realms
Darker Realms
Darker Realms is a MUD, a multi-user text-based role-playing game, set in a medieval fantasy world. Operating since June 1990, it was one of the first LPMuds to open, and is the oldest continually running LPMud in the United States and the second oldest in the world . It was also the first MUD of...
, DartMUD
DartMUD
DartMUD is a well-known MUD, or online text-based fantasy role-playing game, started in 1991 at Dartmouth College. It pioneered several interface and game play innovations which were later used to greater popular success by games such as Ultima Online....
, Genocide
Genocide (online game)
Genocide is a MUD, a text-based online game, focused exclusively on player-killing. Founded in 1992, it was influential as the first such "pure PK" MUD, and has met with positive critical response.-Game characteristics:...
, Lost Souls
Lost Souls (online game)
Lost Souls is a MUD, a text-based online role-playing game set in a medieval fantasy world. It has an extensive history of technical innovation in its field and has received critical praise....
, NannyMUD
NannyMUD
NannyMUD is a MUD, a text-based online role-playing game, founded in 1990, making it one of the longest-running online games. It is hosted by Lysator, the computer club of Linköping University in Sweden.-Characteristics:...
, Nanvaent
Nanvaent
Nanvaent, or NANVAENT, is a MUD based in the UK. Stylistically it is Medieval or Tolkienesque. It is one of the longest-running LPMuds.-Overview:...
, Shattered World
Shattered World
Shattered World is a long-running MUD founded in August 1990, and is the first Australian LPMud.-Game characteristics:Shattered World is set in a medieval fantasy world with a player-run legal system and economy. "Guilds" are found as an alternative to character classes...
, and StickMUD
StickMUD
-History:StickMUD opened to the public on June 17, 1991. The founding wizards, Pekka "Frobozz" Timonen and Niilo "Graah" Paasivirta, got permission to run the MUD on a server at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, from a local admin, Otto J. "Extechop" Mäkelä...
.
LPMud talkers
LPMud was used as the basis for the first InternetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
talker
Talker
A talker is a chat system that people use to talk to each other over the Internet. Dating back to the 1980s, they were a predecessor of instant messaging....
, Cat Chat
Cat Chat
Cat Chat was the first Internet / JANET talker, created in 1990 by Chris Thompson, who used the name "Cat" on the talker. It was based on the LPMud server code and was hosted at the University of Warwick. It was later replaced by Cheeseplant's House....
, which opened in 1990, and the ew-too
Ew-too
ew-too, short for Elsewhere Too, was the first publicly available code base for Internet talkers and was written by Simon "Burble" Marsh in 1992, following the demise of the second internet talker, Cheeseplant's House, which had been closed down some months earlier. It was based on the LPMud game...
code that was the most popular talker code base until 1996.
See also
- MUDMUDA MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
- Chronology of MUDs
- LPC (programming language)
:Category: LPMud gamedrivers
:Category: LPMud mudlibs
- The Mud ConnectorThe Mud ConnectorThe Mud Connector, abbreviated TMC, is a computer gaming web site which provides articles, discussions, reviews, resource links and game listings about MUDs. The site allows mud owners, administrators and enthusiasts to submit information and reviews about specific MUDs...
External links
- LPMud FAQ
- LPMud Timeline
- LDMud Website
- LPMuds.net - A resource for MUDs that use LPC.
- MUDseek - A Google custom search engine for MUDs.