[MUD-Dev] Re: In game bulletin boards vs. Web based.

[Robert Woods]

On Tue, 9 Jun 1998, Elis Pomales wrote:

> I would like to know what your opinions are on bulletin board systems
> within Muds. My belief is that a web based bulletin board systems is
> alot easier to develop, fancier and more reliable than an online one. Is
> 
> this true? Do you agree?

Personally, I have never totally liked the bulletin board concept.  If we
have "global mail", which is true of many muds (you don't have to be in a
certain room to check/send mail), then "global news" can also be used.  I
made a global news system when I was working with a Nightmare-based mud,
and have ported it to a TMI-2 based mudlib and a Foundation II mudlib (all
LP/MudOS libraries).  It's a very simplistic and easy to use system that
players and immortals alike have enjoyed.  If you are interested in
getting a copy, e-mail me.

I agree about easier to maintain, etc.  However, I will note that many of
the "old-school mudders" would like the information to remain on the mud.
So, I would say that having a web interface to the news system, as Bruce
suggested, would be the best idea.  That way, those who like using the web
interface can use it, and those that like using the mud interface can use
it as well.

> In that vain should help be web based? With minimal help in-game? Or do
> you think that help is so critical that it should be on the mud?
> 

I would say that you need to have ALL the help accessible in-game so that
the player can get help without having to open a web browser and search.
This has a twofold reason.  First, some users (especially at universities)
may not have the capability to be logged on to telnet and be on the web at
the same time, or may not have access that will allow them to use the full
capacity of the website.  Second, sometimes a player just needs to get
info on a subject really quick, and would prefer to type <help [topic]>
than go searching through the website.

Of course, I agree with Bruce again that the best of all possible worlds
would be a web interface to the help system.  Some muds that I have found
already do this.


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I'm not insane, I'm just irrational.

-Bob