DD FAQ: Section 8
Etiquette, Rules and Problems
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[8.1] What sort of behaviour is not acceptable on this MUD?
DD tries to keep a relaxed atmosphere, where people can have fun and talk as well as put in some serious adventuring. Use of the 'chat' channel has not been restricted, and never will be. Players are expected to refrain from using offensive language or gestures in 'public'. Imms will warn then SILENCE characters who get out of hand. Otherwise, wise-cracking and good-natured making-fun-of-people is tolerated (sometimes encouraged!).
Try "HELP RULES" and "HELP LANGUAGE" for some additional guidelines.
[8.2] How can I stop all these players from talking on the 'chat' channel and spoiling my MUD experience?
Turn off your access to the chat channel. See the help entry for CHANNEL. You may customize which channels you will hear using this command.
You may also use the commands QUIET and TELLMODE to gag out messages. QUIET toggles whether you hear CHATs, MUSICs, INFOs, AUCTIONs and SHOUTs or not; TELLMODE prevents people from messaging you directly using TELL. Immortals will always be able to TELL you things even if you have turned off the TELL channel.
[8.3] What's 'tanking'? Can I use my higher level character to help out my lower level character?
'Tanking' most often involves a strong character absorbing damage or partially damaging or disabling targets so that weaker characters may gain experience. This is not always bad, e.g. grouped characters often discuss who will 'tank' during the next fight. Tanking is bad when it involves a serious level difference between the 'tanker' and the character to benefit, i.e. the two characters could not normally group together. It is considered cheating and punishable if discovered. Tanking includes crippling, disabling, trapping, dispelling, or any harmful modification of a mob for a lower-level character to kill.
When tanking becomes unreasonable, it becomes illegal. Higher level characters should not accompany lower-level characters on experience gathering trips. The Imms reserve the right to decide what is reasonable and what isn't. Note this may differ from Imm to Imm: if in doubt, don't do it!
See the online help entry for MULTI for related guidelines.
[8.4] Why won't player X get me some eq, or tell me how to do this or that, or where something is? How can I make her?
Player X is under no obligation to help you. If you ask politely, she may give you clues towards finding what you're looking for. Players are encouraged to explore the MUD and find the good equipment and the good areas for themselves. Many players are happy to give advice, but won't always lead you there by the nose, preferring to give you some general clues. A few players are soft-touches and might even get you what you want themselves, if you're lucky. There are many directions to areas on the website, and this FAQ contains many tips.
To understand why people might be reluctant to help you involves an idea of what it means to be a good player. Experienced, high-level players with good eq have earned their position; they know the MUD and all of its features because they've explored it. That's not to say that they haven't had any help along the way, of course, but that they've made the effort to figure out the various puzzles as they encounter them. These players aren't in desperate trouble when all their eq gets disintegrated, because it's a straight-forward matter to recover it all again. This is the sort of player you should be trying to become.
Of course, if you are rude, or pester people, or expect and demand that they help you, you probably won't get the response you desire.
[8.5] Player X keeps breaking the rules! What can I do?
Short of tell them what you think, you need to talk or write a note to an Immortal. Various game commands are logged, but many rules require players' co-operation.
[8.6] Player X is rude and abusive to me. How can I stop this harassment?
If the abuse is serious and constant, and you've complained to the other player and asked her to stop, and you can't/won't block it out, then you need to get in touch with an Imm, who will deal with the offender accordingly.
[8.7] Can I multiplay? How many characters may I have on at a time?
Multiplaying, or controlling more than one character on the MUD at once, is allowed in some situations. Multiplaying restrictions exist to prevent tanking and other abuses. See "HELP MULTI" for current rules concerning multiplaying.
The golden rule is that you are not allowed to have more than two characters on at once. These two characters cannot be in the field together, for whatever reason. There are no exceptions. Standing at a questmaster or in a major town does not count as being in the field.
[8.8] I think I'm crashing the MUD!
You either enter a command and the MUD immediately crashes, or as soon as you enter your name to log in, you get cut off for no apparent reason. In the first case, alert the MUD and any Imms that you might have crashed the MUD, and some detective work will begin. If you are constantly cut off upon login, you might be bringing down the MUD. Please don't try a million times to get back on: try to log in with another character (make a new one if you have to) and talk or write a note to an Imm, who will sort it out.
[8.9] The MUD crashed while I was in Purgatory, and now I have no eq! What do I do?
This happens occasionally. Generally, you will have to recover your equipment by yourself; other players may help you as they desire. If an Immortal is online, then they will probably give you some equipment to help you get going again. You may not demand to have your equipment restored, even though it may seem unfair. Exceptions will be made if your case is particularly depressing.
[8.10] Why is everyone so unfriendly? Why doesn't player X reply to me? You people suck!
Not every player feels like talking. Also, if you expect to get help, you need to be polite, and not nag. If someone tells you to 'check the website', 'read the FAQ' or see 'help X' then you'll just have to do it. Most players will help people who are prepared to help themselves.
Some players turn off many talk channels, so they may not even hear you. If the people who play DD are so intolerable, you'll just have to find another MUD to play.
Most players are friendly. We don't think we suck. :)
[8.11] My brother logged in as my character and did something mean and/or stupid. How can I get things back to normal?
Tough luck! You need to protect your password and punch your brother.
[8.12] What's so great about a 'reboot'?
Every time a particular mob gets killed, less experience is rewarded to the characters who kill it next time it resets. When the MUD server is rebooted, the tally of how often each kind of mob has died is erased, and experience rewarded jumps back up. Reboots will also reset all equipment, doors and items.
[8.13] Why does everyone chat 'gratz'?
'Gratz' or 'grats' is a contraction of 'congratulations'. It's traditionally chatted after a character gains a level, fame or gets a great pkill.
[8.14] Arrgh! I keep trying to change to a sub-class but it just doesn't work!
When you change, you need to specify the 3-letter class name abbreviation, not the full class name. The 3-letter codes are:
Sub-class
Abbreviation
Sub-class
Abbreviation
Necromancer
Nec
Warlock
Wlk
Templar
Tem
Druid
Dru
Ninja
Nin
Bounty Hunter
Bou
Thug
Thg
Knight
Kni
Satanist
Sat
Witch
Wit
Werewolf
Wer
Vampire
Vam
Monk
Mon
Martial Artist
Mar
Barbarian
Brb
Bard
Brd
[8.15] I accidently killed player X when she came into the room. What's going to happen now?
If it's your first offense, then you will probably be pardoned of your KILLER flag, if you got one. If you've done this sort of thing before, you may not get off so lightly [see FAQ 3.26]. Get into the habit of typing more than three letters of your target's name, just in case 'Lucy' walks in as you backstab 'Lucifer'.
The murdered victim will not be restored under normal circumstances, so beware, potential murderers and victims alike!
[8.16] I think something about the MUD is buggy, unfair or just plain stupid. What can I do? What should I do?
Complain about it: writing a note is best. Changes can occur quickly or slowly in DD, depending on the severity of the problem, and the difficultly of the problem. :) Large scale changes of the code take time and most Imms have (like you) real lives to deal with. If you want to provide help building or coding then see FAQ 9.1 and FAQ 9.2.
If you think you've discovered a bug, then you should immediately report it.
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