While doing work today at work (..hard to imagine, I know), it dawned on me that I should really do some reviews on some of my favorite RPG based MOOs.

“Are we talking about cows now, Czar?”

Negatory! A MOO is a multiplayer text-only RPG played from your computer. You connect to the game via telnet, log in with your character, and interact with the environment and other characters on the game.

For this review, we`ll talk about AnsibleMOO, an RPG based on the book Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. For those new to the MOO world, I`ll also talk about how to log in and get the most from your initial MOO experience.

First, let’s get you on the MOO itself. Windows has a built in telnet program that can be used with MOOs but its very -very- limited and is generally not suitable for those that plan to stick with a MOO. It lacks the ability to backspace characters, keep decent scroll backs, and just be user friendly. As a result, let’s go ahead and use another program to connect with. If you’re in to causing yourself frustration, go ahead and connect with the default telnet client on your system: telnet://ansiblemoo.org:6000

SimpleMU is my prog of choice as its designed just for this type of game. After downloading and all that, open it up and choose File > New Connection Wizard. The following window`ll pop up. Enter the the address ansiblemoo.org .

Press “Next” and we`ll see the next window. Enter 6000 for the port.

Since we’re dealing with a MOO, choose that radio button and press “Next”.

Press “Next” and we’re almost done! Just give your new connection a name.

Pressing “Finish” will save the info to your MOO address book and cause you to connect right away. You`ll see this login screen upon connecting. (Click for larger image)

“Now what Czar?!” Don’t tweak out. Just read the screen. If you don’t have an account, connect as a guest. Notice how the command for that is written on the login screen as CONnect guest. That means you can either use the command connect or its shortened form con. Lets do it. Type:

con guest

And blam! You’re in. With AnsibleMOO, you`ll be placed in the OOC Area upon connecting as a guest (Out Of Character). Here’s a picture of it along with an explanation of what you’re seeing and how to navigate/get help. Please click on the picture to view the larger version and use the numbers on it to read the explanation below.

1) If you recall in Ender’s Game, the kids were broken up in to armies. The same holds for this game except, a place holder army for inactive players and guests was formed called.. The Inactive Army . This area also has the message of the day for your army.

2) This is the description of the current room you’re in with the title of it up at the top.

3) This is the contents of the current room you’re in. If there were people in the room with your, they’d be listed here too. You can interact with contents. Start by looking at the picture of Earth.

look picture

“It’s a picture of everyone’s favorite homeworld.” Simple enough. Try reading the sign.

read sign

You`ll see the welcome message written on it.

4) These are the obvious exits from this room. The letter inside the ()’s is the letter that must be typed to go through that exit. The (O)rientation Room would be accessed by simply typing the letter O and pressing enter. You`ll then be moved to the new room and see its new description, title, contents, and exits.

Hopefully by this time, someone from the Mentor Staff has contacted you and asked if you have questions. It may appear on the screen like this:

Sounds like a plan. Respond to him. (Guy happens to be my character)

=help Hey Guy. Thanks. Just checking out the place.

The Help channel is global, meaning people connected to the game who are no in the same room as you can still communicate with it. If someone is in the same room as you, use the SAY command to speak with them.

say Hey ya! How do I see who is logged in here?

Good question. We use the WHO command.

who

A nice little listing will pop up. NOTE: There -IS- color on this moo but by default, guests do not see it. If you’d like, you may request a character using the @request command.

That’s enough info to get you logged in. Now on to the review.

AnsibleMOO has been around for almost 12 years (11 years, 11 months, 8 days actually) and is one of two MOOs set in the Enderverse to be approved by Orson Scott Card. The game play in the MOO takes place on the battle school station 10 years before Ender arrives. Time progresses “Simpsons” style in that while time does move forward, soldiers gain command, graduate, ice out and new ones arrive to start the cycle again, the timeline never gets closer to Ender arriving. No one from the book will never arrive on the station. The Simpsons haven’t aged in 20+ years.

Once a new player @requests a character, they are placed in to a Launch group and encouraged to interact with other launchies and soldiers on board the station. Teacher characters are also present and hold classes at scheduled times where all are encouraged to log in and role play (RP as its called).

To show that you understand the game mechanics and have a grasp of the Ender’s Game world, new players are asked to complete the following 5 requirements before being placed in an active army.

1. Fill out your character’s physical description – What someone would see when looking at you.
2. Fill out your pinfo (player info) which has IC (In Character) info about your character – Name, place of birth, personality, background. You may list Out Of Character info about yourself if you’d like but its not required.
3. Complete 2 journal entries from the point of view of your character. It could be a letter home or just a diary entry about daily activities, people you`ve interacted with (actual players or made up).
4. Pass a very short (6 question) Launch Test administered by a Mentor staff member to show comprehension of game mechanics and what could or could not happen in the game based on what happens in the book.
5. Finally, you`ll need to RP with a Mentor and show them you’ve got it together. It doesn’t have to be a very interesting RP. Perhaps chow in the mess hall, a chance meeting in the restroom, or even a personality conflict in the gym.

After being placed in an active army, your character can be promoted to toon leader and perhaps even commander. This takes time as, just like in the book, older soldiers seemed to have priority over the younger ones.

Role play on the station is very highly encouraged and can take place in one of its many rooms. Actions can be `emoted` and combined with dialog to give detailed poses from your character.

One major attraction is the fully coded battleroom. Just like in the book, players can float through the battleroom, fire at players and practice balls, and rebound off walls and stars. Active armies are encouraged to schedule battles with other active armies. Scores are kept and bragging rights earned.

Experience points can be earned by performing various tasks around the station. Practicing in the battleroom or even exercising in the gym may yeild experience points that will improve overall battleroom performance.

Another attraction is the Fantasy Game. Several puzzles and hidden rooms populate this part of the game just waiting to be explored.

If you’re looking to get your feet wet in the MOO world and have read Ender’s Game, AnsibleMOO is a great place to start. The Mentor Staff is waiting to help you acclaimate to the new environment and answer any questions you may have.

If you do decide to @request a character, consider mentioning my character, Guy, (pronounced Gee) as your refering source. We`ll both get an experience point bonus once you complete your aforementioned requirements.

See ya on the `who` listing!