Member Discussions

ok so i downloaded rom 2.4b6 for win32, i run win me, i got it to work thats no prob, but i need to know a couple things:
#1 is there a manual that can help me with rom
#2 how do i install snippets (i cant code)
#3 it came with a premade char-lordrom lvl 65, how do i make my max player level higher like all the other roms lvl 101. and raise imm level.
#4it has no color or ansi, what do i do to get it.
#5 do i need a compiler like cygwin, would i install this in the same file that rom is in and do i have to run it or is it auto.
#5 a million other questions i wont bore you with :)

I am just a player and i have built on a few muds using olc but now i want my own, conflicts of interest with admins have made me want to admin a mud myself. I am not proud and will gladly trade building time for any help someone can give me.
-Shroomie aka jory

If you cant code, you really shouldnt be looking to start your own mud. Dont mean to sound mean or anything else, but really, i would say your wasting your time.

not really wasting time, i couldn't code 2 days ago, now im coding for 3 muds, and my own, just look at the code, its not that hard.

*CENSORED*...id hate to be the poor bastard that hired you on one of those 3 muds.

Yeah I have to agree with the last post, you can't learn to program in 2 days... or two months. In fact, you're looking at 6 months to a year if you've never done any programming, maybe 3 months if you're familiar with VB, Perl or Java.

As an example, if you don't know what this code snippet does, then you better hit the books :)

#IFDEF _WIN32
#DEFINE SCISSORS 0
#DEFINE PAPER 1
#DEFINE ROCK 1
#ENDIF
...
char_data example(char_data *ch, char_data *victim)
{
obj_data *chWield;
obj_data *victimWield;
char_data *winner;

chWield = get_equip_slot(ch, ITEM_WIELD);
victimWield = get_equip_slot(victim, ITEM_WIELD);

if ((!IS_NPC(ch)) && ((chWield == NULL) || (victimWield == NULL)))
{
ch->println("Error, no weapon");
return NULL;
}
else
{
do_rps(chWield, victimWield);
}
return winner;
}


Now thats a pretty simple sample you should be able to understand. the data types and macros are common to most codebases as far as i know, so you should know what they are. Probably most important to know is the significance of the *'s. If you don't know exactly what they are and how to use them, start reading up on pointers.

PS: I'm not 100% certain if you can return null to a struct. That could cause a crash if you can't.

(Comment added by Shadowlanc on Mon Sep 12 1:00:38 2005)

EDIT:
line do_rps should read
winner = do_rps...

EDIT2:
#DEFINEs are unused in this example. Was going to use then realised I couldn't be bothered writing the code :)

LoL ok first off i appreciate the feedback, but i am not here saying i want learn to code the thing, maybe some day long away, i just need some basic info like if i download a snippet how do i get it to work with my rom, and more importantly how do i create new areas and if i download olc where would i put it, in the code or just a file in same area the rom is in. stuff like that, how do i create new guilds, alot of non coding basic admin questions for someone whos basically a layman.

lol, just cause you've prolly been coding your whole life and haven't got anywhere doesn't mean nobody else will :)...j/k, and yeah, im 15, i know i barly know anything about coding in 2 days, i still have alot to learn, but i've also learned alot with those 2 days, and just cause im doing better than you when you first started, don't the playa, hate the game ;), j/k... peace

1) "...if I download a snippet..."

Using some basic knowledge of coding, you find the files the changes go into, make those changes, and then fix up any bugs that result.

2) "...how do i create new areas..."

If you have no OLC, you hand-edit area files or you add OLC in. If there's an OLC snippet, see #1 above. If you have OLC, just use OLC to make areas.

3) "...how do i create new guilds..."

No idea, I don't use ROM.

4) "...alot of non coding basic admin..."

No, pretty much every question you asked requires coding or non-trivial file editing.

I'm going to sound blunt and unhelpful, probably, but here it is in a nutshell:

If you can't code, don't bother trying to run a MUD.

A MUD requires code skills to administrate, either yours or those of a coder on-staff. If you don't have a coder on tap, it's unlikely that you can find one who'll help you implement your vision. Most coders that I know would rather write their own idea of what a MUD should be.

Learn C. It's not hard.

Since your new to coding... at least from a C standpoint, I recommend that you might look at the LPmud codebase to start from. LPmuds and its language, LPC, is fairly easy to learn. Building areas and such is done via hardcode files (i.e. filename.c) while the mudlib development is a bit more involved (i.e. inherits, daemons, etc). With the new LDmud driver releases, you can have the game code integrate with MySQL and other databases thus providing more developmental needs with less coding needs.

LPMud Resource & Reference site: http://stormbringer.sysconn.com/lpmud/

I would also recommand that you look at installing Linux as well. That way you can become familiar with the Unix-like commands needed to build the game and debug a little easier than you can under Windows platforms.