I joined TBA because I was considering building for another MUD and wanted to see how things worked. I saw TBA as a resource that would let me try building in a supportive (and sandboxed) environment.

I found the tutorials easy to follow, logical, and comprehensive. The sections on writing descriptions were really good and I have found that the principles taught there have stood me in good stead across three different MUDs. I am very grateful to have had TBA place writing style guides in one easy place. I now code for a mudlib derived from LPC and encourage anyone who wants to code LPC to complete the writing style guidelines on TBA before considering building.

I needed a lot of help from the staff to learn how the scripting of triggers worked. Rumble was always helpful and gave me personal attention. There are a few web resources dedicated to scripting triggers but the ability to practice it live was essential to learning. I was also happily sandboxed and didn’t need to fear too much about breaking the mud.

Without meaning to toot my own horn (I’m tooting TBA’s horn here) I scripted some very interesting things on my first MUD, including a necro guild that animated mobs that players could order around. I’m not a particularly brilliant coder but with the support I received I was able to learn scripting effectively.

Learning to script in an online multiplayer environment was valuable and when I started to code for a different codebase I discovered that a lot of the design principles could be transferred. I code LPC now and although the syntax of the language is different the principles are similar.

I think what really stands out for me about TBA is the freedom with which they provide a really useful service to builders. Many of the lessons they teach transcend codebases and are applicable for MUD in general. They were really friendly, helpful, and seemed genuinely pleased to be helping a new builder.

I pop onto a lot of muds just to have a look around and get a feel for whats out there. I’m often appalled by the poor quality of description. MUD is a text game and the richness of the experience must be conveyed through words. TBA teaches which words to use, how to use them, and what to avoid. If you’re already building for a MUD you will profit from doing at least the first part of the TBA course.

If you’re a new builder and thinking of building (for any codebase) do yourself a favour and check out TBA. I got my first builder position by a MUD owner coming onto TBA and looking for builders. That started off my ‘career’ as a builder.