Beginners Guide : Mud Clients

Dartmud is best seen through a MUD client and not a java client or sparse telnet window. A MUD client offers the ability to modify your experience and greatly helps aid you in your travels.

Aliases

Dartmud has an alias system in place, however you may prefer to use the one within the client. What is in alias? Instead of typing 'kill target', you would set an alias to 'k' which when typed with 'k target' would execute the text 'kill target'. Your keystrokes are cut-down and the end result is the same.

Triggers

This is one of the most powerful features that a client offers. It can take a piece of information from the mud and perform an action. The action could be an emote, coloring some text, or performing an action in the mud.

Be aware that performing actions while not at the computer is forbidden. Some tasks you may think to automate and walk away. The mud has methods in place to catch you. That is if the players don't skin your corpse first.

One common use in the game is for an improvement announcing trigger. Another post will go in depth some more with this. Check the DartWiki for some basic triggers.

Paths - Automapper

Some clients offer a paths function which lets you speedwalk from one point to the other. If your only interest is point A to B this can work really well. Along this line is an Automapper that is seen on some clients. I never found it to be much use myself for a world like Ferdarchi, but your mileage may vary.

Variables / Databases

This is one of the more interesting aspects of a client. You have the ability to store information and retrieve it as needed. I use it to count my improvements and log time between imps. What else can be done? Lots! You could create your own crafting databases, logging info, anything!

Buttons

You can also setup clickable buttons which perform a task. I don't use this myself, I see an alias as being more powerful for the effort required. Some people may find this of interest though.

Mud Clients

You have a few options.Two I don't recommend, Raw Telnet and Java clients. They are clunky and don't offer any features. There is one big kid on the block, Zuggsoft and a few freeware options. 


Zuggsoft

$29.95

Zuggsoft is the publisher of Zmud and Cmud. Zmud is the older version, which is still very popular, while Cmud is the newest iteration. They offer about every function you would need in a client. The community is pretty robust and the documentation is not too bad either. I personally use Cmud 3.3.

Mudlet

FREE

The new kid on the block. This is an open source client and I am exploring making the transition to it. People have done some really cool looking stuff with this client. It looks to be very powerful. If this software gains traction I could really see it taking market share from Zugg. Which in the big scheme of things will drive innovation and give you a better mudding experience!  

MUSHClient

FREE

I'm not familiar with this client personally but there is some entries on the DartWiki for it. 

All of the clients offer trial, or free downloads, get them, try it out and share the triggers on the Wiki!