Editing Multi-user dungeon (section)

==Style==
While there have been many variations in overall focus, [[gameplay]] and features in MUDs, some distinct sub-groups have formed that can be used to help categorize different [[game mechanic]]s, [[video game genres|game genres]] and [[non-game]] uses.

===Hack and slash MUDs===
{{Further|Hack and slash}}
Perhaps the most common approach to game design in MUDs is to loosely emulate the structure of a ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' campaign focused more on fighting and advancement than role-playing. When these MUDs restrict [[player versus player|player-killing]] in favor of [[player versus environment]] conflict and [[Quest (gaming)|questing]], they are labeled '''hack and slash MUDs'''. This may be considered particularly appropriate since, due to the room-based nature of traditional MUDs, ranged combat is typically difficult to implement, resulting in most MUDs equipping characters mainly with close-combat weapons. This style of game was also historically referred to within the MUD genre as "adventure games", but video gaming as a whole has developed a meaning of "[[adventure game]]" that is greatly at odds with this usage.

===Player versus player MUDs===
{{Further|Player versus player}}
Most MUDs restrict player versus player combat, often abbreviated as PK (Player Killing). This is accomplished through hard coded restrictions and various forms of social intervention. MUDs without these restrictions are commonly known as '''PK MUDs'''. Taking this a step further are MUDs devoted ''solely'' to this sort of conflict, called '''pure PK''' MUDs, the first of which was ''[[Genocide (online game)|Genocide]]'' in 1992.{{R|reesegeno}}  ''Genocide''{{'s}} ideas were influential in the evolution of [[player versus player]] online gaming.{{R|shahromine-geno}}

===Roleplaying MUDs===
{{Further|Role-playing game}}
'''Roleplaying MUDs''', generally abbreviated as '''RP MUDs''', encourage or enforce that players act out the role of their playing characters at all times. Some RP MUDs provide an immersive gaming environment, while others only provide a virtual world with no game elements. MUDs where roleplay is enforced and the game world is heavily computer-modeled are sometimes known as '''roleplay intensive MUDs''', or '''RPIMUDs'''.{{R|korchmar}} In many cases, role-playing MUDs attempt to differentiate themselves from hack and slash types, by dropping the "MUD" name entirely, and instead using '''MUX''' (Multi-User Experience) or '''MUSH''' (Multi-User Shared Hallucination).

===Social MUDs===
{{Further|MMOSG}}
'''Social MUDs''' de-emphasize game elements in favor of an environment designed primarily for socializing. They are differentiated from talkers by retaining elements beyond online chat, typically [[online creation]] as a community activity and some element of [[Role-playing game|role-playing]]. Often such MUDs have broadly defined contingents of socializers and roleplayers. Server software in the [[TinyMUD family tree|TinyMUD family]], or [[MU*]], is traditionally used to implement social MUDs.

===Talkers===
{{Main|Talker}}
A less-known MUD variant is the '''[[talker]]''', a variety of [[online chat]] environment typically based on server software like [[ew-too]] or [[NUTS (talker)|NUTS]]. Most of the early Internet talkers were [[LPMud]]s with the majority of the complex game machinery stripped away, leaving just the communication commands. The first Internet talker was ''[[Cat Chat]]'' in 1990.

===Educational MUDs===
Taking advantage of the flexibility of MUD server software, some MUDs are designed for educational purposes rather than gaming or chat. ''[[MicroMUSE]]'' is considered by some{{who|date=January 2020}} to have been the first educational MUD,{{R|burka-mudline-micromuse}} but it can be argued{{weasel inline|date=January 2020}} that its evolution into this role was not complete until 1994,{{R|micromuse-charter}} which would make the first of many educational [[MOO]]s, ''[[Diversity University]]'' in 1993, also the first educational MUD. The MUD medium lends itself naturally to [[Constructionism (learning theory)|constructionist learning]] pedagogical approaches. The Mud Institute (TMI) was an LPMud opened in February 1992 as a gathering place for people interested in developing LPMud and teaching LPC after it became clear that Lars Pensjö had lost interest in the project. TMI focussed on both the LPMud driver and library, the driver evolving into MudOS, the TMI Mudlib was never officially released, but was influential in the development of other libraries.

===Graphical MUDs===
{{Further|MMORPG|:Category:Graphical MUDs}}
A '''graphical MUD''' is a MUD that uses [[computer graphics]] to represent parts of the virtual world and its visitors.{{R|bartle-textgraph}} A prominent early graphical MUD was ''[[Habitat (video game)|Habitat]]'', written by [[Randy Farmer]] and [[Chip Morningstar]] for [[Lucasfilm]] in 1985.{{R|castronova-habitat}} Some graphical MUDs require players to download a special client and the game's artwork, while others provide a rich experience by being website-based. Graphical MUDs range from simply enhancing the [[user interface]] (e.g. Wolfery provides an option to set the room picture, but otherwise remains a text-based interaction) to simulating 3D worlds with visual spatial relationships and customized [[avatar (computing)|avatar]] appearances (e.g. [[Ultima Online]] provides a rich point-and-click experience).

Games such as ''[[Meridian 59]]'', ''[[EverQuest]]'', ''[[Ultima Online]]'' and ''[[Dark Age of Camelot]]'' were routinely called graphical MUDs in their earlier years.{{R|meridian59-mud|bmcquaid|dog-daoc-mud|king}} ''[[RuneScape]]'' was actually originally intended to be a ''text-based'' MUD, but graphics were added very early in development.{{R|runescapeqa|warcryrunescape}} However, with the increase in computing power and Internet connectivity during the late 1990s, and the shift of online gaming to the mass market, the term "graphical MUD" fell out of favor, being replaced by MMORPG ([[massively multiplayer online role-playing game]]) a term coined by [[Richard Garriott]] in 1997.{{R|mmorpg-coinage}}