As many of you already know, Iron Realms Entertainment has released out new game website. I hope everyone likes it as much as I do. Now you can play your favorite free to play MUDs in the universe, right on the IRE site.

What is next for your favorite IRE game you ask? Here is a list of game features we are working on delivering to you, 100% free, to you favorite MUD game.

• More IRE Website Features
  • Who is online (will not reveal hidden players)
  • Basic character info
  • Mutual allies that are online
  • Enhanced game feeds
  • Much more!
• The Firefox toolbar is close!
• The Iron Realms Facebook game. With the new site completed, we can now focus on wrapping this up.
• We have out first phone application in the works. I was able to login to the games and chat with other gods today! Woot!
• Game t shirts! We are working up some basic designs, so look for them soon.

I cannot wait to get these toys released so we can all enjoy playing with them!

Any suggestions for features or toys you would like brought to IRE in general?

The CMud Settings Editor

As mentioned in my previous article, player-written curing systems play a large role in combat in many of the games from Iron Realms Entertainment. These systems help automate curing and by doing so give a better chance of survival to characters engaged in combat. To answer this need, not only do we provide our own Java-based Nexus and Flash-based FMud to allow players to write scripts. In addition, third parties have created sophisticated MUD clients which allow players to further capitalize on these scripts.

CMud

One of the most popular MUD clients is CMud, created by Zuggsoft Software and the successor of the widely popular ZMud. Its creator was recently interviewed in the Anvil about his work. CMud allows a simple way to build complex scripting systems. If you have not yet used CMud to connect to an Iron Realms Mud, this screencast shows you everything you need. I’m going to give a brief splash of some of the details that are most relevant to our players.

Simple Alias

Let’s say you wanted to make an alias that engaged the command “cast blast at ” without all the extra typing.. you simply want to type “k “. Aliases are the best way to accomplish this.

In the CMud command pane, type the following:

#alias k {cast blast at %1}

This creates an alias that will do what is mentioned above. %1 refers to the first parameter inputted after the first word, corresponding to our target.

Complex Alias

Let’s say you wanted to automatically store your target from the “k” alias so any time you would type in “k” later on without an argument after, it would default to the previously inputted target.

In the CMud command pane, type the following:

#VAR target none
#alias k {#if (%1==%null) {cast blast at @target} {#VAR target %1;cast blast at @target}}

The first thing this alias does is check if the first parameter is null (not set). If there is no parameter, it uses the value stored in the variable target. If the parameter exists, the variable target takes on the parameter’s value and it is used for the cast blast command.

Simple Trigger

Triggers are pattern matchers attached to a script that activates when the text is matched. Let’s say we wanted to send the command “hop” when the line “You are a winner.” appears from the MUD.

In the CMud command pane, type the following:
#trigger {^You are a winner.} {hop}

The carrot (^) in the beginning of the trigger pattern makes this only activate when pattern appears as the start of a line. This can help protect against in-game illusions and also helps your scripts run as fast as possible.

Other Resources

In the next Coder’s Cage, we’ll examine more complex triggers and data structures built into CMud. For help with CMud scripting and syntax, a primary resource is the in-game #HELP command. In addition, there are both official CMud forums as well as individual forums for the IRE games to help with game-specific aspects.

Until next time, happy coding!

1. What do your primary duties in Imperian consist of? Describe an average day in the life of a Goddess.

My primary duties are customer service, helping the guilds/townes of the places that I patron (and often times places that have inactive patrons), providing roleplay to My Order/Guild/Townes, working to produce new games/items and never before done things for the world events that We provide, helping the Celani when I can and other miscellaneous needs of the players (random small things.)

2. What’s your favorite thing about being a Goddess? What do you find most rewarding in volunteering for Imperian?

My favorite thing about being a Goddess is the fact that I can make a difference for the players, even if I just make a difference for one player, if they are having a good time than I am happy. I feel rewarded by this because I came up to the Garden to make a difference, I am more of a behind-the-scenes Goddess for that very reason. (Not many players knew I was truly active, just those of My Order or of My Presence have felt My Hand.) I’ve done a lot of work that doesn’t get brought to the eyes of the mortals, because I am not doing it for that attention, I truly want to bring a great experience to the players. I especially feel rewarded when I can produce a game that others can’t normally participate in and they send me thanks and tell me how much fun they’ve had, that’s rewarding to me.

3. What motivated you to become a Goddess? What inspires you to work so hard and put so much of yourself into the game?

I became motived to be a part of the Garden, I was tired of roleplaying worship to Gods that would soon slumber. I’ve also always been very creative and as a Goddess, I have a lot more creative outlets and freedoms than I did as player. I very much enjoy being in the Garden, it helps to have a wonderfully supportive producer (Dranor) and a great team to work with. Sometimes it is very hard to be motivated, sometimes some very nasty things can be said but at the end of the day when one player tells me how much of a difference I have made for them, all the bad stuff goes away. Plus if people are focusing their anger on Me, that means they aren’t taking it out on the players. I came into the Garden expecting to be critised and scrutinized, so I am glad if that negative energy is focused on me and not the players.

4. Describe your memories of being a Celani, and the process of moving up through the ranks to become a full Goddess.

My memories of a Celani include working together with the other Celani, accidentally creating a dwarf in front of everyone (which was embarrassing), I remember Dranor always helping us out although I must admit today’s Celani have it a bit easier than the hardcore training program that I went through. I remember a waiting period, whereas today there is none, just like kids today in school didn’t have to walk 30 miles to school barefoot in the snow, as is how I remember My Celani Garden experience to be. I also just remember all the excitement and nervousness, I didn’t want to mess up.

5. Do you feel that the sacrifice of playing your original character is worth having the opportunity to play a Divine character?

I absolutely feel it was worth it, I have totally detached myself from that character and to Me, she is a closed chapter that I have no desire to return to. The chance to make such a difference to the players is well worth keeping that chapter closed, because it is all about the players to Me and sharing My creativity with them.

6. Do you have any advice for other people who might be thinking about becoming a God or Goddess?

Yes, with Imperian, you can always go back to being your mortal so if you are pondering what is like, you should apply. Keep in mind that the hours are long, the pay is nothing and sometimes no matter which way you turn, some players may just make fun of you. Go into it for the right reasons, if you are thinking about becoming a God because you want the attention that comes with it perhaps we aren’t the Garden for you. With Imperian, We are more of a behind-the-scenes Garden for the most part that believe in not always hanging around with mortals. We feel that the Garden should be felt but not so much seen all the time, or you may not appreciate and respect Us as Gods and would view us more as mortals. So consider that carefully, there are far more ‘you work really hard and do a bunch of things only to get demanded more work from the players, while they make fun of you’ than there are days where you are noticed and appreciated. Some of the roles of the Garden are also set, so you can’t actually change the concepts behind them, even if a lot of the players want you to.

7. Do you have any words of Divine wisdom to pass on to our loyal players and fans of IRE games?

I do, I want to say first of all thank you for being with Us and being fans of our games. We put a lot into the games and without you, We wouldn’t have the chance to be around. I might be partial but I truly think that Imperian players are amazing and the roleplay that I’ve seen is amazing and gives Me hope for more things to happen in the future. I also feel I should bring to the players attention that Dranor does a lot of work, He’s just very behind-the-scenes like Me and would rather see players enjoying themselves than taking credit for something working. He’s very loyal to the players and is a truly amazing person to volunteer for, He’s incredibly supportive and always appreciative of any work that We volunteers can do. So My advice to you is this, play the game and have fun. If you find that you want to share your ideas with the Garden, We love that! You should IDEA it because some of our best ideas have been from the players, you are out there experiencing it and living it. If you play an IRE and you find that you are maybe getting bored of the concepts, why not try a different one for awhile and see if that is more your thing. Also please remember that the players behind your Garden are human, so We do make that occasional mistake that a real God wouldn’t normally make. (rarely if ever.) Please overlook it and go with it, as We will try do the same, as if it didn’t happen.

I just want to say that being a Goddess has been one of the most amazing experiences for Me, I feel absolutely blessed to work with such a wonderful team. Please remember that not all words are literal, some are just meant to paint a picture for you as authors do with books. I love what I do, I have great support from Dranor, the Garden and the players and I just want to say – In Peace with Love!

For the next couple of years Iron Realms is looking to acquire high quality art for our games, sites, and clients. Even though we are not a graphical game, everyone loves wicked cool packaging. We have been using Chris Bourassa, who is a fantasitc artist. He has done all of the art for Lusternia and Midkemia Online. Even though he only does his work for us on the side, I am loath to use anyone else, because he is so amazing.

We recently had him do three pieces for Lusternia I wanted to give everyone a chance to see.

We are hoping to get a bunch more out of Chris later this year, so keep your eyes peeled. You can check out more of Chris’s art over here.

Obviously we are not planning on replacing role-play events with auto events. Auto events are fun, but they are a different class of event than flexible, open ended, unique RP events. Role-playing events can take weeks to plan, prepare, and code. If it were possible, we would run RP events as often as we do auto events. I feel as though auto events offer players things to do, complementing our traditional role-playing events. Thus we are trying to run both types of events as often as possible.

Next month we are planning on running weekly events on Tuesdays and Thursdays. While these events are set for May, I have a few questions for players about the future of the system.

• Do you find yourself logging in to participate on auto event days?
• What auto events have you enjoyed the most?
• If we held auto events three days a week (changing monthly) would you enjoy that or would it be overkill?
• Would you want events every day of the week or that you know there is something to do?
• Do you have any suggestions for weekly auto events? Monthly auto events? We have plans for future events, but we are always open to new ideas.
• Do you want to see auto events on weekends?

Please offer your suggestions and criticisms about these events in the comment section below.

The videos are broken up into seven parts for two reasons. One, YouTube only allows for 10 minute videos. Second, it allows guides to point users to a video that may address their problem directly.

Here are links to the videos:

• Imperian Introductory Tour – Part 1 – Meeting Mathyus
• Imperian Introductory Tour – Part 2 – The Butler Beekin (Spider) Quest
• Imperian Introductory Tour – Part 3 – The Alexor Quest
• Imperian Introductory Tour – Part 4 – The Maxim Quest
• Imperian Introductory Tour – Part 5 – The Meredith Quest
• Imperian Introductory Tour – Part 6 – The Celine Quest
• Imperian Introductory Tour – Part 7 – Completing the Tour

Obviously there are several problems. I originally did this as one long screencast, and I progressively talk faster and faster. I also start to assume the user has seen the first few videos, and skip parts a little too fast. I also breathe like a psycho calling someone late at night on the phone.

I have a problems with the tour itself. The guild and city selection is too fast and compact for such an important decision. The SKILLS command is too spammy for the flash client height. The Celine part of the tour is too boring as there is no interaction with the player. There are several other things that bothered me as well.

When the time comes to revamp the tour, I am going to suggest teaching the commands, skills, and movement via a more exciting combat scenario. For example, the player could land in Caanae during the Orc invasion and have to fight orc after orc, learning skills as he goes along.

At any rate, please comment below with your feedback (positive and negative). Comments about the screencasts, the presentation, the information, the tour, the client, and anything else is welcome so that we can continue to improve the format of these videos and the games themselves.

You can check out all the previous UStream updates via our UStream channel located here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-iron-realms-show

I read a lot of books on business and visit many marketing websites and this is one of my favorites. It has a good format, is light hearted, and most importantly, it is regularly updated. It is called ‘Help, My Business Sucks‘. Not that Iron Realms Entertainment sucks, but this website is loaded with tons of great ideas. The owner, Andrew, has done over 100 videos with tons of tips for how to grow your business. I have watched most, but certainly not all of them.

Here is the latest video from his site, Episode 101.

If you are interested in this sort of thing, make sure you go back and watch Episode 99.5. I found the conversation with Christine Comaford very interesting. I have actually defined the three main needle movers for IRE. You will have to watch to know what I am talking about.

Hope you enjoy and please post your comments.