Total necro with one last update before I start a new thread with a more comprehensive breakdown.
Firstly: over 1100 registered players, with only listings on the MUD sites and a topic here and on TMS. This might not seem like much but for a text game it is quite good. Concurrent player counts of over 20 are amazing for a new MUD and I really appreciate all the feedback - over 600 bugs and 1000 ideas filed since the last purge. Overwhelmingly the feedback has been positive, which makes me think people want sci fi games of this kind, which is good, because that's a fun game to make. I've also had several talented volunteers provide me with everything from complete source book dumps to hours of loving code labor.
Secondly: I would like to post a new thread when the graphical client is ready. Currently we are running about 40 planets and moons, but these have been for testing and the galaxy will be regenerated with 10-20 solar systems to replace the current 4, each with their accompanying moons and asteroids. The server RAM has been doubled in order to handle this and a new instance of node.js which handles the HTML5<->MOO communications.
So while
I invite anyone and everyone to play (and especially report bugs or submit descriptions) I want it to be with the understanding that the universe is somewhat temporary, we're just here to have a good time and become inert metal kingpings
Everyone that signs up prior to the graphical client will receive an email when it launches as well as a unique alpha tester award.Lastly is the updates, and I'll just try to hit the high points.
* Full Star Trek cast markov bots on TV channel STARJERK. Wesley Crusher's dialog is all mixed up with a bunch of rap lyrics to make him bearable.
* Basic crew functionality - these are hired guns/techies from your civilian population that can be assigned to jobs or roll with you on your adventures.
* Several new biomes and creatures added - up to a total of 40 moon and planetary biomes.
* Quality of life commands for crafting like mass-add, @prefs +autostart
* A half dozen new skill commands - I won't pretend that skills are even close to done, but a bit of progress was made in giving skills extra advantages or commands
* the central complex was redesigned to look fancier and offer more shops. You can get there with a shuttle ticket (improvisable from any trash item).
* Starship/vehicle/robot/items update - new items and several updates to existing items.
* New explosives
* Battlegrounds - an instanced pvp testbed
* Updates to our excellent random generators have been ongoing, I especially recommend the sci fi movie poster generator made web friendly right here:
http://tinyurl.com/wayfarposters* NPCs can now settle new colonies, conquer enemy colonies, and enforce the law.
* JSON mode, while mainly existing to power the graphical client, theoretically allows for completely custom play with a scripted client
* Sector center logs now record the demise of your colonists
* Robots can receive direct commands to pick up specific cargo and receive automated commands to dump all cargo - more updates on AI coming
* the
main weapon roomDungeon generation:
This doesn't do it justice at all, the generator can produce multiple floor buildings, caverns, and other on the fly spaces.
Graphical client:
layout scribblings
crew panel scribblings
HTML5 Canvas render planet maps:
Future:
* new resource spawn allocation system
* galaxy wide market with buy/sell orders
* fully graphical client playable on all devices including my favorite device, the personal computer
* full documentation for the MOO codebase
One of the advantages of MOO, given the understanding of it's terrible permissions system, is that you can collaboratively add things to the world. If you are interested in this, email
admin@wayfar1444.com with your character name and the thing you want to do. MOOcode is a very simple language kind of like visual basic and C mixed together. There is basically unlimited room to create content because, well, science fiction. I usually ask that volunteer programmers play through at least one reroll on wayfar to get a feel for the system. Volunteer wordsmiths are always welcome!