Special interfaces
The MUD has a few special interfaces for specific tasks, where--usually--everything you type will have something in particular happen to it, and normal commands (like "look" or "tell") won't execute as normal.
However, if while using one of these you want to perform a command outside of the interface, you can do so by starting the line with an exclamation mark ("!"). This can be handy for making bug reports about dangerous rooms or things (since you can start the report, then leave the room), responding to tells while in the middle of something, or escaping an ordering interface when you're not sure how to do so properly.
Contents
Editors
The editor--whichever one you've chosen--is used for the following:
- MUDmail
- posting on the bulletin boards from within the MUD
- making bug, typo, and idea reports
- writing on things
- editing aliases with the "ealias" command
The "editor" command lets you choose which editor to use.
Menu editor
This editor is the default.
When you first enter it, everything you type--except for lines consisting of two asterisks ("**") and lines beginning with exclamation marks--is added to the message you're writing. You can use enter/return to start a new line. Typing ** will take you out of this part of the interface, and bring up some options:
- H - brings up a helpfile explaining the options
- I - insert text, before a line you will be asked to specify
- D - delete a line or range of lines which you will be asked to specify
- L - list, or show everything that you've written so far
- M - modify a line or range of lines which you will be asked to specify. You'll then be asked what text you want to change and what to change it to, and it will modify every occurrence of that text in the specified lines, then show you the result.
- C - continue editing; add more text starting at the end
- E - enter the ed editor
- S - save your changes and post, send, finish writing, whatever
- Q - quit without saving any changes or posting, sending, etc., anything
If you're in this part of the interface and enter anything it doesn't understand (including a blank line), it will just give you the menu again. So if you accidentally type "d", for example, and don't want to delete anything after all, you can just hit enter or return and nothing will be deleted. Prefacing a command with an exclamation mark to do things outside of the interface works here, too, not just when you're writing the message.
Commands are case insensitive.
Magic editor
The magic editor has far more commands available than the default editor, and help for them that can be accessed while you're using it. It allows finer control and lets you rot13 lines directly.
Ed
Ed.
Command editor
This one is similar to the menu editor and has the same commands, but entering ** will cause you to save and quit instead of bringing up a menu, and you enter commands by prefacing them with ~.
Web editor
With this option, you're given a link to a web page with a text input form. You can then type what you want into that form, and it will be saved when you click the "save" button on that page. However, entering any commands into the MUD before saving will cancel the editor.
Using it looks like this:
>write on paper with pen You start writing on the small piece of cigarette paper with the silver fountain pen. Point your browser at: https://discworld.starturtle.net/lpc/secure/pedit.c You finish writing on the small piece of cigarette paper.
If you're using it to edit pre-existing text (for example, using it to edit an existing alias), then that text will already be in the form.
Converse
The "converse" command causes everything you type to be said (or, if you've specified a person to converse with, sent to them in tells). Sending a line consisting of two asterisks will stop it, and, as with says, you can start a line with #<language name> to say something in a particular language. For example:
converse Give '**' to stop. ] #morporkian Hello. You say: Hello. ] #uberwaldean Hello. You say in Uberwaldean: Hello. ] #klatchian Hello. You say in Klatchian: Hello. ] #agatean Hello. You say in Agatean: Hello. ] Hello You say in Djelian: Hello ] ** Ok.
Repeat
The "repeat" command is similar in concept to "converse", but it can be used with any command, not just say and tell. Essentially, you specify a command, and until you exit the interface, everything you enter will be prefaced by that command.
For example, you can use it to drag an item for multiple rooms without needing to type "drag" over and over.
repeat drag sack Enter the commands you wish to pass to drag sack. "**" on a line by itself to exit. ] e Doing "drag sack e" You get hold of the hessian sack. You drag the hessian sack behind you. A deciduous forest close to a gorge [n,e,jump s,w]. A Lancre reciprocating fox is standing here. A hessian sack is on the ground. You let go of the hessian sack. ] **
Ordering custom items
Most custom peddlers, it should be noted, respond to says and don't use a special interface. Some, though, such as Mrs. Cosmopilite and Ug Ogg, use an interface where you type your choice instead of saying it out loud, so any command you enter without prefacing it with an exclamation mark will be interpreted as trying to make a choice. You can type "quit" (for Mrs. Cosmopilite) or "end" (for Ug Ogg) to stop ordering.
Rituals and spells
Some rituals and spells require--or sometimes require--additional input after being performed or cast, and will interpret the next thing you enter as said input. These include:
- Find Corpse, which requires the name of the player whose corpse it is
- Independent Recurring Vocaliser, which requires the message to be repeated by the item
- Raise Dead Pet which may require the name of the pet to be returned from the dead
Reading help files
When reading a help file that's longer than your specified number of rows, you'll be "stuck" in it until you either reach the end (by repeatedly hitting enter or return) or type "q" or "quit".
You can also type "g" to go to the beginning, "f" to go forward, and "b" to go back.
