Archipelago FAQ -- overview

I. OVERVIEW

General
- What is Archipelago?
  Archipelago is a medieval and fantasy flavored world set on islands in a sea. It is classless-based mud, where anyone can learn anything they want with limitations determined solely by one's natural abilities. Magic is based on the Ars Magica game system. Spells are powerful, and virtually cost-free to all. Movement and combat is affected by encumbrance. Nearly all objects, creatures, and places have been richly described for your gaming and role-playing fun.
- Roleplaying? is it a requirement?
  No, it is optional, and it wouldn't hurt to try it. Archipelago is moving toward a system where roleplaying will be more heavily relied upon. There are a few quests available now, most of them hand-run affairs. Social ranks exist where one can gain fame, or infamy, depending on their deeds. Titles and nobility will be available soon.
- Ok, how does one get into the game?
  Telnet to hot.virtual-pc.com 2895, its ip is 194.217.102.6 2895.
  [Editor's note: The current clique of people running Archipelago at the above mentioned address are unfriendly, and hostile. The editor does not support them, instead will support the administrators of the other Archipelago, named Tempora Heroica. They are located at ruby.ils.unc.edu 2895, its ip is 152.2.81.1 2895].
  The editor's personal thoughts on this issue.
- Archipelago Web Resources
  A few nice graphics can be found at the Archipelago Image Gallery. The player faqs, builder's guidebook, and info on how to submit a building proposal can be found at the Archipelago Index. The homepages of a few players are linked at Jolanda's place.
- What is the code based on?
  The underlying code is based on CircleMUD 2.20, Jeremy Elson's derivative of DikuMUD. Needless to say, Archipelago has heavily modified, improved, and built upon the original. A public release version of Archipelago's old code (dated June 1996) is available via CircleMUD's ftp site. Archipelago's new code (dated June 1997) is also available. This version incorporates many new features and improvements too numerous to name -- Dynamic Mob Language, magic foods, drunken code to name a few. Finger archi@sdf.lonestar.org for additional details.
  
  Muds currently running archi's code:
  - Archipelago (hot.virtual-pc.com:2895)
  - Authmania (ubik.virtual-pc.com:5000)
  - Heroica Tempora (ruby.ils.unc.edu:2895)
  - -- your mud here.
- How many levels are there?
  There are 210 mortal levels (masked) with Avatars at the pinnacle. Levels are not displayed or relied upon as a measure of one's greatness. Six immortal levels are available: Builder, Bodhisattva, Daemon, Djinn, Overlord, and Implementor.
Info about the mud's server