Xyllomer
Developer(s)Project community
EngineDGD
Platform(s)Platform independent
Release1991
Genre(s)Medieval fantasy RP MUD
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Xyllomer is a MUD, a text-based online role-playing game, founded in 1991 as PaderMUD (after the University of Paderborn, where it was hosted).[1] It was the first publicly accessible MUD to use Dworkin's Game Driver. It has been hosted in Germany throughout its history.

Game characteristics

Xyllomer's setting is medieval fantasy in theme.[2] Roleplaying is enforced,[3] with strict penalties for improper out-of-character behavior, including conducting out-of-character communication through in-character channels.[2][4] Game mechanics are hidden behind abstractions so as to enhance immersiveness.[5]

Xyllomer supports a gameinfo command at its initial login screen to help new players orient themselves.[6]

History

A screenshot of one of the several login screens Xyllomer displays

In 1992, PaderMUD ported from its original LPMud 2.4.5 infrastructure to the CD gamedriver and mudlib.[7]

In 1993, PaderMUD ported from the CD driver to DGD, becoming the first public DGD MUD.[8]

In 1995, PaderMUD changed its name to Xyllomer.[9]

In 1996, Xyllomer moved to its own dedicated server, which has been funded by the players through donations. Previously, it had been hosted on a server owned by the University of Paderborn.[7]

In 2004, Xyllomer's login screen was quoted as an example of civic-minded warnings issued to players regarding the time-consuming nature of MUDs.[10]

In 2010, Xyllomer has been upgraded to the latest DGD version and the wizards started to transform it into a permanent world setup.

References

  1. ^ Busey, Andrew (1995). Secrets of the MUD Wizards. SAMS Publishing. p. 456. ISBN 0-672-30723-5. PaderMUD MUD IP Name Address: mud.uni-paderborn.de [...] MUD Type: DGD (LPMUD)
  2. ^ a b "Xyllomer: The Mud Concept". Xyllomer. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  3. ^ "Gameplay Information". Xyllomer. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  4. ^ Batinic, Bernad; Reips, Ulf-Dietrich; Bosnjak, Michael (2002-06-15). Online Social Sciences. Hogrefe & Huber Publishing. p. 276. ISBN 0-88937-257-8. [...] is so strongly stressed that private conversations have to be transferred into special out-of-character channels (see for example http://www.xyllomer.de:80/l_guide.html#part3).
  5. ^ Janus, Ulrich; Janus, Ludwig (2007). Abenteuer in anderen Welten [Adventures in Other Worlds] (in German). Psychosozial Verlag. pp. 167, 168. ISBN 978-3-89806-737-9. [pp. 167] Damit das Rollenspiel nicht durch technische Details gestört wird, bleiben in Xyllomer die Zahlenwerte für Erfahrungspunkte und Eigenschaften des Spielers so weit wie möglich hinter Umschreibungen verborgen. [pp. 168] Auch Xyllomer lebt daher von der technischen Weiterentwicklung durch die Wizards und von der zahlreichen Anwesenheit seiner Spieler. [pp. 167] So that technical details do not interfere with roleplay, in Xyllomer the numerical values for experience points and the character's statistics are hidden behind abstractions as much as possible. [pp. 168] And Xyllomer lives on because of the technical development of the Wizards and the presence of its many players.
  6. ^ Hoffman, Allan (1995). 50 Fun Ways to Internet. Book-mart Press. pp. 116. ISBN 1-56414-176-4. If you have trouble connecting to Muddy Waters, or if you want to explore another MUD, try PaderMUD at either mud.uni-paderborn.de 3000 or padermud.uni-paderborn.de 3000. Like Muddy Waters, PaderMUD allows you to log in with the name gameinfo to get yourself oriented.
  7. ^ a b "The History of this world". Xyllomer. April 2001. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  8. ^ Reese, George (1996-03-11). "LPMud Timeline". Retrieved 2010-04-14. December 1993 ¶ PaderMUD re-opens after having converted from CD to DGD, making PaderMUD the first production MUD using DGD.
  9. ^ Reese, George (1996-03-11). "LPMud Timeline". Retrieved 2010-04-14. August 1995 ¶ PaderMUD changes its name to Xyllomer.
  10. ^ Wolf, Dominik (2004). Der einsame Spieler: Vereinsamung durch Internetspiele [The Lone Gamer: Isolation by Internet Games] (in German). GRIN Verlag. p. 21. ISBN 978-3-638-68413-2. Bei einigen MUDs erscheinen sogar Warnhinweise auf dem Bildschirm, bevor man sich einloggen kann, wie hierzu sehen bei dem MUD Xyllomer: "This might become a very time-consuming system if you start to use it, it might take effect on your real-life, especially on your studies! Consider this before you start spending your time here!" [In some MUDs, warnings even appear on the screen before you can log in, as seen in the MUD Xyllomer: "This might become a very time-consuming system if you start to use it, it might take effect on your real-life, especially on your studies! Consider this before you start spending your time here!"]

External links

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