Community
Tips and advice for making creating welcoming communities, addressing sources of toxicity, and solving community-related issues in roleplaying games.
Latest posts
Lumen et Umbra: re-imagining a world between light and shadow
Learn how Simone, AKA Niymiae, rebuilt the Italian game Lumen et Umbra from its Diku roots into a one-of-a-kind hack-n-slash MUD with ARPG influences.
Too many MUDs, not enough players?
We've all heard it, but is it true? And does that mean it's a lost cause to make a new MUD in 2025? Andruid shares her two cents.
MudVault: a new way to discover MUDs
Asmodeus, creator of MudVault, is building tools to make MUDs easier to find, fairer to rank, and more fun to play - all while keeping the focus on user experience.
Federation 2 Community Edition: from hauling cargo to shaping the galaxy
Federation 2: Community Edition is a player-run revival of a space trading MUD. Jonathan (“Cosmo”) shares how it came back from the brink - and why it's still special 30+ years later.
Bridging virtual worlds: past and future of the InterMUD chat network
Long before Discord, MUDs had cross-game chat networks. This post dives into the sometimes dramatic history of InterMUD.
A picture worth a thousand rooms: the Worldmap project by Hades_Kane and Grieffels
Discover how Hades_Kane and Grieffels built a worldmap system that lets you quickly make areas from PNG files. Includes screen reader support!
3 Years of Writing Games: a look back
Compelling insights and key takeaways from the first year of interviews in a single post.
MUDing mistakes and surprising lessons learned
Read about a text game blunder I made and the lessons I took away from the experience about mistakes, reputation, and trust in MU* games.
Making a MUD vs. creating a game: is there a difference?
So you're making a MUD: does that also make you a Game Creator? Is there a difference? Find out in this installment of Ask Andruid.
AI-written content in online RP games: “it’s ruining my experience”
What can you do if your fellow players are using AI to do their writing in your favorite text-based RP game? Read on for some food for thought.
SysAdmin Day: celebrating the people who keep our favorite games running
Learn why SysAdmins are important for MU*s, plus ways to celebrate them on SysAdmin Day. Featuring quotes from Opie, Faraday, and Viriato.
Shattered MU: beyond monsters and magic
Tat, creator of Shattered MU (a post-apoc game), talks about the importance of community and shares her guidelines for game design.
AresMUSH: the next-gen server platform
Faraday talks about why she created AresMUSH, as well as some of the core tenets that went into its development.
MU* Accessibility Week: 6 ways to take part
It's MU* Accessibility Week! Whether you're a staffer or player, there are ways to get involved and make a difference. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Excelsior: new stories in a unique Marvel universe
Manu (Power) and Lae (Mind) share their experiences running Excelsior: a roster-only MUSH set in a unique Marvel universe.
Evennia: a modern way to create MU*s
Learn about Evennia, the Python MU* creation system, from Griatch, the developer who's been working on the project for more than a decade.
Helpfile Spring Cleaning: 10 ways to participate
It's Helpfile Spring Cleaning Week! Here are 10 ways that staff and players can get together to improve their favorite games.
Concordia MU: Write your own destiny
Spes, owner and co-creator of Concordia MU, talks about the many hats she wears and what she sees as her most important role in the game.
How game design drives investment, stakes, and conflict in roleplay-intensive (RPI) MUDs
Within the text-based gaming community, RPIs have a reputation for being toxic cesspools, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Silent Heaven: a supernatural horror MU*
Silent Heaven is a supernatural horror MU* known for its emphasis on story and its relatively non-toxic RP community.
![Data Privacy Week: 10 tips for safer gaming [2026]](https://writing-games.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Data-Privacy-Week_Featured.webp)
Data Privacy Week: 10 tips for safer gaming [2026]
It's Data Privacy Week! Learn why you should care and what you can do to protect yourself and your communities online.
MU* Staff Appreciation Day: 9 ways to say thanks
December 1st is MU* Staff Appreciation Day! Don't forget to say thank you to the hard-working staffers who make your favorite pastime possible.
Celebrating International MUD Day: 8 ideas
Learn what International MUD Day is and what it's all about. Plus, get ideas for celebrating the holiday with your friends.
EmpireMUD: a player-driven city-builder
Khufu shares his experiences building a screen reader-friendly map for his long-running map-based game: EmpireMUD.