Linkdead — Definition, examples, FAQs, and more

Linkdead: a brief history

The term “linkdead” originated in the early days of online gaming, where internet connections were less stable than today. In these text-based games, a sudden disconnection due to network issues was common, leading to the creation of the term “linkdead” to describe characters who were still in the game world but no longer controlled by a player.

How it's used today

Players use the term “linkdead” whenever someone unexpectedly disconnects from a game session, leaving their character vulnerable or inactive. It appears most in games where each player manages their own character in a shared, online narrative world.

Types of games where the term is commonly used include:

MUD, MUSH, RPMUD, PbP, Chat RPG, Social media RPG, RPI, MMORPG.

Linkdead examples

• In a text-based game, a player’s character might be exploring a dangerous dungeon when the player’s internet connection fails. The character becomes linkdead and stands defenseless against any monsters that encounter them.
• During a critical battle in a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), a player unexpectedly goes linkdead, leaving their character inactive on the battlefield while the rest of the team struggles to adapt.
• A player goes linkdead in a safe zone within the game, such as a town or a city. Other players notice the character standing idly and may attempt to contact the player outside the game to alert them of the disconnection.

Myths and misconceptions

1. A linkdead character is safe from any harm. This is not true. In many games, linkdead characters are still vulnerable to attacks and environmental hazards. However, there may be policies in place prohibiting other players from taking advantage of a linkdead character.
2. If you go linkdead, your character will be automatically logged out right away. While this may be true in some games, in others, characters can remain in the game world for a significant period before being removed for inactivity.
3. Going linkdead is always intentional or a way to escape from difficult situations. In reality, most linkdead incidents are caused by technical issues such as unstable connections or sudden device problems, not by player choice.
4. All players will immediately know when someone has gone linkdead. In many games, there’s no explicit notification, and players might not realize a character is linkdead until noticing lack of responses or actions.
5. Being linkdead has no lasting consequences for the player or character. Depending on the game’s mechanics or rules, going linkdead can result in missed opportunities, character death, or even penalties for repeated disconnections.

Linkdead FAQs

How can you tell if someone is linkdead in a game?

In most text-based games, there are commands you can use to check the status of other players. If someone is linkdead, their status might show as “idle” or “disconnected.” Some games might also announce when a player becomes linkdead to inform others in the immediate virtual vicinity.

What happens to a linkdead character in most games?

While the specifics can vary from one game to another, generally, a linkdead character remains in the game world in a passive state. They can’t perform any actions, but they can still be affected by the game world and other players’ actions.

In many games, there are safeguards that eventually remove inactive linkdead characters from the game world to prevent them from being easy targets.

How can players avoid becoming linkdead?

To minimize the risk of becoming linkdead, players should strive for a stable internet connection and avoid closing the game window or client without properly logging out. Using the game’s “quit” or “logout” command will ensure that the character is safely removed from the game (unless that game keeps all characters in the world at all times, which some do).

Is there any way to help a linkdead player in a game?

In some games, players can cast protective spells or use items to safeguard linkdead characters until they reconnect. However, the available options depend on the game’s mechanics. It’s often encouraged to look out for fellow players who have become linkdead, especially in team-based scenarios.