For easily confused souls, follow these steps and avoid the rest of the document if you value your sanityyyyy.
1.) Get a client here
Be sure to download the executable, not the source.
2.) Install the client.
3.) Choose a MUCK you like. here's
a list.
4.) READ THEIR WEBSITE
5.) Run your client, add the world you picked. You
should need a server name, and a port number.
6.) Connect to the MUCK. Once connected, follow the
instructions or type 'connect guest guest'
7.) Type the names of exits to go through them. Type
the names of actions to invoke them.
8.) Find some other furries, and sit back and watch for a
while. Go ahead and socialize if you feel up to it.
9.) Ask someone how to request a character (type 'say How
do I request a character?'), if the website didn't already tell you how.
What is a MUCK?
A MUCK is an online text based role playing game. It bears many similarities to chat software such as IRC or ICQ, but MUCKs are not just chat. They are a fine blend of drama, social atmosphere, imagination, and programming.
There are 2 parts to a MUCK: clients and the server. The first is the server. Every MUCK has a single computer that stores the program and all the information for everything. The program I'm familiar with is called Fuzzball. It's a program (written in C) that sets up a computer to act as a MUCK server. Once Fuzzball is running, any computer connected to the server by way of a network, or the Internet (including the one running Fuzzball) may log on using a standard procedure called the Telnet protocol. This procedure is a bunch of weird, unreadable garbage that we don't want to deal with.
This brings us to the second part: MUCK clients. There are programs that translate our readable text into garbly Telnet protocol and back. One of them (the one that comes free with windows) is called telnet.exe. It's by no means an acceptable one, though. Other, more sophisticated programs, called MUCK clients, do the same thing, but in a nice, easily understood way. These clients run on individual's computers, not the server, and allow the client computers to communicate with a server running Fuzzball in the language of Telnet.
You don't need a server to play on a MUCK, but you do need a client. They may be purchased, or downloaded for free in some cases. Here's some of the free ones. ^.^
Trebuchet
TK
This is the MUCK client I use. <g>
It's made by the same guys who made Fuzzball. Rather than being written
as an executable, it's written as a script, in TCL. That means you
also need the TCL program to interpret the script, downloadable here.
Why not executable? Well, script means source, so if you know how
to program TCL, you can customize the pants off your MUCK client.
^.^ Not to mention TCL is available for Windows, Unix, MacOS, and
many other operating systems. Get the right TCL, and you will be
able to use Trebuchet TK regardless of your computer's OS.
Pueblo
Hooray! Hooray! Pueblo has become
freeware. If you program in C/C++, you can now customize the pants
off of Pueblo too! But it's always a pain to compile, so those of
you without a clue, just get the executable. It's great. Pueblo
supports graphics, pictures, and even MIDI sounds! Add a whole new
dimension to your MUCKing experience.
Now all you need is the address of a computer with MUCK servers, and a port number.
What To Do on a MUCK
Now that you have your MUCK client downloaded and installed, what can a server do for you? Well first you have to find one.
Try here for a hyooge list of furry-themed MUCKs, where animals or animal like characters are welcomed, encouraged, (even required in some cases! o.o)
Mud Connector has more
information on general MUCKs out there than you could ever possibly want
to know.
Here
to get straight to the Mud Connector listings.
MUCKs are games in which you assume a character (also known as a Player), interact with other characters run by real people online, play with Objects and exist in Rooms. Every MUCK command is in the following format '<command> <stuff>'. The command is always on the left.
All these Players, Objects, and Rooms get to use memory on the server. That means what you build can be shared with anyone on the MUCK. Such a nice thing is easily taken advantage of, however. To prevent this, you need a username and password to get on, otherwise known as a character.
There is hope for the clueless however. Most any MUCK can be freely visited by connecting as a guest. Usually it involves typing something like 'connect guest guest' after you connect to the MUCK server. There will be instructions displayed if it's different. Guests are special characters that can't build or change anything, or do anything dangerous to the MUCK. You will have limited access to many commands, and can happily test out whatever MUCK server you find. But you can't change anything, not even your own description.
Get an idea for the atmosphere, and don't be afraid to ask for help. ('wizzes' is a very nice command) It's just like being in a text based adventure with real people playing alongside you! Try 'look <stuff>' 'go <exit>' and of course 'help'. Once you know what kind of character you want, check to see if they have an @request command. If so, you can @request your character right there on the MUCK! If not, there will be an email address you can send your request to.
To get a real character on the MUCK, you need to give them a valid, nonfree, nonAOL email address. Your ISP's should be fine. I've been on lots of MUCKs and they keep the emails absolutely secret. Once you give them an email, by email or by @request, you will receive a returning email with your requested name and password.
As a character, you can create objects, rooms, and actions. Actions are the commands that you can use. (remember? <command> <stuff>) You yourself are an object (a Player object) and you can store text on yourself such as a description, a scent, a species.... People can always look at your description, smell you, use the 'ws' command, to see how your character appears. It's a tool so you don't have to describe yourself all the time. Beyond that, it's all imagination.
People meet usually in a small subset of the MUCK i.e. one or two rooms. Chances are, the starting point is near the main gathering point. Beyond it, the number of furrs usually decreases exponentially. Since MUCKs are text based, you have to use commands to describe what you say and what you do virtually.
'say <stuff>' allows you to say stuff. " can be substituted
for say.
'pose <stuff>' allows you to pose stuff. : can be
substituted for pose. Every nonverbal action in a MUCK is described
in a pose, a message with your name prepended to it. Type 'pose raises
a paw.' and everyone in your current room will see '<yourname> raises
a paw.' Say does the same thing, except it formats <stuff> surrounding
it in quotes.
With these simple commands, almost all role playing is enacted on a MUCK. These are real people, far more interesting than that funny troll in Zork.
Furry MUCKs and STH MUCKs and -the- Transformations MUCK
There are many furry MUCKs of all different sorts of things. I can even give you two that only do role playing, period. Being of a similar bent, I avoid the erotic furry stuff myself, and I think I can give you a good synopsis of how to find good clean fun on a MUCK.
When on a MUCK, some people are going to be yiffy. For that reason, there are designated areas for most of that stuff. You can usually avoid them by paying close attention to any warning messages around. Sometimes, someone will just up and try to snuggle with you, and you can politely ask them to stop. I only had it happen once in 8 MUCK-years. (1 year on 8 MUCKs. ^.^) Of course if someone's indolent about it, you can log the events, and go to a wizzard who will politely warn them, then kick them off the MUCK if they can't behave.
For the most part, a MUCK is an online game that combines a good imagination, a love of role playing, a sense of community, and a delight in programming. In public areas one must be polite, and tolerant of others' actions. At the same time, no one is supposed to do anything that would offend anyone else. In private areas... well they're -supposed- to be marked for yiffiness. Watch out for places like "The Busted Bra" and anything making lewd references to horses. There are even groups that get together for non erotic stuff on Tapestries, a furry BDSM MUCK. If you don't know what BDSM stands for, consider yourself lucky. ;p
Click here for Ben Raccoon's list of Furry MUCKs:
Furry MUCK List (NOT AUTOMATIC yet... ^.-)
Here are the MUCKs I've been on, and my recommendations:
MUCK -- server.address:port
Furtoonia --
ft.catsden.net:9999
This is one of my favorites. It's borderline IC/OOC with
furries talking about many things from pop songs to proper ways to stalk
squirrels. There is already one mongoose on here. Guess who?
^.^ This is the official runoff MUCK for FurryMUCK. They made it
when Furry got too crowded. Thankfully, Furtoonia has remained relatively
uncrowded, and it's a nice friendly place to be.
SPR -- spr.ctrl-c.liu.se:23
First off, SPR stands for SocioPolitical Ramifications. Don't
ask. It was a pun from years before my character came there. This
MUCK is a bit more serious, more mature, yet of the same flavor as Furtoonia.
Here was born the classic "Discuss!" exclamation where someone states a
philosophical viewpoint, and then finishes it with "Discuss?" or if they're
feeling authoritative, "Discuss!" It's great fun, and good for many
varied conversations. SPR has a massively complex space system, which
is unfortunately set up so someone can force you to stop playing for a
while. I like it ok, but it's not a place for detailed space RP.
More shoot-em-up.
SpinDizzy --
muck.spindizzy.org:7072
This is a toon MUCK, friendly and whimsical. It has a bunch
of fans of toons, and a pleasant, unassuming atmosphere. They've
got their own newspaper (@action News), and their own society of incompetent
Evil Doers. The wizards are friendly but very strict about building
policies. The God has managed to keep the MUCK geographically sound,
for the most part. There are some cool projects underway as well,
often enumerated in the newspaper.
Now that I've suitably dashed your hopes of role playing into the ground, here are two sister MUCKs that are specifically themed on role playing:
FurryFaire --
furryfaire.org:8888
This is a furry fantasy MUCK themed on general fantasy. They're
just recently getting used to their new RP system but things look to be
running smoothly. This is the best (only) place where I have actually
participated in a TP (TinyPlot): a story acted out completely IC with a
moderator (GM) working behind the scenes. Check out my little place
(see bottom) for a log of the TP, edited for OOC comments and such. Swordsmen,
magic slingers, great wise counselors, psions, spirits, peasants, kings,
and gods, all come over occasionally for a drink and a laugh at the FurryShire
tavern, where all things begin.
FurrySpace --
k9.vfocus.com:8888
I don't have a character here, but this MUCK is supposed to be
like FurryFaire in that all actions are IC unless stated as OOC, except
that it is themed with... you guessed it. Furry SpaaAAACE! (ACE Ace
ace...) I've heard some complaints about their system, but from what I
can see it's a great RP system for people who love pushing buttons and
twiddling things. I don't know much of what goes on here, since they
-never- post their logs. ;) But boy do they have a good handful of
events http://www.furryspace.com/events.htm to choose from.
Those two pretty much enforce a morphic character, because of universe limitations.
Oh, I forgot! Here's the two STH MUCKs I've tried out, but never gotten characters on:
ChaosMUCK
-- www.fanfic.com:3333
This is the big one. The great hoozah. The top bumbino.
The only STH MUCK where I've ever experienced... *gasp* lag. I only
came on as a guest, but according to their web page they do lotsa stuff.
FluffMUCK -- fluffmuck.org:8888
You are seeing a rare STH supportive general furry MUCK.
They are almost extinct in the wild. If you look closely, you can
see the rings under the administrators' eyes as they contemplate copyright
infringement... Actually this MUCK is just a bunch of fluff, and no lawyer
could live with themselves (monetarily or morally) trying to shut it down.
It's a bit more lewd than Furtoonia, but from the starting point, you can
run taxi,mocv to get to the Sonic area.
All the other STH MUCKs I tried (including the one I was on o.o) were all defunct, shut off, bye bye gone go boom. Good luck if you find any others (that are working). ;)
Altered Realities
-- ar.squeep.com:8888
This is the one, the only, the way2kewl MUCK
that is themed on Transformation. Characters here are always changing
their description, almost faster than you can look at them! It's
a world where reality itself wavers constantly, and anyone who enjoys role
playing transformations should give this a try. We're talking animal
TFs, changes in gender, changes into machinery, and the weirdest change
of all: logging off into a human. ;) There are some adult themes
here, so the faint of heart can follow
the advice of Paf!
the Porcupine
Now for IRC. And how to get to the Transformations/Furry discussion
I'm not as experienced. Nor are there as many choices. First, you need the software.
For the most part, mIRC is the only reliable software and is available here
http://www.pirchat.com/ doesn't work. DON'T TRY IT! Well, go ahead and try it, but be ready for it to unexpectedly crash.
Once that's all installed, you need to select a server. IRC works like this: you type in stuff and send it to a server. The server sends it to everyone in your current channel. The server you need is called Undernet. mIRC should come with it already installed. There are many servers that relay Undernet, so just pick the one closest to you. Run the program and establish a connection with the server.
Once you see text coming in (it usually takes a few tries) you can list all the channels. DON'T! There's over 10,000 channels and you'll be waiting around for at least 5 minutes while the server locks up your software. All you need to know is the channel #tsa_list. That's the one you want. #tsa_list is the official Transformation channel (you may never come out the same...) with their own web page at http://tsairc.transform.to/
Join #tsa_list and you will be able to chat with famous people like Jaggs, SkunkBomb, and JLehererer... to name a few. I come on occasionally as Wesel, but unfortunately I changed computers and haven't installed mIRC on this one.
The furries have their own server! It's called Yiffnet, and it's separate from Undernet. Try here to find the computers that serve Yiffnet. There are many channels on this server (but less than 100, so you *can* list them) for various discussions and furplay. Watch out, some channels are devoted to downright spooge, but listing them should show you that in their subject line. (As if we had any question what #male_yiff meant)
I don't know about transgender stuff. I'm sure there are plenty of channels and servers out there, but I don't get into it at all. If that is what you seek, good luck. I hope I've helped a bit.
See ya there!