Muds are based on the Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) of yesteryear. But, just as the Internet has come a long way, so have D&D, and there are now something like 3,000 Muds out there covering every conceivable fantasy and science fiction genre.

You won't get fancy shiny 3D graphics or whizzbang audio effects at muds. At WoTmud, what you do get, are Wheel of Time-themed races, places, weaves and weapons that are as accurate to the books as possible, where you can interact with up to 100 players playing on a level playing field, all set amidsts the adreneline rush of the race war.

To play the mud all you need is Telnet software and a live connection to the Internet (Sorry folks, it doesn't work on web TV). Telnet software is loaded onto all Windows operating systems, but there are also plenty of places that you can download one for free such as Tucows. WoTmud's address is below: read the helpfiles and just follow the instructions (the port is 2222). By way of explanation, Telnet is simply another way of using the Internet. When you use a web browser such as Netscape or Explorer, you use the http 'protocol' and when you use Telnet you use the telnet 'protocol'. For more help with Telnet, see here.

You can also use a telnet applet at our site: follow the link beside 'java' below.

Wotmud, the Wheel of Time mud, started out in 1993, and still has much the same people running it today as it did then. Flash runs the whole show and pays the bills. He also owns the computer that the mud runs on.

There are far too many other people to mention, all of whom have created zones or helped out in some way or another and without which the game would be infinitely poorer. Of the people at the top, all of us have real jobs, and do this "because we can":- purely as a hobby.

Essentially, the game is a network of linked rooms that you traverse by going in a cardinal direction, such as west or north. You can see and talk to other players, you can use a range of emotions, and you need to keep yourself fed and rested. Come across an enemy, and you'll get into a fight, during which you defend yourself by using the skills that you've learned or the weapons and armour that you're wearing.

The game tries to be as realistic as possible, which leads to a fair amount of complexity. We suggest that you'll save yourself a LOT of hassle by reading WoTmud's beginner's tutorial!

Perhaps the key defining characteristic and feature of the game itself is the race war. Everything revolves around the struggle by the clans and people on the 'light' side (humans) against the tribes of the dark (Trollocs and Fades). As in the books, the 'light side occupies the south of the continent and is very much the majority - players are urged to resist playing the 'dark' side until they are familiar with the game.

People die during war, which involves losing everything that you've got (but not your skills). This is known as PK (playerkill), which is unrestricted but player-regulated. In other words, people are likely to come to your aid if you're in trouble against the enemy. Just as a player on the opposing side can kill you, you can also kill them.

It is only natural for people of the same type to congregate, which is why WoTmud has a full clan structure. Joining a clan is generally a good idea as it offers you comradeship, bonusses and other advantages. However, it is considered something special to be in a clan, so you have to 'prove' yourself first, and each of the clans has quests that you must complete to be invited to enter. Clans have their own clanhomes, and each have missions and obligations. They get clan equipment which has good bonusses, and as the clanmember rises in clanlevel there are other bonusses too, such as leading soldiers.

But, being in a clan means that you will be held to a fairly strict roleplay environment, which is supervised by the players themselves overlooked by the roleplay immortals. So if you play a Child of the Light and you decide to go and whack all the villagers in Andor for some easy cash, don't be wildly suprised if you find yourself being chased by either other players or an immortal-controlled guard.

The mud has, at the time of writing, around 330 zones, giving the game a reach from Thakan'dar to Seandar, and from the Aiel Waste to Falme.

All the named cities to the left are in the game or in development. True to the books, Caemlyn is the busiest town around.