==========================
MOOniversity LITE
BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO MOOING
==========================
MOO (Multi-User Domain Object Oriented) is a computer program that
allows multiple users to connect via the Internet to a shared database
of rooms and other objects and interact with each other and the
database in synchronous time.
This guide is designed to get you started with MOOing. Some of the
basic MOO commands are explained two different ways because some users
will be using TELNET programs to access the MOO, and some users will be
using the new enCore Xpress MOO client. We have written the guide to
benefit all users.
Once you have connected type 'help' to get an index of help topics, or
click on the HELP button on your Xpress toolbar. To get specific help
on communication, for example, you can type 'help communication' or
select the topic you want in the Xpress Help Browser search box. For
more in-depth information about use of educational MOOs we refer you to
our books _High Wired: On the Design, Use, and Theory of Educational
MOOs_ ( -
To talk to someone in the same room as you are, you type a quotation
mark " followed by what you want to say, like this:
"Hello there!
You see this in the output frame: You say, "Hello there!"
Everyone else in the room sees: Ann says "Hello there!"
You can use body language, also known as emoting, by typing a colon
followed by text like this:
:smiles
You see this text in the output frame: Ann smiles.
Everyone else in the room sees: Ann smiles
Often, when several people are in the same room, you may want to
address a particular person. To do that type 'to' followed by the name
of the person you want to talk to, and then what you want to say.
A FEW BASIC COMMANDS
--------------------
To see how the room you're in looks like, just type 'look' or click on
the LOOK button on the Xpress toolbar. To get information about the
objects around you, including yourself and other users, you can click
on the object link in the right-hand web area window, or type:
look object
Example: look news - to see the description of that object
examine object
Example: examine news - to see the description, and additional
information, like the owner of the object, and some commands on how to
use it.
If you have a player account (i.e., you are not a guest), one of the
first things you should do after you connect is to set your personal
preferences such as gender, description and so on. To do this simply
type:
@preferences
If you are using Xpress, click on the Options button. Fill in the
information as desired. If you have questions about the fields to fill
in, click on the lightbulb for HELP.
COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
------------------------------ -
To talk to someone in the same room as you are, you type a quotation
mark '" followed by what you want to say, like this:
"Hello there!
You see this in the output frame: You say, "Hello there!"
Everyone else in the room sees: Ann says "Hello there!"
You can use body language, also known as emoting, by typing a colon
followed by text like this:
:smiles
You see this text in the output frame: Ann smiles.
Everyone else in the room sees: Ann smiles
Often, when several people are in the same room, you may want to
address a particular person. To do that type 'to' followed by the name
of the person you want to talk to, and then what you want to say.
to John Good to see you again :-).
John, you, and everyone else sees: Ann [to John]: Good to see you again
To communicate with people who are not in the same place you are, you
can 'page' them:
page John Do you have time for a question?
The 'page' command can be shortened to '-' like this:
-john Hi, may I come over?
You can also 'remote emote' by typing:
+john smiles and waves
MOVING AROUND
-------------
In every room exits or entrances are listed either at the bottom of
your screen, or if there is a map or image, perhaps marked by a words
or letters on the map itself, or directional words like in, out, up,
down. To move in a given direction simply type the name of the
direction or exit. For example, if you see an exit named 'west', you
type 'west' to go there. If a code on the map says 'LIB', you type LIB
to go there. If you are using Xpress, the exits or entrances will
appear as links, so you simply click on the link.
If you get lost, you can always get back to where you started by typing
'home'. A fast and convenient way to move around is to '@join' other
users. To see who is in the MOO type
@who
If you are using Xpress, click on the WHO button.
If you see another user online named John, you can join him by typing:
@join John
Or click on the link in the location column of the Xpress Who window.
Another way to move quickly between locations in the MOO is to use the
'@go' command if you know the name of the place. If, for example, you
want to go to a place called 'Classroom', you type:
@go Classroom
People come to the MOO for many different reasons, some come to work,
others to hang out or visit with friends. Out of courtesy, you should
always ask before you join someone. For example, if you want to talk to
John, you should type
@knock John
If he wants to talk to you he can reply with
An
occasional problem on MOOs is harassment from anonymous guests or other
users. To deal with this problem there are certain commands that you
can use.
@gag person - This will effectively filter out anything the person says
or pages until you type @ungag person.
@eject! person - Use this command to expel someone from a room you own.
@lock here with me - Will lock the room so nobody can come in. @unlock
here will unlock your room. Or, if you are using Xpress, you can click
on the padlock icon to lock your room.
You can also contact the wizards and ask them for help
@wizards - Will tell you the name or names of wizards who are online.
MOO CLIENTS
-----------
If you are using telnet to connect to the MOO, the text you type in may
get disrupted and broken up by the output from the MOO. This can be
very confusing and frustrating, and the best way to deal with it is to
use the enCore Xpress client. There are also many other MOO clients
available, see for example http://web.nwe.ufl.edu/~tari/connections/client-info.html.
To log out type: @quit (or click on the QUIT button in Xpress)
Finally, remember that one of the most useful help commands in MOO is
this one: say Hi, I\'m new here. Do you have a minute for a question?
Good luck and happy MOOing.
Cynthia Haynes and Jan Rune Holmevik
",0] ); //-->
@invite player-name
Depending on the configuration of the MOO, real names and email
addresses of users may be available. For more information about a given
user you can type:
@whois name
Or, if you are using Xpress, click on the WHO button, then the person's
name link.
PRIVACY AND SAFETY
------------------
An occasional problem on MOOs is harassment from anonymous guests or
other users. To deal with this problem there are certain commands that
you can use.
@gag person - This will effectively filter out anything the person says
or pages until you type @ungag person.
@eject! person - Use this command to expel someone from a room you own.
@lock here with me - Will lock the room so nobody can come in. @unlock
here will unlock your room. Or, if you are using Xpress, you can click
on the padlock icon to lock your room.
You can also contact the wizards and ask them for help
@wizards - Will tell you the name or names of wizards who are online.
MOO CLIENTS
-----------
If you are using telnet to connect to the MOO, the text you type in may
get disrupted and broken up by the output from the MOO. This can be
very confusing and frustrating, and the best way to deal with it is to
use the enCore Xpress client. There are also many other MOO clients
available, see for example http://web.nwe.ufl.edu/~tari
/connections/client-info.html .
To log out type: @quit (or click on the QUIT button in Xpress)
Finally, remember that one of the most useful help commands in MOO is
this one: say Hi, I'm new here. Do you have a minute for a question?
Good luck and happy MOOing.
Cynthia Haynes and Jan Rune Holmevik