MIST (MUD)

MIST also known as Essex MUD was one of the first public access MUDs (Multi-user Dungeon) games in the world. Running at the University of Essex England between the hours of 2am and 8am and at weekends, and free to use, it attained immense popularity among a dedicated user base.

It was based upon the MUD1 code by Richard Bartle and Roy Trubshaw, and ran until the machine that hosted it, a DEC-10, was superseded in 1991. [cite web
author=Michael Lawrie
title=Escape from the Dungeon
year=2003
url=http://lorry.org/arch-wizard/history.html
quote=On January the 31st, 1991, Essex University closed the DEC-10 and with it, MIST and MUD1.]

MIST was notable for its "dog eat dog" and "anything goes so long as some more powerful character doesn't decide otherwise" philosophy, so to speak. Wanton killing or tricking of other level users, or using magic powers to compel them to perform unexpected actions such as attacking others without warning — typically leaving them with the blame — was just as acceptable as supporting them, within the game world. [cite web
author=Michael Lawrie
title=Confessions of an Arch-Wizard
year=1991
url=http://lorry.org/arch-wizard/confessions.html
quote=The British civil service invented this one I think and if you use it as half as well as they do, you are well on your way to becoming a master. The point is that you should build hierarchies and once you have built them you should invent a use for the various levels and make sure people only channel requests or complaints properly. Luckily, games like MIST are naturally designed this way so all you have to do is create a new hierarchy at the top.]

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