- GodWars
GodWars is a
MUD engine derived from Merc [http://lorry.org/arch-wizard/mudbase.txt] Hierarchy of MUDs] , created in1995 [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.mud.diku/msg/33aef894f8d2aab3?dmode=source&hl=en] First God Wars advert (19th July 1995)] by Richard Woolcock, better known in the MUD community as "KaVir". GodWars MUDs are typically loosely based on White Wolf games such as , and generally offer supernatural classes such asVampire ,Werewolf , Mage andDemon . They tend to be more heavily focused uponplayer versus player combat than most MUDs.More than once there have been copyright issues involving the GodWars codebase. Aldric with the help of fellow mud players Amoeba and Rotain implemented a renamed and editedversion of the GodWars codebase. KaVir saw to it that the mud was shut down and it was only a matter of time before the codebase appeared in the hands of many other unauthorizedpeople. In 1996 the code was illegally posted and advertised on a website for free download [http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/mudtimeline.shtml] Raph Koster's Online World Timeline] . After fighting extensively to stop the illegal use of his codebase, KaVir eventually gave permission for people to use the GodWars codebase by way of a license, although by this point he had already moved on to other projects.
The GodWars codebase was very accessible, and many MUD designers contributed to later versions of the codebase [http://ftp.game.org/cgi-bin/directory?/pub/mud/diku/merc/godwars] Game.org archive of GodWars derivatives] [http://www.mudmagic.com/codes/download/diku/merc/godwars] MudMagic archive of GodWars derivatives] [http://www.mudbytes.net/index.php?a=files&cid=40] MudBytes archive of GodWars derivatives] . GodWars MUDs often included a unique method of gaining "experience points" through explicit, consensual sexual gameplay with another player. The less PvP-oriented "Dystopia" codebase and the entirely PvP-oriented "Utopia" codebase are the most successful examples of further community development. Utopia MUDs removed all grinding elements from gameplay, allowing the player to begin and focus entirely on PvP combat as soon as they finish the extensive character creation process - in other words, growth could only be gained by killing other players.
One of the earliest GodWars derivatives was Vampire Wars, created in October 1995, which won the October 1998 Mud of the Month award at the Mud Connector [http://www.mudconnector.com/motm/motm-1098.html] The Mud Connector Mud of the Month for October 1998] .
God Wars II
Recently, Woolcock has written a new MUD engine named God Wars II, which was chosen as Game of the Month by MudMagic in June 2005 [http://www.mudmagic.com/listings/game/1414] MudMagic Game of the Month for June 2005] and has been described by an article on linux.com as "simply astonishing in its complexity" [http://www.linux.com/feature/119631] Linux.com featured article: Gaming from within the terminal (30th October 2007)] . It features a coordinate based world and a combat system inspired by Firetop Mountain [http://www.gamerz.net/~fm/Main/index.html] Firetop Mountain] , a play-by-email version of Richard Bartle's Spellbinder. The theme and focus resemble the original God Wars MUD, although it has moved away from the White Wolf setting and instead adopted its own dark fantasy theme.
References
External links
* [http://www.mindcloud.com The GodWars Resource Site]
* [http://www.godwars2.org/gw_history.php The History of God Wars]
* [http://www.mudconnect.com/cgi-bin/adv_search.cgi?base=GODWARS&String=GODWARS A list of muds running the GodWars codebase]
* [http://www.godwars2.org The God Wars II official website]
* [http://carboxymoron.com/godwars2/doku.php The God Wars II Wiki]
* [http://mu.wikia.com/wiki/God_Wars_II MU*Wiki entry for God Wars II]
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