Rather than just the plain old boring “welcome, login name, password” login prompts, create several “story-style” descriptions of logging in that help set the mood of the game from the first line of text on.
$ telnet jXroads.crossroadsoftheelements.com Connected...
After a weary trek down a long dusty road, at last you come to the city gates you first spied from far away through the dense forest.
The city guard levels his halberd at your midsection and demands gruffly, "Who are you?"
You answer with the name? USER TYPES LOGINNAME HERE
If the user enters a name not already in the account database, start a new signup with:
The guard looks you over, and says "I don't think I have seen you around before." With that, the guard leads you over to where a city clerk stands. The city clerk says, "I will issue you a writ to enter the city, but you will need to countersign it with a secret word. Next you enter the city, the guard will ask you for the secret word signed against your writ."
What secret sign will you choose prove your identity to the city guard?
If the user exists:
After your state your name, you pull forth your writ of entry, show it to the guard who asks for your secret sign.
You get the idea.
There must be a main menu for people to retreat from the game into.
Why note make the menu into a series of small rooms, where each menu function is represented by a descriptive room and NPC?
The main menu functions are:
When you login, you will be placed in the central room.
You can see in-game yells from here and show up in the player list.
North is a set of stairs leading down into mist that is the same as the Play menu option.
When you go north, you would pass through the Hall of the Gods who examine you, and you would greet your patron diety if you have a character, before entering the game by having your diety magically send you into XR.
If you do not have a character, then see Story Style Character Creation below
West is the Hall of Learning, where an NPC explains all of the items in the Intro menu option.
East is the Hall of Heroes and Villains where each person on the high score list is represented as a statue in the hall with descriptions. A tour guide NPC can read info about players when asked, the info being the same as a detailed LOOK at the player.
South is the exit to the Void which disconnects you.
Include a secret brothel above,below, or behind Byrmics where players can go to be with each other, or to be with paid NPCs.
Recreate the Helix-style new character creation by having players that do not have a character roll stats and such by interacting with an NPC like Statin Mozarch.
Replace the plain descriptions with story-like narratives of what is happening.
Choosing a character name was represented by writing your name on the Scroll of Adventurers
Choosing an element was swearing allegiance to a diety
Choosing a class could be either picking up a sword or a wand
Accepting random dice rolls could be described as viewing a changing mannequin which your diety casts spells on changing strength, magical ability etc.
The Spectator class of players is available for people who want to watch.
The spectator cannot leave the starting rooms (see “Story-Style Main Menu) and cannot speak to other players.
Instead, all server events normally only visible to admins can be read by spectators.
Basically spectator allows someone to see the same data as the old MBBS audit trail and monitor mode showed, but is read-only to prevent a spectator from telling players things that might help them cheat.
The game Dragonrealms has a huge VerbList full of good ideas for an RPG.
Each Player could be allowed to enter a list of taunts and insults used to goad players while fighting them.
Perhaps TAUNTs should be the only allowed form of player definable actions.
TAUNT picks one from the list of generic taunts.
TAUNT victim taunts a specific person using directed action format (including gender specifiers etc).
Incorporate the Guide to Unlawful Carnal Knowledge