• In expanded Xroads, have shopkeepers discriminate pricing by realm :)

• Byrmic's bar in town has colorful messages that describe various bar patrons flirting with waitresses.
• Incorporate NPC mobs into the bar for barkeep, waitresses, and other patrons that interact with each other AND can flirt with/be flirted with by players.
• Include males and females for fairness.

• Legend of the Red Dragon is a simple and popular game that incorporates many features like character marriages that could/should be incorporated in jXroads.

• In all player descriptions, and in commands where players look at other players, update the output to be in this format: Classtitle Name of Realmcity
• Examples: “Journeyman Exile of Aquatica” or “Exile, Journeyman of Aquatica”
• Allow player to pick style of title

• Make players persistent in the game and able to be attacked even when logged out… unless they are in a camp, room, or house.
• A camp is a newbie safe area… no player or monster attacks, outdoors under the stars…. but thieves will probably still be able to loot player possessions.
• A room is a place in the central city/town that low-level characters can rent from barkeeps or hostels that can be locked (the player gets a door key?) Recurring rental fees.
• A house is a place in a realm city that a player can buy from another player or build new. One time costs.

• A high enough player (10+) can purchase a house in one of the realm cities.
• Existing houses are already described, cheaper, and can be purchases from the real estate agent, local duke/king, or other players.
• Players can pay extra to remodel existing houses.
• Players can also pay more to build new, and then they can describe it themselves as they build it.

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:

• Play - already have a character
• Play - needs to roll character first
• Intro
• High
• Exit

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.

1. Choose a character name
2. Choose an element
3. Choose a class
4. Accept random dice rolls

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.

• whispers
• player to player and player to monster combat results

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

http://www.netbook-of-uck.net/index.htm