MUD Hybrid Room System Architecture

1. Overview

This document outlines the architecture of a hybrid room system for a MUD (Multi-User Dungeon). The system will utilize a grid-based approach for standard rooms, allowing movement in six directions: North, South, East, West, Up, and Down. Additionally, the system will support special teleportation doors and player-created Guild Rooms under specific conditions.

2. Room System Components

2.1 Grid-Based Room System

• Grid Coordinates: Each room will be assigned a unique (x, y, z) coordinate in a 3D grid. This will allow for simple and predictable room placement and navigation.
• Standard Exits: Each room can have up to six standard exits: North, South, East, West, Up, and Down. These exits correspond to movement along the grid:
  • North: (x, y+1, z)
  • South: (x, y-1, z)
  • East: (x+1, y, z)
  • West: (x-1, y, z)
  • Up: (x, y, z+1)
  • Down: (x, y, z-1)

2.2 Special Teleportation Doors

• Teleportation Exits: Some rooms will contain special doors that, instead of following the grid, will teleport players to non-adjacent or even non-grid rooms.
  • Teleportation Mechanism: Each teleportation exit will have a target room ID, allowing for flexible and creative room connections.
  • Scripted Events: Teleportation may also be tied to specific events, such as solving puzzles or defeating enemies.

2.3 Room Types

• Admin-Created Rooms: The majority of the MUD’s rooms will be created and managed by administrators. These rooms include all key areas, such as starting zones, towns, dungeons, and special event areas.
• Player-Created Guild Rooms: Players can create rooms under certain conditions:
  • Guild Creation: Players may form a guild by meeting the required number of members (configurable, e.g., 5 members).
  • Guild Room Creation: Once a guild is formed, the guild leader may create a Guild Room. This room will be linked to the main grid but will have the following features:
    • Customization: Guild members can customize the room’s description, furniture, and other elements within predefined limits.
    • Access Control: Only guild members or invited players can enter the Guild Room.
    • Expansion: Guild Rooms can be expanded as the guild grows, with additional rooms linked to the main Guild Room.

2.4 Room Attributes

Each room will have the following attributes:

• Room ID: A unique identifier for the room.
• Coordinates: The (x, y, z) location on the grid.
• Description: A text description of the room, visible to players.
• Exits: A list of standard exits (North, South, East, West, Up, Down).
• Special Exits: A list of teleportation exits, if any.
• Owner: The owner of the room (Admin, Guild, etc.).
• Permissions: Controls who can enter, modify, or interact with the room.
• Items/Objects: List of items or objects present in the room.
• Scripts/Triggers: Any scripts or triggers associated with the room, such as environmental effects or NPC behaviors.

3. Room Creation and Management

3.1 Admin Room Creation

• Tools: Admins will use a dedicated room editor tool to create and link rooms. This tool will allow setting all attributes, exits, and special features.
• Batch Creation: Admins can create multiple rooms in batches to streamline world-building, especially for large areas like dungeons or towns.

3.2 Player Guild Room Creation

• Guild Formation: A guild must meet the minimum member requirement to qualify for a Guild Room.
• /guildroom Command: The guild leader can use a command such as /guildroom create to initiate the creation of a Guild Room.
  • Customization Menu: Once created, the guild leader will have access to a customization menu to set the room's description, objects, and initial layout.
• Room Expansion: As the guild grows, additional commands like /guildroom add [direction] can be used to create adjacent rooms.

3.3 Room Linking and Navigation

• Room Linking: Standard rooms will be linked via their grid-based coordinates. Special rooms or non-grid locations will use teleportation exits.
• Pathfinding: The system will support pathfinding algorithms to help players navigate complex areas, especially those involving teleportation or non-standard exits.

4. Security and Access Control

• Room Permissions: Each room will have a set of permissions defining who can enter, modify, or interact with the room. Admins will have full control, while guild leaders manage permissions for their Guild Rooms.
• Locking Mechanisms: Certain rooms can be locked, requiring keys or solving puzzles to enter. This feature adds an additional layer of security and gameplay depth.

5. Expansion and Flexibility

• Future-Proofing: The architecture is designed to be flexible, allowing for future expansion of both the grid system and teleportation mechanics.
• Scriptable Events: Admins can easily add scripted events, such as secret doors or dynamic room changes, to enhance gameplay.
• Room Merging: In special cases, rooms can be merged or divided to form larger or more complex environments.

6. Conclusion

The hybrid room system outlined here provides a robust and flexible architecture for the MUD, balancing the simplicity of a grid-based system with the creative possibilities of teleportation and player-driven content. By allowing both admin-controlled and player-created rooms, the system supports a dynamic and engaging game world that can evolve over time.