Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

The Basics

1. How do I connect?
2. What is the difference between a MUSH and a MUD?
3. Where else can I learn more about MUSHing, netiquette, etc?
4. What is IC/OOC?
5. What are the common commands?
6. How do I use OOCINFO and ICINFO?
7. Who should I ask for help?

8. How do I set my stats and get training/weapons/armor?
9. How often do characters get paid? And how do I pay for stuff?
10. What does consent-based RP mean?
11. Can I have multiple characters?
12. What is the time configuration? (RL time to IC time)

13. What Houses are represented?
14. Do I have to join a Faction?
15. How do I get hired?
16. What kind of character should I create?
17. How can I apply to be a Bene Gesserit?
18. What's Indie mean? And how do I apply?
19. Why can't I play a Fremen?
20. Can I be in the Spacing Guild? Can I be an Ixian or a Tleilaxu?
21. Can I be an orphan mentat-Sardaukar-Kwisatz Haderach-Suk-assassin?
22. What if I haven't heard back from the faction I applied to?
23. Can I make my own Faction?

24. What kind of name should I pick?
25. What should my description look like?
26. What should I wear?

27. What does 'thematic' mean?
28. What is the time period?
29. How much is known of Earth?

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How do I connect?
You can connect to the game if you have an internet connection (which, obviously you do, or you wouldn't be reading this right now), and some kind of client software. If you're already familiar with that sort of thing, here's the relevant information to get you connected:

Host: dune3.mushpark.com
Port: 3333

1. Telnet
   The simplest client software is "Telnet", and is available on almost any computer. It's advantage is that just about every computer already has it installed, but it has several disadvantages when it comes to using it for games such as Dune III. It may be useful to try telnet first just to make sure that you can connect to Dune III, but if you decide you want to stick around and keep playing, you will -definitely- want to download one of the other client programs that are available on the internet.

   WINDOWS:
   On a Windows machine, you can run telnet by going into the Windows folder (usually C:\Windows) and double-clicking on the Telnet.exe icon. At this point, go under the "Connect" menu and select "Remote System". You'll have three boxes to fill in. Here's the information you need:

   Host name: dune3.mushpark.com
   Port: 3333
   Term Type: (Leave this as it is. Usually it's "vt100")

   Fill in that information and click "connect." (Before you "connect", you should be logged on to your Internet account with your Internet Service Provider -- so basically, do whatever you have to do so that your computer is ready to surf the web, then run telnet.) You should see the Dune III welcome screen at that point. Follow the nstructions there, and you'll soon be connected to other players who will be able to answer your further questions.

   UNIX:
   On a Unix Machine, simply type the following at the command prompt:

   telnet dune3.mushpark.com 3333

   MACINTOSH:
   On a Macintosh Machine, you may need to get a telnet application. NCSA Telnet for Macintosh is available for free at:

   www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/SDG/Homepage/telnet.html

2. Other clients
   These are programs that have been specifically written for connecting to and role-playing on MUSHes, MUDs, and other types of online multiplayer games. They are all vastly superior to telnet in just about every way imaginable when it comes to on line role playing. It's well worth the 15 minutes or so that it will take to get one installed and running.

   A list of clients that we recommend can be found on our links page.

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What is the difference between a MUSH and a MUD?
A MUD (Multiple User Dimension, Multiple User Dungeon, or Multiple User Dialogue) is an internet site which users can log into through telnet and explore. MUSH stands for Multi-User Shared Hallucination, and is derived from the MUD family of online games. The difference between the two, however, is that MUDs are typically hack-n-slash venues - you kill monsters, and sometimes other players. You will not find much in the way of combat on a MUSH. The focus, on a MUSH, is in the character interaction, or, RP.

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Where else can I learn more about MUSHing, netiquette, etc?
There is an excellent article titled 'Don't be a TinyJerk' which goes over many of the details of MUD/MUSH netiquette. Other links to informational and tutorial sites can be found on our links page.

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What is IC/OOC?
IC stands for 'In-Character.' This refers to any action your Character would do -- not necessarily you. This is also the flag you have on the +who list when you're RPing. OOC is short for 'Out-Of-Character'. In some circles, the term 'out-of-game' is also used. This is kind of like a time-out from the RP and IC world, where things you say are your own and not your character's.

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What are the common commands?
If you're brand new to MUSHing in general, there are several commands that you'll need to know to get started. (Remember not to type in the <>'s in the examples below; those are just to show the arguments in each command.)

To find out who's logged in, what factions they belong to, and where they are, type +WHO. +WHO will also show you the names of Newbiehelpers (with a +) and which players are currently In Character (IC) and Out of Character (OOC).

To look around the room you're standing in, type look. You can also type look to see objects in the room, or other players in the room, by typing look <name of object or player>

To move from one room to another, type <exit>, where <exit> is the name of the exit you want to pass through.

To speak to someone in the room you're in, type say <your message.>. You can also use a quotation mark instead of say, for instance "<Your message>

To pose, type pose <your pose.>. Posing allows your character to take actions, but doesn't affect your character's position or the room itself. For instance, if you're RPing a social scene, your character might pose drinking. If Jane typed 'pose takes a sip of wine from her goblet', Jane and everyone else would see 'Jane takes a sip of wine from her goblet.'

To send a private message to a single player, type page <player>=<your message>. Only the recipient will see your message.

The game also has channels, which are a quick way of communicating with many players at once. Like a radio channel, anyone who speaks on the channel will be heard by anyone who's listening. To speak on the Newbie channel, type +new <your message>. To see who's listening, type @chan/who Newbie. Individual factions also have channels, which your faction head will tell you about.

That should be enough to get you started communicating, looking around and RPing. For more information you can also read the game's help systems.
For information on PennMUSH hardcoded commands, type HELP.
For information on DuneIII's softcoded commands, type +help.
For information on the DuneIII game, type OOCINFO or ICINFO.

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How do I use OOCINFO and ICINFO?
On Dune III, OOCINFO and ICINFO take the place of the NEWS and RULES commands used in other MUSHes. We make a distinction between information you (the player) would know, and information your character would know. OOCINFO means Out of Character Info; and ICINFO means In Character Info.

OOCINFO represents stuff that you should know about the game's policies, rules we use in playing the game, and game systems. For instance, the game's policy on multiple characters can be viewed by typing OOCINFO MULTIPLE CHARACTERS.

ICINFO represents lore your character would commonly know as a denizen of the Dune Universe, such as its culture, history and laws. For instance, to learn more about the Landsraad, the parliament of Great Houses, type ICINFO Landsraad.

To use either system, type OOCINFO or ICINFO and follow the commands shown.

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Who should I ask for help?
If you've gone through the tutorial in our Newbie Room, and still are unsure of what to do, there are several options available to you for help:

The Newbie Channel
Several players throughout the day are available to help on the Newbie Channel. Perhaps, someone said hello to you when you first signed on, with what they were saying prefaced by <Newbie>. To ask anything on this chan, simply type:

+n Hello! (and anything else you'd like to say)

NewbieHelpers
These are players who are especially knowledgeable about DuneIII and its theme, and can be asked for assistance when needed. To see who the connected NewbieHelpers are, just type '+who' and look for those folks with + to the left of their names. You can ask them for help by using page (see 'help page') or the Newbie chan (see above).

Admins
Our friendly Admin staff is also available to help when connected. '+admin' will show you the list of admins who are online.

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How do I set my stats and get training/weapons/armor?
Unlike many roleplaying games, we don't use stats or skills. You can define your character almost as you wish, subject to approval by the head of the faction you're seeking to join. The character concept should be well-thought out and reasonable, similar to the characters you'd find in the Dune novels. A character can possess almost any physical attributes and skills that are appropriate for his background, career and training. The faction web pages give many good examples of character backgrounds and some indication of the sort of physical and mental abilities they may possess.

Note that 'super' characters, with great powers, or superhuman levels of skill, will be rejected by the faction heads.(see below).

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How often do characters get paid? And how do I pay for stuff?
Unlike many MU*s, characters don't need to get paid in code credits. There is also nothing to 'buy', since quota is kept to a minimum on the game. You will probably get along just fine with just your basic character and hardly need to use the @create function at all.

If your character needs a routine piece of equipment, such as a sword or shield generator, you're assumed to have one if you want it, and are free to include it in your character's description. Your House freely supplies whatever equipment you need to do your job. If you feel your character needs a specialized piece of equipment, such as a unusual weapon , you may have to justify that OOCly and ICly. The process of acquiring an exotic piece of technology can make an interesting plot and provide fun RP! If you have questions about your character's inventory or equipment, check with your faction head.

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What does consent-based RP mean?
Consent-based RP is based on the proposition that creative people can collaborate to tell entertaining and dramatic stories about their characters. Consent-based means that nothing can happen to your character without your consent. You're in control of his story and his fate. However, your right to swing your character's arms ends where another character's nose begins. So conversely, you can't do anything to another player's character without that player's consent, as well. You can't force another player to accept your actions or force another player to react to your actions in a particular way. For instance, even if you're a master swordsman, you can't simply whip out a sword and cut down an unarmed opponent--instead, you need to work with the other player to figure out what would be a dramatically effective scene, or what makes sense in terms of the characters and their situation.

However, there is an important exception to the idea of consent-based RP: In Character Actions Equals In Character Consequences, often abbreviated ICA=ICC. Your character is subject to the consequences of any of his in-character deeds, just like you would be if you did something hasty, or ill-considered. These consequences may happen whether you want them to or not. For instance, your character is subject to the laws of gravity, so she can't simply leap from an ornithopter and walk away unscathed.

Note that this can cover acts that may not be physical: your character is also a member of the society she lives in, so she can't berate a the Emperor of the Universe in his throne room without expecting to suffer the IC consequences of her actions.

ICA=ICC overrules consent and makes sure people play fairly and reasonably. If your character charges a hundred Sardaukar with a sword drawn, he will probably be quite dead in short order...whether you gave consent to die or not.

Game admins may be called in to adjudicate disputes over ICA=ICC. Just remember: if you're reasonable, chances are the other players will be, too.

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Can I have multiple characters?
You can have up to two characters, or 'alts', with the following restrictions:

• The characters must be in different factions.
• The characters must have different positions in each faction. For instance, you may not play a mentat in two factions.

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What is the time configuration? (RL time to IC time)
Dune III proceeds at a rough ratio of 4 IC years to every 1 RL one. Of course, due to the nature of the game, all times and schedules on a MUSH are approximate.

The present IC date is approximately Guild Year 10,100, or about 90 years until the beginning of the novel Dune. To find the IC date on the game, type '+icdate'.

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What Houses are represented?
The following Great Houses are represented in the game: Corrino, Atreides, Harkonnen, Ginaz, Moritani, Bajazet, Rastanyev, Alvstad. Some of these Houses are mentioned in the Dune novels, and some are entirely original. You can find out more about each house here on the game web site or on the individual faction's web site.

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Do I have to join a Faction?
Since the game is about the interaction between the Great Houses of the Imperium, your character should belong to one of those factions. Most factions are always on the lookout for interesting characters and good RPers, and most actively advertise for open positions, so you should have no trouble finding a position in one of them!

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How do I get hired?
To get hired by a faction, you need to apply by creating a character profile and submitting it to the faction of your choice. The character profile should detail your character concept, the character's history, appearance, psychology, and other details. You use the profile template to create a character profile. The faction web sites also contain good examples of character profiles that may serve as inspiration.

You will also be expected to roleplay a brief interview with the faction head (or members of the faction). Usually this is a short, fun scene that will give you a chance to play your character as you see them, and give the faction head a chance to evaluate your character and your RP skills before hiring.

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What kind of character should I create?
Houses often advertise for the character types they are looking for. To find out if a House is advertising for a particular position, you have several resources:

• You can check out the Bulletin Board in the Recruiting Room, which is located just off the OOC Room. Once in the room, type 'look board' for a list of positions and instructions on how to use the board. You should also see instructions on how to contact the faction.

• You can view the Roles and Recruiting bulletin board. Type '+bbread 21' to view all the postings on this board, and then type '+bbread 21/<# of message>' to read a posting that interests you.

• You can also contact a faction head directly for information. To view a list of House Heads, on the game type '+heads/all.' You can then page or @mail the Head for information about possible openings. (Type 'help page' and 'help @mail' for information on how to use these commands.) Faction heads can also be reached by email. Type '+finger <faction head>' to see their email address, or, see the House DataSheets.

• As a last resort, you may try speaking with the game's Newbiehelpers or Admins. They may be able to supply you with useful information about characters you might want to play in the game (for instance, who to speak with about playing a diplomat.) However, the faction head is the person in charge of the faction and makes all hiring decisions.

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How can I apply to be a Bene Gesserit?
The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood is seen as a wide-ranging organization, devoted to public service, and are respected at the highest levels of the Imperial government. Bene Gesserit Sisters serve as advisors, specialists, tutors, and concubines to the leaders of the Great Houses. Very little is known of their true motives and abilities by outsiders. The typical character is ignorant of most of the information on the Bene Gesserit revealed in the Dune Chronicles!

Because BG characters have special abilities, there are special requirements for BG players. You should contact the faction head of the Bene Gesserit for details about joining the BG.

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What's Indie mean? And how do I apply?
The Independent faction, shortened to Indie, is reserved for characters who don't quite fit into the regular feudal structure. Indies can include tradesmen, artists, or members of unique groups such as the Spacing Guild. Creation of an Indie character requires the approval of the game Admins. We strongly suggest new players seek to join the game as a member of one of the game's existing Houses before attempting the creation of an Indie character.

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Why can't I play a Fremen?
The game is set on Kaitain, the Imperial capital, not Arrakis, and the Fremen are seen as ignorant provincials by most of the Great Houses. They inhabit a backwater planet far from civilized areas and mostly remain in hiding there. As a result, the Imperium pays no more attention to them than they do the natives of thousands of other worlds.

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Can I be in the Spacing Guild? Can I be an Ixian or a Tleilaxu?
These groups are peripheral to the main action of the Dune novels, and so they play a correspondingly small part in the DuneIII game. They do not have factions of their own, but should be considered admin-controlled groups who show up in the game occasionally, with their own mysterious agendas.

No characters can have a Guild, Ixian or Tleilax background without the consent of the admins.

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Can I be an orphan mentat-Sardaukar-Kwisatz Haderach-Suk-assassin?
For reasons of game balance, no. 'Super' characters will be rejected by faction heads.

Most Dune characters are specialized in one field, such as a mentat, soldier, or diplomat, and have received years of training in their specialty. You should be able to work with your faction head to create a balanced and reasonable character concept that will provide you with plenty of fun RP.

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What if I haven't heard back from the faction I applied to?
We suggest that when you apply, you apply to more than a single faction. Your character concept may not be a good fit for your chosen faction, or the faction head may be delayed in responding to you. You're more likely to be hired if you have a fallback position with a second faction. We'd like to see you in the game as soon as possible.

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Can I make my own Faction?
We are not looking to open any new factions at this time.

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What kind of name should I pick?
You should pick a name that's consistent with the Dune theme. However, your name may not be the same as any of the characters named in the books.

Many Houses have a recognizable ethnic background, and you may wish to choose a name that fits in with that background. Alternately, you can choose a completely made-up name for your character. However, all characters should have a first name and a last name.

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What should my desc look like?
Your description should be as brief as possible while still giving all relevant information. Less is more. While a long, extremely detailed description may seem interesting at first glance, it can become tedious to read the fourth or fifth time around.

Some MUSH players believe there is an art to writing effective descriptions. Be concise. As a rule of thumb, try and keep your description between three and six lines of text, if possible.

You should avoid descriptions that tell the reader how he or she might feel when viewing your character. For instance, saying that your character has 'eyes that chill people to the very soul' or something similar is unacceptable. Describe your character plainly and let the reader decide how your description makes his or her character feel.

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What should I wear?
The Dune films, which include the 1984 movie and the 2000 miniseries, are a good visual guide to the kinds of outfits and costumes your character might wear. You might also check the Dune novels for detailed descriptions. As a general rule, Dune clothes are generally archaic-looking and rather formal--in historical terms, generally anywhere between the Renaissance period up to the early 20th century. It's not uncommon to find a character wearing some kind of combat equipment, such as a blade or a personal shield generator.

For men, an outfit might be old-fashioned formal wear, or an ornate military uniform. Tunics, shirts, trousers and cloaks are favored. For women, this usually means elaborate gowns or robes.

Many of the faction web sites give good examples of Dune III character descriptions, clothing, and details. The faction web sites also have data on House heraldry, color schemes, and uniform details.

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What does 'thematic' mean?
The MUSH has a Dune theme, so 'thematic' means that something is drawn directly from the Dune novels by Frank Herbert, or is consistent with information presented in those books. The planet Kaitain, the Great Houses, nobility and swordfights are thematic. Lightsabers, and warp drives aren't.

We take the Dune novels by Frank Herbert , from Dune up through Chapterhouse: Dune, to be canonical. There are many wonderful sources available that depict various aspects of the Dune Universe, including novels, films and encyclopedias. However, for purposes of this game, we assume only facts presented in the Dune novels written by Frank Herbert to be true.

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What is the time period?
The game is set almost a century before the opening of the first novel, Dune. The current in-character year is 10,099 AG (10,099 years after the founding of the Spacing Guild, and approximately 77 years before the birth of Paul Atreides). This date moves forward as the game goes on, at a rate of roughly 4 game years to every 1 RL year.

At this stage in Dune history, almost none of the characters who appear in the first novel have even been born yet, and those who are alive are quite young.

Also at this time, unlike the novel Dune, Arrakis is not occupied by House Atreides. The Arrakis contract is presently owned by House Moritani. However, the Arrakis contract is one of the most sought-after prizes in the Imperium and is a source of much intrigue.

The Prequels: You should note that we do not use the continuity, situations or plotlines found in the recent prequel novels by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. DuneIII MUSH, which opened in 1998, predates the publication of those novels. As such, we've supplied our own history of the Dune Universe. The faction handbooks contain detailed timelines of Imperial history both distant and recent.

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How much is known of Earth?
Dune is set in the remote future, millenia after humans have settled the stars. Humans now inhabit thousands or millions of planets, and each world has a rich and detailed history. Because they are so removed from us in time and space, Earth is a mere legend to most people in the Dune Universe. Most famous events and people in our history are either little-known or completely forgotten. Most people are much more interested in the planet they live on, and in the here and now, than some long-ago and far-away world.

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