I'll admit I'm not much of a roleplayer usually, so my coding probably reflects that attitude. In general, I code up things for MUCK that make it more flexible, faster, or easier to use. I also code up what people ask for. The Muck server is just a generalized toolset. What folks make of it depends on what they want, and have the skill to implement.
The server could be used quite well for implementing RP rules sets, stats, etc., but in practice, few people go to the effort. That's probably the main problem there, that the muck requires too much development work to make it enforce RP rules. Most folks like to use mucks as a glorified chat system with persistence, descriptions, and background, so it tends to reflect such.
Having said that, there are a few places who have used Muck servers to implement things like space flight environments, with multiple planets in 3D space, etc.. There have even been a few places who implemented RP stat systems. One place even had server-helped anonymity rules, so you didn't see the name of a person you just met, until they introduced themselves. Even then you may not even know their real character name, but just the alias they gave.
The most interesting RP mucks I've seen, though, didn't even use stats systems, but instead had freeform roleplaying between a group of like-minded folks in a well described world setting. But then, with that, the server is almost irrelevant, and just makes a backdrop anyways.
I could see the merit in a server that had the d20 or GURPS (or whatever) rulesets implemented intrinsicly to start with. But wouldn't that niche already be handled by one of the various LP, Diku, etc mud servers?
I'll admit I'm not much of a roleplayer usually, so my coding probably reflects that attitude. In general, I code up things for MUCK that make it more flexible, faster, or easier to use. I also code up what people ask for. The Muck server is just a generalized toolset. What folks make of it depends on what they want, and have the skill to implement.
The server could be used quite well for implementing RP rules sets, stats, etc., but in practice, few people go to the effort. That's probably the main problem there, that the muck requires too much development work to make it enforce RP rules. Most folks like to use mucks as a glorified chat system with persistence, descriptions, and background, so it tends to reflect such.
Having said that, there are a few places who have used Muck servers to implement things like space flight environments, with multiple planets in 3D space, etc.. There have even been a few places who implemented RP stat systems. One place even had server-helped anonymity rules, so you didn't see the name of a person you just met, until they introduced themselves. Even then you may not even know their real character name, but just the alias they gave.
The most interesting RP mucks I've seen, though, didn't even use stats systems, but instead had freeform roleplaying between a group of like-minded folks in a well described world setting. But then, with that, the server is almost irrelevant, and just makes a backdrop anyways.
I could see the merit in a server that had the d20 or GURPS (or whatever) rulesets implemented intrinsicly to start with. But wouldn't that niche already be handled by one of the various LP, Diku, etc mud servers?