Roleplay MUDs checklist for MUDs

Verify that a searchable wiki or in-game 'help lore' system exists, covering geography, pantheons, and current political climate.

Confirm existence of a 'Quick Start' guide that summarizes the essential 5-minute read for immediate character immersion.

Document clear boundaries regarding OOC chatter in IC rooms and the use of OOC information for IC gain (metagaming).

Provide a chronological list of major historical events and recent player-driven plot points for context.

Create specific documentation for how different in-game groups interact, including common greetings or taboos.

Implement a standardized character application form requiring background, physical description, and personality traits.

Set up a regex-based filter to prevent modern, pop-culture, or nonsensical names that break immersion.

Configure the character creation engine to require a minimum character count for player 'look' descriptions.

Audit character stats to ensure social or non-combat skills provide tangible mechanical benefits in-game.

Verify that new characters spawn with a reason to interact with others, such as a specific quest or social hub.

Publish a clear policy defining what actions require player-to-player consent (e.g., permanent injury, theft, or romance).

Implement a direct 'report' or 'petition' command that logs the last 50 lines of local chat for staff review.

Ensure players can block OOC communication from specific users without staff intervention.

Establish a 'room flag' or 'scene tag' system to warn players of mature or triggering themes before they enter an area.

Provide a mechanical way for players to immediately end and exit a scene that has exceeded their comfort level.

Verify 'pose', 'emote', and 'pmote' (possessive emote) commands function and correctly handle line wrapping.

Ensure emotes support target tokens (e.g., 'pose nods to ~target') to dynamically insert character names.

Implement a system where text is garbled for players who do not possess the specific in-game language skill.

Test that 'whisper' and 'say' commands have appropriate room-distance falloff to prevent cross-room eavesdropping.

Allow players to set a short 'mood' string that appears when others 'look' at them (e.g., 'looking exhausted').

Document a step-by-step procedure for staff to follow when mediating IC disputes that turn into OOC conflict.

Establish a guaranteed turnaround time (e.g., 48 hours) for staff to approve or provide feedback on character apps.

Ensure administrators have the ability to observe rooms invisibly to monitor for rule-breaking without disrupting RP.

Set up a dedicated Discord or forum for community announcements and OOC coordination.

Provide a manual for players or junior staff who wish to run 'mini-plots' or world events.

Implement a command for players to log scenes and upload them to a public or private archive.

Verify an in-game board where players can post IC news or rumors that have been vetted by staff.

Allow high-level players or staff to temporarily modify room descriptions to reflect the aftermath of a major scene.

Maintain a public record of characters who have permanently died or retired to preserve the world's history.

Create an OOC dashboard showing the status of ongoing world-wide story arcs.