What is a MUD?
A MUD, or Multi-User Dungeon, is a text-based game where you step into a virtual world and take on a new role such as an elf who casts magic or a dwarf with melee abilities. Playing generally involves chatting with others, slaying monsters to gain experience for leveling up, going on quests to find precious items or to kill a target, among many other things.
Because everything is described in text rather than rendered on screen, your imagination fills in the details, the weight of a knight's armor, the smell of a tavern, the size of a dragon's lair, often making a MUD feel more immersive than a graphical game. There's no engine limiting what a room can look like or how a character can act; if it can be written, it can exist in the world.
How Do I Connect?
To connect to Erion, you need a mud client and the address and port number of the game (erionmud.com 1234). The quickest way to get started is to play right in your browser using MudVault's web client, no download required. There are also many free standalone clients available for download online. For Windows users we recommend MUSHclient or GMud. For Linux users we recommend TinTin++, and for those playing on an Android device, we recommend BlowTorch. For more details on these options and others, visit our Client Information page.
I'm Connected. Now What?
Once you see Erion's greeting screen you will be prompted to create a new account. You will only ever need one account as it can hold all of your characters. After your account is created, you can make a new character. If you're having trouble coming up with a name, we recommend using our Fantasy Name Generator. After you've created a character you will automatically enter Erion. It is recommended to browse the Game Guide section of the website to learn more about how to play. If you need help, simply send a message in game on the newbie channel by typing 'newbie help me'.
Why Play Erion?
Erion has been running since 2005, with new areas, quest chains with their own storylines (called missions on Erion), fetch and kill quests, tons of quality of life features, and new content added on a regular basis. The Nokova Island starting area is built specifically to ease new players in, with guided missions and an in-game help system covering thousands of topics. Beyond combat, Erion offers plenty of pacifist activities like crafting, alchemy, fishing, farming, and beekeeping as alternate ways to play. Joining a house connects you with other players through errands (house-specific quests) and a built-in sense of community. Best of all, Erion is completely free to play, with no subscriptions and no pay-to-win shortcuts.
Tips for Getting Started
If you've never played a MUD before, things can feel overwhelming at first, there's a lot to take in and the learning curve can feel steep compared to a graphical game with on screen prompts. Don't let that discourage you. Most players pick up the basics quickly after a bit of practice, and our community is full of people happy to answer questions and point you in the right direction along the way.
Don't worry about making the "perfect" character, your account can hold more than one. Use the in game 'help' command often; typing 'help' followed by a topic (such as 'help combat') is the fastest way to learn a new mechanic. The newbie channel exists for a reason, experienced players genuinely enjoy helping new ones, so don't hesitate to use 'newbie help me'. Take your time in Nokova Island, it's designed to teach you the basics before you head into the wider world. Whenever you're unsure what to do next, check the Game Guide page for more in depth information.