Frequently Asked Questions

What is a MUD?

A MUD - short for Multi-User Dungeon - is a text-based online multiplayer game. Instead of graphics, the world is described in words: you read what your character sees, type commands to act, and share the same persistent world with other players in real time. MUDs are the ancestors of modern online RPGs, and the ones built for roleplay lean on imagination, character, and story rather than flashy visuals. Rome: The Eternal City is a free Roman roleplay MUD - you play it right in your browser, no download needed. See Play Now to get started.

How do I play?

Easiest option: use our embedded web client, playable straight from your browser with no downloads. Prefer a dedicated client with triggers and mapping? Mudlet, MUSH clients, and a mobile app are all supported too. See every option, with connection details, on the Play Now page.

Can I shortcut commands I use all the time, like a spell I cast every fight?

Yes - Rome supports personal command aliases via the built-in nick command, so a long spell or skill call can become whatever's fastest for you to type. Type help shortcuts once you're in-game for real examples.

Do I need to know Roman or Greek history to play?

Not at all. We give you everything you need on the Mythology, Gods, Races, and Classes, and Skills & Spells pages before you ever log in - and the game itself walks you through the rest. Come for the history if you love it, or just enjoy the story either way.

What actually happens when I first log in?

Every new character wakes as a captive beneath the Colosseum, with a choice to make: fight your way to freedom in the games, or slip out unseen through the tunnels below. From there, the whole world opens up.

Is roleplay required, or can I just fight things?

Roleplay is required - Rome is a roleplay-enforced world, not a combat sandbox with a Roman coat of paint. That said, a full turn-based combat system, complete with classes, spells, gear, and status effects, means there's plenty to sink your teeth into on top of the roleplay. See Rules for the full expectations.

Do I have to fight?

No. Rome has a permanent pacifist path for players who want to focus on roleplay: a pacifist can never attack, and can never be attacked, by another player or any creature, anywhere. It is a one-way choice - only a god can undo it - and you give up your weapons and armor and wear clothing from then on. You can still escape the starting cells without a fight, explore the whole city, take quests built on talking and travel, and level through crafting: gathering materials, working them at a forge or apothecary's mortar, and selling what you make. See Features for the details.

What does "Player Testing phase" mean?

It means the core game - character creation, combat, leveling, factions, religion, quests, death and resurrection, and a genuine chunk of the city itself - is complete and playable, and now we need real players to help find what still needs polish. Expect the occasional bug and frequent updates. See something worth flagging? Type bug or idea once you're in-game - we read every one.

Is there a leveling system?

Yes. Growth is quick in your first few levels and gets progressively more demanding after that, so reaching the top means something. The Ludus - Rome's gladiator school, just off the Colosseum's public spaces - gives you a proper training ground for it: four tiers of opponents to test yourself against, each player getting their own private challenger so there's never a queue.

What happens if my character dies?

It depends how far you've come. Newer, less experienced characters get a second chance - the gods aren't quite done with you yet. More seasoned characters face real, lasting stakes when they fall. Either way, death is a meaningful moment in the story, not just a reset button.

Can I have more than one character?

Yes - the game supports multiple characters per account, so you're free to explore different classes, races, and stories without starting a whole new account.

Can I play with a screen reader?

Rome is plain text - no graphics, nothing that needs a mouse - and it works in any MUD client (MUSHclient, VIPMud, Mudlet, TinTin++) as well as the browser client. There are switches built for it: option SCREENREADER = on removes the decorative borders from everything the game sends, and prompt off stops the status line after every command. Character creation is a numbered menu, and the login screen has a plain version (type look). We are still improving this and have limited testing with real screen readers, so if something is hard to use, tell us - on Discord, by email, or with bug in the game - and accessibility reports go to the front of the line. In the game, help accessibility has the details.

Is the game free?

Yes - and it will always be free, full stop.

How can I report a bug or get help?

Fastest option: type bug (or idea for a suggestion) right from in-game - it goes straight to us. You can also email zeus@rome.vineyard.haus with a description and steps to reproduce, or use the form on our Contact page. We read everything.

Is there a Discord or community hub?

Yes - join us at discord.gg/uh6HPvuM42. A dedicated community forum is still on the way; in the meantime our development repo is public too - see the Community page.

Will there be more to explore beyond Rome itself?

A little already exists: the road out through Rome's northern gate leads to a Germanic stronghold and a far-off coastal trading town. The long-term vision is Athens, Sparta, Alexandria, and other great cities of antiquity, each with their own culture and politics. Rome comes first, but it's not meant to be the whole map forever.

How can I help build the world?

We're always glad to hear from writers, builders, and coders alike. Reach out via zeus@rome.vineyard.haus - tell us what you're interested in, and we'll go from there.