Mars Society Chapters Meeting Server

Quick Start

In a hurry to log in to the Mars Society Chapters Meeting Server? Use the following steps to connect immediately:

1. Open the Java MOO Client.
2. Log in to the MS Chapters Meeting Server with:
• Existing MOO User: connect <username> <password>
• Guest User: connect guest
3. Click on the "say" radio button in the lower right hand corner.
4. Start typing to talk to other people in the MOO server.
5. To logoff and leave the MOO server, type: @quit

The MS Chapters Meeting Server is always available for open discussions. We call it the MOO for reasons which will become obvious if you read this whole page.

The MOO environment is tuned more for on-line role-playing games than for conversation, so first-time users might encounter a few unexpected quirks. For more information on what you can do while in the MOO, read the user's guide:

If you already have a MOO client on your computer, connect to the MS Chapters Meeting Server using:

You can access the MOO either through your web browser or by running a special "MOO Client" program on your computer. Most users prefer the features they get with the client programs, so we will discuss those first.

Some of the more popular MOO clients are listed below (listed in order of popularity). Just pick one that fits your machine, download it, install it, and set it up to point to chapters.MarsSociety.org, port 7777, and enjoy!

You can also access the MS Chapters Meeting Server through in your web browser. This works pretty well if you want to access the MOO from a machine that doesn't have a MOO client installed. Make sure you have Java enabled in your web browser settings.

The Java client does not provide all of the features available in the MOO clients, but it does provide enough to allow you to participate in most activity on the MOO server.

To access the Java MOO client, use one of the following links:

If you have problems accessing the MOO server with the links above, try the CupOmud Java MOO client, available from the following link:

If you have been given a login account on the MOO server, you can log in to the MOO server with your MOO username and password.

After connecting to the MOO server with a MOO client or the Java client, log into the server like this. (Don't type the <angle brackets>.)

connect <username> <password>

Guest Access

If you do not have a MOO login account, you can log in as a guest.

For guest access, log in with this:

connect guest

Getting Help

First-time users will want to read the user guide for an overview of the command syntax.

Once you are logged in, you can get an overview of the commands available by typing:

help

Getting Out

When you are ready to disconnect and leave the MOO server, type:

@quit

Alternatively, your MOO client might have a "Disconnect" command available. It's less elegant to simply disconnect from the MOO, but it works.

After you have disconnected, quit your MOO client; or, if you are using the Java client, use the Back button in your browser to return to this page.

The MS Chapters Meeting Server is a "virtual world" in the CyberTeams MOO Server. MOO stands for "MUD (Multi-User Domain, or Multi-User Dungeon) Object Oriented." The CyberTeams MOO Server is based on a type of MOO server known as "LambdaMOO" developed at Xerox PARC.

A MOO is a real-time server that allows multiple users to communicate and participate in a shared virtual reality environment. The MS Chapters Meeting Server provides an environment for MS members to meet and work on MS activities, as well as a forum for non-members to find out what MS is all about.

LambdaMOO provides us with some interesting features. It has its own programming language that enables us to do just about anything we can imagine, given the limitations of the MOO environment. Many of the special features of the MS Chapters MOO were creating using this programming language. So while you are in the MOO, you'll want to take some time to explore the virtual world as well as participating in the conversations.