Players who suit MUDS

This is an article written by Richard Bartle.


The basic premise of this article is outlining the various different player traits that was explored on a MUD forum. Bartle argues that players fall into different catagories, these catagories have very different play styles.


These are:

• Achievment: These players are driven by goals and treasure
• Exploration: These players are driven by exploration of the game and finding out of the machanics of a game works
• Social: These players are driven by interaction with fellow players
• Imposition: These players are driven by a need to help or even hinder players

However, he goes on to say that in some game you would n ot find some of these traits. This is because people are influenced greatly by the game itself. If you change certain game mechnics, then players will respong accordingly For example if you added more communication facilities, you may see an increase of socializing, or if you drastically increased the game world, you may see an increase of exploration.

These catagories of players also tend to interact and view each other in a unique way. Please note that while Bartle starts with imposition as a catagory, he then changes that to "killers". I was disappointed in this, simply because, with that change, he has left no room for what i like to call "helpers".

Achievers V Achievers: Competition, Respect

Achievers V Explorers: Losers

Achievers V Social: Tolerant, "Waste of space"

Achievers V Killers: Dislike

Explorers V Achievers: Explorers pity achievers because they believe that Achievers are just a poor mans Explorer

Explorers V Explorers: Respect, unless they are poor explorers

Explorers V Social: Can be impressed, they find socialising unimportant

Explorers V Killers: Grudging respect

Social V Achievers: Socials like Achievers and like to discuss them

Social V Explorers: Socials believe Explorers are wasting there time on something unimportant

Social V Social: Can talk for hours....

Social V Killers: Hated. Killers are anti-social

Killers V Achievers: They are prey. They can be competant fighters though, which is why killers enjoy the challenge

Killers V Explorers: Killers are Weary of explorers. They can be dangerous opponents

Killers V Social: They love killing them because of how much they whine afterwords. A nice ego boost.

Killers V Killers: They avoid each other, however, if they do fight, the winner is respected.