Instructions for getting and using the Wintin mud client

The mud client is basically a program which makes it easier for you to play the mud, by allowing you to use command aliases, actions, quick connection commands and by being able to keep all of your mud connections in one application. You don't have to use a client program to play Gizmo Dikumud, but it will really help you.

Getting the client program

you can download the client program from here or you could search the internet for other download sites. Always remember to virus check any files you download from the internet, even mine! (As far as I know, wintin does not contain any malware, but always scan, just to make sure!). Wintin, as you might guess, works on windows (all versions of windows from windows 95 upwards are fine). If you have linux, you will want to search for "tintin++" .. I'm sure there are plenty of download sites. If you have a macintosh, you can probably also use tintin++ under OSX, but you could also search for "Zmud".

Getting a starter file

I've made up a basic command file for wintin to get you going. You will be able to use it for tintin++ with only small alterations, I am sure. Zmud would need a different set up. You can get the file here (right click and save the file to your hard disk).

OK, I've got the files, now what do I do?

Stage 1 : getting the client up and running.
To fire up the client, simply double click the wintin.exe file from whereever you saved it to. You should be presented with a new window containing an empty box.

Stage 2 : reading in your command files
To load the file containing your commands, aliases and actions you need to issue this command in the wintin program : "#read basicwintinfile.txt". (make sure that the basicwintinfile.txt file is in the same directory as the wintin executable). The client program should now read the file and open up some windows inside its main window.

Stage 3: Connecting to Gizmo Dikumud
Now that you've loaded the command file, you can issue the command "conn" (for connect) to open up a single new connection to the game. On doing this, you should see some action in the main inner window and text will scroll up inviting you to log in to the game.

Stage 4 : Making your first character
The on-screen instructions will help you to make up your first character. Try to use an unusual name, but one that sounds like it could be a name, because a lot of real names and other nouns are already in use. During the instructions, you will be asked if you want a newbie flag (answer YES) and if you want a solo flag (answer NO). During the creation process, you will be asked to choose a class (cleric, magic user warrior etc) - my personal advice is to make your first character a Cleric.. you will be needing one in the game!

Stage 5: Being in the game.
When you've made it into the game, you will be in the virtual world of gizmo. Have a look around, type help to see the commands, use the command "gossip hello" to say hello to the other players. Welcome to Gizmo!

Stage 6: Checking for names for your other characters
Assuming that you want to go for the full experience, and do some group play, you'll need to check out some names for your other group members. Inside the game, use the command "whois {name}" to find out whether the names you would like are taken or not (substitute {name} for the name you want to check, of course). Make a note of the untaken names that you want to use, then you can type "#zap" to disconnect your first character; then follow stages 1-4 again to make up your other 3 characters.

Stage 7: Setting up wintin to connect your whole group
Now that you've got your four characters all made up, you want to get them all connected at the same time, using the wintin client. This part is where you need to edit your basicwintinfile.txt file (with notepad or some other editing program - always save it as text though, never .doc or something else). Near the top of the file are the connection aliases, all you need to do is to replace the CHARNAME and PASSWORD bits with the actual usernames and passwords of your characters, then save the file. (NB: wintin commands can be tied together to create compound commands. To tie two commands together simply put a semi-colon sign between them (;), this tells wintin to submit the commands to Gizmo as separate commands.) A few lines further down the file, you also need to replace the words CHAR1 CHAR2 CHAR3 CHAR4 with the names of your characters, to get some of the other aliases and actions to work properly. CHAR1 should be your cleric (or other healer), CHAR4 should be your defensive fighter (Warrior, Nomad or Thief). Remember to put the correct capitalisation in for your character names, i.e. "Danny" not "danny". Remember to save your file!

Stage 8: Getting your group all connected together
Now that your characters are made and your client file is set up, you are ready to connect them all together. Reload the updated command file by doing #zap in wintin then #read basicwintinfile.txt . Now you are ready to use the group connection alias "connectme". This should log on your entire group and have them all controlled through the client. You will have 4 connections open to gizmo, but you will see only one window (the others are hidden whilst 1 is displayed). To see what your other characters are seeing, you can use the commands #a, #b, #c, #d to switch between the different characters.