MUME, "Multi-Users in Middle-earth", is a multiplayer online game, one of the early offspring of DikuMUD. Started in 1991 by Philippe Rochat, who was soon joined by Claude Indermitte, Pier Donini, and David Gay, the game was created as an homage to J.R.R. Tolkien's world as described in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and other books. Development of the game is ongoing, even after over thirty years.
Overview[]
The game is set in the Third Age, before the War of the Ring, in which the player may assume the role of a Dúnadan or of another human race (including shape-shifting Beornings), a Dwarf, a Hobbit, or an Elf (including various sub-races of both the latter), to battle the players of Orcs, Trolls, and Black Númenóreans - or, one may instead wander with no prescribed mission.
Role-playing is encouraged on this MUD in a number of ways. Different towns have different local laws for which characters can be jailed for violating; for example, using magic is a crime in the Shire, unless the player is a citizen.
Players also enjoy the open world in many other ways: exploring the immersive and meticulously-crafted world and depictions of dozens of locations that fans of the books will recognize, completing quests and growing in power (including potentially making their own ring of power), and the adrenaline rush from PvP encounters.