Mud Haven

Mud-Haven is a comprehensive telnet-based Macintosh client built specifically for multi-user dungeons (MUDs). Released in 1999 by DarkSide Productions, it bundles aliases, advanced triggers, macro keys, arrow-key navigation and a pre-populated MUD manager into a single shareware package aimed at serious mudders.

What It Is

Mud-Haven is a dedicated MUD client rather than a general telnet program. Where stock terminal software treats a MUD session as a stream of text, Mud-Haven layers MUD-specific quality-of-life features on top: scriptable aliases that expand short commands into longer ones, advanced triggers that fire on incoming text, macro keys, and arrow-key navigation for the cardinal compass directions every MUD uses.

Features for Power Players

The 1.3 release pitches itself at heavy users with multiple connections, dual connections specially designed for multi-playing, an easy-edit user interface, multiple appearance options and a wide variety of automated shortcuts. The author's stated goal was to give the player a significant advantage while mudding, with hours of play per session in mind.

The MUD Manager

One distinguishing touch is a built-in mud manager preloaded with a long list of well-known MUDs of the era, so players could browse and connect without hand-typing host names. Combined with the trigger and alias system, this turned Mud-Haven into a one-stop launcher for the late-1990s MUD scene on the Mac.

Requirements and Distribution

Mud-Haven needs around 3 MB of RAM (4 MB optimal), a 68k or PowerPC processor and a working internet connection. It was distributed as shareware by DarkSide Productions through Info-Mac and the author's home page (members.home.net/janus22/MudHaven), with registration handled by Kagi.