Source MUD
Copyright (C) 2002,2003  Sean Middleditch
Sean Middleditch <elanthis@awesomeplay.com>
Basic Source MUD Information
------------------------------------------------------


1. Introduction
   ============
   Source MUD is a MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) game server.  Players connect to
   the server using telnet, or a MUD client application, to play in a fantasy
   world with other players.

   Source MUD is a new codebase; it is not derived from any older codebases
   like many other popular MUDs.  One consequence of this is that many terms
   and systems found in most other MUDs are different in Source MUD.

   The Scriptix scripting language is used to extending and modifying the
   engine core features.


2. Documentation
   =============
   The files in the doc/ directory contain lots of useful information.  If you
   received Source MUD in a pre-packaged form, there should be both plain text
   and HTML versions of all the documents.  If those files are not present, and
   you have tools for DocBook XML processing installed, the files will be built
   when you run 'make'.

   Please note that the coders tend to get out of sync with the document
   writers (even when they are usually the same person), and the documents
   often lag behind the code.


3. Support
   =======
   If the documentation doesn't provide an answer, or just confused you more,
   you can find support in several place.  The Source MUD website
   (http://www.sourcemud.org) has both user forums and a bug tracking system.
   The website also has information on the Source MUD mailing lists.


4. Upgrading
   =========
   If you are upgrading from a previous Source MUD release, please keep these
   points in mind:

   * Be warned that 'make install' will overwrite several key files in the
	 target directory, including sourcemud.conf, and all the files in data/*.
	 You should back up your modified copies, or manually install the Source
	 MUD files you wish to upgrade.
   * Read the ChangeLog and script documentation before running the new Source
   * MUD
	 with your old scripts.  Pre-1.0 Source MUD releases are very likely to
	 change the API exposed the scripts.
   * Data files may very likely need to be modified, converted, or flat out
	 rewritten.  While we try to stay compatible between pre-1.0 release, it
	 doesn't make sense to limit development of features for compatibility
	 reasons in alpha software.


5. Legal
   =====
   Source MUD comes with no warranty.  If something bad happens to you because
   of your use of Source MUD, we (the authors, distributors, builders, and
   testers) are not responsible for your misfortune and/or mistakes.  See the
   disclaimer section below.

   Source MUD is licensed under the BSD license.  See the COPYING file for more
   details.  As a summary, the BSD license gives you rights to do whatever you
   want with the code.  Note: you can NOT change the license of our code, or
   modify copyrights.  Our code is our code, and it is released under the BSD
   license - end of story.  You can, however, add new code or modify existing
   code.  Any code you write is yours, and licensed under whichever license you
   choose - end of story.  The BSD license grants you the right to distribute
   binaries; the license does NOT guarantee receivers of the binaries rights to
   the source code, original or modified.  The BSD license is ideal if you wish
   to release a modified codebase in a commercial setting.

   We do appreciate being given credit if you distribute binaries, but it is
   not legally required.


6. Disclaimer
   ==========
   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
   AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
   IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
   ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE REGENTS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
   ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
   DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
   SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
   CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
   LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
   OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
   DAMAGE.