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From: frankc@netcom.com (Frank Crowell)
Subject: Re: AI MUD agents
Message-ID: <frankcDv6tHp.GLy@netcom.com>
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Date: Sat, 27 Jul 1996 05:49:01 GMT
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I definitely see the bots as external.  If you want to work with some
sample stuff I have colins (one of the original bots) and madborg
(a crippled colins for MOO).  I also have some eliza like code.
The site is ftp.maddog.com.

The advantages of external bots include you choice of language
and you can write it anyway you please.  My home page
http://www.maddog.com includes a developers section that will take
you to some interesting AI and agents software.  Also the interactive
fiction section will take you to some design documents dealing 
with intelligent NPC design.

I think that a Diku-based mud would be a good starting place--
such as a Merc or Circle 3.0.  

Naturally there should be a couple of basic bot rules:

1. don't kill or harass "real" players

2. only run your bot in muds that officially approve using bots.

Finally, there should be some response that the object is a bot--
for example: name, type of bot, owner is returned on the query
are you a bot? [see colins for an example of this].

Frank

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___________________________________________________
Frank Crowell  frankc@maddog.com
maddog's studio http://www.maddog.com/
