95+ Rare colors to intrigue and inspire
July 1, 2022
Spice up your writing with this list of over 95 rare colors. Some etymology and tips for usage included.
Category: Ideas & Advice (Page 3)
Information useful to game creators, writers, roleplayers, and storytellers, including practical tips, ideas, and advice.
How to write excellent room descriptions: tips and examples for world-builders
June 12, 2022
A guide to writing excellent room descriptions for your text-based game! Also includes prompts and ideas for writing city and wilderness areas.
Mental health and gaming: 10 practical tips
May 29, 2022
When it comes to mental health and gaming, there are simple things you can do to live and play healthier. Learn 10 from Bre, a mental health coach, in this post.
MU* help systems: 15+ ideas for improvement
May 14, 2022
A great MUD help system has certain features that make it easy to use and maintain. Here are 15+ ideas for game implementors.
What is a MUD game? A beginner’s guide to multi-user dungeons and how to start playing them
April 22, 2022
Just what is a MUD game? And what does that mean, multi-user dungeon? Are all of them set in dungeons? Find out in this post!
How to be a better game master: 10 tips for running great interactive stories
April 3, 2022
Want to be a better game master? Here are 10 tips for running great interactive stories. Ideal for online events and open sessions.
7 Great reasons to play a text-based RPG
March 26, 2022
In this post, I offer 7 great reasons to play a text-based RPG, whether it's a multi-user dungeon or a chatroom-based game.
How to reward players for reporting game typos: examples and tips for game creators
March 19, 2022
Mistakes can undermine the aesthetic of any game. Here are 5 reasons to reward players for reporting game typos.
List of character flaws (150+) with examples for writers and roleplayers
March 18, 2022
A list of character flaws you can use to make your characters more dynamic, relatable, and compelling. Over 150+ options, plus examples for writers and roleplayers.
What is metagaming in RP + 6 examples
March 17, 2022
What is metagaming in RP, and how do you know if it's bad? I break it down for you in this post with several examples.
25 essential multi-user (MU*) game terms and what they mean
March 16, 2022
Tired of sounding like a newb? Check out this list of essential MU* terms. You'll sound like a pro in no time.
4 Types of writing games you can play online for free
March 13, 2022
In this post, I lay out 4 types of writing games you can play online for free. I also include examples and popular game directories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ideas & Advice?
Ideas & Advice is a collection of guides, resources, and thought pieces for anyone who writes, roleplays, or creates text-based games. You’ll find everything from creative inspiration to practical tips for building better worlds and communities.
Who writes these articles?
Most are written by me, Andruid, but I occasionally feature guest writers or community contributors with unique insights into MUDs, roleplaying, and storytelling.
Are these posts tutorials or opinion pieces?
Both. Some explain how to do something step-by-step, while others explore broader design or community topics. Either way, the goal is to give you ideas you can use – or practical advice to follow.
Can I share these articles with my game community?
Absolutely! In fact, sharing links to these articles is one of the best ways to support the site. It helps signal to search engines that the content is worthwhile, which in turn can help new people find out about it.
Can I submit an idea for this category?
Sure! If you’d like to see a particular topic covered, send me a message and let me know what you’re curious about.