VI. Communication

There are several avenues of communication provided by Materia Magica. These are called channels and include shout, yell, dreams, auction, pray, hint and announce.

Your channels can be switched off and on individually by typing CHANNEL <channel name> <off/on> ... i.e., you can choose not to hear shouts by typing CHANNEL SHOUT OFF. Likewise they may be turned on again by typing CHANNEL SHOUT ON. Setting QUIET on will disable all channels, including TELLs.

TELLs are the most common means of communication as it allows your character to send a private message directly to a specific individual and use a small amount of stamina. The syntax is TELL <playername> <message>.

YELLing broadcasts a message to an entire structure or across a range in the wilds and uses a bit of stamina as well. This function can only be used once every few minutes and it's not intended for common conversation that can be handled by tells. The syntax is YELL <message>. Yelling is a relatively anonymous channel, others don't see your name next to your yell unless they are in the same location as you.

SHOUTing sends a message even farther than yelling, also can only be used once every few minutes and again is not intended for normal conversations that can otherwise be handled by tells. The syntax is SHOUT <message>. Shouting, as opposed to yelling, isn't anonymous. Be warned that if you shout others know who is sending the message.

DREAM is used by people sleeping and is only heard by those asleep.

SAY and WHISPER are methods of face-to-face communicating with another person in the same location as you. SAY, can be heard by everyone in the room and WHISPER goes to the target but everyone in the room can see that you are whispering to that individual.

The non-interactive HINT channel, if left on (it is on by default), will send you a hint about the game every few moments.

The AUCTION channel is useful in many ways. It is central to the economy of Materia Magica as it allows those with surplus equipment a convenient method of selling, as well as allowing lower level characters access to items they might not otherwise be able to get. The auction channel is also a convenient way to become acquainted with the items available in Materia Magica.

Typing AUCTION LIST will show the items currently up for auction. By typing AUCTION <#> you can get information on a specific item in the queue. When an item you want comes up to the block, typing AUCTION BID <amount> will place a bid for you. If you are outbid you can bid again. When no more bids are received the item is mailed to the highest bidder.

If you wish to sell an object in your inventory type, AUCTION <objectname> <minimum bid>. If no minimum bid is set it defaults to 100 gold.

The ANNOUNCEMENT channel is used to announce arena challenges and victories as well as new multiclasses. Please note that announcement is only used by the system and cannot be used by the players.

PRAYers may be offered by anyone in the game but are only heard by Guides and Immortals. This channel should be used carefully, because it will let the Guides and Immortals know that you need help with something. Please don't use it frivilously, but only when you have a legitimate question that you can't easily answer yourself. Immortals and Guides will not give you gold or equipment, help you complete a quest or puzzle, intervene in legal PK, adjust your statistics or help you to level, so please do not ask.

Next: General Informational Commands