A large part of this text was written before the forum broke down.
----
It is funny how things go. I have written quite a few similar posts over the last years. Believe me, I can understand the reasons for that and on of the core-reasons is that MUME is a very nice project that should life on.
I have always complained about the lack of communication and information and attempt to do "better". Just... I am not entirely sure what to write and communicate now but I'll make a crude attempt. You have been warned.
First of all it like to address this:
"Why has management not made an effort to groom new leaders, new coders, or post help wanted to fill this gap?"
That's wrong. They did. Not everytime when things go wrong it is "managements" (let's say the A+ part for now) fault. New people got promoted into the positions that are needed and people did get access to code (what do you mean? Mudlle or C? probably the second).
Personally, I think it took too long until the things above happend but eventually they *did* happen. Now, the problem is not much (fixing bugs usually isn't visible) came from that (more people with code) but that has partly to do with RL-issues of the people involved. I'm not going to judge or comment that, I just say you cannot blame "management" (in this case the people who give out the access needed) here.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying "everything is fine". Personally I'd rather see Implementors buzzing around like busy bees, thinking of a nice - sometimes smaller, sometimes bigger - additions or fixes or tweaks per week (or at least every two weeks). Of course I'd like to see more "global" additions and changes (e.g. fixing the broken skills or … any of the other ideas that are flying around for a long time) happening.
Now for something positive: We do have quite some development in one aspect: The creation of new zones. I heard a lot of stuff like "Meh, but that's only new areas, new mobs, new objects. MUME is already big enough, where are the other changes?" and have to say: Creation of new zones is not "just" new zones. It is what MUME is mostly about, it is about Middle Earth and being able to run around in it. Personally, I think that's good and even if things are not perfect it is nice to see one branch still works very, very nicely (note: I agree all those plains-zones were a bad idea. We learned from that, the newly started projects won't feature more of those open "plains" as east of Lorien etc).
Why zones "take so long" for "just a couple of rooms" is a different matter this thread isn't about.
As for addressing "Why didn't they post HELP WANTED"?
Dreadful truth: Not anyone wants to is able to help. I mean from a technical AND social standpoint. It also needs dedication and time and trust me: People saying "Yeah, I want to contribute" is by no means a proof they actually do it once they got a task. If you'd ask for help and give out stuff to people who claim they'd do it you'd end up with more dead projects than you could count within a month.
And this does not even include "abuse" or "stupidity“ regarding the access you got.
Getting help regarding coding is a really tricky thing since the people who help must be a) good enough at coding, b) has enough RL-time and c) is trustworthy and responsible and you cannot expect to just ask and find someone who meets those three requirements.
I'm not sure if something like "outsourcing" could work, to be honest. But I think a coder needs to know what he is actually doing or the code won't do what it is supposed to do. And here the things you can "just" utsource safely to people you don't really know get less and less.
Also, you need people to "design" and write up stuff before you can „outsource“. Therefore, you don't only need "coders" who are willing and able to do stuff, you'll also need someone to write it up complete enough that someone who does not have the complete picture can code it. It also must get tested afterwards.
This is
not a reason "outsourcing" could not work, it just says "outsourcing" has limits and isn't the perfect solution as it might sound.
But again, my message is: Things could be better but... maybe it isn't as bad as it may seem.
If you are concerned about MUME and think you are capable of advancing it... get an immortal and try to start building. Sometimes there are not much projects (currently we have free testzones and nearly all people who wanted to work on a real zone got the chance to do that, btw) and you might be a coder who has not a good grasp on writing rooms etc, but the only chance for MUME to survive is when people on *all* layers of building try to do their best. Advancing the game isn't only about the Imps (who currently are not buzzing bees), but also about all the people who show interest (from room-writing Mc to I) and dedication. I know for sure there sure there are caring and working people on all other layers (Mc to at least A) - and to be fair, I also think one I "cares" as well, just in a different way than you might expect it (I'm not going into my personal interpretations on that issue but I am pretty sure pointing a finger in a certain direction and screaming "lazy fat-ass" isn't fair and probably misses the truth).
To address another common complaint: „People who are no creative writers but who are good coders are forced to write a bazillion stupid rooms before they can start to work, therefore, they quit“. This is only true in parts.
First: noone expects you to write a zone that „blows away your mind“ when walking in it and reading the descs. Personally I think that everyone who thinks to be a good coder should also be able to come up with a nicely planned layout of a zone or at least a general plan. That's an abstract planning-issue... a coder should be able to handle that. The descriptions come later. Yes, if you are no writer this is a hard part. But noone expects you to be a very good writer, a zone is not only about it's descs. It is perfectly fine to create some average descriptions and you'll also have the help of a proofreader later, so this task (100 roomdescs of 3 to 5 lines, that's some 350 to 550 lines all in all) should be possible for anyone to write – here comes the catch – if he's willing to actually WORK on MUME. Coding is also work, by the way. Then there is the „technical stuff“: Doors, custom mudlle effects, loading of mobiles and objects... I guess a coder should be able to handle stuff like that with ease – or, other way around, if he does not he does not have the excuse it's „creative writing work I just cannot do; I'm more the technical guy“.
Second: Working on a zone gives you much insight on how creating and plannung stuff on a MUD works. Either from a technical (commands, typical limitations in code and game mechanics) point of view but also from a design-point-of view: Is it actually smart to create a super-strong mob that blinds and sleeps the entire group when they enter? Forcing people to think about that BEFORE they actually have the chance to put the mob-dt in on their own seems like a good idea.
Third: Let's face the truth: There are a lot of unreliable people around. They may have good intentions but they still are unreliable (or unable). There must be SOME way to find out if people belong to the able, the unable (dedication without the needed skill is next to useless), or the unreliable (the greatest skill without dedication is also useless).
Making people building a zone has advantages and disadvantages. Everyone knows that. But in the conclusion I think it is a rather good test, that tests quite a few important things. And, yes, I know this is only true when things are „working“ as they should (e.g. if no supervisors are there things break down).
Conclusion (finally, you say?
):
But more importantly: If you like MUME, play it. Find ways to *enjoy* it, be it level-grinding or something else (imho MUME lacks in "social players" at the moment), hell, use MUME as "advanced chat system" with your RL-buddies, as replacement for ICQ or whatever while your chars fool around in GH... but USE and PLAY it.
Tell other people about it, friends as well as internet forums (how many *serious* attempts to promote MUME more have you undertaken, I ask?). Get people to install mappers and help configure their client if the learning curve is too high for some GH- and Bree-xp. Start small contests who collects more honeycombs or whatever, just find a way to enjoy what already is there (since that it is a lot). Advance the wiki and be active on the forum. If you are a coder who cannot write descs, help to write some modern client or help with a modern website.
In the end - this is true for „building“ on the game as immortal as well as „playing“ is as mortal - it is all about the many, many small things that add up.
---
Well, the thing about communication... here is something but I'm not sure if it served any purpose or if you learned something new from it. Are you as smart as before? Will things change in some way? Did all this have a purpose?
To be honest I have no idea. But at least I try. To advance the game as well as doing something about one other issue I have been complaining about.