echo6-docs/vault/projects/mmud-project.md

---
title: MMUD — Mesh Multi-User Dungeon
type: project
tags:
  - mesh
aliases: []
related:
  - [[advbbs-project]]
  - [[meshtasticd-sim-nodes-runbook]]
  - [[meshai]]
  - [[ip-allocation]]
  - [[meshtastic-headscale-runbook]]
updated: 2026-07-13
---
# MMUD — Mesh Multi-User Dungeon

Text-based multiplayer dungeon crawler for Meshtastic LoRa mesh networks. BBS door games (LORD, TradeWars) adapted for 150-char mesh radio constraints, async play, 30-day wipe cycles.

## Status

**Phase:** Deployed and running — all 6 phases implemented, NPC conversation system live with gemini-3.1-flash-lite.

## Deployment

- **Game Daemon:** CT 109 (192.168.1.109) on utility node, Docker container, Flask dashboard on port 5000
- **Dashboard:** https://mmud.echo6.co (Last Ember — dark tavern aesthetic)
- **SIM Nodes:** 6 meshtasticd LXC containers (CT 111-116) on utility
  - EMBR (CT 111) — game server
  - DCRG (CT 112) — broadcast
  - GRST (CT 113) — Grist barkeep NPC
  - MRN (CT 114) — Maren healer NPC
  - TRVL (CT 115) — Torval merchant NPC
  - WSPR (CT 116) — Whisper sage NPC
- **LLM Backend:** gemini-3.1-flash-lite via Google genai SDK (configured in DB `llm_config` table)
- **Compose:** `/opt/mmud/docker-compose.yml` on CT 109
- **Admin:** https://mmud.echo6.co/admin (session auth, password in docker env)

## Repo

`/home/zvx/projects/mmud` (GitHub: zvx-echo6/mmud)

The repo contains a `CLAUDE.md` with full architecture, directory structure, and implementation guidance. **Read it first before any work.**

## Key Files

- `CLAUDE.md` — Architecture, patterns, gotchas
- `docs/planned.md` — Complete game design document (~950 lines). Source of truth for all mechanics.
- `docs/npc-lore.md` — NPC deep lore bible (5-layer Hearth-Sworn backstories, 514 lines)
- `docs/worldbuilding.md` — Surface-level worldbuilding (Legend of Oryn, floor identities)
- `config.py` — All game constants with rationale
- `src/db/schema.sql` — Full database schema (migrations in `src/db/migrations/`)

## Architecture

- **Python 3.11+**, SQLite, Meshtastic Python API, Flask 3.x, Jinja2
- **Docker:** python:3.11-slim, /data volume for SQLite DB
- **6-node mesh topology:** EMBR (game), DCRG (broadcast), 4 NPC nodes
- **150 characters per message** — hard ceiling from Meshtastic LoRa
- **12 dungeon actions/day**, 30-day epochs, async-first
- **828+ tests** — `python3 -m pytest tests/ -x -v`

## NPC Conversation System

NPCs use runtime LLM calls (the one exception to the "no runtime LLM" rule). Key features:

- **TX Tag System:** LLM prefixes responses with `[TX:action:detail]` for game mechanics (heal, buy, sell, browse, gamble, hint, recap)
- **Session Memory:** Per-player per-NPC conversation history with persistent memory summaries
- **Deep Lore:** Five-layer backstory system (Surface → Observations → History → Truth → Unspeakable)
  - Trigger word detection pushes toward deeper layers
  - Interaction count tracks conversation depth per player per NPC
  - "Soren" is a Layer 5 nuclear trigger for all 4 NPCs
- **Easter Eggs:** Death memory (Maren), daily gamble (Torval), countdown (Whisper), late-epoch vulnerability (Maren), inter-NPC secret (Torval/Whisper)
- **DummyBackend:** Keyword-based offline mode for testing without LLM

## LLM Configuration

- Model configured via `llm_config` table in SQLite DB (not env vars)
- Currently: gemini-3.1-flash-lite
- API key stored in DB, manageable via admin panel at /admin/llm
- **No `max_output_tokens` restrictions** — gemini-3.1-flash-lite thinking tokens consume the budget, causing truncation. All backends have token limits removed.
- Supports: Google (Gemini), Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI-compatible backends

## Development Phases (All Complete)

1. **Core Loop** — Message handling, parser, player creation, navigation, combat, death, action budget
2. **Economy & Progression** — XP, leveling, gold, shops, gear, bank, healer
3. **Social Systems** — Broadcasts, barkeep, bounty board, player messages, mail
4. **Epoch Generation** — World gen, LLM narrative pipeline, secrets, bounty pools
5. **Endgame Modes** — Hold the Line, Raid Boss, Retrieve & Escape, epoch vote
6. **The Breach** — Breach zone gen, 4 mini-events (Heist, Emergence, Incursion, Resonance)

## Gotchas

- gemini-3.1-flash-lite thinking tokens count against `max_output_tokens` — never set token limits
- NPC greeting path uses `complete()`, conversation path uses `chat()` — different code paths
- `npc_memory` table stores `turn_count` for interaction depth tracking
- Death log table (`death_log`) tracks monster kills for Maren's memory feature
- Town actions are always free — never charge dungeon actions in town
- The design doc (`docs/planned.md`) is the source of truth — if code contradicts it, code is wrong

## Notes

- All regen/HP/damage numbers are targets — will need playtesting
- SQLite single file DB, no ORM, raw parameterized SQL
- Every outbound message must fit 150 chars — the formatter is the final gate
- Container on CT 109 connects to 6 SIM nodes via TCP (ports 4403)