The File

The zone file is like The Force for zones -- It combines and relates the files and binds them into one.  The zone file tells the mud where everything goes, when to refresh the zone, and what the limits are on mobs and objects.

The zone file starts off with basic information about the zone.  Without a zone file the mud may not even load your .wld file ...

#<zone number>
<zone name>~
<top room number > <lifespan> <reset mode>
<Zone Command> {zero or more zone commands}
S
#99999
$~

Lines starting with '*' are considered comments and ignored by the mud, but not by those having to find mistakes. Zone commands themselves may also be followed by comments. The file then ends with a capital letter 'S'.

Zone number

This is the 2 or 3 digit number assigned to you by the world group leader.

Zone name

A short descriptive name for your zone.  When an imm does the "show zones" command, this is what will show up.

Top room number

This is the highest numbered room in your .wld file.  For example if you had zone 30 and the last room you wrote was #3036, you would put 3036 here.

Lifespan

The length of time, in ticks, between zone resets.  This varies a LOT from zone to zone, and should be roughly the amount of time it takes a player who can clear the zone to do so.  Hell and the Elysium Faire are 180, Tynstri is 220, lowlevel zones are much shorter.  Show zones will give you this information.  The lifespan of the zone is a function of both the level of the zone and the size.  We have 18 room level 70 zones with the same lifespan as a 100 room level 20 zone.

Reset Mode

There are three possible codes here:

Zone commands