---
title: "Connect a client"
description: "Dark Pawns lets you run up to three characters at once. Set up TinTin++, Mudlet, MUSHclient, the web client, or telnet to run your party."
type: guide
audience: players
verified: v0.1.8
canonical: https://darkpawns.org/docs/play/connect-client/
---

[Documentation](/docs/) / [Play](/docs/play/)

# Connect a client

Dark Pawns lets you run up to three characters at once. Set up TinTin++, Mudlet, MUSHclient, the web client, or telnet to run your party.

Dark Pawns is tuned for a party. You can run up to three characters at once, and past the starter rooms you'll want them: a level 1 character can trade punches with a level 1 mob, but by level 15 a solo adventurer is mostly dragon food. A real MUD client keeps all three sessions open so you can lead with your tank and heal from another tab without losing your scrollback.

> Each player may have a Total of 3 characters at any given time. ... Please note, linkdead characters that are still in game count towards your three multis. Log 'em out if you aren't using them.
> 
> `help MULTI`

## Before you start

*   **The server address.** For darkpawns.org it's `darkpawns.org`, port **7778** (TLS encrypted) or **7777** (classic telnet). Playing on a private world? Ask its operator for the host and port.
*   **Up to three character names.** You can roll the characters as you connect.

Group your three characters together

Once all three characters are standing in the same room, have the second and third type `follow <leader>`, then have the leader type `group all`. Now when the leader moves, the whole party walks together.

## Choose a client

*   [TinTin++](#tab-panel-0-0)
*   [Mudlet](#tab-panel-0-1)
*   [MUSHclient](#tab-panel-0-2)
*   [Web client](#tab-panel-0-3)
*   [Plain telnet](#tab-panel-0-4)

TinTin++ calls each connection a session, and you switch between them by name. Type the commands below exactly as shown, curly braces included: TinTin++ uses them to group each argument.

1.  Start TinTin++.
2.  Open your first character's session: `#ssl {first} {darkpawns.org} {7778}`.
3.  Log in, or create the character.
4.  Open the second and third the same way: `#ssl {second} {darkpawns.org} {7778}`, then `#ssl {third} {darkpawns.org} {7778}`.
5.  Type `#first`, `#second` or `#third` to switch.

No encryption support in your build? Use `#session` instead of `#ssl`, with port 7777. The [TinTin++ session manual](https://tintin.mudhalla.net/manual/session.php) covers the rest.

Mudlet saves each connection as a profile, so make one per character.

1.  In Mudlet's connection window, choose **New**.
2.  Name the profile after the character. Enter `darkpawns.org` and port `7778`, and tick **Secure**.
3.  Connect, then log in or create the character.
4.  Repeat for the other two.
5.  Switch between profiles, or turn on MultiView to see them side by side.

Mudlet's [connection window manual](https://wiki.mudlet.org/w/Manual%3AConnection_Window) covers profiles; its [profile preferences manual](https://wiki.mudlet.org/w/Manual%3AProfile_Preferences) covers MultiView.

![Mudlet connected to Dark Pawns, with the player dock, vitals and the Temple Altar map.](/media/docs/mudlet-dock.png)

MUSHclient saves each connection as a world, one per character.

1.  Open **Connection → Quick Connect**.
2.  Enter a world name, `darkpawns.org` and the classic port, `7777`. (Use 7778 instead if your MUSHclient setup supports encrypted connections.)
3.  Choose **OK**, then log in or create the character.
4.  Repeat for the other two, with a different world name each time.

Each world opens in its own window. The [getting started guide](https://www.mushclient.com/mushclient/doc/general/starting.html) walks through Quick Connect.

No install needed. Each browser tab is one character.

1.  Open the [web client](/play/).
2.  At the login prompt, enter a character name and password, or type `guest` to look around without making one.
3.  Open two more tabs at the same address for the rest of the party.

![A new character at the Temple Altar in the web client, with vitals below the game text.](/media/docs/web-client-first-steps.png)

It works, it's everywhere, and it does one character per window.

Caution

Telnet sends your password unencrypted. Use port 7778 with a client that supports encryption when you can.

1.  Open a terminal.
2.  Run `telnet darkpawns.org 7777`.
3.  Log in, or create the character.
4.  Do the same in two more windows.

No `telnet` command on your system? Any of the clients above will do.

## Did it work?

Each character has its own window, tab or session, and each one shows its own prompt. You can switch between them without anyone logging out.

## If it didn't work

*   **The connection times out.** Check the address and port, then see [Players can't connect](/docs/host/players-cannot-connect/).
*   **You connect but never get a login prompt.** Disconnect and try again. If it keeps happening, tell us in the [Discord](https://discord.gg/supVzU9yN) which client you used and when.
*   **A second tab or session kicks out the first.** You logged in with the same character name twice, which takes over that character's active body and disconnects the old session. Log each tab in as a different character.

## Related

*   [Your first hour](/docs/play/first-hour/)
*   [Color](/docs/play/color/)
*   [Players can't connect](/docs/host/players-cannot-connect/)