Since we're illiterate folks.

[Kuragari]

I see the boards in each of the taverns... I wonder why they're there since we're not really reading anything...
I'm not sure why something that has to be read would exist if we can't read. I was told "it's not really there".
So... why not make something more relative to the world?

I'd suggest rumor mongers. People who either get paid to keep people up on current events... or busybodies who have nothing better to do....
It wouldn't take much to change the coding... it would just be a person who had an IC reason for being there...

[Synthesis]

Because newbs who come in from other games can immediately grasp the syntax "read board," because board-like objects exist in pretty much every other MUD in existence.

That being said, I think there are a couple of clans who have boards that are exactly what you're suggesting: they look like an NPC standing there.

[FantasyWriter]

Because newbs who come in from other games can immediately grasp the syntax "read board," because board-like objects exist in pretty much every other MUD in existence.

That being said, I think there are a couple of clans who have boards that are exactly what you're suggesting: they look like an NPC standing there.

I get frustrated that I can't >look 'board" when in a clan like this.

[valeria]

In such a clan, it took me a long time to recognize that said NPC WAS actually a board.  Maybe if they had some sort of other indication it would be easier to tell?  Or echoed passing out and taking in messages?