Mirror Lake Protocol (or MLP) is a protocol used for inter-server communication. Its original concept was made by Hocus as a protocol which would permit players from different servers to hang out together and eventually even do quests together.
The current implementation differ from the original specification. This is a non-standard protocol which relies on TMW Vault for authentication ─ made originally to secure TMW rEvolt accounts. If you are playing in ManaPlus, you are not using the Mirror Lake Protocol and cannot use it.
Mana Launcher
Mana Launcher is a fancy wrapper written in Ren'Py for Steam, which implements the Mirror Lake Protocol and provides some minor features of its own.
Currently, only the Mana Launcher implements the Mirror Lake Protocol.
Soul Level and Soul Experience
A cosmetic system to track your progress in all the servers together. Originally designed to provide Steam achievements and to unlock optional cutscenes on Mana Launcher.
Mirror Lake (ingame)
Game Servers may implement special locations ("Mirror Lakes") which allow you to move directly from a server to another. It is not entirely seamless, but much smoother.
Using a Mirror Lake to move between worlds send miscellaneous data which may make you appear in a different position on the target world, including positions which cannot be normally reached from the target world.
Some quests may require you to use specific mirror lakes. For lore purposes, the login portal is also considered a Mirror Lake.
Home World
You can, at any time, elect a home world. Once a home world is set, it cannot be changed.
The home world will inform any other world which implements the MLP regarding your overall experience and progress, when you try to login on it. No communication happen unless you decide to visit another world. The guest world will, following a conversion table, import your progress on the home world.
When set, you can spend most of your time on the home world, and do quests on the guest worlds without having to grind excessively to participate. Keep in mind, however, that experience and items acquired on guest worlds will not be sent to the home world.
By default, the experience stack, which means progress on guest worlds tend to be much faster than in the home world. This may make you want to change the home world later, so be careful when deciding on it.
Staff may, at its sole discretion, allow home world changes, but it normally is disallowed as to prevent cheating.
