Atlantis 3.0: Times 69 From: Geoff Dunbar <gdunbar@atlantis.prankster.com> Date: Mon, 20 Oct 1997 00:00:00 +0000 Subject: Atlantis 3.0: Times 69 Atlantis 3.0 Times September, 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Email admin30@prankster.com with game issues. Visit http://www.prankster.com (or email atlantis@prankster.com) for information or to join. Sorry about the late turn; a tricky bug in the code turned up that I had to debug and fix. Thanks for your patience! A small fix for this turn. Formerly, if you had an attitude declared towards a faction better (more friendly) than your default attitude, you would treat that faction with your better attitude, even if you couldn't see the unit's faction. However, some people pointed out a loophole with that rule, so now the rule only applies if the attitude declared is Friendly or Ally. The rules have been updated to reflect this change. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Clan Myhkul (347): The Deus ex Machina has been most generous and of great assistance in the formation of the Clan Myhkul. New factions might well consider thier notice in the previous times. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In response to CLOA allowed in assassinations being beneficial to new players. If the target of an assassination could wear CLOA, so could the assassin. A CLOA protected assassin would be extremely hard to beat. It is the established factions that will have CLOA. A new faction will not have a chance against CLOA protected assassins. The balance of this game is such that new factions really don't have a chance. Long studied magic and artifacts are much too powerful for normal troops. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Chosen of Cthulhu (40): Tzu stands upon the plains in the heart of 70's territory giving final orders to assassins and having the mages line the balrogs up into a battle formation. A lone 70's orc runs up and and demands, "Duh, who you?" [Note: New episodes of Babylon5 are showing again, so I just had to sneak a line in from the latest show. Besides it fits so well.] Tzu replies, "I'm the boot thats going to kick your sorry ass all the way back to earth, sweetheart. I am the last thing your *ever* going to see. I am the right hand of vengence. God sent me." The orc deftly responds, "Huh?" "Oh, never mind. You," says Tzu pointing at the nearest balrog. "Kill that," pointing at the orc. With evil glee the balrog snatchs up the orc and swallows it whole sword and all. Tzu says to Khan, "Come on lets join the mages on the top of that hill and let the balrogs have a free hand." [Note: The due to graphic violence of orcs, elves, and humans being roasted, barbaqued and sometimes even mashed into a pulp and sucked up with a straw by balrogs the textual description of the battle has been removed and replaced with this more mundane battle report.] Round 1: Htunk Dlanod (5777) casts Force Shield. Unit (7428) casts Spirit Shield. Xam Nirepliah (5778) blasts the enemy with Hellfire, killing 104. Berek Halfhand (5399) shoots a Fireball, killing 7. Berek Halfhand (5399) blasts the enemy with Hellfire, killing 127. Eamon Valda (16626) blasts the enemy with Hellfire, killing 66. Unit (46716) loses 0. Unit (24983) loses 440. Eamon Valda becomes sick all over her shoes from witnessing the gore. Several other mages look a bit green. "That was just too easy," Khan says annoyed. "Five balrogs would have been more than enough, ten is overkill." The uncle army quickly advances through five of the 70's cities. One assumes thats why the 70's call the area EDEN 5, its more like Hell 5 now. All the battle results are just like the one above. Unfortunalty many of the 70's managed to flee after pillaging their own cities as the uncle army only managed to kill a little over 2000 men. Sun Tzu brushes dust and ash from his clothing standing in the fifth pillaged 70's city. About of score of uncle men stand around looking at the city currently empty of the 70's infestation. Several more months of this should reduce most of the 70's primary territory to ash. He hopes the 70's provide more of a challenge than SEP did, they certainly run faster. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Turn 100.....The beginning of the end...... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gale had buried the Nameless mages which where butchered in Verguin, Chaos of Earth (7335), A short, dark man with an imposing visage.. Chaos of Water (7334), A tall, lanky man with tangled greenish hair.. Tarod, Chaos of Time (4978), Tall, pale, gaunt man with eyes that change color.. Yandros, Lord of Chaos in Life and Death (9889), Ethereal man with intense eyes.. Chaos of Fire (4980), Tall, gaunt man with ruddy skin. and thanks for the Staffs of lightning and Amulets of true seeing which they freely decide to donate us ! We are confident that several other Nameless mages will decide to commit sucide ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alhaam's travel preparations were now at an advanced stage of confusion. His sailors and shipbuilders were still refusing to speak to each other because of a stupid Viking clan rivalry involving the theft of a keg of ale by someones grandmother. The number of resignations, mysterious illnesses, weddings and pregnancies which suddenly cropped up lead Alhaam to believe that his servants were less than ecstatic about going on an extended ocean voyage. Alhaam was also slightly concerned what would happen when he was gone. After a lifetimes exposure to Kazzami financial practices, some of his accountants were just not to be trusted. Luckily for Alhaam, he knew he could rely on his most trusted right-hand man (his only right-hand man) Sven Svenson, to run things while he was gone. Sven's skills in the business had improved remarkably - he had even regained the trust of the retired UNCLE soldiers who had settled down to farm in the area. This he had achieved by organising regular dances to which he would invite the farmers and the many women in Durness who were recently widowed (some by the very men they were dancing with). It was quite amazing what some of those fellas could do on the dance floor, considering the extent of their war injuries. No doubt the copious supply of ale was of some assistance. But finally the day to depart did arrive. The sailors were now firmly in charge of the ship and the monsoon season was over. Many people were at the harbour to see Alhaam depart, including some of his competitors. Alhaam smiled and waved - he knew they were in for a surprise. from "The History of House al-Kazzam" by Sven Kazzamsen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Les Chevaliers du Septentrion ============================= and The Wolves Riders ================= were proud to play with the famous Minstrels. They merit to rest now. They were great diplomats, and courageous soldiers in the battle fields. They built the first 70s boat and discovered the promised lands of Eden5. And now, the pain overwhelm us when we see their fleet leaving, towards the west, for their no-return trip. We greet the end of the Sailors Brotherhood, of the Hub association and probably the end of all our diplomatic relationships that Pinpa kept up to protect us from our hereditary ennemies. That's not cowardice quitting, it is when you stay and do nothing. We greet the Uncle for his successful and impressive strike in the heart of Eden5. We'll strike back. You are on the good way men. And we are too. Atlantean, the time of comfort is over, the true kings of the world are the gated armies. It's the age of HIGH-TECH. You can run but you can't never hide. If something itchs you yet, it is perhaps because you have been stung by a midge, and the poison is in you. Awake, atlanteans ! Or keep sleeping in the never-ending night. God bless the warriors ! God bless the magicians ! God dooms the red necks ! Blavon. WOR. 210. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Magic Lantern Show... One scene showed the fleet under full sail with land in the background. One frame, which had somehow escaped the censor, showed a herd of 70s cows grazing peacefully on the quarterdeck of the flagship. "No expense is spared.." declared the commentator ".. to ensure our boys have the very best rations available." The show ended with an UNCLE flag waving victoriously over a captured 70s city and the organist stuck up a jingoistic anthem. The wide-eyed audience sang lustily... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last turn GALE killed five Nameless mages. We lost more. But we have more, so this is not a problem. --------------- Deus ex Machina alliance accepts new players and players not currently committed to other groups. Deus is one of GALE alliances. We can offer training for mages, silver, weapons and lands to exploit. We expect commitment to the alliance and partecipation to the GALE wars. We are particularly interested in players who want run war factions and control large empires. Please email: bbacelli@tin.it --------------- About the rules of the game: I feel the complete lack of graphics is a major problem of A3. Some support program to move units with point-and-click would be welcome. If there will be the A4 game, I hope this will be included. Even a simple graphic interface similar to the Crystal Ball program would be fine. There's too much silver in this game. Managing trade slots is very compicated, so it seems that many players buy most of needed items from cities. The game is heavily unbalanced toward war and magic. It's unrealistic that so much gain is coming from taxation in respect to trade. Even more unralistic are the silver eating men of A3. Where there's no possible seller for food (in open sea, in nearly uninhabitated hexes traveled by large armies) the player should be forced to provide real food (grai, live). Obviously this can not work with the present rules (too much complicated). Units could be simplified. I suppose A4 could use a system with leaders, single-man units, 10 men units, 100 men units and maybe larger units. The production system (and transportation rules) could be modified to reflect the change. With the present system, a player has too many units to move. I would like a more probability-related skill system. For example, an OBSE4 unit should have a very good chance to see a STEA3 enemy, but not the certainty. Any comments? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chronicles of The Tribe No one has been there but us. That's why it is called "The Unnamed". Very few time ago it was "The Unmanned". Paulo, Parrot-Man of The Tribe (123) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hmmm, Hmmm, pillage, pillage, Hmmm, loot, destroy, pillage, Oh, sorry, no time for a proper Times article, too busy laying waste to the 70s homelands. Maybe next turn, Hmmmm, pillage, destroy, pillage, destroy, Hmmmm, whistle while you work, Pinpa is a.. Hmmm, pillage, destroy, pillage, Hmmm... -Clueless Newbies ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Grand Assembly of Learned Elders (GALE) The "invincible" Nameless army wasn't defeated last turn as I promised, due to an unforeseen mistake. But it was severly hurt, and the remains will be removed as soon as we can catch them. If you have any questions about GALE or if you're interested in joining the largest alliance in Atlantis, please contact me at m96thd@student.tdb.uu.se. Tomaz Roses On White Lace (91) GALE Grand Elder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ******************* Pinpanikaye Retires *********************** Dear friends and enemies of Atlantis I, Pinpanikaye, King of the Minstrels, one of the co-founder of the '70s, Sailors Brotherhood, Hub, and Graevbygd University, am leaving Atlantis. In a recent times, I said to my enemies (who had lost wars during 1 year and 1/2 while promising some new battles) that I wouldn't wait so long. So here's what I meant, since it was planned long ago. We Minstrels really enjoyed living among all you guys, and we lived there some of our best moments. But Time, the Great Greedy, brought to me the worse shadow that can be brought to a Minstrel King: I'm not very much entertained anymore. It's been so long since my beginning in A2, and my orders are now so huge that it's often more a pain and a duty than a pleasure to keep on entertaining my troops. So I have to give up my crown. To all my friends, I say that you'll always be welcome in my inbox, as well as in my personal tower in Seattle [city]. To my enemies, I say the same thing since I enjoyed fighting you, even if your insistance to call our victories (a whole territory of 50 hexes, 7 pop centers, and 5000+ troops) "diversions" is not very fair. I'll just call your Balrog expedition another "diversion" and we're even! Except that our "diversion" resulted in a clear victory, while yours still has to be proven. But I'll have to let my friends (of course with all my troops and mages) show you that it won't be that easy for you to tie the score. But even if you did, who would then win our 3rd war ? I don't know if there's a possible end to such a story, but I decided to put one to mine. As in all retirements, I guess most of you will be sad or happy to see me leave (I hope more will be sad! ;), happy for you to stay, but somewhat jealous of my new freedom. :) Enjoy Atlantis, all Atlanteans, and please keep visiting my mailbox! :-) Pinpanikaye, King of the Minstrels ******************************************************************* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sven, the recruitment contiues unabated. Excellent Gilles, we are gradually approaching critical mass. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hear I sit, broken hearted I have no mages to get my fire started I grabs two elfs and rub them fast It starts my fire. At last! At last! [Excerpt from "If Dr. Suess was an Orc"] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Up