December 95 Galactic Inquirer From: dvistas@aol.com (D Vistas) Date: Mon, 27 Nov 1995 00:00:00 +0000 <<< INTERGALACTIC NEWSWIRE SERVICE >>> SUBJECT: The Galactic Inquirer, Volume 3, December 95 TO : All Galactic Citizens Of The Core FROM : Edited by M.W. Martin, Megafalagon University, Sol (dvistas@aol.com) ========================================================================== === >>> SPECIAL EDITION: I.Y. 95 Year End Trader's Survey by M.W. Martin, Editor I hop everyone is having a pleasant holiday season so far, at least as pleasant as mine has been. First of all, I'd like to thank all of you for participating in Smuggler's Run. Many of you have played for a long time, and I have gotten lots of input and ideas from players that have been extremely useful and sometimes downright brilliant. Smuggler's Run is by no means a static universe... change can happen at any time. Instead of the usual Galactic Inquirer, this year will end with a special survey that will help me determine which direction Smuggler's Run is heading. I've heard some of these suggestions from players, and some from friends. No matter where they came from, they are interesting ideas and should be looked into. So fill out the survey and send it in with your next turn, or email it to dvistas@aol.com as a separate message, and you'll be helping me immensely in steering the future of this madness. Remember, this is not strictly a vote, but is intended as a survey to determine your interests and needs. Thanks for participating! 1) The Galactic Inquirer will become a bi-monthly newsletter, economics being changed on a bi-monthly basis instead of monthly. This would allow traders to establish more stable trade routes and generally slow down economic changes. YES________ NO________ 2) The Empire will establish an interstellar savings bank where traders could safely stow money. QPs could be deposited free of charge, with a 5% tax on all withdrawals. Example: you withdraw 100,000 QPs from your account and the Empire bank adds 5,000 QPs. to your back taxes. YES________ NO________ 3) An insurance company will create a generic 70% blanket insurance service for non-corporate aligned ships. Merchants will be charged a reasonable QP rate based on the current net worth of the trader's vessel, and all policies will be comparable to corporate insurance in scope and cost. If your ship is destroyed, you will receive 70% of its current net worth to invest in a new space craft, or anything else you may want. YES________ NO________ Other changes will most likely occur, but these are the one's I wanted traders' direct input on. If you have any other ideas or suggestions about new rules or current ones, please send them in. And again, thanks for your participation! ========================================================================== === >>> Loansharks Reduce Interest Rates By A Whopping 10% by Simon Lenteol, Betelgeuse Correspondent Fromida Froo 1126: Without any notice, a sweeping agreement between underworld leaders has brought illegal loan interest payments down to an all-time low of 15%, down 10% from the usual 25%. Yes, the math is simple, according to one source, who said that tracking down dead-beat borrowers was getting more expensive than it was worth. "By da time ya git starliner tickets, hotels, meals and all on a receipt, youse lookin at a paltry 35% return on da investment, and dat's assumin' dat ya' even git the bum!" said one notorious loan collections agent out of Macovia. "We figger dat if da payments are more reasonable, our profits will actually rise!" he claimed. So says this reporter, who knows that dead men can't pay back loans, and so many smugglers have attempted to avoid payments all together that the mob is actually a little bit worried. "We're lending illegal money to illegal traders, probably for illegal purposes." said another source who wished to remain anonymous. "We can't rely on the honor system or the law to get our money back, so maybe we can rely on good business sense." he said. But don't get any ideas that loansharks won't be as aggressive at getting their money back if you try to skip out, because the general consensus is that they will be as active as ever in collecting their ill-gotten booty. "We can't afford to let da deadbeats go... sooner or later we're gonna catch up to ya!" said the agent. ========================================================================== === >>> Changes Coming For The New Year, Says GI Editor by Timooka Kroo, Sol Correspondent Earth 1101: M. W. Martin, founder and editor of The Galactic Inquirer, said some interesting changes might be coming forth in the new year as Smuggler's Run enters its 3rd official year of operation. Martin gave the statements in a press conference held at the Grand Imperial Palace in Imperial City, and was accompanied by numerous high planetary officials, military heroes and vid screen stars. "The gala event lasted late into the night!" said Chief Of Security Bindo Troff, who maintains that there were only a few injuries during the party. One of the most important issues Martin brought up was the introduction of a new Galactic Inquirer format which would alter the economic foundations of the Empire. "I have spoken to numerous CEOs and hundreds of individual traders, and many suggest that one month economic period factors are counter productive." said Martin. "A large number of merchants have suggested a bi-monthly Galactic Inquirer, and it's something that is currently under consideration." Indeed, numerous economic experts claim that a slowdown in economic fluctuations could result in more stable cargo routes lasting at least 2 months instead of the usual 1 month. Reprogramming the computers at Megafalagon University to adjust for a 2 month forecast would be a relatively simple procedure, said one inside source. So far, the CEO's of several of the megacorporations are interested in a bi-monthly economic period. ========================================================================== === >>> Oganza's Sports Beat by Oganza Busasa, Macovia The circus boys are hard at work, as usual, smashing and bashing each other about the rings, and what for? Money, fame, fortune and freedom, for one thing! Well, for four things, really. And recent increases in the awards for fights has encouraged many fighters to rethink their strategies. Now that weapons and armor are more affordable, blood is spilling in record quantities. More for us... more for the fans! And in coming months, more changes may come to be, if all goes well. The big-whigs at Pandemonium Circus won't tell ME what they're thinking, but I have friends in high places that may leak a fact or two my way. And you can be sure I'll be leaking in your direction as soon as I hear anything worth leaking about. - O.B. W e e k l y R a n k P r o m o t i o n s Rank 1: None. Rank 2: #220 Aqua Zebu, #912 Rustic Devil Rank 3: None Rank 4: #999 The Aardvark W e e k l y C o n t e s t R e s u l t s RANK 0: #803 Greenwood, Gecko, FIG (1/3/0), manager Hell Stables #942 Sun Tzu, Gecko, FIG (1/2/0)............... 62% to 30% in 10 #837 Iiron Miik, Piil, FIG (3/0/0), manager Trey Stone #991 Ebony Magician, Mechbot, MAS (3/2/0)...... 02% to 41% in 10 RANK 1: #010 Tarantula, Piil, FIG (3/1/0), manager Aristotle #714 Metal Mangler, Mechbot, FIG (3/6/0)....... 24% to 44% in 10 #018 Brogian, Rhesian, MAS (3/8/0), manager Hell Stables #073 Roguish Bellhop, Zephyr, FIG (5/0/0)...... 57% to 49% in 10 #185 Bigfist, Brogian, FIG (3/5/0), manager John Sakes #853 Great Zambooii, Zephyr, FIG (4/5/0)....... 20% to 11% in 10 #240 Boomboom, Rhesian, FIG (6/1/0), manager Eugene Lin #927 Joyful Woods, Brogian, FIG (5/4/0)........ 05% to 42% in 10 #406 The Rir To Fear, Rhesian, FIG (5/7/0), manager Stan Davis #912 Rustic Devil, Brogian, MAS (7/7/0)........ 15% to 28% in 10 #602 Mangler McMeat, Piil, FIG (5/3/0), manager Father Windex #997 Roly Poly, Piil, FIG (6/3/0).............. 20% to 35% in 10 #963 The Cobalt Moon, Piil, FIG (3/7/0), manager Sergio Manu #220 Aqua Zebu, Brogian, MAS (6/6/0)........... 60% to 22% in 10 RANK 2: #283 Jack the Ripper, Terran, FIG (10/4/1), manager Stan Davis #541 Beige Tadpole, Mechbot, MAS (2/6/0)....... 07% to 29% in 10 #421 Joyful Javelin, Gecko, BLA (6/5/0), manager Foxwurth Interstel #588 Leepin Lizard, Gecko, FIG (9/0/0)......... 33% to 11% in 10 #438 Anchovy, Terran, MAS (5/0/0), manager Foxwurth Interstel #584 Peculiar Feline, Gecko, BLA (5/11/0)...... 15% to 68% in 10 #457 Dastardly Dan, Terran, FIG (9/0/0), manager Stan Davis #716 Polliwog, Mechbot, FIG (3/3/0)............ 12% to 32% in 10 #493 Orange Coyote, Zephyr, MAS (7/8/0), manager Hammerstein Fig #643 Lepto Khan, Gecko, FIG (11/2/0)........... 66% to 28% in 10 RANK 3: #188 Vertebrate, Piil, FIG (22/2/0), manager Jajaboomera versus: #525 Brown Corporal, Piil, MAS (7/16/0)........ 29% to 62% in 06 #763 The Drunken Bum, Rhesian, BRO (23/11/0), manager Patrick Nelson versus: #999 The Aardvark, Rhesian, RAZ (35/0/0)....... 75% to 14% in 04 #906 Hippopotamus, Zephyr, DEA (26/0/0), manager Claymore Arms versus: #975 Creature, Zephyr, WAR (27/1/0)............ 00% to 61% in 05 RANK 4: #979 White Walrus, Rhesian, PRI (34/1/0), manager Rashid Ari versus: #373 Steel Juniper, Rhesian, RAZ (30/3/0)...... 42% to 53% in 09 ========================================================================== === >>> The Q & A Forum by M. W. Martin, Megafalagon University This section is devoted to player questions, concerns and rules of Smuggler's Run and Pandemonium Circus. Please feel free to send us your inquiries! Q: I've noticed various Stock listings at each named planet... for example, at Danoka (MIA), it lists RAR @253...I can imagine the 253 is the current stock price but why are the individual stocks, associated with a specific planet? - K'Ment'Tat T'Lano, SR-210 A: Each planet has a home company represented by one of the 50 stocks. and the stock's value is affected by that world's economy. So, for instance, if a company is into mining, and the planet's mining production rises, there is an excellent chance that the stock will increase in value, and vice-versa. Q: If I have a mercenary, and get attacked, will the merc fight for me? When will he/she/it fight for me? Or, do the crew just give an added bonus to the character? - Ssilvertail Ssmyth, SR-427 A: Your mercenary will fight with you, not for you. Anytime you get into a fight, your mercenary will attempt to assist you in your endeavor, which is to defeat the enemy who is attacking you. Sometimes a mercenary may lose his nerve and run off, but this is not very common. A mercenary will never fight in your place. Q: How do I get to use the Sword moves in Pandemonium Circus. I tried to learn the moves, but I wasn't able to do so. Please help! - Great Zambooii, PC-853 A: You need three things when it comes time to learn a new weapon move. First, you need to have enough QPs to pay the gymnasium trainers. Second, you need to have enough APs saved up from your town adventures and journeys. And third, you must purchase the appropriate weapon for the training. Once you've have these things all lined up, you can complete your training. PUBLIC NOTICE: Pandemonium Circus is now playable by post or email, just like Smuggler's Run. For a complete startup kit for either Smuggler's Run or Pandemonium Circus, which includes two free turns, send $5.00 to our post office box and we'll get the kit to you right away! Also, we have our own section on America Online's Game Company Support area. Use the keyword GCS and look for Distant Vistas! - M.W.M. ========================================================================== === >>> The Standings Lists by M. W. Martin, Megafalagon University The following players have earned a place of exceptional honor and respect by competing and succeeding as first-class Smugglers. A little luck was also involved. Congratulations! NET WORTH LIST #196: Her Majesty Priisciila Cartouche VII, 26,038,388 #174: Vinny the Swank, 18,249,755 #308: Jarn Kargad, 16,152,722 #490: Jiminy Windex, 13,862,762 #420: Daemon Rankiil, 9,860,679 #450: Jell-0, 7,527,960 #176: Tal-Le'Sin Brosil'Av'Shovo, 6,460,889 #375: Indika Buthalezi, 6,194,907 #228: OneScrewShort, 5,181,864 #280: Donal Jetje, 4,316,065 REPUTATION LIST #196: Her Majesty Priisciila Cartouche VII, 239 #174: Vinny the Swank, 215 #450: Jell-0, 214 #490: Jiminy Windex, 188 #308: Jarn Kargad, 180 #228: OneScrewShort, 129 #420: Daemon Rankiil, 113 #176: Tal-Le'Sin Brosil'Av'Shovo, 104 #375: Indika Buthalezi, 101 #427: Ssilvertail Ssmyth, 68 DEMERITS LIST #196: Her Majesty Priisciila Cartouche VII, 16 #176: Tal-Le'Sin Brosil'Av'Shovo, 14 #174: Vinny the Swank, 6 #346: Eral Finn, 5 #420: Daemon Rankiil, 5 #291: K'Rhys'Atlantul, 4 #490: Jiminy Windex, 4 #232: Mako, 3 #236: Jack Death, 3 #280: Donal Jetje, 2 ========================================================================== === >>> Starship Obituaries by M. W. Martin, Megafalagon University The following ships were declared destroyed this month. No declaration of crew death is implied or assumed herin. The Galactic Inquirer assumes no responsibility for erroneous inclusions or omissions in the obituary listings. #133: Bat Out O' Hell, I1 Private Transport #232: Shark, I1 Private Transport #236: Pallida Mors, I2 Private Transport #427: Azure Talon, I2 Private Transport #516: The Puny Puzzling Pointer, P4 Black Raider #553: Brown Crane, E2 Refinery #596: Azure Hack of Antares, I2 Research Vessel #605: Shocking Destiny, P4 Reaper Mark IV #608: The Silver Crayfish, I2 Research Vessel #613: Repugnant Monumental Swan, I5 Garbage Scow #627: The Joyful Warbler, I4 Safari Ship #643: The Pigeon of Megriz, I5 Garbage Scow #666: The Slick Good Devil, I5 Garbage Scow #674: Captivating Tangerine Cat, I2 Cargo Barge #675: Mirthful Degenerate Porker, I2 Biobarge #767: Remarkable Green Dinosaur, I5 Garbage Scow #809: Miniature Salmon, I1 Mining Dredge #873: Tempting Prominent Pine, I1 Mining Dredge #879: The Beryl Marmot, P4 Reaper Mark IV #901: Drinking Hunter, I1 Shuttler #904: Portly Fraudulent Hyena, I5 Garbage Scow #921: Black Wildwood, P4 Reaper Mark IV #928: The Crimson Walrus of Vega, E1 Private Transport #946: Glorious Mole, E1 Shuttler #959: Mangy Bent Bee, I1 Private Transport ========================================================================== === >>> CARGO IMPORTS/EXPORTS PRO: Production CNG: Prod. Change EXP: Near Exporter E/U: Emp/Und Level STAR AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY MINING TECHNOLOGY E/U SYST PRO CNG EXP PRO CNG EXP PRO CNG EXP PRO CNG EXP LVL -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ACH 3.58 +0.93 SAI 8.01 +0.40 --- 5.03 -0.23 --- 7.92 +0.57 --- 7/6 ADH 8.52 -1.32 --- 3.51 +0.23 ALG 7.20 -1.48 --- 2.86 -0.96 ALG 1/6 ALD 4.68 -2.90 ALK 9.95 +0.18 --- 5.03 -0.15 --- 2.57 -0.83 ALK 3/1 ALG 3.32 -0.83 ADH 6.51 -0.66 --- 5.34 +0.75 --- 8.34 +0.92 --- 2/0 ALK 5.07 +2.09 --- 4.53 +1.33 ALD 3.19 -0.88 ALD 5.82 +0.69 --- 1/3 ALP 6.08 -0.50 --- 6.82 -0.39 --- 4.73 -0.22 SOL 3.00 +0.00 FOM 6/1 ALZ 2.38 -0.23 MIZ 6.50 -0.13 --- 8.74 -0.39 --- 2.13 -0.04 MIZ 4/0 ALT 5.93 -3.19 --- 5.70 +0.68 --- 9.08 +0.47 --- 2.54 +0.66 COR 2/7 ANT 4.99 -3.26 ANT 3.18 +1.89 ACH 2.70 -0.72 ACH 2.09 +0.36 POL 5/2 ARC 3.21 +0.96 MIP 5.06 -0.32 --- 3.41 +0.25 SIR 7.33 +2.96 --- 6/1 ATR 4.13 +2.96 ALT 5.32 -0.67 --- 4.32 -0.10 ALT 8.97 -0.50 --- 3/6 BEL 6.64 -0.18 --- 9.47 +0.66 --- 5.02 -0.18 --- 2.75 -0.17 KOC 3/3 BEN 7.10 -2.55 --- 8.59 -0.85 --- 3.45 -0.70 CAN 3.63 -0.17 CAN 9/1 BET 9.16 +0.38 --- 4.16 -0.97 SAI 7.94 -0.76 --- 9.83 +0.24 --- 9/3 CAN 3.71 -1.99 BEN 9.16 +0.69 --- 8.24 +0.97 --- 5.32 +0.32 --- 7/1 CAP 4.50 -0.91 ALK 7.95 -0.01 --- 3.12 +0.24 ALD 4.25 -0.04 ALK 3/2 CAS 2.43 -0.31 ADH 6.20 +0.87 --- 3.48 +0.52 ADH 8.54 -0.52 --- 1/5 COR 8.67 +0.82 --- 8.25 +2.67 --- 6.39 +0.67 --- 6.88 -0.67 --- 0/9 DEN 3.53 -0.33 ALT 1.59 -2.03 ALT 9.99 +0.40 --- 1.80 -0.85 COR 1/0 DEB 6.29 -0.85 --- 5.35 +0.65 --- 6.89 -0.18 --- 3.96 +0.91 REG 9/2 DIP 4.81 -0.10 FOM 6.61 +0.10 --- 8.98 +0.15 --- 2.95 +0.14 FOM 7/1 DUH 6.73 -1.79 --- 5.49 +0.15 --- 3.41 -0.77 PRO 5.64 -0.92 --- 3/1 ELN 1.33 -0.80 KAU 6.01 +0.30 --- 6.33 +3.33 --- 3.86 -0.16 KAU 3/4 EPS 8.24 -0.16 --- 1.37 +0.32 ELN 5.37 +0.41 --- 7.81 -0.96 --- 1/6 FOM 9.33 +0.36 --- 4.25 -0.87 ALP 3.27 -0.89 SOL 7.96 -0.89 --- 5/3 HAM 6.28 +0.26 --- 7.30 -0.11 --- 8.40 -0.01 --- 2.17 +0.15 ALG 2/2 KAU 9.74 +0.28 --- 6.33 +0.66 --- 6.24 -0.98 --- 5.35 +0.14 --- 1/3 KOC 6.06 -0.58 --- 4.43 +0.50 ALZ 6.77 +0.86 --- 8.42 -0.44 --- 2/3 MEG 3.50 -0.01 SAI 7.60 -0.36 --- 3.76 +0.87 REG 2.49 -1.28 SAI 7/6 MIA 3.41 +1.88 SAB 5.85 +2.06 --- 3.34 -2.06 SHA 3.48 +0.81 SAB 7/0 MIR 3.26 +1.05 MIP 4.62 +0.60 ACH 4.20 +0.64 ACH 5.71 -0.29 --- 7/3 MIP 5.20 +0.64 --- 8.98 +0.56 --- 2.35 -0.56 SIR 4.46 +0.44 SIR 8/3 MIZ 8.04 -0.70 --- 4.01 -0.54 ALZ 6.32 +2.23 --- 9.49 +0.69 --- 4/0 NUN 4.09 -0.84 RAS 5.34 +0.39 --- 9.93 -0.03 --- 4.94 +0.65 RAS 7/5 PHA 8.86 -0.16 --- 1.71 -0.06 SIR 5.50 -0.41 --- 0.50 -0.63 SIR 6/4 POL 9.30 +1.52 --- 2.17 -0.30 SAI 2.60 -0.71 BET 9.73 +0.60 --- 6/4 POX 7.14 -0.60 --- 4.26 -0.36 DEB 6.16 -0.39 --- 0.64 -0.39 REG 8/2 PRO 7.28 +0.94 --- 8.73 -0.06 --- 9.76 +0.90 --- 3.61 -0.89 DUH 3/3 RAS 9.36 +1.66 --- 3.39 +0.08 NUN 2.99 +0.75 NUN 6.32 +0.68 --- 5/4 REG 6.87 +0.68 --- 5.05 +0.89 --- 5.33 +0.27 --- 7.86 -0.48 --- 8/3 RIG 3.94 +0.62 KOC 2.79 +0.71 ALZ 8.36 -0.71 --- 3.26 -0.70 KOC 2/2 SAB 7.15 +0.13 --- 3.65 +0.16 MIA 2.62 -0.14 SHA 5.13 -0.72 --- 8/1 SAI 7.45 +0.65 --- 9.94 +1.60 --- 4.10 +0.99 REG 7.49 -0.44 --- 8/1 SHA 3.54 +1.33 SAB 4.27 +0.77 SOL 7.27 -0.67 --- 5.58 +0.72 --- 8/0 SIR 3.47 -0.91 MIP 7.50 +0.03 --- 7.89 +0.02 --- 5.88 -0.29 --- 5/5 SOL 3.31 -0.33 ALP 7.49 +2.59 --- 6.29 -0.02 --- 2.44 -2.00 FOM 9/1 SPI 8.48 -1.00 --- 2.32 -0.68 BEN 6.76 +0.63 --- 8.19 +1.98 --- 7/1 THU 9.12 +0.57 --- 7.24 -0.05 --- 7.06 -0.70 --- 3.08 -0.77 DUH 2/4 VEG 1.10 +0.83 DUH 2.93 -0.78 DUH 9.49 +3.33 --- 3.52 -0.69 DUH 3/2 WEZ 2.30 -0.26 BEN 3.56 +0.84 BEN 5.25 -2.13 --- 5.86 +0.84 --- 6/1 ========================================================================== === >>> STOCK MARKET INDEX COM: Company SEC: Prod. Sector STK: Share Value +/-: Gain/Loss COM SEC STK +/- COM SEC STK +/- COM SEC STK +/- COM SEC STK +/- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- 6MB TEC 564 +93 ATM AGR 779 -49 AUT MIN 204 -5 BBP IND 499 -17 CHE MIN 572 -56 CRY TEC 726 +25 DRD AGR 145 -60 DUR IND 190 +4 ELI TEC 578 +8 END TEC 262 -8 EVE MIN 307 +15 FOO AGR 415 +35 GRE AGR 405 -38 GTV IND 680 -8 GUA AGR 252 -5 HOA MIN 234 -5 HYD AGR 573 +130 INS IND 239 +15 KLC AGR 1419 +186 KTM IND 433 +59 LOF IND 1299 +273 MCS TEC 335 +21 MET MIN 224 -22 MNM MIN 127 -1 MYR IND 341 -2 NLG TEC 219 +5 NUK MIN 334 -15 ORB AGR 372 -7 PET TEC 97 -1 PHO IND 1036 -40 PHR AGR 538 -134 PIL MIN 230 -18 PML TEC 867 -27 POW IND 115 -5 RAR MIN 200 -53 REE MIN 510 -139 REP AGR 846 +11 SCR AGR 602 -131 SNS MIN 587 +13 SPA IND 92 +6 SPS TEC 496 +6 SYN IND 985 +52 TAG IND 451 +36 TOX MIN 565 +21 UNI TEC 877 -66 WID TEC 1105 +92 WTO AGR 542 +41 XEN AGR 430 +23 ZER TEC 591 -10 ZGM IND 203 -19 ========================================================================== === (c)1995 Distant Vistas. All Rights Reserved. P. O. Box 90993, Industry, CA 91715-0993 Internet Address: dvistas@aol.com Up