Olympia Times g1-73 From: oly@pbm.com (Olympia PBEM) Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 00:00:00 +0000 +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The Olympia Times issue g1-73 | | November 15, 1995 | | | | turn 73 159 players http://www.pbm.com/oly/times/ | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ Questions, comments, to play: info@pbm.com Olympia PBEM * * * Notice: ------- Shadow Island Games is discontinuing support for the CompuServe PBMGAMES forum. What this means is: 1) We will no longer be uploading the _Olympia Times_ to the PBMGAMES forum library. CompuServe players may issue the "TIMES 1" order to begin receiving the Olympia Times via email. 2) Shadow Island will not actively participate in the PBMGAMES forum. Questions directed to us there may go unanswered. This extends to our CompuServe email address. Queries should instead be directed to our Internet address "support@pbm.com". Players from CompuServe are of course still welcome to join and play in Olympia. This notice applies only to the separately owned and operated PBMGAMES forum within CompuServe. We are doing this for several reasons: o Only a handful of Olympia players continue to use PBMGAMES. Most of the players who originally joined from there have moved on to other online services. o The PBMGAMES forum staff limits what may be said in the forum. We have always felt this to be an onerous burden. Because of these restrictions, we may not announce or easily support our new games, such as the recently launched Arena PBEM. o The Usenet newsgroup rec.games.pbm is picking up much more activity from players as well as commercial GM's. Shadow Island actively reads and posts in rec.games.pbm. o While our access to the Internet is excellent, the tools to support CompuServe are proprietary, and primitive by comparison. In short, PBMGAMES censors what we can say, is technically bothersome to access, and is largely irrelevant now anyway. * * * Note that the Olympia Times may be read on the Web at http://www.pbm.com/oly/times/, and may be FTP'd from ftp.pbm.com in directory pub/olympia/times. If you currently receive the _Times_ via email but read it elsewhere, you may stop receiving it with the "TIMES 0" order. * * * =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Player-contributed press =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= So who cleans up after all the baby dragons when they're not yet potty trained. I think that the buckler is full of water so he can swish the deck clean.(he he) -- The day of Rest [ju3] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ---------------------- S. CAMARIS Update ---------------------- Monthly notice: any new visitors to our fair isle should notify us in advance. -- The Crazy Quilters [vn7] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Customer Testamonial on behalf of the First Bank of Provinia Greetings, Provinians! My name's Jech Ercheflo the Friendly Thin Guy. I'm a Trader. I travel Provinia buying and selling and trading everything from the highest grade avinia leaf to the cheap woven baskets that I buy off of broke lowlifes in Imperial City. Now as you might imagine, with half-breeds like Swishbuckler bending everyone in sight, Provinia is not always as friendly and peaceful as me. So I don't like carrying large amounts of cash on a trade run, if you know what I mean. That's why I bank at First Provinia: low-interest loans, high interest rates, newbie bonuses, warehouse facilities, shipping services... What else could you ask for? So take it from me, Jech Ercheflo the Friendly Thin Guy, don't wind up lying in the gutters of Imperial City weaving baskets. Give the the First Bank of Provinia a call. You'll be glad you did. -- Jech Ercheflo the Friendly Thin Guy [h3f] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Gentlewind Visitation Policy Visitors are welcome to the area controlled by the Cohorts of Colossus [vo4], as long as they obtain travel permits first. Not all requests will be granted. The affected area includes the land provinces bx25-bx27, by24-by27, and bz27. Violators of this policy may be subject to arrest. -- Sheriff Pelenth of Gentlewind [f3i] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Greetings Fellow Olympiads! The Liberty Confederacy rules West Ossicus. Peaceful, law-abiding travelers are welcome. Bandits, pirates, & their associates are advised to avoid the area for their own protection. Investors of any kind (merchants, inn-keepers, temple-builders, tower owners, miners, etc.) are especially welcome to civilize this untamed land. Travelers wishing to exploit the resources of these lands should contact us so we don't have harvesting conflicts. Unapproved harvesting is frowned upon. -- General Norc [z1a] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ___ ___ ___ / / ) / ) /___ /___/ /___/ / . _ _ /_ / )_ __ / / _ _ . __ . _ / / / _> / /___/(_>/ //< of / / (_)|// / // (_> The First Bank of Provinia has offices in some of the major cities on the continent of Provinia. The FBoP offers the following facilities. o Special offers for New Olympia Players. o Excellent Interest Rates on Bank Accounts. o A Fast and Efficient Courier Service. o Money Transfers. o Short and Long Term Loans. o Insurance Policies. o Pawn Broking Service. Call in at your local branch for further details. -- First Bank of Provinia [v0z] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Illustrated Man, I sent you email several times regarding a new map and a special section I was interested in. I have not heard a reply in two plus weeks. Are you still in business? What is your current wait time for the next shipment of new maps? -- Bayle Domon [g4y] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= When I first arrived in Olympia, it seemed like a wild and dangerous place, but I was wrong. Wilderness is much less common than I expected. Fortunately, I was an outgoing sort, and made contacts with other new players and a few established factions. Of these, there can be no question that the support and service I got from the Bank of Provinia made a big difference between my faction and the others who entered Olympia with me. The First Bank of Provinia, where survivors do business. - Representing Desdinova and Company -- Desdinova [g7t] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Rumors =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Wait, BtA, you _can't_ drop! I'm almost ready for you: ATTACKER (Fighting to the death) : 1 noble (80,80,0) [0.55], with: 275 dragons (500,500,0) [36.47] Average losses : 239 dragons LIKELIHOOD OF WIN 54.56% Almost.... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= When is Olympia game 2 going to start? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I love it when a plan comes together! So why do all of mine fall appart at the seems? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This game _IS_ as complicated as it seems. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "Ching! Ching! Ching!" (You're welcome!) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= To room longer would only meet the day in 8. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Enough navel-gazing BtA. Once you are gone, then we will believe you. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I think I might risk a Noble Point on a Stealthy guy. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Once you've paid the Danegeld, how do you get rid of the Dane? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put the aoo together again =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Someone asked: >Who thinks some of these guys with huge numbers >of characters cheated? Not me, unless you consider attacking newbies and stealing their characters to be cheating. It's perfectly legal, given the general lack of international law hereabouts. Not nice, mind you, but legal. Someone Else asked: >isn't it curious that the Sheriff Pelenth of >Gentlewind didn't post his regular notice last month? Yes, it does seem odd, but a careful review of recent _Olympia Times_ back issues reveals that he hasn't posted since turn 70, and Swishbuckler's discourse was on turn 71. So either the Sherif is being clever (why bother? Why not just make two postings, if he's thought about it?), or his recent lack of postings is unrelated to Swishbuckler's posting. Beats me, I just work here. And Someone Else asked: >Does Aura Blast only work against mages? I wouldn't bet my life on it. Maybe my wife. <ow!> Yet Another Anonymous Person Asked: >How come flying stacks can be attacked by stacks on the ground? Pogo Sticks Ans Still Another One asked: >Dragons weigh the same as a person?!? Of course, or else they'd break the pogo sticks, silly. And finally, The Answer Guy Poses his own question: Is BtA *Really* retiring? Could this be the break all decent folk have been looking for? Or will he just pass on the reins of power (and maybe his brains of power?) to some new AOO stooge? -- The Answer Guy [a1a] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Another Oozing Organism =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help! Help! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Just curious! Do Swishbuckler's dragons wear pink tutus like their owner does? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Boy, nothing interesting appears here anymore! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= >But now none remain who can resist him -- and precious few >who even begin to understand the full extent of the powers >which now are his to command. He can barely remember >the last one who even gave a good fight. This has grown >tiresome. Time to pass on. "Pass on?" What's that mean? Planning a little trip, are we? RUNNING AWAY??? Chicken! CHICKEN!! Boook-BOKBOKBOKBOK-BOKKAAA-BOKAAAA!! CHIIIIIIIIIIIIII-CKEEEEEEEEEEEEENNN!!! Hee hee! *whimper* Help me Mommy, I'm scared! I'm scared they're gonna knock me down! Everyone's against me! I gotta be the greatest! I gotta! *whine* *whimper* [three-headed knight] "Who are you then?" [minstrel] "He is brave BtA, BtA..." [BtA] "STOP THAT! Uh...no one really..." [three-headed knight] "Well what do you want?" [minstrel] "To Fiiiiiight, and..." "In the face of fear and dread, he bravely turned his tail and fled, B-t-A he turned about, And gallantly he chickened out, Bravely taking to his feet, He beat a very brave retreat..." "Run aw-ayyyyyy! Run aw-ayyyyyy! Run away and say goodbye, RUn aw-ayyyyyy! RUN AW-AYYYYYY! Run away, if you want to survive..." =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > has anyone else seen the large ship sprouting dragons, > in the Atnos channel No, it must be invisible. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= >>Dragons weigh the same as a person?!?<< ? Why so many comments on light weight dragons? Why would small, super fighter dragons be more implausible than other fantasy elements? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= BTA CAN"T DROP. WITHOUT UPE (ULTIMATE PERSONIFCATION OF EVIL) WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT!!!!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= " 2000 gold to the noble who hands over the location of Swishbucklers base. the Sherrif of Gentlewind." =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The AOO is strong, but our union is stronger. They attack whoever appears to be their greatest threat, but they can't thwart the rising tide of resentment against them. With this resentment comes a rising pool of power; rising to drown the AOO =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Everyone Welcome In Gentlewind C'mon by and see the sights! o Stop in and see the dungeons where Pelenth has tortured the nobles of countless clueless newbies! o Visit scenic Gentlewind, and never mind those press gangs roving the streets; they only capture lawbreakers, not innocent tourists like you. No siree. o Stay at the beautiful Terrace of the Zephyrs. Remember our motto: "Swishbuckler slept here! (with Marat and Pelenth)" -- The Gentlewind Visitors Bureau (formerly the AOO PR Corpse, er, Corps) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= What does "sucking brains" mean? Is there some necromancy spell of that name? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Let me point out to the gentle reader who offered several "reasons" that the Sherriff is Swishbuckler that, as the Gaurdians of Light were so fond of saying, even BtA doesn't know who posts rumors. (Say, where is the GOL? Shouldn't they and the other AOO-killers be out after Swish and his merry band? Gosh, somebody better wake them up, they'll miss out on the fun.) Besides, since Swishbuckler is already a dead man, what's there for him to fear from BtA? In the end, there's only one way to find out who's running Swishbuckler. That's the part I'm looking forward to. (#) ___(#)___ \!/ <!> <!> ! ! | : =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The rules say research has a 25% success rate, but I've researched now for 9 weeks without finding anything yet. Whats up? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= If the final rumor in the last Times means that BtA is dropping out, I'll sort of miss him. Of course, I haven't trained any mages, either. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= One wonders how to say Kaaa Ching in other languages ?? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As many have undertaken to suggest a fix to the combat system, it seemed good to me to also offer a suggestion. Perhaps, if the stronger units, knights, nobles, etc. (all except peasants) would also have a 'combat count' number. What I mean is this. A noble could be worth 10 peasants for the purposes of determining which stack gets the initiativen in the combat. In example, one stack has one noble and twenty peasants, the opposing stack has three nobles. Under the current system the noble/peasant stack has 21 out of 24 chances of someone from its stack being the unit chosen to attack. Under my proposal, the noble/peasant stack would have a 30/60 chance and the 3 noble stack would have a 30/60 chance of being chosen. Of course, as it is fleshed out so far, it would still need to be determined what the 'combat count' of each unit would be. Perhaps Attack strength + Defense Strength all divided by 16? Comments on this proposal are welcome. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Does the Answer Guy know what he's talking about? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Up