Monster Island Newsletter - Feb'95 (18k) From: warden@mack.rt66.com (Scott Micheel) Date: Mon, 27 Feb 1995 05:51:02 +0000 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ m m mm mm t ee m m m m oo nnn sss t ee rrrr e e m m m o o n n s tttt e e r eeee m m o o n n ssss t eeee r News 02-25-95 e m m o o n n s t e r ee m m oo n n sss tt ee r #32 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Headlines this time: ABM Changes Email Addresses Keith Speaks Things We'd Like To See More Stuff Publication data: eMonster News is published ideally on the 25th of each month. Send all submissions, questions, letters of comment, and subscription information to the email address below. eMonster News is available free for the asking to anyone able to receive it on INTERNET, CompuServe, GEnie, Delphi, America Online, Prodigy, or any other service tied into the net. Press run: 151. To avoid problems with my mailer, I send this out in batches; for a full listing of players on the net, send a note to Scott (below). eMonster News is not affiliated with Adventures By Mail in any way, and nothing in here is necessarily official. We like to think they like us, though. Please copy, post, print, or otherwise distribute this newsletter to as many players as you can; especially if they have email access. We want to promote this here game! Adventures By Mail MI GM Keith bosox@wizvax.com ABM - submit email turns Keith keith@wizvax.com Editor & Publisher Scott Micheel warden@rt66.com Editor of BMT Jerry Ritchie 73537.2505@compuserve.com Keeper of Blurbs Aaron Fuegi fuegi@cs.colostate.edu Group Man Brian Derks normandyknight@cup.portal.com Monster Mapper & MI BBS Jim Wuerch 73234.3410@compuserve.com Capture Creature Captain Larry Barrows lrdbear@aol.com Statmaster Jack Vinson vinson@unagi.cis.upenn.edu Seeker of Demigods aw geez, I misplaced your name... Lord of the Hard Sell Tom Richardson salmanila@aol.com List Director Sharyl Leis michael.mackinnon@mwcsinc.muug.mb.ca Q&A Lady Dana Barker jujubunn@aol.com Back issues of eMonster News can be got via anonymous FTP transfer. The site is ftp.erg.sri.com , the directory is /pub/pbm/monster_island/newsletters and all files are in GZIP format; to uncompress them, use GUNZIP. Aaron Fuegi's MI World Wide Web page: http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~fuegi/monster_www/index.html This newsletter is also posted to the Internet newsgroup rec.games.pbm, and usually ends up on the America OnLine boards, as well as Bif's Monster Resort BBS. You are welcome to post this anyplace you wish, but please leave it intact. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ABM has New Email Addresses ABM has decided to change to another internet server, and this means all new addresses. Thanks to Brian Derks who broke the news, and Keith and Bob at ABM who confirmed it. Here's the situation; gone: p00661@psilink.com (No longer receiving email here) for PBM games (including turns): keith@wizvax.com questions/general bull about MI: bosox@wizvax.com (NO turns here) for general questions about ABM: bob@wizvax.com for magic: mikep@wizvax.com (or mike@wizvax.com, I didn't test this) They will still keep their AOL addresses. From: abmbob@wizvax.com Date: Fri, Feb 20 1995 I believe the abm.com address is still working but we haven't gotten the new connection fully setup yet so the wizvax.com address is best for now. Thanks. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Official News From ABM (Keith Speaks!) From: CasbahCarl@aol.com Date: Wed, 8 Feb 1995 14:46:03 -0500 Subject: AOL/ABM Keith Speaks... Subj: Re:Monster Island in 1995! 95-02-07 20:27:25 EST From: BOSTREDSOX howdy..it's ABMKeith back for another excursion and update into the happenings on the big isle. i will be meeting with our English programmer this weekend. (probably Saturday afternoon) He'll only be hanging out here for the weekend fixing small things that can be done in 3 days. He's taking my list back with him, (the list you ALL have been so great in doing for me), and he'll be devoting FULL-TIME programming to Monster Island. This was straight from Jack. When ready and completed, the programs will be sent back to us to add to the game. For those that aren't following me, Steve will be collecting out bugs, wishes, wants, etc...flying home, then implementing all those things for us and Fed-Ex'ing the complete programs back to us. He just can't stay here the many months it would take to get even the basic of add-ons into the game. for example: Demi-gods in estimation could take a few weeks to implement and another one to test. :( Same goes for East of the crystal hills. he may do some smaller stuff now, but I haven't spoken to him myself yet. i'll let you know after our meeting Saturday. Anyway..this is very exciting! Monster Island is moving forward and rather quick too. I think most of, if not all of you will be pleasantly surprised at the results. :) that's about all for now..thanks for tuning in. as always..anyone with specific questions or comments for me can feel free to call anytime...my hut is always open to you. :) -Keith From: CasbahCarl@aol.com Date: Mon, 13 Feb 1995 10:46:25 -0500 Subject: AOL/ABM Keith Speaks... Subj: Re:New Info... 95-02-12 23:51:04 EST From: BOSTREDSOX Hello all! This is ABMKeith reporting in again. (this is for all the new Islanders just making their way here to AOL). *Note* to all you new guys posting, (and you older posters, too) leave your first or last or both names when you post so that i know who i'm responding or posting to.* --thanks :) "NewsFlash Update" --Meeting with Steve from KJC Saturday Yes, I did meet with Steve saturday as planned. and yes he did return to jolly 'ole England with a folder of the nice stuff you all took the time to email, fax and send me. Many thanks again to all those who took the time to respond to my plea and thanks for getting the stuff to me in such a timely fashion. Now, the updates. As anyone who is a programmer knows, these things may take time. Steve will be working full time on these things. he was gracious enough to give me his fax number and email address so i can keep up with his progress and goings-on with the improvements to the game. As much as i'd like to give you a positive time table, i can't. it wouldn't be fair to all of you for me to guess. as i find out things, i'll post them here. Please try to control the urge to ask when things are going to be fixed, added, etc... i know it will be hard, but i know you'll all do your very best. heck, i'm just as excited if not more about this than all of you! i will try to fax Steve every couple of weeks or so to check on the progress of things and hopefully he will have new and exciting stuff to report to us. Well, that's all for now. keep on posting and having a grand 'ol time! i'll be getting back to answering game questions in a few days, so think up some good ones and leave them here for me. thanks! --Keith +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Ideas For Keith (all sent in before the deadline, too) From: CasbahCarl@aol.com Date: Fri, 27 Jan 1995 10:28:28 -0500 Subject: Re: More ideas for Keith Jake, I liked all your ideas (as usual!), but I especially like the teleport spell idea. Eight squares a turn in an island with supposedly 10 gazillion squares is way too sloooooow. Also, I'd like to see some continuing stat increases for being active members of a group. Right now there's way too many groups who formed just for the stat advantage and that's the last time the group members ever saw or heard of each other. From: Jake Balfour <jb6@keene.edu> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 1995 17:23:12 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: More ideas for Keith (from Carl) > I especially like the teleport spell idea. Eight squares a turn in an > island with supposedly 10 gazillion squares is way too sloooooow. I have to admit that idea wasn't mine. Unfortunately, I can't give credit for I am not sure who said it first. One problem is that if we improve the tracking, it will make tracking tough Monsters that much harder. And impossible if they disappear without a trace - even if it's only to one square away. So we have to make it possible to follow a teleported Monster. Perhaps a different set of "tracks" to let chasers continue their quarry (but what kind? Ethereal? Fairy dust? I don't know!). And how will young Monsters ever hope to catch up to Monsters that can move more than 8 squares a turn? A hole opens up in space time and lingers for x days? That would require major programming and it isn't very Monster Islandish. Star Trekish, maybe. > Also, I'd like to see some continuing stat increases for being active members > of a group. What advantages are you thinking of? I don't think ABM would want huge gains. How could they keep track (they'd only do it if it could be done via computer-moderation)? Besides, don't you think you get more out of Monster Island with your group activities than the players who don't associate with their group (subtle plug)? Most of my enjoyment of the game comes from communicating with other players, not by filling out my turn card. Hope you don't feel flamed - perhaps I don't understand what you're thinking of. From: Normandyknight@cup.portal.com Date: Fri, 3 Feb 95 19:59:42 PST Subject: Re: MI/news > * Less emphasis on spell-casting, more on battles. After > tracking and trying to kill a target, it gets frustrating to see it > result into spell trading and the running away of your prey. This can be the result of you or him having a higher monsterliness. The only way you can not have the person run away is to be a Kabukian and cast Blinding Light. This allows you to attack the person in at least one melee round, but then he is able to flee. > * Increase movement limitations. You want more movement by getting a teleport spell, but yet your complaining that it's to hard to track someone. Your just defeating what you want. It would be a nice spell, but the only way I could see it being implimented would be if you cast it at a Far Structure to go to another one that you have been at before. Else you would never be able to kill a disciple that had it unless he was sitting there forever. > * Increase tracking capabilities. Your monster will always track the newest looking tracks. > * More missile types. Redo the Fart Bomb (tho' it can't be too > powerful for then females would be hindered). One bomb every six > turns or so is ridiculous. I can tell you haven't found a square with Bloated Onions. These allow you to make as many fart bombs as you can hold in one turn as long as you have enough bloated onions and a who-sac shrub. Can anyone verify if a female monster can make fart bombs with the help of bloated onions? > * Attack on sight orders for Fuvites I don't have a fuvite so can someone tell me if you have the DD or DL order. If fuvites done have them, they should, along with a dispatch demigod order. > * Permanent snatch order. If you want that order you will definatly get your monster battles. I for one would try to kick your butt if you stole something I really wanted to keep. I guess I would want it if I did alot of snatches, but it hasn't been a habit, so I really don't look at this as a meaningful order. Here's a list of new stuff that's been suggested so far... New Region Opened up-enuff Said!!!!(and have everything working) Demigods- Needs implimenting Rid orders-change to allow rid of multiple items Xfer order- change to allow multiple transfers of item both to other monsters and into treasure rooms Stone Crypts-needs implimenting Tomb of Mummundus-needs implimenting Fireball spell- does max dam when spell points and health is near 100% then falls quickly down to one point of damage for every spell point Saddle bags-needs implimenting Mount vs. Mount player combat- Needs implimenting Wrestling practice for monster between players and at far Inns- Needs implimenting More spells(expecially combat spells)-Needs implimenting Permanently Rid Order- needs implimenting Crimson Weed- needs implimenting Bori Trees- need implimenting King Ock Mushroom Grove- needs implimenting Increase Religious Descriptions/ Goals/ Opportunities- needs more work Fix Missile Equiping- so you go to your next higher missile weapon instead going right to the hand catapult once you run out of a higher dart. More Voodoo Stuff- needs implimenting More Talismans- needs implimenting Make Items Workable (example: iron stein, golden gargoyle goblet, ancient silver spike, sunka death mask, dragon ichor, dragon flagon, ancient iron spike, black balls, etc) Fix Umber Grass- so you can set when you want to use it at a certain % or be able to use the U order to use it, while still being able to have the automatic set point.(I've had many times when I've gone below 50%, have used a white lotus elixir, have gone to 51% and not been able to use it, when I wanted to) Mount Riding Skill Levels- needs implimenting More Mounts- needs implimenting Fix Bodden Camps- needs work Towers- need implimenting Rafts- need implimenting Black Magic- needs implimenting Delete the Account Number from turn results. Add Rivers to the game- Make some small, some large. Some crossable, some not. Perhaps a Ruined Bridge structure, or Natural Fords that can only be crossed at certain times of the year. Spice up the map a bit. Make a Follow River sub-command, like Follow Trail. Gods Revenge- If you manage to kill your god's favored creature, you'll get zapped by a lightning bolt or something. Shouldn't there be such a mark of disfavor or penalty if you attack a co-religionist? Being able to Names for Forts and Temple- would enable more group interaction and more pride for the groups that rebuilt the ruins. Totems get erased. Names wouldn't! Add Ship Wrecks - we need something exciting when on the coast inland. "You find a half submurged ship halfway on the beach. Also you notice a hole in the lower port side hull." From there you could find treasure, meet new creatures, have fights inside the ship while looking for treasure. (rays, sharks, moray eels,etc) Group Leaders- They should get updates every so often who is active in the group and notified on a turn if one changed addresses. Also they should be able to kick a monster out if 5 members also agree by writing Abm that he/she should be kicked out (stating the reason why and have it signed) Xanxu Construct- being able to make one Zombie Juice- making it not attack another member of your group, it will attack another member right on even though it says it won't in the blurb. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ General Stuff From: hagedorn@umr.edu (hagedorn) Date: Fri, 17 Feb 1995 09:33:42 -0600 Subject: Fire Dust New Item you may not have heard about, my monster just found it... Item# 376: FIRE DUST ABM doesn't want us to post the actual blurb, but I will say that this one mentions the legendary Black Voodoo Master, Xanxu. From: e.shchneider@genie.geis.com Date: Sun, 19 Feb 95 00:05:00 UTC Subject: Re: your mail the new mi journal/bmt editor ? :) that's one on me, who is he? [Scott Says: Oh, how fleeting fame. Jerry Ritchie is the new editor, and is looking for submissions. Contact him at 73537.2505@compuserve.com] oh a remineder <g> :) just that grodum and reg gordnak are looking to join groups and their in the Stead far inn area. all the mosters of eric schneider of maple rige bc are always set to receive membership in groups so just fire away if ya see one. <just no stink bombs please <g> > . Black voodo, sounds interesting did ya hear anything new about anything ellse like towers or demi gods ? :) black voodo i'm lookin for black voodo but i need a steed right now is there one around where they are now? [Scott Says: Plodders seem to hang out in the Kunbar, way out east.] -one of my monsters is lost, what's the diffrence between the stead and kallar's far post (i.e. relative position), any one know? From: ilya@cmnsrvr.ifsintl.com <Ilya Taytslin> Date: Wed, 22 Feb 95 12:41:12 EST Subject: MI For years people have been banging their heads against Tainted Hollows with no success. Here is another off-the-wall idea -- cast Detect Fellow Followers and Detect Rival Followers just before doing a U 33. Maybe it will work. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ "And then the knave begins to snarl and the hypocrite to howl and all his good friends shew their private ends and the eagle is known from the owl" (Blake) If anyone finds simply *anything* new or buggy, please report it to keith and to us. Be Monsterly! Up