Monster Island News (June, 39K) From: warden@mack.einet.com (Scott Micheel) Date: Sun, 26 Jun 1994 01:13:05 +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 New6 04-25-94 e m m o o n n s t e r ee m m oo n n sss tt ee r #26 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Headlines this time: eMonster Departments: Voodoo, Stats, Inn Prices, more Grousing about ABM +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Monster Island is a play-by-mail game where players role-play monsters exploring a huge island. Among the things to do are discover and make weapons and armor, find treasure, kill things (and each other), learn Voodoo, join groups, even devote yourself to a deity and eventually learn to cast spells. Monster Island has a humorous bent, sometimes it even gets a bit silly -- but this comedic relief is welcome when your monster is in a life-or-death battle with a Shifting Wraith. In the US In the UK In Germany Adventures By Mail KJC Games Daydream Productions PO Box 436 Thornton-Cleveleys PF 900315 Cohoes NY 12047-0436 Lancashire FY5 3LJ 81503 Muenchen U.S.A. U.K. Germany US$ 4.00 / turn GBP 2.00 / turn DM 6.00 / turn rules free rules free rules free setup free setup free setup free 1st turn free 1st turn free 1st turn free 'Blood Moon Tribune' 'Buschtrommel' newsletter free newsletter DM 3.00 bob@abm.com +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Publication data: eMonster News is published ideally on the 25th of each month, come hell or high water. Publisher and Editor is warden@einet.com <Scott Micheel>; send all submissions, questions, letters of comment, and subscription info to that address. eMonster News is distrubted 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. Current press run: 161. 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! Editor & Publisher Scott Micheel warden@einet.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 Ben Vincent bjvincen@mtu.edu Lord of the Hard Sell Tom Richardson salmanila@aol.com List Director Sharyl Leis michael.mackinnon@mwcsinc.muug.mb.ca +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ The following players cannot be reached by email (at least by me.) If they do not contact me by the next issue, they will be dropped from the list. Bothwell; Eric = erb@lawmail.law.columbia.edu Welch; Chip = chipster@casbah.acns.nwu.edu LeBlond; James = jleblo31@portland.caps.maine.edu Schwerdtfeger; Richard = mo@mercury.sfsu.edu O'Hehir; John = ohehirjp@d106-13.dw.clarkson.edu monster; a = nynavymike@aol.com Kellner; Brian = kellnerbl@50cts.fafb.af.mil +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ EMONSTER DEPARTMENTS From: "Jerry E. Ritchie" <73537.2505@CompuServe.COM> Date: 22 Jun 94 13:34:03 EDT Subject: Sharyl's Lists: Voodoo Here is some material for the eMonster. Everyone should thank Sharyl for her hard work. How about a spell list for the July issue? VOODOO CONCOCTIONS LIST The following is a list of known Voodoo concoctions and the requirements for making them: Item AP to No. No. Voodoo Concoction make Made Ingredients ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 19 White Lotus Elixir 9 1 2 White Lotus Leaves, Oil. 20 Purple Lotus Elixir 15 7 21 Purple Lotus Leaves, White Lotus Leaf, 3 Oil. 35 Yellow Lotus Elixir 7 1 Yellow Lotus Leaf, Oil, and be in Sand & Palms terrain. 56 Reptron Salve 12 1 7 Purple Lotus Leaves, Blood Mite Eye, a live Reptron Bird, and be in square with Waterhole or Pond. *Note: Using requires 45 Act Pts and a square with a Geyser. 62 Shingle Poison 16 2 2 Acorn Hearts, 2 Oil. *Note: To use, equip it: E 62. 64 Lime Elixir 9 1 4 Limes, Coconut, 2 Oil, and a Filled Waterskin. 66 Brawn Elixir 8 1 Lime, Bolotomus Muscle, 2 Oil. 67 Zombie Juice 8 1 Dust of the Entombed, White Lotus Leaf, Tholomite Heart, 4 Oil. *Note: Using requires a digging implement, 4 AP, and a square with an Ancient Graveyard 85 Thermaway Elixir 12 1 Stench Gland, 2 Purple Lotus Leaves, 3 Oil 98 Gnitgnoff 4 1 Guano Plasm, Purple Lotus Leaf, Oil -------------------------------------------- This information is distributed compliments of the Disciples of Light. Monster island players are free to copy each list in whole or in part as long as this note remains attached. Everyone is requested to contact the DOL with any updates/corrections. BBS: Bif's Monster Resort (317) 962-BIFS 8N1. -------------------------------------------- Revision History 1.00 04/27/94 Compiled From: Jack Vinson <vinson@unagi.cis.upenn.edu> Date: Tue, 21 Jun 94 09:39:42 EDT Subject: MI statistics If anyone wants their monster's successes noted, I can add notes to this table for bragging rights. Obviously, not everyone wants their Monster's statistics given away. The table is pretty self-explanatory. Each Turn is in a row with the low/high for each statistic below its average. The number in () on the second line is the number of monsters reported for that statistic. Average Monster Statistics Turn Toughness Muscle Badness Stealth Monsterliness Blurbs Kills ---- --------- ------ ------- ------- ------------- ------ ----- 1 52 25 27 9 137 12 0 (15) 47/58 18/33 11/43 3/25 119/158 8/20 0/3 8 70 42 34 12 256 49 13 (54) 20/93 27/79 16/60 4/33 211/355 31/66 4/23 16 85 64 42 14 361 87 26 (54) 67/101 39/115 17/67 5/34 30/490 48/775 10/51 24 101 86 52 21 483 96 42 (51) 76/125 46/150 25/99 7/57 377/581 62/124 19/78 32 118 106 62 25 593 119 64 (45) 84/145 64/195 27/106 8/55 421/733 83/158 33/117 40 130 117 73 32 681 133 81 (32) 103/160 74/226 34/118 14/80 489/861 98/161 46/121 50 146 137 86 41 807 156 108 (29) 118/174 93/265 45/125 17/76 583/1011 112/210 66/166 75 170 159 112 55 1007 188 152 (12) 159/183 135/201 81/137 20/74 806/1131 136/228 80/207 100 188 208 129 74 1319 241 251 (12) 175/206 173/243 98/148 37/124 985/1547 199/296 155/373 125 207 229 148 82 1482 258 320 (4) 197/219 218/251 133/164 50/146 1265/1748 241/283 218/461 For those that don't believe the high number of kills recorded between turns 100 and 125 here is a quote from the owner of those statistics: 169 kills in 25 turns? That's less than 7 per turn! What's so difficult about that? Just find a Graveyard within 4 squares from an Inn, and go back and forth, doing 4-6 LV's per trip. Add a few miscellaneous monsters, like wolfcurs, in between as a bonus. Do I5 or I3 each turn to regain Health. You'll probably collect enough booty each turn to pay for the Inn stays. And you'll get plenty of Wrestling practice, along with Edged and Pointed weapons. Then take time out occasionally and visit a Koma Den a few times. You'll probably average a dozen kills per turn. From: Salmanila@aol.com Date: Sat, 18 Jun 94 02:42:55 EDT Subject: Inn Prices Here, finally, is my list of Item values at Far Inns. Each month I would stall sending it out because I was expecting new data. In fact, I just got 2 assessed today: Diamond Brooch and Quartzlight Gem [no value]. There are some assumptions [see notes below list] so I'm open to challenges. If so, please let me know. But please also, give me some particulars as to why you disagree and where your info comes from. There is probably a simple formula for the price structure [excluding the Bounty items] if anyone wants to tackle it. I need more data from Poor and High sources [yes, I know they're rare] and anything from Dixie [Crooked Nose, Hamilton's Cove, Bottom Hill, and Cocked Spyglass]. I'm working on Forge data also and need input from them. The pricing structure is different, and I don't have enough info. What isn't on the list? 1) Better weapons and armor; bought and sold only at Forges. The Iron dagger and Short sword seem to be transitional; the dagger is sold at some Inns and Forges. The sword is sold at Forges but bought only by Inns. 2) Temple Treasures, 'magic' items, and Identified scrolls. 3) Most natural items, either handled at Posts or valueless. 4) I've still got a short list of stuff that hasn't been assessed. Change of subject: Anybody have info on what is NOT acceptable as Temple treasure? So far I've seen weapons, baubles, and Ruby dagger rejected. I'm awaiting any feedback on any of this! Tom Richardson, 84 Taunton Place, Buffalo, NY 14216 [716] 876-5664 SALMANILA@AOL.COM [Use a monospaced font such as Courier to print this list] Class: 1 Weapons 2 Armor 3 Rare items 9 Bounty items Item Values at Monster Island Inns 6/16/94 I# ITEM Max# Class Poor OK Fair Good High --- ----------------------- ---- ----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- 8 Dactyl Whip 1 1 20 24 27 31 342 Dm. Iron Dagger 2 1 17 20 23 26 341 Dm. Iron Knife 2 1 10 12 13 15 312 Dm. Silver Dagger 2 1 10 12 13 15 311 Dm. Silver Knife 2 1 4 5 6 6 7 332 Iron Dagger 2 1 34 40 46 331 Iron Knife 2 1 20 24 27 31 94 Kaddawhip 1 1 2 3 3 3 50 Rattler Dart 6 1 2 3 3 3 302 Silver Jagged Dagger 2 1 17 20 23 26 301 Silver Knife 2 1 10 12 13 15 126 Silver Knuckles 5 1 20 24 27 31 309 Silver-Studded Club 1 1 21 25 30 34 39 310 Silver-Tipped Spear 1 1 21 25 30 34 39 68 Smite Pike 1 1 5 6 8 9 10 45 Spiked Club 1 1 13 16 18 51 Swampus Rake 1 1 5 6 8 9 10 55 Tooth Sabre 1 1 4 5 6 6 7 107 Barkbrute Armor 1 2 5 6 8 9 10 102 Crab Buckler 1 2 1 1 2 2 344 Dm. Iron Gauntlets 2 2 10 12 15 17 345 Dm. Iron Greaves 2 2 10 12 15 17 343 Dm. Iron Helm 2 2 10 12 15 17 314 Dm. Silver Gauntlets 2 2 4 5 6 6 7 315 Dm. Silver Greaves 2 2 4 5 6 6 7 313 Dm. Silver Helm 2 2 4 5 6 6 7 6 Gator Armor 1 2 21 25 30 34 39 335 Iron Gauntlets 3 2 21 25 30 34 39 334 Iron Greaves 1 2 21 25 30 34 39 333 Iron Helm 2 2 21 25 30 34 39 351 Jade Snake Ring 9999 2 45 307 Silver Amulet 9999 2 10 12 15 17 308 Silver Charm 9999 2 10 12 15 17 304 Silver Gauntlets 2 2 10 12 15 17 305 Silver Greaves 2 2 12 15 18 20 303 Silver Helm 2 2 10 12 13 15 306 Silver Ring 9999 2 10 12 15 17 9 Squzskin Gauntlets 2 2 1 1 2 2 48 Squzskin Greaves 2 2 2 3 4 4 49 Squzskin Helmet 2 2 1 1 2 2 37 Swarth Net 1 2 10 12 13 15 38 Bird Trap 1 3 4 5 5 354 Black Ball 6 3 51 60 69 117 Bolotamus Muscle 1 3 2 3 4 4 201 Diamond Brooch 11 3 21 25 30 34 39 361 Golden Ocular Coin 1000 3 34 40 46 90 Iron Shovel 1 3 64 167 Jagwere Skin 1 3 5 6 8 9 10 366 Kwando Guilder Coin 5000 3 4 5 5 398 Large Lockpick 2 3 20 24 27 31 20 Purple Lotus Elixir 9999 3 2 3 4 4 356 Red Bauble 50 3 5 6 8 9 10 56 Reptron Salve 50 3 2 3 4 4 352 Silver Bauble 40 3 17 20 23 26 353 Slink Bauble 100 3 8 10 11 397 Small Lockpick 9999 3 17 20 23 26 24 Spyglass 1 3 7 9 10 149 Thermadon Rex Wings 1 3 34 40 46 96 Travel Grub 12 3 1 1 1 1 1 372 Unreadable Scroll 10 3 13 16 18 21 Voodoo Cauldron 1 3 10 12 15 17 357 White Bauble 50 3 13 16 18 19 White Lotus Elixir 9999 3 5 6 8 9 10 355 Yellow Bauble 50 3 4 5 5 35 Yellow Lotus Elixir 9999 3 5 7 8 365 Zoingo Copper Coin 1000 3 1 1 1 1 1 363 Zoingo Gold Coin 1000 3 10 12 13 15 371 Zoingo Ruby Dagger 4 3 50 57 364 Zoingo Silver Coin 1000 3 2 3 4 4 108 Gaba Stones 60 9 1 1 1 1 1 92 Jagged Bodkin 3 9 7 8 9 10 358 Tomk Necklace 6 9 20 21 22 23 24 --- ----------------------- ---- ----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- 9999 = unlimited Note: There are no calculated values or extrapolations in these numbers. But like value items were compared and used to fill in data. For example, if I saw 5/6/8/9/- on one item and -/6/8/9/10 on another, I filled in the blanks. And when I saw 21/25/30/34/39 repeated often, anything with 30 for Fair got filled in. A dangerous assumption perhaps, but I did it. From: Dana Barker <73734.1241@CompuServe.COM> Date: 08 Jun 94 17:25:35 EDT Subject: MI FAQ Here's a sample of the Monster Island Frequently Asked Questions file I am working on. If anyone has any comments (positive or negative) or wishes to help, please contact me. Q: What's the best way for my monster to advance their weapons skill? A: The fastest way is to purchase training, however its quite expensive. This will advance your skill the fastest. For your pole weapon, its usually the best way to advance your skill. When working on your other weapons, weapons practice with each different class, 1 per turn. You might also think on equipping the weapon in question, for this will advance your skill as well. In addition, hits in battle advance your skill too. If you are curious as to what level you are at, or, how far you are from the next level, issue a weapon practice order, for any amount, and you will know. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ WHAT ABOUT THIS GAME, THEN From: Joshua Singer <jbs@dcs.ed.ac.uk> Date: Fri, 27 May 94 15:37:09 BST Subject: MI/boring? In the May issue of eMonster, Malachi writes... :I've been playing for at least two years now :and I also get the sense that there's not much left to be seen. [...] :the problem still exists of getting a very boring set of turn results, :causing the attention span to lag. I agree with this player - my two monsters (both c. 3 years on the island) have toured loads of inns, attacked hillocks, graveyards, caves, tombs, koma dens etc. ad nauseam, become disciples, set up a group, built a temple, built a fort and now what? I'm not really inspired by the thought of organizing into squads and hunting down Kabukites particularly, it would just mean going over Kunbar, Jagged Mor and Gwardon again, seeing the same old stuff. I'm currently doing a far inn tour in Starth, but what I really want to do is go east. However it's all doom and gloom on that front, with the crystal hills blocking the game off from eastern progression. When I started Island, I imagined that the continent would be so vast and diverse, I could have my monsters do what they liked, but it seems the only progress which Jack has left for me is do throw myself into the player-killing Shroud-Kabuki-Fuvah jihad (which to my knowledge hasn't really started on any great scale in the UK game). I used to get the same high from Island as I do from conventional RPG's, as it had such a great feeling of discovery. I think Jack made two mistakes, which have impaired the attraction of this game: (i) The Crystal Hills: Why put limits on a potentially boundless continent? (ii) Why make the demi-gods so impossible to get hold of? If there were monsters who followed these minor deities, it would add _so_ much colour to a game which is looking a bit bleak on the imagination front. (Hope you're reading, Jack) BTW Anyone got a use for a Sunka Death Mask or Black Lotus Leaves? Josh S. Player of: Gorth Doomdabbler (Female Viper, Disciple of Shroud, Leader of Hand of Shroud) Sukkrass Od (Male Fatblob, Disciple of Shroud, Member of Hand of Shroud) From: Gerald Hagedorn <hagedorn@umr.edu> Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 15:35:31 -0600 (CDT) Subject: MI stuff Hi, I have a few more things to tell about. First is that I got two turns in the mail earlier in the week. This was not unusual except that they were both in the same envelope and one of them was not my turn. I called Keith and he said that it happens a lot when people have very short turns like doing a Z 200 order like I did. This may be where some peoples turns that are "lost in the mail service" actually are. The other thing is this made me think what would happen if Morgan got ahold of someones monster turn. Scary thought!! Second is that I got a turn back for Claggin and hit a hillock 9 time in a turn and killed 8 Knolltir. 7 of the knollir had between 29-34 hp and one had 54 hps. This was quite different from the last time I cleaned out a hillock in which most of the knolltir had 18-25 hps. Both of the Hillocks were in the Kunbar, Has anyone else noticed that the knolltir's have been pumping Iron, or is it just a fluke? Third, I am going to bitch one more time about the slowness of development of new stuff for monster Island. In the eletronic news letter someone made a rebuttle that turning toward group and Religious activities would make the game more exciting. I would agree with this, but I would also like to mention again that Jack has stated that when he gets done with relgious they will not be remotly the same as religion is now. This meanes that people who are activly striving to reach priesthood are most likly going to be upset when every thing changes. These changes were promised a while ago and we don't even have and estimated time for their completion. My point was that if the game was developing faster, it would make the game even more enjoyable than it is now. Finally, I have Personally turned off my offensive and defensive spells, by issuing a cast order for the spell I had set. It works and I know that I read it in a blurb, It may have been, a blurb for a spell itself. I will check into it, and found out exactly where I read it. Another thing I was thinking is having another stat to control spell casting. This would allow the player to have their monster cast spells at everything that moves or only at other players, or somewhere in between. The concept is that *we* determine when we want to cast spells, not Jack... ***** Scott Says: It works! You *can* turn off your spells by issuing the same C order that turned them on. This is not in a blurb, Jerry found out about it through a message on his turn result when he had set his first defensive spell. Finally, monsters can save their spell points for specific events. I do like the idea of a control for spellcasting. We have the FR stat to control when we attack and when we retreat, I'd like to see an Offense/Defense Spell stat, maybe set for 1 (weaker creatures only) 4 (medium creatures) or 9 (tough creatures and monsters). From: "Chuck Miro" <CasbahCarl@aol.com> Date: Fri, 27 May 94 18:19:12 EDT Subject: ABM misses Quoting Jerry Hagedorn: >> First is that I got two turns in the mail earlier in the week. >> This was not unusual except that they were both in the same >> envelope and one of them was not my turn... That actually happened to me once, and it was my turn that got stuck in someone else's envelope. Fortunately, that player (whose name I unfortunately forget) was someone I'd been corresponding with. I have wondered what would have happened if the player instead had been someone who doesn't like to correspond with anyone and would have been unlikely to mail my turn to me. >> The other thing is this made me think what would happen if >> Morgan got ahold of someones monster turn. Scary thought!! Well, if ABM says it happens a lot, then I'd say that there's not a real bad chance that some poor sucker already has had his turn sent to SO. From: fuegi@CS.ColoState.EDU (Aaron D. Fuegi) Date: Mon, 30 May 94 23:12:22 MDT Subject: Turns to wrong address I have been giving some thought to this whole business mentioned recently about turns being sent to the wrong people. >>> The other thing is this made me think what would happen if >>> Morgan got ahold of someones monster turn. Scary thought!! >Well, if ABM says it happens a lot, then I'd say that there's not a real bad >chance that some poor sucker already has had his turn sent to SO. This seems like a Major concern to me. I am not really all that worried about someone getting a turn of mine and utilizing the immediate knowledge of my monster's equipment/stats/location against me. What REALLY worries me is that they would have my ACCOUNT NUMBER which NOBODY but me should ever have. Using this, they could send in a turn(s) for my monster(s) and cause Disastrous results. Considering this, I would suggest that ABM should Stop printing account numbers on turn results, if they indeed send results to the wrong address 'a lot'. I am sure most of us would not use this information in such an outrageous manner but almost certainly there are those that would (SO's rumored policy of sending in turns for other members of the group I find horrid enough- what they might be willing to do with non-member's turns I hazard to guess). From: Gerald Hagedorn <hagedorn@umr.edu> Date: Sat, 4 Jun 1994 22:39:12 -0600 (CDT) Subject: MI I recently got some information on MI that I think is interesting. First there is a rumor going around (I just heard it) that Jack has finished the new area and Demigods and just needs to turn them on. Well this is partially true. Jack has The Stuff in, but it still needs some work before it can be turned on. It seems that it is farther along than I thought; I owe Jack and apology. Hopfully, we will see some of it soon. From: SLIPJEEM@aol.com Date: Wed, 08 Jun 94 21:06:54 EDT Subject: E-Mail I've asked Jack about adding e-mail address' to the data under "monsters you can write to" and if enough people ask him maybe he will do it. So if you think that it's a good idea, the next time you send in a turn add a small note at the bottom asking for it. From: DANA BARKER <73734.1241@CompuServe.COM> Date: 21 Jun 94 21:31:30 EDT Subject: from AOL MI board for the 21st.. >From: PhilPect > >...And speaking of Coasts, maybe Jack could put in a "Follow Coast" >order: FC. Don't you think that would be a good idea. Or maybe it could be >formatted like the follow trail/path order only use a "0" (zero) instead of a >"9". It's use wouldn't be any more limited than the follow trail/path order. >Especially once Monsters reach the Kunbar and Starth. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ NOTES FROM OUR READERS Article: 13200 of rec.games.pbm From: u2k22@teach.cs.keele.ac.uk (R Vine) Date: 27 May 1994 15:58:22 GMT Subject: Re: MI-AC Garrett R Le-Page (lepag001@maroon.tc.umn.edu) wrote: : When you perform the Ancest. Cere. with several other players, does it : cause a problem if more than one of you uses the AC order to get things : started? My group wishes to perform it on turn six and I want to be sure : it happens. As long as all the monsters are present at the square you intend to perform the ceremony in when the AC order is issued there shouldn't be a problem. If more than one monster issues the AC order (you should really decide who's doing it) then the one whose day cycle causes his orders to be processed first will perform the ceremony. The following AC's _should_ fail, but I have no experience in this... I also have no information on the possible benefits for the issuer of the order (perhaps others can comment). From: eu406@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Mike Davies) Date: Sat, 28 May 1994 19:50:06 -0400 Subject: Re: MI/news.may I like the idea of a one shot publication of group statements. When rebuilding ruins, with one other member of your group in the area, and you both have mounts, the bonus is an extra 50% built. Not sure if you knew that. From: pld@tiac.net (Peter L. DeWolf) Date: Wed, 1 Jun 1994 09:47:52 -0500 Subject: Re: MI My turn should have been run yesterday. Hmm. I just called and found that it didn't run. They conjecture it's because my Visa card expired at the end of April -- which is weird, because I sent e-mail 6 weeks ago with the new expiration date, which was responded to by Bob Cook saying "thanks for the update!". The new claim is that the turn will be run immediately. From: LrdBear@aol.com Date: Thu, 02 Jun 94 22:45:52 EDT Subject: EMonster News ADOPTION NOTICE Young Island born Ruk available for adoption. The sleek Furrcat model comes with all the advanced features including lots of make-up turns. Looking for a human with a keen interest in the island. This young monster is an Acolyte of Fuvah and is a member of the top new group on the Island - The Shadow Guardians!!! This monster has grown tired of spunging off the Jossmen at the Odd Terapus and is ready to begin his monster spree. Applicants should address their inquiryies to the Shadow Guardian adoption agency care of LRDBEAR@AOL.COM From: Shdowspwn@aol.com Date: Fri, 03 Jun 94 12:33:11 EDT Subject: AndCon`94 Sept 15-18 I have been asked by a few people to put together an announcement for AndCon 94. Chuck Miro and I, as well as a friend of his and a couple of mine, will be attending AndCon this year. It is held in Independece, Ohio next to I-77 near Cleveland. It is billed as the premier play-by-mail convention in the Country. (However, for some reason the people at ABM never attend this event even though my Road Atlas shows that you can get from Cohoes to Cleveland.) Anyhow, we would like to welcome all of you attending this event as well as let ABM know that you will be there and would like to see them. You might mention that many of their competitors will be there vying for your PBM dollars as well! AndCon is a great convention put on by a more than capable staff. In addition to having representatives frommany PBM companies they also have had tables by Shadis and Paper Mayhem in the past. If you are into RPG's (role-playing games) they have events for almost every game I have ever heard of. Many events are RPGA sponsored so you can participate in that as well. I just received a letter from Andon Unlimited who puts on the Convention. This is what they had to say. Pre-Registration Book: The pre-registration book will be out in late June. This is about 4 weeks later than usual. The reason for this is that this year they were putting on Origins. As of June 1, 1994 they were done with the majority of the Origins work and are now able to focus on AndCon `94. The Planning: "AndCon will offer everything it has in the past and more! The RPGA section has been expanded, and will include 7 Living City events. AndCon is, of course, home to the first ever Living City Interactive. Magic: The Gathering will be well represented with a WotC guest of honor and the possibility of a MTG Artist Guest of Honor as well. In addition, we will be expanding our miniature line-up. Our Play-By-Mail Guest of Honor this year will be Bill Fields of Game Systems Inc. and Middle Earth fame." The Hotel: "You don't have to wait for the pre-reg book to reserve hotel rooms. Last year our hotel block increased by 62% and is expected to grow again. This simply means that there is a real chance the hotel will sell out on peak nights! Reserve your rooms now by calling (216) 524-8050 and mentioning the special AndCon rate of $60.00 for up to four people." Most of the above was copied directly from the letter I received. AndCon will be September 15-18, 1994. So that gives everyone all summer to prepare for this event. I have attended for the last 3 years and always have a great time. There is a kickoff dinner on Thursday as well as a luau type party on Saturday Night. In between is all the gaming you could want. Official events as well as open gaming and whatever you want to get going in your rooms. I hope to see many of your there. You can contact Andon Unlimited at: Andon Unlimited 426 E. Main St. P.O. Box 3100 Kent, OH 44240 Tel: 216-673-1887 Fax: 216-673-2125 I hope to hear from many of you that you are interested in this fine event and that you have contacted ABM to let them know that you would like to see them there. Article: 13289 of rec.games.pbm From: fuegi@CS.ColoState.EDU (Aaron D. Fuegi) Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 19:43:22 GMT Subject: Re: MI: follow the paths? Rolf H. Lange <bklange@sus.edu.eur.nl> wrote: >My monster has a little dilemma. I was wondering if it is more >profitable to follow the paths and trails, or not to. >Are there more structures, bushes, plants, trees and creatures on >a path or trail or is it better to travel away from the paths? >Thanks in advance for any replies! This is a good question. The only advantage to following paths is that the far structures (posts for you) are basically always on paths and are thus easier to find if you follow the path. I don't believe that, except for maybe meeting more player monsters on a path, there are any other real differences in what you find. The disadvantage of following a path is that you have less control over where you are going. If you just want to get as far east as quickly as possible then just ignore the paths and go east using whatever search scheme you can think of that looks at the most squares while still getting you 8 east every turn. Once you find your first far post, you should be given directions to other structures or if you have friends with map info you may be able to find exactly where on the island you are and get data on it. Thus, until you find your first far post, I would probably recommend following paths to help you find it and then from then on ignore the paths completely. From: Maralj@aol.com Date: Tue, 07 Jun 94 20:08:18 EDT Subject: T-Rex Wings! Maralj casts Battle Dexterity. He blows two Zinki Darts and hits the T-Rex once for 9. Maralj casts Enchant Weapon on his trusty Smite Pike. He stabs the right and left wings - 4 hits for 74. The T-Rex hits him in the thigh and waist for 19. Maralj stikes his torso and right leg for 59. He attacks right knee and calf for 14. He's dead! YES! Maralj is now the proud owner of a pair of beautiful Thermadon Rex Wings. Now, does anyone out there know what to do with them? From: CasbahCarl@aol.com Date: Wed, 08 Jun 94 21:44:51 EDT Subject: "eMonster News" Submission I'm submitting the following at the request of Jake Balfour: "How about a new position on the 'eMonster' bigwig list for a foreign correspondent? They could give updates on how things are going on the European Monster Islands. "Does the number of spells you get depend on how many spells you already have? If, for example, you pick up eight on your first Kowtow, will you receive fewer spells later on than a Monster who only got five? In addition to the Temple's total treasure, does the number of Spells you get depend on how much you've contributed to any Temple, just that Temple, or your religious fervor (the length and frequency of your Kowtows to Temples and other religious areas)? "What have people tried to enter Tombs of Mumundus and Stone Crypts with? Have they tried demigod items? Kudo bones or Black balls? What were the results? ***** Scott says: I think a foreign liason is a wonderful idea. In fact, one for the UK game and one for the German game. Do we have any volunteers? From: Ashley Taft <ataft@infinet.com> Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 01:04:46 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Gold Ring I was wondering if anybody had any information about how effective the Gold Ring (Ring of Hiding) is...I just cleared my first Hillock, and it was one of the treasures I received. Somebody must have been working on that Hillock...I cleaned it out in two turns (8 Knolltir)... Also...Where is the closest Far Inn that is Northeast of Dark Eagle's Nest? I'm starting to drop my Damaged Iron equipment to make room for new stuff... Lord SkyDiver 48 Make-up turns and counting...sigh... ***** Scott says: The Far Inn NE of the DEN is the Black Swan, about 40 squares away. From: Gerald Hagedorn <hagedorn@umr.edu> Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 08:40:12 -0600 (CDT) Subject: Muscle I talked to Mike Overstreet last night, he is a friend of mine and runs a Norman in my group. Last turn he ran his 100th turn, he had 402 Muscle at the end of the turn. That means that 400 is not the limit on muscle either. Just thought I would let you know. From: jhalpern@mako.Newbridge.COM (Joel Halpern) Date: Mon, 13 Jun 1994 11:04:09 +0500 Subject: Tuvian Plants Can someone out there please confirm two things about Tuvian plants: 1) You need a quest in the square with the plant to learn to make a tuvian shovel. 2) There is a Tuvian plant 7 South and 20 West of the GGG. PS This is particularly important because I am probably going to have to send in a couple of turns blind due to mail difficulties. ***** Scott says: You do need to quest to get the blurb. I would add that you need to find the Tuvian plant in the square before you can do anything. My Big Danny quested, got the blurb, wandered away, then returned a turn later, *didn't* find the plant, and the make order failed. I'll have to do a Jazzercise or Weapon Practice in the square next turn. From: Gerald Hagedorn <hagedorn@umr.edu> Date: Thu, 23 Jun 1994 09:10:23 -0600 (CDT) Subject: Forts I have a question about forts. How much health do you gain back each turn you stay in a fort. Is it equivalent to an I3 or I5 at a far Inn? Can members from diffent groups say at a Fort if they have no attack orders set? I found a Fort Ruin that is within 8 squares of 4 different loggerhead camps and within 4 squares on another. So I am curious as to wheter it would be worth it to rebuild the fort to clean out the loggerhead camps. Thanks in advance Jerry +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ "A lion must feel more secure that God is on its side than a gazelle." Please send your submissions, questions, and comments to warden@einet.com. Up