Atlantis Times v1.1 v01n 9 From: JJC%TRPASB@MPA15AB.mv-oc.Unisys.COM Date: Mon, 31 Jan 1994 05:28:26 +0000 ######################################################################## =-=-= Atlantis Times v1.1 Volume 1 Number 9 =-=-= ######################################################################## Words from The Big Guy: Remember, Times submissions (and orders) should not exceed 72 characters per line. My mailer kindly wraps the lines for me. Good luck, and enjoy. - TBG ######################################################################## ATLANTIS ECONOMICS PART 2 This is the second in a series of articles that attempt to answer economic questions that faction leaders are faced with. This weeks question: "How long should my workers study (under a teacher), before commencing production? Once again the answer depends on how long term your planning is. The table at the end of the article lists the monthly production and total production for 6 different study times projected out over 72 months. The "superior" production strategy is marked with an asterisk. Note that all production stategies show increases in monthly production due to the 10 days of training per month worked rule. To summarize the 72 line table at the end of the article: NO TEACHER TEACHER AVAILABLE Strategy Months Months when Months Months when study Best Strategy study Best Strategy One 1 2- 5 1 2- 3 Two 3 5-18 2 3- 6 Three 6 12-29 3 6-11 Four 10 29-43 5 11-20 Five 15 43-72 8 20-32 Six 21 72+ 11 32-49 Seven 28 No data 14 49+ Note that last months table is repeated for reference (and for clarity the tabs have been removed). An additional strategy "Seven" was also analyzed, but not displayed in the data table due to line length limitations. Conclusion: If you are going to need the output immediately strategy "Two" is probably your best choice. If you will be at peace for a year strategy "Four" is now superior. As before weapons production strategies should probably favor the lower numbered strategies (to generate tax revenue early). Next installment: "What is the worth of a weapon?" The above analysis generated by the scribes of faction 59, "Larson's Adventurers", formed in Gurkacre (9,14) on Jan 01 reachable at "Bill_Larson@ncsu.edu" Start Data Table Production (Monthly/Total) - Teacher available ...................Strategy........................... Month "One" "Two" "Three" "Four" "Five" "Six" 1 S 0 S 0 S 0 S 0 S 0 S 0 2 1 1* S 0 S 0 S 0 S 0 S 0 3 1 2* 2 2* S 0 S 0 S 0 S 0 4 1 3 2 4* 3 3 S 0 S 0 S 0 5 2 5 2 6* 3 6 S 0 S 0 S 0 6 2 7 2 8* 3 9* 4 4 S 0 S 0 7 2 9 2 10 3 12* 4 8 S 0 S 0 8 2 11 2 12 3 15* 4 12 S 0 S 0 9 2 13 3 15 3 18* 4 16 5 5 S 0 10 2 15 3 18 3 21* 4 20 5 10 S 0 11 2 17 3 21 3 24* 4 24* 5 15 S 0 12 2 19 3 24 3 27 4 28* 5 20 6 6 13 2 21 3 27 3 30 4 32* 5 25 6 12 14 3 24 3 30 3 33 4 36* 5 30 6 18 15 3 27 3 33 3 36 4 40* 5 35 6 24 16 3 30 3 36 4 40 4 44* 5 40 6 30 17 3 33 3 39 4 44 4 48* 5 45 6 36 18 3 36 3 42 4 48 4 52* 5 50 6 42 19 3 39 3 45 4 52 4 56* 5 55 6 48 20 3 42 3 48 4 56 4 60* 5 60* 6 54 21 3 45 4 52 4 60 5 65 5 65* 6 60 22 3 48 4 56 4 64 5 70 5 70* 6 66 23 3 51 4 60 4 68 5 75 5 75* 6 72 24 3 54 4 64 4 72 5 80 6 81* 6 78 25 3 57 4 68 4 76 5 85 6 87* 6 84 26 4 61 4 72 4 80 5 90 6 93* 6 90 27 4 65 4 76 4 84 5 95 6 99* 6 96 28 4 69 4 80 4 88 5 100 6 105* 6 102 29 4 73 4 84 4 92 5 105 6 111* 6 108 30 4 77 4 88 4 96 5 110 6 117* 7 115 31 4 81 4 92 5 101 5 115 6 123* 7 122 32 4 85 4 96 5 106 5 120 6 129* 7 129 33 4 89 4 100 5 111 5 125 6 135 7 136 34 4 93 4 104 5 116 5 130 6 141 7 143 35 4 97 4 108 5 121 5 135 6 147 7 150 36 4 101 5 113 5 126 5 140 6 153 7 157 37 4 105 5 118 5 131 5 145 6 159 7 164 38 4 109 5 123 5 136 5 150 6 165 7 171 39 4 113 5 128 5 141 6 156 6 171 7 178 40 4 117 5 133 5 146 6 162 6 177 7 185 41 5 122 5 138 5 151 6 168 6 183 7 192 42 5 127 5 143 5 156 6 174 6 189 7 199 43 5 132 5 148 5 161 6 180 6 195 7 206 44 5 137 5 153 5 166 6 186 6 201 7 213 45 5 142 5 158 5 171 6 192 7 208 7 220 46 5 147 5 163 5 176 6 198 7 215 7 227 47 5 152 5 168 5 181 6 204 7 222 7 234 48 5 157 5 173 5 186 6 210 7 229 7 241 49 5 162 5 178 6 192 6 216 7 236 7 248 50 5 167 5 183 6 198 6 222 7 243 7 255 51 5 172 5 188 6 204 6 228 7 250 7 262 52 5 177 5 193 6 210 6 234 7 257 7 269 53 5 182 5 198 6 216 6 240 7 264 7 276 54 5 187 6 204 6 222 6 246 7 271 8 284 55 5 192 6 210 6 228 6 252 7 278 8 292 56 5 197 6 216 6 234 6 258 7 285 8 300 57 5 202 6 222 6 240 6 264 7 292 8 308 58 5 207 6 228 6 246 6 270 7 299 8 316 59 6 213 6 234 6 252 6 276 7 306 8 324 60 6 219 6 240 6 258 7 283 7 313 8 332 61 6 225 6 246 6 264 7 290 7 320 8 340 62 6 231 6 252 6 270 7 297 7 327 8 348 63 6 237 6 258 6 276 7 304 7 334 8 356 64 6 243 6 264 6 282 7 311 7 341 8 364 65 6 249 6 270 6 288 7 318 7 348 8 372 66 6 255 6 276 6 294 7 325 7 355 8 380 67 6 261 6 282 6 300 7 332 7 362 8 388 68 6 267 6 288 6 306 7 339 7 369 8 396 69 6 273 6 294 6 312 7 346 8 377 8 404 70 6 279 6 300 7 319 7 353 8 385 8 412 71 6 285 6 306 7 326 7 360 8 393 8 420 72 6 291 6 312 7 333 7 367 8 401 8 428 End Data Table ######################################################################## My mages have discovered a spell. They think it quite silly though, as it poisons the water that the peasants we are watching over drink. I see no use for this, and shall encourage them to forget it as soon as they can. My explorers keep sending back reports of new lands and waters. I am well pleased with them and wish them well. They claim to have found an "edge" to the world. From this, they have estimated the world to be over 3 million square miles in surface area. I don't know if I can believe such a large world! My allies seem to be doing much better now. We did lose the Midget Riders, and I wish him well in his journey to the land where all stand tall. Hopefully the newer members of our alliance can keep me busy enough to forget my departed friends. I hope the trees will last until I can arm all of my men to protect the peasants, there are some fearful forces about the land. Perhaps I can use the new magic somehow against any who would threaten the good people whom have entrusted their care to my allies and I. We shall indeed see. Beelzebub, ruler of the enlightened Beings of Dharma ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ######################################################################## In Carrigaline, the small town of Foothill slept quietly, which was strange. Normally, the town's only inn, the Chew & Chunder, was alive at this time of day with the raucous revelling of most of the town's menfolk, and a goodly number of the women as well. This is not to say that the inn was not trading well, however. If a passing stranger were to step inside, he would have found very little standing room, and noticed that all of the patrons carried a tankard of the local brew. Its just that they weren't fighting, singing, arguing or even talking. The silence in the inn was deafening. If our stranger was not deterred, he might have approached the bar, and ordered a tankard for himself. Had he done so, he could hardly have helped noticing the "Under New Management" sign behind the bar, and the gossamer blue mist that lay suspended over his ale. If our friend was several sandwiches short of a picnic, he may have tried the ale, and found it utterly delicious and refreshing. He would also have abandoned any thought of leaving... The Innkeeper emerged from the cellar. "We are the Brotherhood", he declared, "and the Mist pervades all". "The Mist pervades all", intoned the patrons. The Innkeeper smiled. ######################################################################## A response to Demi the Magician: I don't ever remember implying that there are four islands in our world. If I did, then I apologize as it was unintentional. As for the size of Atlantis, I have now been fully informed of the Y dimension of Atlantis's size. It is 34. Please remember that all of my information comes from donations. If there are any inaccuracies, please inform me and I will try to correct them. I do not at this time know the extent of the X dimension. My current guess is exactly that, a guess. This is all that I currently know about the geography of Atlantis. If you have any more information, please email me at my address <ckim@skidmore.edu>. Any new information will be included in the next published version of my maps. Emperor Shaddam IV ======= ======= == ######################################################################## To: Regis, Lord Diamante My lord, I wish to add a personal note to the standard report produced by the clerks. I am sure you're aware of the contents of the reports, so I won't dwell on the details. You can see that, while our progress here may be slow in comparison to some of our neighbors, we have been advancing steadily. In the next month or three, we should begin reaping significant products from our labors. At that time, I believe you will see a significant upturn in our economic performance. As per your original instructions, we've concentrated on production at the expense of exploration. The limits of this great land are still unknown to us. There have been occasional rumblings and rumors of battles - some pitifully small, others seemingly quite large in scale - but it is impossible to get accurate information out of the peasant grapevine, and first-hand reports are spotty at best. As far as my sentries have discovered, the nearby lands are free of hostile parties. We have met several other factions, and have established cooperative relations with most of them. Still, as you can see from my proposed workplan for the rest of the year, I do not intend to sit idle. Defensive installations will be constructed and my network of sentries expanded as soon as production allows the recruiting of additional workers. My lord, I am hesitant to raise the issue personally, but I am emboldened by our very favorable projections for the next few months. Our holdings here have expanded to the point where I will soon need to appoint deputies and delegate responsibilities to underlings. However, it will be awkward to assign titles to these deputies, when I myself hold such a lowly position in the hierarchy of the Household. There are a few men in my employ, especially those who wield arcane powers, who certainly have significant talent and ambition. They are loyal underlings, but I am concerned that, if I remain at my present rank, they will begin to feel that our work out here is not valued by the Household, and one or two might seek employment elsewhere or possibly even strike out on their own! I'd much rather have these men working for the good of the Household than have them working against us. I feel that a small promotion for myself would do much to demonstrate Household support for our undertakings. I am willing to forego the financial and property gains that may normally come with a higher rank; my desire is to be more effective in my work, not to benefit personally. As you know, I've dedicated my life to your service. As always, I ask humbly that you review all the information you have seen, and consider my request. Your servant, Reynolds Squire of Diamante ######################################################################## On a wind-blown hilltop , a cloaked figure stands silently. Beneath the cowls of the cloak , you can see the hints of a smile. "It will be ready soon" mumbles the man , as he stands there surveying his handiwork. Below the hill , teams of workers prepare finishing touches to the camp taking shape. 3 different pennants flew high above 3 large tents at the center of the encampment. The Alliance will be ractified soon , after weeks of harrying negotiation. With this Alliance , his northern borders will be secured and then he will be able to focus his attention southwards , towards fabled Loture. He heard some angry shouting near one of the tents , the one belonging to the one of his allies. Below , a group of men was already forming. One large group in his own tabards , surrounding a smaller group from his "Ally". Seeing that things might get out of hand (so soon!) , he hurried down the hill towards that troublespot. ######################################################################## LOCAL CELEBRITY SEEN RIDING LARGE BLACK STALLION 'Alison the Great' has been seen An attempt to interview any of riding a stallion that is reported the workers at the camp was to be several hands higher than any unsuccessful due to reluctance horse previously seen in these of these workers to betray parts. Several peasants have their leader whom they appear reported hearing a thundering noise rever and respect. and then seeing a large black horse with a rider with long dark hair. Nevertheless there are some unexplained events that this The peasants claim that the rider paper will be looking into egresses from tent camp set up on so our readership is kept the plain by 'Alison the Great' at informed of all the facts. dusk every evening. ######################################################################## Clive, alias "the gnome", made his way down the street towards Slim's Bar after leaving the bank. The 5000 silver pieces with which he had absconded hung heavily in a leather sack under his coat. Suddenly the weight of it hit him (so to speak). He was alone and there was no going back. Here he was trapsing through a seedy part of town, alone, with no weapon, carrying a large sum of money. He had never given a thought to robbery before, but now? There were many organized criminal bands about, opportunists who would slit his throat in a second for what he was carrying. Would he live to see another month? Luckily he arrived at the familiar bar without any hostile encounters. He was greeted by his friends as he entered, and soon he was buying a round for all. He didn't stop with one round. A festive mood took over the establishment, liquor flowing freely, as more and more people drifted in to join the drunken party. Clive clambered laboriously, somewhat unsteadily, onto the top of his table, and declared his intention to all and sundry to start a new life, one of adventure. "Hear, hear!", his closest companions cried, everyone of them as drunk as he was, "we'll all go with you!" "Well then", piped up a somewhat cynical patron, "if you're going to start a new life, then you're going to need a new image - get some new clothes!". Clive looked at his boring bank teller's uniform, dull, conservative black pants, vest, and bow tie, and could only agree as the hoots, cat-calls, and laughter echoed throughout the room. "New clothes for all!" he yelled. "Yes, yes!" screamed the throng. "We want fashions! We want accessories!" "Three cheers for the gnome!" one exclaimed. "We're with you! We'll all be gnomes from now on!" And so they poured forth from the drinking establishment, rushing down the street to Larry's Store of Clothing and Accessories, where they perused racks of sunglasses, tried on suits of leisure, festively attired themselves in overpriced chaps and hats (striking poses atop the defunkt mechanical bull), and bought virtually everything in the store, including outlandish outfits worn only by the most eccentric of the village people. And thus began the story of that group of people who ever after referred to themselves the "Gnomes In Love With Fashion Accessories". ######################################################################## Map of Atlantis --- -- -------- September, 1 Edition Emperor Shaddam IV of the Padishah Empire (Faction 3) Donations may be sent to unit #3! Send new information and corrections to email address <ckim@skidmore.edu>. The most recent edition will be will be published in the Atlantis Times and will be mailed to the Atlantis mailing list. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 0 - - - - - O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1 - - - - O S O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 2 - - - O S P S P P - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 3 - - - - O P P O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 4 - - - - - P P - - - - - - - - - P - - - - - - - - - - - - P - - 4 5 - - - - - S - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O - - O - 5 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P P P P O 6 7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P - P P - 7 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P - P - - 8 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O - P - 9 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O - - 10 11 - - - - - P - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11 12 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P - 12 13 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13 14 - - - - - F - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14 15 - - - - - P - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15 16 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16 17 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17 18 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18 19 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19 20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 20 21 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21 22 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22 23 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23 24 - - - - - - - - - - - - P - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24 25 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25 26 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 26 27 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 27 28 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 28 29 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 29 30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30 31 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31 32 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32 33 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 33 34 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 34 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 Please note that row 34 is directly accessible from row 0 (Going north from (10,0) will get you to (10,34). ######################################################################## As this year draws nigh, the residents of Crail and Komarken have seen our crest and colors waving proudly, and they know that, for our skill, we shall try hard to defend our interests and those of our allies. It is our wish to present ourselves to collect taxes in two or three months in Crail, and we ask for cooperation in so doing from our allies therein. ######################################################################## "Is it true that the enemy outnumber us four to one?" The pale, skinny youth held a pitchfork in his trembling hands. Gar gave the lad a searching look. Poor bugger. Those hands belonged to a farmboy, not a soldier. Never raised a weapon before in his life. "Aye," said Gar, "So I've heard. But remember, we have allies in this fight too." An older recruit joined their conversation. "You mean those cursed dwarfs?" The older man spat. "They're the ones who started this in the first place. Them and their so-called King. Ha!" Gar looked at the man. He was obviously a traveller, by the cut of his cloak. A fighter? He didn't hold any weapon, but he looked dangerously competent. "Why say you that?" asked Gar. "The Southerners spurned our diplomats, and the dwarfs were merely trying to protect their own..." "Ha! The Southerners'll tell it different. They'll tell you that they were set upon without warning or provocation by those stumpy battle-crazed fiends." "So who's right?" asked the youth. The older man smiled without mirth. "Whoever wins." ######################################################################## The Fry Guys (Faction 6 - orb@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu) are officially announcing that they would like to purchase 75 swords. The delivery should be made in an agreeably nuetral point in NorthEastern Atlantis. We would like to have delivery in 3 turns and are willing to provide handsome financial compensation. The first suitable offer will be accepted - please contact for further negotiations. If you cannot meet the quota, the time frame or the location we might still be able to work out a deal. Please contact with prices and terms. ######################################################################## Keriam bent low and crept through the tall crops, his hand on the hilt of his knife. "Come on," he hissed, calling the men behind him forward. Slowly they advanced, descending on the unexpecting faction below. "Marak, you take the ones on the left," he said, "I've got the one in that big tent. They're unarmed, and we'll be able to take them by surprise." Pulling his assassin's dagger from its scabbard Keriam began to run quietly. In his mind's eye, he picture the stores of silver he would soon be liberating from these peaceful people. He knew that this faction had done relatively little military preparation, concentrating instead on other studies that, although certain to be profitable in the long run, left them unprepared for a sudden attack. Smiling, he grasped the canvas flap of then tent and prepared to throw it open. Instead he found himself flying backwards, crashing into the ground with a solid thud. Emerging from the tent was the largest man he had ever seen. He looked Nordic, with blond hair and beard and blue eyes. In his hand he held a huge bastard sword, which he brought swinging down towards Keriam's head. Panicking, the young raider threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow. Then, leaping to his feet, he began to run as fast as he could back into the crops. "Run," he called to his comrades, "they've hired the Brotherhood!" He was dimly aware of soldiers coming out of concealment all over, armed with swords, longbows, and crossbows. A tall, powerful-looking Norseman seemed to be directing them, and had planned his ambush with care. Keriam's raiders were being utterly routed, and those few who were still alive were attempting to flee in every direction. Keriam had a feeling of total despair, which was cut off sharply as an arrow pierced his throat. ********************************************************************** If you feel vulnerable to sudden attack, if you think that you, like the fictional faction portrayed here, would like to be defended by strong, armed, well-trained mercenaries, if you would like to be able to concen- trate on your particular plans for your faction without worrying about producing troops merely to defend yourself against the likes of Keriam, then you need to hire the Brotherhood of Northern Warriors (57). Based out of Gurkacre (9,15), the Brotherhood is already a powerful military force, complete with swordsmen, archers, bowmen, tactical expertise, and a mage with powerful combat spells available immediately at reasonable prices. If these sound like advantage you'd like to have on your side, contact the Brotherhood at crall@usc.edu. Please include the subject line ATLANTIS. And May Odin the Allfather smile upon you. ######################################################################## =-=-= END TIMES 109 =-=-= ######################################################################## Up