Olympia Times special edition From: skrenta@shadow.com (Rich Skrenta) Date: Wed, 26 Jan 1994 04:31:13 +0000 +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The Olympia Times times@alpha.shadow.com | | January 25, 1994 special edition | | | | alpha turn 70 "Since 1991" | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ Olympia II PBM -= currently in alpha test =- olympia@shadow.com * * * * If it chance your eye offend you, Pluck it out, lad, and be sound; 'Twill hurt, but here are salves to friend you, And many a balsam grows on ground. And if your hand or foot offend you, Cut it off, lad, and be whole; But play the man, stand up and end you, When your sickness is your soul. -- A.E. Housman * * * * =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= !!!!!!! REWARD OFFERED !!!!!!!!!! For information on the location of a grove of Mallorn. Great rewards are offered.... Contact Xander Crouch [2701]. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Neddie Quatermass OBE, Idiot and Explorer, is off adventuring in the wilds of West Camaris in search of exotic locations, dreadful princesses and beautiful monsters.... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Roack looked out from the battlements of Castle Cloud Catcher upon his realm, his heart filled with excitment. With the foundations of the new keep he knew that the advancement of order in Lesser Atnos was furthered. While he longed for adventure, he knew that the Force which ruled Olympia could soon smile upon him and send more savages so that his blade could sing! Hearing steps coming toward him Roack turned to see a human dressed in armor that gleaned with silver and the white gold of the earth stone that only Sampson, his trusty miner could bring forth and the "Exploring one" could fashion into armor of untold power. The Dwarf Ranger turned to the human, Willis, his advisor and confident these last seven years and now commander of the Castle CloadCatcher. "Yesl Commander, what brings you to the battlements?" said Roack "Sire, first Sampson and now Jason have sent word that they could advance the cause of Order if they had more nobles. I have examined both of their ideas and they seem sound." answered Willis, staring off at the towers where the mages labored at discovering even greater secrets that the elven mages of old. "But Willis, you know that we are bound by the constraints the Noble point system imposes. The Force in Olympus dictates that we can expand our system only so fast. What do you propose I do? Before, when Oleg was still in the world, things seemed like they might work but now....I just do not know?" Roack looked from the wall into the courtyard where the elite guards and archers were training. He thought that no promoters of Chaos could stand against the army that was being built. "Sire, what about a call for leige lords. We could ask others in Lesser Atnos to join us. We would provide them with gold and men and stones, they with a pledge of support as we bring order to Olympia." "Willis! I think you are on to something! With Erik and Jason having found such riches and unexplored territory and with the quarry producing stones faster than we can use them this may be the right plan. How should we proceed?" Willis mused for a moment and then said, "With a posting in the newspaper!" Roack slammed his fist down and, not knowing why except that the God of Bad TV writing must have taken his soul proclaimed, "MAKE IT SO!" Across the land the following notice was soon posted: TO ALL THAT ARE PLEDGED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF ORDER IN THE WORLD! NEW TO OLMPIA AND NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN? THINKING THAT THERE MUST BE MORE THAN BUILDING A TOWER AND DOING RESARCH? THINK COMBAT IS FUN AND WANT TO CHECK OUT IF THE PARSER CAN HANDLE A COORDINATED ATTACK BY 1000 MEN? THEN....... JOIN ROACK'S RANGERS IN OUR QUEST TO STAMP OUT THOSE THAT MIGHT BRING DESTRUCTION AND CHAOS TO OUR WORLD! FIND YOURSELF SITTING ON 500 STONES JUST WAITING TO BE TURNED INTO A CASTLE. GIVE YOUR FACTION A GOAL IN LIFE, SLAUGHTERING THOSE WHO ARE NOT PLEDGED TO THE ALLIANCE! WE PROVIDE THE STONES/GOLD/MEN - YOU SOME NOBLES AND COORDINATION. CONTACT US THROUGH THE UNIVERSAL OLYMPIAN FORWARDING SYSTEM 3637@alpha.olmypia.shadow.com if interested. DON'T DELAY. WE KNOW THE BEST SITES FOR QUICK EXPANSION AND PRIME CASTLE BUILDING! (_____)------------------------------------------------------(____ ) | / | Roack Underhill | \ | | / | Protector of Lesser Atnos | \ | | / | Defender of the Forest | \ | | / | Keeper of Cloud Cather | \ | | \ | Ruler of Plains Guardian | \ | (_____)------------------------------------------------------(_____) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From the journal entries of Ham, apprentice wizard and constructor: Season "Waning days", month 7, in the year 8. I finished making some clay pots today, on assignment for the city. I hope they still want them after I demeaned myself to manual labor. I need the money to fund my scholastic efforts. Last month, while delving through the library to learn the science of Alchemy I discovered references to an ancient magical art called Gatecraft. I decided to follow up on it, but it will take me at least 3 more months of part time study to simply learn the basics. This month I decided I will try to recruit a forester to help me explore the region. I have determined that to learn more about gatecraft I should also learn regular construction as well. Some of my companions think I am stretching myself too thin trying to learn 3 skills at the same time. I tell them not to worry, I'm just starting them because soon I shall leave the city and explore Lesser Atnos. Hopefully I will have time to complete my studies while travelling. In the meantime I have petitioned the Olympian Geographic Society to admit my faction, the Drueger, into its ranks. Hopefully they will have pity on us, since we are just starting out, and allow us to join. Well, I must get back to working on my pots. I will continue my journal next at a later date. Season "Thunder and rain", month 5, in the year 9 I am starting a journey to as far as possible from the city of my birth. Using a new cantrip I learned outside the city gates, I discovered that a gate exists 5 provinces from the city. I am attempting to triangulate the position of this gate and will try my cantrip again next month. I just hope the gate is on the same continent as myself! During this month I managed to lure another 2 smelly peasants to work for me for a gold pence each per month. These peasants and works are draining my coffers dry, I have been reduced to performing common tricks in passing villages to raise funds. I have yet to become as adept at this as my mentor in magic but I comfort myself with the knowledge that of all my liege's magi I alone know the secrets of the gates. The others in my group have agreed that if we don't find the gate soon we shall build a ship and leave this place. This continent is just too packed with people. We have decided to meet in a city to the north, from there we may book passage if possible. We never did hear back from the Geographic Society, I don't know if they received out letter or not. I still hope to hear from them some day. That is all I have time to write this month, as my smelly peasants are prone to arguing and I must go settle their measly disputes before they kill eachother. END EXCERPTS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Erekosse looked back one last time over the vast plains of Torba Bacor. He is ready for the long journey back to his beloved home in the peaks of the Callendor Mountains of Greater Atnos. Reports from his vassals had just completed the long trip. Reports from the the season of Sunsear, the news is two months old - but old news is better than no news... Peliast at Gryphon's Nest reported a battle. Yet another incursion of savages into the city of Fair Haven. "Damn them! When will they cease to plague my poor city?" Ah, but Peliast was able to call in one of the sword nobles to deal with the menace appropriately. The attack was a complete success; the savages were killed to a man with no loss of life to his loyal troops. And, what of Radric? All is the stable. The dead have not arisen again to plague the countryside. At the mention of this, Erekosse reminisces over the battle to put down the initial up surge of undead. Only his staunchest troops were able to stand against such a terror inducing foe, but the effort was worth it. The graveyard has been quiet since. The gold vein in the mine has died... "Frack! Will nothing beyond battle go right." but wait, they have found a vein of mithril. The mine may not be still be useful. Finally, Tarin's report. Ah yes, no savages, but his mine has run dry of gold as well; however, no mention of a mithril strike. Such is the whim of fate. On the good side, the Tower of Gold in Amber Town will be completed within the month. He considers the actions of his vassals and is well pleased. But, how much better would things have gone with his presence. As he completed his review of the reports of his vassals, he pondered, "Yes, it is time to go home." =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Harrr, yer competing for space in a Lesser Atnos, eh maties? Cheap transport from Safe Haven to Greater Atnos available in a yer new year. Reserve yer place early. Only 100 pieces o'eight a faction**. Estimated departure Snowmelt year 10. Contact captain Pete One-eye [4970] for reservations. (c) 9, all rights reserved Pirate Corps, a division of the Magicians Guild Inc. **Certain load limits in effect, see agent for details. May not be combined with other offers. Subject to availabilty and minimum registration. Company not liable for missing luggage delays, or accidental death and dismemberment. Ocean travel may be dangereous, waver required. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= There was some interest in seeing the GM's report again. During a real game, this information would certainly not be public, but I believe the it helps the alpha testers to have a better understanding of the "big picture." Olympia turn 70 report for Gamemaster [200]. Season "Harvest", month 6, in the year 9. Special events ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11: Deep 3 [kq14] collapsed in Mountain [cj12]. 30: Queued drop for Richheimer's Retinue [864] Character deaths ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3: Crowd [3350] died in Forest [cv38], in Ossicus. 20: Mob [4281] died in Mountain [ck09], in Greater Atnos. 22: Crowd [5262] died in Forest [cw36], in Ossicus. Interesting attribute counts ---------------------------- char ability shroud: 1 char hinder meditate: 0 char project cast: 0 char quick cast: 0 loc shroud: 0 loc barrier: 0 loc opium: 0 format one: 6/29 galleys with rams: 1 (6%) Skill use counts: ----------------- count who skill name ----- --- ----- ---- 53 660 9570 Defense 16 810 9103 Perform common tasks for gold 11 869 9579 Archery 10 889 9504 Bird spy 9 568 9141 Scry location 7 660 9530 Train wild horse to warmount 7 869 9580 Swordplay 5 869 9101 Meditate 4 869 9174 Advanced meditation 3 592 9529 Train wild horse to riding horse 3 454 9115 Detect gates 2 900 9116 Jump through gate 2 681 9563 Mine iron 2 681 9565 Mine mithril 1 454 9520 Determine skills of character 1 778 9301 Receive vision 1 656 9564 Mine gold 1 660 9522 Learn of richest nearby noble 1 454 9502 Sailing 1 660 9167 Locate character 1 454 9519 Determine inventory of character finished unfinished +---------------------- galley | 16 0 roundship | 13 0 tower | 32 1 castle | 15 3 mine | 9 0 inn | 12 0 temple | 10 0 nobles region ------ ------ 162 Lesser Atnos 66 West Camaris 46 Greater Atnos 26 East Camaris 16 Torba Bacor 16 Atnos Sea 13 Ossicus 10 Faery 10 Hades 3 South Sea 2 Isle of Deddou 1 Areth Lorbin 1 Merinth Sound 1 Cnossa 1 South Camaris 1 Charrick Island 1 Provinia Sea 1 Pentaria ====== 377 38/241 gates found (15%) 26 sealed (10%), 1 notify jump (0%), 0 notify unseal (0%) 1439/7526 provinces visited (19%) 352/2811 sublocs visited (12%) 32% of visisted province's sublocs found 60% visible, 39% hidden 327 chars: 200 oath (61%), 19 fear (5%), 42 contract (12%), 57 unsworn (17%) rank gold faction ---- ---- ------- 1 29,640 Champions Eternal [869] 2 23,595 Silverhorn [660] 3 21,172 The House of Blood [778] 4 14,840 Curumo [681] 5 8,283 Iconia [551] 6 6,840 Roack's Rangers [592] 7 5,063 Mercia [679] 8 3,500 Blue [656] 9 2,299 The Collective [568] 10 2,207 Morgan's Riders [900] 11 2,022 Runelords of the Blood Moon [419] 12 1,930 Crimson Fists [772] 13 1,911 Bandiemen [544] 14 1,788 Black Dragon Co. [753] 15 1,758 Grey Swords [708] 16 1,435 The Oppenheimer Group [776] 17 1,308 The Black Dragon [451] 18 1,300 The Mighty Morons [442] 19 1,100 Burlymen Murder Inc. [516] 20 976 The Drueger [889] 21 938 The Tripartite Council [472] 22 837 The Silver Daggers [895] 23 800 Richheimer's Retinue [864] 24 728 Qu'ruim [594] 25 725 Deep 13 [613] 26 651 The Silver Lizards [507] 27 382 The Four Hoseheads [810] 28 242 Blue Wizards [454] 29 184 The Mostly Harmless [555] rank nobles faction ---- ------ ------- 1 34 Silverhorn [660] 2 19 The House of Blood [778] 3 16 Roack's Rangers [592] 4 16 Iconia [551] 5 14 Champions Eternal [869] 6 14 The Collective [568] 7 12 Morgan's Riders [900] 8 12 Curumo [681] 9 11 Mercia [679] 10 10 The Tripartite Council [472] 11 9 Blue [656] 12 9 Runelords of the Blood Moon [419] 13 8 The Silver Lizards [507] 14 8 Black Dragon Co. [753] 15 8 The Silver Daggers [895] 16 7 Qu'ruim [594] 17 7 Grey Swords [708] 18 6 Blue Wizards [454] 19 6 The Drueger [889] 20 5 Bandiemen [544] 21 4 The Mostly Harmless [555] 22 4 Deep 13 [613] 23 4 The Mighty Morons [442] 24 4 The Four Hoseheads [810] 25 4 The Black Dragon [451] 26 3 Richheimer's Retinue [864] 27 3 Burlymen Murder Inc. [516] 28 2 The Oppenheimer Group [776] 29 2 Crimson Fists [772] who age gold units bld subloc ships skills --- --- ---- ----- --- ------ ----- ------ 100 70 8260 96 3 3 47 Independent player 204 70 0 10 Faery player 205 70 0 10 King of Hades 419 41 2022 9 1 19 Runelords of the Blood Moon 442 4 1300 4 6 The Mighty Morons 451 6 1308 4 18 The Black Dragon 454 8 242 6 1 34 Blue Wizards 472 53 938 10 1 25 The Tripartite Council 507 5 651 8 15 The Silver Lizards 516 4 1100 3 5 Burlymen Murder Inc. 544 13 1911 5 7 Bandiemen 551 69 8283 16 4 1 47 Iconia 555 6 184 4 19 The Mostly Harmless 568 53 2299 14 1 3 53 The Collective 592 69 6840 16 3 1 34 Roack's Rangers 594 19 728 7 1 21 Qu'ruim 613 8 725 4 8 Deep 13 656 30 3500 9 4 1 61 Blue 660 53 23k 34 13 5 97 Silverhorn 679 53 5063 11 2 4 37 Mercia 681 53 14k 12 3 1 43 Curumo 708 21 1758 7 1 18 Grey Swords 753 13 1788 8 1 1 27 Black Dragon Co. 772 5 1930 2 4 Crimson Fists 776 3 1435 2 3 The Oppenheimer Group 778 69 21k 19 11 71 The House of Blood 810 4 382 4 18 The Four Hoseheads 864 5 800 3 Richheimer's Retinue 869 62 29k 14 6 87 Champions Eternal 889 9 976 6 21 The Drueger 895 40 837 8 25 The Silver Daggers 900 51 2207 12 3 59 Morgan's Riders =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Player list: num faction idle --- ------- ---- 419 Runelords of the Blood Moon 2 John Dolan <J.A.Dolan@exeter.ac.uk> 442 The Mighty Morons Jay Legue <legue@ccrs.emr.ca> 451 The Black Dragon Mark Gagnon <markg@engrg.uwo.ca> 454 Blue Wizards Dan Stephen Phillip Corrin <dan@engrg.uwo.ca> 472 The Tripartite Council Montgomery Box <box@scf.usc.edu> 507 The Silver Lizards Martin Hansson <d8hanma@dtek.chalmers.se> 516 Burlymen Murder Inc. David Bedard <bedard@ccrs.emr.ca> 544 Bandiemen Ben Liddicott <b.liddicott@ic.ac.uk> 551 Iconia Jay Heyman <heyman@camis.stanford.edu> 555 The Mostly Harmless Erik Jacobsen <erik@engrg.uwo.ca> 568 The Collective Allan Flanagan <aflanaga@charon.engga.uwo.ca,allan@gfx.engga.uwo.ca> 592 Roack's Rangers W. Erik Bruvold <wbruvold@weber.ucsd.edu> 594 Qu'ruim Benjamin Swain <csc2bds@cabell.vcu.edu> 613 Deep 13 Mike "Ford" Ditto <ford@omnicron.com> 656 Blue Bill Lee <phywmlx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu> 660 Silverhorn Harold C. Payson <hal@ll.mit.edu> 679 Mercia 2 Christopher M. Yearsley <cmy@cs.keele.ac.uk> 681 Curumo John Sloan <johns@unipalm.co.uk> 708 Grey Swords 3 Martin Brumm <brumm@spectra100.phys.chemie.uni-giessen.de> 753 Black Dragon Co. Eduardo William Pellegrino <e.w.pellegrino@ic.ac.uk> 772 Crimson Fists John Welch <ind00103@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu> 776 The Oppenheimer Group Christopher Calzonetti <cmcalzon@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca> 778 The House of Blood Charles E. Craig <chuk@nwu.edu> 810 The Four Hoseheads Mike Cote <mcote@julian.uwo.ca> 864 Richheimer's Retinue 4 Luis Miguel Sequeira <lms@lnec.pt> 869 Champions Eternal David S. Kerven <dsk@diamond.cau.auc.edu> 889 The Drueger Gary A. Mort <gam@panix.com> 895 The Silver Daggers Brevan Miles <esx070@cch.cov.ac.uk> 900 Morgan's Riders Scott D. Cate <Scott_Cate@mentorg.com> Up