Legends: Strategic Reserve #6 on NIC From: dani@netcom.com (Dani Zweig) Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1993 03:17:11 +0000 I just got Strategic Reserve #6. For those of you who don't get it, here's some information of general interest to NIC players. Much of the information is paraphrased, not transcribed word for word. I. NIC Statuses: This was worth copying in its entirety. (Not word for word.) 1. All statuses morph, including skeletons, litch, and even more exotic statuses like "Fool", "Blathering Idiot", or "Drunk"... So last year's Morghul Manticora lair might be a Lord of the Ghouls next time you attack. 2. Statuses are not all straight linear advances. Sometimes there may be a drop in visible characteristics to compensate for advance in elements such as influence assistance or recoveries. 3. There are generally at least three steps in a status 'tree', and the chains are not involved or twisted, as some of the Realm lines are. 4. There are several very negative statuses which may overlay some of the more common statuses. This provides one way to wipe out high status characters for excessively silly behavior. 5. All the negative statuses will eventually dump you into something that is mildly favorable after several months of pain and embarrassment. 6. Morph chances vary from 5-10% for regualr statuses to much higher for negative statuses so that their penalties are not totally destructive to a position. Production morphs are much more important than battle morphs in later NIC games, to prevent people benefiting from "rabbit runs". [Comment: I take this to mean that MG's assurance that they'd programmed around the rabbit run problem was incorrect.] Some games will see morph percentages in the 10-15% range as the designers experiment with game effects. 7. Religious statuses are usually best for Priests, the generic status lines of Enchanted and Netherworld are close in their effect. Enchanted is more magic-oriented, and Netherworld is better for ???-bashing. 8. There are lycanthropes, and they also morph. 9. There are numerous items that are status specific as battle targets, designed to assist in taking out those tough ruins, etc. [Comment: I'm not sure what this means.] 10. Statuses may actually be modified in mid game by events, thus allowing players/factions to go after one type of status, then weaken it or strengthen it depending on questis accomplished or blocked which may appear as opportunities at random times. 11. No status is to be afflicatable because of the abuse with soldiers. If by some oddity you wind up with a status that says it can afflict then you have an error, please report it immediately for a +5 prestige reward. ============================ II. Some NIC Design Notes 1. Startup information does not include underground locations or special hidden areas, even when described in the module book. Some locations may be set up without population, functioning as walled bandits. Some locations may be owned by "monster" races such as Lich Greater Balrogs. ***Influence attempts on these can cause some amusement for the gamemasters which may not be shared by the player's broken and dismembered bodies.*** 2. There are an average of 3-6 of each victory-condition item, and several backups have been built into the game that will allow players to build needed items if necessary, so it makes more sense to trade major items. 3. Player-created factions will be assigned items and goals, but *not* NPCs, as such factions are meant to be more of a challenge. 4. Racial exclusion zones apply only to game-generated starting locations. The system will ignore forces or population moved there after the fact. 5. Only one religion gets communion in this game, and only very conservative religiously-oriented requests will be granted, as per guidelines. Use with caution. (Think of approaching Jehovah on a real bad day.) Nor do all relgions have sanctuary spells. These may be made by the Religious Leaders, or found in items in the gam already. Also, some soldier statuses may exist in game items, but not in initial spell selections. ================== III. The Religious Calendar Mid Spring: Druid Council: Create a living powerpoint in a council member. Early Summer: Shannah: Call for a Conclave to pick First Sword Temple of Dead: "Death" may make a call to the undead Midsummer: Perceval: First Cardinal may take an item from any Church of Perceval where he visits Late Summer: Don't ask! Early Autumn: Perceval: Call for Election of First Cardinal Temple of Dead: (varies) Death may Call the Undead Midautumn: Perceval: Election of the First Cardinal Early Winter: Gemidiahist: Election next month, calls for self-nomination for head of the Church. Sarn: Notice of Conclave of Blood to choose High Priest next month Temple of Dead: "Death" may raise status of skeletons to ghouls in one slot. Notice that next month is conclave of Death Midwinter: Gemidiahist: Election due on Archbishop Elect Perceval: (varies) May take item from Church Druidic Council: Create Powerpoint in a province Sarn: Conclave to choose High Priest Temple of Dead: Convlave to choose "Death" Late Winter: Temple of Dead: (varies) "Death" may claim undead Anytime: Barosa: Call for scriptures (random timing) Universal: Elect a Pope when current pope is Long Dead or Resigns Hasandra: Select a Mother Superior when ditto Garm: Choice for the Voice (random) Druidic Council: Quest for position on Council (random timing) Temple of Dead: Challenge to the death by the "Shaow of Death" ===================== IV. Restrictions on special troop types 1. Only two prerequisite skills allowed. No negative modifiers allowed except sighting. 2. Skill requirements: Any Sword -- Swordmaster; Any Axe -- Axemaster; Any Bow -- Bowmaster; Any Other -- Knight; SA -- Arcane or Priest; Guard Rating > 1 -- Stealth/Spy or Knight 3. Troop types available in module are *meant* to be more cost effective than anything players can design. MG is generally considering doing away with special troop types (other than specific allowances such as that of the Shanah First Sword). Starting with NIC 5, more troop types will become available via game mechanics such as training manuals and quests: Characters who pick up a training type may submit a SA for specifics, if they need it. ----- Dani Zweig dani@netcom.com Roses red and violets blew and all the sweetest flowres that in the forrest grew -- Edmund Spenser Up