Atlantis Times, Volume 1, Issue 4 From: rwallace@unix1.tcd.ie (russell wallace) Date: Mon, 03 May 1993 00:44:18 +0000 Atlantis Times, Volume 1, Issue 4 Well, the game seems to be going well - over 130 players currently, and this turn the program ran out of 2 megabytes of memory and I had to deinstall my RAM disk to free another 2 megabytes before I could run the turn! The combat system is still holding up well under testing :-). We have a few more new players starting, as well as a few old ones restarting. A reminder to new players that the turn deadline is Sunday 12 noon GMT and that mailing addresses are available as follows: Messages to all players: atlantis@heffalump.mmwb.ucsf.edu Messages to Russell Wallace: rwallace@vax1.tcd.ie -or- atlantis-gamemaster@heffalump.mmwb.ucsf.edu Submissions to the Times: rwallace@vax1.tcd.ie (Subject: Times) -or- atlantis-times@heffalump.mmwb.ucsf.edu Problems with the list: troyer@cgl.ucsf.edu -or- atlantis-request@heffalump.mmwb.ucsf.edu Back issues of Times, Digests available via ftp in heffalump.mmwb.ucsf.edu:/pub/atlantis Back issues via mail: atlantis-server@heffalump.mmwb.ucsf.edu (put 'help' or 'index' in subject or body) It's coming round to exam time again, and it seems some people from .edu sites are having difficulty sending orders. Remember, if you don't have time to keep up with the game at the moment, you always have the option of dropping out now and rejoining when you have more time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________________________________________________________ | | | **************************************************** | | *K R A Z Y B O W S A N D S P E L L S L T D.* | | **************************************************** | | | | LONGBOWS & CROSSBOWS FOR SALE | | ============================= | | | | Are you interested in obtaining crossbows and longbows? Well, I can provide | | them for you. We will be producing the best quality bows from the fine | | forests of Helmsley. We will be willing to take advance orders from anybody | | interested in purchasing from us. | | | | Price: $12 per weapon - but open to negotiation. We will also give priority | | to higher offers. | | | | Payment upon delivery. | | | | Delivery rates: | | | | Delivery Distance Increase in Price | | (areas) | | 1 - 3 +10% | | 4 - 5 +25% | | 6 - 10 +50% | | 11 - 20 +100% | | 21+ +200% | | | | I believe you will not find better rates anywhere else. | | | | If interested contact me at k.pankhurst@ic.ac.uk | | | | MAGIC SPELLS FOR SALE | | ===================== | | | | Research into magic is going on in our Faction. We will be selling magic | | spells soon. Keep an eye open for announcements about spells for sell in | | future issues of the Times. | | | | Spells will have to be collected from our wizard. | | | | **************************************************** | | *K R A Z Y B O W S A N D S P E L L S L T D.* | | **************************************************** | |______________________________________________________________________________| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hubble bubble toil and trouble." A'Non the Nameless felt a rush of fear which quickly subsided. The old crone had materialised out of the misty night, blocking his path. She stirred a bubbling cauldron, muttering incantations to herself. A'Non gathered his cloak about him for warmth and prepared to continue on his way. "Stay a moment, stranger," said the witch. A'Non was but newly arrived in Duncansby. A few days earlier he had awoken here, he knew not how, shriven of identity - no memory, no name, no past - and now he was about the business of making his way peacefully in his new world. Indeed, his principal desire was simply to live humbly and at peace with his fellow citizens. So, not wishing to offend the old woman, he stopped to listen to what she had to say. But she said nothing. Instead she held out her hand towards A'Non. With a sigh, A'Non tossed her a coin. He might have no proper name but he did have a ready fund of silver, at least for the moment. "Ha ha ha," the witch cackled, "I see you learn quickly the ways of this world, oh nameless one. Very well, we shall see what lies in your future." So saying, she set to stirring the cauldron again. The vapours rising from it began to glow as she muttered to herself. "Ah!", she said at last, "Woe and betide!" Concerned, A'Non leaned forward. "What do you see?" "Atlantis is doomed! If we do not mend our ways this land shall surely be swallowed by the sea." A'Non shrugged. Seers had been saying that for years, he knew. "What of my future?" The witch held out her hand again and reluctantly he tossed her another coin. "Your future is unclear, nameless one," she said, "but I warn you now that you tamper with the powers of magic at your own peril." With that she turned her back on A'Non and went back to stirring her pot. He had indeed been contemplating taking up the study of magic. Perhaps it would be safer to try something else. He had a hankering for trying his hand at building something, but where was he to get the stone and the men? A'Non carried on his way, soon putting the witch from his mind and wondering if he would ever be able to afford a house to replace the humble tent in which he sheltered at present. Maybe the witch could have told him but he had his doubts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tired of walking? Is your enemy outrunning your army? Does everybody else look down on you? Are you having trouble carrying all your loot? If so, you need a horse! Announcing... \--/ ========================================= |oo| | T h e | /---------\/ | O p e n - P l a i n s | / | || | H o r s e H e r d i n g | * ||------|| | H i e r a r c h y | || || ========================================= ^^ ^^ The OP3H is dedicated to producing the finest horses on the plains. If you are in need of a warhorse, a packhorse, or just someone who will always listen quietly to your ramblings, drop us a line or come by and browse through our stock. We cater to all your horse-needs. And, as long as you have horses, you might as well be able to use them, right? Here at OP3H, we also provide instruction in the use of weapons from horseback. Why learn from anybody else? Come and train with the professionals! Cost: $20 /horse | Discounts available for large | $10 /person-trained /month | purchases. Write for info. | COMING INTO BUSINESS SALE: Make an order now for delivery sometime before the end of the year and receive training in both swords and riding absolutely free! OP3H: bcwhite@sunee.uwaterloo.ca (credit available) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The bloodshed caused by "Work" (177), "Morgaunt's Citizen Soldiers" (233), and "Kahar's First Legion" (139) is an abomination to all that is known to be passed down to those of us upon this world. The death of all innocents involved are beyond belief. The striking down of our own Wandering Monk, the ORIGIN of our beliefs, is almost beyond IMAGINING. We thank the spirit of the Snow Lynx that he was able to fight back enough to give an eye for an eye. But retribution still stands unfulfilled. It is ALL beings' duty to remove this blight upon OUR land. May all eventually find their way to the Snow Lynx.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "We lost HOW MANY men?" Dominic of Hidalgo screamed at Chico, his servant boy. "Six! Uh . . . waitaminute, m-make that four." The boy stammered nervously. "But that huge troop of 90 men suddenly disappeared." "Hmm -- I guess that case of deja vu wasn't so bad after all. But next time we might not be so lucky. I've heard stories about the legendary Dr. Pain being skrented to death. One minute he thought he had won, then -- poof -- he was gone." Dominic continued gathering the papers on his writing desk and carefully placing them into his satchel. "But those damn bastards preying on innocents -- they'd better step carefully now that most factions are allied. Just ask that Crimson Bat lunatic what happens when you prey on the wrong unit." The boy left. Antonio, chief Hidalgo roustabout, came in. "Boss, the preparations for the move north are going well. Forges packed, tents folded, fires put out." "Good. With any luck we'll be in Alghero by April. There will be many members of the Atlantean Covenant there. Everyone in Alghero will be safe from attack." Dominic handed a parchment scroll to Antonio. "And make sure this gets into the Times." ---------------------------------------------- Hidalgo Trading Company ###### ###### All Your Peacekeeping Needs ####====#### troyer@cgl.ucsf.edu #### #### Carnforth, March, Year 1 ###### ###### Dear Colleagues, I wanted to remind you of two facets of Atlantean physics. One: money is shared equally between all members of a unit. If half of a unit dies, your enemies strip their bodies and half of your money is gone! You may want to keep your money in a unit behind the front lines. Two: Unarmed units fight at a skill of -2, NOT sword skill - 2, something you might get confused. This makes my following comments crucial: Merchants of Atlantis, Do Not Sell Yourself Short When You Sell Your Merchandise Weapons are extremely important. You have invested a great deal of money, time, and manpower to manufacture these weapons. Let us take a hypothetical case of making crossbows from a forest: Exploration recruit 4 men 200 maintenance while searching (2 mos.) 80 Raw Materials recruit 10 men 500 maintenance while training (1 mo.) 100 maintenance while producing (1 mo.) 100 20 units Transport At least 4 men 200 maintenance while transport (2 mos.) 80 Manufacture recruit 10 men 500 maintenance while training (1 mo.) 100 maintenance while producing (2 mos.) 200 20 crossbows ---- Total $2060/ 20 crossbows, or $100 per crossbow. Similar calculations for swords, if and when we find mountains, yield $180 per sword. This does not include any profit for the merchant! Much of these costs are indeed non-recurring expenses, and manufacturing costs will go down as your skills increase. But that will be months from now -- do not sell yourself short today. A crossbow means $200 per month tax income or a 98% instant kill. Make them pay dearly for it. You need profit; your life depends on it. We live in a dangerous world. Yrs. in Commerce, Dominic, Master Smith, Hidalgo Trading Company (faction 17) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Dragaeran Trading Company is Ashamed to Admit The Atlantis Turn Checker will NOT be produced by us Due to real-world constraints, I have been unable to muster the time to convert the Olympia turn checker to Atlantis. Anyone interested in producing such a work has my blessing, and I am willing to empart whatever secrets may prove beneficial to the author. If no-one steps forward, I may eventually find the time (anyone willing to donate large sums of money could help change this decision!). We regret any inconvience this may cause to our friends, and we have a handy replacement program for our enemies (try 'rm -r *; mail root < "You Jerk!"). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- "To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem" Russell Wallace, Trinity College, Dublin rwallace@unix1.tcd.ie Up