+----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The Olympia Times issue g1-66 | | September 27, 1995 | | | | turn 66 170 players "RIP Bimonthly" | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+Questions, comments, to play: info@pbm.com
Olympia PBEM
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Player-contributed press
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Now for sale from the Illustrated Man!
lana bark: 100 gold longswords: 25 gold iron: 20 gold yew: 20 gold
Maps are available! Get yours today from the Illustrated Man [s5e] in the Imperial City! If you're a new player, only 75 gold plus your surface mail address for all the info known about Provinia and the world! For experienced players, ask about a blow-up of your area!
-- The Midnight Carnival [nx2]
I am greatly interested in hearing from anyone residing in or around Calldwr. Could someone please contact me and let me know if I will need permission. Thanks.
-- The Saturators [qd2]
---------------------- S. CAMARIS Update ----------------------
Monthly notice: any new visitors to our fair isle should notify us in advance.
-- The Crazy Quilters [vn7]
Due to pressing Real Life (tm) issues and increasing dis- interest in playing "Stay Alive At Any Cost Despite The Ridiculous Amount Of Effort Being Applied To Kill You" the Gauls wish to announce their retirement as the Last Bastion of Freedom. See you all in g2!
"Indomitable to the End..."
-- The Indomitable Gauls [wk7]
Gentlewind Visitation Policy
Visitors are welcome to the area controlled by the Cohorts of Colossus [vo4], as long as they obtain travel permits first. Not all requests will be granted. The affected area includes the land provinces bx25-bx27, by24-by27, and bz27.
I only rarely refuse reasonable requests, and then only because I've already granted my quota. To avoid possible misunderstandings, do not enter this area without a permit, nor collect resources without express permission. Violators of this policy may be subject to arrest.
-- Sheriff Pelenth of Gentlewind [f3i]
Will buy magic books & researchable skills books. in the Imperal City. contact. big $
-- Amra [g1p]
This is monthly notice if you wish to visit the environs of Cycarth and Redwine please be courteous enough to let m9l know (you can reach him at heyman@camis.stanford.edu. I do not currently plan to restrict access, but would like to know who is wandering around in my front yard. I would especially like to know if you plan on using any of the natural rsources (peasants, wood, and the like) in the provinces bt25 bt26 bt27 bu25 bu26 bu27 bv25 bv26 bv27 bw25 bw26 and bw27.
-- Darkman [m9l]
I read in the Times:
"The AOO are all a bunch of wimps. LC"
To whomever is trying to goad the Liberty Confederacy into war against the AOO:
pppppppppppppt!
The Liberty Confederacy is a peace-loving defensive alliance. We don't go around bashing people for no reason.
-- General Norc [z1a]
In the middle of the Osgean Sea, a small roundship sails under the moonlight on a secret mission...
"Lud! Dork! Front & Center!"
The two crossbowmen meander over to their lord.
"Arrrrrright yee scurvvey dogs, what's the cause of the ruckus this time?"
"Thank ye, good cap'ain, & meanin' no disrespect, we thank ye for yer patience with us. The boys they be a'brawlin' because the vicious pirate, dreg, has fallen in love with an angry peasant woman, Slobber. & we think..."
"Arrrrr, shut yer hole ya' varmit! You know I pay you to fight not to think. Dreg! Front & Center!"
A flashy pirate saunters over to his lord.
"Aye captain."
"Arrrr, speak when spoken to you mangee sea-dog! Now what's this I hear 'bout you bein' smitten with an angry peasant woman? She goes by the name of Slobber does she? Now answer me boy, does she?"
"Aye captain, she does & I is, if you get my meaning. She's gotta' temper she does, my lord, but she's the most fair dame I ever set me eyes upon, sir, & that's the truth."
"Arrrrr, ye know the rules now Dreg! This hear be a ship of business, a ship of war! This be no pleasure cruise for you. Good gold I pay thee, & a good sword I give thee. You're for fightin', not makin' love beneath the poop. & the peasants: you know their fate as well as any of us. This love, it threatens our mission, it divides your loyalties! What say you for yerself pirate Dreg?"
"I say this my lord, & think me not a bad pirate for it: I've sworn to fight for thee, & tell you now that, as before, I'll do it! I've sailed your ship & sewn your sails; more than that, I've fought the horrible giant spiders for you, when my dear brother perished, & the wicked pirates also. All this I have done for thee, & I'd gladdly do more. To die in thy name is all I have ever asked for in this world. But no man is free of his heart, which as a flower blooms may oft times be turned towards a woman whether his head wills it or no. Knew I of this captivity when my eyes first fell on dear Slobber. As she sat with her angry companions making pickets on the quarter deck, she happened to sing of the vanquishing of darkness from the world. A voice so pure & beautiful never have I heard & never I fear will I hear again. At that moment, I was no longer free."
"Arrrrrr, what say you Dreg!? Are you pledged to a peasant woman & not to your noble lord? Know thee the penalty for treason?"
"No my good Captain Trocero, no. I am your man, as before. I know of Slobber's fate. She is beholden to the good mate Prospero, she hangs upon his hateful words. She believes in him, Captain, & will gladly die to clean the world of whatever evil Prospero targets. She cannot fight, has no armor or weapons. I am a soldier of many campaigns & I know how it will be in battle.
"No captain, I do not turn from your service & I would not leave it willingly. But by your grace, & as you are the ship's captain, let me be joined with Slobber for the short time she has left. I know I risk much to ask thee for her, but I would not be a pirate were I a coward. So join us together, good captain, & bring a smile to an old soldiers weather-beaten face."
"Arrrrrr," the captain mused, "you are an honest dolt, Dreg. As your sword is sharp you are a good pirate, & I have not forgotten the service which you have rendered unto me. But a true soldier does not obey orders at his whim. I ordered that the soldiers were not to fraternize with the peasants, & in so doing you have betrayed me. Yet I see that you were not entirely free, that your heart betrayed your head. & for your brother's sake also do I spare thee that which you deserve.
"But know this, that for which you ask, I cannot give. To have found true love, this alone makes you a lucky man. Yes, even luckier than I. But you are a soldier, & as you are not free to obey your vow to me, you are not free to obey your heart's tacit pledge to Slobber. To her you have promised your love, to me your life. I would not have you break either promise.
"Hear me now! Your love you will give to her in the hearafter, but for your time on earth, I hold your life!"
& with that Captain Trocero, Duke of the Sea, called to his friend Prospero. After a brief conversation, Prospero walked over to the angry peasants picketing on the poop. As he spoke, Dreg's face drained of color.
"We have an enemy among us," said Prospero, "& we must find out who it is & make things right..."
-- Captain Trocero [l3c]
___ ___ ___ / / ) / ) /___ /___/ /___/ / . _ _ /_ / )_ __ / / _ _ . __ . _ / / / _> / /___/(_>/ //< of / / (_)|// / // (_>The First Bank of Provinia has offices in some of the major cities on the continent of Provinia. The FBoP offers the following facilities.
o Special offers for New Olympia Players. o Excellent Interest Rates on Bank Accounts. o A Fast and Efficient Courier Service. o Money Transfers. o Short and Long Term Loans. o Insurance Policies. o Pawn Broking Service.
Call in at your local branch for further details.
-- First Bank of Provinia [v0z]
The Olympia Atlas is accepting contributions, and is available for download! Be the first to contribute information for unexplored lands (Faery).
In the tradition of Oleg's Map (tm), the Atlas is a compilation of geographical information useful for explorers, traders, and adventurers. Best of all, it's absolutely free!
To contribute to the Atlas, simply send turn excerpts (cut out all the incriminating parts) that contain the following information:
o) Mapping data (region & route info) o) City market reports o) City skills lists o) Inner locations
and send it to sx6@g1.pbm.com. We'll include it into the next version of the Atlas.
The Atlas is available by ftp from your nearest PBM ftp site (ftp.erg.sri.com in the USA, check the PBM FAQ for other sites), in the directory /pub/pbm/olympia, as atlas.X, where X is the turn of the last update.
The Atlas is also available on the PBMGames forum on CompuServe, in the fantasy games section, as atlas.oly.
Brought to you by the Skulking Vermin (sx6)
Note!! Due to Real-Life (tm) commitments, the Atlas will be appearing irregularly, as I have time to assemble contributions.
-- Sludge [x0o]
* Imperial City MASTER TRADER *
Announcing the arrival of a new trade factor to the Imperial City.
All those that previously traded in good faith with Lance[m5h] should now direct their business to his succesor Nathan Gaunt[n7a]. Be assured that I'll strive to uphold the high standards of honesty kept by Lance, and while the business will undergo a regretable period of restructuring I hope that very soon I'll be able to expand to sell some of the more exotic items available in Olympia. Enquires regarding the purchase or sale of exotic items are welcomed, along with enquires into availability of more common items. If your looking for something in particular I can probably get it for you...all orders welcomed large or small.
-- Nathan Gaunt [n7a]
Rumors
What ever happened to the Kraken?
The winds of change sure do stink.
"Upon this day, this consummation for you I devoutly wish, May you at last accept the fact that Marat smells like week-dead fish!"
"But hark! Who knows what evils lurk within the hearts and minds of men? The WALRUS knows - so wise is he - and YOU he counts within his ken!"
(You're welcome. Signed; The WALRUS.)
The fate of the winds is nothing to sneer at
Will someone explain me why this group of savage destroys my Inn?
There is now a mailing list setup for general use outside of the game. This is for players who do not read the PBMGAMES forum on compuserve, or the USENET discussion groups, and is specifically dedicated to Shadow Island Games' Olympia.
To subscribe to the list send to olympia-request@candy.co.uk with the subject of "subscribe". To remove yourself from the list send the subject of "unsubscribe". (NB. The parser will only recognise "sub" and "unsub" so a subject of "submarine" will also add you to the list!! A help and file request facility will probably be added at a later date, for the players without ftp capability.)
To mail to the list send to olympia@candy.co.uk
The list is for the discussion of game tactics, hints, improvements to Olympia, and general in-game roleplaying. It is not moderated, and is not being run by Shadow Island Games, although all messages posted there will be forwarded to them.
One must be careful of whom One makes fun.
I've been playing for about 20 turns and I still only have 5 characters. How can some people be in control of dozens? Somehow this doesn't seem fair!
Nothing to contribute this month but still short of cash :-)
I will be a major wizard some day!
So, is anyone about to do anything really rash? We've been sort of idle here lately, and gettin' in a bit of a rut.
Finally, I've acquired a Flying Horse! Cloud King, is the road to your domain still open?
Some AOO can be nice!
A big SENd off to a most successful AOO... quitter.
O Rose, thou art sick, The invisible worm That flies in the Night Of the Howling Storm Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy, And his dark secret love Doth thy Life destroy.
Someone wrote: > Garrisoning is fun, but how to ungarrison? How about: UNGARRISON [garrison] time: 1 day priority: 3
The Sen clan will be missed. It's depressing to see the sanity quotion of the AOO lowered even further. A sign of the inpending apocolypse?
A fair little bird flits about the wood. It tweets a pretty song. The flash of color upon its wings, the swiftness of its flight, and ...
Dammit, who let that dragon loose here? Do you have any idea how long it takes to get all those feathers out of its foot? Not to mention the poor little birdie.
Did that Sen guy say he had 54 characters, but never attacked anyone? How does that work? Lots of friends starting, dropping, and leaving nobles around?
UNgarrisoning can be fun, too. Just kill the buggers.
Message for the AOO: "You can't keep a man down without staying down with him." - wise words and advice!
This is a cheap and flagrant abuse of power. But it pays!
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"Hmmm. Certainly an intersting looking artifact." The builder muttered. "A golden amulet. Right here under my new inn. Wonder what it does?" Does anyone out there have a clue? -The Amulet Man
> What do you breed to get nazgul?
I find this trick often works:
22: > breed 55 55 27: Produced one nazgul [55].
Beastmasters can make oxen fertile.
Is there a market for mithril and gate crystal?
" The AOO are not a bunch of wimps, in fact we are a loose collection of factions, that are very powerful. And you my little confederation of liberty have put yourself on the top of our death list. So watch your castles, you never know when we will come calling"
Regarding The Sen Clan ---------------------- A few things said by the Sen player last week are screaming for comment...
>The Sen Clan is a founding member of AOO, and that memebership has been a >constant source of entertainment. AOO is a very different type of alliance, >and I guess that is why it has been misunderstood in the past. As a >founding member I am proud of the fact that I have never been a participant >in any battle involving player characters or NPCs. The only aggressive >actions done by me in the game is capturing a couple of beasts ( maybee more >than a couple :-). In doing so I, became the king of Drucartan. This >should disprove the roumors that the only effective way of playing in >Olympia is to attack and attack and attack and attack.
Indeed, Sen's success is remarkable in that regard. In the early days when I was keeping tabs on him, Sen was notable for his horde of collected beasts (as well as being with the AOO.) Since that time, his power has only grown, (as has the AOO's.) I think it would be safe to say that Sen has always looked strong and has always had powerful allies.
Moreover, Sen's been agreeable in the few reports I've had of his non-AOO interaction and I've never had cause to doubt the peacefulness of Drucartan. Save for his repetitive Times messages, I've never heard anyone speak a word against him. I'd gather his growth has never been set back by surprise raids or wars. So maybe this gives us a success formula for future games: look strong, have strong friends and offend no one.
>A little bit of early AOO history. AOO was formed by a group of players >that knew each other from previous games. Some of us went all the way back >to the first Olympia. It was an alliance formed to share information (the >most valuable thing in the game), and for mustual PROTECTION (i.e. if >someone ganged up on you without cause, you have allies that would be more >than happy to help). Appart from that there was no common goals, and the >factions soon spread in all directions. That is why you seem to run in to >AOO wherever you go. The AOO factions are very independent, to the point >where two of the factions started the building at the castle on Mount >Olympia on the same turn.
Half the truth looks so much nicer than the whole, doesn't it? What Sen neglected to mention is that about half a dozen of the founding AOO have been attacking weak-looking players since the second turn of the game. This core group has used the AOO "mutual PROTECTION" to protect their brutality, striking from behind their allies, sacrificing one player's whole faction early in the game. The other AOO were also useful in diplomacy, putting a good face on the alliance while the core group made plans to take all Provinia. I think we can safely say now that exactly how much the AOO folk outside the core knew of their brethren is unimportant. Protecting and otherwise helping thieves and killers is the same as thieving and killing yourself. There is no innocence for not owning the hand that holds the knife and we can all see that the AOO as a whole, most especially our friend Sen, have profited well from the success their ugly friends have acheived through the slaughter of innocents. Another lesson for the masses: make those you meet declare with whom they stand and act accordingly. None of this playing both ends towards the middle.
>Since there has been so many requests, here is what you needed for top spot >on turn 60: > > Characters: 54 1st > Men: 1,962 1st > Gold: 71,560 1st > Land controlled: 200 1st > Skills known: 62/70 1st > Spells known: 45/80 1st > Provinces visited: 1,566/9,995 1st
Very impressive, but it's way past turn 60 now. Why not a more recent report? DROPPED all your goods? No? Then could it be that all those characters, men and gold have just perhaps found their way into other hands? So tell us, which outlying empire is about to feel the fire of Sennish crossbows wearing an Aolian insignia?
People, getting other people to do your killing for you is the way of dictators, mafia bosses and some of the highest-ranked tyrants in history. But don't believe these folks when they claim not to have blood on their hands.
But you've got to hand it to Sen for a well-played game: he not only succeeds, he quits while he's ahead. I honestly hope the AOO Arch-Villains don't follow him, for be assured that the day of reckoning is a'coming, yes all you Aolians and Artistic Servants and Icon Worshippers, for though you strike and turn and strike again, every which way, yet still we linger out here in the shadows, recovering from your blows like the tides, lingering, watching like wolves gathered for the kill, plotting, planning, taking our sweet time. So many are your enemies now, so much hatred you've built up along with your ill-gotten spoils, so high you've risen, but oh so very visible, veritable Kings of the Mountain just begging, pleading to be toppled. And the day will come, when the Chateau on Mount Olympus becomes a blazing inferno, when Marat's body is dragged through the smoke-filled streets of the Imperial City and Bastrestic the Overly Aged's liver is cut out and thrown to the crowds in the Central Plaza, oh yes, then will be the wolves' time to howl...
From an interested newbie: What happens to the Sen Clan's 50+ characters when they quit? Who's in charge of the 200 provinces now? What does this mean for the AOO? And the other alliances?
I hate it when I reverse the amount and the price on a sell order. (Grind, Grind)
Farrenstone is used for gold.
The jackle says there are many forms of power, aliance, money, troops, and the ivory tower.
Another 25 gold...
Good Fences may make Good Neighbors but in this game, No Neighbors make Good Neighbors. Why did you have to attack the same Lair a day after I did? I can't imagine that you liked the slaughter any more than I!
What is the difference between a princess and a King's daughter? Is there a difference? Why the distinction?
If you find some random beasts who have an item, and you can't attack them until you have some other item, does that mean that if/when you find that other item and capture those beasts and the new item that no one can attack you unless they have the special item?
So one dragon is better than two giant birds according to some people, but other people think that flying is important for giant birds. Why?
Dragons can't fly? What kind of dragons are these?
I am in love with Sue Eden. If you can find her in Olympia I will share her with you.......
Obscure ways and people of Olympia - The Protocols of Draco.
The protocols or draco are a tract being passed among many of the nobles. This tract supposedly details how the dragons plan to conquer Olympia. According to the protocols the dragons view themselves as the most noble of Olympian races and as such it is their divine right to rule all of Olympia. The main obstacle is their lack of numbers. Though they live for thousands of years and fear no other creature in Olympia they have a truly abysmal hatchling rate. There often being decades where no dragons are hatched. The plan sees this as their only weakness and plots to use humans to overcome it. Dragons will first convince human that dragons should be a valuable and trusted part of any military force. This should cause a demand for dragons among humans that would far outstrip the normal supply. Humans would then apply their knowledge of beastmastery to overcome this shortage. ( human creativity in making sex toys for other races is truly astounding ) The result being a hatching rate of new dragons that would be considered fantasy in normal times. Within years there would be many times more dragons than there have ever been before. Once these hoards of young new dragons had been battle trained by their human "masters" they would overthrow the humans. By that time the dragons would be so numerous and powerful that no other race or alliance of races in Olympia could resist them and they could rule Olympia through the simple decree of. "Obey or be Eaten"
Anti dragon propaganda or devious plot to conquer Olympia ??
THE AOO SONG (to Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius)
Pillage, rape, and loot and burn, but all in moderation. If you do the things we say, then you'll soon rule the nation. Kill your foes and enemies and then kill your relations. Pillage, rape, and loot and burn, but all in moderation.
I'm tired of the barriers in the Atnos Channel interfering with my minions shipping. Be prepared to feel my wrath!
Perhaps with the new onset of boredom by the Sen Clan, the land of Drucartan will be open for newbie to try their luck?
Is this a sign that the AOO is getting bored? Maybe they could change their name to AOOI - All Out Of Interest. An interesting concept, Olympia without the AOO. Perhaps GoL will try to take the advantage? It will be interesting.
In any event, it must make the alliance quite a bit weaker...a fact I am sure they'll deny.
(Name withheld on the off chance that I am wrong)
Regarding last months Advice to New Arrivals
>magic overrated, combat a waste of time
You need to have at least one of your nobles study Magic [160] in Imperial City, then study Perform common tasks for gold [9103] once you've moved out of IC. The reason being that you need a source of gold other than what you can CLAIM. Once you're away from IC and in less crowded provinces you'll be able to Use 9103 to earn 100 gold each month. Note that Use 9103 doesn't work while aboard a ship.
Combat's not a complete waste of time. Again, once you're outside of IC in less populated areas, there are bands of wandering low level monsters, mostly Savages and Bandits. While not especially dangerous, you'll need some defense against them, plus the ability to train new troops to replace any that are killed. Study Combat [121] and Weaponsmithing [9581] and train a mix of soldiers, crossbowmen and pikemen. Leave a few peasants untrained to be used later as workers.
An alternative to this is to study Persuasion [124], Raise peasant mob [9537], Rally peasant mob [9538]. Rallied mobs stack with the noble and fight if the noble is attacked.
By the way, if you're going to be sailing anywhere, it's a good idea to learn _all_ the base skills available in IC except Gatecraft (and skip Shipcraft if you're not the captain), plus learn Beastmastery in Aethelarn. Then when you set sail, you'll have something to do month after month (after month after...) studying and using the various sub-skills. If you don't do this, being a passenger on a long ocean voyage is an extraordinarily boring experience and an extreme waste of many months time.
---------------- OLYMPIA HISTORY - a cautionary tale ----------------
Compared to some other worlds, and despite the antics in Central Provinia, Olympia has been relatively free of back-stabbing & power tactics. Below is a bit of Oly history that may serve to re-instill a sense of caution in too-trusting nobles, both young and old alike.
From the perpetrator himself (who's no longer playing):
"In Olympia I convinced quite a few newcomers to give me their starting supply of wood and peasants in exchange for free passage on a ship I would build. I also promised the newcomers a role in a 'major' alliance. I built a small fleet of ships. I gave everyone free passage -- but only to a desert island inhabited by cyclopses. Most of the marooned players dropped the game; some returned with new setups, some didn't return at all."
The moral? As in real life, be suspicious of everyone, especially those offering get-rich-quick schemes or "free" anything. Don't take candy from strangers. If you do accept an offer, risk only one or two of your nobles and only a portion of your resources.