+----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The Olympia Times issue g1-74 | | November 22, 1995 | | | | turn 74 157 players http://www.pbm.com/oly/times/ | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+Questions, comments, to play: info@pbm.com
Olympia PBEM
* * *
Player-contributed press
Faction [db5] rank ------------- ---- Characters: 55 2nd Men: 2,412 2nd Gold: 131,106 1st Land controlled: 194 3rd Skills known: 54/70 9th Spells known: 61/80 2nd Provinces visited: 663/9,995 9th
-- Ferengi [db5]
Stacking on Ships: If you plan to travel on a ship and weight is close be careful how you stack. If you nest your stacking (a under b under c under d) you will get charged repeatedly for the same items' weight, and you may be stuck in port with the computer thinking your ship is overloaded.
-- The day of Rest [ju3]
We're looking for a few good nobles...
The Liberty Confederacy is accepting applications for new members! Confederates gain the invaluable benefits of collective action in return for same. The Liberty Confederacy is a loose defencive alliance of nobles who wish to pursue their happiness with their freedoms intact. We are not engaged in any debilitating wars! Newbies especially welcome.
So come to Ossicus & make your fortune with the LC!
(applications to this id#).
-- Circle of Hope [lp3]
Gallery "Volucher" for sale in the IC for 1200 gold or best offer. Spare your peasents, the work, and the time. you could be sailing as early as tomorrow.
-- SilverDragon [rn5]
---------------------- S. CAMARIS Update ----------------------
Monthly notice: any new visitors to our fair isle should notify us in advance.
-- The Crazy Quilters [vn7]
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]
Last month an anonymous wit rumored: > "Pass on?" What's that mean? Planning a little trip, are we? RUNNING > AWAY??? > > Chicken! CHICKEN!! Boook-BOKBOKBOKBOK-BOKKAAA-BOKAAAA!! > CHIIIIIIIIIIIIII-CKEEEEEEEEEEEEENNN!!! Hee hee! > > *whimper* Help me Mommy, I'm scared! I'm scared they're gonna > knock me down! Everyone's against me! I gotta be the greatest! I > gotta! *whine* *whimper* > > [three-headed knight] "Who are you then?" > [minstrel] "He is brave BtA, BtA..." > [BtA] "STOP THAT! Uh...no one really..." > [three-headed knight] "Well what do you want?" > [minstrel] "To Fiiiiiight, and..." > > "In the face of fear and dread, > he bravely turned his tail and fled, > B-t-A he turned about, > And gallantly he chickened out, > Bravely taking to his feet, > He beat a very brave retreat..." > > "Run aw-ayyyyyy! > Run aw-ayyyyyy! > Run away and say goodbye, > RUn aw-ayyyyyy! > RUN AW-AYYYYYY! > Run away, if you want to survive..."
Would you care to repeat that as a post ?
-- Decessim [w2f]
Greetings Fellow Olympiads! The Liberty Confederacy rules West Ossicus. Peaceful, law-abiding travelers are welcome. Bandits, pirates, & their associates are advised to avoid the area for their own protection. Investors of any kind (merchants, inn-keepers, temple-builders, tower owners, miners, etc.) are especially welcome to civilize this untamed land. Travelers wishing to exploit the resources of these lands should contact us so we don't have harvesting conflicts. Unapproved harvesting is frowned upon.
-- General Norc [z1a]
Customer Testamonial on behalf of the First Bank of Provinia
Greetings, Provinians! My name's Jech Ercheflo the Friendly Thin Guy. I'm a Trader. I travel Provinia buying and selling and trading everything from the highest grade avinia leaf to the cheap woven baskets that I buy off of broke lowlifes in Imperial City. Now as you might imagine, with half-breeds like Swishbuckler bending everyone in sight, Provinia is not always as friendly and peaceful as me. So I don't like carrying large amounts of cash on a trade run, if you know what I mean. That's why I bank at First Provinia: low-interest loans, high interest rates, newbie bonuses, warehouse facilities, shipping services... What else could you ask for?
So take it from me, Jech Ercheflo the Friendly Thin Guy, don't wind up lying in the gutters of Imperial City weaving baskets. Give the the First Bank of Provinia a call. You'll be glad you did.
-- Jech Ercheflo the Friendly Thin Guy [h3f]
___ ___ ___ / / ) / ) /___ /___/ /___/ / . _ _ /_ / )_ __ / / _ _ . __ . _ / / / _> / /___/(_>/ //< 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]
I have been experiencing problems with the Diplomatic E-mail service. If you have requested from the Bank, please send a request stating your e-mail address rather than a character's id. If you wish, you may use an anonymous mail system to talk to me. All enquiries will be held in that strictest confidence.
-- First Bank of Provinia [v0z]
Rumors
Q. How can one Minotaur (30,5,0) defeat one dragon (500,500,0) in battle?
A. By sitting on it!
[The reason why this is a joke will be listed two Times hence, if
anybody doesn't get it.]
Q. Why is the sea like a toilet? A. Have you seen what's been floating around in it lately?
Another Inquiring Olympiac Mind Wants To Know: "The rules say research has a 25% success rate, but I've researched now for 9 weeks without finding anything yet."
Maybe your noble is - well, kinda stupid, maybe?
"What's up?"
Generally, it's the opposite of down.
Two rooms at the top of the stairs. --Eagle
Quand on voit ce qu'on voit Et qu'on sait ce qu'on sait, On est content d'etre ce qu'on est.
Happy (American) Thanksgiving!
Ahgfd nyf igy jhyi? Again?
Does anybody know if using Swordplay, 9580, is worthwhile?
O Money Hum....
Waves lap against the shore like they have all the time in the world...
what's the matter, can't little BtA take it any more?
Someone asked: >I love it when a plan comes together! >So why do all of mine fall appart at the seems?
Because you don't know how to spell "seams".
Someone else asked: >Once you've paid the Danegeld, how do you get rid of the Dane?
Once he's been gelded, the Dane is really not that much of a problem anymore.
And Someone Else asked: >Just curious! Do Swishbuckler's dragons wear pink tutus >like their owner does?
No, I have it on good authority that they wear lavendar tights with powder blue sashes.
And Yet Another Someone asked: >What does "sucking brains" mean? Is there some necromancy spell of that >name?
Look! a straight answer!
Eating of the dead [9184] ------------------------- Usage: USE 9184
Required aura: five points Required item: ratspider venom Time to cast: fourteen days
A complex ritual is executed whereby the mage ingests the ratspider venom together with the brains of the dead noble. The mage will learn every skill previously known by the dead noble.
There is a 25% chance that the toxic venom of the ratspider will cause the mage to become ill.
and Still Someone Else asked: >The rules say research has a 25% success rate, but I've researched >now for 9 weeks without finding anything yet. Whats up?
Bad luck on your part, I'd say. There's about a 7.5% chance of failing 9 times in a row. Either that or you're researching a subject that you've already uncovered all the skills for. You'd probably know it if that was the case, though.
Either that or it's an AOO plot.
And finally, the Real Question of the week: >Does the Answer Guy know what he's talking about?
Sometimes. Maybe. Er.... Yes, he does.
-- The Answer Guy
Submitted for your enjoyment (vision taken turn 73): {editorial comments in {}'s} 16: Some Character [x9i] receives a vision of Bastrestric ther 16: Archymonaged [x9i]: 16: 16: Location: Chateau Olympique [s85], in province Mt. Olympus [bx22], 16: in Provinia 16: Loyalty: Oath-2 16: Stacked under: Marat [g3y] 16: Health: 100% 16: Combat: attack 80, defense 80, missile 0 16: behind 9 (stay behind in combat) 16: Break point: 50% 16: Banner: the Old One 16: Pledged to: Wisp [o9h] 16: Pledged to us: Charmen [q5z] 16: 16: Current aura: 129 16: Maximum aura: 129 (20+109) 16: 16: Skills known: 16: Magic [160] 16: Meditate [9101], apprentice 16: Perform common tasks for gold [9103], adept 16: Appear common [9104], apprentice 16: View current aura level of others [9105], apprentice 16: Speed casting of next spell [9106], grand master 16: Reveal abilities of another mage [9123], apprentice 16: Tap health for aura [9126], journeyman 16: Heal [9146], apprentice 16: Modern magic script [9147], journeyman 16: Detect ability scry [9170], apprentice 16: Advanced meditation [9174], apprentice 16: Save speeded cast [9178], apprentice 16: Weather magic [161] 16: Summon rain [9187], journeyman 16: Direct storm [9190], apprentice 16: Dissipate storm [9191], apprentice 16: Renew storm strength [9193], master 16: Lightning bolt [9194], apprentice 16: Seize control of storm [9195], apprentice 16: Fog of death [9196], apprentice 16: Scrying [162] 16: Scry location [9141], apprentice 16: Shroud location from magical scry [9142], apprentice 16: Create magical barrier [9160], apprentice 16: Farcasting [9172], grand master 16: Save farcast state [9177], apprentice 16: Gatecraft [163] 16: Teleport [9112], apprentice 16: Detect gates [9115], apprentice 16: Jump through gate [9116], apprentice 16: Unseal gate with key [9118], apprentice 16: Artifact construction [164] 16: Forge auraculum [9102] 16: Reveal creator of artifact [9108], apprentice 16: Reveal where artifact was created [9109], apprentice 16: Cloak creator of artifact [9110], apprentice 16: Cloak region of artifact creation [9111], apprentice 16: Curse noncreator loyalty [9113], apprentice 16: Arcane symbols [9153], grand master 16: Destroy artifact [9164], apprentice 16: Forge palantir [9176], apprentice 16: Necromancy [165] 16: Transcend death [9125], apprentice 16: Runes of Evil [9154], apprentice 16: Summon ghost warriors [9179], adept 16: Eating of the dead [9184], adept 16: Aura blast [9185], master 16: Absorb aura blast [9186], apprentice 16: Advanced sorcery [170] 16: Trance [9201], master 16: Teleport items [9202], grand master { Yah, he's gotten lot's of practice at this one.} 16: 16: Partially known skills: 16: Forge magical weapon [9131], 0/14 16: Forge magical armor [9132], 0/14 16: Forge magical bow [9133], 0/14 16: Dispel ability shroud [9173], 0/14 16: Banish undead [9197], 8.28/14 16: 16: Inventory: 16: qty name weight 16: --- ---- ------ 16: 20,113 gold [1] 0 16: 9 winged horses [54] 2,700 fly 1,350 16: 3 ratspider venom [63] 0 16: 22 mithril [82] 110 16: 1 gate crystal [83] 1 16: 7 blank scrolls [84] 14 16: 1 Horn of the Savages [az8k] 0 16: 1 crystal staff [bb5b] 10 16: 1 crystal staff [bc3z] 10 16: 1 enchanted staff [bc6j] 10 16: 1 enchanted staff [bd6v] 10 16: 1 elven spear [bd6w] 10 +25 missile 16: 1 Jester SC+6 [be8w] 1 16: 1 golden ring [bl5c] 10 16: 1 Jester SC+6 [br3s] 1 16: 1 Merlinium SC+6 [by7k] 1 16: 1 golden dagger [cj4p] 10 +45 attack 16: 1 enchanted ring [cj9y] 10 16: 1 Amulet of Halhere [cs0o] 10 16: 1 Ring of Truth [cs7i] 10 16: 1 Amulet of Miranth [cx3l] 10 16: 1 Golden idol of the Orcs [dg9h] 0 16: 1 magic amulet [dh7j] 10 16: 1 enchanted staff [dk3x] 10 16: 1 The One Ring [dn7e] 1 { His Auraculum?} 16: 1 Golden idol of the Orcs [dv5t] 0 16: 1 Chateau O Late Harvest [ee6j] 1 16: 1 Banner of the Skeletons [el0d] 0 16: 1 golden ring [eq8i] 10 16: 1 golden amulet [er4u] 10 16: 1 Crown of the Undead lord [ew4s] 0 16: 1 Scroll [fm0f] 1 16: 1 enchanted helm [fm9y] 10 +20 defense 16: 1 Indigo SC+6 [fn7y] 1 16: 1 Amulet of Justice [fo4f] 10 16: 1 Indigo SC+6 [fo5t] 1 16: 1 Charmen Health [fp4x] 1 16: 1 golden ring [fq4f] 10 16: 1 Scroll [fs2e] 1 16: 1 golden ring [fu7y] 10 16: 1 Charmen SC+6 ? [gc0m] 1 16: 1 Indigo SC+6 [ge4u] 1 16: 1 Crown of the Undead lord [gg9z] 0 16: 1 elven staff [gn4v] 10 16: 1 elven ring [go1d] 10 16: 1 Indigo SC+6 [go1j] 1 16: 1 magic amulet [gq0z] 10 16: 1 elven javelin [gs2i] 10 +35 missile 16: 1 Indigo SC+7 [hm3t] 1 16: 1 magic amulet [hn4z] 10 16: 1 golden javelin [hp7i] 10 +50 missile 16: 1 Charmen Health [hp9v] 1 16: 1 Amulet of Kircarth [ij0n] 10 16: 1 Charmen Health [is5i] 1 16: 1 Horn of the Savages [iy9r] 0 16: 1 Amulet of Lethrys [iz6n] 10 16: 1 Dweezil SC+7 [je1i] 1 16: 1 Charmen SC+6 [jf9r] 1 16: 1 enchanted ring [jg8c] 10 16: 1 enchanted staff [js1d] 10 16: ====== 16: 3,133 16: 16: Capacity: 433/1,450 land (29%), 533/1,350 ride (39%), 533/1,350 fly 16: (39%) 16: 16: Scroll [fm0f] permits study of the following skills: 16: ??? (requires Scrying) 16: 16: Scroll [fs2e] permits study of the following skills: 16: ??? (requires Weather magic) 16:
I thought I'd share this before he goes away.
'tis a far, far better thing I do.
Has anybody seen the Russian Fur Hunter ????
How come nobody helped me?
My noble was captured some turns ago by Swishbuckler. He escaped last turn, and it turned out he was being held prisoner by a noble who was last seen stacked under [v0z] the "First Bank of Provinia". I guess a pirate in the channel is good business for the bank, huh?
I dought I taw a pink piwate here. Now where did he go? Der he is! I did, I did see a pink piwate here! GET 'EM BOYS!
Some Idjut Wonders: " 2000 gold to the noble who hands over the location of Swishbucklers base. the Sherrif of Gentlewind."
To Which I Reply: Check within the environs of: bx25-bx27, by24-by27, and bz27.
Some Blubbering Whiner Remarks: "Boy, nothing interesting appears here anymore!"
My Considered Opinion on the Matter: Could that be due to the preponderance of inane comments such as "Boy, nothing interesting appears here anymore!"?
Some Sniveling Sycophant Stammers: "What does "sucking brains" mean? Is there some necromancy spell of that name?
With a Jaded Yawn I Respond: It's a colloquial term for a certain Necromantic ritual best left undescribed. Neither will I reveal the name of said ritual.
-- The Not So Silent Observer
> Does the Answer Guy know what he's talking about?
Yes, it's just the rest of us who don't.
Hmmmm....I wonder where I should send my 300+ dragons? Perhaps to Chat. Olympia for holiday?
First Bank of Provinia [v0z]
Would you care to publish your faction ID? Could you describe the relationships you have with the AOO and other major alliances?
Thanks, An Enquiring Mind
Boy, nothing interesting appears here anymore!
Beware the forepart of a woman, the hind part of a mule, and all sides of a priest.
" The Liberty Confederation, What a bunch of pirates, come to the new continent, they say, we hate bandits, they say, blaaa blaaa blaaa what do they do. sit me on a boat and when we land, wipe me out and steal all my kit. So watch out you newbies, they are not what they appear..."
" The AOO is strong, but our union is stronger. They attack whoever appears to be their greatest threat, but they can't thwart the rising tide of resentment against them. With this resentment comes a rising pool of power; rising to drown the AOO"
Yeah, looks like they're up to their necks in their foes' blood. A few more and they're surely done for.
The challenge of beating up on new players appeals only to those whose imagination can not dream up anything original and whose taste for a real challenge is can be measured in a few moments using a teaspoon.
Anyone want to share the lore sheet for Farcast?
One wonders how to say Kaaa Ching in other languages ??
Why should you assume that people with 50 characters cheated? Figure 10 oathed nobles by their own noble points by now, another 15 or 20 controlled characters from the early, nicer control artifacts and that already gives you 30 characters. Add in a couple attacks on newbie stacks for another 10 nobles, and then have a friend and ally quit the game after leaving you some of her nobles, controlled characters, castles, etc. , and you're up to 50 characters without any "cheating." Attacking newbies may not be nice, but it is not cheating, and neither is persuading an oathbound noble...
The question is: If g2 starts, how many will stay?
The Answer Guy is one of the most useful parts of the Times. Thank you. So, what good do these rings in the Cloudlands do?
And the prophet said unto his people...
Be not afraid, for The Seekers of Light have come into this world to destroy Swishbuckler and all his frilly minions. The days of the Gay Terror are numbered. The Seekers of Light are going to swarm all over his hairy butt.
A happy and safe Thanksgiving to all. Those who don't keep US holidays, feel free to eat along at home.
-The Greater Provinia Dung Board