+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| The Olympia Times times@olympia.rt.com |
| December 8, 1991 v1n5 |
| |
| Turn 5 Circulation 58 "E Pluribus Unix" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
Orders due: Sunday, December 15, 1991
Questions, comments, bug reports, to play: olympia@rt.com
I have lots of player mail which I haven't responded to yet. If you
sent me mail in the last week and haven't gotten a reply, you should
get one soon. There are many good suggestions and bug reports which
I need to follow up on.
I spent most of last week moving to New Jersey so there was little time
for game development. In fact, my computer system was somewhat damaged
in the move, and with all of the confusion and work associated with
relocating it's a miracle that I was able to get this turn out at all.
I'm betting that players would prefer a buggy, on-time run to an
indefinitely postponed turn waiting for me to get to the code. Let me
know if you feel differently.
Note: Don't use names with the 'player' or 'begin' commands. I also
recommend using numbers to refer to entities instead of names, since
names are do not need to be unique.
Bad: player Osswid secret
Good: player 501 secret
There seems to be eternal confusion over begin/end and form/done.
Perhaps I will try to use the same ending token for both begin and form.
Someone suggested removing the ever-growing player listing from the turn
reports and making it available from the server. This seemed like a good
way to cut a lot of dead weight out of the reports. The full player
listing will be available from the server as the 'players' file.
Name Parsing Considered Harmful
-------------------------------
Allowing names to be used in orders instead of numbers seems to be
somewhat error prone. For short, fixed names like 'gold' and 'combat'
it works well but it becomes somewhat awkward for "magical research".
Also, players are trying to use name parsing for their characters which
is dangerous since names aren't guaranteed to be unique.
Let me know if you think I should keep name parsing for order input
or only allow numbers.
I was surprised that nobody noticed Osswid's great feat of magic
in Pactra last turn. Perhaps no one was around to see it, or
someone saw it but kept it to himself...
The members of the Voyaging company stretched and yawned.
One, known affectionately as Jocko, looked at his companion.
"Strange, isn't it Lefty, that we didn't do anything this month?
Last thing I remember is getting that cancel order from the boss."
"Yup," nodded the somewhat seamy looking Lefty. "We were
going to try and become more observant, but then he told us to cancel
that order. Course, he didn't tell us to start on the new orders
right away, did he Jocko? Heh, heh." He elbowed Jocko in the ribs as
the two shared their private jest.
Jocko stood up, and helped Lefty to his feet. "That's what I
like about union work. Well, I guess it's off to that new place now.
You got the directions?"
Lefty pulled a crumpled piece of parchment from his
disreputable looking jacket, and they staggered off into the
wilderness.
Sargeant Carnel: We seems to be running low on funds, boss.
Murphy: I noticed. Here's a thou. Have a ball. By the way, didn't i ask
you to recruit 10 men, not 4?
Carnel: Yeah, you did. But boss, me could only finds 4 men. Everybody me
ask either know about youse already or waiting for better offer.
Seems everyone and his uncle hiring goons, oops, men.
Murphy: Seems we better go get out of here then. Dammit now you got me
speaking like you. Sheesh. (mumbling) Just my luck to find a guy
just out of elementary school at the age of 18.
Carnel: Sorry boss. We gots our equipment now. We'll gets more goons i
promise.
Murphy: Good. We'll go elsewhere first. My bow skills are almost as good
as the instructors here anyway. We'd better leave before the teach
asks me to stand against a tree with an apple on my head for showing
him up again. Just because I split his arrow at 90 yards is no reason
to get mad. When we get there, find some horses. 17 days on the road
with all this equipment is going to be hell. You do know how to break
wild horses, right?
Carnel: Yeah. Youse takes a mace, and...
Murphy: Never mind. Ask a goon you hired. Maybe he knows. (mumbling again)
With my luck, he probably was glue a manufacturer before Carnel hired
him.
Carnel: When does us leave?
Murphy: Might as well be now. I don't trust my luck with all these people
around. A couple of them might be homicidal.
Carnel: Wow, me brudder might be around then. He was always called homicidal.
Murphy: We leave NOW. (mumbling. he does a lot of that you know) Why me?
Drassa has been quiet for these weeks past. Nor have reports of combat or
savagery yet reachest mine ears this month. Ah, yes -- many a person have
left this busy city for distant towns. The heavens know what they may find
beyond the town lines. There hast been reports of another coming of magic
into this world. As of yet, I knoweth not whether these dark forces have
reached our domain. Nor have I seen manifestations of these magics in fair
Drassa. But know I that when spells once again work in this realm, old Master
Adoy the Idej shall cackle with glee, for he hath once spaketh onto me: "Ah,
my young pupil, thou upon the magic of the ancients must call. The dark force
many empires have built. Harness the powers of the universe thou must. But
forget not, this ancient force have also many empires destroyed..."
With an unusual sigh of impatient the mage slammed his book shut. It
seemed as if he would have to go overseas after all. His studies were not
producing the effects he wanted, and if there is one thing the Grey Wizard
hated, it was a wasted effort. Soon he must return to his books, but for the
moment he needed some exersize. So summoning the seven, he headed off down
to the docks to have a look at the ships.
But the docks were empty. Where had the Pinafore gone? Off to the
yards it must be. While in the yards, he nosed around, if it must be that
he would travel by sea, then he'd may as well learn a little about the workings
of the boats so a good one could be chosen. After a couple of weeks of intense
intruction at last he felt he knew enough, and called for the Seven once more.
To go where he must, the mage would need to be able to handle wordly
matters as well as magical, and quickly the seven instructed him in the basics
of combat.
The riders would be arriving at Pactra by now he thought, and wondered
how they were progressing. Staring deep into the flames he same them, armed
to the teeth poking around the town. Those poor townsfolk didn't know what
to make of them, although a couple seemed quite interested. The riders were
recruiting. Okelos's tall form entered the picture, and the huge warriers
plate armour seemed to do the trick, as at least one of the youths accepted
the offered purse of gold.
All this time, The Seven kept working at the road, biding there time,
for soon, soon the killing would begin. The Mage grinned as their surface
thoughts floated into his mind, how primitive they were. Suddenly distracted
he realised that there were five of them now. No wonder they looked so happy.
Loyal Citizens gather to rid town of Wolves.
D'arc Shadowborn was heard to have offered the
services of his personal guard, The Darklings,
to Rocko, for the cost of 6 longswords.
The contract was supposedly in answer to Rocko's
claim to rid Drassa of Wolves. The terms of the
service contract are apparently under concideration
and action should take place soon.
*** LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ***
EVIL ABOUNDS IN OLYMPIA!
Dear Sir:
I have lived in Drassa for several months now, and I
see some things I find extremely untenable, for which I shall
be leaving Drassa for what final destination, I don't know.
However, I am writing in an attempt to change the situation,
so that when I ever return to Drassa, it may change.
Rocko 'The Truth' Zigarelli is running for sheriff of
Drassa. A sheriff is a useful person, but I wonder exactly
how safe this person is? He casually drove his longsword through
two non-players, and how far of a leap is that to doing the same
to any number of real people?
And there is the matter of the 'Darklings' and 'Shadowspawn'
in D'Arc Shadowborn's faction. Plain and simple, these people
seem less than pure in intention. They have over 10 people in that
faction, and that's more than most of the other people.
All around, I don't feel safe in Drassa.
Thank you,
Alan Mooresson
ROCKO FOR SHERIFF!
Hey, this Rocko guy seems pretty good. He got rid
of those two wierdos that were lying about with a minimum of
fuss, and has said several times how he doesn't intend to
go after anyone else, those two were just a test...and an
example. That's what a good sheriff ought to do.
Guido Roundskull
Ho ho! Impatient am I getting that the forces of magic returning to this world
will be. The months so slowly seem to pass. Think of a thousand things I do,
before even done with present jobs I am. Tired of waiting am I. Ah, but not
let impatience cloud my mind I must. Remember I do, when Ekul to me came in my
old marshy home in Deh-goh-bah. Oh, he but a young knight was then. He so
little patience had then the force of magic to learn. But he eventually enough
learned, of course. Bah! But that so long ago was, and a realm too far away
in too. Speak nothing of that will I now. In the town of Drassa I am. Ah,
yes! Soon, very soon, this place once again ruled by magic will be. Hardly
wait I can!
--Master Adoy the Idej
********************************************************************************
PERSONALS
********************************************************************************
E-
Have wandered to the far off town of W.H. Look forward to a bonded
dispatch from same. Will continue along on my journey.
ES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-
The river seems endless. I have been making stops at every port. I
hope my dispatches have reached you; if not, bring it up with the messengers'
guild in Drassa. I will continue my explorations as per your instructions;
however, I have been taking time to hone my combat abilities learned under
your patronage.
As ever, your servant,
EE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our patron, E-
'Tis wonderful being on the road again. Me and me stalwart companion
have completed the mission, you requested, and will provide a full report to
you in Drassa when return within a month's time. It is hoped our tidings sent
from D. will have reached you already.
LJ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
32 players submitted 507 total commands this turn.