Volume Nine Issue Forty-Five

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 .............._______          
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 ...../                / /./       /./     /./  /.../  /./       /
 ..../                /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD
 .../________________/      running on         mud.legendmud.org 9999

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VOLUME NINE, NUMBER FORTY-FIVE                            November 16, 2002
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                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
                           The Editor's Note

                         NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
                           Calendar of Events
                             The PR Outlook
                             Recent Updates
                           Recent Q&A Topics
                   5 Ways to Get More RP in Your Life
                    Did You Know: STRING vs RESTRING

                              LEGENDITES

                              Clan News
                      A Sacred and Joyous Ceremony
                        
                             The PK Front

                         Of Arabian Nerve Locks
                        Unibowman Strikes Again
                     From the journal of Gavvius...
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\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                      The Editor's Note                          |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'

If you read the LTs on the web, or like to browse through the back issues
on the web, you'll notice a new feature. At the top and bottom of each
issue (going clear back to the very first issue), you'll find links that
will allow you to change to the previous issue, the next issue (if it
exists), and master index. It may not seem like a big change, but if you
have ever been frustrated by having to go back to the index or typing in
the issue number to change issues, you may appreciate it. I do!

One of the topics on the discussion board that got a lot of response and
comes up frequently at Q&A sessions concerns risk/reward and challenges.
Many people complain their bored or sick of killing the same old things
time and time again. However when it's pointed out that the average player
rarely goes outside a handful of areas I hear complaints that nothing else
is "worth it". When exploration or the XP Game are suggested, I keep
hearing, "but I've been everywhere 5-6 years ago!"

HELLO! Things do change, especially based on player feedback about these
exact kind of things. It may not always be on a large scale, but a main
focus of the Summer Odyssey, at least for me, is to go back over older
areas and see what can be added or needs changed. 

So if you've got ideas on how to make a particular mob or area more
interesting or challenging or feel some just aren't rewarding enough for
the effort, please drop your suggestions into the idea channel or drop a
note to the builder responsible for maintaining the area (you can find
that with the AREAINFO command online).

And please, don't just blow off the XP Game as a waste of time...  anyone
who plays can help out by giving the builders valuable feedback and maybe
even learn a thing or two about the mud in the process.

Have a great week!

-Kaige

___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                   LegendMUD Calendar of Events                  |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'
          [All times are system time unless otherwise specified]

                 NOVEMBER                         DECEMBER
           Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                           1  2              1  2  3  4  5  6  7
            3  4  5  6  7  8  9              8  9 10 11 12 13 14
           10 11 12 13 14 15 16             15 16 17 18 19 20 21
           17 18 19 20 21 22 23             22 23 24 25 26 27 28
           24 25 26 27 28 29 30             29 30 31

Saturday,  November  16th    3:00 pm        RP Fan Club - 3rd Meeting
                             8:00 pm        Templars Induction Ceremony
Sunday,    November  17th    3:00 pm        Trivia with Kaos
Thursday,  November  21st    7:00 pm        Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Tuesday,   November  26th    8:00 pm        Autumn Casino
Thursday,  November  28th                   Thanksgiving - U.S. - No Q&A
                                      ----
Thursday,  December   5th    7:00 pm        Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday,  December  12th    7:00 pm        Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday,  December  19th    7:00 pm        Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Wednesday, December  25th                   Christmas Day
Tuesday,   December  31st                   New Year's Eve

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/__|                        The PR Outlook                            |__\
   '------------------------------------------------------------------'

Hello again everyone!

This week, I'm writing to ask for your participation in a project, as
recently suggested in a meeting of the RP Fan Club. In particular --
making information about your character's life more available to others.

The most important way to learn about others is to meet them, of course --
but without the sight and sound of a person to jog our memory, and
considering the wonderful and complexity-filled tales each of you have,
the details are all too easy to lose track of.

To start with, I encourage you to join with those who have already done
so, and post information about yourself on the RP board in the OOC
library. But, in addition to, and in support of, the RP board, I am
calling for volunteers to be interviewed so that their information can be
posted on the board. If you would like to be interviewed or would like to
expand your bardic RP by telling the tales of others, please drop a note
to LadyAce. Thanks!

Now, on to current events...!

If you check the events list, you'll notice that two player-run events are
coming right up -- Saturday night at 8pm is the Templars Induction
Ceremony, and Sunday Nov. 17th at 3pm is Trivia with Kaos. You can run
events too! To get help planning your next event or to get it added to the
events list, contact your local PR immortal!

Coming up today at 3pm is the third meeting of the "RP Fan Club" -- a
roleplay discussion forum where all perspectives are welcome. Bring your
troubles, your ideas, and your questions to share with the group. Logs of
previous meetings can be found at:

http://mud.legendmud.org/Community/lectures/RP_10_26_02.html

...and...

http://mud.legendmud.org/Community/lectures/RP_11_02_02.html

Even if you haven't been able to attend previous meetings, you can
still attend this upcoming meeting. Join us!

-LadyAce

___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                          Recent Updates                         |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'

    /\                         CODE UPDATES
   /  \     
  /    \    MISC CHANGES
 /_    _\     o Hunt distances will now feel further than before
   |  |       o A whole bunch of mood/social grammer fixes
   |  |     
   |  |     
   |__|                      HELP FILE UPDATES
    /\      
   /  \     General Topics:
  /    \    
 /_    _\        ADD-A-COLOR, ADVERTISING, JARGON
   |  |     
   |  |     Thanks to all the immorts and players who made this possible.
   |  |     
   |__|     
    /\                          AREA UPDATES
   /  \     
  /    \    If you want to suggest specific improvements or new additions
 /_    _\   to existing areas please don't hesitate to submit them with
   |  |     the idea/bug/typo commands or drop mudmail to the builder
   |  |     currently responsible for the area (use AREAINFO to find out!)
   |  |     
   |__|     1802 ALASKA
    /\           Some of the narwhal's specials now remove ring of fire
   /  \          due to dousing.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   ARABIAN NIGHTS
   |  |          Yusuf responds correctly for manicures. Magician gets the
   |  |          affects from his ring now. You can now use manacles on
   |  |          other people.
   |__|     
    /\      AZTECS
   /  \          Dancers' teaching acts fixed. Various bugs and typos
  /    \         fixed.
 /_    _\   
   |  |     BEOWULF and MEDIEVAL SEAS
   |  |          Increases rent on the wyrm's and serpent's scale shields.
   |  |     
   |__|     HOSPITALLER MALTA
    /\           Changes to the shark's jawbone to put into spec.
   /  \     
  /    \    CELTIC IRELAND
 /_    _\        Elite warriors changed slightly. Maev will whistle for
   |  |          her favorite wolfhound to aid her. Various bugs and typos
   |  |          fixed.
   |  |     
   |__|     PORT OF LONDON
    /\           Big Jim Southland changed slightly. Various typos fixed.
   /  \     
  /    \    PICTISH COUNTRY
 /_    _\       Fixed bug with Morgawr doing fight acts if stunned.
   |  |         Scottish warriors shouldn't see blood on shield if you
   |  |         don't have one.
   |  |     
   |__|     ROMAN BRITAIN
    /\           Old wife is clearer that she's recalling when husband
   /  \          calls her.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   SAN FRANCISCO
   |  |          New Teller in the bank and Coleman is no longer an
   |  |          "active" banker. Sailors no longer hit on females with
   |  |          "kid" or "child" keywords. Various bugs and typos fixed.
   |__|     
    /\      ABORIGINAL DREAMTIME, ANASAZI AMERICA, ANCIENT NAZCA,
   /  \     CASABLANCA, THE CRUSADES, SEONI JUNGLE, TUDOR ENGLAND,
  /    \    and VICEROYAL PERU
 /_    _\       Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
   |  |     
   |  |     
   |  |     
   |__|                    In Progress Area Updates
    /\      
   /  \     This section is intended to share what builders are working
  /    \    on behind the scenes. It is not a perfect record of progress
 /_    _\   as all builders do not commit updates every week. Badgering
   |  |     builders about their progress will get you flogged. 
   |  |     
   |  |         No in progress areas had commits made this week.
   |__|     
     
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
  _______   ____    _______
 /  ___  \ / __ \  /  ___  \  Logs of Q&A sessions are available on the
 | /   \ | \ \/ /  | /   \ |  web pages for those who are unable to attend
 | |   | |  \  /   | \___/ |  or had to leave early. The most recent ones
 | |   | |  /  \/\ |  ___  |  are listed on the sitemap page or you can
 | | /\| | / /\  / | /   \ |  get a complete list on the Q&A index page
 | \_\ \ | \ \/  \ | \   / |  at the url below.
  \___\/_/  \__/\/ \_/   \_|

     http://www.legendmud.org/Community/lectures/QandA/QA_index.html
 
                               RECENT TOPICS
 
 o Backstab Change = More Misses?    o Where to Find Past Update Info?
 o Bow Discussion                    o Everything's Tougher Now?
 o Change for Low Level Backstab?    o Changes for Create Mages?
 o Mob Availability For Killing?     o Level of Information?
 o Silence's Damage Done Follow-up   o Changes to Calm?
 o Bug with Armslore or ID Object?   o What's with Pillars of Darkness?
 o Charmies with XP_GAME?            o Why ask about Dex/Perc?
 o Why Cap Backstab Damage?          o Weapon Weight?
 o Imm/Mort or Mob vs Mob Fights?    o Damage Ranges?
 o Bug with Seoni Deathtrap?         o Commonly Reported Bugs
 o General Suggestions/Questions

___                                                                    ___
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/__|    5 Ways to Get More RP in Your Life -- from the RP Fan Club    |__\
   '------------------------------------------------------------------'

1. Devise a way for people to remember you. Give your charmies a
   personality, use a zip string pet, have a quirk or a particular habit.
   Offer a service with business cards. Leave them a 'calling card'
   introducing yourself.

2. When you help new or lower-level characters, do it in-character. If
   they don't want to play along, let them help themselves.

3. Introduce yourself to other RPers. They are your "contacts" and could
   come in handy later. Invite them out for ale or to your garden party.
   Arrange to stumble across their path, even if you don't have a big
   story planned.

4. Encourage clans, even if you're not in them. Include your perception
   of what their clan stands for when you interact with a member. If
   you're in a clan, don't let the character of the clan slip. Anyone can
   encourage the building of a clan RP -- from the inside of the clan, or
   from the outside.

5. Notice who is writing what for the LT, and talk to them about it!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
   _____       
  /  _  \     DID YOU KNOW: Tips and tricks and little-used features
 /__/ \  \    
      /  /    Strings are a popular feature for player customization and
     /  /     roleplay on Legend. And seeing people chatting to request a
    /__/      string or restring be done can get mighty confusing if you
    __        have never had one before or never had one moved to a new
   /  \       item. Let's see if we can clarify a little and help you ask
   \__/       to get what you need done.
   _____      
  /  _  \     STRING: If you have any type of string coupon, then you can
 /__/ \  \         redeem it to change the visual descriptions of an item.
      /  /         This is when you have an object fresh from the NPC and
     /  /          want it to look like something that you've made up.
    /__/           
    __        RESTRING: This is what gets done when you already have an
   /  \            item with a different description than when it was 
   \__/            loaded and want to move those visual descriptions from
   _____           one item to another, which destroys the original item.
  /  _  \          So make sure those containers are empty!
 /__/ \  \    
      /  /         During a restring, you also have the option of changing     
     /  /          the slot string. This does not change where the item is
    /__/           worn, but changes the way it is described.
    __        
   /  \       So, hearing "I need a string done" means the immortal who
   \__/       comes to help you is expecting you to have a coupon and the     
   _____      correct length long and short descriptions ready.
  /  _  \     
 /__/ \  \    And "I need a restring" means the immortal expects you to 
      /  /    have both items, a slot change ready, and any containers to
     /  /     already be empty.
    /__/      
    __        For more information and restrictions, see the helpfiles on
   /  \       the following topics: STRING RESTRING COLORSTRING MUNDANE
   \__/                             RPCOUPON STORAGE STRINGRULES SLOT ZIP

___                                                                    ___
\  |------------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|      LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World   |__\
   '------------------------------------------------------------------'

              AgentNitz has reached 100 million experience!
              Edric_Wulf has reached 100 million experience!
     ___                                                          ___
     \  |--------------------------------------------------------|  /
     /__|                      Clan News                         |__\
        '--------------------------------------------------------'

     *===============================================================*
     |                                                               |
     |                                                               |
     |          The Knights of the Temple would like to              |
     |    announce the ceremonies for novice Mary-Therese, who       |
     |  will be taking her full vows, and the induction of Master    |
     |               Tancred de Gisborne of Nottingham.              |
     |                                                               |
     |                                                               |
     |       All are welcome to attend this joyous and sacred        |
     |    celebration, which will be held at the Cathedral in        |
     | Malta on Saturday, the 16th of November 8:00pm (system time). |
     |                                                               |
     |                                                               |
     |      A reception will be held, immediately following the      |
     |                 ceremony, in the rose garden.                 |
     |                                                               |
     |                                                               |
     |         Again, all are welcome to celebrate with us!          |
     |                                                               |
     |                                                               |
     *===============================================================*

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There are currently 13 RP clans and 9 PK clans. This leaves open slots for
ten (10) more clans to form. For more information, read HELP CLAN and see
the clan information list via the CLANS command while logged into the
game. For a basic handbook and reference guide for players interested in
starting and running a clan, we recommend that before you even type FORM,
you visit: http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/gm.html.
     ___                                                          ___
     \  |--------------------------------------------------------|  /
     /__|                    The PK Front                        |__\
        '--------------------------------------------------------'

The Grendels had the most active members this past week and were closely
followed by the Infernals. The Grand Coven, the Syndicate and the School
of Hard Knocks each had a pair of members involved in the action this past
week. The Hermetic Order, the Knights of Legend and the Secretives each
only had one member participate on the PK front this week and the IRA was
not heard from.

               =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

There were 56 pkill-related deaths involving 43 different characters in
the last week. Of those 43 characters, 24 of them were accept all at the
time. So come on, let's get YOUR name up in lights! We can't report on it
if you don't tell us about it!

If you have you witnessed or committed any glorious or nefarious deeds,
send a short report to us at the LT. If you are looking for a fight,
recruiting, or anything else related to PK (not necessarily PK Clan
related), send it in! It's free AND you'll get a prize token! Be a
celebrity, the envy of all your friends! Tick off your enemies or just
tell your side of the story! The possibilities are endless -- act today!!
 
              _______________________
             /                       \
        o O | Wonder what folks are   |
  `\|||/    | doing over at LegendMUD?|
   (o o)     \_______________________/
ooO_(_)_Ooo________________________________________________________________
_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___
__|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|

                         Of Arabian Nerve Locks

Consciousness broke over Kaine like a kick to the head. Actually it was a
kick to the head. He groaned and rolled over, casting a baleful glare at
Richard the innkeeper who stood over him.

'Get up you pathetic lump!' he sniggered. 'I guess you got shown who's
boss! Knocked out by a 'lil harem wench!' Richard cackled and ambled back
behind the bar, dabbing his eyes.

Kaine ruefully rubbed his throbbing head, and staggered to his feet. He
winced as his bruised ribs protested at the movement. 'It must have been
some ssstrange Arabian nerve lock that ssshe got me in,' he protested
feebly.

The rest of the room snorted into their ale tankards, and tried
unsuccessfully to stifle their fits of giggles. Kaine cursed the room and
turned to stalk out the door. A thin dagger thunked into the frame and
hummed, just wide of his head. Kaine reached up and unplucked the bill
that the dagger had pinned there. Fumbling for his money-pouch he found,
of course, it empty. Turning back to the room, he sighed at the sight of
Richard grinning at him over the top of a sizeable pile of washing-up.

               =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                        Unibowman Strikes Again

The Unibowman has once again made his presence felt, this time effectively
stopping ship travel in and out of the port of London. The untimely demise
of several ship's Captains delayed travel and frustrated many sea-going
voyagers. To help understand the mind of this twisted individual the
Legendary Times will publish an excerpt from the 139 page, hand written,
manifesto of the Unibowman which was received some time back but was too
long and tedious to print in its entirety.

From the manifesto of the Unibowman:

Reject Industry.     The filth created from the mouths of the machines
                     will destroy the world we hold dear and corrupt the
       beauty that the Maker created. Mass production will only foster a
       desire for greed and steal the pride one feels in hand working a
       natural resource into a useable item. Mass travel treats human
       dignity as a frivolous waste and forces us into the roles of
       faceless cogs in the suicide machine. Watching hundreds of people
       suck in soot filled air in a place that was once a lovely gift and
       is now a dirty haven of commerce, brings a tear to my eye and anger
       to my heart. Be warned, Mecca's of materialism will be targeted.

               =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                     From the journal of Gavvius...

     Day 31

     What to write, what to write... Nothing new has come my way, so
     what would there be to write about? And yet, I continue doing so,
     for it is the only thing I can do. Keep track, yes, that is it,
     but why would I want to keep track of these nightmares? Am I
     torturing myself? To make sure I will be haunted for the rest of
     my life from these written words? Oh, how my hands quivers when I
     note the date. 31 days, I can't believe it has been only 31 days,
     for it feels like eternity...

(from here, the texts are unreadable, the damaged is cause by water
stains, maybe from tears?)

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The Legendary Times is published by the immortals of LegendMUD. Please send
replies, additions, or corrections to our address at [email protected] for
inclusion in the next edition. All subscription options are now handled
at this url: http://www.legendmud.org/lists/listinfo/legendarytimes 
For RP submissions, copyright ownership remains with the author. We do
reserve the right to moderate the forum and edit or reject any submission.
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