Volume Nine Issue Twenty-Six

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VOLUME NINE, NUMBER TWENTY-SIX                                 July 7, 2002
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                          TABLE OF CONTENTS

                          The Editor's Note

                        NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
                          Calendar of Events
                             Market Days
                            Recent Updates
                  DID YOU KNOW: Trading & Haggling

                             LEGENDITES
                            Announcements
                              Clan News
         A North Carolinian Carouser in King Richard's Court, Part I
                             Mitra's Diary
                          My Brother's Keeper
                       Nothing Shares Like Misery
___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                      The Editor's Note                          |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'

After reading Wyth's post "Freedom Fighter" and the replies on the news
board this morning, I thought digging up some old articles from past
issues might be a good thing to share with everyone as the debate over
the best ways to help new players and new characters (which are not
necessarily the same) comes up periodically.

Yes, there is a definite difference between helping a player who is new
to LegendMUD learn the ropes and expectations of the community as well as
the game system and dealing with new characters who demand to gotten XP
and lots of it.

Unfortunately this latter type seems to be the type that keep being
referred to as the problem. It also reminds me of the type of player that
some refer to as "Stag Monsters", you know, the ones are level 50 and
don't know how to get anywhere on their own? 

Why do I think this type of player exists? Because people want to help
others enjoy the game as much as they have, only they don't know how to
best help them, so do so they only way they know how -- level them and
give them the best equipment there is.

Unfortunately, this leaves people with the impression that this is a good
thing to do for others and teaches them that's what's expected from higher
level characters. In the short run, it's great! The new player feels
special and experiences the rush of instant gratification and fast levels.

In the long run, it leaves us with annoyed oldbies who are badgered for
exp and eq from players who don't know any better. It leaves us with high
level characters who can't get around on their own and who get frustrated
when they can't do the same things that they see other characters the same
level doing with ease. Or worse, confused people who feel brushed off,
ignored and insulted for only playing the game how they've been taught.

One of the best articles that addresses this exact topic is Farnsworth's
article "Newbies and You", originally published in July 1996, which can
be found at:

   http://www.legendmud.org/Community/lt_indices/Vol3/LTv3n9.html

Some other articles also focusing on new players:

(Getting Help and Making Friends, and Choosing a First Character):
   http://www.legendmud.org/Community/lt_indices/Vol5/LTv5n19.html

(One Newbie's Perspective and The Gaming Aspect of Legend)
   http://www.legendmud.org/Community/lt_indices/Vol5/LTv5n20.html
 
Anyway, if you don't agree with these methods or think that things have
changed since then and would like to write a similar article on how people
can best help new players and new characters, please do so and submit your
version at http://www.legendmud.org/Community/ltsubmission.php.

But, please, think about how YOU both help others and ask for help. Both
on the game and off. How you approach it may improve things for everyone.

-Kaige

___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                   LegendMUD Calendar of Events                  |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'
          [All times are system time unless otherwise specified]
   
                                 JULY
                         Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                             1  2  3  4  5  6
                          7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                         14 15 16 17 18 19 20
                         21 22 23 24 25 26 27
                         28 29 30 31
 
       July continues our 2002 Summer Odyssey in the Medieval Era.
         Join us on a journey through time to explore our world!
 
Wednesday, July     10th                     Wednesday night game, TBA
Thursday,  July     11th   7:00 pm New Time  Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Saturday,  July     13th  11:00 am           A Summer Snowstorm
                           8:00 pm           Market Day in Kleinstadt
Wednesday, July     17th                     Wednesday night game, TBA
Thursday,  July     18th   7:00 pm           Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Saturday,  July     20th   5:00 pm           Medieval Trivia with LadyAce
Wednesday, July     24th                     Wednesday night game, TBA
Thursday,  July     25th   7:00 pm           Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Saturday,  July     27th   2:00 pm            Market Day in Lima

                             Q&A NOTICE

Starting on July 11th, the Q&A sessions begin at 7:00 pm on Thursdays.
___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                          Market Days                            |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'

A new event, celebrating the medieval tradition of the marketplace, has
made its way on to the Legend scene:  Market days!

The first Market Day was held in Tudor London on July 6th with lots of
lemonade, popscicles and even a magic show. So if you missed it, be sure
to come, hawk your goods and services. Meet, greet, and join the fun at
the next ones, which are currently scheduled as follows:

                 Saturday, July 13th, at 8pm in Klein
                 Saturday, July 27th, at 2pm in Lima

Got a pile of strings you might sell or trade? Want to clear out that
stockpile of extra eq you've been keeping around for a rainy day? Trade
your skills (repairing, mending, tforming, healing, armsloring) for
cash, goods, or services, or find someone offering something you need.

Don't have anything you want to sell, buy, or trade? Stop in just to
see what's going on! See ya there!

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

    /\                          CODE UPDATES
   /  \     
  /    \    TYPO FIXES
 /_    _\    o 'Empowered by the billowing wind, you looms larger'
   |  |      o 'severe weather increase to a greater air sprite's power.'
   |  |      o 'the think stone' when healing people affected by stoneskin
   |  |      o 'You can't can't seem'  msg fixed in root and meditate.
   |__|      o 'whois' returns 'Whois whom?' instead of 'They're not here'
    /\       o '1 hit points' typos fixed in score
   /  \      o new score no longer has a comma after the GM part
  /    \     o hkiss social says 'charming' instead of 'continental'
 /_    _\    o third person typo fixed in tackle social
   |  |      o 'You cowers away from...' fixed
   |  |      o grumpy mood 'you saywith....' fixed
   |  |     
   |__|     
    /\                         HELP FILE UPDATES      
   /  \     
  /    \    The following helpfile was recently updated:
 /_    _\   
   |  |          GM, MARKET DAY, WEDDINGS, XPGAME
   |  |     
   |  |     Thanks to all the immorts and players who made this possible.
   |__|     
    /\      
   /  \                         SUMMER ODYSSEY      
  /    \    
 /_    _\                     MEDIEVAL ERA 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 (check AREAINFO to find
   /  \     out!) And don't limit ideas to just these three months!
  /    \    
 /_    _\   1802 ALASKA
   |  |          More mobs will now trade with you for more items.
   |  |          Darkened hut will now stay light a bit longer.
   |  |     THE ALHAMBRA
   |__|          Joes sells tickets to Peru along with a warning if you've
    /\           got less than the move required to get there.
   /  \     ANCIENT GREECE
  /    \         Fixes the mrti quest.
 /_    _\   BOSTON, MASS.
   |  |          Bug with Harriet fixed again. Be careful.
   |  |     FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
   |  |          New mobs. Elder's teaching acts clarified. Various bugs
   |__|          and typos fixed.                     
    /\      ROMANIA
   /  \          Adds in the axiom information into areainfo.
  /    \    SHERWOOD
 /_    _\        Richard shouldn't hassle invis people on arrival or
   |  |          randomly or offer rooms to deer. Robin Hood's bow
   |  |          altered. Pelts added to the bunnies that can be traded.
   |  |          Various bugs and typos fixed.
   |__|     TORTUGA    
    /\           Houngan will now empty and remove corpses when he makes a
   /  \          zombie.
  /    \    TUDOR ENGLAND
 /_    _\        Blunderbuss now requires gunplay to use.
   |  |     VICEROYAL PERU and MEDIEVAL ANDES
   |  |          New mob, new items. New quest -- may require one or two
   |  |          people to accomplish. Shuffles the levels of some mobs
   |__|          around. So be careful and CONSIDER everything, especially    
    /\           the ship's captain who now travels back and forth to
   /  \          Spain. Waving red things at the bull is a bad idea. You
  /    \         can now fall off the rock bridge in this era too. Forage
 /_    _\        section expanded.
   |  |      
   |  |                         Other Area Updates 
   |  |          
   |__|     ANCIENT INDIA
    /\           Fixes Sanjaya's problem. Fixes problem with lack of
   /  \          Dhaksa leaves.
  /    \    CELTIC IRELAND
 /_    _\        Herne will assist his hounds. Various bugs and typos
   |  |          fixed.
   |  |     PARIS OPERA HOUSE
   |  |          Blade of the Valkyrie and the baton were altered in prep
   |__|          for expansion. Mephistopheles' fight tactics fixed again
    /\           after they reverted.
   /  \     PICTISH COUNTRY
  /    \         Morgawr more aggressive -- will randomly start fighting
 /_    _\        again and will attack NPCs as well.
   |  |     PORT OF LONDON
   |  |          Captains shouldn't leave clippers lying around any more.
   |  |     AZTECS and ROMAN BRITAIN
   |__|          Various bugs and typos fixed.
    /\      
   /  \                    In Progress Area Updates 
  /    \    
 /_    _\   This section is intended to let everyone know what builders
   |  |     are working on behind the scenes. It is not a perfect record
   |  |     of progress as all builders will not make updates every week.
   |  |     Players badgering builders about progress or a perceived lack
   |__|     thereof will be flogged. Remember, the longer spent answering
    /\      questions, the longer the project takes to complete.
   /  \     
  /    \            Bart         Paris Expansion
 /_    _\           Cheyla       1802 Alaska Expansion
   |  |             Kae          Larderello (Dante's Hell)
   |  |             Kheldar      Medieval Sea Trade
   |  |             LadyAce      Kleinstadt (Update)
   |__|             Rusalka      Tudor London Expansion

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
   _____    
  /  _  \   DID YOU KNOW: Tips and tricks and little-used features
 /__/ \  \  
      /  /  Ever noticed how much useless junk is created in the world?
     /  /   Or at least what many people would consider useless since it
    /__/    would never appear on their eq lists. Ever wondered if there
    __      was a reason for all this stuff to exist beyond atmosphere?
   /  \     
   \__/     In many cases it does! One of the most common uses for these
   _____    pathetic little objects is trading them between mobs. Selling
  /  _  \   certain items can have additional benefits if you find the 
 /__/ \  \  right buyers. Some mobs give small amounts of xp for selling
      /  /  them items they're looking for or may reward you with quest
     /  /   hints. Other mobs will want you to give them items in return
    /__/    for the same types of rewards.
    __      
   /  \     Also if you find yourself short on cash, you can also use the
   \__/     TRADE command with shopkeepers to see if they will accept an
   _____    item that you possess for another that a shopkeeper has for
  /  _  \   sale. The item you are trading must be worth more than the
 /__/ \  \  item you are trying to obtain. The VALUE command is helpful
      /  /  to determine how much a particular shopkeeper is willing to
     /  /   pay you for an item.
    /__/    
    __      If you lack valuable items, you can also use the HAGGLE skill
   /  \     to try to get the shopkeepers to come down on their price.
   \__/     
  ___                                                                  ___
  \  |----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
  /__|    LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World   |__\
     '----------------------------------------------------------------'

            One character's history of helping ending quickly

So far for about 2 solid and strong years of playing the character
ArchAngel retires for a period of time. While wondering though the
different eras of mud and the different dungeons of mud he was reluctant
to be leaving. While working on making new eq list one after another and
then getting them after making it he's decided to put his sword on the
mantle in his home and let it go without a single regret. While serving
the entire mud and helping bring about the deaths of many mobs for the
benefit of helping other chars he says that "as long as I stay on here
playing as much I know I can only do as that much with as little or as
much respect and still not have the happiness that I've found in my
girlfriend that I have now." While looking for a place to get away to on
mud he as found that as much as he plays that he ignores the good values
of life. As he leaves he wishes the mud a good time while playing and
hopes that the players treat each with the respect that everyone deserves.

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

This strange little rhyme was found tucked in between some lengthier
correspondences this week:

                                 One.

         I climbed tall mountains, I strode through the valleys,
         I soared like the eagle, I bridged the deepest of gorges,
         I drove on the freeways, I snuck through the dark alleys,
         I broke my hand on still-warm bonds of celestial forges,
         But when I turned to see, you were not there.

     ___                                                          ___
     \  |--------------------------------------------------------|  /
     /__|                     Clan News                          |__\
        '--------------------------------------------------------'

The Dark Enforcers Clan was disbanded on July 6th for low membership.

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

Rumors abound that members of the Knights of Legend have been seen at the
gates of Carian Trag. What brings them hither, one might wonder....

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

                              {E}

            Not sure what your place in the universe is?
    Seeking enlightenment but every road seems too damned boring?
                 Like to eat, drink, and be merry?
          Think you can handle copious amounts of pleasure?

Then, my friend, The First Church of Epicurean Enlightenment is for you!

                 Forget about ten years in Tibet!
   Forget about donating to an already overly plump "Mother" church!
               Forget about life as you once knew it!

                 Transcendence through pleasure.

                              {E}

          For further information contact Tennessee Loftis, 
                     via mudmail if necessary.

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

The Seven Circles are honored to welcome into their ranks Malakai and ...
well ... another fellow who requests his anonymity be respected at the
time being. 19 agents of the netherworld walk among you, do take your
local infernal servant a cup of cappucino today.

Marcel Alexander, Esquire

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

                 Wanted: those fit for helping others...

The Knights of the Rising sun are opening the recruitment doors to those
interested in joining a rp style clan.  Those of you interested may
contact the clan's GM ArchAngel anytime that he is online.  Be wary that
if he's afk, more then likely he is either talking to his girlfriend or
running a run of some sort and working.

The clan is looking for any of the following requirements:

1.) Able and willing to help someone in a bind.
2.) Willing to help with the search for more clan members.
3.) Must always be a good example to the clan in any way possible.
4.) Good leadership qualities as you may need them when the GM takes off.
5.) Able to maintain an RP with the mud but yet have a reasonable sense of
    humor when jokes are tossed.

If you have anymore questions contact ArchAngel through mudmail or tells,
or contact any player with -=KoRs=- in their name.

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

                              Ae Ficht

I wash involved in a shmall bar brawl wi' Aquilante thish week, nae tae
the deeth, o' cairshe.  Wee panshy ran oof tae heal. Knew he cuidnae
defeat me by hish own merrit

Onywee, he kept fleeing onywee, althoo he did coom back after I shtarted
on m' pint. I shpilt shome of it. The wee bashtrrd.

McDougan

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

This past week, the members of the Grendels were out in nearly full force.
The Knights of Legend and the IRA were also active on the pkill front this
week. The Grand Coven and the Syndicate also made a showing but the
Hermetic Order was no where to be found on the pk scene this week.

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

There were 32 pkill deaths in the last week, so come on, let's get YOUR
name up in lights! Have you witnessed/commited 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), advertise here with us! It's free AND you'll get a 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!!
 
               =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 
There are currently 15 RP clans and 6 PK clans. This leaves open slots for
eleven (11) 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 for players interested in founding and
running a clan, visit http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/gm.html.

              _______________________
             /                       \
        o O | Wonder what folks are   |
  `\|||/    | doing over at LegendMUD?|
   (o o)     \_______________________/
ooO_(_)_Ooo________________________________________________________________
_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___
__|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|

             A North Carolinian Carouser in King Richard's Court
                                Part I

   Now, first things first. I will readily admit that I have a penchant
for sipping less-than-blessed wine from time to time. Ask any of my former
lovers and they would be quite willing to tell you I have what some might
refer to as a downright propinquity to the decanter. However, it should be
noted that these same beautiful lasses will also inform you that I am, in no
no way, someone who has ever lost control as a result of imbibing. That
being said, we can safely assume that the strange predicament I have found
myself thrust into is not some drunkards hallucination...which is in some
ways unfortunate. God knows I would prefer detox to being ripped from my
former life.

   I was on my way to the Rochefort's Christmas party. Quite a shin-dig,
really. Some say the tremendous number of people which frequent the party
each year is a result of the copious amounts of single Southern men and
women in attendance. Others will tell you it's simply a desire everyone
has to escape to the Rochefort's veritable palace...however gaudy I think
send note tennessee
it to be. In my opinion, however, the only reason anyone every shows up
is this: everyone wants an excuse to eat, drink, and be merry. Especially
in July...which rules out the actual yuletide as a reason for the
"Christmas" festivities.
   And so I was on my way, travelling the two days by carriage from my
beautiful sea-side home of Tilo. Some twelve hours into my journey
I came across a gentleman of, dare I say, ungodly beauty. He was
clad in much silver attire, down to his boots and the sword at his
side. When I waved him a greeting he simply responded: "There will
be no party this year, Mr. Loftis."
   Of course, I was deeply troubled that twelve hours had been wasted,
deeper still troubled that I had no excuse to carouse in late July...
but irking me more than anything else was this characters appearance and
apparent knowledge of who I was.
   "Erm...that is upsetting, old boy." I had stopped the carriage and was
doing my best not to fidget as this gentleman eyed me coolly. "I'm sorry,
but have we met?"
   "There will be no party Mr. Loftis."
   I blinked. "Well, I believe we have established that, yes."
   "You will be coming with me."
   "To another party?"
   "No."
   "Well can we have a party?"
   It was his turn to blink...for the first time he broke his gaze and
looked to the ground, seeming a bit confused...and let me tell you, at this
point I was in dire need of a drink.

   "There will be no party, Mr. Loftis."
   Now I was beginning to wonder if perhaps this wasn't some freak
occurance, and if maybe the only words this gentleman knew were "There
will be no party, Mr. Loftis." Maybe he was from New York...god knows
what language those Yankees spoke.
   I was ruminating on this idea when it was shot down with, "You
will come with me, you are the son of a Sidhe and must be returned."
   "The son of who?"
   "The son of the Sidhe."
   "Who is she?"
   "The Sidhe."
   "The she...erm..listen, man, I believe we have what might be called a
failure to communicate. And seeing as how..."
   "Sleep."
   "Well, that is rude...." Is all I remember. Oh, well, I did see his
silver shoes once more as I fell from the carriage and to the ground.

                           More to come...

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

                            Mitra's Diary

February 10	
     Broke up with Marcie. Ruined Percy's dry-clean- only jacket.

February 13	
     Tried meditating. End up staring at the paint on the walls of my new
     apartment instead. Decided that the walls are entirely the wrong
     shade of magenta.

February 16	
     Found Fred loitering on the doorstep. What is he doing here? Sent him
     out to fetch paint chips, new china.

February 18	
     Ran into Kali, an aspect of the Goddess that I haven't seen for ages.
     Had the most delightful discussion on Methods of Mass Destruction.

February 19	
     Wiped out all the people with badly tinted turbans in Agrabah.

February 20	
     Wiped out the rest of Agrabah.

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

                         My Brother's Keeper

Mine was an ordinary childhood, my twin brother, Zakhal and I were raised
by loving parents. Zakhal and I were totally unlike in appearance, he was
dark I was fair, but we had a very close bond, often finishing each
other's sentences, or sensing each other's thoughts.

Father was a caravan trader, a somewhat dangerous occupation, and one day
he was killed when bandits raided his caravan. To support us, mother sold
her trinkets one by one, until only two rings remained, one black, one
white, both engraved with a symbol my father had described as yin/yang.
These she refused to part with, telling us that father had meant us to
have them. She gave the black ring, with it's white spot to my brother,
and the white ring with it's spot of black to me. To feed us, mother took
a job as a palace servant, and it wasn't long before we joined her.

There Zakhal came to the attention of the court magician. His latest
apprentice had recently come to an unpleasant end, and he needed another.
Zakhal displayed some talent in the area, and the magician was pleased
with him. Zakhal had the misfortune to have a longer lifespan of any of
his predecessors.

Why do I say misfortune? Well, the longer Zakhal studied, the darker his
spirit became. The magician seduced his soul with evil and power, and
Zakhal was tempted by his need to avenge father's death. It was strange,
but as Zakhal moved towards the darkness, I seemed to move toward the
light, as if to maintain some balance between us. Yet, even as the gulf
between us widened until we could no longer sense the other's thoughts, we
still felt connected.

The path that the magician took Zakhal down was by small steps, each task
becoming slightly more evil, and my brother did not appear to notice the
changes. Until the day the magician asked my brother to do something so
evil, so utterly unspeakable, that it touched the last vestige of goodness
within my brother. Unable to refuse his master, yet unable to complete the
task, he deliberately took his life in a lab experiment.

The shock of losing her son, so soon after losing her husband sent my
mother into major depression. She was unable to work, uninterested in
sleeping, unwilling to eat. The healers could do nothing. In desperation,
I turned to the magician for assistance, but when mother saw him wearing
my brother's ring she went insane and attacked him. I heard him chanting
and caught one of the words he muttered as he slew my poor mad, grieving
mother. I fled before he could turn on me.

Now, as I wander this world alone, I ponder that small spot of evil within
me - my desire for revenge upon that magician - which will not fade until
I reclaim my brother's ring.

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

                       Nothing Shares Like Misery

The really exciting thing about misery is that it shares so well. Between
friends and lovers, spouses and enemies, nothing is so aptly shared and so
ungratefully received as a healthy slab of misery, best delivered with a
snappy remark and a withering glare. Misery is self-replicating; the more
you share the more you get, the more you give away the more comes right
back to you.

No one is more generous with misery than Marcel Alexander, self-proclaimed
prince of the netherworld and social butterfly extraordinaire, and -- at
least according to himself -- no one gets quite as good a return of it as
he does, either. Of course, there is the possibility that he's not the best
judge on the subject, although he, claiming to be the fallen angel of
misery, would indeed claim that expertise.

Angels measure time in eons; angels of misery in seconds.

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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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