Volume Nine Issue Twenty-Seven
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............./ / THE LEGENDARY TIMES
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.../________________/ running on mud.legendmud.org 9999
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VOLUME NINE, NUMBER TWENTY-SEVEN July 13, 2002
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Editor's Note
NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
Calendar of Events
Recent Updates
Ban Basics
Recent Q&A Topics
DID YOU KNOW: Sunrise/Sunset Variations
LEGENDITES
Stealth and Guile
Clan News
Everything As It Is
A North Carolinian Carouser in King Richard's Court -- Part II
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/__| The Editor's Note |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
There seems to be some confusion and concern lately over the ideas that
people can and will be sitebanned and that people should be civil to one
another even in as anonymous a place as a virtual space where it's all too
easy to forget that other real people with real feelings are behind the
other characters around you.
Cheyla has written a fairly straight forward article below that describes
the differences between sitebans and archive locks and what it takes to
earn one. They're not handed out lightly or on a whim. You're probably not
going to be next unless you repeatedly run into the same problems.
Another thing comes up from time to time is the notion that one can be
sitebanned or warned for simply expressing one's opinion. Hogwash, I say!
We have never censored someone for their ideas or for disagreeing and
don't intend to. However, if someone is expressing their opinions in a
manner that is breaking the language rules or it has clearly crossed over
to where it is harassing another player or immortal, then yes, steps will
be taken to address the specific rules that are being broken.
There's no reason to be rude and belligerent to state your opinions and
get your point across. In fact, doing so, will usually make it harder to
accomplish and lower your credibility in the eyes of others. If something
doesn't help in the real world, it's not going to help in a virtual one.
I've always worked under the assumption that the immortals run LegendMUD
much like a public theme park. We build and maintain the amusements and
make sure all the behind the scenes mechanics are functioning, help people
who are lost and have questions or problems, and yes, we have security
guards to take care of problems caused by people who refuse to follow the
rules of the park that were posted at the gate.
Who wants to visit a park where people stand around and do nothing but
shout obscenities or harass everyone that passes them or one where people
are push, shove, and cut in line? Who would want to work at one where you
get spit on repeatedly for just doing your job?
The analogy goes on... but you can also relate it to more traditional pen
and paper gaming sessions. Which is where my unintentional inflamatory
statement yesterday came from when a player basically told an immortal to
shut up and go away. I simply said, "It's our virtual living room you've
been invited into.. Don't be so rude."
Unfortunately, some people read as "If you don't like it leave" kind of
statement. It wasn't intended as that at all. There was no talk of
uninviting the playerbase -- that'd be kinda stupid and counterproductive
-- there wasn't even talk of uninviting anyone.
Just a reminder that the immortals are nice enough to do this without pay
and the players don't get charged to play, so being rude wasn't and isn't
necessary. Especially, since the idea behind a game like this is for
_everyone_ involved to have a good time.
-----
Don't forget the Summer Snowstorm (Snowball Hunt) this afternoon (be sure
to read the welcome board post with the details and rules!) and tonight at
8pm system time Market Day in Kleinstadt begins!
Enjoy yourselves.
-Kaige
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\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| 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!
Saturday, July 13th 11:00 am A Summer Snowstorm
8:00 pm Market Day in Kleinstadt
Wednesday, July 17th 9:00 pm Skills & Spells Recalltag
Thursday, July 18th 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Saturday, July 20th 5:00 pm Medieval Trivia with LadyAce
Sunday, July 21st 6:00 pm Sandra's trivia double-header
Wednesday, July 24th 9:00 pm 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
___ ___
\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Recent Updates |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
/\ CODE UPDATES
/ \
/ \ MISC CHANGES
/_ _\ o time command now has a break between ic and ooc info
| |
| | BUG FIXES
| | o It's no longer possible to camouflage mobs that can't be
|__| turned invisible
/\
/ \
/ \ HELP FILE UPDATES
/_ _\
| | The following helpfile was recently updated:
| |
| | JARGON, TIME, UPDATES
|__|
/\ 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
| | Adds extra messages for avalanche, typo fixes. Baths
|__| altered slightly.
/\
/ \ FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
/ \ More items accepted for trade.
/_ _\
| | HOSPITALLER MALTA
| | Drunken noblemen's sexual identity problems fixed.
| | Various bugs and typos fixed.
|__|
/\ VICEROYAL PERU
/ \ Fishermen shouldn't stockpile boats. Various bugs and
/ \ typos fixed.
/_ _\
| | MEDIEVAL SEAS, SHERWOOD, and ST. DENNIS ABBEY
| | Various bug and typos fixed.
| |
|__|
/\ Other Area Updates
/ \
/ \ ARABIAN NIGHTS
/_ _\ Remedies for some maladies are now available in logical
| | places.
| |
| | ANCIENT NAZCA and SOUTHSEAS
|__| 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)
|__|
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\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Ban Basics |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
Recently, there has been some concern regarding the sitebanning of certain
individuals, and confusion regarding why the sitebans were put in place.
While we cannot divulge details, we can clear up the reasons behind
sitebans. First off, to make it clear, a siteban is when we make it so you
cannot connect to the game from your ISP. Anyone else playing from your
ISP will also be unable to connect. In comparison, there is archive lock,
where we essentially take a character away from you but you are still able
to play other characters.
There are a variety of reasons a player may be banned from LegendMUD, but
in every instance, it is a last resort punishment. How long a ban is for
and at what point it is put in place will vary from case to case, but
generally the player has displayed a consistent and continued disrespect
for the rules, immortals, and playerbase. There have been repeated
offenses, numerous warnings, and a number of "second chances". Punishments
have been doled out, possibly including the archive locking of characters
and/or short-term bans of a week or a month. And still the lessons remain
unlearned and "rehabilitation" is not acheived. They continue to break
major rules such as swapping equipment, multiplaying or harassment and
display no remorse, upset the playerbase, and drain immortal resources.
There is nothing personal in a ban - they are not put in place because
someone whined too much or an immortal was feeling spiteful, had their
feelings hurt, or was playing favorites. Rules need to be broken -
repeatedly - for you to get banned.
Lesser versions of a siteban can be imposed - new character bans and guest
bans are occasionally put in place when someone is creating newbies or
guests to "anonymously" cause problems, whether it be repeated cussing on
channels, harassing a player, or creating newbies repeatedly with
inappropriate names after being reminded of our language rules. These may
or may not be permanent but are often only in place for a short time.
Sitebans intended to be in place for some time may come with an unban
timeframe - where it is in place for only a month or a year. Provided the
player has followed any/all instructions necessary to be unbanned, the
site will then be allowed again at the end of the punishment period. Some
bans, however, are essentially permanent. We do realize that people can
mature, so if a player was banned when they were in high school and they
have now "grown up", they can always try to appeal the ban and see if we
are willing to work out something where they can prove they have changed.
HELP RULES and HELP VIOLATIONS can provide information on the rules,
warning system, and punishment allocation.
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_______ ____ _______
/ ___ \ / __ \ / ___ \ 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 Can Imm EQ be Mundaned? o Time Command Change?
o How Long is Moon Cycle? o Control Weather Syntax?
o Disbanding and Clan Accounts? o Economy Discussion
o Paris Expansion? o Problems with Roland and Quest?
o Heal Bots? o XP Difficulty & Updates & Feedback
o % XP to Level at 50? o XP Scale/Classes?
o Finding Quests? o Joint Banking/Housing?
o Holding Boats? o +HP Rent Too Much?
o RP Clans PK activity in LT? PK Ideas
o Rent on Silver Medallions?
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_____
/ _ \ DID YOU KNOW: Tips and tricks and little-used features
/__/ \ \
/ / Have you noticed that sunrise and sunset don't happen at the
/ / same time all over the world of LegendMUD anymore? There is
/__/ an explanation for it.
__
/ \ When the more complex weather system was installed back in
\__/ February, it was also made so that the length of daylight
_____ hours also varied based on the distance the area was from
/ _ \ the equator and the current season. So areas that are further
/__/ \ \ north or further south from the equator (i.e. Alaska, Beowulf,
/ / Austraila, will see a wider fluctuation of these hours than
/ / Tortuga, Peru, and others closer to the equator.
/__/
__ Unfortunately, with this change, the HELP TIME file was not
/ \ updated to reflect this and we regret any confusion that it
\__/ has caused up until this point. But it has been changed now.
___ ___
\ |----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World |__\
'----------------------------------------------------------------'
Stealth and Guile
Cold wind blew in from everywhere, yet it was summer. The highlands in the
Goth's region seemed humbling at best, the majestic beauty of it flowly
chipping away at the stony interior. The black steed pranced nervously as
the black cloaked woman held the reigns. She was alone for this mission,
and she needed to regain her army for the Dark Lord.
Gleaming at her belt was an artifact that seemed lost for the last three
millenia. The blood ruby at the hilt glinted with a malevolent light, and
the faint whispers of a dark voice caressed her mind. Yes, soon the Dark
Lord would have his troops again, but first, it required convincing these
barbarians to join the cause and make it seem as though they weren't
serving a dark deity. Her lips cracked in a faint smile beneath the deep
cowl of the cloak.
Sorrow seemed long buried as she led the steed down the steep slope. Her
son was now in the hands of someone more capable of raising him, and
keeping him sane. Masha Corlan stared distantly as she continued to lead
the prancing horse down the slope.
It was painful, the scar on her palm reminded her. She swore a blood oath
that she would never actively seek him, but it never kept her from
receiving reports of his health and well-being. Her eyes glared futilely
at the rocks ahead, remembering the mocking laugh. I will laugh last,
Isam al'Mandragoran, Masha thought to herself.
'You will have to learn to be more detached from it. Live forever and thus
outlive your enemies,' the voice in the back of her head spoke. That voice
had been quiet for some time, since before Corwyn's birth. 'That is how I
managed such great success.'
Masha snorted as the horse stopped, letting her survey the area. "Yes, I
know. You keep telling me many times, dear mentor." Her lips twitched in
a faint smile, and a wickedly spiked gauntlet lifted back the cowl of the
hood, letting her survey the area more clearly.
The trees were in full bloom, branches and leaves whispering in the wind,
making Masha have an irrational pang of homesickness. Stop it, she told
herself, mother's dead and father might as well be. The sun glinted
through in slashing rents through the dimness of the forest.
Masha's mind wandered and she let it. It was safe enough, these people
had not heard of her, nor the Dark Lord. Long gone were the days where
people called her a tall, serene herbalist; they were lost when her first
children died in the arctic, and then again when she and Isam had their
quarrel. The serenity would never come back.
A shrill laugh escaped her as her fingers caressed over the dread book
that every Lightblinder never understood; they could never understand the
Writ of Him. The Shadow Testaments were held dear to all those who served
the Dark Lord, and they would be again, Masha would make them embrace it
by force if need be. Her eyes were round with evil glee, knowing that
those who spoke His Writ would only be able to read it, and even then only
the truly devout. Lilian would be sick with envy, she smirked to herself,
knowing that I now possess it. All I need now is the Book of Blood, and it
would become complete for the volumes of the Dark Lord's voice. Yes, soon,
she promised herself.
Pondering to herself, it seemed safe to say that she was a tall,
foreboding priestess of the Dark Lord. Preaching the word of the Dark Lord
counted as being a priestess, after all. It was also fitting that she was
the Dark Lord's High-Priestess. Isam was wrong for assuming anything,
especially when said to catch him off guard and make him slip in his
faith. The voice in the back of her head agreed...
-----
Masha will not longer be recognized as:
short: a tall, serene herbalist
long: A tall, serene herbalist tends carefully to the wounded.
But instead she will be known as:
short: the High-Priestess of the Dark Lord
long: Cunning and calculating, a priestess plans victory for the Dark
Lord.
___ ___
\ |--------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Clan News |__\
'--------------------------------------------------------'
Quick Recovery
In a fast, quick, surprise attack on the Sandman, Goin'Fission landed a
solid backstab that left the Syndicate leader paralyzed. Goin'Fission
finished the job, recovered the IRA's flag and quickly ran for safe
ground. The Sandman seems to have grown fond of the flag and informed
Goin'Fission that she wouldnt have it for long since he will be going back
after it.
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The Syndicate, unable to make market days, dropped a note on our desk that
indicates that they are looking to recruit some new "made" people and
"number runners." If you're interested, please drop a note to Sandman.
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Sir Delandel, a freelance Knight who upholds the "Old Code" of the Knights
of Legend, has been staunchly defending his beliefs this past week. He
faced challenges from Aquilante, Herbert, Powers and Goofie and was bested
by Craven.
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The IRA had the most members out on the pk scene this past week, possibly
trying to recover and then defend their flag? The Grendels had the next
highest number of members who had participated in PK this week, closely
followed by the Knights of Legend and the Syndicate. The Hermetics and the
Grand Coven each had a quiet week again with few of their members actively
participating on the PK scene.
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Recently, we were asked why we focus on the PK clans here in this section
and not reporting the RP clan's pkill activities. If you want to promote
and encourage pkill among the PK clans, do you point out when there are
more RP clans that have more members that are active in pkill? Or by doing
that, do you just reinforce the notions that PK is dead/dying/obsolete and
RP and "dueling" is the only thing that's acceptable? Even though many of
the RP clans will tell you that it's not just "lame" dueling that occurs.
We've also been asked why only certain PK incidents get written up and not
all of them. Not everyone takes us up on the offer to print the reports we
recieve. We can only print what is reported to us. While we have access to
some broad information that is used here, we are not omniscent. See the
below paragraph for details and send in what you see/experience!
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There were 64 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!!
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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) \_______________________/
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Everything As It Is
by Herbert West
The sunlight streaming through the window was enough of a reminder of the
way the world can surprise you with its infinite beauty without needing to
roll over and see my wife laying beside me.
Today would be another good day, a day of bliss in my newfound state of
being.
The syringe and the scalpel stashed in my doctors bag had not seen any
action in weeks and for all intensive purposes I had retired from my old
hobbies.
And so I sat in the bed with not one formulae or theory in my head, just
the simple thought that I was at peace for possibly the first time in
years. She was beautiful, as she always was as she slept.
But in recent days I had been having the strangest feelings of forboding,
as though waiting on the other shoe to drop.
As I would assume any man as in love, as I am, might.
And so as I crept into my basement laboratory to retrieve a few things to
study while Lachesis slept I noticed the decaying rubble of the walls,
usually covered in algae and altogether a wonderful display of biology,
the wall looked different, as though perhaps it had been reconstructed in
some strange alien fashion.
Of course, the horror I encountered upon inspecting it was that I was
absolutely right.
As I pushed on the offending section of wall it crumbled neatly into a
huge cavernous space connecting to a tunnel to whereabouts I would dare
not even consider.
Someone had entered my laboratory, why in the hell would they do that and
for what purpose?
I heard the sounds before I saw what was making them, the sounds I had
heard so many times before and I need not have even turned my head to see
the two shapes in the darkness staring at me, their shuffling was always
so damn obvious.
But what happened next truly surprised me and in ten years of research I
had never seen it happen.
'Doctor West, you killed us, and we hate you, but the time is not right
for our revenge, we have taken your books, and we have taken your
formulae, and we warn you, do not follow' bellowed the taller of the two
ghouls.
I believe it was at that point that I fainted.
The question all scientists need ask themselves further along their career
is this, 'Am I really the scientist or am I the subject?'
The answer of course I still do not know, I only know that if the demons I
have created use what they obviously now know in any way that harms myself
or my wife they will never breath again in this world.
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A North Carolinian Carouser in King Richard's Court -- Part II
Now, I've had hangovers before...but never one like the one that damned
fellow in silver gave me. "What the hell just happened?" was my sudden new
mantra...only I quickly realized it was a bit hard to chant being that I
was face down in the dirt. I heard the unmistakable sound of a battle
within very close proximity to where I lay. Turning my head slightly, I
looked up to find my kidnapper, now without hood, engaged in a sword-fight
with three gentleman dressed in garb black as midnight. The clash of their
ebony swords against his of silver rang in my head...adding insult to
injury, I might add, in terms of the wretched headache I was now dealing
with. I sat up and shook my head, attempting to gain my bearings.
In mid-swing, my captor looked over and yelled, "Run Loftis! Run like the
wind." One more look at the unnatural evil exuding from his foes was all
it took. He didn't have to ask me twice.
I stood, wobbling a bit, and dashed through the underbrush. And I ran. And
ran. One thought stood out in my head before all others: I need a drink.
Of course, that was quickly followed by the barrage of: Where am I? What
in God's name is going on here? How completely ruined are my clothes?
Soon, I came to a small path. That small path led to what seemed a
well-traveled road. And that road led to a quaint little bar. Thank God.
I stopped in the doorway to what I would soon learn was known as "The
Royal Stag", panting and dirty and sporting quite unflattering bumps,
cuts, and bruises. Looking around, I noticed that, strange as I may have
looked wandering into a bar or party in my hometown, I was quite possibly
the least-strange looking fellow in the place. The place was packed with
folks dressed in some of the most gaudy get-up I had ever seen. Hell, the
fellow in silver was downright well-dressed insofar as compared to this
motley crew.
I brushed myself off, walked to the bar, and ordered a drink. "Ya look a
wee bit banged up," said the bartender.
"Keen grasp on the obvious, old boy," I said, smiling.
"Ye might want to ask one of the patrons here for some help, a couple have
healing gifts."
"Doctors?"
"And druids."
I blinked. "Druids?"
"Aye."
"Erm...this may sound a bit strange, but...where am I?"
"Your in my kingdom."
"Excuse me?"
He chuckled pleasantly and replied, "This is Sherwood, and your in the
court of King Richard." He bowed slightly and laughed as he slid me my
drink.
"Ah. Right. Ha." I took a sip. "Sherwood you say?"
"That's right."
"How far is that from North Carolina?"
"Where?"
"Oh goodness." I shook my head and mumbled, "Nevermind." Taking a seat at
the nearest unoccupied table, I ran my hands through my hair, finished my
drink, and tried to figure out what, exactly, I was going to do now.
More to come...
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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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