September 2002 Welcome to the Barren Realms Newsletter! Come visit BR at: telnet://barren.coredcs.com:8000/ IDEAS: Please hit reply and send us your opinions on these :) Haze: when your tracking something and it gets killed before you get there you should stop tracking it Chocobo: It would be fun if you can damage an undead by curing them. (i.e casting spell ups on them) DwarfChild: third attack shouldnt cost extra exp. I'm a dwarf and i get parried so much, i barely even see a second attack!!!!!!!! Squiddy: In order to become a hero, you need to prove you know the realms well enough by taking some sort of test! We have some really slow heroes.. Ashton: the bank should be a safe room. No thiefs allowed! Shadowhawk: The Demon's Dragon's snout should hanve a little more omph. Its attack barely dose any damage. Maynard: the spell medicine for humans should replenish more hit points as you go up in levels. Paladinkain: force feeding potions, it sounds funny and i know it wouldn't work out well, but still it'd be funny and occasionally useful Squiddy: when you reach a certain level, your affects list should say how long you're going to be drunk for Dawne: how bout when you try to recite a scroll on someone, and you have the wrong keyword, it tells you they're not here instead of actually using the scroll? Squiddy: all heroes should get peek Anubis: a command that creates like 3-4 seconds of command lag for you. I would be useful in aliases and triggers and I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to add to code. DevilsAngel: what about an automatic restore when we level. That would be awesome Characters that need to log in: Ahkran, Alustriel, Anthrax, Braktar, Bret, Brolly, Culath, Equilizer, Gorin, Grinchen, Gryphon, Jaree, Kalista, Krok, Loto, Macdaddy, Macore, Morley, Sandrock, Seuss, Sneaky, Tasslehoff, Vic No responses, bios or anything... just ideas, jokes and websites this week... Kiri's www of urls: Wanna buy an island? http://www.vladi-private-islands.de/home_e.html What about an amazing evening at a castle? http://www.oheka-castle.com/html/ultimate_evening.html You only want to know T-Games status? http://www.geocities.com/zerochocobo/T_Games.html Keep up on travel - get out of dodge! For tom: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/tfront.htm Something by George Carlin: FORWARD: Life is not as difficult as people think; all one needs is a good set of rules. Since it is probably too late for you, here are some guidelines to pass along to your children. 1. Relax and take it easy. Don't get caught up in hollow conceits such as "doing something with your life." Such twaddle is outmoded and a sure formula for disappointment. 2. Whatever it is you pursue, try to do it just well enough to remain in the middle third of the field. Keep your thoughts and ideas to yourself and don't ask questions. Remember, the squeaky wheel is the first one to be replaced. 3. Size people up quickly, and develop rigid attitudes based on your first impression. If you try to delve deeper and get to "know" people, you're asking for trouble. 4. Don't fall for that superstitious nonsense about treating people the way you would like to be treated. It is a transparently narcissistic approach, and may be the sign of a weak mind. 5. Spend as much time as you can pleading and impressing others, even if it makes you unhappy. Pay special attention to shallow manipulators who can do you the most harm. Remember, in the overall scheme, you count for very little. 6. Surround yourself with inferiors and losers. Not only will you look good by comparison, but they will look up to you, and that will make you feel better. 7. Don't buy into the sentimental notion that everyone has shortcomings; it's the surest way of undermining yourself. Remember, the really best people have no defects. If you're not perfect, something is wrong. 8. If by some off chance you do detect a few faults, first, accept the fact that you are probably deeply flawed. Then make a list of your faults and dwell on them. Carry the list around and try to think of things to add. Blame yourself for everything. 9. Beware of intuition and gut instincts, they are completely unreliable. Instead, develop preconceived notions and don't waver unless someone tells you to. Then change your mind and adopt their point of view. But only if they seem to know what they're talking about. 10. Never give up on an idea simply because it is bad and doesn't work. Cling to it even when it is hopeless. Anyone can cut and run, but it takes a very special person to stay with something that is stupid and harmful. 11. Always remember, today doesn't count. Trying to make something out of today only robs you of precious time that could be spent daydreaming or resting up. 12. Try to dwell on the past. Think of all the mistakes you've made, and how much better it would be if you hadn't made them. Think of what you should have done, and blame yourself for not doing so. And don't go easy. Be really hard on yourself. 13. If by chance you make a fresh mistake, especially a costly one, try to repeat it a few times so you become familiar with it and can do it easily in the future. Write it down. Put it with your list of faults. 14. Beware also of the dangerous trap of looking ahead; it will only get you in trouble. Instead, try to drift along from day to day in a meandering fashion. Don't get sidetracked with some foolish "plan." 15. Finally, enjoy yourself all the time, and do whatever you want. Don't be seduced by that mindless chatter going around about "responsibility." That's exactly the sort of thing that can ruin your life. Welcome to the Barren Realms MUD newsletter! Telnet to BR at telnet://barren.coredcs.com:8000/ You know you need your fix! News from the Realms Congratulations on Xorex making immortal! Pyrite: Yellow Team Quest Results Everyone congratulate Jiriki on finding all 5 pieces of the rod and for excellent role playing, he has deservedly won first place! In close second with 3 pieces of rod (and _so_ close to getting four) were Erin and Slothrop of Green team. Way to play! They also did wonderfully in role playing =) We are still awaiting a note from Anguish, Lairian, and Kimi with the names of the rod pieces they collected before we can announce 3rd place. So get your notes to Pyrite asap! Thank you everyone who played, I know Yellow Team had a lot of fun running the quest! Alicia: Barren Realms Area Builder users I'd like to ask you guys to do me a favor. If you've used or are using my area builder could you please send me an email with your your name, location, and any comments you have about it, or things you'd like to see in the future, etc. If you don't feel like telling me anything, even just an email saying "I'm using it" would be very much appreciated. Thanks a lot guys, - Alicia [cbrand@calpoly.edu] IDEAS -- feel free to respond Liam: when writing an area, i wish i could set damps + dams for mobs Terminal: just asking..but why isn't hide in the affects list? - Terminal AMystery: we have warn to know when people connect. we need a way to know if they are here when we arrive. assuming warn doesn't do that Sinda: something as a affect, telling you that your drunk.. -- Kiri : check affects AMystery: enflame weapon should work on non magic weapons, but be like taint, it rather quickly destroys them Claxem: You should be able to eat red pills regardless if you're full. Who has ever been too full to take their pills? DwarfMan: You should be able to backstab with stab weapons. I don't even have to explain why for that one. Paladinkain: there really should be a 'help immortal' so the newbies know what imm's are and what they can and cannot do, so they know why they should listen to them Anubis: a version of the newsletter readable from inside the relms on telnet Grogar: remove the ablity to trip from mobs underwater. if ya can't fly underwater anymore. it really makes the underwater areas not fun to go to anymore. and yes i used to go to the dark sea but i just don't want to be tripped and die all the time. Whirly: for avians at early levels, if their dive attack misses, the wind up going through one of the exits in the room randomly, or hitting the ground and knocking themselves out. Anakin: Cast change sex when you accidentally missed a spell and casts "Ala-peanutbutter-sandwiches" just for the fun of it *smirk* Firebreath: make: put all coins or put all.coins work AMystery: plook should show the same empty slots that look shows Grond: How about a toggle -- call it MERCY or something -- that allows you to stop fighting if your opponent is stunned or bleeding to death or otherwise helpless. It could affect your alignment, too. Ashes: how about being able to "note forward (player)", so that in alternate characters pfiles we could have all the notes forwarded to one character? Dawne: how about with a higher percentage in roundhouse, you become able to get up more quickly after falling? Responses by DAEHDER to the last newsletter: Haze: when your tracking something and it gets killed before you get there you should stop tracking it DAEHDER: But that means that your little tracking elf would need to go look every step you take, so that would mean some extra mana going off your score and you have to wait for him to come back until you take the next step. Interesting ;-) DwarfChild: third attack shouldnt cost extra exp. I'm a dwarf and i get parried so much, i barely even see a second attack!!!!!!!! DAEHDER: Solution: Raise your stats more ;-) Especially HIT Squiddy: In order to become a hero, you need to prove you know the realms well enough by taking some sort of test! We have some really slow heroes.. DAEHDER: It's a game, you win it by getting to level 51. Ashton: the bank should be a safe room. No thiefs allowed! DAEHDER: Let's rob the bank! Maynard: the spell medicine for humans should replenish more hit points as you go up in levels. DAEHDER: I always thought it did. Paladinkain: force feeding potions, it sounds funny and i know it wouldn't work out well, but still it'd be funny and occasionally useful DAEHDER: I don't know what you mean. You can quaff as much potions as you want. Squiddy: all heroes should get peek DAEHDER: They used to have soemthing like peek, I think. Anubis: a command that creates like 3-4 seconds of command lag for you. I would be useful in aliases and triggers and I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to add to code. DAEHDER: I thouught the stance here was that you had to code it for yourself in any of the multitude ofmud clients you have out there that allows scripting. Kiri's WWW of URLs: This week, another amazing submission from Sgetsuo. You have to wonder what the hell is wrong with that guy. http://www.froguts.com/ The first smiley? http://research.microsoft.com/~mbj/Smiley/Smiley.html Five ways to spend a billion dollars, in case you are bored. http://www.forbes.com/home/2002/09/13/0913fiveways.html National Geographic's Lord of the Rings site is quite good http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngbeyond/rings/language.html Forwarded by Scavenger -- seen in the daily post at 8bit theater. So I was at the grocery store the other day due to a certain lack of necessary household items the likes of which are so darned necessary that just the idea that I should be in a house without them is nightmare material. So yeah, it was toilet paper and swiss cheese for my sammiches. Anyway, I happened down the aisle with all the cat food, litter, and toys because Macio, well, he's lost his mouse. The Epic of Mouse is long and the end is a mystery with depths so deep that to plumb them would be the epitome of foolishness itself. Basically, Mouse is just a really old catnip mouse cat toy without any catnip left. But Macio is a catnip fiend. You ever see Requiem for a Dream? That's Macio when it comes to catnip. So never mind the fact that Mouse has no catnip, he used to and that's good enough for Macio. But there was more to Mouse than just Mouse and no catnip. Much, much more. There was a string tied to him so that a human, if one were so inclined, could swing and twirl Mouse around and torment Macio with Mouse on the other end. The diabolical team of Mouse and String was often too much for Macio to handle. He would begin an offensive against Mouse and, before he knew it, String would have outflanked him and wrapped up all his little feets. If String was Macio's target, you could be sure that Mouse would sneak around and start slapping him in the face. Many, and mighty, were the battles of String, Mouse, and Macio. Even so, Macio loved the pair. Most nights String and Mouse would be somewhere in the living room. More mornings than not, they'd be in our bedroom on the very spot that Macio had slept that night. But then, weeks ago, no one had seen Mouse nor String for several days. A thorough search of the house was made, as well as several others since then, yet they were nowhere to be found. Since there's only a finite number of places within the walls of our home that Mouse and String can be, we have not given up hope that they will, one day, be found. In the meantime however, and this is where we get back to the grocery store's cat crap aisle, I decided to look for a temporary replacement. Most of the cat toys they had would have been fine except that they were obviously designed by people who had never actually owned a cat. For instance, most of the toys were made of hard plastic and involved bells and chimes and other loud noise making devices that would be employed every time the thing moved. Which is fine until you remember that even domesticated cats are mostly nocturnal. Oh please, can I pay $10 so I can't sleep through six straight hours of blingyblingyblingyblingy... whack thwack THACK blingyblingyblingyblingyblingy every night? Sign me up! Morons. And then there was this one cat toy that nearly had me fooled. It looked, strangely enough, almost exactly like Mouse so that was a plus. It was vacuum sealed with factory fresh catnip-like scent, so that was another plus. But then I saw the small print. The toy was supposed to make a sound every time the cat moved it. A mousey squeak kind of sound. Fine, so it's just another stupid cat toy that I won't buy because I value my sanity. But there's more to it than that. It makes the sound electronically so it has little batteries, little speakers, and a little microchip inside. A microchip. In a cat toy. It's a fucking cat, people. They don't need a toy stuffed with enough electronics that it can double as their personal organizer. BEEP BEEP! 12:05, time for another nap. "Boy, it's a good thing I've got this personal organizer, otherwise I would've slept right through nap time!" I mean come on, already. Cat's aren't morons. They don't need a toy to beep and squeak and talk to them all day. They're cats, not kids.