Volume Eleven Issue Eight

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 VOLUME ELEVEN, NUMBER EIGHT                           July 17, 2004
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                          TABLE OF CONTENTS
                          The Editor's Note

                        NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
                          Calendar of Events
                            Recent Updates

                             LEGENDITES
                     Lorenzo's Trivia Accolades
                             
                              CLAN NEWS
                    The Eighth Deadly Sin: Bingo?

               First a Dog Infestation and Now This... ?
                        A Word from Our Sponsor
___                                                               ___
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                      The Editor's Note                      |__\
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'

We've just arrived at the half-way mark for this year's Summer Odyssey.

The coders (especially Rufus) have just dumped a large stack of
changes in our laps and everyone is scrambling to see how it affects
their characters. We do appreciate everyone who is taking the time to
investigate the changes before deriding them. There's more changes in
store for next week, but they're not as likely to cause as much
upheaval.

The coders have also been making some more tools and toys for the
builders to play with. You may have noticed that not all animals are
growling with anger when they are ready to attack. Expect to see more
of these as time goes on, and you can help by pointing out any we've
missed or making suggestions for what they should do.

The builders have been busy too. You'll notice that Kae did some
much-needed revisions and fixes for French Indian War, and LadyAce
was busy tweaking and fine-tuning Kleinstadt. If you haven't seen the
remodeling of Der Phoenix, or even if you have, be sure to come join
the fun planned there on Wednesday, July 21st at 7pm system time!

Don't forget! There's also a Medieval Trivia Challenge scheduled for
today at 3pm system time, and a medieval-themed tinyplot will be held
tomorrow, starting at 5pm system time.

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

                         JULY: MEDIEVAL ERA 
                        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
 
Saturday,   July      17th     3:00 pm   Medieval Trivia Challenge
Sunday,     July      18th     5:00 pm   July Tinyplot (details TBA)
Wednesday,  July      21st,   2pm-10pm   PK BattleZone 
Wednesday,  July      21st,    7:00 pm   Medieval Mixer-Der Phoenix
Thursday,   July      22nd     7:30 pm   Q&A in the OOC Auditorium
Saturday,   July      24th     3:00 pm   Medieval Trivia Challenge
                               5:00 pm   Spellcaster Spectacular 
                                             PK Tourney
Wednesday,  July      28th,   2pm-10pm   PK BattleZone 
Thursday,   July      29th     7:30 pm   Q&A in the OOC Auditorium
Saturday,   July      31st     3:00 pm   Medieval Trivia Challenge
                               5:00 pm   A Gathering of Warlords 
                                             PK Tourney

Coming in August:
  Summer Odyssey: Focus on the Industrial Era
  ....including Industrial-themed Trivia Challenge sessions, an
  Industrial Level to 5 contest, a Tinyplot in the Industrial era,
  and a Naked Brawl PK Tourney, and much more!
___                                                               ___
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                       Recent Updates                        |__\
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'

    /\                      CODE UPDATES
   /  \     
  /    \    MISC CHANGES
 /_    _\     o Hidden exits that are visible due to high perc will
   |  |         now be displayed in ()s.
   |  |       o Sloth has a small duration during which movement
   |  |         costs are increased.
   |__|       o Deafness no longer apply to any types of
    /\          communication from imms.
   /  \       o Falling down due to drunkness should set you to prone
  /    \        instead of sitting.
 /_    _\     o Remove curse scrolls have a slightly smaller chance
   |  |         of destroying an item.
   |  |       o Hemp items should be mendable now.
   |  |       o Level bonus for AC removed.
   |__|       o Impact of hitroll is now heavily influenced by AC.
    /\        o Melee damage reduction for pk fights has been
   /  \         reduced.
  /    \      o Attacker's ability to hit will be decreased if they
 /_    _\       aren't standing.
   |  |       o Dodging will be much less effective if you aren't
   |  |         standing.
   |  |       o Hitroll will now be determined by your primary weapon
   |__|         stat.
    /\        o Backstab damage is no longer effected by position.
   /  \       o Heavier weapons will have an increased minimum
  /    \        damage.
 /_    _\     o Advanced and expert parry bonuses won't be capped by
   |  |         the type of weapon you're using.
   |  |       o Min parry and dodge chances raised slightly.
   |  |       o Headbutt stuns will last a full round.
   |__|       o Worse for wear stuns will cause additional lag to the
    /\          caster so no secondary spells will be possible during
   /  \         the stun.
  /    \      o New skills: innate defense, blindfighting and weapon
 /_    _\       mastery.
   |  |     
   |  |     BUG FIXES
   |  |       o Some arrival messages fixed for special boats that
   |__|         have no short desc.
    /\        o Create water spell no longer checks for people with
   /  \         the keyword, only objects.
  /    \      o Deafness is now cleared upon dying.
 /_    _\     o Sustained breath will now activate properly for rooms
   |  |         that flood, even if you're already standing in them.
   |  |       o Mobs that fall down due to a critical miss won't
   |  |         instantly stand.
   |__|     
    /\      
   /  \                   HELPFILE UPDATES
  /    \    
 /_    _\   Updated Topics:
   |  |          AUGMENT, BLINDFIGHTING, CHOKED, CRITICAL HIT,
   |  |          DEADEYE, DEATHTRAP, EXPLOSIVES, GRAVITY, 
   |  |          INNATE DEFENSE, MUNDANE, PKE, PKILL, ROOT, 
   |__|          SUMMON WATER ELEMENTAL, WALLS, WEAPON MASTERY
    /\      
   /  \     
  /    \                      SUMMER ODYSSEY
 /_    _\   
   |  |     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!). Please don't limit ideas
   /  \     to just these 3 months!
  /    \    
 /_    _\   Thanks to everyone that submitted bug/typo/idea reports!
   |  |     
   |  |     As part of the Summer Odyssey this year, the new
   |  |     materials added to the code a while ago are being used in
   |__|     the areas. Many items are changing to meet the new
    /\      materials spec. The material type of an item will limit
   /  \     the amount of AC the item can have and contribute to the
  /    \    amount of rent the item will cost. Some items will cost
 /_    _\   less rent, others will cost more. Items in playerfiles
   |  |     and housing have NOT been changed.
   |  |     
   |  |     Skill teachers have been added for innate defense, weapon
   |__|     mastery, and blindfighting. There is at least one teacher
    /\      for each skill in each era.
   /  \     
  /    \    
 /_    _\                    MEDIEVAL AREA UPDATES
   |  |     
   |  |     ALHAMBRA
   |  |          Some mobs have learned new fight tactics, be
   |__|          careful! Twiddles some resets.
    /\      
   /  \     FRENCH INDIAN WAR
  /    \         Quebec and surroundings have received a
 /_    _\        long-deserved overhaul!
   |  |          Natives have picked up some new weapons and tactics,
   |  |          be careful! Some other mobs have also changed, so
   |  |          watch out! One has even learned to use magic. New
   |__|          dreams. Various atmospheric items added, and it
    /\           should be more obvious when the seasons change. Area
   /  \          has a custom weather section - beware the occasional
  /    \         tornado or blizzard! Some new rooms, items, and
 /_    _\        mobs, forageables, and fish. Room titles are now in
   |  |          English. More shops sell stuff than before. Lots of
   |  |          mobs should be more responsive. Several new quests
   |  |          of varying degrees of difficulty. Various bug/typo
   |__|          fixes and lots of tweaks based on player comments.
    /\           References to Chateau Frontenac have been removed
   /  \          since the place wasn't built yet in 1750. Similarly,
  /    \         Marie de l'Incarnation has changed since... Well,
 /_    _\        she had been dead for quite some time by then.
   |  |     
   |  |     HOSPITALLER MALTA
   |  |          Some work on decreasing spam. Various bug/typo
   |__|          fixes.
    /\      
   /  \     KLEINSTADT
  /    \         Some act responses should be more logical.
 /_    _\        Apprentices should be more choosy about where they
   |  |          sleep. Be careful! The guards have improved their
   |  |          fight tactics, and the shopkeepers should pose more
   |  |          of a challenge as well. The rules for who defends
   |__|          whom have been altered to be more logical, so be
    /\           mindful of who is in the room when you start a
   /  \          fight. Various other bugs/typos fixed.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   MEDIEVAL ANDES
   |  |          Twiddles some resets. Various bug/typo fixes.
   |  |     
   |  |     MEDIEVAL SEAS
   |__|          Twiddles some resets.
    /\      
   /  \     SHERWOOD
  /    \         Some mobs have learned new fight tactics, be
 /_    _\        careful! Twiddles some resets. New mini quest added.
   |  |     
   |  |     TORTUGA
   |  |          The pirates have added more recruits to their
   |__|          numbers, who brought some new fighting techniques
    /\           with them. Be careful! Twiddles resets some.
   /  \     
  /    \    VICEROYAL LIMA
 /_    _\        Some mobs have learned new fight tactics, be
   |  |          careful! Twiddles some resets. Various bug/typo
   |  |          fixes.
   |  |     
   |__|     VIKING SKANDINAVIA
    /\           Viking warlord is a little smarter about fighting,
   /  \          be careful! Various bug/typo fixes.
  /    \    
 /_    _\                   Other Area Updates
   |  |     
   |  |     AFRICAN SAVANNA
   |  |          Converts items to the new materials. Various
   |__|          bug/typo fixes.
    /\      
   /  \     ANCIENT NAZCA
  /    \         Twiddles some resets. Various bug/typo fixes.
 /_    _\   
   |  |     ANCIENT SEAS
   |  |          Twiddles some resets. Various bug/typo fixes.
   |  |     
   |__|     ARABIAN NIGHTS
    /\           Some mobs have learned new fight tactics, be
   /  \          careful! Twiddles some resets.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   AZTECS
   |  |          Some mobs have learned new fight tactics, be
   |  |          careful! Twiddles some resets. Various bug/typo
   |  |          fixes.
   |__|     
    /\      BEOWULF
   /  \          Twiddles some resets. Various bug/typo fixes.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   CELTIC IRELAND
   |  |          Some mobs have learned new fight tactics, be
   |  |          careful! Twiddles some resets.
   |  |     
   |__|     GYPSY CARNIVAL
    /\           Converts items to the new materials.
   /  \     
  /    \    LAND OF SHADOWS
 /_    _\        Gives skatha's warriors their hps and ac back.
   |  |     
   |  |     LOTP
   |  |          Various bug/typo fixes.
   |__|     
    /\      MELBOURNE
   /  \          Converts items to the new materials.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   PICTISH COUNTRY
   |  |          Twiddles some resets. Various bug/typo fixes.
   |  |     
   |  |     ROMAN BRITAIN
   |__|          Some mobs have learned new fight tactics, be
    /\           careful! Twiddles some resets.
   /  \     
  /    \    SOUTH SEAS
 /_    _\        Converts items to the new materials. Twiddles resets
   |  |          some. Various bug/typo fixes.
   |  |     
   |  |     WW1 SOMME
   |__|          Converts items to the new materials. Various
    /\           bug/typo fixes.
   /  \     
  /    \    1930'S PITTSBURGH, ABORIGINAL DEAMTIME, ANCIENT EGYPT,
 /_    _\   ANCIENT GREECE, ANCIENT INDIA, GENERIC ANIMALS
   |  |          Various bug/typo fixes.
   |  |     
   |  |                    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.
   |  |     
   |  |             Kaige         El Dorado
   |  |             Firefly       Medieval Japan
   |__|             Cheyla        Zanzibar Expansion
___                                                               ___
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|  LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World  |__\
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'

              Robar has reached 300 million experience!

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                     Lorenzo's Trivia Accolades

Thanks to everyone who played my trivia on July 10th! This wasn't the
first time I've held trivia, but these were the first trivia
questions I ever put together, so thanks for everyone's patience with
the bad ones, which surely were more than a few. :)

Congratulations to Siachet, who took first place with 19 points from
49 questions. Second place went to Marianna, third place to Ashadow,
and fourth place to young master Val! I hope everyone had fun enough
to play again next time. :)

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

                  The Eighth Deadly Sin: Bingo?

The other day a small, mis-shapen imp appeared with a flash of light
and a small cloud of brimstone in our office in box. In his gnarled
little hand, he was clutching this missive...

          Greetingsss Marcel,

          It ssseemsss I've come to that certain age in life
          where sssocksss with sssandalsss and high waisted
          pantsss sssuddenly become not sssuch a bad idea.
          I've decided to hang up my Bible for a while, and
          retire to the sssunnier climesss of Archiveland. I
          haven't visited before, but I hear there'sss
          plenty of bingo and sssoft, easily digestable
          food. Unfortunately it also meansss that I will
          have to hand in my Ssseven Circlesss membership. I
          appreciate the generosity you've ssshown,
          especially during that Carian Trag affair, and I
          thank you for the wonderful parting gift of the
          farmhouse sssilverware. Age just can't change
          sssome thingsss I'm afraid. My regardsss to the
          rest of the clan, keep up the infernal deedsss.

                                          Preacher Kaine

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

There are currently 19 RP clans and 3 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.

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

             First a Dog Infestation and Now This... ?
 
'No. I don't want to.' MoiraGwyn crossed her arms, looking for all
the world like a pouting young child.

'You have to...' Emrysia was trying to handle this carefully but her
friend was certainly being uncooperative today.

'I don't need to,' She stomped a foot to emphasize. 'And no one else
has to, why should I?' Her brow furrowed in stubborn annoyance.

'But it's for your own good,' The newcomer was trying to help. 'The
Chancellor is right, this is very much needed.'

Both women visibly flinched at the words Chancellor. Emrysia had not
yet resumed the position she left when they seperated their
friendship and it weighed heavily in both their minds.

The Queen glanced at the men in question. She was fairly sure she
could take at least two of them in battle, though the group of them
did look a bit menacing. Very menacing in fact. She was sure the
heavily cloaked man had been spotted amongst the tower's assassins...
She wondered what the likes of him was doing here. And the lithe man
standing off to the side, she was sure she had seen him speaking to
Rowane before. Was he not a rather gifted mage, from what her husband
had said? A burly, bearded man was half hidden in the shadows of the
hall nothing but the gleam of his axe visible. A tall, slender
sidhe-looking man stood politely at the edge of the group, his serene
face appearing rather outcast compared to the rest of the group. She
eyed him curiously, a gentle smile playing about his lips. His eyes
softened. He seemed familiar but she couldn't quite place him. And he
looked so harmless, hardly a mercenary type. He closed his eyes for a
moment, and opening them again, stared back at her. It was uncanny,
even with the same face he somehow looked.. different. Was his skin
sallower? Eyes a different shape? Wasn't his nose more pointed a
moment ago? She returned his gaze with awe.

'I wish to be part as well,' The newcomer was speaking softly to her,
his hand tentatively resting on her forearm. She broke her stare with
the sidhe to face him. 'I feel I can offer something to the group,
and I am someone you know and hopefully have grown to trust a bit. If
anything I can supervise the others even... But I feel sure that I
would be an asset and.. if anything I wish to be there to protect
you...' His words trailed off with a rather interesting
tone. She caught site of Emrysia's steady glance upon the hand
resting on her arm. He too must have felt the gaze for a moment later
the hand quickly retreated. MoiraGwyn looked at his face, almost
unnerved by the caring she heard in his voice. What a nice man to
offer such a thing to her- protection of the Queen. Had he grown to
feel towards her like a sister now? She wondered if he understood he
was risking his own life.

'There are a couple more as well, they are signing some papers and
being tested by that... friend of yours. He felt he would be a good
judge of character,'Â Emrysia glanced in the direction of the tower,
indicating which friend offered such. Very kind of him as well, she
made note to thank him.

'This is until you choose a Champion. Possibly after that too, if
needed,' Emrysia's voice sounded hurried. 'Please- before you protest
even more, understand how needed we all must feel this is that we
went and gathered these men. We all worked together on this, because
we felt that perhaps you would put if off longer... and we felt it
could not wait any longer. You need the protection.' MoiraGwyn
noticed Emrysia's gaze falter with her words, what was she not
telling her? Did everyone know something that she herself did
not? Perhaps they were just being overprotective... They surely meant
well, how could she refuse really? She felt as if she was watching
all privacy and time to frolick simply disappear at the hands of
guards trailing her around.

Queen MoiraGwyn de'Dannan nodded in resigned acceptance as her rather
relieved looking friend threw overjoyed arms around her.

It appeared that the young Queen had suddenly gained... an entourage.

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

       A Word from Our Sponsor: Der Phoenix Inn, Kleinstadt

Looking for a place to share your tales of adventure and glory? Look
no further, der Phoenix is just the place! This quaint small town inn
features a cozy room with comfortable chairs where travelers sit and
trade stories before the crackling fire on the open hearth.

The inn is also equipped with a full kitchen to satisfy your hunger
with such local specialties like farsed chicken, nomblys de roo,
nutterbrede, and rota. Fine German bier can be found on tap in the
great common room, you might even be tempted to carry a cask home
with you.

                Come discover German hospitality on
              Wednesday, July 21st at 7pm system time!

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  The Legendary Times is published by the immortals of LegendMUD.
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