___The Official AVATAR___________________________________
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     ________________________________________ 22 May, 1999 ___

         _    |
         `~-._| 
          `   ~ )Telnet to Avatar at: avatar.walrus.com 3000
            -  //         Visit the Avatar web page at:
       ,,.--(_ ("""'^.     http://www.walrus.com/~avatar
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     __________________________________________________________
     Table of Contents
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          1. Editorial by Dizzy

     ________________________________
     1. Editorial by Dizzy
     ________________________________

For those of you who hope that I'll type it just ONE more time,
This is the Editorial by Dizzy. WHOOYOW! I have REALLY missed doing
the Gazette. In a sense I've really missed all of you readers for the
past five months as well. I say "in a sense" because, although you
didn't know it, I was right here on Avatar the whole time in mortal
personnas.

Many of you have grouped with me, CR'd me, spelled me up, and have
been my friends without ever knowing that I was Dizzy. I've gotten
to know some of you very well...far more intimately that I could
have as an IMMortal. And, while these were Very Good times, I admit
to missing THIS part of MUDding. (Barney song aura)

While we sort out articles that have been submitted for publication,
and the winners receive due rewards, I wanted to take this unique
opportunity to brag a little on our players and IMMs, reiterate
what the Gaz is and how you can participate (with tangible benefits
for yourself too!), and drool a little homespun philosophy on your
shiny new armor.  We'll return to the Gaz format you know and
love next week, eh?

1. Avatar Players: With only rare exceptions, this player base is
the most knowledgeable, diverse, humane (but, of course, not ALL
human), and interesting assortment of MUDders I know. You can be
justifiably proud of your skill in playing the game, your mental
acuity in improving game play, and your tender soul exhibited in
welcoming and helping new (and not so new) players. While I
haven't been around every block, I have been around this one a few
times....trust me when I tell you that Avatar is head and
shoulders above other MUDs, and YOU make it special.

2. Avatar IMMortals: (running a quick total in my head) I've been
IMMortal on well over two dozen MUDs in the last 11 years (see?
Told you I've been around the block a few times). I've done most
IMM jobs from newbie hand holding to the big ugly IMP job. Here's
how it works on MOST MUDs:
   - The IMP creates a MUD and invites his/her friends to
     become his hatchet crew (affectionately known as IMMortals).
   - After a couple of months of New MUD Honeymoon, a couple of
     IMMs rise to the top because all the other IMMs are a
     combination of IMMature, sleazy, and lazy (liberally seasoned
     with Sleepy, Dopey, and Grumpy).
   - IMM civil war breaks out, and the mud survives (or not)
     with fewer players, IMMortals, and less fun.
   - The IMM population usually rotates out and a new crop is in
     place every 6 months.
Avatar has many IMMortals that have been active for over four years.
Our IMMortal staff is astonishing in its depth and variety.  We have
hard core serious Gamers (with a capital G), peacemakers, code
fixers (and breakers), techno-geekazoids, nurturers, and just the
right amount of Lunatic Fringe IMMs..to keep life interesting. Our
staff is by far the most professional, creative, and expert crew
that I've worked with.

3.  The Gazette: As it says in the tag end of every issue, "....is
what you've just been reading..." It's the official newsletter of our
game.  I rely on articles contributed by other players to flesh out
every issue. In addition to great personal satisfaction you'll have
from writing a Gaz article, you'll also earn the admiration of
fellow players, my personal gratitude, and (if I publish your
article) a Free Boosted Level! Yes!! SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!

Free offer only applies to Mortals. Lords and Heros are included in
the offer (I always get asked, so there you go!). Articles may be
of any length, and appropriate topics include anything that's MUD or
Medieval related. Stories, advice, book reviews, instructional
guides, humor, etc. are all popular and make good Gaz articles.

Email your articles to dizzy@walrus.com and you could be the next
winner on Dizzy's Great Level Give Away (one of the parts that I
missed the most)!

4.  Drooling as a way of life: You've seen it haven't you? The new
Star Wars movie. Me too. Who can resist all that butt-kicking Zen
stuff with a bit of magic thrown in? There are some rough parallels
between that imaginary world, and ours:
   - Live and let live. You aren't God's policeman (He doesn't need
     any, right?), so save your daggers for the mobs and not for a
     player that chats IN ALL CAPS.
   - Don't pick fights. Feeling mean and you just KNOW that barking
     at that annoying player will make you feel better? Resist the
     dark side, and be pleasant instead, even if you can't feel the
     force.
   - Treat others the way you'd like for them to treat you. The
     Boss Jedi came up with that one a couple of thousand years ago.
   - Work hard. Don't expect everything (or anything for that matter)
     to be handed to you on a silver platter.
   - Play to have fun, not as a substitute for life.
   - Give more than you take.
   - Follow the rules, and stay between the lines; but push the
     limits (up to a point, as it were...after a fashion, in a
     measure, to an extent). Don't tread the bleeding edge with
     an impure heart, for this leads to the dark side, my young
     Jedi apprentice.


Its GREAT to be back! Thanks execs!

Diz


     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     The Avatar Gazette is what you've just been reading, and it is the
     official newsletter of Avatar, it is published weekly by Dizzy, in
     conjunction with The Avatar Staff.(Original concept by Asamaro).

     The Gazette is written in plain vanilla ASCII text to ensure that
     everyone can enjoy it regardless of computer type.

     To subscribe to the Gazette, send internet e-mail to
     gazette-request@avatar.walrus.com. In the body of your
     email put:

       subscribe username@hostname (MudName - RealName)
       eg subscribe snikt@walrus.com  (Snikt - Kevin Jagh)

     Your real name is optional for the Gazette list.
       eg subscribe snikt@walrus.com (Snikt)

     You can FTP back issues of the gazette from ftp.walrus.com in
     /pub/avatar/gazette.

     If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, criticisms,
     compliments, or (best of all) articles that you've written for the
     gazette, please send them to Dizzy via my e-mail address:
     dizzy@walrus.com.

     You can also view the latest issue of the Gazette while playing
     Avatar by typing 'help newgaz' anywhere in the game, or by surfing
     our web site!
     -----------------------------------------------------------------

___


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