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____________________________________January 30, 1999_____
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` ~ )Telnet to Avatar at: avatar.walrus.com 3000
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Table of Contents
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Articles
1. Editorial by Darii
2. Milestones
3. A Charming True Story from Navarre
4. From Darii's Kitchen: MUD Puddle Cake
5. Dragons Have Feelings, Too! by Smaug
6. Immortal Bio: Debonair
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1. Editorial by Darii
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It was the middle of the evening (system time) last Wednesday when, with
little warning, there was a brief, erratic countdown...its meaning
known only to the Immortals, and those players who often type 'count.'
10..9..8..7...6....5..........4.....3........2...1... and then, at
Wed Jan 27 22:02:08 1999:
Congratulations to Krene for being the
1000000th login since July 11th, 1998!
It was a quiet moment that soon became chaotic as a celebratory HoG
filled all channels with a buzz of activity. For me, it was a moment of
reflection, and a realization:
AVATAR is a MUD that has endured.
Only a year ago we eliminated multiplay here. It was a calculated risk
that we thought worth taking. The fabled 'game balance' had been altered
by clients, and our own players' expertise at using them. We felt the
game changing, not for the better, and implemented changes to return
Avatar to its original ideals. It *was* a calculated risk, but it did
improve the game, and our counts are now as high as ever.
Many muds are the love and enthusiasm of one or several inventive young
people with some coding skills, and a little time to spare. They become
labs for experimentation, and generally exist as long as the original
creators have the time and the inspiration. Many MUDs don't last long.
Personalities and politics often tear them asunder, and sometimes they
simply linger, inhabited by only a few players, as artifacts of lost
zeal.
In MUD terms, AVATAR is an ancient institution. Long ago it was called
Farside, and there was a split where a part of the group renamed a copy
Barren Realms, and developed in different ways. Then, in another year,
there was another split and Avatar was born. Avatar was Snikt's own,
and he has provided the guidance and vision for what it has grown to be.
We've been here for a long time, with a stable, loyal, experienced
Immortal staff and a large, enthusiastic player base. Players and Imms
alike have invested time and effort in making Avatar a better, more fun,
more challenging place to spend leisure time.
People leave for a while or for good, motivated by a variety of reasons.
Some need the time 'back' to attend to studies, career, family, or new
personal goals. What is amazing to me is the number who STAY.. for 4 or
even 5 years in some cases... and continue to work and participate in
this unique community.
One of our unique strengths is our diverse, and talented player
population. Some players remain mortal, playing a variety of characters,
and providing copious feedback, while others petition to become Angels,
or are invited to become first Acolytes, and then Imms.
Another key to our stability and longevity is the diversity of our
Immortal staff. Some of us are in our 50s while others are less than 20.
Many of us have begun AND COMPLETED basic or advanced degrees during
our tenure on Avatar, juggling both, or taking brief vacations when
necessary. Others hold full-time jobs in the 'real world,' and still
manage to find time for Avatar. We keep fresh, trading tasks as
necessary, trying to avoid 'burnout' and preserve our joy in being here.
THANK YOU to all of you, who inhabit this realm, spinning somewhere in
cyberspace. It is lively and comfortable 24 hours of every day, 365 days
a year. We've grown...in size, and in complexity... and into a caring,
nurturing community. Thanks to each of you who make it so.
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2. Milestones......A new feature for the Gazette
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Avatar had its ONE MILLIONTH login since July 11, 1998 last Wednesday.
Krene was the lucky 1,000,000. There was a spontaneous HoG in honor of
the occasion. All present were delighted at the celebration!
As of January 1999 Shameless has been an Angel for two years, and Spring
has been an Angel for one year.
Rexie and Azriel have both been Angels for one year as of January 30.
On February 1, 1998 Multiplaying was eliminated from Avatar.
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3. A Charming True Story from Navarre
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This is just a humorous newbie story that happened to me that I
thought people would enjoy.
One day I found an item that has one charge of 'Charm Person'. Well, I
started wandering about the mud, when I saw a really cool mob that I
thought would be great to have as an ally. After charming the mob, I
continued to explore, get my charmed friend into some fights,
and see what else was out there.
A couple of times, I saw someone portalling to me. However, it was a
high level hero I didn't know, so I just kept on going. That was when
they sent me a tell saying, "Why are you wandering around with the
portal point for the Hive?"
Oops!
I apologized to this hero since I had no idea what I had done. They
came and killed my charmie so he would repop, and I felt the fool.
However, I managed to describe how I walked to the Hive, and the hero
made it there on foot. Instead of chastising me for doing such a silly
thing, they just had a great laugh about it, and promised not to tell
anyone about my goof. This great hero even gave me a super piece of
equipment they found in the Hive!
While I wasn't going to tell anyone the story, since I don't come out
too well in it, I thought it was good for a laugh. Also, this hero sums
up some of the great people I have met on Avatar, and I wanted to say
thanks, you know who you are. :)
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4. From Darii's Kitchen: MUD Puddle Cake
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FROM DARII'S KITCHEN: MUD Puddle Cake
This is a rich, easy chocolate cake, a cross between brownies and
devil's food cake, that makes its own rich chocolate sauce (the
puddle!) right in the pan.
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons melted margarine 8 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 cup white sugar 1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla 3/4 tsp salt
1 cup flour 1/2 c milk
1 2/3 cups boiling water
Mix the butter, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and the vanilla.
Sift/mix the flour, 3 T cocoa, baking powder, and 1/2 t salt and
add these dry ingredients, alternately with milk, to the first mixture,
Mix well, adding nuts if desired.
Mix remaining 1/2 cup white sugar, 5 T cocoa, 1/4 t salt, and the
boiling water in a 10"x 6" or 8"x 8" pan. Spoon the first batter over
the top, and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
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5. Dragons Have Feelings, Too! by Smaug
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Last week I sent an offer of a mutual non-aggression pact to the Wicked
Witch. Yesterday her raven familiar delivered her answer to me. The
feathered freak dropped the parchment some little distance from me then
flew like a streak of black lightning back the way he had come.
Not waiting for an answer showed that the minion had more intelligence
than the mistress did! For her reply was not only negative, it was
quite rude. It would seem that she found my offer of a pact very
amusing. I know she did for she said so in her reply, the insufferable
hag! She would have received a tiny heap of black slag as my response,
had the raven not used its birdbrain.
Other races find clutchlings (baby dragons) to be funny little
creatures, and have only a little fear of them. Yet as we grow, so
does your fear and loathing of us. I find that odd. Do you not
realize that from the moment of hatching, ALL dragons have an
instinctive hatred and mistrust for all other races? Especially
Dwarves, those barrel riding, greedy, thieving little...but I digress.
Returning to my sad little tale of insult and injury, let me say that I
calmly waited for nightfall to begin my correction of the manners of the
Witch. The 56 horses, 118 deer and other tinier meadow creatures that
were flamed before sundown were completely co-incidental and had nothing
to do with any inability on my part to control my Temper!
Finally the comforting blanket of night covered the land. With eyes
agleam, I took flight to the Witch's forest. Drifting on the cool night
air, I silently circled the forest, pin pointing troop locations and
getting downwind of them. I knew her minions would all be out for they
are all creatures of the night. At last, I was satisfied with my
preparations. Let the lessons in manners begin!
With a roar that shook the very leaves from the trees, I fell upon her
advance guards. I devoured those kobolds like a wolf among the sheep,
without a second thought.
The foolish goblins came running TO the noise and light, so of course I
thundered into them, as well. They fought well...for goblins. But can
goblins ever be viewed as actual warriors? To me, they were merely the
second course. A trifle salty, but that's normal for goblins, and
therefore acceptable.
Turning my head at a slight sound, I discovered the witch's orcs were
actually advancing on my position. Such bravery...and stupidity...
deserves to be saluted.
Now I admit that my roar of acknowledgement broke the Dark Dryad's neck
when she was blown slap out of her tree; but, hey, people who live in
unstable environments should have sense enough to take precautions,
right? And yes, it was the intense heat from my flaming...uh, salute
that dried up the polluted stream, killing some water sprites and all
the water breathing dwellers in the stream. But the stream was
polluted, so neutralizing it was environmentally correct. That makes
collateral deaths acceptable as a necessary sacrifice for the good of
the environment! So who could blame me?
I don't know about other races but for dragons the smells of charred
flesh and melting bones are practically an aphrodisiac, stimulating both
our appetite and our battle rage. My salute to the orcs had created A
LOT of aphrodisiac, and I was now completely re-invigorated and simply
starving. My strength renewed, I hurriedly destroyed the remainder of
the witch's pitiful army and proceeded directly to her hut.
When the witch saw me she screamed and attacked, wielding that silly
little claw she carries. With great glee I sank my own magnificent
claws into her legs ending any thoughts of flight she may have had. And
they say dragons have no sense of humor! Her pleas for mercy fell on
deaf ears.
You see, we dragons are sensitive creatures, and when my offer of a pact
was refused so rudely, only the complete and utter destruction of the
refuter could ease my hurt. So, after incinerating the witch where she
groveled, I devoured what was left of her smoldering corpse. She eased
both my hunger and my wounded feelings, which was only fair.
As I climbed back into the sky, I surveyed the forest, noting its
charred fields and now dry stream bed. With great pride I noticed the
size of my shadow, which was cast over the terrain below me by the pale
moonlight above.
Take heed, you people of other races! There is a new dragon in this
realm, and next time it might be YOU that I approach with an offer.
Keep in mind that dragons have feelings, too!
Smaug, the Greatest of Calamities
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6. Immortal Bio: Debonair
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Name: Debonair RL Name: Daniel
Age: (Game) 1923 RL Age: 23
Race: human Class: mage Current level: 880(!)
Real Life Interests:
Music, movies, what goes on in YOUR head (yes, your), wing chun,
dreaming, culture, internet, friends, etc.
Advice To Players:
Eh. What do I know anyways? Umm, don't be a dork.
Refer to help files before asking a question. It's often explained.
(NOTE: This does not pertain only to Avatar)
Where Does Your Name Come From:
Something I aspire to be. Originally I looked it up from a rap
artist's name (in Poison Clan) Debonair - the Devil's Dad. And decided
that I wished I was debonair irl.
What else:
I'm a Swedish/American citizen. I have two passports (yay!) :P
I maintain the Avatar Picture album atm. http://avatar.cjb.net or
http://shell.2xtreme.net/~debonair/avatar/
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The Avatar Gazette is what you've just been reading, and it is the
official newsletter of Avatar. It is published weekly by Avatar,
edited by Darii, and produced in conjunction with the entire Avatar
staff.(Original concept by Asamaro, and revived by Dizzy.)
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 Darii via my e-mail address:
darii@walrus.com. Please use 'Gazette' as your subject.
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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