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| 1/31/2006 | IMPERIAL NAVY INVESTIGATING INCREASED NAVAL TRAFFIC |
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| The Imperial Navy has reported a significant increase in naval activity along the trade routes between Solhaven and River's Rest. They suspect that some individuals may be transporting illicit "merchandise" and avoiding tariffs, and they request that any citizen with information regarding this suspicious activity report it to the local authorities. | |
| 1/28/2006 | SPRING FORTRESS FAIRE SIGNUPS |
| The Spring Fortress Faire approaches, and the EES is recruiting event organizers. If you have an event you want to run, or just want to run an event we make up, please e-mail use at [email protected]! Please contact us by February 1st if you are interested. | |
| 1/27/2006 | ISP OUTAGE SUNDAY MORNING (1/29) |
| Our ISP has informed us that they are doing some maintenance that will result in a 10 minute outage on Sunday (1/29) morning between 1 AM and 5 AM Eastern Time. We do not have any time more specific than that and will get no additional warning prior to the outage. Please take care if playing during this time as the games will remain running. We apologize for any inconvenience. | |
| 1/26/2006 | HOUSE PAUPERS BUILD-A-TALE MIXER |
| The members of House Paupers invite you to join them for a Build-A-Tale mixer on the eleventh of Fashanos, a Feastday, at 8 PM Elven Standard Time. Alcohol will flow freely as Bartender Aimless starts off a story, which participants will then embellish upon until the story ends, we die laughing, or we pass out! Join us in the Commons Area of Paupers (through the ora door) for a great time! | |
| 1/25/2006 | HOUSE OF SERENITY HOSTS: WHAT I LEARNED THROUGH LOVE |
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Wisdom comes from more than just the mind; it includes the realms of the heart and the soul as well. In such vein, the House of Serenity is sponsoring a storytelling contest revolving around the theme of what in your life you learned through the power of love rather than the simple power of knowledge.
The date of the event is Feastday, the 4th day of Fashanos at half past seven night bells elven (Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 PM Eastern). Location is the Golden Scroll Library within the House of Serenity building on Lumnis Street in IceMule Trace. Stories are to be no more than 10 minutes in length, and judging will be based on content and presentation. Prize purses of 500,000 silvers for first place, 250,000 silvers for second place, and 125,000 silvers for third place will be awarded to the top three finishers. So come and share your tale of where the heart influenced the head for results either good or ill. |
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| 1/22/2006 | TRASH UPDATE |
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We've updated the way trashcans work in Elanthia to include a few more safeguards against the loss of important items.
As before, the system will not accept certain types of item or items of great value. We're now adding an additional safeguard: any item placed into a trash bin will remain in the trash bin (and available for retrieval) for 60 seconds before it is lost. The trashcans will also message to the room when a player drops a closed treasure box or a registered item into a bin. We hope this will answer many of the concerns (first expressed by Platinum players on their message boards) about the possibility of malicious trashing of other people's property. NOTE: The trash system will continue to provide a small (VERY small) amount of experience to players who keep the lands clear of unnecessary trash. Certain kinds of item (usually items available in unlimited free supply through particular systems) do not grant experience, and there is a limit over time. In addition, no item will grant experience after it has once been trashed, so you should not waste your time trashing and retrashing a particular item. |
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| 1/21/2006 | ACCUSE SYSTEM CHANGES |
| The accuse system has been updated to make it easier to use. Changes include improved messaging and a simplified syntax. The new syntax for accusations is: ACCUSE {Player} {Crime} where {Crime} can be any of the following: impropriety, hooliganism, assault, theft or banishment. Accusations should be made either in a constabulary, courtroom, or with a law official present in the room. Additional information is available via ACCUSE HELP. | |
| 1/21/2006 | HOUSE OF SERENITY RESUMES LUMNIS HIGH PRAYER SERVICES |
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The House of Serenity sponsors formal prayer services to the Arkati Lumnis one Restday of every month. After a break for the holidays, these services are now resuming, the first being held on Restday, the 5th day of Fashanos, at four afternoon bells elven (Sunday, February 5 at 4:00 PM Eastern).
Come join us in honoring the Goddess of Wisdom! Location of the Service is the Conjoined Circles Chapel in the House of Serenity building on Lumnis Street in IceMule Trace. After service, informal chats on current events in Elanthia often take place in the Golden Scroll Library, as Lumnis' followers do have a thirst for knowledge. |
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| 1/21/2006 | HOUSE OF SERENITY HOSTS: WHAT I LEARNED THROUGH LOVE |
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Wisdom comes from more than just the mind; it includes the realms of the heart and the soul as well. In such vein, the House of Serenity is sponsoring a storytelling contest revolving around the theme of what in your life you learned through the power of love rather than the simple power of knowledge.
The date of the event is Feastday, the 4th day of Fashanos at half past seven night bells elven (Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 PM Eastern). Location is the Golden Scroll Library within the House of Serenity building on Lumnis Street in IceMule Trace. Stories are to be no more than 10 minutes in length, and judging will be based on content and presentation. Prize purses of 500,000 silvers for first place, 250,000 silvers for second place, and 125,000 silvers for third place will be awarded to the top three finishers. So come and share your tale of where the heart influenced the head for results either good or ill. Wisdom comes from more than just the mind; it includes the realms of the heart and the soul as well. In such vein, the House of Serenity is sponsoring a storytelling contest revolving around the theme of what in your life you learned through the power of love, rather than the simple power of knowledge. |
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| 1/20/2006 | KALERYA AND KEELO WEDDING POSTPONED |
| Kalerya and Keelo regret to inform their friends and family that unexpected circumstances have caused them to postpone their wedding day. They look forward to celebrating their wedding in the near future. | |
| 1/17/2006 | TA'VAALOR PENNANT CHANGING CEREMONY |
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Once a month, on the Day of the Huntress, (at approximately 8:00 PM Elven), the Ta'Vaalor Ceremonial Guard will be holding a ceremony to change the pennants flying around Ta'Vaalor. We will start outside the gate to the Guardian Keep and proceed around town to replace each set of pennants. The entire ceremony will be held in Elven, and no translators will be provided. We will ask for a minimum of noise during the ceremony, so any translations provided by others will need to be in whispers.
Currently scheduled Pennant Changing dates are: The 3rd day of Fashanos (Friday, February 3). The 3rd day of Charlatos (Friday, March 3). The 7th day of Olaesta (Friday, April 7). The 5th day of Ivastaen (Friday, May 5). The 2nd day of Lumnea (Friday, June 2). If you are a Vaalor elf and interested in joining the Ta'Vaalor Ceremonial Guard, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]. |
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| 1/13/2006 | ROLEPLAYING TIPS: OOCISMS |
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Most players try hard to remain IC (In Character) while in the game to preserve our fantasy atmosphere and to make the world of Elanthia a more vivid place. But there are a lot of terms commonly used that are only thinly veiled OOC (Out of Character), and are in fact pretty much the same thing as just saying the OOC words.
It takes a bit of experience and thought to recognize these types of terms and to learn better ways of phrasing things. It is easier than it seems, and pays off in big ways. To give an idea of the type of things being discussed, I will give some examples of common OOCisms. Weather: Many players use the term "weather" to refer to game lag. If it's rainy or sunny, it's rainy or sunny for everyone in that town. So saying one character has bad weather while another doesn't, simply makes no sense. Other ways to get the point across are to say things like, "I'm feeling really sluggish at the moment," or "I'm so tired I can barely move," or maybe on a hot summer day, "It's so humid out I just don't feel very peppy." Gods: The word "gods" is often used to refer to GMs (GameMasters), but again, it usually makes little sense when given any thought. Gods in Elanthia are the Arkati and other immortals, and they rarely are interested or involved in the types of things where this euphemism is used. A "god auction" can better be referred to as a "grand auction," since the Arkati aren't actually selling their stuff! A "god wedding" can be referred to as a "cathedral wedding." Age: It used to be that character age was connected to their levels, which of course made little sense. Now that we have an actual age system in the game that is separate from levels, it is appropriate for us old timers to wean ourselves away from this euphemism as well. If you ask a character how old they are, don't be surprised to hear they are 143 years old, even if they are only level 5. When talking about creatures, the age of the creature is not likely to be known, but what can be known is that a warrior of lord stature can probably take them on or not. Trainings: This one can be hotly debated as to how appropriate it is. Many roleplayers strongly feel that trainings are just as OOC as levels, and feel the term has no place here. Others feel that it is an acceptable alternative term. However a player feels about it, it is yet another example of a term that can usually be stated in a more IC manner, given a little thought. Pages to study: Some players try to translate experience needed into a more IC terminology, usually coming up with things like, "1,234 more pages to study in my book." But again, it is simply a thinly veiled reference that is not really any better than saying, "1,234 experience to level." It might be better to say something along the lines of, "I have been practicing my skills very hard, and feel that I will be seeing some improvement soon." These are just a few examples of the OOCisms commonly seen within the game. For players who are interested in improving their RP (roleplaying) skills and making their characters into living and breathing Elanthians, it is a good subject to which you can devote a bit of attention. Of course, all of the above situations are also easily solved by using WHISPER to convey information that you want to be exact or is OOC in nature, thus bypassing any need to come up with a clever euphemism. |
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| 1/12/2006 | MOONSTONE ABBEY'S GRAND ILLUMINATION |
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Hidden in the forest south of Ta'Illistim is Moonstone Abbey. Over ten thousand years of secrets lay within the Abbey's walls. Voices on the wind are reaching far across the Dragonspine Mountains to the heart of Ta'Illistim. It is time to gather.
Once a year, the Sisters of Moonstone Abbey open its doors to share their deep secrets with the public. On the 27th day of Lormesta, at 9:00 pm Elven, the members of Moonstone Abbey will hold their annual Grand Illumination and Ritual of Blessing. You are invited to come share in this celebration and time of rededication! Moonstone Abbey is located south and southwest of Ta'Illistim. Look for the path and for candles lighting your way. Abbey members will be waiting near the path to guide you into the grounds. You don't want to get lost in the enchanted woods surrounding the Abbey. For those living in Ta'Vaalor, a group of Abbey Sisters will be available to escort you to the Abbey. Please meet inside the Amaranth Gate no later than 8:30 pm. |
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| 1/11/2006 | PLATINUM TRIALS |
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Ever wanted to explore GemStone IV from a new perspective? A smaller community where the citizens come together like no other? An opportunity to join a land where the history has yet to be written, and is being written every day?
A land where many friends can be made, or bitter rivals, yet both come together in times of strife? A harsher climate where droppage and losing your items if you decay can be unavoidable, yet your fellow players will always be looking out for you? GemStone Platinum offers this and more including its own team of dedicated GameMasters to run events, merchants, sagas along with small day to day events which make the world come alive. GemStone Platinum offers a more in-depth environment due to its amazing community, and once you wander in, it's hard to ever wander out. They will hook you in, and keep you coming back. To sign up for a free trial, go to https://www.play.net/gs4/platinum/trial.asp. |
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| 1/8/2006 | MOONSTONE ABBEY'S GRAND ILLUMINATION |
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Hidden in the forest south of Ta'Illistim is Moonstone Abbey. Over ten thousand years of secrets lay within the Abbey's walls. Voices on the wind are reaching far across the Dragonspine Mountains to the heart of Ta'Illistim. It is time to gather.
Once a year, the Sisters of Moonstone Abbey open its doors to share their deep secrets with the public. On the 28st day of Lormesta, at 9:00 pm Elven, the members of Moonstone Abbey will hold their annual Grand Illumination and Ritual of Blessing. You are invited to come share in this celebration and time of rededication! Moonstone Abbey is located south and southwest of Ta'Illistim. Look for the path and for candles lighting your way. Abbey members will be waiting near the path to guide you into the grounds. You don't want to get lost in the enchanted woods surrounding the Abbey. For those living in Ta'Vaalor, a group of Abbey Sisters will be available to escort you to the Abbey. Please meet inside the Amaranth Gate no later than 8:30 pm. |
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| 1/5/2006 | SYLVARRAEND: HAGATHA REALLY SERVES BREW AND BARLEY! |
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Hagatha's Brew and Barley, located in Sylvarraend, now sells brew, barley, the famed Sylvarraend Gold cheese, and an assortment of locally favored bread.
Imagine that! |
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| 1/3/2006 | SINGING SWORD SONG (1025) UPDATES |
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Changes to AS Calculation:
Previously the Attack Strength of the weapon created by Singing Sword Song was detrimentally affected if the Bard was not standing. To reinforce the notion of the weapon being under mental control of its owner, this modifier has been replaced with injury checks on the Bard. Stuns and wounds to the head, eyes, or nervous system will decrease the weapon's AS. The Bard being calmed, being unconscious, or extensively wounded will prevent the weapon from attacking outright. Changes to Speed: The speeds of the various weapons available via Singing Sword Song have been updated to be more consistent with the speed of the weapon's equivalent when swung by a character in combat. In most cases, this change has resulted in faster weapons. Changes to RETURN: When issuing a RETURN order, Singing Swords will now immediately reform themselves at the Bard's location. Ranged and Thrown Additions: Singing Sword Song now has the ability to create ranged and thrown weapons. The ranged weapons include: short, composite, and long bows, as well as light and heavy crossbows. The thrown weapons include: quoits, discuses, and darts. The Attack Strength for the ranged and thrown weapons will be calculated similarly to the Bard's, with the same spell, lore, and stat modifiers as their melee counterparts. For full details and discussion, please see the Bard Magic, Spells, and Spellsongs folder of the message boards: http://www.play.net/forums/messages.asp?forum=102&category=24&topic=4 |
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| 1/3/2006 | TROUBADOUR'S RALLY (1040) UPDATES |
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Previously, the chances for the Bard to break free from a stun or immobility effect was calculated at a base rate of 50%, -2% per second remaining in the effect's duration, +1% per Mental Mana Control rank with a minimum rate of 10%.
The rate has been updated to instead be calculated with a base rate of 60%, -2% per second remaining in the effect's duration, +2% per Mental Mana Control rank, with a minimum rate of 40%. Additionally, web effects will now be removed from both the Bard and his group at the same rate as stun and immobility effects. The group effect removal logic remains otherwise unchanged. Please take discussions to the Bard Magic, Spells, and Spellsongs folder of the message boards: http://www.play.net/forums/messages.asp?forum=102&category=24&topic=4 |
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| 1/2/2006 | WILLOW HALL ARCHERY TOURNAMENT |
| Willow Hall is hosting an Archery Tournament on Feastday, the 14th of Lormesta at 4 PM by the elven standard (Saturday, January 14, at 4 PM EST). Come one and all to try your luck! No bow skills are required, and equipment will be provided if you do not own a bow or crossbow. Prizes will be awarded to the people with the top three scores. Participants should assemble at the entrance to Willow Hall to be guided to the archery butts. | |
| 1/2/2006 | HELGRETH'S TALL TALE CONTEST |
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If you've had a chance to listen to any of Helgreth's fish stories, you probably guessed that he has a knack for -- umm -- enlarging the story, just a bit. Well, perhaps more than a bit.
CONTEST Write a tall tale Helgreth might tell about an adventure during his long fishing vacation. The story may not exceed 300 words. For two examples, go to Helgreth's Tavern in Ta'Vaalor and ask him about fish. All stories begin with "Helgreth leans across the bar and launches into a tale." and end with "Helgreth whistles quietly and examines he fingernails. 'Yep, and that's just how it happened.'". These phrases are not included in the 300-word limit. Entries must be received by midnight, January 29, 2006. Send your entries to [email protected]. Please include your Play.Net account name and the name of the character who would receive a prize. All entries become property of Simutronics and may be edited or adapted for use in game. The author of the best entry will receive two alterations or one custom-made wig from Gwyrraent. Two runners-up will each receive one alteration. Alterations may be of an item, a character's appearance (a feature), or the facade of a Ta'Vaalor shop. |
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