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Chains of Command |
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| Aluvians |
Event Teaser -
From the
Zone  The air in the underground meeting hall was
quite cool -- a welcome relief to Thane Tuomas and his scribe, out all day
in the sweltering sun. “Take this down,” said the Thane, as the scribe
dutifully raised his quill to the parchment.
“Court held tonight, sunset, in the Tufa
hall. Bring any information you've been able to gather regarding the
recent abductions. Mages, be here on time and well stocked with
components. You've no more excuses to dawdle!” The scribe wrote furiously, and nodded. “Aye, sir. They'll have this missive momentarily.” This was more like it, so far as Tuomas was concerned. Communication had become a more pressing matter of late, yet here was finally an easy means of disseminating information. More like it, indeed. Organized. Like the archmages. Somehow those scatterbrained old chaps had been able to handle his request for components in record time. Yes, organized. “Fault those Virindi for what you will, Landry, but they've got their chain of command in tip-top shape. Priorities, you know. There's no mistakes with the Virindi.” “But, m'lord? The abductions? And the awful business in Ayan? Surely, you don't. . .” Tuomas silenced his scribe with a glare. “No, Landry, I haven't lost sight of it all. Now, don't you have a message to deliver?” The young man bowed politely and scampered away. In the torchlight, the Thane pulled a mask from his beltpouch, watching as firelight played over the impossibly smooth surface. He thought about the words of the creature who'd given it to him. Tuomas pressed the mask to his face and cast his gaze about the hall where his subjects would soon come to gather. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. There would be no missions to the northern or southern mountains. Let the hunters tarry with their freshly tanned hides, shells, and pearls. No need to interrupt the progress. Things were changing, and for the better. They were getting more. . . organized. Unlike any other gaming experience, the world of Asheron's Call continues to evolve. Last month, as pyreals became weightless, players began to receive the coordinates for their corpses, and adventurers were able to quest for new titles. One can only wonder what additions, what changes -- and what dangers -- will be added when we open our June event, “Chains of Command.” For further hint of what's to come, be sure to read up on the new Component Buyer and Allegiance Communication features -- due to arrive with the June event! Be sure to continue your part in this
incredible ongoing story, and we'll see you in Dereth! Roll Out Article - From the Zone June 14, 2001
. . . and with them comes another menace. Organized groups of marauding “Black Claw” Drudges have appeared in the northern and southern mountains of Osteth. Rumors speak of their involvement with a cabal of Virindi, whose hidden leader, known only as the Inculcator, is reputed to have been the true mastermind behind the takeover of Ayan Baqur. Perhaps the time has come to take the battle back to the Virindi. For the effort to truly succeed, however, will require both sword and spell. To this end, human legions have instituted further improvements within their own ranks. Allegiances can now nominate designated speakers, who, along with their monarchs, are able to spread news among their every member with the speed of the wind itself. Archmages have long promoted the sale of spell components, putting the common good of all spellcasters ahead of the miserly hoarding of arcane secrets. Archmage vendors have proven even more cooperative of late, filling entire component buy lists instead of individual orders. And as the mystic geomancy of the land continues to fluctuate, more powerful creature enchantments have entered the School of the Left Hand; in addition, all lower-level enchantments have seen their durations increase, allowing enchanters an even greater role in aiding their fellows. Yet beyond the crusade to strike back at the Virindi, other goals stand to be completed. For hunters, the changing of the seasons marks further chance to collect shed trophies of creatures. And with the end of spring, so comes a final gift of spring-cleaning. Inhabitants of Dereth will discover a fresher item in their wardrobes -- though they may wonder what became of their older, soiled garments. Following is a list of the most interesting additions made to the game this update. However, please note that not everything has been included -- that would spoil the fun of finding out all that's been added or changed! As usual, though, the town criers, barkeeps, and scribes may know the latest news. Also, the trades of crafting and selling are always in flux, so changes to prices and abilities of items are not always listed here in their entirety. Highlights include:
Developer's Notes -- June - From the Zone June 14, 2001
Detailed Notes for Builds 2528 -- 2539:
Minor Details
Details of Allegiance Communication - From the Zone
Allegiance Speakers
@speaker set <player> This command removes the old speaker and promotes the new speaker to the office. The monarch may also remove the current speaker without setting a new one with the command: @speaker clear These two commands are only usable by the monarch. However, all players in an allegiance may see who the speaker for their allegiance currently is with the command: @speaker Allegiance-Wide Broadcasts
@a <message> Message of the Day
@motd set <message> The MOTD has the same limit on length that any message typed into the chat box does. The monarch can clear the MOTD using the command: @motd clear Only the monarch can set and clear the MOTD. However, any player in an allegiance may view the MOTD using the command: @motd In addition, the MOTD (if there is one) displays at logon. Co-Vassal Chat
@c <message> Note that the patron in this triangle should respond with @v <message>, because if he uses @c he will then be talking to his patron and co-vassals. Details of Component Buying - From the Zone
How will this feature work? Setting the Component Buyer
Filling the Component Buyer
A Word of Caution
The Asheron's Call Newsletter - June 25, 2001
Welcome to the Annals of Dereth, the newsletter for the Asheron's Call online role-playing game! We bring you this bulletin every month to give you a wide view on Dereth's evolving community, events, and features. 1 -- OUR SAGA THUS FAR... The weary archer strode from the lifestone, wiping a mixture of dust, dirt, and Ravener entrails from his new helm with a mud-spattered towel, and thinking to himself that it certainly was a worthwhile trip, in spite of the new scars and stains… The worn path lay empty before him, with only the occasional traveler to be seen. Glancing nervously up and down the hill, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He had only arrived in Ayan Baqur a few short weeks ago, and had never seen it so devoid of life… He jerked to a halt in surprise as a voice shattered the still night air: "Arrr, it's good to be back here. That Virindi dungeon smelled bad. For such a light and airy bunch of people, they sure are smelly!" As he moved closer he saw light pouring from the front door of the Smoking Axe Tavern, silhouetting a robed figure carrying an empty mug and yelling at the top of its lungs. "Ha, those Virindi thought they could keep me down... Not old Ulgrim, my friend, I'm too wily for them! I was prepared for their mind tricks!" Lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper as the archer passed, Ulgrim gruffly told the empty shadows, "In all seriousness though, Lacandrillar and Adirred were some of the scariest folks I've ever met. Incomprehensible most of the time, but very scary." Scratching his head in confusion, the befuddled archer continued, continued his solemn walk to the Secluded Sanctuary. Maybe he could find some answers there. Or at the very least a healing kit, maybe even a fresh towel. 2 -- MAJOR EVENTS CHAINS OF COMMAND Travelers from the distant deserts return bearing strange shells and speaking of spectacular new armor and items. Adventurers and mages speak of battling a strange new band of Drudges known as the Black Claw, and displaying magnificent items of powerful enchantment. And with the return of these intrepid adventurers comes the return of lost friends, as the defeat of the Inculcator frees the imprisoned people of Ayan Baqur and restores both their minds and their willpower, although in some cases the change is not a very noticeable one. With the release of the townsfolk of Ayan Baqur and the returning of their wits, the merchants of Dereth seem to have found a new lust for life, or at least a newfound interest in creature comforts. They have refined their pricing to allow themselves a more reasonable profit margin. And through it all a slightly less malodorous feeling permeates the air, as young and old alike replace their old worn undergarments with slightly fresher ones. Leave it to Maggie the Jackcat to find someone willing to model in their refreshing new undergarments. Check it out here! There have also been changes to the pursuits of the Arcane. Newfound spells await those powerful enough to reach the seventh circle of the Left Hand. Even those of lesser abilities will find that their enchantments last longer. In addition to the new spells and improvements, a new system for purchasing spell components has been introduced, allowing for the purchase of a pre-set list of components. For a detailed list of all new additions and changes this month be sure to consult the Developer's Notes as well as the official event article, "Chains of Command." Continue your part in this incredible ongoing story, and we'll see you in Dereth! A LETTER TO THE PLAYER ON SPEEDHACKING June 15, 2001 As most players are aware, additional code was devised for the June event by which players who used speed-altering programs could be detected and removed from the game. The most concrete solution for the short term turned out to be the removal of the Speedhack detection code, to be reviewed, fixed, and reinstated at a future update. However, while instability resulted, the detection code did accurately detect several players who were using speed-altering programs in violation of the Code of Conduct. Appropriate action has been taken in those cases, and we remind players that use of speed-altering programs can result in removal from the game. We sincerely apologize for the extended downtime, and intend to reintroduce the detection code as soon as we can verify its stability. We thank you for your patience, and hope you enjoy the rest of the June event, "Chains of Command." Thank you, The AC Team ASHERON'S CALL: DARK MAJESTY EXPANSION PACK AVAILABLE THIS HOLIDAY Microsoft today announced that the Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty Expansion Pack will be available this holiday at retail locations throughout North America. The first of its kind for the franchise, this expansion pack includes the original Asheron's Call as well as many new features and a compelling new landmass. Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty will be available at retail for only US$19.95 and will include one free month of play. "Turbine is very excited about the expansion pack, and our continued relationship with Microsoft. The Asheron's Call franchise is a very important part of our company," noted Jeffrey Anderson, President and CEO of Turbine. "We are firmly committed to developing and delivering high-quality online entertainment." The Expansion Pack delivers on new additions such as housing and storage, two of the features most requested by our customers. Players will be able to purchase their own homes on designated plots of land, as well as use their residence for secure storage purposes. The Expansion Pack also kicks off the next chapter in the on-going Asheron's Call story line by introducing the island of Marae Lassel. Marae Lassel is a sprawling new landmass, which will contain new quests, dungeons, and treasures and will be accessible to all levels of players who purchase the Asheron's Call Expansion Pack. Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty builds upon the epic, evolving storyline by paving the way for the return of an old nemesis. "We don't want to give everything away," says Nik Davidson, producer of the Expansion Pack, "but suffice to say that the name of the expansion pack is a big clue." "Microsoft is making a significant investment in Asheron's Call with both the expansion pack and in the sequel to Asheron's Call which we announced earlier this year," explained Matthew Ford, Lead Program Manager for Asheron's Call. 3 -- COMMUNITY HERALD THE ALLEGIANCE HALL From the world of Leafcull, Skystreak has achieved the title of High King (Rank 10) and from Harvestgain, Jaderon joins the ranks of those that have achieved the title of Taikou (Rank 8)! RELATED LINKS While it is with a heavy heart we observed the passing of the Crossroads of Dereth, all is not lost! It looks as if we may be seeing yet another incarnation of one of the largest Asheron's Call fan sites. The new site, while not yet complete, promises to be just as captivating as the original.PORTAL SPACED Double Gold has published an interview with one of Dereth's oldest and best-known figures, Maggie the Jackcat! Check it out here.SEND THIS NEWSLETTER TO A FRIEND, AND LET THEM KNOW TO: PLAY IT ON THE ZONE! If you have any problems with Asheron's Call or the Zone, check out our Troubleshooters and Frequently Asked Questions and find the answer to your problems there. Troubleshooters: http://support.microsoft.com/support/games/zone/asheron/tshoot/default.asp http://support.microsoft.com/support/games/zone/tshoot/default.asp Frequently Asked Questions: http://support.microsoft.com/support/games/zone/faq/asheron/default.asp http://support.microsoft.com/support/games/zone/faq/default.asp Play it on the Zone! http://www.zone.com/asheronscall You registered to receive this newsletter on the MSN Gaming Zone. To unsubscribe, do the following: 1. Go to MSN Newsletters:http://g.msn.com/0NL33946/117 2. Log in with your Zone ID (not your AC character name) and password. 3. Uncheck the box that's labeled "Send me the Asheron's Call newsletter every month to: (your e-mail address)." THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to change in market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. This document may be copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1. All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be included 2. All copies must contain Microsoft's copyright notice and any other notices provided therein 3. This document may not be distributed for profit. c2000 Microsoft, Inc. |
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The sun has begun to rise, brighter,
hotter, crossing the horizon with the burning fury of an Ivory Gromnie's
smelting breath. The torrid days of summer have come at last. . .
Here
are just some of the additions made in the June 14 game update, “Chains
of Command.” The following list is comprised of detailed notes
straight from the developers themselves. For a summary of things of most
interest, be sure to consult the official event article,
With
the opening of our June event, “Chains of Command,” allegiance
members will be able to take advantage of several new communication
features: allegiance speakers, allegiance-wide broadcasts, messages of the
day, and co-vassal chat. These features will provide members an even greater
ability to keep in touch with one another and stay up-to-date on allegiance
events -- allowing for even further conquests to be made in Dereth!
With
the opening of our June 2001 event, “Chains of Command,” spellcasters
will be able to take advantage of the convenient new component buyer
feature. Instead of having to make individual spell component purchases,
players can set their component buyer to automatically purchase the
components they need in the quantity they desire. 