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Dateline: November 26, 1997
The Elanthian Times is again accepting articles and artwork for its late December publication on the Web. If your submission is used, you will receive a free alteration and one of Stump's finest cigars. Please read the Guidelines of Submission in the Elanthian Times area in the Socializing and Roleplaying folder of the message boards.
Please send all submissions to ETEditors@aol.com
Dateline: October 20, 1995
NEW DATABASE PURGE CRITERIA - =IMPORTANT=!
Due to the huge numbers of new users visiting GemStone III daily, we have found it necessary to schedule routine database purges every 15 days. Additionally, to keep the databases clean and functioning efficiently, the following criteria are now used to determine whether or not to purge a character from the database:
1) Any character who has less than 1 hour total playing time over their career AND has not logged into the game for 15 days will be purged.
2) Any character of any level, who has not logged into the game over the last 90 days will be purged.
** NOTE ** If you will be unable to log on for several weeks due to military service or other reasons beyond your control, it may be possible to have your character saved. Write to GemStone III Feedback with any such requests.
Dateline: January 7, 1996
PROTECT YOUR ACCOUNTS!
Please be advised that NO Simutronics staff member will *ever* ask you for your password! If someone approaches you as an online service provider and asks for your password, do NOT provide them with this information! If this happens to you, notify the GameMaster staff immediately via the REPORT verb, and contact your online service provider as soon as possible! Protect your character, your account, and yourself -- CHANGE your password every month or so, and NEVER give it out to *anyone*!
DEEDS ARE ESSENTIAL - ARE YOU PREPARED?
Be sure to gain favor with the gods, and receive your deeds to use in case of your death. The way to earn deeds may be mysterious, but it is well worth the effort. Those in the know hint that you should have at least three deeds at all times, and some even say you should have more.
You can now type FLAG DEATH to set your death inactivity timer. This has the effect of logging you out of the game if you are dead and perform no actions for 90 seconds, as in cases where you die and are frozen or ghosted. This will keep you from decaying in these instances. If you set your death flag, you MUST perform either a LOOK or a speaking action every 90 seconds or you will be logged out of the game if you are dead and have this flag set.
BEWARE ATTACHED FILES!
An alarming number of emails with attached .exe files have been circulating recently. Some claim to be GemStone III "cheat" programs or new front end programs. Please remember *never* to download a program of this type emailed to you. These programs may contain viruses or password "sniffers"!! All Simutronics supported programs are available in our download libraries. No Simutronics employee will mail you any .exe file.
DATELINE: AUGUST 29th
Host Application Request: A NEW and UPDATED GameHost Application has been placed in the Official Simutronics Files section of the Files Library on the website! For all those interested in applying for a GameHost position, please fill out this new Application and email it to: GS3HOSTAPP@SIMUTRONICS.COM, today! Even if you have submitted an application previously, please resubmit a new one!
Dateline: February 10th, 1998
Minor Fire (#906), Major Fire (#908) and Fire Spirit (#111) have been modified to work on the freezing effects exuded by cold critters. In addition, the spells will also affect tobacco products appropriately.
Dateline: July 9th, 1997
Having problems getting onto the Website? Where should you turn for answers? Why not get all the FAQ's? Checkout this Webpage!
HTTP://WWW.PLAY.NET/HELP
DATELINE: DECEMBER 5th:
The FAME FLAG is now active! To toggle your fame flag type; FLAG FAME to turn it on, or type FLAG !FAME to turn it off, or just type FLAG for usage. With the FAME flag on, you will be able to use the fame verb as normal and you will continue to be updated on the fame tables if you qualify. However, YOU will not be able to read the fame of another player if THEY have their FAME flag toggled off. If you have the FAME FLAG toggled off you will not have access to the fame verb, nor will your fame be updated on the tables. Eventually the code will be completed to remove those with their FAME flag toggled off from the fame lists.
DATELINE NOVEMBER 4th:
There have been reports of recent mailings posing as official Simutronics mailings, requesting that you send your account name and password to an email account that is not a Simutronics.com email address.
NEVER send your password to ANYONE!
*** SIMUTRONICS WILL -NEVER- ASK YOU FOR YOUR PASSWORD. ***
Please report any suspicious mailings to feedback@simutronics.com.
Dateline: December 15th, 1997
New Wedding System!
You can now get all of your information regarding the new wedding system on our webpage, plus we answer many of your most common questions!
DATELINE NOVEMBER 20th:
Two Weapons skill training pays off defensively. Additional training regimens with respect to defensive tactics have been added to the training repertoire for Two Weapons skill, enabling defensive bonuses similar in nature to the Shield Use skill.
DATELINE NOVEMBER 23rd:
Spell Changes: Strength [509] and Phoen's Strength [606]. Previously these two spells offered a Generic Attack Strength bonus for all attack types. They will now offer only their Attack Strength bonus for physical melee attacks only. Aimed Spell Attack Strength and Ranged Weapon Attack Strength no longer gain a bonus from these spells.
DATELINE NOVEMBER 24th:
Due to the overwhelming response to our new wedding system we are no longer accepting reservations for the C wedding plan, at this point we are booked through March. We will begin taking reservations again at the end of February for weddings begining in April. Please remember that we do have two other wedding plans available for your convenience, and thank all of you for your interest and patience.
DATELINE NOVEMBER 29th:
Mana Recovery has been increased!
Effective immediately, the recovery of mana outside of an earthnode has been increased to 15% of max mana, up from 10%. On a node, player-cast or otherwise, the mana recovery is now 25% of max mana, up from 20%. Further, the Bard Spellsong, Song of Power, will enhance natural nodes an additional 5% provided the bard can maintain the song at the node for a total of 30%!
n March 24th.
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SCRIPTING POLICY
Scripting is using any method, such as a scripting language or macros, to send a series of automated commands to the game without needing to be at the keyboard. Usually this is not disruptive, but experience and player reaction have shown that long term scripting to gain experience can be disruptive to game play and is detrimental to the atmosphere of mutual cooperation that we try to preserve in GemStone III.
Any scripting activity that lasts over 10 minutes may be considered long-term scripting. Long-term scripting for the enhancement of experience and/or silver is specifically forbidden, though other types of scripting may fall under this guideline as well. In general, if a player is running a script that does not affect their experience or silver, and does not run consecutively for more than 10 minutes, it does not fall under this policy (EX: the Wizard FE hunting macros and AFK resting script do not normally fall under this policy since the macros do not run unattended and the resting script does not gain a player experience or silver). However, any script that is deemed by a GameMaster to be disruptive or not in the best interest of GemStone III or its players may be in violation of this policy. The final determination of whether or not someone is in violation of this policy is entirely at the discretion of Simutronics.
DATELINE DECEMBER 8th:
The GS3 Combat System damage determination has been modified to account for various protective natures of armors. Light armor wearers will not notice any changes. Rigid armor wearers thru plate armor wearers will notice dramatic increases in resistance to wounds. In turn, cloth armor wearers will suffer a significant increase in susceptibility to wounds. So equip yourselves appropriately before going into battle!
DATELINE DECEMBER 12th:
Upcoming Changes to Minor Elemental spells 403 and 404 planned!
The way that the bonuses for spells 403 and 404 are calculated has been changed. These spells will no longer be solely level based when determining the bonus applied to the skill they enhance, they will now take skill into consideration when calculating their bonuses! These spells will change in the following ways:
- These spells will only give their full bonus if they are Self Cast. The spells will no longer be considered Self Cast if cast from a magic item or from a scroll
- If the bonus gained from the spell is greater than your bonus in the skill itself, then your bonus will be reduced to half of your skill.
- These spells will now apply to the chance of success with 407 & 408 See News 26 for more details!
- These spells will now use a new formula to calculate the bonus. Discussion of the new formula is taking place right now in the message boards in the 'Lockping' and 'Roguish Pursuits' folders. Stop on by for up to the minute details on how they will work and to voice your opinion on the changes.
- The duration of these spells will be reduced to 30 seconds + 1 per level. Formerly, it was 30 seconds + 3 per level.
Check the Message Boards today for the latest details about these changes! Look in the 'Strategies & Tactics' categories and then in the 'Lockpicking' and 'Roguish Pursuits' topics!
DATELINE DECEMBER 12th:
Upcoming changes to the Minor Elemental spells 407 and 408 planned!
These spells will now be enhanced by the casting of 403 or 404 prior to their use! The spell 403 will enhance 407, and 404 will enhance 408! See News 25 for more details on how those two spells now work! These spells will change in the following ways:
- The bonus gained from either 403 or 404 will now add to the caster's chances of opening or disarming the chest.
- These spells will now have a significant impact on the experience you gain when opening boxes or disarming traps! See News 27 for details!
The way that experience was calculated will change as well.
Check the Message Boards today for the latest details about these changes! Look in the 'Strategies & Tactics' categories and then in the 'Lockpicking' and 'Roguish Pursuits' topics!
DATELINE DECEMBER 12th:
Experience earned for Picking, Popping and Disarming changing!
The way that experience is calculated for Manual and Magical picking has been changed. These changes will be implemented with the changes to the Minor Elemental spells (See News 25 & 26 for more information on those topics). The changes are as follows:
- All forms of opening or disarming will now calculate experience the same way.
- Manual picking and disarming experience tweaked up slightly.
- Magical picking and disarming experience tweaked down slightly.
- Enhancement spells will now seriously affect your learning! Using Magical enhancements will help you get tougher locks/traps but will now be reflected in your learning as well.
- When using extremely well made, or poorly made, lockpicks your learning will reflect the quality of the lockpick.
Check the Message Boards today for the latest details about these changes! Look in the 'Strategies & Tactics' categories and then in the 'Lockpicking' and 'Roguish Pursuits' topics!
DATELINE DECEMBER 14th:
Traveller's Song, 1020, has been modified. While there is no absolute guarantee of success, the age of the singing bard is now factored in. The older the bard, the greater the chance for a successful song!
DATELINE JANUARY 2nd:
Local trainers announced today that the way people train may help them become more immune to physical damage. Long and exhaustive testing with warriors who were willing to throw themselves against claws and weapons with impunity discovered that they are indeed more resistant to physical attacks. Unlike their weaker counterparts who have spent all their days in some tower with their noses stuck in dusty old tomes and their mouths gorged with fat-laden tarts, or perhaps too busy hugging a tree instead of chopping a few down, the truly dedicated master at arms has honed his/her musculature to such a hardiness as to take a hit and shrug it off as a mere nuisance.
Further studies have shown that physical training regimens such as: 2 Weapons Combat, Armor Use, Shield Use, CM, Multi-Opps, Climbing, Swimming, Ambush, and Physical Training provide the most benefit to one's damage resistance. Combined with a good measure of melee weapons skills (One Handed Edged, One Handed Blunt, 2-Hand Weapon, Polearms, Brawling), all prove to increase physical vigor and robustness. In contrast, any magical training reflects a lack of dedication to the physical training regimen and those who are learned in the ways of magic will find their physical resistance lacking.
DATELINE JANUARY 15th:
GameMaster Aephir needs your help! He is embarking on a plan to spice up the lives of those non-crittable and non-corporeal creatures out there. What does this mean to you? There is a new verb for players called "CRTRMSG". Typing this verb will enable players to contribute ideas for the new non-crittable and non-corporeal hit messaging tables. Remember these are not messages that indicate a particular area is damaged in a particular way, but rather messages indicating what area has been hit and how hard it has been hit. Aephir needs messaging for both non-corporeal creatures (like a ghost) and non-crittable creatures (like a magru). Type CRTRMSG today and contribute to the future of GemStone III!
DATELINE FEBRUARY 3th:
Mana Leech Spell Discovered:
The Major Elemental Spell 516 has been changed from Life Leech to Mana Leech. Now when it is cast at a target, the caster will drain a random amount of mana from the target up to 1 mana per 3 warding failure. The amount drained will never be more than 1 mana per level of the caster or more than the target has.
DATELINE: March 1st
Bards gain a new spellsong! Song of Depression, 1015, Released! This song functions exactly as outlined in the Gemstone III spell list documentation, available on the GS3 website!
DATELINE: FEBRUARY 18th
Symbol of Dreams has been fixed so that it no longer restores spirit over your maximum. For those interested, the symbol was using the old ICE max spirit formula and has now been updated to use the correct formula.
DATELINE: MARCH 1st
Adventurers now have access to two new verbs: SPELL. The SPELL verb will allow you to view your spell lists in one of two ways without the need to find an inn. SKILL. The SKILL verb will allow you to view your skills without checking in to an inn.