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Ice World V

Deity: John Yockey
Start Date: February 21, 2003
End Date: April 15, 2003 (53 days)
Code used: 4.2.11
Winner(s): Lowland (Lowland, Pendor)
Niflheim (Byzantium, Dorwinion, Plundaria, Mithrilien)

Original Game Announcement

February 12, 2003

I've recently been informed that LOTR II has been delayed indefinitely. In order to get a long term game running that will end before students leave for the summer, the Ice Barbarian Warlord announces the start of Ice World V. This game will be on an ice continent. Players of all skill levels are invited to join. To sign up send the following information to johny@frii.com.

Country Name:
Password:
Preferred Email Address:
Empire Rank:

(for rank see http://www.wolfpackempire.com/simplerank.html)

Ice World V will be hosted at empire.wolfpaw.net on port 6665. The game will be openned to players Friday February 21st, with the first update on Monday February 24th. There will be a ten minute update window every 17 hours for the first week.
After that the time between updates will increase by 12 hours every other week until updates are every 53 hours after the fifth week. There will be weekend updates.

No more than 10% of the starting countries will be recognized in the victory declaration.

The following modifications have been made for this game:

Deity,
John Yockey,
aka The Ice Barbarian Warlord!

version >!version
Empire 4.2.11
(KSU distribution 1.04, Chainsaw version 4.00, Wolfpack version 2.11)

The following parameters have been set for this game:
World size is TBD
There can be up to 99 countries.
By default, countries use their own coordinate system.

An Empire time unit is 1020 seconds long.
Use the 'update' command to find out the time of the next update.
The current time is Tue Feb 11 22:16:05.
An update consists of 60 empire time units.
Each country is allowed to be logged in 1440 minutes a day.
It takes 8.33 civilians to produce a BTU in one time unit.

A non-aggi, 100 fertility sector can grow 0.12 food per etu.
1000 civilians will harvest 1.3 food per etu.
1000 civilians will give birth to 5.0 babies per etu.
1000 uncompensated workers will give birth to 2.5 babies.
In one time unit, 1000 people eat 0.5 units of food.
1000 babies eat 6.0 units of food becoming adults.

Banks pay $120.00 in interest per 1000 gold bars per etu.
1000 civilians generate $4.00, uncompensated workers $1.00 each time unit.
1000 active military cost $83.33, reserves cost $8.33.
Happiness p.e. requires 1 happy stroller per 10000 civ.
Education p.e. requires 1 class of graduates per 10000 civ.
Happiness is averaged over 48 time units.
Education is averaged over 192 time units.
The technology/research boost you get from the world is 50.00%.
Nation levels (tech etc.) decline 1% every 96 time units.
Tech Buildup is limited to logarithmic growth (base 2.00) after 1.00.

Sectors Ships Planes Units
Maximum mobility 127 127 127 127
Max mob gain per update 60 90 60 60
Max eff gain per update -- 100 100 100

Ships on autonavigation may use 6 cargo holds per ship.
In order to build a nuke, you need 0.33 times the tech level in research
Example: In order to build a 300 tech nuke, you need 99 research

Fire ranges are scaled by 1.00

Options enabled in this game:
ALL_BLEED, DEMANDUPDATE, DRNUKE, FALLOUT, GODNEWS, HIDDEN, INTERDICT_ATT, LANDSPIES, LOSE_CONTACT, MOB_ACCESS, NEUTRON, NEW_STARVE, NEW_WORK, NEWPOWER, NO_FORT_FIRE, NO_PLAGUE, NOMOBCOST, NUKEFAILDETONATE, ORBIT, PINPOINTMISSILE, PLANENAMES, SAIL,
SHIPNAMES, SHOWPLANE, TECH_POP, TREATIES, UPDATESCHED

Options disabled in this game:
BIG_CITY, BLITZ, BRIDGETOWERS, DEFENSE_INFRA, EASY_BRIDGES, FUEL, GO_RENEW, GRAB_THINGS, LOANS, MARKET, NO_HCMS, NO_LCMS, NO_OIL,
NOFOOD, NONUKES, RES_POP, SHIP_DECAY, SLOW_WAR, SNEAK_ATTACK,
SUPER_BARS, TRADESHIPS,

"info Options" for a detailed list of options and descriptions

The person to annoy if something goes wrong is:
John Yockey
(johny@frii.com).
You can get your own copy of the source using:
ftp://ftp.empire.cx/pub/empire/server or
http://www.empire.cx/

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Mid-game Updates

Four days after the start, February 25, 2003

Ice World V has started. After a little glitch where updates
were turned on before I correctly adjusted the update time,
21 of 22 countries broke Sanctuary. I broke and setup the
22nd country right before the first update, and that country
is available to any player that still wants to get into the
game. Anyone who wants the available country should e-mail
the deity at johny@frii.com with Country Name, Password, and
Preferred E-mail address.

After the first update the order of countries on the power
chart is: ^^^, SiliconSorcerer, Shakespeare, IndustMech, DPRK,
VailGulf, Lowland, Myseria, unemployed, Zern, Cheela,
OrionSyndicate, Ragnarook, Vaujany, Cairhien, Coyote, Armengar,
Bwian, Aquataine, Zion, routerman, Niflheim.

Ice World V is hosted at empire.wolfpaw.net on port 6665.
The visitor account is enabled.

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Five days after the start, February 26, 2003

Ice World V still has one country that needs a permanent ruler. The country was setup by the deity and is currently in the upper half of the power chart -- so you can still join and not be behind the other players. Anyone who wants the available country should e-mail the deity at johny@frii.com with Country Name, Password, and Preferred E-mail address. In order to encourage game announcements by the players, I am awarding bars from heaven to the player who makes the best announcement each update. Non-participants can comment on announcements that they particularly like.

After the second update the order of countries on the power chart is: ^^^, DPRK, SiliconSorcerer, Lowland, Zern, Shakespeare, IndustMech, VailGulf, Cheela, Armengar, OrionSyndicate, Ragnarook, Vaujany, Cairhien, Myseria, Bwian, Coyote, unemployed, Aquataine, Niflheim, Zion, routerman

Ice World V is hosted at empire.wolfpaw.net on port 6665.
The visitor account is enabled.

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Six days after the start, February 27th, 2003

The last country in Ice World V was claimed today. After two update without any starvation, there was massive starvation the past two updates. First by the natives between countries and then by the countries themselves.

After the forth update the top ten countries on the power chart are: SilentBob, Shakespeare, Coyote, Armengar, unemployed, Vaujany, Lowland, SiliconSorcerer, Ragnarook, and DPRK.

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Nine days after start, March 2, 2003

The natives between countries of Ice World V have now starved out and the countries are beginning to expand towards each other. One country had to drop out and a replacement has been found. Anyone who wants to be on the replacement list should contact the deity at johny@frii.com.

After the first two updates there had been no starvation or overpopulation. However that has not continued as there are now countries that are starving or broke.

After the seventh update the top ten countries on the power chart are: Shakespeare, Niflheim, Vaujany, Lowland, SilentBob, DPRK, Armengar, Ragnarook, Coyote, and ^^^.

Ice World V is hosted at empire.wolfpaw.net on port 6665.
The visitor account is enabled.

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Two weeks after start, March 8, 2003

Another Ice World V country was replaced this past week. All countries continue to be active. The starvation and insolviblity of nations that occurred between the 3rd and 5th updates has been resolved. Ice World V continued to be peaceful as nations were feeling each other out. However that all ended today as nations awoke to headlines of:

               -=[ EMPIRE NEWS ]=-
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
!        "All the news that fits, we print."           !
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sat Mar 8 16:12:01 2003

Niflheim wreaks havoc on routerman!
Lowland wreaks havoc on Cairhien!

After the twelvth update the top ten countries on the power
chart are: Lowland, Niflheim, SilentBob, Vaujany, Ragnarook,
DPRK, Coyote, Shakespeare, IndustMech, and Armengar.

Ice World V is hosted at empire.wolfpaw.net on port 6665.
The visitor account is enabled.

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Four weeks after start, March 26, 2003

After 22 updates there are 11 countries still alive and well in Ice World V: Aquataine, Coyote, DPRK, IndustMech, Lowland, Niflheim, Ragnarook, Shakespeare, unemployed, VailGulf, and ^^^. Only two countries will be allowed to declare victory. With hidden on, countries are uncertain on how much of an advantage they have over each other. Most countries have achieved jet fighter technology. Countries that have fallen behind in technology have been absorbed by their neighbors.

SilentBob did an excellent job of holding off Lowland, Niflheim, and Ragnarook for several updates, but eventually fell. The countries that remain are large enough to not fall in a single attack, such that longer battles should occur for the rest of the game. So far no major alliances have formed.

Ice World V is hosted at empire.wolfpaw.net on port 6665.
The visitor account is enabled.

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Six weeks after start, April 7, 2003

After 30 updates there are 10 countries still alive and well in Ice World V: Aquataine, Coyote, IndustMech, Lowland, Niflheim, Ragnarook, Shakespeare, unemployed, VailGulf, and ^^^. The endgame began last week as five countries piled onto DPRK.Lowland started the action by cancelling his non-aggression pact with DPRK such that El Presidente had to move troups to his northern border. Niflheim then attacked from the south where DPRK was prepared to counter attack. However once DPRK had used the rest of his forces in the counter attack, IndustMech moved in and sacked the capital. Smelling the blood, Ragnarook and unemployed then moved in and DPRK had vanished in a single update. Many had thought that DPRK was the largest country in the game; however he was only third.

Ice World V is hosted at empire.wolfpaw.net on port 6665. The visitor account is enabled.

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Game Summary

Ice World V is now over. Lowland and Niflheim have been declared the winners. Ice World V was a continental game with venture enterprise and ice sectors. Special units existed that could easily march through the mountains and ice. Players had to be logged off in order to accumulate BTUs.

The game started with 1000 deity mil in sectors between countries. After a week the deity mil starved out and countries began to expand. Shakespeare and Niflheim grabbed an early lead, as they were able to make contact and get tech bleed about four updates before other countries did. Next time I need to remember to turn off tech bleed in hidden games.

Lowland and Niflheim grabbed the lead in the game by invading weak neighbors early in the game. Lowland invaded Cairhien and Niflheim invaded routerman. These weren't the weakest countries in the game, but both fell very rapidly.

Shakespeare soon followed by an invasion of Bwain; however, Bwain allowed most of his country to fall into the hands of his ally unemployed. Lowland quickly turned his attention to OrionSyndicate who had already been preoccupied in a border skirmish with VailGulf. OrionSyndicate started as a large money rich country, but fell way behind in technology early. Falling behind in tech in a hidden game usually attracts the attention of sector hungry lawnmowers.

Ragnarook and IndustMech began an invasion of Myseria, while Niflheim moved against SiliconSorcerer. SiliconSorcerer had uncharacteristically gone broke for several updates early inthe game, but had survived and was active when Niflheim attacked. DPRK invaded Tundra who had recently replaced Zion. Myseria, SiliconSorcerer, and Zion all quickly fell.

SilentBob launched an attack against Newland who had replaced Cheela two weeks earlier. When Newland didn't respond toSilentBob's attack, both Ragnarook and Newland's ally ^^^ gobbled up the rest of his country. This prompted Newland to spam the deity's e-mail with messages about how unfair it was that he abandoned his country for four days and it was gone when he got back.

During the Newland invasion additional hostilities broke out as SilentBob accidentally attacked some of Ragnarook's sectors. Soon SilentBob was under attack from Ragnarook, Vaujany, and Niflheim. Lowland's armies continued to role through Armengar,and DPRK back doored Vaujany. Vaujany had the tech lead at the time, but didn't have many military to resist DPRK's attack. SilentBob held off his attackers for several updates, and only fell after Lowland had marched all the way through Armengar and joined the battle. SilentBob ended up giving away his best territory to ^^^ and some to Coyote.

For the next week there was little fighting going on. Aquataine and VailGulf were fighting each other on a stalemated front. Most countries were speculating that DPRK was on top of the power chart; however, Lowland and Niflheim were.

By this time, Lowland and Niflheim had already made a secret alliance and were communicating by e-mail to hide it. They spread rumors that DPRK was going to invade IndustMech. After the week of peace, Lowland gave notice to DPRK that he was going to end their non-aggression pact. DPRK moved some of his forces to protect his northern border. Niflheim then attacked from the south. DPRK had set up forces to counterattack Niflheim's forces; however, his plan to drop Niflheim's units on bridges didn't work as Niflheim had designated 0% bridgeheads on the opposite shore during his attack. This had left DPRK's mainland open to attack from IndustMech who marched in and sacked the DPRK capital. Faced with three opponents, DPRK attempted to turn over the rest of his lands to Ragnarook and unemployed.

Aquataine was beginning to make progress against VailGulf. Coyote then attempted to support VailGulf by marching units through his ally's country and attacked Aquataine. Coyote soon learned that units don't defend allied sectors. With Aquataine, VailGulf, and Coyote weakened by weeks of fighting, Lowland and Niflheim added to their power by invading VailGulf and Coyote.

Lowland and Niflheim then declared victory. The remaining countries discussed contesting the win for a while; however since Aquataine, unemployed, and Shakespeare all had four update non-aggression pacts with the winners, they conceded victory.

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Final Power

Blue coloring on countries in the power chart indicates the winners of the game.

     - = [   Empire Power Report   ] = -
as of Tue Apr 15 09:22:11 2003
            sects  eff civ  mil  shell gun pet  iron dust oil  pln ship unit money
     Lowland 423   97% 247K 7.5K 9.9K 972  7.3K 106K 1.0K 9.7K 200   33  154  3.7K
    23177.84
    Niflheim 439   98% 272K  10K 5.7K 1.2K  11K  80K 754   14K 173   45  141   12K
    21012.28
   Ragnarook 255   99% 152K 4.7K 4.3K 236  2.3K  33K 1.6K 4.3K 180   14  103   13K
    12068.06
         ^^^ 187  100% 110K 3.6K 5.4K 945  6.8K  48K 235  8.9K 151   20  163   53K
    10879.30
   Shakespea 158   99%  99K 6.2K 7.0K 1.4K 6.6K  28K 554  2.9K 360   14  150  2.4K
     9176.99
   IndustMec 172   99%  90K 3.1K 2.8K 583  4.0K  21K 2.0K 7.4K 112   15   96   68K
     9109.23
   unemploye 148  100%  80K 3.6K 3.1K 571  1.9K  28K 504  3.0K  62   12   44  6.5K
     7610.17
   Aquataine 129   99%  76K 2.5K 743   83  4.9K  17K 1.9K 1.4K  70   10   30   14K
     5128.55
    VailGulf  35   73%  14K 620  132   18   51  2.7K  72  1.2K   0    7    0 -450
      822.76
        DPRK   7   85% 4.9K 311    0    0    1  1.2K  48    1    0    7   11 -1.2K
      287.87
      Coyote   8   92% 5.7K 140    5    2    1  1.7K  12    0    2    3    1 -2.0K
      257.06
   SilentBob   4   99% 2.5K  95    7    0    0  1.9K   5    1    0    1    0  715
      101.27
     Vaujany   4   62% 1.7K 189    0    0    4  2.3K   0    1    0    0    0 -3.8K
       81.27
             ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
   worldwide 2.0K  98% 1.2M  43K  39K 6.0K  45K 369K 8.7K  54K 1.3K 180  890  155K
 

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Final Report

Blue coloring on countries in the report indicates the winners of the game. 

Tue Apr 15 10:38:05 2003
# name tech research education happiness capital
0 Ice Barbarians 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0,0
1 Aquataine 186.11 13.93 29.20 0.00 -36,-6
2 Armengar 124.89 1.14 0.73 0.00 21,7
3 Bwian 73.40 2.06 0.10 0.00 -8,-18
4 Cairhien 49.35 2.26 0.06 0.00 45,11
5 Newland 103.17 2.26 0.33 0.00 -1,-23
6 Coyote 175.13 13.93 19.31 1.02 -8,12
7 DPRK 166.42 5.98 4.58 0.04 30,-22
8 IndustMech 202.77 13.93 33.66 14.61 11,-11
9 Lowland 213.16 11.99 26.12 21.25 -36,20
10 Myseria 82.76 1.14 0.38 0.00 36,-12
11 Niflheim 197.48 13.93 20.19 18.89 27,3
12 OrionSyndicate 63.86 1.14 0.22 0.00 -34,2
13 SilentBob 137.68 0.00 0.78 6.76 1,19
14 Ragnarook 200.07 13.93 23.09 14.60 -1,-21
15 routerman 57.71 2.50 0.05 0.00 30,-2
16 Shakespeare 191.27 22.43 31.24 20.58 -2,-12
17 SiliconSorcere 99.54 0.83 0.33 0.00 -47,3
18 unemployed 215.19 13.93 23.12 7.27 -33,-11
19 VailGulf 171.83 11.83 10.59 19.39 -20,-4
20 Vaujany 144.03 6.26 1.37 0.00 29,-21
21 Tundra 73.88 0.00 0.21 0.00 47,-9
22 visitor 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0,0
23 Lurker 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0,0
24 ^^^ 185.00 13.93 29.21 2.90 -21,15
25 Mapmaker 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0,0

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Awards

(these awards proncounced by Niflheim, one of the two winning countries)

Most anti-climatic battle award:
DPRK. The fall of Communism. What was expected to be "The Mother of all
Battles" turned into the "Daddy of all feeding frenzies" as they were
torn apart in a twinkling by the rest of the civilized world..

Speak Softly but carry a Big Stick:
Lowland: Stealthly became the #1 power and hardly anyone noticed.

Was this trip really nessesary?:
Ragnarook/Lowland+Niflheim diplomacy. If they could ever communicate
with each other, things would have been simpler.

Right time, right place, right attitude:
Industrial Mechanics. Looted and pillaged the communist capital while
DPRK was busy "springing his trap" on Niflheim.

Opprotunity Knocks, extra hog at the trough award:
^^^. Never leave your unfinished fodder anywere near him and hope to
get it after your btu hibernation.

I didn't mean to jog him so hard:
Niflheim vs Silent Bob. Attack wasn't really meant to eliminate Bob
just as a cover to prevent him from interfering in covert support of Lowland
vs Armegar.

Was doing fine until you came along:
Silent Bob vs Ragnarook until Niflheim & ^^^ meddling tipped the scales
harshly.

Who spammed my bmap award:
^^^ for exploiting every feature of empire to annoy and confuse.

Good references:
Shakespeare for quoting, err, himself.

Good Non-allied neighbors:
Shakes and Indy from the start. Aqua & Unemployed joined the list
midgame.

Annoying announcements:
DP had this locked up at first but Night Flems co-ruler Plundaria
worked hard to topple him. :)

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Announcements

(not all inclusive. These are highlights as posted by the deity)

> Announcement from Cheela, (#5) dated Fri Feb 21 13:50:59 2003
We shall be known as the Quendi, those who speak with voices.
We are the first to wake in this world.

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Fri Feb 21 15:04:01 2003
Ah, my friend, you are not the first
one to wake in this world.

It appears the diety has created a
truly hidden world.

> Announcement from Cheela, (#5) dated Fri Feb 21 18:15:15 2003
Shhhhh, you're messing with my fantasy...

> Announcement from Bwian, (#3) dated Fri Feb 21 19:36:52 2003
Hello World! The nation of Bwian would like it to be known that (for better or worse), it is being played by the current maintainer of WinACE. If any of you WinACE users encounter any problems with the special features of Ice World V, or if you find any general bugs, please let me know and I will attempt to correct them. I can be reached via e-mail at drk@unxsoft.com if that is more convenient. That is all for now.

Bwian

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Fri Feb 21 20:48:04 2003
In that case, there appears to be a bug in WinACE when you
enter a long announcement or telegram, WinACE doesn't wrap
the lines after 70 to 72 characters.

Ice.

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Fri Feb 21 21:48:26 2003

The people, once equipped with the revolutionary spirit of soldiers,
can firmly defend the country from any enemy's aggression and
successfully build a powerful nation, says a DPRK spokesman today in
a signed article. The article continues:

The revolutionary spirit of soldiers represents a powerful
ideological and moral weapon which was instrumental in ushering in
the era of the great army-based policy and an ideological and mental
pabulum for training the DPRK people as staunch fighters in that era.
El Presidente set forth the original army-centered revolutionary
line in the most arduous period of the DPRK revolution and directed
primary efforts to strengthening and developing the people's army. It
was in that historic period that the revolutionary spirit of soldiers,
a model in the times, was created and a breakthrough was made towards
the victory of the DPRK revolution and the prosperity of the country.
A radical change is taking place in the ideological and moral
aspects of our people. It is the real picture of our society that
all members of the society are emerging staunch fighters in the era
of the army-based policy to display heroism and perform feats by
learning from the ideological and mental traits of the servicemen of
the KPA.
The revolutionary spirit of soldiers represents a powerful engine
for the building of a powerful nation in the era of the army-based
policy.
This is clearly evidenced by such proud victories and successes
achieved in the revolution and construction in recent years as
continued victories in the political and military confrontation with
the Ice Worldists, a brilliant victory in the "arduous march", the
forced march and a leaping advance made in the drive to build an
economically powerful nation.
The prospect of the DPRK revolution advancing in the
revolutionary spirit of soldiers under the leadership of El
Presidente is bright, it is sure to triumph and a prosperous and
powerful socialist nation is certain to emerge on this land.

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Fri Feb 21 22:41:23 2003
I don't have a job, I never log off. Attacking is futile.

> Announcement from Armengar, (#2) dated Sat Feb 22 11:25:46 2003
Fortunately being alert takes one only so far,
so we somniacs have a chance also.

Sinari, the one who speaks softly and carries
a nonexistant stick

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Sat Feb 22 11:27:28 2003
I'm on right now to read your anno immediately after you wrote it.

this isnt a joke

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Sat Feb 22 14:31:58 2003
We are Norsemen, hardy and bold. We mount the black waves in our
doughty sleek ships and go a-raiding. We are Norsemen, tough as
stone. At least some of us are. Myself, I'm a skald--a poet, that
is.
-- T. Coraghessan Boyle, We are Norsemen

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Sat Feb 22 14:40:06 2003
Unemployed,

Are you on now?

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Sat Feb 22 16:48:42 2003
unemployed,
Can you hear me now?

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Sat Feb 22 20:54:18 2003
I was around for both those anno's but I wanted the guy I'm at war with
to think I logged off.

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Sun Feb 23 11:03:18 2003
unemployed,

So you haven't, and don't intend to, log off for the entire game?

---IM

> Announcement from Bwian, (#3) dated Sun Feb 23 13:04:27 2003
?In that case, there appears to be a bug in WinACE when you
?enter a long announcement or telegram, WinACE doesn't wrap
?the lines after 70 to 72 characters.

Well, don't I feel like an idiot now.

The nation of Bwian humbly apologizes to the world for
its atrociously formatted announcement. The programmers
responsible for that code will be drug out into the street
and flogged repeatedly with a large rubber hose. A
corrected version of WinACE will be released RSN.

Bwian.

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Sun Feb 23 18:36:09 2003
Bwain,
Hopefully you are intending on having WinACE wrap GENERATED
tele/annos. Other clients have long line problems too and the
best solution is not to generate long lines to begin with.

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Sun Feb 23 18:38:00 2003
It would appear that unemployed's answering service in not
currently forwarding messages to him. Or perhaps he's too
engrossed in empire battle and must ignore the interruption.

> Announcement from Aquataine, (#1) dated Mon Feb 24 06:00:15 2003

What's up with WinAce? It always crashes if I get a telegram
while it's waiting for me to finish a command.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Mon Feb 24 06:38:32 2003
Zzzzzzz....

Zzzzzz....

Zzzz
<ping>
You have one production report waiting.

Hrmmppfh, what?


> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Mon Feb 24 08:39:14 2003
WTF over. I log in today to read the latest annos and...
country setup is GONE. Back to two sanctuaries!!
I break (again) and its like I'm at a new location.
This doesn't bode well for a smooth game.

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Mon Feb 24 08:49:10 2003
well,

beep complained about having too many hostile mil
on his borders, that the Diety was ignoring him, and
that somebody forced an update too early, catching
the first citizen with his pants around his ankles.


The Ice Barbarian Warlord decided to rebuild the world
and award beep the title of "mountain king".


:)


> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Mon Feb 24 08:52:21 2003
I made an error while turning on updates this morning and
having the update adjust time wrong. This caused an update
to occur at the wrong time. Since I hadn't turned on backups
yet, I had to regenerate Ice World V. Note that the world is
a little bigger as I have added a country that signed up late.
The first update will be tommorrow at 11:05.

Ice.

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Mon Feb 24 09:04:49 2003
Countries got trashed, but as least the old annos were saved. :)

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Mon Feb 24 20:14:44 2003
The country of [visitor] hereby requests all players with
mountain sheeps to be sure to send food to our treasured
flock, and do not attempt any hostile acts towards our peaceful
country at this time.
-B

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Tue Feb 25 17:24:50 2003
There are 22 countries. 21 of them broke Sanctuary. Thus,
the winning alliance can include two countries.

The player of the unbroken sanctuary had broke before Monday
morning's regeneration. I will try to get him back or get
a replacement for that country.

Amazingly there was no starvation or overpopulation the first
update. beep would be happy:-)

Since hidden is enabled, there is very little information
visible to the visitor account and players not in the game.
The exception to this is game announcements. Unless some
player objects, each update I will be awarding five bars from
heaven to the player that makes the best announcement between
updates. Bonus points will be award for blatant propaganda
... err I mean informational material for visitors and players
not participating.

Ice.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Feb 25 20:49:05 2003
Its really great to have such a cool game, with such an
outstanding player as deity! Kind of like being in empire Heaven,
a great game run by one of the greatest players of all time!


> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Tue Feb 25 21:06:19 2003
Kissing up to the capitalist derriere is sure to yield
predictable results.

El Presidente

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Feb 25 23:32:10 2003
5 bars now is worth 10 bars later :-)

> Announcement from Cheela, (#5) dated Tue Feb 25 23:44:14 2003
I'm surrounded by hungry barbarians!!! HELP!!!!

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Wed Feb 26 00:01:44 2003
}Amazingly there was no starvation or overpopulation the first
}update. beep would be happy:-)

And unfortunatly that includes the 1000 mil in the barbarian
Mountains...

---IM

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Wed Feb 26 01:27:56 2003
*** For Immediate Press Release ***
The Coyote Ministry of Resources hereby claims ownership or
at least all mineral rights to all ice sectors. Before the first update, the "Great Whirlpool Side-by-Side" which has been operating in the national
archives for the past 17 years has ceased to operate. As a developing
country, it appears the minimal caretaker staff does not possess adequate
knowledge (tech) to restore it to working order. Life throughout the Coyote
countryside has been effected. School children of all ages have not known a
time when the "Great Whirlpool" did not house refereshing beverages, tasty
fruits and delicious meats and provide the ever-coveted ICE. One child even
observed "That black bottle thing in the back isn't purring like my kitten
anymore. Did it die?" We convinced her it doesn't need to be burried.
But all is not totally lost. It appears the neighboring village of BestBuy
possesses abundant technology and is able to offer a multitude of similar
devices. The Coyote National Selection Committee has been formed to select
the best device for acquisition. Her decision is expected forthwith.
All other countries are encouraged to contribute to the Coyote Hardship of
Iced Liquids Lost Intervention Network, CHILLIN, which is raising funds to
restore quality of life to the children of Coyote.

> Announcement from Armengar, (#2) dated Wed Feb 26 02:11:33 2003
?Kissing up to the capitalist derriere is sure to yield
?predictable results.

You mean gaining the first five bars, right? With an
option on some promising financial instruments.

Sinari

> Announcement from Zion, (#21) dated Wed Feb 26 02:52:02 2003
}The Coyote Ministry of Resources hereby claims ownership or
}at least all mineral rights to all ice sectors.

The Zion populace has voted 69% in favor of an exchange of ice sectors
with the Children of the Coyote. We ask for you own non-ice sectors to be
returned to us as a compensation.

As a lot of our populations seems to be robotised we can much more use
your other sectors than icecold territory.

Therefore we hope you'll join in with this exchange.

Signed,

Morpheus
Liberator of the suppressed.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Wed Feb 26 04:16:32 2003
Tyr, the God of War,
is pleased to see the Ice Barbarian warriors
eating stones to survive - successfully.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Feb 26 06:32:36 2003
The Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (aka DPRK) is run
by a madman armed to his big teeth with nukes!!!
Sheep and Fodders, run for your lives!!!

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Wed Feb 26 07:41:24 2003
PNN Headlines News
Wild wastes, Northern Encampment

Snow. Ice. Snow. Then for something different Ice. Snow. Ice.
This was intolerable. Plundarian's all shared a genetic
love of the water. Water that flowed. Oceans of water dotted with
dozens of islands to base their shipping. Oceans filled with
the vast navies of the world, all eager to donate their ships and
goods to Plundaria Prime.

But ice, ice just plain sucked.

The commander of the the Plundarian Northern Expeditionary Forces
wondered who he had offended to get stuck in this icy hell. Should
have never consorted with those damned elves years ago. Had to be it.
He had hoped the diety sinking their continent had erased all evidence.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, a messenger ducked into the
tent. Tents, thin cloth windtraps designed to funnel the maximun
amount of cold into your bones while you rest and to waste the maximal
amount of effort packing them around while you are on the move.


> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Wed Feb 26 07:41:53 2003
Tents, something else that sucked. Someone would pay for this.

The messenger nervously fidgeted, aware of this commander's tendancies.
"Well what is it, and if you are going to stand there, at least
move in front door to block the wind."

"Sir, our scouts have spotted some mountains to the north and some vast
tracks of water"

"WATER? Open Water? " Prehaps this is not so bad he though, get some
ships built, the thought of the open sea...

"errr, no sir, frozen water, massive sheets of ice, all broken and
jumbled up. Hard terrain to cross."

"Well, order them to extend the scouting perimeter, there has
got to be something.."

"Already have, local COs have reported hostile natives"

"Strengths?"

"They out number us 500 to 1."

Things just started looking better.


> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Wed Feb 26 07:54:42 2003
Men of few words are the best men

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Wed Feb 26 08:03:31 2003
The country of Coyote will not sacrifice the future of
our children to solve current problems. If we were to give
up our solid grounds we would be at grave risk should an
unseasonable warm spell occur. We are not decendents of
Kevin Costner and do not have webbed feet and hands.

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Wed Feb 26 08:07:23 2003

El Peso, February 26 -- The imperialist warhawks illegally intruded
strategic reconnaissance plane into the territorial air of the DPRK
to spy on it on Feb. 24. The plane belonging to the Forces took off
its overseas base at around 9:30 Monday morning. It illegally
intruded into the air above the territorial waters of the DPRK and
spied on the DPRK for hours, supported by refuelling tanker.
This reconnaissance plane made shuttle flights in the air above
the same territorial waters of the DPRK for more than 10 hours on
Feb. 21, 22 and 23 to spy on important targets along the east coast
of the DPRK.
This is a premeditated move to find an opportunity to mount a
preemptive attack on the DPRK.
This provocation is timed to coincide with the large-scale joint
military exercises to be staged by the imperialists after bolstering
huge aggression troops under the absurd pretext of the "nuclear
issue" of the DPRK.
The warhawks are well advised not to run amuck, well aware of
the grave consequences to be entailed by their intrusion and
espionage committed against the DPRK at a time when the situation
has got extremely tense.

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Wed Feb 26 09:22:18 2003
} Another question... is all territory that does not belong
} to a nation currently owned by IB military? Or put
} differently, is there some free land (be it ice, mountain,
} wilderness) that is unoccupied?

You will have to explore the world in order to find out.

} Tyr, the God of War,
} is pleased to see the Ice Barbarian warriors
} eating stones to survive - successfully.

I didn't say they would starve the first update; however they
are running out of edible rocks.

The first bars from heaven went to Coyote.

Ice.

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Wed Feb 26 18:10:32 2003
?>> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Wed Feb 26 09:22:18 2003
?>The first bars from heaven went to Coyote.
?>Ice.
And the children of Coyote rejoice. With this as down payment, the Coyote
Minister of Acquisition has contracted for delivery of a new "Frigidaire
Side-by-Side" national asset, as directed by the aforementioned National
Selection Committee. "Sometime tomorrow afternoon" quality of life will be
restored to the anxious children (+cool down time and a few cycles of ice
and water).
Keynote feature of new national asset.... turbo mode on ice maker. :)

Coyote military planners are already studying the feasibility of using
any excess production from the new national asset. Current experiments
involve the 'crushed' version of the ice being compacted into 3" spheres
which can be used as man launched projectiles. One military advisor has
heard tale of similar objects being used successfully against body shielding
worn by warriors known the Minnesota Vikings.

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Wed Feb 26 18:23:30 2003
} Tyr, the God of War,
} is pleased to see the Ice Barbarian warriors
} eating stones to survive - successfully.
No, no. Those Ice Barbarian warriors are not surviving on stones, silly.
They occupy sectors adjacent to ice sectors!!
The Deity has also utilized another empire command...
deliver popsicles * 50 j (assuming popsicles are produced in west coast sectors).
Popsicles are food right. Most school districts claim its true.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Wed Feb 26 18:28:27 2003
Heimdall, the Warder of Asgard, stands at the BiFrost
Bridge. This is his main post. He sometimes stations himself
at his hall, Himinbjorg, The Cliffs of Heaven, but today he
is where he really feels most comfortable. His sight is so
keen he can see past the horizon for hundreds of miles. His
hearing so good, he can hear grass grow, he can even hear
the wool growing from the backs of sheep....

But what does he hear now? He is hearing something that he
hasn't heard in a long, long time. He hears teeth
chattering, and someone complaining of the cold.

"That does not sound like one of the Gods, there is never a
complaint from them", mutters Heimdall, now curious, yet
disdainful of who is nearby and daring to complain of the
beautiful weather.

He casts his gaze to the far coast, waves crashing upon the
rocks, searching the wind for another hint of the source of
the ones who are cold.

There!! In a small secluded bay, a small spit of sand
survives the surf. A small boat with tattered sails has been
pulled up onto the beach. Laying next to the battered craft
are two small forms prostrate in the sand.

He trains his ears to focus on the what the two are saying.
What did one just say? "....Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ka-ka-ka-ka-
kuna...wh-wh-wh-wh-where are we?"

The response, muffled by the other's face almost totally
flat in the sand is unitelligible. So, Heimdall muses,
"Strangers dare seek Asgard. And so well preprared they are!
Hah!!" They must have sought the strange seas of the
tropics. He has heard tales from those brave warriors that
went a-viking of strange lands far to south, where the air
and water was warm, almost unbearable.

"I will send down a small guard to investigate these hapless
souls".

...

The wind is howling, the sand and surf biting. "No
worries!!, yikes!! What were my parents thinking when they
named me 'no worries'? It looks like I have a LOT to worry
about", a freezing, shivering Hakuna Likizo thought. Looking
over to his long time friend Matata Daima, he wondered how
long the rest of both their days would be. Man, was it
cold!! And the hottest thing they had to wear between them
was a shirt with a half-naked woman printed on the back. If
something didn't change soon, this would be one short trip,
and it was looking like the last trip they would make.

(To be continued)

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Wed Feb 26 18:49:29 2003
we're all just sitting around a space heater, arguing over who gets
to warm their feet next, eating, smoking and drinking, playing tic-
tac-toe in the snow, farting, the usual stuff, when the Boss comes
in. he's got a big fur jacket on and those sunglasses he wears
even when he's inside. when we hear him turning the door handle
to our shack we all start getting quiet and the euphoric stupor of
laziness that had engulfed us just seconds before shatters like
glass.

"i need some guys to go out to the harbor," the Boss says as he
marches in. "they've got a labor shortage all of a sudden. thin ice
or something, i don't know the details. we've gotta get those ships
up and running asap and as far as i can see you mopes aren't
doing anything important. so let's get to it, who volunteers?"

i'm still doing the exact same thing i started doing when i heard the
doorknob move, sliding one foot back and forth in the snow,
looking down at it. my friend jimmy next to me is rubbing his
hands together. (con't..)

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Wed Feb 26 18:51:26 2003
a couple of new guys who don't know how to avoid work yet, who
are eager to please, they must be looking at the Boss in the eye
because he says, "how about you two? okay fine, let's go." they
think that not saying anything is a sufficient sign of reluctance.
they're wrong. it's only a full two minutes after the door closes
behind us that we all start raising our eyes again, talking,
enjoying the relative luxury that two-room government
housing - the best you can do in this country these days -
affords us.

the only television station we get is a local channel that shows
text news bulletins for most of the day. but in thirty minutes
they're going to show a home video recording of the junior high
school's production of "our town". someone has the idea to make
sno-cones. jimmy gets his special flask from his special hiding
place. we settle in.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Thu Feb 27 01:36:56 2003
^^^ scientists are now testing nuclear submarines in our secluded
mountain lakes. They are intended for peaceful purposes only,
in order to deter the crazed barbarians from DPRK from launching missiles
at innocent sheep and other hapless civilians. However, tourist boats
should be alert against straying intoour testing groups, less we
inadvertently surface one of our subs and sink their spy boats
(err, fishing boats) and other such craft by mistake

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Thu Feb 27 04:10:46 2003

El Peso, February 27 -- El Presidente, President of the Presidium
of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of
sympathy to The Ice Barbarian Warlord, Warlord of the Ice Barbarians,
on Feb. 26 in connection with a strong famine that hit the wilderness
areas causing big human and material losses. Upon hearing this sad
news, I express deep sympathy and consolation to you and, through
you, to the government of the Ice Barbarians and the people in the
afflicted area, the message said.
It expressed conviction that the people in the afflicted area
would clear away the damage and bring their life to normal as early
as possible under the leadership of the Ice Barbarian Warlord.

> Announcement from VailGulf, (#19) dated Thu Feb 27 06:55:10 2003
Ski Conditions ? VailGulf Resort

Temp 27 Degrees
Base 67 inches packed powder
Partly Cloudy with chance of light snowfall today.

All lifts open

LiftTicket Pricing:
Single - One fishing boat w/200 food
Family - One fishing boat w/200 food and 1 frg w/1 mil

Your friendly family oriented ski resort of VailGulf is open to all
level of skiers, although management does encourage visitation
from newbie skiers. Send directions to your harbor and a VailGulf ski patrol will accompany you to our favorite bunny slope.

We do offer free lessons to beginning skiers.

Favored run today : Over The Edge
Level ? Beginner

Watch for our frgs at your harbor entrance?.

The Management and Staff - VailGulf Resort

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Thu Feb 27 09:39:34 2003
A Ski resort???

As far as I know, Ski resorts tend to expand fast
with fatal consequences for the neighbors.
IceWorld IV was a good example for that.

remember eno saying "it came like an avalanche"?
Limbo: "Save the environment. Say no to Ski!"
The dissappearance of Armengar?

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Thu Feb 27 10:00:33 2003
A Ski resort?

Great. We would like to come along with
a few thousand enthusiast to exercise our
favorite winter sports. We will bring our own
equipment.

The leader of the Mongol_Biathlon-Team

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Thu Feb 27 12:48:34 2003
} > Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Feb 25 20:49:05 2003
} Its really great to have such a cool game, with such an
} outstanding player as deity! Kind of like being in empire Heaven,
} a great game run by one of the greatest players of all time!
} > Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Wed Feb 26 09:22:18 2003
} The first bars from heaven went to Coyote.

Hmm, so shmoozing didn't work... five bars, let me think, think,
think... hmm, maybe he likes something else...

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Thu Feb 27 12:48:53 2003
The Berserkers of Niflheim are disgusted with the utter lack of
initiative of these Ice Barbarians. One should think that a few
thousand of them should be able to mount an offensive somewhere!

Surely these tales of this Ice Barbarian Warlord's past exploits are
greatly exaggerated. Seems to be a total dullard. Must have
misplaced his printout of `info attack' or something. Sheesh!

> Announcement from Bwian, (#3) dated Thu Feb 27 13:50:48 2003
Aquataine: is there some specific command that crashes when you get a telegram?
I played around with it here on my local server and didn't find any problems.

Bwian

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Thu Feb 27 18:43:52 2003
High atop Uncompahgre Peak sat a shrine to the Ice Lord. Long
white banners fluttered from it's spires. At this time of the
year, the Peak was buried under twenty three feet of snow.
However a dozen figures could be seen tracking up the side of
the Peak. Their heads shaven and clothed in thin white robes
and glitter that sparkled like a thousand snowflakes, these
men were the Ice Priests. Reaching the end of their pilgrimage,
they began to pray to the deity. "We have returned from serving
you. The nation that was once abandoned is now on top of the
power chart and has been turned over to new and more stable
government. May no nation be abandoned again."

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Thu Feb 27 21:22:14 2003

More aerial espionage committed against DPRK

El Peso, February 27 (KCNA) -- The imperialist warhawks again let their
strategic reconnaissance plane illegally intrude into the territorial air
of the DPRK to spy on it on Feb. 26. The strategic reconnaissance plane
that took off an overseas base made shuttle-flights in the air above the
territorial waters in the East Sea of the DPRK near the Uncompahgre Peak
region for hours from about 8:25 on an espionage mission.
This intrusion and espionage committed against the DPRK in the wake of
its similar crime perpetrated on Feb. 24 are a wanton infringement on the
sovereignty of the DPRK and a grave violation of international law as they
are part of the imperialist warmongers' vicious moves to stifle the DPRK
by force of arms.
The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK warn that they would take
a decisive self-defensive step against the intruders and provocateurs.

> Announcement from Cheela, (#5) dated Thu Feb 27 21:22:27 2003
am I really the first one to make tech? or is this just a feature of hidden
that I got no bleed...?

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Thu Feb 27 21:28:01 2003
It is a feature to be expected when imperialist warmongers
are responsible for the setup and placement of systems. This
information suppresion, with the expressed intent of causing
undo harm to the sovereignty of the DPRK, is little more
than an attempt to foment discord and discomfort among the
lands. To be sure, the army-first policy of the DPRK includes
the measures necessary to adequately equip the just cause
of our reviolutionary armed forces. Such production will continue
heedless of the imperialist demands to relent.

El Presidente

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Thu Feb 27 21:53:13 2003
If at any time a country needs a replacement ruler or co-ruler,
please let the deity know. I will make every effort to find
a player for you.

second bars from heaven went to Ragnarook
third bars from heaven went to DPRK

Deities and visitors are not eligible for bars from heaven.

Ice.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Thu Feb 27 22:28:11 2003
hmmm, I get it. bars from Heaven only go to losers who would starve and go broke
without diety interventions

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Fri Feb 28 00:54:31 2003
>> Announcement from (24) ^^^ dated Fri Feb 28 16:28:13 2003
>hmmm, I get it. bars from Heaven only go to losers who would
>starve and go broke without diety interventions

El Peso, February 28 (KCNA) -- Many effective technical
inventions have been introduced in economic sectors in the DPRK.
The Comida Steel Complex is keeping equipment in full-capacity
operation by using a new material of electric switches. Technicians
of the complex have established new melting and heat treatment
processes with copper-chrome alloy as a material of electric
switches.
The Horchata Iron and Steel Complex has developed new stainless
spring material and used it in making plate spring for piston ring
of oxygen compressor. The new material makes it possible to improve
the quality of plate spring and lengthen its serviceable life 10
times.
Many other factories and enterprises have also made technical
inventions and introduced them in production, profiting greatly from
them.
Indeed there will be no poverty and no starvation for the DPRK
who will emerge ever-victorious without fail by invariably carrying
forward the noble spirit and traditions established by the
revolutionary forerunners despite the complicated situation in the
country and stern trials facing the revolution.

> Announcement from Armengar, (#2) dated Fri Feb 28 01:05:57 2003
Our citizens can barely contain their envy upon
hearing of the advances of DPRK. We have just
recognized the utility of running water, and
first installations of water pipes are progressing
well. Our chief scientist estimates that another
related invention "drain pipes" is coming along
well also.

Next on the list is hot water.

Sinari

PS. I wonder if I was the only one optimistic enough
to build a frigate in case it was just a thin layer
of enemies? :-)

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Feb 28 06:52:18 2003
} > Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Wed Feb 26 09:22:18 2003
} I didn't say they would starve the first update; however they
} are running out of edible rocks.

Hold out! We are frantically researching a `rockslinger' device,
which promises to be of great value for starvation relief.

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Feb 28 06:56:08 2003
} > Announcement from Armengar, (#2) dated Fri Feb 28 01:05:57 2003
} PS. I wonder if I was the only one optimistic enough
} to build a frigate in case it was just a thin layer
} of enemies? :-)

What a question! We are Norsemen! We mount the black waves in our
doughty sleek ships and go a-raiding. By the way, have you seen the
Irish?

> Announcement from Cheela, (#5) dated Fri Feb 28 09:52:25 2003
Okay, I was ignore the first time...
IS ALL_BLEED ONLY USEFUL ONCE YOU MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS?
WHY AM I NOT GETTING ANY TECH BLEED...

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Fri Feb 28 09:54:52 2003
Cheela

info Hidden

case sensitive

Dear Deity, this is not our competitive anno for the time slot

unless it's the only one

Heimdall

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Fri Feb 28 11:21:35 2003 Uh oh. I saw a lot of upper letters.
:)

? Announcement from beep, (#26) dated Fri Feb 28 11:25:12 2003

who is the clown that build research?

inquiring minds want to know.


> Announcement from Cheela, (#5) dated Fri Feb 28 11:47:01 2003
so how does beep see that anyone built research!???
I'm getting no love here

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Fri Feb 28 15:26:03 2003
>> Announcement from (5) Cheela dated Sat Mar 01 03:52:17 2003
>Okay, I was ignore the first time...
>IS ALL_BLEED ONLY USEFUL ONCE YOU MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS?
>WHY AM I NOT GETTING ANY TECH BLEED...

In fact, the DPRK did answer your question immediately after you
had asked it. The deficiencies of the imperialist warmongers'
educational system again raises its ugly head. And the
brinkmanship tactics of including all caps has already begun.

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Fri Feb 28 16:52:46 2003

El Peso, March 01 (KCNA) -- The imperialist warhawks are painting
the DPRK's self-defensive countermeasure to cope with their escalating
military threat and pressure on the DPRK as "brinkmanship tactics" in
a bid to build up public opinion. This only betrays the political
imbeciles' ignorance of the reality.
El Presidente says this in a signed commentary.
The commentary goes on:
The DPRK Government continues to defend the supreme interests and
sovereignty of the country under the present situation. This was
solely for the purpose of self-defense.
Its toughest measure is neither threat nor blackmail against
anyone.
However, the imperialists are floating misinformation that the
DPRK's just measure is aimed at wresting a sort of "concession" and
getting "economic benefits." The imperialists even went to the
lengths of making ridiculous remarks that the DPRK will not get any
"aid" unless it meets the imperialist demand.
Base and ridiculous is the imperialist trick to defile the DPRK's
just toughest measure with unreasonable and distorted assertion and
accusations.
No matter what misinformation the imperialists float to slander
the DPRK it will not withdraw its principled stance. The further the
imperialists escalate their military threat and pressure on the DPRK,
the tougher countermeasures it will take to cope with them.
The imperialists should stop misinterpreting the DPRK's
principled stance and tough measure and honestly opt for solving the
issue with a sound faculty of thinking.

> Announcement from VailGulf, (#19) dated Fri Feb 28 18:42:14 2003
Good news for all lovers of skiing!
With recent heavy snow falls and ensuing booming business,
the VailGulf resort has decided on some major expansion plans.
We call it the "cross country" project.
Look for a VailGulf slope in your neighborhood soon.
We'll even get those icy sectors groomed!

The Management and Staff - VailGulf Resort


> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Feb 28 20:20:07 2003
this game is a lot easier to play when sober and awake!

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Fri Feb 28 20:21:23 2003
beep can't see anything. beep isn't even playing in this game.
offshore manufacturers have been making illegal copies of
announcements and selling them on the black market. In order
to verify that your copies of announcements are properly
licenced, you should look for the greater than symbol in the
first column before the word announcement.

Ice.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Feb 28 23:47:08 2003
after reading on tech bleed, apparently in hidden you only get bleed
from countries you are in contact with

curiously, if the all_bleed option is off, the best strategy is to ally
with the highest tech country you can, that will ally back, and only ally
with that one country. Did I figure that right?

not sure if the analogy holds in hidden, that the best thing would
be to have contact with only 1 country, the highest tech maker :-)

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Feb 28 23:58:38 2003
} > Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Feb 28 23:47:08 2003
} not sure if the analogy holds in hidden, that the best thing would
} be to have contact with only 1 country, the highest tech maker :-)

Second best thing: Kill the lazy bum who spoils your bleed by not
making enough tech.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sat Mar 1 00:05:09 2003
heh- that's funny - probably true also :-)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sat Mar 1 07:17:58 2003
Some bad news folks
Lord Corwin shot Arrakis' sled dogs

they had to rename the place Dogless Fairbanks

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Sat Mar 1 17:07:09 2003
beer

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Sat Mar 1 17:07:53 2003
beer is better than a dog joke.

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Sat Mar 1 17:08:05 2003
sheep

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Sat Mar 1 17:08:29 2003
just in case...

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Sat Mar 1 18:08:49 2003
Not many announcements to judge that last update. It's getting easier
to win those bars. The last three winners were Niflheim, VailGulf, and
^^^.

Updates are now every 29 hours for the next two weeks.

Ice.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sat Mar 1 21:19:34 2003
where is Mr. Ed when we needs him

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sat Mar 1 21:40:22 2003
uhh, just in case noone noticed, updates are disabled currently

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Sun Mar 2 11:46:43 2003
Sorry about the disabled updates, before adjusting the time between
updates I had disabled them and I forgot to re-enable them after I
was done. Thanks for noticing. Updates are turned back on.

The country of Cheeta has requested a replacement and has been
replaced with a new player.

Ice.

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Sun Mar 2 13:04:37 2003
?>> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Sun Mar 2 11:46:43 2003
?>The country of Cheeta has requested a replacement and has been
?>replaced with a new player.
I guess some players just can't keep up with the 1.41 updates/day rate.
You did tell him it was dropping to 0.83 updates/day, didn't you?


> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Sun Mar 2 13:09:44 2003
"Colonel, I want more frequent updates of what is happening with sector
development and especially whats slowing the advance. And I want you to
handle it personally."
"You can count on me, General."
As Colones travels from sector to sector the query to the local captains are
all the same.
"Do you have mobility yet?"
<advances to next sector>
"Do you have mobility yet?"
<advances so next sector>
"Do you have mobility yet?"

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Sun Mar 2 16:21:31 2003
Methinks the end of global warming and the Ice Age caught
our sheep by surprise. If they can not pull the sleds, the
Army doesn't advance much. Shame their breeding has been
so poorly affected. The troops are complaining something
fierce about trouble keeping warm. Might anyone know to
what they are referring? Our generals are at a loss, I'm
afraid...

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Sun Mar 2 17:11:59 2003

El Peso, March 02 (KCNA) -- The imperialists are moving heaven and
earth to stifle the DPRK but this is nothing but a daydream, says
El Presidente today in a signed commentary. It goes on:
No matter how hard the imperialists work to undermine the
socialist system in the DPRK, it remains strong. It is the most
advantageous socialist system centered on the popular masses in the
world.
The socialist system is politically, ideologically, economically
and militarily stable and indestructible. Under this powerful system,
the people's army and people of the DPRK have always countered any
moves of aggression forces with strong courage.
It is by no means fortuitous that the imperialists has sustained
only failures and serious setbacks in the moves to stifle the DPRK for
the last several decades.
Yet, the imperalists are still desperately working to strangulate
the DPRK. This only betrays its increased zeal for aggression.
The imperialists are well advised to clearly understand the
socialist system and behave with discretion.
No force on earth can destroy it.

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Sun Mar 2 17:18:23 2003
Foul whisperings are abroad:
unnatural deeds do breed unnatural
troubles.

Infected minds

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Sun Mar 2 20:16:36 2003
The sun, warm and red, was setting into the tropical
twilight. The waves lapped softly on the shore. The cry of
seagulls could be heard in the distance. A fire crackled
in a pit nearby, a small group of people sitting around
eating and drinking.

"Ah, this is what it's all about...Hey, Matata, while
you're up, can you get me another beer?".

"Sure thing", replied a slightly sunburned, but otherwise
no worse for the wear commander of the local coast guard
auxiliary. He brought the beer over to his friend and
fellow officer Hakuna, who upon receipt promptly drank
half the bottle and belched like a fog-horn.

"I should have asked for two, get me another", joked
Hakuna. Matata wasn't amused and shot a half filled
papercup of water at Hakuna.

"Get it yourself".

"You missed, can't you do any better?, taunted Hakuna.

At that moment, Hakuna was hit in the face with the
coldest water he had felt in his life.

Hakuna sputtered, the taste of brine in his mouth and
nose. Startled, he looked around and saw that he and
Matata were surrounded by a small group of heavily armed
and heavily clothed warriors. Matata was still laying in
the sand, motionless, shivering. Hakuna started to
remember how cold he really felt, and realized that he
must have been dreaming (hallucinating?) he beer drinking
scene. He groaned in despair. He didn't know where he was,
but he knew he didn't want to be where he was. How was
Matata? How did they get there?

"Get up!" shouted one of the men. Hakuna had sat himself
up, but was so cold and weak that he could not move.

"Here", another tossed a blanket at him which he promptly
wrapped around himself. Hakuna, too cold to talk pointed
to Matata. A few of the group picked him up and wrapped
him in another blanket. Two more hoisted Hakuna to his
feet. With their help, he was able to half-walk, half-
shuffle to where they were leading him. It looked like
Matata was being dragged from the shoulders, his feet
barely moving.

"I am not in a position to argue right now", thought
Hakuna, half smiling. At least they hadn't killed him.
Maybe there will be food where we are going. Maybe there
will be a fire? Maybe there will...

The guards trooped through the sand and then the snow. At
first, they only had to carry one, but now the second had
collapsed and they had two strangers that they had to deal
with.

The guard captain thought, "With the rumors of war, maybe
when these two come around we can get some information.
We'll know in an hour or so, it's only 7 miles back to
camp". They were making good time.

(to be continued)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sun Mar 2 20:59:47 2003
"I had a horse, loco-ed, went loco on me outside of Pacheco. Had to walk 47 miles back to camp"
"That's a hell of a walk"
"Well, I ain't never walked a mile since, I'll tell you"

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Mon Mar 3 04:11:36 2003

El Peso, March 2 (KCNA) -- ^^^ reactionaries have worked hard to
whitewash ^^^'s past crimes, while persistently avoiding a sincere
apology and compensation for them for over quarter a century. It is
quite natural for them to stand censured on the international arena
for this shameless and base practice. El Presidente today says this
in a signed commentary.
It goes on:
^^^'s past crimes were war crimes as it most wantonly infringed
upon the human rights and right to existence of the DPRK and other
people, seriously violating the justice and morality of the
international community and international law.
Therefore, ^^^ has an international commitment to admit its legal
and moral responsibilities for its past crimes and sincerely apologize
and compensate for them. But ^^^ has not yet admitted its aggression
and other crimes committed in the past. It continues without settling
its past, employing all sorts of tricks to keep them buried into
oblivion.
Crimes against humanity can neither be covered up nor be glossed
over.
^^^ should face up to the trend of the times and redeem its past
as early as possible if it wants to regain the confidence of the
international community.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Mon Mar 3 05:15:52 2003
A bent figure stood silhouetted atop a crag of rock, facing the sea.
Despite the rain her hood was down,
and gusts of wind sent her unkempt silver hair billowing behind her.
As flashes of lightning streaked across the distant sky,
they illuminated the Viking fleet departing the shelter of their harbor.
At the bow of the lead longboat, was a dragon's head,
the sight of which had struck fear into many a man's heart.
Even more fearsome, was the standard borne by this Drekar,
which depicted a red figure with the body of a Lion and the head of an Eagle,
brandishing a two-handed sword. This was the standard of King Godfred,
he who has conquered the surrounding territories of the Realm, and pillaged far and wide.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Mon Mar 3 05:18:50 2003
The figure held up her crooked staff towards the heavens and uttered a shriek.
Even the longboats seemed to hear her, for they appeared to falter for a second,
before riding over the crest of the next wave. She cried
"Oh Godfred, although thou departs merely to explore the Hidden Lands,
there will be nought but fire and blood in front of you!
I see your sword striking down faceless men,
and rivers of blood flowing around your boots.
Pus will drain from mounds of corpses and the vapors of hell will bubble
through this effluent. Ice will crack, and mountains will fall.
Even the oldest of the Gods will not have seen such terror and calamity.
Yea, it is calamity that I see.
Forces are afoot that will change Iceworld for ever,
and the life that you have known will soon be no more."

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Mon Mar 3 05:21:00 2003
She turned towards the nearby village, her white, sightless eyes glistening
like pearls in half opened oysters. She cackled, and grinned,
revealing rotten teeth behind her shriveled lips.
"Yea, Ragnarook, the end of Iceworld is nigh,
and I, Angrbotha, the Prophetic Death Goddess,
who has foretold it, will be here to witness it!"

To be continued.

From Angrbotha, in the Coming of Ragnarook

> Announcement from SilentBob, (#13) dated Mon Mar 3 05:32:43 2003


> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Mar 3 06:26:40 2003
DPRK is a madman, lobbing nuclear weapons right and left
for the sheer glee of cratering his opponents. Beware!!!

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Mon Mar 3 20:16:23 2003

El Peso, March 3 (KCNA) -- March 2 is marked as the Day of Tree
Planting every year in the DPRK. Rallies of working people and school
youth and children took place at the arboretum of the Palace in the
area near the monument to the three charters for national reunification
yesterday to inaugurate the spring tree planting campaign.
Reporters and speakers at the rallies said that El Presidente laid
it down as one of the important tasks for giving full play to the
advantages of the best system in the DPRK and stepping up the building
of a powerful nation to turn the country into a thick woodland and
greenery and has wisely led the drive to implement it.
They called for planting a lot of trees of good species suited to
the soil and climatic conditions in different regions and lifting,
carrying and planting young trees with good care in the tree-planting
day and month in keeping with the technological requirements.
Officials and people from all works of life planted hundreds of
thousands of trees and flower shrubs including pine-nut tree, thuja,
acacia with pink flower and azalea around the meeting places.
Similar rallies were held in all provinces, cities and counties and
units of the KPA three services on the same day.
Senior officials of the party, the state and commissions and
ministries of the cabinet planted trees around the Tecate Youth Dam on
the day.
Present at the rallies were officials concerned, working people
of all strata, and school youth and children.
Such is the ambition, goal and aim of the righteous DPRK. No
callous and hideous proclamations of the end of Ice World; no fanciful
lies coming from the twisted snouts of supposed "Death Goddesses".
With enemies of all peace-loving people like this, we have no option
but to further increase our self-defensive military capability.

> Announcement from Aquataine, (#1) dated Mon Mar 3 20:51:15 2003

I just got gainfully employed so I guess y'all actually have a chance now.

> Announcement from Aquataine, (#1) dated Mon Mar 3 20:55:52 2003

Bwain

tell me where to email you about the winace problems.
or if you don't want to broadcast it tell me to post
to rge.

or email me:

vze4n36d@verizon.net

> Announcement from Aquataine, (#1) dated Mon Mar 3 21:08:01 2003
Btw,
only a fool would have built a ship which is why we made 2.

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Tue Mar 4 04:39:03 2003
*Clank* *sputter* *clank* *clank*
Not starving in the hills is *bzzzt* considered a hostile act towards
the peaceful citizens of *bzzzt* *sputter* *pffft* *beep* *beep*
*beep* *beep* *beep*
EOT

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Tue Mar 4 04:39:23 2003
We regret to inform you that our experimental `beep-bot' escaped the
laboratory. We apologize for the disturbance. This won't happen
again.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Mar 4 09:01:52 2003
beep-bot-alula she's my baby

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Tue Mar 4 09:28:31 2003
i never met a beep i didn't like

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Tue Mar 4 09:33:38 2003
beep beep, beep beep, yah!

> Announcement from Bwian, (#3) dated Tue Mar 4 13:14:44 2003
Aquataine: please e-mail me at drk@unxsoft.com
about WinACE problems.

Bwian

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Tue Mar 4 15:57:38 2003
General, Sir!
It would appear that the Ice Barbarian warriors have turned cannibal.
With no palatable size rocks left to eat, it appears they have turned
to the remains of their former comrades to support their existance.
With approximately 770 corpses providing substinance to the remaining IB
warriors, predictions are that the survivors will remain strong and healthy
for a considerable time (assuming their ofactory glands are non-operating).
Our forces require respirators and portable crematories to continue our
advances.

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Tue Mar 4 16:02:55 2003
PNN Headlines News
Snow Pile of Power, Northern Encampment


*thump* *squeal*

"Crap, come back here!"

*squeal* *squeal* *splash*

"No idiot! Club them like this! Hit the head! Hit the Head!"

*THUMP* *crack*

"They'll just slide under the ice if you don't kill them
first try."

Ice. Ice still sucked.

But the ice had secrets, secrets that secretly pleased the
commander. Missed a first, but then discovered after a
snow-blind trooper fell over one, these vile little blobs
of white fur and fat. Laying about the ice all sneaky
and hidden, obviously they were plotting spies, instruments
of the enemy, or worse some fell monster awaiting the appropriate
time to strike and take the sheep herd..
Well there would be none of that. Lacking a proper foe to fight,
these made a nice diversion for the troops and even better,
their bodies rendered down to an excellent grade of oil.

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Tue Mar 4 16:03:16 2003
you have to break a few eggs if you are going to wreck a hen house.
The techs even think they can use this to get a decent firearm manufactured.
Oh the possibilities! But first things first....

*THUMP* *crack* *THUMP* *crack*

Mountain of Power, Plundaria Prime

Reports from the field report the discovery of a viable source of oil hidden
in the ice.


This is PNN

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Tue Mar 4 16:10:24 2003
Report of New Syndrome in the New Land Journal of Medicine

(UNPI). 4 March. In the current issue of the New Land
Journal of Medicine, the most prestigious journal in the
Ice World, researchers announced the discovery of a new
syndrome, termed "Blue Balls." The syndrome was recently
observed in soldiers returning from the front who lacked
mobility to move away from frozen ice sectors. They indicated
to their physicians that they had to remain prostrate on
the land because, lacking mobility, they had to avoid being
shot by the Ice Lord's troops. When returning to the
capital, soldiers were observed to be grasping their
groins with pain clearly visible on their faces. Doctors
were surprised to discover that all "externalities" in the
soldier's groins had turned blue.

Treatment efforts were impaired by confusing disease names.
When nurses at the hospital heard the diagnosis as "Blue
Balls," they mistook the disease for one usually seen this time of year among fraternity pledgies who, as part of
their pledging process, are sworn to celebacy for extended
periods. The standard nursing treatment had been 3 Viagra
tablets and "ministrations from the nursing staff." The
Director of Nursing declined further elaboration. She
noted, however, that the treatment protocol is usually
successful and that the patients return to the university dormitories with smiles present on their faces. "What better result could a nurse ask for?" she said. A proposal
that the condition seen among soldiers be termed "Blue Balls
of Adult Onset" and among university students "Juvenile Blue
Balls" was suggested in an accompanying editorial. In light
of the increased military tensions activities rumored to
be on-going through-out the Ice World, the hospital is
prepared for an epidemic of cases. Physicians at the
hospital are endeavoring to make their fellow physicians in
other countries aware of this new entity. Confusion in
diagnosis could be dangerous. "The first three soldiers
who got the Viagra pills left here in more pain than when
they came in. The next one seemed content enough when he
left. That's when we realized the problem," said Dr. Jack
Offen, head of the hospital's urology department.

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Tue Mar 4 16:29:08 2003
Reposted (in better format)

Report of New Syndrome in the New Land Journal of Medicine

(UNPI). 4 March. In the current issue of the New Land
Journal of Medicine, the most prestigious journal in the
Ice World, researchers announced the discovery of a new
syndrome, termed "Blue Balls." The syndrome was recently
observed in soldiers returning from the front who lacked
mobility to move away from frozen ice sectors. They indicated
to their physicians that they had to remain prostrate on
the land because, lacking mobility, they had to avoid being
shot by the Ice Lord's troops. When returning to the
capital, soldiers were observed to be grasping their
groins with pain clearly visible on their faces. Doctors
were surprised to discover that all "externalities" in the
soldier's groins had turned blue.

Treatment efforts were impaired by confusing disease names.
When nurses at the hospital heard the diagnosis as "Blue
Balls," they mistook the disease for one usually seen this time
of year among fraternity pledgies who, as part of
their pledging process, are sworn to celebacy for extended
periods. The standard nursing treatment had been 3 Viagra
tablets and "ministrations from the nursing staff." The
Director of Nursing declined further elaboration. She
noted, however, that the treatment protocol is usually
successful and that the patients return to the university
dormitories with smiles present on their faces. "What better
result could a nurse ask for?" she said. A proposal
that the condition seen among soldiers be termed "Blue Balls
of Adult Onset" and among university students "Juvenile Blue
Balls" was suggested in an accompanying editorial. In light
of the increased military tensions activities rumored to
be on-going through-out the Ice World, the hospital is
prepared for an epidemic of cases. Physicians at the
hospital are endeavoring to make their fellow physicians in
other countries aware of this new entity. Confusion in
diagnosis could be dangerous. "The first three soldiers
who got the Viagra pills left here in more pain than when
they came in. The next one seemed content enough when he
left. That's when we realized the problem," said Dr. Jack
Offen, head of the hospital's urology department.

> Announcement from Bwian, (#3) dated Tue Mar 4 17:53:43 2003
Researchers at the Bwian Ministry of Useless Information announced a
shocking new discovery today: The polar bears which roam the nation's
ice caps can be converted into Cartesian bears through the use of a simple
coordinate transform.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Mar 4 22:23:13 2003
Descartes froze to death due to the Ice Queen
(Queen of Sweden hired him but didn't bother to heat the castle :-)

-today's fractured history report

ps- when you get to be as old as Mith and I, even Viagra doesn't help
Arrakis will testify to that! (but don't tell his wife :-)

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Tue Mar 4 23:23:54 2003
I freeze therefore I am.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Mar 4 23:39:30 2003
I froze, therefore I wuz

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Wed Mar 5 08:32:22 2003
}> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Tue Mar 4 16:29:08 2003
}Reposted (in better format)

Reposting announcements is clearly a hostile act against the peaceful
citizen soldiers of beep.


Too bad he isn't here to pound you for it.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Wed Mar 5 11:02:27 2003
To all nations bordering Ragnarook....
We refuse to sacrifice spies to the Barbarians, so we periodically
like to reach out and determmine which sectors are still under Barbarian
control versus those that have recently been liberated.

These are information gathering only to determine which barabarians are
eligible for reeducation.

Loki

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Mar 5 11:05:20 2003
reacting units (counter-attacking against attacks) were supposed
to use their attacking stats when calculating the combats odds,
and the units they were (counter) attacking against were supposed
to use 1/2 their normal defense stats for combat odds calculation
did that ever get implemented?
(hint for Markus/Mith/Byz if they read this in rec.games.empire :-)

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Wed Mar 5 14:26:09 2003
Reacting units of countries with non-alphanumeric names only get 1/2 their
normal strength, the units of other countries get full strength. :)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Mar 5 16:29:54 2003
but my mountain units are the best :-)

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Wed Mar 5 18:41:42 2003
i had just hired a local boozehound named ralfus to lug a big
sack of iron into the place we nickname "sector three one"
by giving him two shekls and a fake five dollar bill i made on
a copy machine. i had the rest of the day off. the town was
whipping itself up into a snowstorm, and the white powder
was shooting an angle at the side of my face as i walked
away from ralfus, wind pushing me back toward him. i was
indifferent to whether he got the sack of iron to its intended
factory or not, only that he made it to the end of the block
where off in the snowstorm a border patrol employee was
sitting in a tiny freezing booth, trying to get himself off in
the middle of the loneliness that had him with a serious case
of blue balls. i just needed the border patrol guy to check off
the number on the back of the sack, which i was sure he'd do
since he wanted to keep his job, oh definitely. what with the
steady paycheck and all i'm sure he was king of his
neighborhood on off hours. and all. it was late afternoon and

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Wed Mar 5 18:43:24 2003
i needed a drink. people would stay at home because of the
storm, suffering from there.

when i entered a fine establishment it was busier than i
thought, but i found a table in the back corner and i
motioned a waitress over. i showed my hand to her, and told
her my ring was hers if she kept the drinks coming steady all
night. she stared at it, dazzled, then turned around. a drink
soon came. i drank fast. as the hours went along i noticed
the bar filling up and pretty soon butts and elbows were
sticking into my space, and the place was got loud. i stood
up to leave but there was no way to make it to the front
door, it was shoulder-to-shoulder in there. there was nothing
else to do - i joined the revellers. i danced and cheered and
groped and drank. as i was waving my arms in the air i yelled
to the person next to me: what are we celebrating!!"

"first contact!!!!!!!" she screamed, as her lips met mine. it felt
horrible. i knew what first contact meant.

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Wed Mar 5 18:45:30 2003
my friends and roommates being sent off on toilet paper
runs only to be arrested while out, imprisoned and dumped
off on the frontlines, forced to the fight the wars of their
nation. the news reports, the solidarity, then the fear, then
resignation, then the shells of a more powerful more unified
foe crashing through the roof of your house, the flames, the
screaming, the escape, firepower landing all over the places,
people dropping like flies, refugees scurrying through the
war-savaged sectors, hiding beneath the reign of a superior
power as it spread its influence and control, surviving
through it all in the face of it all, alive but dead inside. it was
coming for me again. i embraced the inevitable. i kissed the
young girl back, then harder. there was nothing else to do.

in the outerlands, our ships spotted new flags along the
coast and question marks turned into military men of
unfamiliar origins.

in the chaos of the party i slipped out before the waitress found me.

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Wed Mar 5 19:06:29 2003
<After reading the travel section of the local paper>
"No dear, I really don't think we should go to that new ski resort that
you saw advertised. Although I hear the ski conditions are great,
here is a news article that says the room service is intolerably slow."
<presents paper; beneath the fold headline reads>

Wed Mar 5 08:13 VailGulf citizens starve in disastrous famine

> Announcement from VailGulf, (#19) dated Wed Mar 5 19:38:06 2003
That unfortunate accident involved a
lost skier who wandered off the groomed
slopes. Disobey the posted warning signs
and trouble soon follows....The ski patrol
tried their best to deliver the needed
sustenance but darkness fell a little too soon.

A last minute run hoping to beat the final
lift cost him his life.

Our ski resort runs a 4 start restaurant
with excuisite cuisinne, btw.

Management of VailGulf Ski Resort

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Wed Mar 5 22:02:11 2003

El Peso, March 6 (KCNA) -- Though the imperialists are resorting
to every conceivable means and method to destroy our single hearted
unity and stifle socialism, they can never break and undermine the
revolutionary will and spirit of our army and people who have made
the spirit of devotedly defending their leader their physical quality.
El Presidente today says this in a signed article.
The spirit is the noblest revolutionary spirit based on absolute
worship for their leader and the transparent revolutionary spirit
that has become part and parcel of their daily life in the rigorous
revolutionary struggle, the article says, and goes on:
The spirit is being fully displayed in the era of the army-based
policy.
The defence of the headquarters of the revolution is the starting
point of all their thinking and practice and the whole army and all
the people are filled with burning determination to devotedly defend
the headquarters of the revolution headed by El Presidente. This is
the proud reality of our country.
Today our army and people take it as their duty, obligation and
conscience to devotedly defend their leader.
It is the trait of defending their leader at the cost of their
lives that they sing songs of worshipping and devotedly defending
their leader, put the defence of the headquarters of the revolution
in the first place of their thinking and practice and are ready to
lay down their lives for carrying through his plan and intention.

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Thu Mar 6 00:06:59 2003
Contrary to the VailGulf article in the news, Coyote intelligence
agents did receive indications that another story was circulating
regarding the unfortunate incident. Rumor has it that a VailGulf
ship left drydock to engage in military training exercises.
Unfortunately, they had acquired a discarded "Ice Barbarian War
Ministry - Military Training Guidebook" from an corpse littered
sector and followed the step-by-step training exercise #12 in
exacting detail...
Step #1 ... construct military sailing vessel (see transport/frigate)
Step #2 ... conscript and train hearty strong warriors
Step #3 ... wait till vessel is seaworthy and winds prevail
Step #4 ... have warriors report to vessel for sailing detail
Step #5 ... sould klaxxon, retract gangplank and withdraw lines
Step #6 ... hoist flag, sing anthem, beat chest and set sail
Step #7 ... patrol coastal area then head for open ocean
Step #8 ... check for lunch sacks!
Step #9 ... #(*&$%@^%#*&%(*!)($^*

note to publisher: change step #8 to step #4a in next revision

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Thu Mar 6 13:14:39 2003
We be pushing the update window here.
The current time is Thu Mar 6 13:14:04.

The next update window starts at Thu Mar 6 13:05:00.
The next update window stops at Thu Mar 6 13:15:00.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Thu Mar 6 13:21:20 2003
oh, another note to Markus/Byz/Mith, whereever they are
I think the whole "support" scheme should be scrapped
I don't think that was part of my original scheme for units, not sure why that was put in

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Thu Mar 6 13:43:22 2003
the order command is the worst piece of junk in the empire code
ought to take it out and start from scratch

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Fri Mar 7 15:02:34 2003
Land units that were sitting at negative mobility were accumulating mobility
at twice the rate listed in the version report. This has been corrected so
they only get the faster rate until they reach zero mobility.

Ice.

> Announcement from VailGulf, (#19) dated Fri Mar 7 15:27:56 2003
VailGulf Management wishes to announce:

Although our expertise is in snow & ice
operations, we do have some experience
with sailing vessels.

We operate a cruise line in addition
to our ski resort. My chefs assure me
that not only have we had adequate meal
preparation but we have prepared abundant
and delicious cuisine for our guests and crew.

Let there be no mistake, our cruise line
operates at peak efficiency and our main
objective is too keep our guests happy,
drunk and fulfilled.

We are a full service resort:

Vailgulf Management

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Fri Mar 7 17:55:59 2003
[VailGulf cruiseline] objective is too keep our guests happy,
drunk and fulfilled.
... and spending money.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Mar 7 17:59:28 2003
empire fiends incorporated
drunk and fufilled and gratefully awaiting the next update
(and hopefully not broke!)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Mar 7 18:32:35 2003
OK Saddam, you got 10 more days
after that we start on DPRK :-)

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Fri Mar 7 18:52:21 2003
While many homeless stand at the nations street corners with signs
that read "Will work for food", you can always spot the empire
players. They have signs that say "Will give food for mobility".

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Fri Mar 7 19:27:25 2003

El Peso, March 7 (KCNA) -- The ^^^ leader said in an interview that if
the diplomatic effort fails to solve the "DPRK issue", "a military option
is its last choice." He referred to the "military option" again after he
disclosed that "^^^ is keeping all options on the table in dealing with the
DPRK." It is a very dangerous war outcry driving the military situation to
the brink of war as it is an undisguised revelation of the ^^^ intention to
make a preemptive strike at the DPRK.
In peddling the fiction about the DPRK, ^^^ sought to contain the DPRK
and bring it to collapse by force.
This sabre rattling is under way at a time when the DPRK-^^^
confrontation is escalating and going beyond the danger line. This goes to
prove that the scenario for a preemptive attack on the DPRK on ^^^'s table
is being put into practice.
^^^'s remarks on "military option" are little short of a signal to go
into action against the DPRK.
The DPRK is following the dangerous military moves of ^^^ with a high d
egree of revolutionary vigilance and getting fully ready to go into action.
The DPRK wants peace but never begs for it. It neither wants war nor avoids
it.
The people and the people's army of the DPRK will react to the ^^^
"military option" with a strong counteraction and counter an all-out war
with an all-out war.
If the ^^^ unleashes a war despite the DPRK's repeated warnings it will
wipe out the aggressors to the last man by promptly using as many combat
means as the ^^^ mobilized.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sat Mar 8 08:02:09 2003
Romm's Secret Research Project: Now the Truth Can be Told

Roman was named Hero of Israel today, for leading his nation to victory over PLO

Sharon and Arafat agreed to settle the conflict by dogfight

The PLO produced a massive hybrid Rottweiler-Pit Bull that ate the steel bars
of its cage for lunch

everyone laughed when Romm unveiled his secret weapon: a 9 foot long Dauschaund

when the fight began, Romm's dauschhaund waddled to the center of the ring
The pit bull/rottweiler, snarling like the beast from the apocalypse charged

suddenly the Dauschaud opened wide its jaws, and the PLO dog disappeared with just a trace of fur remaining

everyone was astounded. Arafat said "we spent $billions of foreign aid
on our fighting dog! How did you do it???"

Romm smiled and said "We spent all our time figuring out how to make
disguise a crocodile as a dauschaud"

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Sat Mar 8 16:06:45 2003
No announcements concerning this mornings headlines. The
world wants to know what happened.

Bar winners for the past week were Newland, Ragnarook, Bwian,
unemployed, and VailGulf.

Ice.

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Sun Mar 9 23:03:23 2003
Christ, a cap sack and all I get is a
measly $167.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Mar 10 01:04:25 2003
was that a mountain cap or a regular cap?


> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Mon Mar 10 03:56:24 2003
A regular cap.

I shouldn't complain. There are an incredible
78 bars in the bank.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Mar 10 03:57:27 2003
he probably keeps his bars in a mountain bank

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Mon Mar 10 04:23:37 2003
All the easier for his mil to get drunk

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Mon Mar 10 05:24:23 2003

El Peso, March 9 (KCNA) -- The "plan for military strikes" at the
facilities and military bases of the DPRK mapped out by the imperialist
warhawks envisages not only missile strikes and massive air raids, etc.
but the use of tactical civilian bombing. El Presidente in a signed
commentary says this "plan for military strike" presupposes a "dirty" war.
It continues:
The DPRK can never remain a passive on-looker to the serious situation
created by the imperialist moves to start a "dirty" war against it.
Its army and people will take every possible self-defensive measure to
cope with the imperialist bellicose forces' new war moves.
The imperialist war-like forces should be clearly mindful that although
they may attempt to provoke the DPRK as they please, they can never go back
alive after mounting an attack on it.
The imperialists will be held wholly accountable for the disastrous
consequences to be entailed by its reckless military moves.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Tue Mar 11 06:31:13 2003
He had a severe headache this morning. Yes, Gods do have headache.
Even the mightiest of them do not feel too well when they awake with
a headache. The problem with Gods who have headaches is the way
they react to this situation.

Tyr, the God of War, wanted to find out where the noise came from,
this noise, that ended his, uhm, well, drunken sleep. It came from
Walhalla, the place where fallen warriors were brought to in Asgard,
and for a moment a smile could be seen on Tyr's face. There was some
battle in the world of the mortals, and these battles were the source
of his power.

He moved towards the Great Hall. There was a short line of men,
speaking in poems, this was not what disturbed him. But there was
another line of men, much longer that the first one, and it took Tyr
a while to identify their language as the same as that of the other
group....

"They thwould have given us time to pull up ouw twousers", one of
them stuttered. "They twew us down fastew than you can cwy 'Jehova!'
(some stones came up flying towards him from somewhere).

Tyr saw more and more of these men arriving and wondered if today all you
need to be received at Walhalla was a paper claiming that you are
a member of the forces. He knew that most of them did not even hold a
stick to fight against their invader. He had to talk to Heimdall about
this, in the good old days[TM] these creatures would have been kicked
out.

On the rough grounds of the Ice World, this slaughter could last for
days and days. He gave a sign to some warriors "Go and end it as FAST
as you can!"


The warriors of Asgard obeyed Tyr's order.


So always look on the bright side of death!
Just before you draw your terminal breath.
Life's a piece of shit,
When you look at it,

Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true!

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Mar 11 07:53:02 2003
good. then I won't worry about getting this damned tooth filled :-)

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Tue Mar 11 17:22:54 2003
The terror of the Bard must not be allowed to inflict
further harm upon the peace of the Ice World! The Bard
must be shown the greater good to be had from the fury of
the pen rather than the sword. We good citizens of the
Ice World from rid ourselves of this menace to our common
peace and brotherhood. There is no place for someone
who confuses pentameter with pentagon, who shocks with
troops instead of ribald ideas, who insists that an attack
is much ado about nothing, who looks at his place atop the
Ice World as something more than a mid-summer's night dream,
who answers the phone, "Et tu, Brute?", who thinks that civs
in venture sectors are but the merchants of venice (sorry
about that!), and who has proclaimed himself the rightful
holder of the merry wives of windsor. Let us make his days
more than love's labor lost, make them a tragedy worthy
of King Macbeth himself. Is the Ice World to be or not to
be, that is the question. The taming of the shrew must be
of his shrew, forfeited on the battlefield. Only by making
him an example comparable to anthony and cleopatra combined
will the Ice World be able to maintain the peace that we
associate with our common growth.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of a hunchback for the next
installment of this proclamation, please let me know. Other-
wise, Richard gets left out.

The Great and Mighty from Greatland

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Tue Mar 11 18:41:55 2003
I do believe, induced by potent circumstances,
that you are mine enemy, and make my challenge.

You shall not be my judge, for it is you have
blown this coal betwixt my lord and me;
which God's dew quench!

Therefore I say again, I utterly ahbor yea,
from my soul I refuse you for my judge,
whom, yet once more, I hold my most
malicious foe, and think not all a friend
to truth.

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Wed Mar 12 17:01:35 2003

El Peso, March 12 (KCNA) -- A congress of heroes in the era of the
army-based policy will be held with a large attendance in El Peso on the
occasion of the anniversary of the DPRK. The congress will review the
proud achievements made by the army and the people of the DPRK in
victoriously advancing the revolution and construction under the leadership
of the great party by fully displaying total dedication and mass heroism
despite the imperialists' vicious challenges.
It will discuss tasks to be fulfilled to bring about a fresh turn in
building a powerful socialist nation in the spirit of the heroic struggle
in the era of the army-based policy.
The congress will mark a significant occasion in praising the immortal
exploits of heroes and heroines, demonstrating the indomitable spirit and
the great trait of single-hearted unity and army-people unity of heroic
DPRK which is devotedly defending socialism despite grave difficulties and
hardships and providing a landmark in intensifying the all-people heroic
struggle for the accomplishment of the revolutionary cause.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Thu Mar 13 18:44:26 2003
DPRK wreaks havoc on Tundra???

the sheep must have gotten loose again

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Thu Mar 13 19:07:26 2003

El Peso, March 13 (KCNA) -- The headquarters of the People's
Movement for the Withdrawal of Tundra Forces reportedly rejected the
"plan for making a good neighbor" publicized by the commander of the
Tundra Forces in March 12, talking about the "improvement of
relations" with the DPRK people. The organization said in a
commentary on March 12:
The Tundra Forces have been engrossed in all sorts of crimes,
killings and interference in internal affairs of the DPRK. They have
not made a formal apology for driving an armored car over Pablo and
Rosarita Munez to death and are now bolstering the huge armed forces
around the DPRK even at this moment to ignite a war against the DPRK.
How can they think of being a "good neighbour" of us?
The Tundra troops should apologize for those thrice-cursed killings
of civilians and all other crimes and quit this land at once.
The "plan of making a good neighbor" reminds one of a stray cat
asking a fish shop owner to be on good terms with each other.
Given that this has not happened, the proud people's army of the
DPRK has no choice but to silence these imperialist aggressors, free
the people of Tundra and continue with the glorious spread of socialist
morals, ethics and benefits.
From this day forward, there is no Tundra-DPRK issue. There is
only DPRK. So noted by El Presidente.

> Announcement from SilentBob, (#13) dated Thu Mar 13 19:21:39 2003
,---@>
W-W'

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Fri Mar 14 03:46:18 2003
Well, it is mating season.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Fri Mar 14 07:54:09 2003
}
} Well, it is mating season.
}

Obviously.

Everybody and his sheep has fun with OrionSyndicate.

Only Ragnarook was placed far away from the turf.

Folks, you don't know how much the Diety loves you.


Tyr,
the bored God of War.


> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Mar 14 12:04:40 2003
I know how much the diety loves me
He gives me 55 mountain sectors so far!
Sadly there seem to be no more mountains to climb that haven't been claimed
by my neighbors

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Fri Mar 14 14:07:06 2003
Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Oops, wrong game.

Maybe:

The hills are alive,
Oops, we don't want hills with life--that means troops
are there, as in someone else's mil.

Maybe:

This is the tale of our castaways,
Oops, that's an island. Wrong game there too.

Sorry. I'll stop trying now.


> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Fri Mar 14 23:02:15 2003
appropriate for ^^^ to be the mountain country, isnt it?

Angrbotha, the Prophetess

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Sat Mar 15 09:57:40 2003
Updates have now slowed down to once every 41 hours.

Ice.

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Sat Mar 15 10:17:11 2003
Remember, Newland, the ides of March remember.

Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab,
and not for justice?

You knew not I t'was your neighbour, and
now your bank smolders.


> Announcement from Aquataine, (#1) dated Sat Mar 15 13:11:49 2003

Can't we all just get along?

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Sat Mar 15 18:08:38 2003
As Newland's sun sets weeping in the lowly
north, witnessing storms to come, woe and
unrest.

Thy friends are fled to wait upon thy
foes, and crossly to thy good all fortune
goes.

King Richard III, Act II, Scene IV.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sun Mar 16 14:24:26 2003
news reports of Kangaroos hopping across the ice to reach new lands have reached us

Or was the Rangaroos invading Newlands???

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Sun Mar 16 15:43:34 2003

El Peso, March 16 (KCNA) --The independent national economy of
the DPRK has steadily developed in spite of the persistent economic
sanctions and blockade of the imperialist warhawks and their allies.
The DPRK's is an economy that develops on the basis on its efforts
and resources to meet its people's demand and that serves the people
for their happy life. It is also a comprehensive economy that
produces by itself in the main industrial goods and agricultural
products needed for economic construction, defence upbuilding and
people's living.
The DPRK people built a solid independent national economy in a
short period and developed it as a powerful economy equipped with a
consolidated economic structure and modern technologies through the
fulfillment of several economic plans.
The abolition of taxation, the manufacture of such up-to-date
machines as 10,000-ton press and large-scale oxygen plant and the
successful flight of bomber Kwangmyongsong No.0 are results of the
country's powerful economy.
Thanks to the national economy, the country's defence industry
is capable of fully producing by itself sophisticated weapons and
technical means and equipment necessary for the defence of the
country.
With the independent national economy and a strong self-defence
power based on it, the DPRK people have defended socialism from the
imperialists' military threat and aggressive moves.
The DPRK economy has developed, unaffected by the imperialists'
economic blockade & the changed situation of world economic markets.
Any kind of their economic sanctions and blockade can never work
on Korea with its own solid economic foundations.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sun Mar 16 22:44:56 2003
note to Markus/Mith/Byz about land units
part of the original scheme was, when a unit moved into a sector which had
negative mobility, the units mobility was supposed to be decreased
by that amount.

so if a sector has -30 mob, and a cav moves in, 30 mob gets subtracted
from the cavs mob (plus the current cost)

not sure how this would work in practice, just part of the original scheme
that I just happened to remember

(in the original scheme the max depth per update of an attack using units
was supposed to be 3 sectors, so you can see the scheme that was
implemented while I was away a few years was radically different)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Mar 17 01:47:47 2003
do aau units actually fire flak?
I've made them every game but never once noticed them fire flak
either when attacking or defending
I was reading info flak just now and it says it counts the guns on the flak units
but the aau carries no guns???
has anyone ever checked this?

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Mon Mar 17 02:45:07 2003
>> Announcement from (24) ^^^ dated Mon Mar 17 19:48:06 2003
>do aau units actually fire flak?

Yes. If you look further down in the flak section, you'll
see a relavent formula used for land units:

guns = 0
for (each land unit in the sector)
guns += (aaf rating) * (unit techfact) * 3;
if (guns > 14)
guns = 14;

Note: aaf rating, not # of guns

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Mon Mar 17 04:21:09 2003
Time for an oldie but goodie:

What is the difference between heaven and hell?

In heaven:

The British are the police
The Germans are the mechanics
The French are the cooks
The Swiss run the trains and
The Italians are the lovers.

In hell:

The British are the cooks
The German are the police
The French are the mechanics
The Italians run the trains and
The Swiss are the lovers.

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Mon Mar 17 04:24:33 2003
It has been recently reported by the Greatland
underground that our researchers have changed their
laboratory techniques. Instead of using sheep, as they
had in the past, they now use Shakespearean thespians.

They do this for three reasons:

1. Shakespearean thespians are cheap. Sheep are getting
to be high priced, by comparison.

2. The laboratory technicians were becoming attached to
sheep and didn't want to sacrifice them at the end of
experiments. Shakespearean thespians, by contrast, have
never been endearing to anyone and the technicians showed
no hesitation in conducting the sacrifices.

3. There are just some things a sheep won't do.

From Greatland (in exile)

> Announcement from Newland, (#5) dated Mon Mar 17 04:25:29 2003
Why does Shakespeare stop his tank from running
over snakes?

Professional courtesy.


> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Mon Mar 17 04:30:52 2003


In the headquarters of $COUNTRY:

"Gentlemen, we have now conquered all areas that were under control
of the natives. Still, our country looks miserably small. We have
to expand and get more land."

" Sir, 'Moreland' has not been contacted yet."

BLAM

"I thought about taking additional sectors.

" we haven't heard of a country named 'AdditionalSectors'."

Blam-Blam-Blam.

"Let's stop this idiocy. All I want is that we start moving and grab
new land."


"Errr, Sir..... There is 'Newland' in the $DIRECTION of us."

"Very well. Let's do what we have to do."

> Announcement from Aquataine, (#1) dated Mon Mar 17 08:11:35 2003

Happy St. Patrick's Day everybody.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Mar 17 08:15:45 2003
where is Pat Loney when we need him

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Mon Mar 17 11:38:59 2003
i'm living better these days, long after first contact, in a nice
suburban space in Bwian. they're icy sectors yes, but the
theme is rustic in all these developments - and life is good,
better than ever for many of us, the unemployed.

i sit on my couch all day and do drugs, and watch television
all day long. my wife (our bond is unofficial, we simply ran
across the border into bwian on the same day and claimed at
the same time our own abandoned fully-furnished duplex)
does the same upstairs and we cohabitat the kitchen
occasionally and the bedroom every night. then repeat the
next day. food and mail gets delivered to the door weekly or
so. one time the delivery guy was this guy i knew back in the
four-zero named wally. later that day when we opened the
packages we saw that wally had blatantly cut a hole in it and
stolen the entire bulk package of gummi bears. wally never
showed his face on our stoop again, but there was no one to
report him to.
(con't..)

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Mon Mar 17 11:41:30 2003
i watch a lot of television, and like most of the unemployed i
pay the most attention to the television network of the Boss
himself. the channel takes up almost three-fourths the
numbers on the remote, you can't help but pay attention.
plus they play feel-good programming every day: much of
the daily fare is highly sexual, barely censored entertainment
programming. the night content becomes more hard news,
and the Boss himself often speaks after a long day of planning.
statistics (status reports from the sectors) flash along the
left-hand corner of the screen for all to see. sometimes he'll
make speeches from conquered territories in Bwian or
Tundra or SiliconSorceror, surrounded by troops who flex
their muscles and laugh at his jokes and then later run free in
the night, hungry overlords of the unarmed city they just
marched through. the military is swelling. boys who had
dropped out of school just two years ago, who slummed on
the streets for change

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Mon Mar 17 11:43:36 2003
for change but still lived at home with their
parents on many nights, posers basically, were being given
snow shoes and rifles and being told to get out there on the
icy lakes and shoot whatever is left of the resistance from
smaller, poorer countries. all in the name of unemployed.

pundits and reporters, egomaniacs themselves every one of
them, host many of the shows so that the Boss isn't
overexposed. on some of the more popular shows the hosts
don't kiss the Boss' ass like we're all supposed to. when they
know the Boss isn't watching (the Boss goes to bed early)
they say, in a calm monotone microphoned voice, all the
things i'm thinking, deep down, when i remember all my
years of watching the way the world works. the experts flash
eerie graphics of our own misshapen country surrounded by
our many neighbors on the screen, and say things like "this
can't last forever. the nation has had long runs of prosperity
before, but history shows that those runs are all inevitably

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Mon Mar 17 11:45:32 2003
"brought to a halt by invasion. those opportunists who today
benefit from the lawlessness of the occupied territories will
someday find their adopted homelands to be equally
destructive, as their unearned jobs and their unearned
homes are transformed into a warzone featuring more
firepower than we have yet seen people, than we have yet
prepared for."

my wife walks down the stairs and asks me if i want anything
to eat. i say i don't. she's such a pretty girl.

part of the reason we scavenge so well is that we always
know what's going on in our country, and always have the
free time to hang out on some border while our armies march
through. we are unemployed. we watch the artillery fire fly
over our heads like flaming snotballs and i wonder if the
houses the shells land on might've otherwise been my new
house, my dream house, the place where i live my final days
and watch the world undo itself in wars that are no longer
relevant for me to follow.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Mar 17 15:17:18 2003
flaming snowballs?

wire y >>wire6

Announcements since Mon Mar 17 18:25:04 2003

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Mar 18 17:18:46 2003
anyone know the optimal number of mil to load on an aau land unit
to maximize flak?

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Mar 19 17:20:34 2003
I remembered another part of my original (~1990) land unit scheme
that never was implemented

when calculating the combat odds, the defender's strength in a sector
was supposed to be mil in the sector, plus the defensive strength of units
in adjacent sectors not in contact with enemy sectors

then casualties would take place as usual, but only until the mil actually
in the sector were all killed off (the units in adjacent sectors wouldn't
take casualties)

whether its a good scheme or not I dunno, just that I remembered it just now
for some reason

the idea was to make placing of units very important, so you could place
a unit 1 sector behind the front, for example, where it could contribute
its defensive strength to several front line sectors

the attacker would only see the mil in the frontline sector when spying
or looking, hence might be caught by surprise to find the sector more
strongly defended than expected

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Wed Mar 19 17:54:57 2003
I only have a minute. Looks like everything went well, so
updates are enabled again.

Checking in from Vail Library,

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Mar 19 17:58:16 2003
another brainwave for what its worth (maybe this already got coded)
ice units might be given first priority when reacting to attacks against ice sector
last priority for other sectors
ditto rangers first priority when reacting to mountain sector attacks
last priority otherwise

there was also an idea of allowing the player to renumber lans/planes/ships
to control the order in which they react
(maybe allow two lands to swap numbers, for example, as you
want to use the same numbers the country already has, but just
reorder the order in which units react)

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Wed Mar 19 18:12:49 2003
checking my mail, there appears to be another reboot tonight
(for backup power supply). There isn't much I can do about
it stuck in Vail; however, I just made a backup of the game.
Hopefully everything will go as planned, and I-70 will reopen
tommorrow so I can get back.

Snowed in at Vail,
John.

PS: Your internet access didn't work on the lifts -- VailGulf

> Announcement from VailGulf, (#19) dated Wed Mar 19 18:17:13 2003
"Snowed in at Vail,
John.

PS: Your internet access didn't work on the lifts -- VailGulf"


Technical support team is on the way
Hold on John

VailGulf Management

> Announcement from VailGulf, (#19) dated Wed Mar 19 18:22:23 2003
John, we can not find you !

I hope you are not at that plushy resort
in Vail Colorado? Ours is in Vail, North Dakota.

We know where we are,
VailGulf Management

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Wed Mar 19 22:47:24 2003

El Peso, March 19 (KCNA) -- The socialist system of the DPRK is
a man-centered social system. All the lines and policies pursued by
the DPRK are shaped on the principle that the popular masses are the
masters of everything and everything serves them.
The government takes care of the people, fully responsible for
their living.
It supplies the people with all conditions for food, clothing
and housing.
They enjoy free and universal medical treatment and free
education.
Rest homes, sanatorium and camps have been built in scenic
spots for free recreation and medical care of working people and
schoolchildren.
Such popular policies of the Workers' Party of the DPRK and the
government were invariable even when the country was in hard time
due to the imperialists' persistent efforts to isolate and stifle
it, and repeated natural disasters.
The educational work steadily developed under the care of the
government and medical services were not uninterrupted in hospitals
and clinics in all parts of the country.
The economic situation was very serious in those days.
However, the price directly related to the people's living such
as the house rent and the price of basic foodstuff and consumer
goods remained unchanged.
In the hard time, the people keenly felt that their socialist
system was the best one in the world and they could not live without
receiving benefits from the government.
The facts clearly prove that the socialist system based on
popular masses is a social system that is fully responsible for
their destiny not only under favorable circumstances but in hard
time.
They, deeply aware of the advantages and valuableness of their
socialist system through their experience, are ready to defend it
at the cost of their lives, regarding it as their life and soul.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Mar 19 23:38:58 2003
Was it the real Saddam, or was it Memorex???

-Bunker Busters, Inc.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Thu Mar 20 02:22:05 2003
He walked out of the Great Hall.

The Gods of Asgard had gathered again. Lots of roasted boars,
really a lot of beer. And even more talk. Loki, the double-tongued,
suggested to accept a treaty only to have the fun of breaking it.
Forseti was always in favor of odd compromises. Heimdall was not
afraid of a fight, but he wanted the other side
to come up the bridge to Asgard. That was the place Heimdall
wanted to fight at.

Mortals. Once upon a time, they asked for a good harvest,
for a curse on their neighbors or their mother-in-law. These days
they asked for "rolling NA-pacts for 120 ETU's", they talked about updates.
He did not even know what an "update" was. The mortals no longer had
priests posessing the knowledge, today they had "lawyers".

The One-handed sighed. He was a God. He did not have to care a
bout the mortal's law.
He could kill a lawyer whenever he wanted to. He left the Great Hall when
Forseti started his long pledge for a long-term cooperation with Bob.

He did not know Bob. Bob was a mortal. But he was a God. The God of War.

He didn't want to hear about compromises, negotiations, treaties,
and binding resolution.
He was the God of War, and he was to bring an end to this HIS WAY before the
roasted boars were finished.

This Bob would be silenced soon. "Updates", "ETU"s - they were made
for mortals. The Gods of Asgard
would be present for eternity.

For the first time of this evening a smile was seen on Tyr's face.

> Announcement from SilentBob, (#13) dated Thu Mar 20 06:58:45 2003
:(
> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Thu Mar 20 12:02:02 2003
it's so interesting (enjoyable?) to be watching a real war while playing
a game where your country is involved in the exact same things, from diplomacy
to artillery to pre-announced invasions of weaker countries by technological powers.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Mar 21 02:18:50 2003
empire came first
the real world copied us afterwards

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Fri Mar 21 06:11:35 2003
operation "Shagg and Ewwe" is about to begin.
Bungy


> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Fri Mar 21 16:52:25 2003
Bwain,
WinACE question. If you have multiple land/air/ship units in a
HQ/airport/harbor, I beleive they get built/repaired in order of
increasing unit number. If you use the build tool in WinACE, it
lists the build order alphabetically by unit type and calculates
cost accordingly. In light of insufficient materials, I beleive
WinACE does not correctly show which units get built/repaired.
Can you please check and confirm/deny/explain/correct?
Thx, Coyote

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Fri Mar 21 16:53:38 2003
Bwian isn't home right now, please leave a message and he'll get back to
you in the next game.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Mar 21 17:54:30 2003
"warning!!! that operation will cost $345 and you only have $500 left."
"Are you sure you want to do that dummy?"

didn't know that was in the code. never run my cash so low as this
game. funny :-)

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Fri Mar 21 18:07:25 2003
That only happens when you demobilize 69 mil.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Mar 21 18:12:01 2003
note to Bungy: listen more carefully

it's "Shock and Awe"

not "Shag the Ewe"

sorry to to be the bearer of bad news

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Fri Mar 21 20:11:55 2003

[Location Classified] (KCNA) -- The DPRK unleashed a ferocious
blitz on Vaujany today as ground troops punched deep into Vaujany,
encountering little resistance as they advanced rapidly on the
Vaujany capital.

The devastating aerial bombardment triggered giant fireballs,
deafening explosions and mushroom clouds, reddening the sky over
Vaujany in a major escalation of war.

Bombs slammed into military complexes, setting buildings on fire
and sending plumes of black smoke billowing into the air.

After a brief lull, anti-aircraft fire crackled again in the
predawn hours as a second and third wave of warplanes swooped on
targets across the countryside.

El Presidente said the Vaujany leadership was in disarray, its
grip on the country was crumbling and the scale of the assault was
intended to show the civilians that the Vaujany rulers were
"history."

"The regime is starting to lose control of their country," El
Presidente told reporters. "The confusion of Vaujany officials is
growing. Their ability to see what is happening on the battlefield,
to communicate with their forces and to control their country is
slipping away."

"We're making progress," El Presidente also said. "We will stay
on task until we've achieved our objective, which is to liberate the
Vaujany people."

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sat Mar 22 03:52:33 2003
tonite is a strange night in the history of empire

~12 years ago, as I was working on the land units, which hadn't been
added to the code, the Gulf War attack was halted short of Baghdad.
I argued that the attack should go all the way to Baghdad, not only
from lessons from empire games :-)

but Saddam was let off the hook.

Shortly after that I lost internet access and it was a couple years before
I figured out you could actually pay for it instead of getting it on the cheap
from university

so land units was finished by others

now we see the "Shock and Awe" and troops advancing to Baghdad
within days or even hours

who knows what the future will bring, but the fireworks in Baghdad
were awesome

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Sat Mar 22 23:28:44 2003
Patience is Scottish, and impatience
does become a dog that's mad;
then is it sin to rush into the
secret house of death, ere
death dare come to us?


> Announcement from Aquataine, (#1) dated Sun Mar 23 17:42:14 2003

Anyone want to hear or see a joke?

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Mar 24 05:05:29 2003
^^^ Rangers announce capture of mountain #66

(that's about all we are likely to get in this game, 666 mountains seems
to be a little beyond our range :-)

next stop BAGHDAD

run for cover Mr. Sodom ...

> Announcement from SilentBob, (#13) dated Mon Mar 24 05:39:44 2003
Since I feel I have achieved several personal goals in this game...

I'd like to thank the Iceworld V deity for letting a relative newcomer into such
a prestigious game with a completely optimized country. And the wolfpack
organization for valuable online support.

I'd also like to thank my co-ruler and mentor for his skilled analysis, patience
(despite has shown several time that "I am *NOT* ready) and good humor. You
taught me everything I know about Empire, except... I've seen you sheep dungeon,
and well, no thanks.

I'd like to thank my adversaries, Newland for providing me my first kill in a big
game (no hard feeling, maybe we can still kick some butt in the Newbie game
or the blitzes while we wait for IW VI). I'd also like to thank Niflelheim for teaching
me the value of defending airfields, even when they seem far from the hostilities,
and for answering questions about # sectors even as we battled. And Vaujany
that kept the pressure on. But most of all I liked to thank Ragnarook for providing
lots of great fighting experience. I hope the Halls of Valhalla welcome partisans, I
think I've left a few behind.

Please look for "Silent Bob Strikes Back", coming to an Empire game near you!

-- Bob M

> Announcement from SilentBob, (#13) dated Mon Mar 24 05:46:50 2003
Opps, how could I have forgotten to thanks my friends, Coyote and ^^^? You guys
saw potential and let me keep up the fight right up to the very end. I hope you are able
to profit from our relations. I always try to do my best for my allies, even in defeat.
- Bob M

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Mon Mar 24 11:50:57 2003
SilentBob, you put up a good fight in a desperate situation, right to
the very end. I hope to meet you in another game!

The Skald of Niflheim doffs his hat to SilentBob

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Tue Mar 25 09:48:35 2003
?>> SilentBob (# 13) fb fishin' boat (#106) @ x,y
Tom: I knew it. I knew it. SilentBob WAS developing weapons of
mass destruction! Intelligence personnel have received reports
of a SilentBob navel vessel with fission generation capabilities.
While it appears that this vessel is somewhat old, on scene sources
have reported observing the ship engaged in fission activities.
We must demand that this be stopped immediately.
Dick: Hey, dumbass. That's a FISHING boat. f-i-s-h-I-N-G.
Tom: Fishing? Whats wrong with fishing? I like to fish.
Harry: Wake me when he finds a brain.
Tom: Bwain. I think all the bwain cells are gone.
Harry: Obviously.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Mar 25 17:43:16 2003
you mean all these "fission boats" I built are really "fishing boats" ???

at least I still have all my pt "plutonium" boats in reserve

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Tue Mar 25 18:30:14 2003
And those plutonium boats are great fun. With their speed, you
can probably do 10 laps of the lake per update. Good for water
skiing.

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Tue Mar 25 18:46:06 2003
Here in the DPRK, land of and for the people, we
refer to such vessels as "Freedom Boats" and "People's
Boats"

Along with the DD ("Democratic Dingy"), BB ("Barbarian
Bashers"), HC ("Humanitarian Craft") and SB ("Socialist
Boats").

El Presidente

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Tue Mar 25 18:47:27 2003
here in unemployed we refer to such vessels as "only a dumbass would
build pt boats on a map like this"

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Tue Mar 25 18:53:57 2003

El Peso, March 24 (KCNA) -- Imperialist warhawks today said that
the DPRK would produce weapon-grade plutonium and highly enriched
uranium in a matter of months and therefore, it is necessary to force
it to scrap its program for the development of weapons of mass
destruction. Earlier they claimed that the maximum pressure should be
put on the DPRK to disarm it.
El Presidente today says this in a signed commentary.
It goes on:
These remarks are little short of forcing the DPRK to yield to the
imperialist pressure after forfeiting its right to self-defence and
remaining bare handed.
The imperialists have, in fact, the world's poorest human rights
record as it is beset with serious social and political issues at home
including the issues of religious performance and racial
discrimination, crimes related to the random use of guns and other
weapons and narcotics and violence. Moreover, it is mired in serious
economic recession due to arms race.
The imperialist violation of human rights and infringement upon
other countries' sovereignty are getting all the more serious
worldwide due to the imperialist administration's high-handed and
arbitrary foreign policy and its war policy.
This is eloquently proved by the ongoing wars, wars against
humanity, started by the imperialists to acquire oil concessions.
If the imperialists truly want to protect and represent the just
interests of their citizens, fairly judging this reality, it should,
above all, properly check the imperialist administration's war policy
based on its cold war way of thinking. The imperialists should drop
their hostile policy toward the DPRK, too.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Mar 31 04:18:54 2003
the hunt for "Chemical Ali" is on

like to see what the Kurds do to him when they get their hands on him :-)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Mar 31 04:33:06 2003
"Chem Al" would probably rather be one of Resvon's sheep :-)

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Mon Mar 31 18:40:37 2003
is it worthwhile to upgrade non-artillery land units?

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Mon Mar 31 19:26:16 2003

El Peso, March 31 (KCNA) -- The DPRK is a socialist military
power of self-reliance which wins one victory after another under the
banner of the great army-based policy, says El Presidente today in a
signed article. It goes on:
El Presidente's unique army-based idea and policy serve as an
original revolutionary line and an ever-victorious banner in our
times. This provided a new landmark in building a socialist military
power of self-reliance.
The revolutionary ranks in the DPRK have turned into elite and
powerful forces with the revolutionary army as a model and an all-
people defensive system has been established throughout the country
and it remains indestructible strongly backed by the independent and
powerful national defence industry.
The revolutionary spirit of soldiers created by the DPRK's
People's Army has become a spirit of the times and its traits of
fighting and living prevail throughout the society. The army and the
people share the same idea and fighting spirit based on the
revolutionary spirit of soldiers, greatly instrumental in augmenting
the might of the single-hearted unity, the politico-ideological
strength.
All the people in the DPRK are stepping up the building of a
powerful nation holding a rifle in one hand and a hammer or sickle
in the other. National defence and assistance to the army are
considered as all-people undertakings representing their patriotism
and military service is regarded as an honorable duty and pride of
a citizen.
The people have enshrined the faith that they can not live
without bullets any more than they can without drops of sweets.
They have laid a material and technical foundation solid enough
to repel any enemy's invasion despite so hard conditions. These are
a shining fruition of El Presidente's unique army-based policy.
The DPRK will demonstrate its might as a socialist military
power of self-reliance as long as there are his unique army-based
policy and invincible revolutionary armed forces.

This is the lesson that the imperialist warhawks of Niflheim
and their allies have already begun to learn. After cowardly
invading lands recently freed from tyranny, Niflheim mercenaries
have sought to put their boots to the throat of the people.
Equipped with high-tech ships, aircraft and units, Niflheim sought
to "shock and awe" DPRK forces into a hasty retreat. This was
not to be the case. DPRK forces held their ground at small cost
while the Niflheim cowards besieged them with artillery and bombs.
The level of resistance encountered was so unexpected, however,
that the Niflheim colonists were forced to pause in their actions.
This was to be a costly mistake. DPRK forces, laying in wait for
exactly such a criminal act, counter-attacked. These enemies of
humanity were slaughtered beneath a withering artillery assault
backed up by ranks of DPRK heroes.
This was truly a swamp from which no Niflheim forces would
emerge. Initial estimates suggest that well over 100 Niflheim
units were destroyed in the engagement. Niflheim naval forces,
awash in a sea of mines, are equally doomed. Reporters were shown
the bodies of roughly 15,000 civilians and their sheep - shamelessly
targetted by these Niflheim terrorists and their cluster bombs.
El Presidente asks the nations of the Ice World if this is a
just action? How would they respond were their civilians to become
the targets of homicidal warmongers? Join the DPRK People's Army
in not just defending against this threat, but in removing it
completely. Compassion has no place in the hearts of these killers.
These murderers only understand violence... and violence they shall
reap in great quantities.
The first punch has been thrown and absorbed. The counter-punch
was nearly a knockout. Join the fight and see this Niflheim beast
fall to the canvas.

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Tue Apr 1 00:57:41 2003
Top six reasons why the Skald of Niflheim is pleased as punch right
now:

#6 El Presidente has been somewhat negligent in the nuke & missile
department. El Presidente seems to be not quite on par with the Great
Leader or the Beloved Leader.
#5 Our `doomed' ships `awash in mines' are still returning withering fire.
#4 I consider trading a few dozen units for a start valley an
excellent deal. Any day, comrade, any day!
#3 Unlike the US, we can and do shell civilians, with extreme prejudice.
#2 Overheard in DPRK headquarters: Aeroplanes? What's that?

And the #1 reason is:

#1 Whenever our Berserkers get a bit tired and experience trouble
working up rage, we just read some DPRK propaganda drivel to them.
Works great every time! Thanks, comrade!

> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Tue Apr 1 01:35:29 2003
>> Announcement from (11) Niflheim
>Top six reasons why the Skald of Niflheim is pleased as punch right
>now:

Charming.

Top 3 reasons why El Presidente is not so pleased:

3) Planning for two invading nations but discovering three
2) One acronym: BTU
1) Co-ruled nations

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Tue Apr 1 04:09:35 2003
} Top 3 reasons why El Presidente is not so pleased: [...]
} 2) One acronym: BTU

Let me assure you that this one bit us pretty hard as well.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Apr 1 10:09:59 2003
does artillery on interdiction missions also return fire against enemy artillery
firing on your sectors?

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Tue Apr 1 11:43:56 2003 -=[ EMPIRE NEWS ]=-
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ! "All the news that fits, we print." !
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tue Apr 1 11:37:57 2003

Snooze you lose.
Niflheim cuckling of Lowland continues unabated!


=== Telecommunications ===
DPKR makes annoying announcements too many times.

=== Foreign Affairs ===
Lowland abandons NA pact with DPRK.
DPKR scoffs at Lowland 5 times.

=== The Front Line ===
Niflheim deftly cuckles Lowland out of DPRK sheep.
Lowland troops stand idle.
Niflheim deftly cuckles Lowland out of DPRK sheep 29 times.
IndustMech quietly cuckles Lowland out of DPRK sheep 4 times.
Lowland troops stand idle 7 times.
IndustMech cuckles Lowland out of DPRK Capital sheep.
Ragnarook qucikly cuckles Lowland out of DPRK sheep 4 times.
Lowland endures lawless cuckling 39 times.


=== Espionage ===
Lowland troops watch cuckling 7 times.

=== The Bottom Line ==
Lowland squanders time with NA pact 1 update too many.


> Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Tue Apr 1 16:20:02 2003

Thanks for highlight what a jerk you can be, Niflheim. I'll
remember that for the future. I'd like to point out that
whilst you're clearly proud of your team's activities, the
credit falls to IndustMech for launching an unexpected 2nd
preemptive attack that captured by capitol while the DPRK
was in BTU hibernation. Further credit to Lowland for forcing
me to try and defend a 20+ sector border where no defense
had been previously required. The DPRK was spread thin all
over (with the exception of our border with Niflheim who it
was assumed would attack from their utter lack of diplomacy).

Had plenty of forces to counter attack with - just no means
to actually do it. Frustrating, to be sure.

So, in making my last "annoying" announcement, I would like
to say that I think MOB_ACCESS is great, venture's still need
a bit of tweaking, these ice sectors are total crap and BTU's
need to be eliminated again. They simply make it overly
difficult on defenders in this day and age of preemptive attacks
and piling on.

So an attacker gets to use all BTUs on one front... defender
will typically be using it on multiple fronts. In other words,
no chance in hell. Probably the reason they were largely
made irrelavent years ago.

El Presidente

(BTW - just a point of fact... most "official" announcements
from the DPRK were actual real press releases from North Korea
with minor alterations to them. Pretty wild stuff they put
out.)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Apr 1 23:33:51 2003
yes, BTUs favor the attacker over the defender. We had that problem
solved years ago but it seems someone has screwed them up again

well, idiots messing with the code, what else can we expect :-)

(multiple attackers each with max BTUs hit a single defender by surprise,
even with max BTUs the defender is at a say 3 to 1 disadvantage at best
givern 3 attackers

but it is even worse, the defender usually doesn't find out for some hours
so during that time the attackers get more BTUs

then of course losing cap when low on BTUs can be fatal

I don't remember how we solved the BTU problem or who messed it up again and when
maybe it will come back to me later

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Apr 1 23:40:00 2003
one idea was that attacking old-owned sectors should cost 0 BTU
(all attacking operations directed at old-owned sectors cost zero BTUs
so the defender can retake at no BTU cost)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Apr 1 23:41:46 2003
another idea was that when retaking old-owned sectors
mobility goes to zero, not -30

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Apr 1 23:50:51 2003
moving. marching, transporting, flying from old-owned to old-owned
sectors across owned paths should probably also be BTU free
(not sure if that is a new idea or not- need to go through the list
of commands and see which should be BTU free to make it fair for defender)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Tue Apr 1 23:53:47 2003
I think we also had the idea that only attacking commands against
enemy owned sectors should cost BTUs, but more BTUs than currently
don't remember how far that idea got
oh well, I am more or less out of the loop, just trying to remember olden days ...

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Apr 2 05:35:20 2003
Iraq is being fodderized

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Wed Apr 2 06:09:29 2003
} > Announcement from DPRK, (#7) dated Tue Apr 1 16:20:02 2003
}
} Thanks for highlight what a jerk you can be, Niflheim. I'll
} remember that for the future.

Oh, puhleeaase! You feigned to be a dogmatic communist in your
announcements, and I trust you had loads of fun with that. We feigned
to be annoyed. No need to call names.

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Wed Apr 2 06:10:19 2003
} remember that for the future. I'd like to point out that
} whilst you're clearly proud of your team's activities, the
} credit falls to IndustMech for launching an unexpected 2nd
} preemptive attack that captured by capitol while the DPRK
} was in BTU hibernation. Further credit to Lowland for forcing
} me to try and defend a 20+ sector border where no defense
} had been previously required. The DPRK was spread thin all
} over (with the exception of our border with Niflheim who it
} was assumed would attack from their utter lack of diplomacy).

Some tasks are glamorous, some aren't, and of some the world will
never hear. Drawing and pinning your counter-attack force and sucking
your BTUs might not be the most glorious thing to do, but it sure
worked well enough for us.

} Had plenty of forces to counter attack with - just no means
} to actually do it. Frustrating, to be sure.

Same here. It's hard to say what would have happened had we both had
unlimited BTUs.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Apr 2 06:20:38 2003
co-ruled countries are always difficult to fight

one idea is a window, say 12 hours on 12 hours off

so you choose your own window, then the other 12 hours you can sleep
since you know you can't do anything anyway :-)

and if you find the enemy window you get a free attack for that time :-)

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Apr 2 07:04:19 2003
jeez, they pinbombed the Baghdad division below 10% eff
and it disappeared


> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Wed Apr 2 07:28:06 2003
}
> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Wed Apr 2 07:31:02 2003
}
} one idea is a window, say 12 hours on 12 hours off
}

Don't give Ice another weird idea!


You get attacked the last 20 minutes of your window,
then have to wait 12 hours to see whether there is a sector
left....

and all you can do is logging in as visitor
getting the same headline again and again.

Thanks. NO!

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Apr 2 09:44:20 2003
well there are ways to tweak it to avoid that

the point is to avoid being a single player fighting a co-ruled country run
by a team of players on 24 hours

another way is to disable attacking commands against foreign sectors for 12 hours
so there would only be a 12 hour window for attacking someone else

but you could attack your own old-owned sectors any time to get them back

you just have to think some to find a way to make it work

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Wed Apr 2 18:11:14 2003
? BULLETIN from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Wed Apr 2 14:48:46 2003
Ice Barbarians gave you 5 bars of gold in 3,1

Hell, I've gotta start writting down my own annos. I don't even
remember what I might have said that inspired this prestigous
award.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Apr 2 18:13:19 2003
bzzt
who has been watching too many game shows on TV

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Wed Apr 2 19:01:44 2003
"Commander, sir. I am pleased to inform you then in just a short time
our production facilities will have the capability to generate a
significant amount of new technology missiles. In preliminary tests,
these have shown great promise at destroying naval vessels and thus we
have nicknamed them Harpoons. With these great weapons, we will be able
to strike enemy vessels at large standoff distances from our shores."

<BANG> "Idiot."

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Thu Apr 3 03:50:47 2003
anyone know if artillery on interdiction missions also returns fire if an enemy
fires on your stuff?

there used to be a problem with ships not returning fire when on missions
but I think I got that fixed (can't remember for sure, been a long time
and no info in the docs)


> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Thu Apr 3 05:06:11 2003
do units marching thru allied sectors hit land mines?

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Thu Apr 3 07:40:36 2003
}do units marching thru allied sectors hit land mines?
Yup. They can't read your Warning Signs.

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Fri Apr 4 22:28:24 2003
There is a tide, in the affairs of men,
which, taken at the flood, leads
on to fortune.

Omitted, all the voyage of their life is
bound in shallows and miseries. On such a
full sea are we now afloat.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sat Apr 5 03:45:22 2003
me too.

wait, which one are we talking about?

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sun Apr 6 16:33:04 2003
what's xpl in the ship stats, how many light missiles a ship can carry?

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Sun Apr 6 17:49:25 2003
the land mines hitting allied units probably should be changed so allied units
can march thru without getting hit

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Mon Apr 7 00:10:36 2003
Yeee ha. Last week we say my cousin on 60 minutes II. He's
over in Umm Qasar handing out water. Yesterday he was
interviewed by folks from NightLine and they let him use
their cell/sat phone to call home for a few minutes.
One of the guys in his platoon got shot in the (helmetless)
head, but he'll be OK. Even waterboy ain't a safe job these
days.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Mon Apr 7 05:29:51 2003
what's the advantage of "mif" (mech inf) over "mtif" (motor inf) that makes it worth $800
to build mif vs $400 for mtif?

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Tue Apr 8 10:37:23 2003
The current count on the bars from heaven: DPRK and Shakespeare
have won four times; Coyote, Niflheim, Ragnarook, unemployed
and ^^^ have won three times; Newland and VailGulf have won
twice; Bwian and SilentBob have won once.

Ice.

> Announcement from Coyote, (#6) dated Tue Apr 8 20:03:23 2003
Quiz time. With 53 hour updates,
what is the minimum number of truce hours once a rolling NA is recinded for...
2 updates + 1 hour
1 update + 1 hour
1 update

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Wed Apr 9 11:31:19 2003
Coalition forces today captured the capital city of Coyote.
Citizens rushed to the streets and, with the aid of coalition
marines, toppled a large Fish statue erected just a year ago
in honor of the Coyote despot's 65th birthday. Taking the
podium in the downtown square, Lieutenant General Chaos
declared, "Fish will be served every day for the remainder
of Lent. All Coyotes jailed for political purposes, including
attacks on free ranging livestock, will be freed immediately"

No word yet as to the whereabouts of the HeadFish. Rumors are
that he is getting inreasingly smelly though.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Wed Apr 9 15:09:45 2003
give the visitor 5 bars

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Wed Apr 9 15:35:23 2003
that was me using the visitor account, give the bars to me.

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Thu Apr 10 07:46:48 2003
No, it wasn't you unemployed.

Damn carpetbaggers.

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Thu Apr 10 19:38:43 2003
The game's afoot, ah?


> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Thu Apr 10 19:40:14 2003
In so many ways.....

> Announcement from Lowland, (#9) dated Fri Apr 11 03:47:56 2003
Snow Pile of Power, Northern Wastes
Standard update 4040

The grizzled warlord, a bastard mongrel of Nilfeim and
Lowland decent, looked down on the mass of warriors before
him. The realms of the dead and the living held nothing that
earned his fear, his respect, this sorry mob included. Their
shocked gazes locked on the one who had just declared
himself their master, the one who would be their king. With
a battle cry several of their number charged forward, intend
on deposing this self crowned tyrant right here and now.
With a might swing of his axe a head seperated from its
shoulders, a stout blow of his fist cracked the skull of
another, his boot crushed the neck of a third. With each
killing blow he shouted his order again "Submit! Your
Overlord commands it!" Unorganized and not entirely trusting
one another, the mass of warriors was doomed, they just
didn't know it yet. But that reckoning was soon to be upon
them.

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Apr 11 04:56:28 2003
anyone have any uses for security units?
(know how to use them proitably?)

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 07:58:43 2003
--- from the history "Begining of the Golden Age"
cira standard update 30-40


> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 07:59:19 2003
Reporter:
This day 4000 updates ago the nations of Lowland and Niflheim
declared their intend to rule the Icerealm and to bring the world
into a golden age. Since the world had know only cold, starvation,
seal clubbing, and raging wars in the past how would the other
tribes of the land react to this bold statment?


Historian:
It would seem obvious today that the other tribes would see that
the nation of Niflheim controlled nearly 1/4 of the globe at that
point and Lowland, much to the surprise of many, controlled even more.
The seemingly obvious answer would be to sumbit quickly and vie
for position in the new coalition government
The problem was in those "hidden" days, information didn't spread as
quickly or was as widely available as it is today.
And what's wrong with seal clubbing? Are you against the national passtime?

Reporter:
Sorry, I meant no disrespect to the game, I mispoke.
So you are saying that two nations had quietly gained control of
nearly half the world and no one knew?

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 07:59:35 2003

Historian:
Well, some may have suspected, many actually felt the impact, take
the tribe of communists that were snuffed out overnight. Before that,
they were feared to be the most powerful tribe, but they vanished in
a single season. Unfortunately, only survivors write history and the
winners were not sharing their libraries at that point.

Reporter:
Amazing, and thanks professor, We are out of time for this segment,
tune in tommorrow where we will continue this fasinating walk through
history.

This is PNN

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Fri Apr 11 08:44:00 2003
} the nation of Niflheim controlled nearly 1/4 of the globe

bah, we controlled more than 1/10 of the globe!

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Fri Apr 11 08:44:21 2003

Calculating was not invented yet in those days.


> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 08:45:15 2003
Ugh? What's these number things? Thag not understand, make
head hurt. Want to smash things when head hurts.

:)

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 09:05:01 2003
}> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Apr 11 04:56:28 2003
}anyone have any uses for security units?
}(know how to use them proitably?)

They hunt down and execute CHE. The also help when shooting or
converting uws and civs as appropriate.


> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Fri Apr 11 09:18:33 2003
I.e., about as useful as U.N. peacekeepers.

..and don't forget the baby blue helments.


> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 11:00:01 2003

######################## ATTENTION ########################

The Lowland/Niflheim alliance hereby declares victory.
All remaining viable countries, please respond to this
declaration with an "agree" or "oppose" within 24 hours
of this posting. Such responses should be made public
via announcement.

Please be advised that our alliance controls more of the
world than the winning alliances in IceWorld I, IceWorld II
IceWorld III, and IceWorld IV.

Thank you.

###########################################################

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Fri Apr 11 11:17:19 2003
On behalf of the nameless masses everywhere, I oppose
this blatant attempt to oppress us. You will never
take our capital! You will never be able to eliminate
us! Feel free to try!

Diplomatic Dispatch from Nation 22

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Fri Apr 11 11:29:12 2003
BANG! <thud>

One less disinformation minister in the world.

For any even funnier disinformation minister, check
out the following site about the Iraqi disinformation
minister:
http://64.39.15.171

Funny stuff :)

"We blocked them inside the city. Their rear is blocked"

hahahahaha!

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Fri Apr 11 12:01:36 2003
Viable countries include ^^^, Aquataine, IndustMech, Lowland,
Niflheim, Ragnarook, Shakespeare, and unemployed.

Ice.

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Fri Apr 11 12:50:17 2003
Wait a minute! R.G.E listed 10 Viable Counties
Now just 8? What kind of snow blower is running
loose in there?

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Fri Apr 11 13:11:40 2003
Coyote died rapidly at the hands of Niflheim.
VailGulf fought a valiant battle against Aquataine,
but Lowland joining the fray sealed his fate.

Oh, and it's lawnmower...not snow blower. :)

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Fri Apr 11 14:00:19 2003
Like you backward savages even have lawns up there
in the ice. :)

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Fri Apr 11 14:02:02 2003
True, true. But....if this game continues, I'd bet
that certain powers might be able to grow rather
'glowing' lawns.

> Announcement from VailGulf, (#19) dated Fri Apr 11 15:12:09 2003
Notice to all Skiers and fun lovers:

VailGulf resort has been closed for the season.
Warm weather, caused by the exhaust of many
Low flying airplanes, and an Aqueous solution
melting our snow has brought an early close to our
ski slopes.

The resort wishes to thank all who have visited our
full service resort. Be assured the closing is only
temporary due to change in weather conditions.

We will be grooming and training our ski patrols
during the off season and plan on returning to a
full service operation at our next Ice World event.

John, remember we are located in North Dakaota, not
to be confused with the plushy resort in Colorado.

VailGulf Management

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Apr 11 17:59:06 2003
if the assholes of Niflheim don't get their fucking troops out of my area
where they entered in violation of our border agreement, I will contest the Nif
victory, but I don't oppose Lowland victory

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Apr 11 18:02:54 2003
maybe we should all just Kamikaze on Niflheim and give lowland the victory
all these years I was a good ally to those assholes and they stab me in the
back like that. can't even trust them to keep their agreemenst for one fucking day

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Fri Apr 11 18:04:45 2003
I'm with you, ^^^. I supported Nif/Lowland
victory, but their victory declaration
requiring public capitulation was quite
disgusting.

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 20:29:58 2003
PNN Headline News
Reporter:
Thank you for joining us today as we continue our 4000 update celebration!
We were discussing the other tribes reactions to the declaration of the
Golden Age.

Historian:
Yes, well the tribe (fill-in-the-fodder) opposed this and was subsiquently
snuffed out in a massive battle along with the twisted dog tribe that tried
to sit at too many different campfires.
Others, the enlightened tribes, supported this new idea, and
swiftly worked together to silence opposition and bring
about the golden age.

Reporter:
Anything else in the remarkable time you'd like to share with us?

Historian:
Actually yes, there are a number of fasinating facts, here's a quick summary:

Most anti-climatic battle award:
DPRK. The fall of Communism. What was expected to be "The Mother of all
Battles" turned into the "Daddy of all feeding frenzies" as they were
torn apart in a twinkling by the rest of the civilized world..


> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 20:30:56 2003

Speak Softly but carry a Big Stick:
Lowland: Stealthly became the #1 power and hardly anyone noticed.

Was this trip really nessesary?:
Ragnarook/Lowland+Niflheim diplomacy. If they could ever communicate
with each other, things would have been simpler.

Right time, right place, right attitude:
Industrial Mechanics. Looted and pillaged the communist capital while
DPRK was busy "springing his trap" on Niflheim.

Opprotunity Knocks, extra hog at the trough award:
^^^. Never leave your unfinished fodder anywere near him and hope to
get it after your btu hibernation.

I didn't mean to jog him so hard:
Niflheim vs Silent Bob. Attack wasn't really meant to eliminate Bob
just as a cover to prevent him from interfering in covert support of Lowland
vs Armegar.
Was doing fine until you came along:
Silent Bob vs Ragnarook until Niflheim & ^^^ meddling tipped the scales
harshly.

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 20:31:59 2003

Who spammed my bmap award:
^^^ for exploiting every feature of empire to annoy and confuse.

Good references:
Shakespeare for quoting, err, himself.

Good Non-allied neighbors:
Shakes and Indy from the start. Aqua & Unemployed joined the list
midgame.

Annoying announcements:
DP had this locked up at first but Night Flems co-ruler Plundaria
worked hard to topple him. :)

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 20:33:02 2003
Reporter:
Thanks again for your insight. Tune in tommorrow to hear
how things turned out!

This is PNN

> Announcement from ^^^, (#24) dated Fri Apr 11 20:39:35 2003
Niflheim wins the "Fuck you asshole" award
fucking shitheads backstabbing their allies
the only thing they have going for them in NA agreements which are null and void
after their Saddam Hussein style victory declaration
mother fuckers

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Fri Apr 11 21:09:48 2003
Normally I don't respond to announcements of that nature
but tonight I feel generous
}f**** ***** backstabbing their allies
hmm, who's forces attacked who? Looks like ^^^ attacked us first.

But truth is often the first casualty in war. Too bad this
is only a game. :)
Don't take games too seriously.

Plundarian Part of Night Flem

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Sat Apr 12 09:10:49 2003
The non-barbarian group (^^^, Ragnarook,
Shakespeare, Unemployed, Aquataine) will
not be responding to the 24 hour ultimatum
as made by Niflheim/Lowland.


> Announcement from Aquataine, (#1) dated Sat Apr 12 10:56:10 2003

I do believe a "victory" declaration is quite
premature at this point.

I do however congratulate Niflheim on playing a good game
so far.

It seems as if there was a power chart them and lowland would
clearly occupy the top 2 positions.

I also intend to honor all formal agreements.

-Garius Magnus, Emperor of Aquataine

> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Sat Apr 12 20:11:54 2003
I would like to point out that while the victory
declaration by the Nif/Low alliance might not
have been to everyone's liking, if you put down
your politically correct dictionaries for a moment,
you might see that it was humor. That's what I saw.
If all of you took the same offense that you are
taking now, then all of you would have hated Mirkwood.
Heaven forbid anyone should attempt to induce a little
bit of humor into the game.

Also, based on their s tatement that they control
more of the world than previous winners in all
the ice world games, it doesn't seem like it is
premature to announce victory. Sounds more like
it's overdue to me.

I saw a game once where there were two dominant
players that announce victory when they had about
a third of the world. Everybody denied the victory.
Including me. We were all young and foolish then
I guess. So, it took another month, but the result
was the same except a lot more of us were dead.
Just a waste of time.

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Sun Apr 13 13:05:40 2003
Anyone catch AKorps post to RGE?

> Announcement from Shakespeare, (#16) dated Sun Apr 13 16:28:14 2003
Shakespeare, having botched some recent
diplomacy, want to reiterate his desire
for peace in the world. Many noble warriors
have fallen, only one-third of us remain.

Its time for the bloodletting to stop.
Relations are getting strained between several
long-term players. I have a part in that.

Niflheim and Lowland deserve the win.


> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Sun Apr 13 19:14:17 2003
our Boss issued this statement on television earlier today. it was a satellite
feed from his ranch (the sexy lady kind of ranch, not the
stupid horses) where he was spending a 'recuperation period' of
indiscriminate length after the exhaustion that was unemployed's
world expansion policy (as lazy and backdoor and non-expansive
as it was) ended last month. it was the first time he's been on
television in more than a week. he spoke from a podium on a
stage, a wrinkled piece of paper in his hand. he needed to shave:

"what is greatness? what is special about it? i've seen great men.
we see their portraits on the walls of our museums and in our
newspapers every day. underneath those wrinkles, suits, and
smiles lies their insecurity and loneliness. greatness will get you
places, there is no denying that. it will make you powerful and
famous."

at this point the Boss waved his minister of defense on stage and
introduced him. the guy was wearing a beer helmet and he started

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Sun Apr 13 19:15:54 2003
pumping his fist into the camera when he came up. then the Boss
introduced the 'first lady', who was this blonde named Sandy that i
swear i've seen on late night movie channels before.

"but this ain't so bad either huh!!!" said the Boss hugging his
new woman, and then he waved the whole cabinet onto the stage,
the whole happy go lucky mob of them. as the government and
the on scene media cheered louder and louder, the Boss raised his
hand to quiet the crowd:

"there is, i think, virtue in appreciation. contentedness, my people,
my friends. there is value in chillin. dare i suggest that? dare i say
that life is so good and peaceful right now that you, the
unemployed, don't mind if i continue this decompression period
for as long as need be. for as long as i feel like. until the time
comes once again, at the last possible minute, in the worst
possible situation, in the least stressful way, for work to be done."

> Announcement from unemployed, (#18) dated Sun Apr 13 19:16:47 2003
i'm with the Boss on this one. who needs it? at least i think that's
the gist of what he said, i wasn't really paying attention near the
end, what with a half dozen twenty year olds gyrating within the
tv's border next to the head honch. the weather is getting nice. i've
got a week-long golf vacation booked in the former VailGulf
territories next week. a uw is going to watch the house while i'm
gone. yea, i'm taking the wife with me. she doesn't play but she'll
put out if the hotel room is nice.

unemployed accepts the victory declaration. gg's to my ally
Aquataine, to the fodder who didn't fight back, and to the
powerful countries who didn't invade me.

> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Sun Apr 13 23:24:14 2003
The nation of Industmech accepts the declaration
of victory by Lowland and Niflheim.

Congratulations to both.

Thanks to my ally Shakespeare and the friendly
countries of Niflheim and Ragnarook.

And thanks to the Deity who ran, in my limited
experience, the best set-up for a game.

I liked MOB_ACCESS and the shifting update schedule.

I would like to see less multiple ruler countries,
but I don't think that could be controled fairly.

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Mon Apr 14 02:25:06 2003
Niflheim and Lowland winners.

Thank you.


Game over.


234 emails to read.

Nice lawnmower game, John,
I like the terrain :)

Just the BTU policy was not satisfying ;)

Yet another spokesman of Ragnarook

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Mon Apr 14 06:51:56 2003
}> Announcement from IndustMech, (#8) dated Sun Apr 13 23:24:14 2003
}I would like to see less multiple ruler countries,
}but I don't think that could be controled fairly.

This comes up alot, there are games specifically set to
be single ruler games. A load of fun! I think
you see more co-ruler countries now since alot of
players don't have enough time to play a country by themselves
(Real Life keeps intruding) and their only viable way
is to band together with other time-challenged players
and hope to form a viable nation.

Winterfest was single ruler only, I think some of the invitationals
might have been too.

Be assured, co-ruling is not the silver bullet. It comes with
alot of its own... shall we say, challenges.

Plundarian part of Night Flem :)

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Mon Apr 14 09:01:07 2003
I'm still waiting to hear from ^^^ and Aquataine.

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Mon Apr 14 15:08:48 2003
After an uneventful flight, ^^^ Air Force 1 mysteriously exploded in
midair last Friday. The sound waves could be heard all over IceWorld.
Flaming debris hit Niflheim. Incredulous Niflheimers just stood and
watched in horror.

Investigations into the cause of the explosion were inconclusive so
far.

After a rather long time of stunned inactivity, Niflheim salvage
parties were ordered to `go in and clean up the mess as far as
possible', a spokesman said.

> Announcement from SilentBob, (#13) dated Mon Apr 14 20:59:45 2003
?> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Mon Apr 14 15:08:48 2003
?After an uneventful flight, ^^^ Air Force 1 mysteriously exploded in
?midair last Friday. The sound waves could be heard all over IceWorld.
?Flaming debris hit Niflheim. Incredulous Niflheimers just stood and
?watched in horror.

?Investigations into the cause of the explosion were inconclusive so
?far.

?After a rather long time of stunned inactivity, Niflheim salvage
?parties were ordered to `go in and clean up the mess as far as
?possible', a spokesman said.

Well it wasn't me! I was just quietly minding my own buisness in
my little 4 sector hamlet. I'll need those two sectors by the lake
back now so I can land my fishing boat, if you don't mind terribly
much.

(never mind that spy unit. I was just going to do a bit of exploring.
You see, its been a bit lonely now that I had lost contact with
everyone.)

By the way, I'm very much in favor of your victory declarations. After
all, its an honor to be elimintated by the winner. Congratulations all
around once again!

-SilentBob


> Announcement from visitor, (#22) dated Tue Apr 15 06:16:17 2003
While Niflheim asked all nations to declare in public
their defeat, the Diety should stick to the
good old habits. A victory declaration has been made,
if it is NOT contested within {one day|one update|what the Diety wants}
the game is over. There is no need for a comment of every
player.

And contest does not need the form of an anno. A nice fat nuke
into the capital of the wanna-be-winner counts as well.
;)

> Announcement from Aquataine, (#1) dated Tue Apr 15 08:45:23 2003

I officially concede.
Congratulations to the winners.

Thanks to the diety for hosting such a good game.
All those ice world mods that seem so annoying at first
always turn out to be for the better.

See y'all next game...

-Garius Magnus, Emperor of Aquataine

> Announcement from Ice Barbarians, (#0) dated Tue Apr 15 11:13:28 2003
^^^ hasn't logged in since Saturday. Contesting nations have to log in
more often than that.

Game is over. Lowland and Niflheim have declared the winners.

Ice.

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Tue Apr 15 14:38:54 2003
Kudos to John for hosting this game! Splendid design, flawlessly
executed.

Kudos to all the survivors! That's no mean feat in a continental game
like this.

Kudos to SilentBob and VailGulf for putting up a stubborn defense! We
had written off both of you guys long before you finally had to give
way, but you proved us wrong.

Kudos to DPRK for a spirited counter-attack! You knew we were coming.
We knew you knew, and felt compelled to weave an elaborate web to trap
you.

Kudos to IndustMech for the dashing and carefully timed attack that
broke DPRK's back!

Kudos to Lowland! You guys rock! Quiet (well, compared to yours
truly) and very, very deadly...

Niflheim was coruled by Byzantium, Dorwinion, Plundaria and Mithrilien.

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Tue Apr 15 15:09:26 2003
A few remarks from the Skald of Niflheim, otherwhere known as
Dorwinion.

Cool map. Lakes, rugged terrain and passes offer so many interesting
options. Rangers rock. HIDDEN is fun. NO_FORT_FIRE, yes!

MOB_ACCESS, hmm. Pro: it's less important to be online at updates.
Con: it's more important to be online at pretty much any other time.

The BTU change could use some tweaking perhaps. It does limit the
scope of attacks, and gives the defender some extra time to strike
back, so I guess that part works as designed. However, it hurts
countries fighting on multiple fronts terribly. Niflheim took great
pains to avoid that situation. Moreover, it's terribly unforgiving.
One ill-considered or mismanaged login can cost you a battle, and
quite possibly the game. We screwed up a few times, and paid for it
dearly once.

Future deities, follow Ice's lead and give us bars from heaven!

(cont)

> Announcement from Niflheim, (#11) dated Tue Apr 15 15:10:03 2003
I'd like to thank Aquataine, Armengar, IndustMech, Shakespeare and
SilentBob for being pleasant company. Garius Magnus, you drive a hard
bargain :) (no regrets though).

The gods of Ragnarook occasionally spoke in riddles to us and that
caused a few unnecessary headaches. No hard feelings!

Huge thanks to Lowland! If there are better allies to be had, I
haven't met them. Ever. And I don't expect to.

See you in another game!

Markus

> Announcement from Lowland, (#9) dated Wed Apr 16 01:45:31 2003
Thanks John, it was a well designed game, and it run very smoothly.

I like the challenging map, but it was annoying in the exploration phase of
the game. It could have been nice with some larger lakes though.

HIDDEN is always fun and NO_FORT_FIRE should be standard in future games. I'm
not sure if we had the right mix of income between taxes, goods and bars.

As the Skald of Niflheim points out, the BTU restrictions was not perfect,
but it was definitely better than in Ice World IV. We struggled with BTU
limitations a couple of times, but only during major attacks. If we had to
fight on multiple it would definitely have been a disadvantage.

> Announcement from Lowland, (#9) dated Wed Apr 16 01:57:41 2003

SilentBob, VailGulf and OrionSyndicate all earned some credit by keep fighting
until the end, other countries could learn from them!

IndustMech showed courage by attacking us after the winning declaration was made,
but he soon discovered that it wasn't the best diplomatic move :-)

Thanks to ^^^ for being a friendly and cooperative neighbour through the entire
game.

Major thanks to our ally Niflheim, we cooperated very nicely, and our sharing of
intelligence really helped in this hidden world.

Lowland was co-ruled by Lowland and Pendor.

Bo
Pendor
1/2 of Lowland

> Announcement from Lowland, (#9) dated Wed Apr 16 02:03:02 2003
I forgot something.....

I like the changing update schedule with longer and longer updates. I wasn't planning to
play anymore after Ice World IV, but the update schedule changed my mind.

Bo

> Announcement from Ragnarook, (#14) dated Wed Apr 16 09:52:23 2003
To the Winners, congratulations and well done.
The power chart reveals all (at last).
As RL prevented me from playing (but did not
prevent me from botching diplomacy), I want
to thank my co-ruling Gods of Ragnarook for
keeping us in the fight.
Good work by IndustMech. Good reporting
by DPRK.

No further comments except....
Thank you very much, Ice, for running another
challenging and fun game
Heimdall, the Warder of Asgaard
(who still hasn't finished the tale of Hakuna and Matata)

> Announcement from Lowland, (#9) dated Thu Apr 17 12:50:39 2003
This was a very interesting game for me.

I want to thank Bo for being an excellent co-ruler who taught me a lot of new things about the game.

Also I want to thank the co-rulers of Niflheim for being an excellent team to work with.

Thanks Ice for hosting an excellent game and I'm looking forward to the next game in the Ice World series.

I do have some comments about the setup of this game in particular (which worked out quite well for us), and Empire in general. But I will post those to the newsgroup instead later, so that others can respond as well if they want.

Robert
Lowland
1/2 of Lowland


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