Ivorak

Yeah, on second thought this is significantly more complicated than I had realized, especially if done right. I'd be happy to expand on this in the future if you want, but the more I think about this the more out of scope it becomes (for the purpose of this topic anyway).

Sorry for the delay, will try to run this soon.

It's actually not too lengthy a poem, maybe a hundred lines. Wikisource also has a version that is all on one page here. Also, reading is highly recommended, but ultimately optional.

This quest is the first of a series of Literary Appreciation Quests. All are welcome to participate. To compete, we advise the following steps: Read The Hunting of the Snark. You can find a copy in the archives. You just might find a useful hint about how to successfully complete later steps safely. Hunt the snark. Several players will be playing the role of the snark. It is your job to catch one of them and present evidence to me that you have done so. The first team to do so will win an award. Yes, team! You will need the assistance of another player to catch the snark. However, you do not necessarily need to form teams ahead of time. Here’s how it works: Upon spying a snark in your current scene, Player A will announce: “Look! A snark!” Another player, Player B, must then throw a net: *throws a net*. A third player, Player C, must grab the snark to complete the catch: *grabs the snark* One of these players must send a screenshot to me (Ivorak) by forum PM for the team to collect the award. The screenshot should include enough detail to show the Snark is present and the record of the chat. However, if steps A-D are completed out of order, repeated, or if the Snark *flees* before they are completed, then you must try again in another scene. Awards will be distributed in reverse order, such that Player C gets the greatest reward and Player A gets the least valuable reward. The same will be true of penalties, though, should they occur. You may do anything (permitted by general MD rules) to foil other teams or otherwise gain an advantage. If you have any questions, please address them to me privately by forum PM. Currently looking for quest sponsorships, and preparing some final touches. I’ll post the names of the players playing Snarks when the quest officially begins. In the meantime, you can get a headstart on your reading.

Hastilude Basic tools for aggregating combat outcomes by groups of players. Could be used for team competitions where individual statistics are only a factor of the greater outcome. Perhaps extendable for future implementations of land wars, a team heads competition, or future iterations of the torch competition. One way to do this is to have a competition moderator who can add people to a list of teams, or instead distribute pennants that mark the individual as part of one faction or another.

10 Tree bark → (Mulcher) → Mulch Another fillable clickable idea. Mulch could be used for accelerated gardening (bushies, the community garden plots, etc.)

5 Fat → (Cooking pot) → Tallow Allow melting down Grasan fat to tallow in a (fillable clickable) cooking pot. Tallow can then be used by another fillable clickable or an item combiner to make candles/torches (tallow + wick/fabric), soaps, pemmican, lube, or salves. Candles/torches, in particular, would be an ideal second step for illuminating potential new locations (caves, tunnels, crypts) that are generally unnavigable due to darkness.

Dang. I was hoping it was intentional. (Not to the detriment of Aethon, but because it would have implied that there was counterfeiting taking place within MD. Would have been fun to hunt down the culprit.)

Commenting on the arguments occurring in this thread: I don't see the need for so many complaints. There are simple solutions that you (referring to distrusting potential buyers) have complete control over. 1) Don't bid on something offered by someone you don't trust. This is a simple way to avoid issues. 2) Don't bid more than you are willing to pay for something. This way, even if the seller lies about anonymous bids to drive up the price, in the end you both end up with a mutually beneficial outcome. There are alternative solutions of course: third party moderating the auction, blacklisting agreements, etc. And I'd love to see some of these implemented by groups of players. In short, this is a complaint about complaining. Please excuse me. But I'd prefer to see players implementing new forms of auctions, introducing methods pf self-governance, committing acts of retribution, and creating new problems than listen to their preemptive complaints.

@Blackshade Rider, I was reading over this topic, and wanted to note that it's hard to comment on a suggestion if, when I go back to reread it, it's been deleted. @Aethon, I'm not entirely convinced the value of silver would change in relation to gold. Economics is not my strong point, but I think many macro-economic principles, such as the supply and demand curve, are less certain at small scales. Humans aren't entirely rational, and besides, the main use of silver as it stands stems from it being worth less than gold. If gold and silver became more equal in value, we would no longer be able to divide the value of gold by substituting silver. Anyway, it would be interesting to see how changing the supply of gold in MD would effect things, now that 1:15 exchange rate is so ingrained in people's minds.

I think this makes sense too. And when someone realizes they've blocked someone else but forgot about doing so, it might provide the impetus not only to unblock but to go and repair/renew the relationship.

This is probably fine so long as the wreath binder is elsewhere. Tribunal would probably be the most interesting location for that (since the other option, MDA, is generally neutral).

More levers. An oracle.

Well, that's a lot better than I thought I did... Thank you for running this, dst. I always love trivia.

The acorn is shaped like a Klein bottle[1], defying our standard sense of shape and form, with engorged eyes embedded all along its body. It's upper orifice is full of teeth-like claws (or bear claw-like teeth?) in a pattern much like a lamprey[2]. The combination of these three features allows it to find its prey easily and then devour it repeatedly in a never-ending cycle. It moves around (slowly but indefatigably) by flailing its long reptilian tail. It will get you, eventually, if you ever stop fleeing it. And alas, you cannot take the fight to it, because it is armored by endless layers of a strong shell like substance that will protect it from your blows. Your only hope is to run away and keep on running. Or you will be devoured. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klein_bottle#/media/File:Klein_bottle.svg [2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamprey#/media/File:Boca_de_lamprea.1_-_Aquarium_Finisterrae.JPG

How about an acorn?

An eye.

@Ungod, when you say blueprint you mean a basic shape or form to build off of? If so, a sphere.

Reed - roots that extend into the core of the earth Koi - giant eyes that threaten to push out of the head Oroboros - this creature doesn't just have itself by the tail, it has eaten most of its body several times Geese - yet to hatch, the egg has several shells, like a matryoshka doll Bear - with long claws that act as stilts, this bear stands taller than the trees, eating is difficult Earth - a salty essence, no essence of clay or humus

Mersenne primes Venus flytrap Piranha Tuatara Hooded pitohui Wombat Wind Escher geometries Reed Koi Oroboros Geese Bear Earth Medusa Reed Eel Snake Mud wasp Spider Water

Mersenne primes (why must such abominations lie so near perfection?), Escher geometries (one does not like to be lost and confused), the gorgós Medusa (Loreroot is a much more sinister place than many imagine).

One issue with a sublease is that the third-party may be the one that isn't trustworthy. It may slow down the process of getting the item back, especially if the original lessee doesn't have a similar contract with the sub-lessee. Or perhaps you don't want to work with certain individuals. This helps prevent them from going through a friend to get their hands on your item. --- On a separate topic, what's the preferred method for signing contracts? I'm thinking something like this process: Agree on a contract informally through PMs Once the text of the contract is agreed upon, the lessor posts the contract text in the proper forum The lessee confirms the contract with an affirmative reply to the topic. But what if the lessee then edits their response? Also, this seems like a good way to clutter the forum with posts that are irrelevant to most other players. And what if the contract also involves secrecy, or is an non-disclosure agreement rather than a lease?

EQ24584696099 Nice quiz! Tough questions (though too focused on combat oriented aspects for my liking), only got 20%.

I might even be okay with rules that favor citizens over non-citizens, but they should be well defined and posted publicly. Other lands could respond by banding together to deplete resources in lands that do this, passing harvesting restrictions of their own, or even placing trade embargoes against foreign citizens. Methinks kings these days really need ought read more Machiavelli or something.

I think the idea of personal tasks is at odds with a points system. If the tasks benefit the task-giver then there should be a transfer of value.