Ivorak

77

I'm not sure if there is a suitable leader for the Archive Lands at this time. (Or is Kyphis around? He would be a suitable candidate.) But the Archive lands are dear to my heart, and I fear what would happen to them in the hands of someone inept; this is my claim to leadership: As "Chancellor of the MagicDuel Archives"* I will work towards the following goals: Setting directives for the Archivists A census of those who consider themselves citizens of the MDA A restructuring of http://md-archives.com/ (I realize Inno has started a project related to this, but ze lacks the technical skills to pull it off) Reviving the directive of the legend speakers (if not the guild) Creating better systems and tools for recording happenings of note Taking those notes and creating more context and critical discourse around them * The title Chancellor describes a figure of great power, often meaning the head of state, but also has been used in ecclesiastical and educational contexts. I think this title indicates the power to direct future endeavors through setting policy as well as respect for traditions and history.

This is great, No One, and I can't believe I forgot about it after first reading it. Two quibbles for starters: "Voodoo dolls", if implemented, should be called something else, perhaps"effigies". "Voodoo" is too specific to a real world culture. Some further thought might be prudent before implementing anything to do with having creatures labor. I remember Mur writing about how creatures were not physical beings (http://magicduel.invisionzone.com/topic/186-what-are-the-creatures-that-fight-for-you/) but a sort of spirit that we formed a symbiotic relationship with. Then again, the DracHorns in their lair look pretty real to me, as do the Empty Aramors clambering around Golemus Golemicarum (on yet another hand, I'm not sure of the relationship between Aramors and Empty Aramors). If creatures aren't physical, they can still possibly be treated as if they imbue us with the the skill or knowledge for crafting certain items, but sacrificing them should only yield fenths and not bones.

Rookie of the year: Rophs

I strongly believe that the best quests augment players' roles. They're not just challenges, they fit in with the fabric of this realm. As long as Rophs is not directly gaining tangible benefits like gold, items, or creatures, a quest like this should actually be encouraged.

Are you saying that the ship could have circled around Golemus Golemicarum? (I don't think that's what that language means. From could be a guess based on observation, but I think it's more likely that 'from' indicates origin. I could be wrong.) Or are you suggesting that it's possible that the ship had a non-terrestrial origin? Either way, I support exploration. Rophs, in my old age I'm not as sprite as I used to be, so I likely won't be joining you in on the high seas, but I might consider sponsoring an expedition in return for a share of potential spoils. Come talk to me when you need funds.

But Sunfire, as Rophs pointed out earlier, anyone can do this. While being a protector gives you a few more spells to cast, there's really no point to it unless you use it to some end. So I'll repeat the question in my own words: why you? Do you seek to overturn a delinquent king? Do you wish to see the empty aramors free? Or would you rather control them yourself (as suggested in Ann. 773)? Do you want to bring back the sparring grounds? Would you consort with shades? Or rain fire upon Loreroot? Summon homunculi? Raise a skeletal army? Hang Jester by his toes? These are but examples. But what I'm saying (and this is something I've discussed with Change and other protectors in the past) is that I want protectors to have a motive. You're not here to be a glorified LHO or something, but a leader of a faction. It's not all about what you can do for everyone else. There's that, but it's got to be give and take. I implore you, do something interesting.

Thanks folks! I just noticed that this birthday o' mine coincides with another mini milestone in MD: I've reached 1900 AD. Hopefully I'll be here for many more.

Pamplemousse Funny story: I once misused a preposition in front of Pample, resulting in the first time I've ever been scolded for poor grammar in an online game. Whenever I think of leaving MD this memory brings me back.

18

It has been two weeks since the volition skill was announced. Mur would like to know how much of the skill you've built up in that time. Whoever sees this post is asked to reply with your active days, total volition, and whether or not you've tried increase/grind the skill (yes or no). This will help determine how many points are required for item creation, a related feature to be implemented in the future. I'll start: AD: 1864 Volition: 2.06 Grinding?: No

Ivorak 20 silver note

Ivorak 4 silver

Mur's sponsorship for this quest should have been fulfilled. If there are any problems please notify me.

Discernment From Merriam-Webster's dictionary: 1 : the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure : skill in discerning 2 : an act of perceiving or discerning something To discern is to separate truth from falsehood, reality from what is unreal. I believe it is suitable because it involves perception, but it also implies care and choice (thus it takes time). If memory is separating reality from things forgotten, we must take care in how we allow ourselves to remember it into being, because memories are so often uncertain. In regards to weakening, it involves focus; once we make a decision (using it with a wishpoint to create something) our focus will shift and we must rebuild the skill.

Mur is offering a 10GC award if he uses your name for a new skill discussed at today's public meeting (Day 275, Year 8 @ 22:00 server time). The purpose for the skill is that while viscosity should create heat when overcome, there is another concept that is needed related to a player working to overcome viscosity. "Viscosity is what starts to surround areas that begin to become forgotten, isolating them slowly from reality." By working to remove viscosity we are in effect bringing parts of MD back into existence/remembrance. The skill gets reduced ("weakened") when used, and this should be reflected in its name. Those with enough points in this skill will be able to create items by combining skill points with wish points. (The means by which this will be done is currently under discussion). Please suggest your name along with the meaning/translation of the word and your explanation of why it is fitting. A log is provided for more information. http://storenow.net/my/?f=1e42444f83298dee78bed39054243b6f

Ivorak (ID: 39390, Days: 1839) Why? Well organized. Note taking is fun. Good memory. Available. I frequently check email, and have a reliable internet connection. In game when things are afoot. Need a spark of direction. But capable of feeding the flame. Love the name ("Secret Ary") Long term thinker Yes, I can keep a secret

98

The Fictionist tells me there's been a robbery. Your task is to find out who the thief is. Naturally, you'll have to figure out who was been robbed first. Find the victims and the thief by asking questions of Ivorak and/or Max Mortlock. Each question costs one silver. Alternatively, you can buy questions in bulk for an agreed upon price (secrets, creatures, etc.). Keep careful notes, you'll never know what might come in handy. Also note that collaboration is permitted, but whether collaborating is to your advantage or not is left to your determination. All those questions can get pricey, so try not to repeat yourself (or others) if you can help it. We'll make things simpler by requiring that all questions be asked in the in-realm chat. (Answers on the other hand, will be left to our own discretion. Try to bribe us, I dare you.) If this drags out, we may start holding miniquests with free questions as a reward. Award for top finisher starts at 2 Gold Coins (will likely increase over time with participation and/or sponsorship) and there are a few other awards. [spoiler] [/spoiler] Edit: Oh, duh, I forgot to explain the rules for questions. You can't just ask who did it, obviously, unless your question is really more of an answer ("Was it Mur with the lamp?"). Approach the truth from an oblique. If your question is not something we can answer directly, we will tell you to ask again.

Why do you say this? If this is a written rule, reference the original post. If it is just your opinion, support it.

No One, this is ridiculous. It's certainly not constructive. It may also be considered backseat modding. Two rules broken, to complain about one that was not. I don't like ad hominems on the forum. But this insult you've quoted is borderline in that aspect. Nothing worth making a fuss about. What gets me is that you've already received multiple responses. One you yourself posted here: http://magicduel.invisionzone.com/topic/14193-over-moderation/?p=137203. The next post contains an additional response from Chewett. This is a perfectly valid principle in my books (no ex post facto laws) and means that Rumi did not break the rules. Should he have said that? Probably not, because it lead to this airing of grievances which is almost always accompanied by an aura of negativity. Should we fault him for his inability to expect your inability to let things go? No. My advice to you is that if this really bothers you, avoid opening that thread again. Then you won't have to read it. Maybe you're worried instead about what others will think of you if they read it. I don't think it really clouded my judgement, but this topic may have. It's not pleasant reading complaints from someone who often invites such criticisms upon themself. I'm just me, but most others won't have read that, especially if they are new to MD and the forums. Now you've ensured they have a second chance to see it. No One, let it go. Graze all you want, but there's no need to bite when the shepherd nudges you away. You can always sneak back and graze some more. And there are always greener fields. Seek those.

I have big plans for The Archives. Some are too ambitious but others are simpler. Some little stuff has been done, but most of it I've been putting off too long. But now's as good as any time to start. I'll probably post in more detail at a later point, but for now, come talk to me if you want to know more. For starters, I'm going to be converting the entries at the MagicDuel Archives (http://md-archives.com/) to markdown files. In combination with Pandoc, a universal document converter, this'll allow us to experiment with different formats. For example, I have in mind a bundle of illustrated PDFs (via Pandoc's support for converting to LaTeX) or a wiki (the tool also supports converting to MediaWiki syntax). At this moment I'm trying to determine how to structure frontmatter, so we can label the content with author, categories, and other tags. I'm rambling a bit, but hey, won't you come and help? Ivorak (as in, my character) will be sitting in the Indexed Room of Memories while I am working on this, for the next couple hours (it's day 211, hour 00:30 at time of post). If I'm away from keyboard, just shoot me a PM with any questions you might have. P.S. If any actual Archivists read this, I'd like to talk. Haven't seen any of you around lately and want to know what you're up to (and make sure I'm not stepping on any toes). Update: Started with a content inventory instead. There's a lot more in there than I remember so I didn't even finish that yet. But it's here if you want to see it: http://ge.tt/9N6O3Nn/v/0. Will resume work tomorrow.

Ivorak ID:39390 Days:1785

We tend to think in the short term. This is good when we need to make decisions quickly, but given the extent that we fail to look and plan ahead it is easy to say that we should make a bit more of an effort at forward thinking. Now that is all rather obvious, but even the obvious is often forgotten amidst the deluge of information and opinion that this modern world is so good at dredging up. What am I going on about? Well, it's just that the confluence of several trains of thought have got me thinking about the long term. Again (because I'm always pondering the future and what it holds for me), but differently than before. 1) First there's the realization that even once I'm long gone there will be people who suffer and that those people matter just as much as those I can affect directly in my lifetime. I used to scoff at the mission of The Long Now Foundation. What did it matter to me what the environment and quality of life was like 10,000 years in the future? But if I'm called to do good work in the here and now, why shouldn't it last? Why should everything that gives my life meaning now cease to be meaningful once I'm gone? 2) The other thing I've been thinking about is the notion of "50-year projects", which I'll define as requiring at least a decade of work (but preferably more) to complete and undertaken by an individual (with some help, of course). I tend to work on many small projects (that most of them don't get anywhere is another story). I do this because it gives me more freedom, more variety, and also the possibility of actually finishing something for once. But I think large scale / long term projects have value as well. But I can't come up with very many examples. Here are a few: I'm intrigued by Loper OS, one man's attempt to create a modern Lisp operating system. I don't know how long it took Christopher Alexander to write A Pattern Language but I'm sure it involved years of careful thought. I'm sure there are many constructed worlds that have been developed over multiple decades; it can be an obsessive hobby. How about building a house from scratch? Hewing lumber, clearing land, and laying a foundation is often just the beginning. MagicDuel? It's getting there. This is not a call to action. I just wanted to see if it sparked any further thoughts. If so, I'd love to read them. Specifically, are there any "50-year projects" that have inspired you? Do you have one of your own? I'm also curious (thought 5 years might be a better number than 50 here) what some ambitious long term projects/goals in MD might be. Or are you all just living in the moment? :P

This is an interesting idea. I'm not sure all of those are advantages. In terms of dynamics, nothing could be more dynamic than interacting with another person. I think if people are a part of a quest it should involve speaking with that player, not some lesser scripted interaction. There are exceptions, such as when the interaction we're trying simulate does not involve speech, for example a script that simulates pickpocketing. I would be more interested in the following features: The ability for a script creator to get notifications triggered by scripts they have written. The ability to store spells with clickables (a concept similar to storing spells in stones), and to be able to trigger those spells from MDScript.