Tarquinus

[forum PM sent. This post may be deleted.]

It is the land of the dead in MagicDuel, east of the Paper Cabin. If you hang around and are respectful - or quick - you might get a chance to visit it sometime.

Happy birthday.

A white service is a ceremony: nothing more is involved. I believe Amoran will give a short "sermon". A red service, as you may know, is the same thing, only with bloodshed (fighting going on during the service). The entire thing is not meant to last more than 10-15 minutes. It is mostly a way for people curious about the CoE to find out what our purpose is. We will make arrangements for the service to be held for people in different time zones, so don't worry if you can't make the one posted.

It's more surreal. I liked it more than [i]At Swim-Two-Birds[/i], which was over my head in a lot of places (though damned funny). [i]Third Policeman[/i] is strange and cerebral, but equally humorous.

Recently finished [i]The Third Policeman[/i] by Flann O'Brien. Now reading [i]The Pastel City[/i] by M. John Harrison.

I don't know you at all, but Happy Birthday anyway.

One of the paths at the Howling Gates once said, "Yog-Sohoth" when clicked. This was a clear reference to an entity called Yog-Sothoth from the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, just as the symbol on that path is associated by some with Lovecraft's fictitious but now-published-as-real evil tome, the [i]Necronomicon[/i]. That reference has been removed. I encourage all involved with the events described this thread to consider why.

Your friends have been thinking of you. Wherever and however we may differ, we are your friends. Take care of yourself, and don't forget to enjoy life as best you can. Wherever you are, be it in MD or in the rest of the world, your friends, if they are good friends, will think of you and continue to wish you the best.

Congratulations.

I was talking to another MDer in the hated YIM just now, and it really struck me: there's an air of mournfulness, of negativity, that needs a balancing opinion. Since I am an active vet, I'd like to add my two bits. Some may want to accuse me of being two-faced, or cowardly, or obsequious, but whatever. This is my honest opinion. It seems to me that MagicDuel is in many ways a much better game than the one I joined two years ago. There are more creatures, a slicker combat engine, a wish shop that lets you buy spells and get into cool areas, and more things to interact with. Some people say, the wrong people get rewarded and there's no way to get ahead. I'm sorry, but I just disagree. I think MagicDuel is going through some growing pains, but I really do believe it will come out stronger and better than ever if we can all just [i]hang in there.[/i] Mur has shown every sign that he listens to the players, and I can't think of any other developer I've met on-line that can say the same to the extent Mur can. Is it fair? Not really. So what? It's fairer than it once was by an order of magnitude. Is there backbiting and gossip and bullying? Yes. But show me the community of human beings that lacks those things. The fact is that MagicDuel offers more opportunities to [u]players[/u] to impact the game than any other MMOG I've ever seen. So what I want to say is this: thank you. Mur, thank you for a great game. You're crazy and funny and imaginative. We don't have to agree on every little thing, but my life is better for having met you. Loyal veterans, thank you for still playing. Yes, even you, dst. You are a huge part of the experience of this fantasy "world," and it would be the less without you. Stories gravitate around you, as does the sense of the game's "reality". Any loss from your ranks diminishes us, and while others will come, no human being can really "replace" another. Regular players, thank you. Your interest and intelligence constantly hone the experience of MagicDuel. You are the life's blood of the game. Newbies, thank you for your interest and enthusiasm. Stick around... things keep happening, and just when you think you've got it all figured out... something new comes along. Hang on. You're in for a ride. This is not to say I think people have no valid complaints. I think a lot of people have valid complaints. But you know, you can dwell in the problem, or you can be a part of the solution. I encourage you all to be part of the solution. When a fellow player releases a quest, take notice. It was made for you. Be glad, and always keep in mind that the next quest might be written by [u]you[/u], because you have that freedom. Freedom is only free as long as people fight to keep it. See you on the dueling mat.

It's interesting to me how this question provokes serious, introspective responses. I suppose it's hard for an honest person to be flippant about matters life and death (though Totenkopf's response amuses me to no end). It might be an easy question to ask, but consider the analytical processes of the human mind even apprehending such a thing. By its very nature, the question invites a review of one's own life, even through the prism of "what if?", and implies there is something about our lives we would all want to change. So to be my usual contrarian self, I have to echo Vicarious: I would do neither. I am moving at the only "speed" at which I know how to move. I am among the many who strongly doubt the existence of any afterlife of any kind, and all my favorite art, all my favorite myth, suggests I should enjoy every instant of this life while I can. That said, I have come to grips with myself, and I have learned to both accept my past and look forward to the future by honoring the fullness of the present moment.

The original limerick doesn't [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_of_scansion"]scan[/url]. I am sorry to be pedantic, which is terribly rude, but your original version breaks the meter. My punctiliousness (some would say Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) prevents me from using your version. The fault is in me, not in you. [b]Edited to be less obnoxious[/b]

I am disqualifying myself from this contest for a number of reasons, chiefly that I already have many imperial aramors and don't need any more. For the fun and the challenge of the thing: There once was a lad named aranna who was eating a greenish banana. While to peel it was easy he became rather queasy when he saw that he'd skinned his young mana.

Happy Birthday, Awi.

Susan the Silent. There is also a character who is a plant and only communicates by vague movements and gestures, though I forget the name.

Hope things work out for you, Shara. You'll be missed.

I would think the difference is quite obvious - some choose to focus more on roleplay than fighting, and vice versa. However Shadowseeker is one of the few with a strong commitment to both, and as such has my high esteem. To me all elements of a roleplaying game should be respected. I come from a background of tabletop gaming, where the same, or very similar, divisions can be found, from "powergamers" (MD calls em grinders) to "roses" (MD calls em roleplayers). I think it's foolish to limit oneself, but hey - it's a game. The point is to [u]have fun[/u]. ffs.

The system in my quest was fun but had a basic flaw, because all tokened rituals defend at 100% token power regardless of their slider setting. Word to the wise. I think it's a good idea to ask for untokened rituals entirely. Cryxus and I sponsored a tournament with that rule, and we saw some very good fights. A strong player can create a good ritual without tokens in a surprisingly short amount of time.

There are a number of very good roleplayers in MD, but not all of them are necessarily good [i]judges[/i] of roleplay. I will not participate in a discussion of what makes good roleplay. That has been done without satisfying anyone. Innocence - in all her various incarnations - is the best roleplayer I've ever known. She tends to be very opinionated, and is not what I would call the most impartial judge in the world, but her roleplaying skill is without equal, in my opinion. As far as other good judges of roleplaying skill go, I would feel remiss if I did not mention Amoran and Peace. Love them, hate them, or be indifferent to them, they are strong roleplayers and know another one when they see one.

Happy Birthday.

Happy (belated) birthday.

Happy Birthday.

Ha. Leave it to phantasm to beat me to the punch with Pong. We ain't gettin any younger. Tron ruled. So did Discs of Tron. Other arcade memories: Lunar Lander. Xevious. Galaga (and its predecessor, Galaxian). Reactor. Warlords. Xenophobe. GORF (ha ha, Space Cadet!). Sinistar. I remember lots of old Atari and Intellivision games, too many to count. Ah, youth. Pitfall gets a gold star, though. Early PC games: the original Castle Wolfenstein (schweinhund!) and its sequel. Choplifter. Wizardry. And for the Sega Genesis: Road Rash. Star Control FTW(!!!). Earthworm Jim. Toe Jam and Earl.

I hate to disagree with Marv, but I think this would be a good use of the Libs. I have trouble giving bursts away, which used to be my most reliable means of losing XP. I applaud those who have bothered to hang around GoS with Regen rituals set: thank you. I have a finite amount of time I can be online as Tarq and Keith, and you make my time a little bit easier, a little bit more pleasurable.