**>> SPYNET BULLETIN **>> EARTHDATE 92.05.31 **>> AN H-by-A SERVICE **>> Compiled by Hazed plus a team of specialist newsdroids **>> your news and gossip and get paid good groats! **>> THE FUN OF THE FAIRE The GEnie May Faire last night was a great success. Around 20 different GEnie products set up shop in booths, to talk about the services they offer. Fed had a booth and a number of players talked about different aspects of the game, including Trading, Socialising, Fighting and Player-planets. The booth was visited by a crowds of people. Some had started playing the game recently, so took the opportunity to get their questions answered. Others were curious about the game and wanted to know what it involved. Hopefully we will be seeing a hoarde of new faces in Fed Data Space as a result of the Faire. The Federation team would like to say a big Thank You to all those who helped answer questions at the Faire - particularly those who were there throughout the event. **>> WELCOME, NEW PLAYERS! For those who decide to check Fed out as a result of the GEnie Faire, and for the new players who have entered Fed Data space over the past weeks, it's time to run over a few basics for newbods. A question that is often asked is "What is the first thing a player should do in Fed?". And the answer, usually shouted by many voices, is "Read the instructions!" The Fed instructions can be found by selecting Option 3 from the main Fed menu. There is a QuickStart Guide that gives you the absolute basic information you need to get started in Fed. Please read this, it'll help get you over the culture shock of entering a new reality! You can also download the on-line manual - the Idiot's Guide to Federation. This tells you everything you need to know, covering the things you will be doing at different stages in the game. This can also be downloaded for free from the GEnie Info Library (type *LIBRARY from any GEnie page). Once you are in the game, the players are always willing to help you out and answer your questions. Making friends is a big part of life in Fed Data Space - not only because it is fun, but also because at certain stages in the game, you need the support and help of other players. Fed is not a combat game, so you won't be preyed upon the instant you enter the game. In fact, there are relatively few ways to die in Fed - and provided you purchase life insurance if you do die, you won't lose any ranks or privileges. In the early stages of the game, you don't need to think about weapons and fighting at all. Later, when you can afford to equip your ship with offensive and defensive devices, you can have a lot of fun hunting and killing mobiles (computer-generated characters) but there is only one point in the game where you -have- to fire a weapon! Shooting at other players earns you nothing except their wrath. Take the time to explore the planets in the Solar System, and make a note of any objects and mobiles you find. Later in the game, you may need this information! There are many puzzles in Fed. Two major promotions, to the ranks of JourneyPerson and Guild Master, involve very complex puzzles for you to solve. Working out how to increase your character's stats involves puzzles, and in the early stages of the game you can make some groats, and have fun, by matching up objects to the correct mobiles. If you get completely stuck on any of the puzzles, you can always ask another player for a hint - but do -not- expect to be told the answer right out! The puzzles are much more satisfying if you can work out the answers yourself. Continually nagging for the complete solution to a problem is a very good way to lose any friends you have made. Finally, enjoy yourself. Have a drink in Chez Diesel, make friends and have fun! **>> LIES, DAMN LIES... Last week we reported that Delta and Zargleswart somehow failed to realise they were both the same sex, and were quite surprised when they discovered their errors, mid-grope. We've received the following explanation from Delta: "The fool Zargleswart kissed me so naturally I assumed it was a woman... I was celebrating my promotion and maybe had one too many Venusian Oozes and, well, I should have examined but I felt looks didn't matter at that time." **>> UNGRATEFUL HUSSY Zapptapper was very surprised when he offered Felicia some money for a favour she had done him. She apparently got mad and refused the cash! What we want to know is, what was the favour? **>> PROMOTIONS NEWS Plantking has been promoted to Merchant. Well done. Trista has solved the fiendish JP puzzle (with a lot of help from Mirth, we understand) and is now ready to tackle the awesome GM puzzle. Ashley is now a Trader, and can turn off the job display at last. Russ, Oddball and Piemur are proceeding with the Duke puzzle, and have now been joined by Polar. Oddball seems to have vanished from the Conclave so the puzzle is obviously pulling a lot of wealth out of his planet's treasury! We understand he's also going to be away for a week or so. **>>CONTACTS The following information will appear at the end of every News Bulletin, so you don't have to read it if you already know it. In the event of a problem or question, you can: * talk to Hazed or Bella in the game * leave a message in the game log * a message to Hazed or Bella * send mail with the Federation Feedback option from the main menu You can order a copy of the unexpurgated printed Idiot's Guide to Federation by typing ORDER at any GEnie menu. Cost - a mere $12.95. (New edition will be available shortly!) Federation has several category in the new MPGames RT. To get there, type M1045,1 from any menu prompt and SET category 13 (for information, instructions, questions and answers) or 14 (for general chat and discussions). The Federation Leader in the bulletin board is Krell (Mail ID: K.HILLYER). There are also private categories for Explorers, run by Krell, and for the Conclave run by Oddball (Mail ID: D.STALZLE). The MPGames RT also has a Federation library in the files area, Library 5. Library 18 holds the Federation News Archives. **>> BULLETIN ENDS