**>> SPYNET BULLETIN **>> EARTHDATE 95.11.26 **>> AN H-by-A SERVICE **>> Compiled by Hazed plus a team of specialist newsdroids **>> your news and gossip and get paid good groats! **>> BUILD TO INVEST The long-awaited new build system goes in this week on Tuesday or Wednesday (barring unforeseen problems!). There are three stages at which players will have to do builds. Explorers will have to build an Interstellar Link before their planet is linked to the game; planet- owners will build facilities to improve their planet and promote; and Barons will build the equipment necessary to tackle the devilish Duke puzzle. This week's code will add in the builds for planet-owners. Explorer and Baron builds will follow later. At the moment, all planetary investment is done using the command. With the new code, the only thing to be allocated will be Social Security, which works in a different way from other investment. Social Security points will work in the same way as previously. All other builds - Energy, Education, Security, Infrastructure and Health - are carried out using the command where "facility" is one of the above. Only one build can be undertaken at a time. Each build uses up commodities, uses up workers, and costs 200 mega- groats. You can find out what is needed for each build by typing . Commodities are taken from the mega-warehouse on your planet. Workers are taken from your planetary population, and are lost permanently. Groats are taken from your planetary balance. Builds have no negative effect on your planet's production capabilities. When you issue the build command, the build will start and the commodities, groats and labour will be removed immediately, providing you have the correct resources. If you don't have everything that is needed, you will be told there is a problem. Each build will take four hours of online time. The build will continue to run while you remain in the game. If you log off, the build will stop; when you log back on, the build will start up again automatically. tells you how far through the build you are. At the end, you'll be told when it is done, and the investment will have the expected effect on your planet. If the build is the final one you need for a promotion, your planet will advance at the next Galactic Midnight. There are a couple of side-effects to your building. When you issue the build command, all factories on your planet will stop, as the workthings rush off to apply for the cushy government work you are offering. As each factory gets to 25 FTUs, it will re-employ the workers that didn't get the jobs. There is a limit to the amount of investment you can make in your planet. You can only build up to 10 points per level - so leisure worlds cannot have more than 50 investment points. Anyone who currently has more investment points that are allowed will be able to keep them. When the new code goes in, Baron builds will be disabled until the TechDroid puts in the next lump of code. Anyone who is half-way through Baron builds won't lose what they have done - they will be able to resume where they left off when the code goes in later this week or early next week. **>> OTHER NEW STUFF There's a few minor bugs and tweaks to go in with this new version: The error message you get if you mistype the planetname in the command has changed to something more sensible. Mobiles can no longer shoot at you through the Interstellar Link... yes, it's true, that's what they were doing! Most startling. **>> DRINK YOUR WAY AROUND THE GALAXY... Of all the bars, on all the planets in the Galaxy... which one shall we visit next? Every fourth Sunday of the month, players in Federation, the adult space fantasy, set out on a pub crawl to visit bars on different planets around the Galaxy. It's a chance to drink in a wide variety of watering holes on planets designed and built by the other players. So join us tonight, Sunday November 26th at 9.00 eastern, for the barhop round the Galaxy. **>> TRIVIA TRIVIA TRIVIA It's trivia time in Fed, your chance to demonstrate your knowledge of all things Fed-related, as our Trivia Maitreuse taxes your brain and teases out those obscure little factoids. So if you need a break from hauling cargo, or trading on the exchanges or managing the economy of a planet, join Game Hostess Lyrynna. There's groats for the winners, as well as the opportunity to impress your friends with your knowledge of the obscure. Join us on Sunday, December 3rd, at 9.00pm eastern, in Chez Diesel, the Social Center of the Solar System, for Fed Trivia! **>> GETTING A HEAD IN AFFAIRS! Astonishingly enough, Newsdroids and their diligent efforts have come to their fruition! After hours, days, =weeks= of sitting in obscure patches of dust, ambiguous shadows, and slanted corners, a lone droid ticked away the seconds of eternity until this bit of news quite suddenly fell into its bolted appendages. The identity of the Head of Security in the LCP has surfaced and is none other than the beautiful Thai princess Kirchansky! As it happens, Kirchansky is Budwarp's daughter. Then again, who isn't a family member of LCP's Duke of Epini? Could such close family ties tint the security checks one must survive in order to join this lite league? Newsdroids have been assured that full investigations have been conducted into Budwarp's background and accurate results have been posted. Newsdroids search desperately for the result postings in hopes to see just how accurate they really are. Not only are they searching for the scores, they are beseeching the illustrious Kirchansky for a one-on- one interview. The droids hope to obtain this and print the dialog in next week's issue along with an exclusive interview with Chaos's Duke, Chance. **>> WARM UP THE ICE The bar board this week contained the following posts: Trista: The Ice Princess will remain forever frozen until the death of the scoundrel Jordan. I will pay 20 meg for his head on a silver platter. Budwarp: Jordan has requested and been granted sanctuary in Epini. We decided to investigate the story behind these posts and sent a droid to Bliss and to Epini. The newsdroid sent to Epini was turned back at the border by the heightened security protecting Jordan, but the newsdroid at Bliss reported back that he had gotten the following explanation from Trista: "Several weeks ago I seceded from the duchy of Nexus (allied with Epini) and joined the duchy of Chaos. Since this secession Budwarp and the Epini gang have used every possible tactic to regain my allegiance. The very lowest trick of theirs was to send Jordan to seduce me. [Newsdroid pencils in notebook: Jordan=Epini agent] He made all sorts of sweet promises to me.. my head was turned, my body warmed...[Newsdroid pencils in: Jordan=smooth talker] Then, to my chagrin I learned that Jordan was warming many women in Fed. I confronted him with my evidence. [Newsdroid pencils in: Jordan=philanderer]. I expected apologies, remorse... but no, he, he.... he asked me to SHARE! He asked ME, Squire of Bliss, to share! I do NOT share my toys!!" [Newsdroid notates: Jordan=toy] **>> TUNING IN ON DISCORD This week spacelanes have been busy: Trader's boycotting the LCP, soapboxes occupied with voices heralding their opinions, cargos being stolen by savage pirates, and prices of commodities skyrocketing as a result. As an example of some of the tyranny assaulting the galaxy, newsdroids turn to the misadventures of Admiral. Admiral decided that he would single-handedly take over the planet of Musica. After merely putting foot on the planet, Admiral shouted out his triumph and claimed Musica for the glory of the Trader's Coalition (adversary of the LCP). His shouts would not go unanswered. Kirchansky, stated Head of Security for the LCP, and her father Budwarp, undisputed Duke of Epini, answered Admiral's howling with the screams of twin lasers. Four times Admiral was shot down from the stars, only to escape unscathed each time. Newsdroids do not, at this time, know whether Admiral still has a foothold on Musica, or whether Admiral still has a foot to hold! What is clear, Admiral claimed to have acted upon Daphne's orders (represented leader of the Trader's Coalition). Further research is hoped to clear up any questions remaining at this time. **>> DEATH, PLEASE, WHERE IS THY STING? The roar of the crowd was deafening when Oxcart, ex-slave and current husband of Aja, died. Not only did he die, but he died again! The most asked question was, "Is this true?" Yes, it is true, he did die. Twice. The second most asked question was, "Did he intentionally commit suicide?" Newsdroids were baffled by this question since there is no reported UNintentional suicides... But the answer to how he died is finally revealed today in this issue of H-by-A's publication. Let us reflect on why he could have died: - Pegasus refused to deal with Oxcart's claim of lost investment points. - Oxcart finally realized, after three straight days of staring at Laura Ashley catalogs, he would never truly fit right in one of those beautiful dresses. (Does Oxcart really HAVE straight days?!) - Aja decided to take her evening gown back. - Reginald refused to wear matching bras. - Oxcart underwent three whole days of being straight and the stress was just too much. Although each reason could very well have been valid, nothing holds up to the truth. Yes, =The Truth=. Oxcart had the misfortune of teleporting into a space location. That, in itself, was not so bad. But Oxcart didn't stop there. Sure of where he was going, Oxcart tried to teleport himself into the nearest insurance agency. He must have been a little disorientated after his demise because he missed the planet the insurance office was on entirely. Oxcart landed (or failed to), once again, seconds after the first teleporting accident, in the middle of space! Sorry Oxcart, but if you are not going to take care of the first teleporter, means will be taken so you do not own one! Now, should you afford another teleporter some day, do please try and be careful and take care of this dangerous piece of equipment! **>> NEWS FLASH! Admiral has left Musica. Apologies were dispensed and Admiral admits that he was not acting on Daphne's (represented leader of the Trader's Coalition) orders. **>> REWARDING OFFER REVOKED Heated auctions for Jordan's head raged through the galaxy. A posy was gathered to go after this vagrant and to collect the enticing reward. Trista and Ghost were the two main bidders offering rewards of up to, but not exceeding, 500 meg! This offer of such altitude was made by Ghost, but later retracted when the LCP cracked down on him. Trista also, after rumoured blackmail, retracted the d-d hunt on Jordan and called for just a single death. This was carried out by Daphne and Cryptosporidium who have to now split the reward she had offered. Cryptosporidium was seen to look disgusted (or is that disgusting) by this and claims it will infect the water supply on Bliss. Trista, still not appeased, shall continue to carry her title as the Ice Princess for showing such poor judgement in looking at Jordan in the first place! **>> ANOTHER CRY AGAINST THE LCP Chicago pulls out his soapbox, mounts it, and delivers this moving speech: I proclaim that as a Merchant and Journeyman I 'HAVE' committed the act of 'DUMPING" and I have no bad feeling by doing this practice. It is the responsibility of the planet owner to guard against unwanted trading, and if PO's cannot handle their exchanges, maybe they should not be a planet owner! It is the responsibility of a trader/merchant/journeyman(woman) to maximize profits. So there... I guess I will never be allowed into Epini.... oh well. Newsdroids did not find a trace of regret in that final "oh well". The galaxy holds its proverbial breath, awaiting the reaction this speech practically demands. **>> MISSING GROUNDHOGS As of late, there has been a vast shortage of groundhogs that tend to stay for very long. Sure, we have all seen the newly hatched hogs come in, look at the galaxy and all its splendor, and ask their first precious question, "What do I do?" But where do they disappear to after this initial peek into the stars? Archeolodroids believe they have "dug-up" an answer on Stonehenge. Recently droids armed with picks, shovels, and brushes have shown up on Stonehenge in droves. It is common knowledge that Menua sacrifices small mammals on his altar to appease the earth gods. This ritual has been practiced for centuries on end. What is NOT common knowledge, Menua looks upon Groundhogs as small mammals that should give up their lives to the gods. Recent diggings have uncovered the ghastly truth. Human skeletons in fresh graves have been uncovered near Menua's altar. This can only indicate the truth about where, exactly, all the Groundhogs have gotten too. Menua doesn't seem to be limiting his sacrifices to Groundhogs who will be missed, or forest animals found away from their burrows. Porcupine has taken it into her head that Menua is out to sacrifice her! Fear stricken, the prickly one has closed herself up in Chez Diesel's (SC of the SS). When Newsdroids were able to get close to her and ask her why she believes this when Menua calls Porcupine "wise" and "very knowledgable", she only replies that it MUST be a trick of some sort. For now, nothing can move her from the bar. Then again... nothing could before this! **>> ANOTHER RELATED LCP TOPIC Newsdroids found the following bar post most interesting: 209957:819 - Trista: I see that Nexus has dropped the 25% customs. Is Brandy defecting from the LCP? **>> CARE TO BET YOUR LIFE ON IT? The galaxy has taken a turn in an unforeseen direction when Capt suggested that what everyone needs nowadays is a good lottery to get the blood flowing. Immediately denizens responded with, "Yes! The one selected can be fed to the dragon so our planets can stop being pillaged!" "No! Wrong story, they should be GOBLIN food!" Goblin was in much agreement to this turn of events. Capt was immediately asked to be the first one to enter into this lottery as a show of commitment to his idea and as a lead for others to follow. With a strangled voice, Capt responded, "Why me?" So it has been decided that =everyone's= name will be entered into this lottery so that the lottery's committee can be seen as unbiased and participation level will be at an all time high. **>> SPYNET REVIEW Alas, poor Adventurer Sluggo, who went dead-dead during the week. Alas also, poor Baron Oxcart (see earlier story). He's working his way back up the ranks and is now a Merchant. Congratulations to all those who promoted during the week. The new Captains were Starre, Adlyr, Oxcart (back from the dead) and Mirth. Oxcart was promoted to Adventurer. The Traders Guild admitted Sting and Oxcart to its ranks. Amberli, Sting and Oxcart made it to Merchant. Shandi proved her economic prowess by promoting to JP. Kirchansky cracked the fiendist GM puzzle. Well done! **>> 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. The current Federation Game Hosts are: Freya, Porcupine, Lyrynna, Grannie, Sparky, Zzzax, Geezer, Magneto, Syfari and Goblin. Their function is to answer questions, help new players get started, and make fun things happen. In the event of a problem or question, you can: * talk to Hazed or one of the Game Hosts in the game * a message to Hazed * send mail on your host system to the Federation team: on GEnie, mail FEDII.2 or use the option on the main Fed page on Delphi, mail FED2 or use the option on the main Fed page on Cris, mail FEDERATION2 You can buy a copy of the very excellent Idiot's Guide to Federation for the paltry sum of $15.95. On GEnie, type ORDER from any main menu page. On Delphi and Cris, send a check for $15.95 to: Leah Parker, 4543 La Crescenta Avenue, La Crescenta, CA 91214-2912. **>> BULLETIN ENDS