**>> SPYNET BULLETIN **>> EARTHDATE 92.02.23 **>> AN H-by-A SERVICE **>> FREE FUN! Welcome to all the new players who have decided to check Fed out during this free weekend. We hope you like what you see! In order to make sure there is plenty of room for all the new people, Bella took out the player-planets for the weekend. (Rumour states that she got The Vile Cryptosporidium to eat all the planets!) Player-planets will be returned on Monday, once the free time is finished. (We'll be feeding Crypto a large quantity of laxative chocolate.) The absence of player-planets has left some of the higher level players at a loose end. Workoholics have had to find other ways to have fun. Many have been honing their role-playing skills, and have welcomed the chance to just drink and chat without the pressure of having to earn groats. Others have had fun shooting at each other, turning the Interplanetary Wastes into something of a bloodbath. Unfortunately, some new players have been caught up in the shooting! Don't worry, guys, things will return to normal tomorrow: the game is not normally a violent one. And anyone who says it is will be shot! Maxis found a new way of killing people en masse: he lured a number of unsuspecting victims into the Martian Ruins, and then blew them up. Paladin and Darknight were among the dead, as of course was Maxis himself. **>> COMING TO AMERICA It's not long now till the Fed UnConvention, where you will have the chance to meet face-to-face with other Fedders - including Hazed and Cryptosporidium. (Sorry, that should read: face-to-face or equivalent-to-equivalent.) Sadly, Bella's broken leg prevents her from attending. All the details of the UnCon have been uploaded in the MPGRT (page 1045) in Cat 14, Topic 33. Included is a registration form that you must fill in and return to Galauriel (L.STINE). The closing date for reservations is February 28, so make sure you get your form sent in this week. Included in the schedule of events is a Costume Party. Presumably you are expected to dress like your Fed persona. Hazed is desparately trying to ensure that Cryptosporidium dresses like a Human Being for a change!! **>> ROLE-PLAYING RTC Last week's discussion on role-playing was a great success. It was due to be hosted by Freya but she was unable to make it so Krell and Hazed started things off and soon an informal discussion was in full swing. A transcript of the conference is in the MPGRT Library, file 1211, and Krell has started a topic to discuss ideas that came out of it; Cat 14 Topic 9. A schedule for future RTs is being fixed at the moment; there will be two a month, one being a formal "school" to teach you about the game, the other each month being informal discussion and questions about whatever you want to talk about! We'll post the schedule in a future News Bulletin. **>> AN ODD TALE [Following our report two weeks ago about Blackmark having outfoxed Oddball, we received the following report. The writer did not sign his, her or its name... but it's pretty easy to guess!!] Recent indiscretions by Blackmark were repaid this week, times 2! It seems that Blackmark's plot to lure Oddball into Selton space and then ambush him worked last week. Or so he thought! In reality, it was merely part of a larger, far more ingenious plot by Oddball to do away with the insolent Blackmark. Odd, realizing Blackmark's ploy (having used it himself to do in Blackmark previously), decided to allow Blackmark the kill, and then publicly congratulate him on this "achievement," knowing full well that Blackmark would then let his guard down. Waiting for an appropriate time, Odd sat by patiently. Then, on Sunday, he noticed Blackmark battling in an infamous sector of Ibex space. Figuring the pigeon, I mean prey, was stuck, Odd ventured in, tls blazing. Blackmark, pseudohunter that he is, opted for the cowards way out. You see he was stuck where he was with no idea on how to escape! So, he pulled out his trusty Swiss army knife and offed his ownself. (Just color him yella.) A bit later, Odd offered amends. You see, Blackie is attempting to solve the fiendish GM puzzle and had failed earlier. Odd offered him a second chance at the solution. The pigeon, I mean prey, took the hook a second time and ventured off to Snark. But lo and behold! Odd had arranged for it not to be there when Blackie arrived. By the way, several planet owners who were on at the time, and in on the game afoot offered their interpretive style points... The Governor of Gotham scored Blackmark 6 on gullibilty Oddball 9 on style The Governor of Megalusa scored Blackmark 7 on gullbility Oddball 9 on style (plus 1 for originality The Governor of Jinx withheld his vote. Poor Blackie! Score: Odd 2 Blackie 1 On another front: Seems the team of Occy and Blackmark isn't doing too well these days. The combined IQ (less than a millipede) of these 2 talents has led to the simultaneuos demise of both!...and Oddball we hear arranged it. The story goes like this. Occy, mentor ex-officio, of Blackmark went to Hilbert space to arrange some secret things in preparation for yet another assault on the GM puzzle by Blackmark. Oddball noticed Occy's presence in Hilbert, and attempting to collect on the standing reward for Occy's death, followed her in. Odd blasted Occy several times before Occy headed for the Snark landing pad. Odd, then finished the chores that Occy had started and informed Blackmark of its completion. Blackmark, ever eager to die again, began the sequence to destroy Snark, but Occy had yet to leave! It seems that Occy was once again afraid to fly in fear that Oddball was out there waiting! Well, Snark blew up, and I'm sure you know, the rest of the story. Earth's hospital was full up with an Explorer and a Thane. Several questions arise from this story. What was Occy doing mentoring Blackmark? Is Occy in contravention of the Omsbudsman Act? Will the conclave retailiate? Will Blackmark ever solve the GM? Will Blackmark supercede the record for highest insurance premium (currently estimates show it's at 1.2 mega)? Has Odd's bloodlust for Blackmark been sated (we know it hasn't been for Occy...the reward is too high!)? and finally, Who in their right mind would choose to follow advice from Occy? We can answer the last question above in three words: Blackmark, Flatliner, and Oxcart. Our rumour mill has confirmed the existence of a new alliance. Seems Blackie is taken with Occy and has agreed to join ranks with her. Flatliner, who modeled his planet after Zippy, has secretly lusted after Occy for months (get a grip Flat). In fact, he's been following economic advice from Occy (and losing a fortune!!!). Nevertheless, Flatliner has joined a allegiance with Occy. And lastly, Oxcart, in need of friends, any friends, after his feud began with the gentle Rezrov joined up with this fledgling group. The addition of Oxcart triples the cumlative IQ of this group (tho it's still in single digits we hear). **>> STRANGE ALLIANCES The Oxcart, Occy and Blackmark love triangle gets stranger and stranger... Occy and Blackmark have deepened their relationship, to the exclusion of poor Oxcart. He's been gunning for Occy in retaliation! Rumours that Blackie committed past indiscretions seem to have been bourne out, too: what other reason can there be for Angel suddently shooting at him in a furious rage? The clot thickens! **>> PROMOTIONS NEWS Angel and Tony have solved the fiendish JP puzzle and are now a Journeywoman and Journeyman respectively. Leatherby is continuing his placid ascent of the ranks by making it to Merchant. He hopes to be a JP by the summer. Apple and Darknight have been promoted to Trader. Well done, both of you. There have been quite a lot of promotions over the free weekend, but with so many new players the details have been rolled off the top of the SpyNet Review! Apologies if we didn't mention you; if you mail us the details of your advancement we will be sure to put it in a future news. **>>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, Bella or Clem in the game * leave a message in the game log * 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. 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 categories for Explorers and for the Conclave; these are run by Occy (Mail ID: OCPAC) and Oddball (Mail ID: D.STALZLE) respectively. The MPGames RT also has a Federation library in the files area, Library 5. Library 18 holds the Federation News Archives. **>> BULLETIN ENDS