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The Stargazer Vol 3, Iss 1
THE News for the Dragon Quadrant
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Your UDA news source, quarterly news journal.
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The 21st Day of Sex, Year 3462. | Sponsored by TriTeq Industries, Inc.
Issued on April 11, 1999 RL Time. | "When you want the best, get Teq."
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In this issue:
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TOP NEWS
NATURE STRIKES BACK!
UDA News
RDO Training Concepts Restructured
Business Universe
New standards for compliance in SDO Shopping mall
Remote access to Bank Balance Displays
TriTeq Reward program for Good Citizens
Cutting Edge
Actonium Substitute in Production
Portable Breath Testing unit available for Recruits
On the Wire
Latest Changes to Dragons' Star Communications Net
Overhaul of the Clan Communication Network
Xenoculture
Gamma Minorics' Herbal Wealth
Hero Guild Votes Against Continuation of Rank Testing
PLUS:
DRAGONS' STAR WORD SEARCH!
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TOP NEWS
========
NATURE STRIKES BACK!
--------------------
A noticeable, and alarming, increase in mana required to cast Multiple
Target Oriented Magic was discovered over the last few months. Taleath
Alonnah, a well known Belarth Scholar and healer, had this to say on the
subject: "I believe that nature is refocusing itself. In the past, many had
found a way to slide around the mana costs for group magic. Obeying the
laws of equilibrium, as one can see in gases, nature has backlashed in an
attempt to stop the incorrect mana utilization process."
The theory has been considered for a long time, and with recent events
standing as they do, Stargazer correspondent Khaivhei tells us that "Indeed
the backlash means a much larger cost in mana for group magic now. Spells
affected include the famous 'Group Heal,''Group Sanctuary,' and of course,
'Group Haste.'"
When we asked Khaivhei and Taleath Alonnah if they thought the mana costs
would again change, they told this reporter that it was an extremely
unlikely situation. Taleath Alonnah also added: "As long as people
pay attention and don't spend less mana than is needed, this problem
should be avoidable in the future."
-Judas N. Argwuffle
UDA Newswire
UDA News
========
RDO Training Concepts Restructured
----------------------------------
Over the past few months, the Ruby Dragon Outpost has been trying to
improve its level of training in a bid to keep on top of modern techniques.
As this article is being written, the very structure of ranking within the
United Dragon Alliance is being reconsidered in accord to these changes.
The changes that recruits should be aware of come in three major steps.
"These changes can be categorized as Maximizing Skill Effectiveness,
Maximizing Safety, and Maximizing of Quality Experience," Chaunsua told us
on the Thursday. She explained that some skills had been changed to reflect
the first two parts of this triad of effectiveness. "The third part is a
large, extremely complicated process, which will be explained in full once
we, at RDO, have decided how best to award 'experience.'"
Skills which are affected by this restructuring include, but are not
limited to, the Hiding skill and the Lore skills. New hiding techniques
which have been practiced among Altair pirates for years, have now been
fully utilized for the UDA cause. Lore skills, which used to be trained
mainly by studying special old tomes under Pawlo Brenyuun's supervision,
have now been updated to computer simulations, making them much more
effective that "they now aid in tracking mobs which one has studied,"
said Chaunsua. She added, "Our instructors have worked hard to stay on
top of the latest training techniques. Pawlo has been instrumental in
uncovering this knowledge and bringing it to the RDO training schools."
The Stargazer is committed to updating this current event in its next
issue. We hope you all pick it up and check out our special on RDO
Experience Concepts. In this we'll detail all the concepts which will allow
you, our UDA recruits, to best maximize your rank gaining potential.
-Lt. Ferthesh Urare
UDA Newswire
Business Universe
=================
New standards for compliance in SDO Shopping mall
-------------------------------------------------
New standards introduced to the SDO shopping mall now force shop owners to be
more compliant with customers. "These standards make communications between
shops owners and patrons a lot easier. I run a tight ship, and I want the
best for the UDA recruits," Commanding Officer Joyce Westin said to the
Stargazer.
The changes consist of:
a) The enforcement of free quotes with a few services.
b) Better translation devices, allowing more specific requests.
c) Stops recruits selling items which have been donated to UDA.
-L. Bistrl
Portable Breath Testing unit available on Recruits Scoring Units
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Scoring units, which all UDA recruits are fitted with on UDA recruitment,
have recently been fitted with a small breath testing unit. This tells
recruits the amount of alcohol in their system.
The addition to the unit comes after a drunken Altair recruit borrowed a
battle ship in order to go get supplies of vodka for himself and friends.
The unfortunate recruit was piloting under the influence, and plunged the
160 million credit starship into the heart of red gas giant.
-Nek D'log
UDA Newswire
Cutting Edge
============
Actonium Substitute in Production
---------------------------------
Actonium, which readers may remember from Stargazer Vol. 2 Issue 1, was
the miracle substance which allowed a precious few items in the quadrant to
gain permanent invulnerability. The items were covered in a light layer of
Actonium which protected them from any damage. In striking news, TriTeq
Industries, Inc. announced the development of a substitute material with
similar properties. "The chemical, called Effelium," Infoteq said at a
presentation over the weekend, "is not as strong as Actonium, and
will not prevent objects from total destruction. However, it does give them
a fighting chance."
Dranor continued on to say, "However, there is a upsetting side effect of
the Effelium. The chemical gives of some radiation which affects the wearer
or holder of equipment in a negative way. Effectively, the recall device,
which allowed people to not lose clones during a Certain Death Experience
(CDE) ceases to function." The outcome, Infoteq and Dranor went on to
explain, was that now in a CDE a recruit would lose a clone, but their
equipment would stand a chance of survival.
When Infoteq was questioned as to the future of Effelium, he told the
Stargazer that "the substance is so prohibitively expensive to manufacture
at a strength similar to Actonium, that it is unlikely it will ever see
widespread distribution of that variety." The Stargazer crosses its fingers
in hope for all UDA recruits.
-Smilodon
UDA Newswire
Remote access to Bank Balance Displays
--------------------------------------
Along with the recent update and spread of Automatic Teller Machines around
the quadrant, the Bank of the Dragon has allowed remote access to bank
balances. In reference to further expansion of remote banking facilities,
banking administrators were unwilling to comment. This Stargazer reporter
has noticed that, however, any remote access to the bank would have to be
done over the 'net,' and this we assume would leave the bank open to being
hacked. A risk they perhaps are not willing to take.
-Leidar Minllen
TriTeq Reward program for Good Citizens
---------------------------------------
Infoteq, CEO of Technology for TriTeq Industries, Inc., announced on
Friday the beginning of the new 'Good Citizens Program' in a combined
effort by UDA and TriTeq.
The 'Golden Bug Reward System,' which has been active for many years
already, allowed a special commemorative light to be rewarded to people who
found structural flaws in worlds that were terra-formed and designed by the
TriTeq and UDA building divisions, as well as program 'bugs' in training and
entertainment simulations. Recently, with a burst of large problems
discovered by TriTeq operatives, there has been growing concern over the
devotion of some recruits to comply with the UDA rules of recruitment. UDA
policy on structural 'bugs' states simply that "If you do not report it,
expect not to be welcome here."
In a striking fit of generosity, TriTeq and UDA have unveiled the said
'Good Citizens Program'. This is basically a reward system for finding
socially unacceptable problems in the world around us, and helping TriTeq
and UDA fix them. "We feel that everyone should strive for a perfect harmony
as symbolized by the diamond--what was once impure and dark can become
bright and ordered, but only through effort," Dranor said in an amazingly
inspirational speech he delivered to the press on Monday. Infoteq added,
"It's every citizen's responsibility to stop crime."
We urge all readers to help TriTeq and the United Dragon Alliance in their
struggle to make our environment a much better place for all.
-P.R. Bot 4000
On the Wire
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Latest Changes to Dragons' Star Communications Net
--------------------------------------------------
In the last 3 months two significant changes have taken place in relation
to the Dragons' Star Communications Network. Trillian, CEO of Public
Relations for TriTeq Industries, Inc., told the Stargazer last Monday, "We
were approached by the United Dragon Alliance to update the Network last
month. We accomplished this in three major steps." She the outlined them as:
Compiling old news, and the creation of a) the Builders' Network, called
BldrNet, and b) The Forum Subnetwork.
The compilation of the old news messages was uploaded to network for your
viewing pleasure last month. The messages can be accessed simply
by searching for help on OLDNEWS98. All the articles from the past few
years have been compiled into this file, so consequently it is rather
large--you have been forewarned.
BldrNet, the Builders' Network, is monitored by TriTeq personnel. You may
access the Builders' public message board, called areab, for more information
on using BldrNet. If you are currently working contract as a builder for
TriTeq Industries, Inc. and would like to be a part of BldrNet, please send
mail to one of the TriTeq CEOs. Stargazer also suggests you try joining the
TriTeq Builders' Listserve. Information on joining this elite communications
listserve can be found at Dracon.net.
Finally the Forum subnetwork can be accessed from anywhere in the quadrant,
simply by tapping into the Forumb (tm). This subnetwork is for the voicing
of opinions on whatever the current topic is.
-Index dahtHtml
Overhaul of the Clan Communication Network
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A large anonymous donation this week to all clans throughout the system
has tongues wagging. The donations were given apparently with instructions.
The money was to be invested, in all cases, in upgrading clan communication
systems to now carry sounds and to keep better records of clan members
activities.
-Khaivhei
UDA Newswire
Xenoculture
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Gamma Minorics' Herbal Wealth
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The recent opening of the Minoricean system to visitors has proved a large
success, according to passenger figures supplied by the DranTran travel
company. The Khrenesch outpost plays home to a small energy research centre
surrounded by the inhospitable jungle that makes the vast majority of the
planets' surface.
Rashaerda Dolmour, the retired Jaehuan of a leading Belarth botanical
academy, has made several trips to the outpost to collect rarer species. In
a hurried interview on a shuttle bay bench, he told the Stargazer that he
"deplored the lack of a systematic effort to identify and utilize the
natural bounty of the forest world." He has been attempting to rectify this
lack of information himself and has already discovered many examples of
potentially useful plant life among the indigenous, as well as introduced
varieties.
When asked why the small and out of the way planet attracts such a large
number of visitors, he professed that "a small loophole in the local law
exists, allowing seeds of Actacrallm to be exported from the system, as it
has yet to be catalogued in full by the Khrenesch Board of Customs
Procedure (KBCP)." The berries of the Actacrallm plant have long been used
in the brewing of a potent intoxicating drink, banned in most areas of the
quadrant since the memorable youth riots that raged across the Khrenesch
capital. Although transport of the liquor itself is illegal, possession
and growth of the plant from seed is not, and until the KBCP can apply the
same strict laws to their outposts as their home planet, Gamma Minoric will
continue to attract large numbers of young Khrenesch 'botanists,' as well
as would-be plant lovers from around the quadrant.
Our advice to anyone with spare time and a starter pass gathering dust in
your pocket: Get yourself a narcojet gun to keep the critters at bay and
join the queue at docking bay. You also may want to wait until next
quarter and pick up our Gamma Minoric Special.
-Ghent le Mann
UDA Newswire
Hero Guild Votes Against Continuation of Rank Testing
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In a meeting last week, the Hero Guild Board of Directors voted unanimously
to discontinue its infamous Rank Testing simulations. Beowulf, master in
charge of Ranking, consoled himself after the decision and commented to the
Stargazer while drinking copious amounts of a strange, highly alcoholic
substance at S'methena's Bar. "Aye! It's a damn shame, but ya know,
we can't test 'em heros as well as we'd like. Its just not fair on 'em if
ya know what ahh mean!"
-Rhys Istaloth
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DRAGONS' STAR WORD SEARCH
S I M U L A T Q C E A S U A H U A B T Y Infoteq
R N A R E D Y N D E A T H T R A P D S R Trillian
O I H G G A Q H A K S F B H O N I M O D Dranor
A T N A T E S W M I B C H I N T C F P R Setanta
E M T F T F B E N I L E M I T T I K T A Tigger
L P O A O S R S E A E L F R U B Y S U Z Dodger
W S R A O T L A C S B A I N W Y O E O I Bauhaus
A D D U U I E I O O T J H R I P L M N W Aelward
R D A S B H D Q O Q P A I B T B N E O H Domino
D D O Y O Y E R F F U P R U B O E R G G Sapphire Dragon Outpost
S N Z O A S D B A E A A O G M A N A A I Emerald Dragon Outpost
A A S T W E H R U N S N A E A T P L R H Ruby Dragon Outpost
P S R Y O D S Z A D O T G P K Z Y D D A Three Musketeers
P M L X U M A N Y G A R L C E V E V E L Galaxy Toys
H U O A T I Q E A C O N D O D G E R R D Drock
I I U L E E P R D L A N F R W I Q N I S Mahntor
Q T F A S W D S R W C G O R E E L Y H A Japan
E S D G X D C L O N E S E U T M O M P S Clans
N E K O L R O Y O R E G G I T K M Z P C Sea Elf
W U B E T O W E B A L L R H O P C W A P Timeline
O Q R E M C L T A B C T L O V T O O S E UDA
N M A E S K A N P M A C R E M M U S E L Stargazer
E T H R E E M U S K E T E E R S I E T Q Puff
Deadwood
SummerCamp
--Tigger Questiums
TriTeq
High Wizardry
Death Trap
Clones
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Editorial Staff
Editor: Rayon Synergy
Publishers: Infoteq, Trillian, Dranor
Reporters: L. Bistrl, Leidar Minllen, P.R. Bot 4000, Index dahtHtml,
Rhys Istaloth
Guest Reporters: Judas N. Argwuffle, Lt. Ferthesh Urare, Nek D'log,
Smilodon, Khaivhei, Ghent le Mann
Please direct all comments to Stargazr@dracon.net
If you wish to become a part of the Stargazer staff, please send email to
Stargazr@dracon.net with the subject: Stargazer staff application.
Please include a sample of writing over 100 words in length.
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