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The Stargazer Vol 3, Iss 2
THE News for the Dragon Quadrant
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Your UDA news source, quarterly news journal.
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The 11th Day of Quindecim, Year 3468.| Sponsored by TriTeq Industries, Inc.
Issued on June 30, 1999 RL Time. | "When you want the best, get Teq."
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In this issue:
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TOP NEWS
Measuring Accomplishments
UDA News
New 'Riniquive Teaching Method' at RDO
Business Universe
Veil of Secrecy Lifted as LockTeq Announces First Product
Bank of the Dragon Expansion
Cutting Edge
Bodyworks granted mega-contract with UDA
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TOP NEWS
========
Measuring Accomplishments
-------------------------
"This change, although huge and somewhat trying currently, will be
remembered as one of the most important changes in the United Dragon
Alliance military core," Infoteq opened with at a press conference luncheon
last Thursday. He is referring to the complete restructuring of UDA's military
ranking and training system, in a unique cooperation between RDO Trainers'
Union, UDA military research, and the research and development division of
TriTeq Industries, Inc.
Some readers will remember our 'RDO Training Concepts Restructured' story
from last quarter where we outlined the RDO Trainers' Union and their
efforts to maximize the quality of experience which its recruits received.
Since then, some major changes have occurred in this very area. The system
by which all UDA recruits received what military psychoanalysts call
'Experience Points' has been criticized in the past for being simply out of
date.
The criticism has come in many forms, but the most common is from recruits
who had realized discontinuities in their recognition for certain kills.
As an example, Major Granite may 'kill' the President of the Bardic Colleges
in TriTeq's Bardic simulation, yet receive the same recognition for killing
only 2 Jinni's in the Arabian Nights' simulation. This is clearly not what
one would consider a fair distribution. Hold on, this gets a bit more
technical.
"'Experience Points' are a metaphorical unit based upon the Manning Report,"
Anduar Llionahr, a representative from the RDO Trainers' Union, told us. The
Manning report he refers to is a psychoanalytical report which was the
result of 20 years intensive study by John Manning, a Human who did his
work on Earth. Often considered one of the major breakthroughs in
psychological circles, its main function was to quantify learning in a very
reliable way. Before the Manning report, one would have to say "I have
learned quite a lot from this experience." After the report, one would be
able to place a number in that sentence. Instead of learning 'quite a lot'
we can now learn '4352.' Unfortunately, John Manning died before he was able
to fully complete his studies. "Since then, we've really been using a substitute
system," Llionahr said. "What we have done is simply complete his work. The
result of this has had consequences which are most obviously seen by our
operatives in the field."
What are these consequences? Part of the Manning Report (in fact the main
part, taking up 28 terabytes of information) is an algorithm which describes
learning and the allocation of 'experience points.' With this algorithm being
finished, experience points are award on a scale which will no longer
displeases Major Granite, nor any UDA recruits. The system is extremely
balanced, allowing hard opponents to be worth more experience than weaker foes.
The two most obvious results of the algorithmic change have been the
removal of so-called 'Victory Experience' which a recruit would have
previously gained after killing a foe, and the addition of experience for
professors of the healing sphere.
The direct result of this complex change? Since 'experience points' were the
key factor by which recruits are ranked, now the process of gaining a rank
may have differed for some people. It also ensures that if a Major is a
Major, then he really must have worked to become one. "It's a system that I
think may take a bit of getting used to, but it's best for the long run."
Infoteq propounded to the press.
"The old system was preventing us from being able to develop our resources
to their fullest extent," remarked Infoteq. And so where do we go to from
here? "Only the Dragons know that." Infoteq's grin would have put a new
moon to shame.
-Q. Y. Qyennev
UDA News
========
New 'Riniquive Teaching Method' at RDO
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The introduction of the new Riniquive Teaching Method this month coincides
well with the recent restructuring by the RDO Trainers Union of the Manning
Report (see our 'Feature Story' this month). "The Riniquive Teaching Method
is a much more advanced system than previous training ideas," said Sharee Mote,
Head Close Combat Training Operative on RDO. "It is also suited primarily to
the new Experience System."
"It's perhaps easiest to see this in the improved Weapon Mastery that our
clients are receiving," Mote told the Stargazer. Indeed, when we asked
recruits who have undergone the new training system what they thought of it
the results were extremely positive. One recruit even claimed to "have
FUBAR'ed because of it." Being a family magazine, we are not at liberty to
expand on the meaning of this word.
The other practical change has been with the so called 'remorts.' These are
people who have graduated from the UDA and have returned to learn another
few lessons from the well revered RDO Trainers' Union. "Remorts are
finding the system a lot more stabilizing. It gives them some focus after the
Diamond Dragon rituals they go through," Mote commented. The net effect seems
to be that remorts are proceeding much faster through the levels than they
previously were.
-Judas N. Argwuffle
UDA Newswire
Business Universe
=================
Veil of Secrecy Lifted as LockTeq Announces First Product
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Rumors ran wild last week surrounding the formation of a new division of
TriTeq Industries, Inc. - LockTeq. However, up until yesterday, the
Chairpersons of TriTeq refused to comment upon their new project. At
midnight on Friday, LockTeq sent out a press release giving details on its
first product, LockTeq Lockers.
We asked Infoteq, CEO of Technology Development why they had decided to
release the lockers onto the market. He replied that TriTeq "had numerous
requests for the lockers, and they seem more convenient for clans."
Considering the recent expansion of clans around the Quadrant and that
TriTeq has a monopoly on Clan Housing, this seems a logical maneuver.
The lockers have been talked about in various forums for a long time and
have only just come into existence. In commenting on this, Infoteq
confessed, "To be honest we just haven't had it at the top of our priority
list. We finally decided now would be a good time to get to it." The
formation of LockTeq stitched up the problem and got the ball rolling.
The lockers will cost 5 million credits for the basic model. This locker can
be placed in one's personal quarters, on one's ship, or in a clan home. The
lockers are very spacious, being able to hold up to 40 items, and the basic
model can be expanded to hold 5 extra items at the modest cost of 1 million
credits.
When we asked Infoteq what other products LockTeq would be bringing us, he
replied, "The company has several research projects in the works, but the
success of the LockTeq Locker will determine if more products are released."
We encourage Stargazer readers to have a look into a locker as protection
for their hard earned personal affections. Mail Dranor or Infoteq for your
free measure and quote today!
-P.R. Bot 4000
Bank of the Dragon Expansion
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The Bank of the Dragon held its annual general meeting early this quarter,
and by all reports, last year was extremely prosperous. With the raise in
revenue, the Bank decided to open up three new branches with automatic
teller machines around the quadrant.
The new branches were tactfully placed, one on each of the stations
around the DranTran Station Shuttle route. The Emerald Dragon Outpost
received its branch on the eastern edge of the central lobby of the
station, while the Ruby Dragon Outpost's branch was placed in the Market
Square on the Advanced Training level. The UDA branch has been placed in
the Space Dock mall.
The prosperity of the Bank was also been reflected in a reduction in
real-estate cost on SDO station. The Personal Quarter's program, which
was launched a few years ago, permanently cut their prices, allowing for
greater availability to lower income brackets.
-Liedar Minllen
Cutting Edge
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Bodyworks granted mega-contract with UDA
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Recent budget reappraisals have left UDA with a large profit margin this
quarter. "In an effort to invest this money wisely, we have chosen our most
prized asset as the beneficiary. Our recruits," Trillian explained to the
audience gathered at a surprise press conference held two weeks ago.
"Recruits will get a certificate entitling them to 10 essence worth of free
body upgrades," Trillian continued.
While this seems at first glance a kind gesture, some people were not
impressed with the announcement. "We are a bit concerned about Bodyworks
being given such a large contract by the United Dragon Alliance," Vignor
Rizeback of the Alternative Body Consciousness Center, Bodyworks main
competitor. "It's not bad enough that UDA won't allow ABC (Alternative
Body Consciousness) to open a store on the Sapphire Dragon Outpost...
Now they are giving them multi-billion credit contracts." He hastened
to add - "And isn't Bodyworks another Triteq subsidiary? The board of
CEO's for the Corp, they're on that UDA board of directors too right?"
Coincidence? You decide!
When we asked Trillian for a comment on the ABC, she told us with relative
ease "ABC? Aren't they the body adjustment firm responsible for that horrible
mutation last year? I hear that the young boy is still having surgery to
remove those extra appendages."
-Tybalt Wei
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Editorial Staff
Editor: Rayon Synergy
Publishers: Infoteq, Trillian, Dranor
Reporters: Q. Y. Qyennev, P.R. Bot 4000, Liedar Minllen
Guest Reporters: Judas N. Argwuffle, Tybalt Wei
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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