Welcome to Fate of the Republic's Christmas Blog!  2014!!

Apologies for the big gap this year, some health issues in April, pretty much made life for all of us rather hectic for the last 8 months, but we should be up and running now. Well, at least managing a brisk shuffle. :)

New Coders and Coding Changes

We've had some wonderful coding done these last few months. Issues some of you probably didn't know existed. And a more stable base for the code being implemented, which will allow us to put in some much longed for changes and new systems. Thanks hugely to our new coder Titania and of course Blaize.  Life should be made a whole lot easier and interesting for a lot of us, with fixes and new features.  Some of the changes are:

• The junk command has been updated for more functionality.
• RRSHIP for simulator ships is now free.
• Quests now support expiration dates and show their creation dates.
• The /f (format) command now works properly in the text editor.
• Disguise skill now has an AP cost and clears properly.
• Turrets targeting ships after leaving the system is fixed.
• Introducing now shows the player's name for players with default titles.
• The dual-wield bug has been fixed.
• The ability for the Pendragon planetary shuttle to enter or leave a planet with planetshields up has been fixed.
• The ability for characters to own more than one shop has been implemented. These are limited to 5 per character.  You will also be able to list your shops. Remember all characters can buy shops, it's not limited to engineers. Some in game items are valuable to players and they will buy, rather than travel to obtain them. The relevant help file for shops is 'help buyvendor'.

There is also a rather heated debate about the Exchange AP Table (found by typing 'exchange rate'.). So, in the spirit of progress, we will be trialing some new designs for it. Please feel free to let us know how these go for you. We always want to hear feedback about our changes, to keep improving our playing environment.

A few notes for returning players and new ones, to make your life easier.

• After absences from playing, always check your wanted status and faction status. Massive RP changes can happen in a very short while, so pre-empt any problems before they occur. 
• Remember we expect you to quit in safe areas, (homes, hotels, etc).  Ships are not always safe, so consider other options before quitting in those.
• Also, please don't idle in food rooms with triggers. This stops other players getting food, and there will be consequences for your character.
• A request from Faction Leaders; if you are in a faction and you multiplay, please monitor the factioned character closely, especially if you report on comms as being present. Leaders expect orders to be seen and acted on. 
• Some incidents have occurred with characters flying, while another is rping. This often doesn't end well, so take heed. :P
• When multiplaying, check all  your alts, regularly.

Question Time
Questions have been asked about purchasing skills with AP. You can only improve mastery in the   your own skill tree with exchange rate (type command 'exchange' for more information). However, you can buy other skills with Quest Points from an Immortal, please read 'help  purchase_skills'.

This leads to another question we've had, 'are quest points obsolete?', and the answer is most definitely no.  Good in game items all have quest point costs attached to them, be it armour, ships, weapons or crafting materials. Cut, is exclusively a quest point cost, 'help cut', and is vital to pilots.
Banking quest points for quest point races is another use for them. (quest, quest stat, quest deposit, help races). Some immortal modifications, cost quest points as well.

Happy Holidays!
Lastly, the Christmas Trees are up all over the MUD again!
As usual, the Hapes Tree is for donations. Please give generously, and don't forget to receive as well. Lots of players spend their own quest points and action points to put nice things under the tree for other players to get.
If we have enough interest, the Fading Quasar will be the meeting spot for Christmas.
Food, wine, presents, good company, and some bad.. ALL ARE WELCOME!!
The FotR Team, wishes you all, a safe and happy holiday season. And we want to thank you for all your support this year. :)
Remember, enjoy the game!!

A Great Start to 2014

Welcome to the first blog of the year.  Hope you all had a great holiday period. It was nice for us to be able to see Skar after a year overseas and we were sad to see him leave again.  We've had a good start to the new year with a lot of returning players checking in to say hello.  Even managed a somewhat impromptu event in celebration.

The Valentine's Event
We had some requests for an event and as we were a week out from Valentine's we decided the Fading Quasar should play host to a little get together.  Rooms were transformed with roses, candy hearts, chocolate fountain and a whole lot more. And it was opened in the evening for people to explore, and we had a great turnout with lots of veteran players and several new players transferred in from Belsra for the evening. We had really good feedback and hope you all had a fun time. A big thanks to the Boss, who spent several days building and designing a lot of the area we all enjoyed.
As always, event ideas are welcome, please contact Iselka to discuss any ideas you may have.

RP
As requested in the last blog, a number of players left some of their characters in an area easily accessible for general role playing. I'd like to say a big thank you to all those players who did so (and are still doing so), and are using that area in the spirit it was meant to be used. I very much appreciate your efforts, and from what I've seen it has definitely improved the rp level on the MUD.

Reminder
Multiplay is new, and as such, I remind all players to read the help file in game. Most people are doing well, and if you are unsure of anything it is a lot wiser to ask first. For those who do stray, warnings will be given for first time offenders, and penalties will apply for repeat offenders as per the rules of the game.

Build/Code changes
Ongoing coding is being done, we have more ideas we want to implement than the coder has time to do unfortunately, but he is working and we hope to have a few new things up and running soon. There is also an apprentice builder in the making, so some ideas are being thrown around for improvements at the building level as well. Do bear with us when the coding is being done, it is a large and unique code and can take a little cajoling before it behaves. As AP has become the new marketable 'coinage' on the MUD, some of the things we want to bring in involve quests rewarding AP from mobs, and as with the pirate hunting, a possible planet based hunting system to compliment the non- flyers amongst us. Do keep checking the 'changes' list, so you know what's happening.

And lastly, for those looking for something creative to do..

Competition Time
A small competition this time. But one that will immortalise one of your characters in the MUD forever.
A new thread on the forums will give you a chance to design an in game item. It will be for sale on one of the MUD vendors. As competitors, you need to design an item, that can be a weapon, an article of clothing, jewellery or an engineering item. Don't forget food, roses, furniture, something that will bear your character's name, or an associated trait. Colour and describe it and post it on the thread. Keep it appropriate and in the Star Wars genre. Be sure to tell us why you have chosen this item and what it means to your character.   If deemed appropriate, you may also be able to choose the vendor/area the item sells on.  The winner will receive their own copy of the item they design, as well as the AP reward that all entrants will receive.  Have fun with it and we look forward to seeing your contributions.

Remember, if you're not enjoying the game, you're doing something wrong. It's a game, ENJOY! :)

We Made it to the FotR Website!

This blog is a little late, but we have been a little busy in real life. Weddings tend to do that I guess, but more of that a little later on.
Welcome to another blog for Fate of the Republic. Our FIRST, as an officially linked blog!  If you haven't seen us before, please look over the old posts, as we try and put a lot of game relevant ideas and hints on here, to keep you playing successfully on Fate of the Republic. Comments are welcome and questions about things you'd like to know about the game can be answered here also.

Continuing Work
Please remember to check changes at the log in screen on the MUD, we do have ongoing coding being done on the MUD, some of it directly affects players, and will be notified in this changes list. Recently, we've had more work being done behind the scenes, things we have in already, being tweaked to perform better, and maintenance that takes time but gives us a better playing experience all round.

Mud Business
There appears to be a trend developing with players, that require instant reaction from.. other players, immortals, even social chat on ooc.  And if the replies/reaction isn't instant, irritation and insults usually follow.  We do have ooc rules, and courtesy and respect is required on that channel. While we understand people's frustration, please also understand that not everyone can react immediately, and it's not an insult if they don't. Some people spend a good 10 to 15 minutes writing posts while they rp, and simply can't answer in a prompt manner. Other's have various channels turned off, either by design, or sometimes by mistake. (commands = listen all, listen none, listen ooc, listen clantalk, etc.) Many of us are simply called away by real life issues.  Please enjoy playing here, and keep it a place other people enjoy playing as well, be polite and understanding.

Another point players have made is "no one wants to rp with me".  Yet I've seen repeatedly, the same players log in, ask for one person, and then leave when they don't get a response. Despite there being other players on, chatting and rping, happy to meet and rp with the aforementioned players. Try not to limit yourself to one agenda. As we've said before, there are a lot of opportunities in an rp environment, if you get out and meet them. Not everyone has the means or the rp reason to seek out new players, but they are there. Don't forget we allow multi-playing, always check the rules first (help multiplay), but making a new character is a great way to get to people you may have not met with another character.

Special Request
We have some changes upcoming, hopefully coded, and building. Looking forward to seeing that implemented. In the meantime, those of you who are the backbone of this MUD, might think about trying to put at least one of your characters somewhere accessible to new players. The aim is to rp obviously, but chat about things that might help them get started here, and give them a push in the right direction.

Events
Also, those of you who have been asking about events, remember they can be listed here, and advertised on the MUD. So get busy thinking about what kind of events you might like to run.

In honour of finally making it to the newly updated FotR website, (check it out!) here's a 'semi-competition' for everyone.

Prove you're a Fan!
There is a new thread starting on the forums, so everybody can join in. Called 'Guilty Pleasures', I want you all to contribute a picture. Not one from the internet, it has to be of your own Star Wars Stash. Make sure we can tell it's you though, put something in the shot that will help us identify which character is posting it. I know Skar has a good contender for the thread, I helped him build the damn thing! So everyone get involved and we'll give out some prizes to the best ones.

Personal
The long awaited Wedding took place on the 4th of May, of course. We had family attending on skype from all over America, did I say it was a cold day? It was a VERY cold day, and the Bride waited an hour standing in the cold,  for some of the said family to reboot their computer with ubuntu versions of skype till it worked... can anyone guess who that might have been?? The Bridal March was more.. an Imperial March, complete with Storm Trooper bridesmaid. It was a small family wedding, with a barbecue dinner and plenty of champagne! The Groom cooked and the rest of us enjoyed. Thank you to everyone who sent their congratulations to us! Pic!

Remember, to enjoy playing Fate of the Republic, and don't forget to vote for us, if you wish to support us. :)

                  Merry Christmas 2012

Take some time out from your busy, pre-Christmas schedules and join us here on Fate of the Republic. For a few minutes or a few hours, it's a great way to wind down from all the hassles of this time of year.  Trust us, we know these things. Teams of investigators have spent hours and hours verifying this important fact!
It's a great time to make a new character, or 5 if you prefer, and get yourself ready for the changes coming in 2013.

Tactics for Longevity Revealed

Okay, for all you new and some of the old players out there, here are some things you can do to help ease your life on Fate of the Republic.

1. First and most important. DON'T PISS OFF THE EMPEROR!  You'd think this would be common sense, but it seems Emperor baiting is alive and well, and despite said Emperor having some patience with new players, it isn't a guarantee you can rely on. So you know.. Star Wars, rp the way you should and by all means, plot to kill him and destroy his Empire, but don't expect applause if you are standing there calling him names.  Which leads me to the second point...

2. Don't open fire on Star Destroyers. This is not a survivable tactic. Trust me. I know. But before you move onto point three, that also applies to TARGETING STAR DESTROYERS!  It will be taken by all but a manned ship as an act of aggression and you will be ordered to surrender or die.

3. I know you've played MUD's before, but DO take time to read the newbie page on the website, and the FAQ page. These can help you.  Commands change from MUD to MUD and often cause confusion. There is a long list of commands you can call up, or check the help files or just ask for help on ooc. Everyone was new once and we all had to learn them.

4. Do as the Belsra warnings say 'Clone often'.  The hints as you start levelling in Belsra do actually contain information that can help you. They disappear after level 10, and are worth taking note of.

5. Do explore. The best way to survive situations is to know the layouts of planets.  Especially if you join a faction, this point alone can save your life.

6. Do explore. For those looking to increase their armour level, trying out different items found on different planets can build your AC to a great level.  Buy the item, check your AC level using the score command then switch out for the new item to see the relevant increase or decrease.

7. Do remember your exchange command to convert your AP to QP or vice versa. This will help you earn armour pieces and other in-game items.

8. Do read room descriptions carefully. Some give hidden hints to places you may want to investigate. More importantly, some give WARNINGS usually in red, about dangers in the area. Do take these literally. Tatooine is one of our most dangerous planets and has killed more veteran players than new players. Do PLEASE heed the room descriptions of where you are, it will keep you alive.

9. Don't assume all mobs can be killed.  And don't assume mobs won't kill you.  There are some that will keep attacking your character till it dies.

10. Do remember to have fun! There are other things you can do to live a long and happy life on FotR, but working those out for yourself is half the fun.

The FotR Team hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas.  See you all in-game, and don't forget it's Christmas on FotR too, the trees will be up soon and Hapes is the place to be for gift giving and receiving. :)

Well.. it must be BLOG time again!!

General News

For those of you who missed the mail out, the MUD has moved. And now has it's own dot com.  Better facilities and less fees prompted the move. So thank you to all of those who have joined us on our new server. Hope to see more players as we re-establish ourselves.

Also, a big thank you to the players who have kept us going for another year. Without your generosity, we would not be able to continue.  Server fees are something our players contribute to voluntarily each year.  And the few who continue to support us each year and keep us open are keeping more than just a game open, they keep a community open.  Time and again players come back to play, socialise, recall old times or just chat. Fate of the Republic has been here for old and new players for many years now, and it's good to see the family keep growing.

In-Game Changes

Once again,  Action Points have been the focus of many changes these last few months.  More quests have been adapted to pay out in AP as well as credits.  The package delivery system also pays out AP and while some comments have reflected people's concern about how many AP, packages earn them, it is worth noting that some of the aims of implementing AP is to allow new characters/players to earn a reasonable amount without a large risk.  Pirate hunting is not for players who have little experience in our unique flight-combat system.  But as is bound to happen, if acquiring AP is too easy, then it is farmed and quickly becomes a worthless  or worse, inflated currency. Keeping the balance here is something we will be watching closely.

Of note, also, is the AP associated with levelling a new character. It is now possible to come out of Belsra with a good start towards your first starfighter, or a profession. Credits and AP are now a reward for each citizen level you gain. With the 'exchange' function, of course some people are choosing to do other things with their AP such as make their characters more unique for their particular style of role playing.

With our coder being accepted to Microsoft in Seattle, the administration of FotR are cracking the whip and trying to get as much work out of him as possible before he leaves. We have had a degree of success with this. Planetary ship spawning rates are now increased. So factions fighting to take planets will have a more interesting encounter on their hands.  And he has been busy tweaking some other systems on the game. So go carefully out there people. Things are not what they once were. :P

Oh.. and I guess we all congratulate him on getting the job, etc etc...

With multi-play launched recently, many people have taken advantage of being able to earn AP on several characters at once. Inevitably that also means some people have skated a little close to punishment with their characters benefiting each other. Please make sure you read 'help multiplay' and don't lose your hard work for a lapse in judgement.

Competition Time!

A small competition for our new Immortal. Iselka would like some ideas for her 'arrival and departure' when she appears to help players.  She is not quite up to the 'hot, buttery' presence of Asher, but she is hoping people will have some ideas for her. QP or AP reward available for the best entry and please use colours as well. It can be as long or as short as you want. All options will be at least 'considered' . :P We'll give it a couple of weeks, and then announce the winners on the MUD and forum competition page. So post your entries on the forum and see what you can come up with.

Soapbox!

Please remember, your characters don't have to be 'perfect'. They don't have to have a great level of armour. And they don't have to have acquired all the benefits of the game, that AP and QP can buy. The aim of being here is rp. And I continually hear people wanting rp and not finding it because many players are idling, and earning AP to make their 'perfect' character. By the time you have a character you want to use... our eager rpers have moved on.  I really want to encourage you all to get out and rp with whatever level of character you have.  Have some fun, rp a struggling character if you must. Roll with whatever you think suits the situation. Some of the most fun rp has been random meetings. I believe we used to have an Imperial Emperor who would disguise himself and pick up distress calls. Get out there and have fun guys. :)

Personal Stuff!

Lastly, in a few weeks, the home of FotR will change. Oh the server will still host us, but the man who makes this game run, will have to learn how to string up a couple of wires and some sticks and get him that magic internets and run the game from Down Under.  He must brave the spiders and the snakes and the goannas and the drop bears and build an intricate web of computer stuff so he can still reach the rest of the world. And I just want to say, I have a whole army of locals standing ready to help him.  Cousin Dave has even offered a couple of his sheep. Thanks cousin Dave!!  Asher will be safe with us. We'll treat him as if he was one of our own.  So none of you need to worry. It will be business as usual on FotR. So stay with us, and enjoy the ride. I'm sure you'll hear his screams er... his yelps of joy from there.

Oh, and GANBATTE KUDASAI SKAR!!! Microsoft is lucky to have you!

Happy 2012!!!

Contests:

We ran a couple of contests recently on the MUD. For those of you who missed it, they can be viewed on the Forum. One was a 'Who-design' contest, to come up with some new ideas for your own or the MUD's 'who list'. See help whodesign to have a go yourself.

The other was for a new write up on our MUDConnect page, the first thing people see who browse that site for a new MUD to try. It was very well supported despite a slow start. The aim was to look for something different to represent us, since we have had that particular write up for about 6 years. Entries are posted here.

It will be a combination of entries that will finally represent us, and Asher will advise us when it is completed. The other entries will be used on the Fate of the Republic website on a testimonial page. If you want to add your testimonial to these, please do so under the 'Testimonial' thread on the Forum.

I know it was a difficult thing to decide, as I personally liked all the entries. Each one touched on an aspect of our MUD that I wanted everyone to know about. Casting my one vote was so very hard. >>

For new players and old:

I wanted to touch on something people have asked about recently.

"Why do we have to spend time here to Profession, and why can't I do all I want, right now!!?"

I would like to counter with, "Why does anyone play a game? And why in particular a role play game, if you just want to log in for a few minutes and then go again?"

It seems ridiculous, but honestly, when did any game give instant gratification? They all use hooks of varying kinds to keep people playing.

In a role play environment it is vital to have players on the game to actually rp. It doesn't work without them. Mechanics are nice to play for a while, but rp as I've said in a previous blog, is what brings people here. Time and again we are asked 'are you an rp enforced MUD' and when we say yes, they say 'Good!'.

About AP:

The other big discussion it seems, these past few weeks has been about AP and the use and viability of it as an automatic in-game reward system.

AP is a new system that is still being implemented. The quest point system was NOT an automatic reward, and relied heavily on participating Quest Masters who were at times being treated like vending machines.

AP is exchangeable for many items. See 'exchange rate' for some options. It is also available for use in ship upgrades, and for that you need to contact an Immortal.

As I said it is still being implemented and code changes are being looked into for the future levels of AP rewards that will be available to players.

Pirate Hunting is one of the main ones at the moment (see help phunting) and it has been said it only benefits pilots. This is not the case, we have players who are not pilots, using the system, and several starfighters with cargo space. Again this can be upgraded with AP for those serious about asteroid mining. I should also point out not all systems have pirates. :)

The bright side:

It is worth noting that AP has allowed a few other things to emerge in FotR. The restring command has meant a lot of players can diversify not only their looks but their role play props as well. With many people using it to make items to assist their rp which previously they couldn't have managed without an Immortal's help.

Shipbuilders are also using AP to sell pre-modified ships, an attractive option to a lot of players.

If anyone has anymore ideas they have used AP for, please share them in the comments section on the bottom of the blog, so other players may benefit. :)

Christmas:

Finally, Christmas. We had a rather active Christmas here on the MUD and it was so good to see the Christmas Tree on Hapes, laden with presents that were donated by players. Anyone can donate and anyone can take from the Tree at this time of year. What many didn't know, I suspect, is a lot of players used their own Quest Points and AP to put high level items under the Tree.

Thank you to all those players on behalf of the staff of FotR and those players who benefited from your generosity, for the selflessness and Christmas spirit you showed.

PS

Lastly, and by no means the least of how we feel. :P

Asher and I would like to thank all of you who have sent us your best wishes. Our family on FotR is very important to us and we are overwhelmed by your support. For those of you still asking about a Wedding date, I'm afraid it will depend on when we can get a Marriage Visa approved. God Bless America. :P (I've been watching far too much West Wing…) Anyway, we'll keep you posted as to a date and style of wedding. Thank you for all the suggestions…. a Star Wars theme being the most common. Who knew you were all such fans. :)

PPS

Don't forget to look at the FAQ page and Newbie page on the website for information for new players. And ask lots of questions, and remember Have Fun!!!

Sound Pack

Click here for the link to the sound pack on our Forum.

A Strange Combo

In some ways for me, it feels like an age since I last posted here. In others, it feels like no time at all has passed.

My recent trip to America, was a little longer than intended, a few weeks turned into a few months. Courtesy of 'that shuttle' and its delayed launches, but I was extremely lucky to be able to stay till it finally went, and its something I'll never forget as long as I live.

I would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding while a certain Immortal was dragged away from this game and its needs, to act as a tour guide. And although we tried to keep connected and get things done on the MUD, it turns out not ALL American hotels, or networks can be reliably MUDded on. (grumbles) A map of the trip is posted on the forum for those who have been asking about where we went.

Help please:

I'd like to run some competitions again in the near future, with some decent prizes to help out some players or alts here with little chance of obtaining certain items. If anyone has ideas for these comp's or indeed donations, please contact Anock, or leave a message at the end of this post.

A small word about rp:

We have a wide range of players here, and an equally wide range of playing styles. While there are rules in game about rp, I'd like to put a few words here as well. I have been privileged to meet a lot of people, and rp with a lot of different styles, but to get personal for a moment, I really enjoy those who put into a scene that little bit extra.

For example,
1) The use of a room item: A quick perusal of the room description can help with this.

2) The use of props: These items don't need to be in the room, but can be easily created with the rp to fit the scene being played out.

3) A person or NPC's description: A quick look at the other person's description, or indeed an NPC in the room, and using this in the rp can provide ideas as well.

Anyone can do a 'say' post, and with real life pressing in on all of us it is sometimes the only way. But don't forget the semote command that allows you to start an rp with whatever you like and must only include your name somewhere in the post.

semote Way in the distance, the sound of running water tells them they are getting closer to their destination. Anock sighs, "Next time you tell me its a short walk to the 'pretty waterfall' I'm going to ignore you."

The 'rp' command before a post allows you to not include your name in the post at all, and can be very handy for setting a scene.

And of course 'emote' where the post starts with your name.
emote mutters to herself, her feet sore and the sweltering heat of the day making her ill humoured.

It is worth remembering, that the people you interact with here, often spend hours rp'ing a scene, for the enjoyment and creativity it allows, that other games cannot provide. This is not a game that is based on mechanics alone and while it can be played as such, it has such a broader range of capabilities. If I want to go kill NPC's I play an MMO, but when I want to create a world of my making, I play here. No one will shoot you for trying. [I seem to recall some hapless leader of the Rebellion telling the Jedi Grand Master to 'shut his pie hole' .. I'm told she confused the emote with ooc, (Uh huh) but good humour prevailed and she lived to yell more obscenities another day.]
We all had to start somewhere. So I recommend, if you don't have a strong rp background or indeed a non existent one, try these commands. Read some of the rp on the forum for ideas, and give it a go. And above all HAVE FUN!