Material retrieved from original Zone caches available at http://web.archive.org.
Original Link (now dead) - http://classic.zone.msn.com/asheronscall/news/juneteaser.asp
Chains of Command
June 6, 2001
The air in the underground meeting hall was quite cool -- a welcome relief to Thane Tuomas and his scribe, out all day in the sweltering sun. “Take this down,” said the Thane, as the scribe dutifully raised his quill to the parchment.
“Court held tonight, sunset, in the Tufa hall. Bring any information you've been able to gather regarding the recent abductions. Mages, be here on time and well stocked with components. You've no more excuses to dawdle!”
The scribe wrote furiously, and nodded. “Aye, sir. They'll have this missive momentarily.”
This was more like it, so far as Tuomas was concerned. Communication had become a more pressing matter of late, yet here was finally an easy means of disseminating information. More like it, indeed. Organized. Like the archmages. Somehow those scatterbrained old chaps had been able to handle his request for components in record time. Yes, organized.
“Fault those Virindi for what you will, Landry, but they've got their chain of command in tip-top shape. Priorities, you know. There's no mistakes with the Virindi.”
“But, m'lord? The abductions? And the awful business in Ayan? Surely, you don't. . .”
Tuomas silenced his scribe with a glare. “No, Landry, I haven't lost sight of it all. Now, don't you have a message to deliver?”
The young man bowed politely and scampered away.
In the torchlight, the Thane pulled a mask from his beltpouch, watching as firelight played over the impossibly smooth surface. He thought about the words of the creature who'd given it to him. Tuomas pressed the mask to his face and cast his gaze about the hall where his subjects would soon come to gather. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. There would be no missions to the northern or southern mountains. Let the hunters tarry with their freshly tanned hides, shells, and pearls. No need to interrupt the progress. Things were changing, and for the better. They were getting more. . . organized.
Unlike any other gaming experience, the world of Asheron's Call continues to evolve. Last month, as pyreals became weightless, players began to receive the coordinates for their corpses, and adventurers were able to quest for new titles. One can only wonder what additions, what changes -- and what dangers -- will be added when we open our June event, “Chains of Command.” For further hint of what's to come, be sure to read up on the new Component Buyer and Allegiance Communication features -- due to arrive with the June event!
Be sure to continue your part in this incredible ongoing story, and we'll see you in Dereth!
Roll Out Article
Material retrieved from original Zone caches available at http://web.archive.org.
Original Link (now dead) - http://classic.zone.msn.com/asheronscall/news/junerollout.asp
Chains of Command
June 14, 2001
The sun has begun to rise, brighter, hotter, crossing the horizon with the burning fury of an Ivory Gromnie's smelting breath. The torrid days of summer have come at last. . .
. . . and with them comes another menace. Organized groups of marauding “Black Claw” Drudges have appeared in the northern and southern mountains of Osteth. Rumors speak of their involvement with a cabal of Virindi, whose hidden leader, known only as the Inculcator, is reputed to have been the true mastermind behind the takeover of Ayan Baqur. Perhaps the time has come to take the battle back to the Virindi.
For the effort to truly succeed, however, will require both sword and spell. To this end, human legions have instituted further improvements within their own ranks. Allegiances can now nominate designated speakers, who, along with their monarchs, are able to spread news among their every member with the speed of the wind itself. Archmages have long promoted the sale of spell components, putting the common good of all spellcasters ahead of the miserly hoarding of arcane secrets. Archmage vendors have proven even more cooperative of late, filling entire component buy lists instead of individual orders. And as the mystic geomancy of the land continues to fluctuate, more powerful creature enchantments have entered the School of the Left Hand; in addition, all lower-level enchantments have seen their durations increase, allowing enchanters an even greater role in aiding their fellows.
Yet beyond the crusade to strike back at the Virindi, other goals stand to be completed. For hunters, the changing of the seasons marks further chance to collect shed trophies of creatures. And with the end of spring, so comes a final gift of spring-cleaning. Inhabitants of Dereth will discover a fresher item in their wardrobes -- though they may wonder what became of their older, soiled garments.
Following is a list of the most interesting additions made to the game this update. However, please note that not everything has been included -- that would spoil the fun of finding out all that's been added or changed! As usual, though, the town criers, barkeeps, and scribes may know the latest news. Also, the trades of crafting and selling are always in flux, so changes to prices and abilities of items are not always listed here in their entirety.
Highlights include:
- A new component buyer feature now takes much of the tedium out of mages' already busy lives. Use @help fillcomps, or read the Details of Component Buying article, for more details.
- New allegiance communication features include allegiance-wide broadcasts, messages of the day, and co-vassal chat. A full explanation can be found in the Details of Allegiance Communication article.
- Further adventures have entered the world, including the chance to discover new Virindi strongholds and to do battle with the enigmatic beings in their own halls.
- Lower-level buffs no longer evaporate so readily, as all level 1 to 5 buffs see their durations greatly increased.
- Another season of the year means another season of critter hunting, with new trophies being shed.
- Niffis, Tumeroks, and Crystals become less frustrating beasts to fight as monster rebalancing efforts continue.
- It's true. Mom's gone shopping and bought us all clean underwear!
Summer days have brought new fashion and hunting trophies, heightened Creature spells -- and the sharpened sickles of the Virindi. In order to learn the full scope of June's event, “Chains of Command,” be sure to read the Developer's Notes, June. Continue your part in this incredible ongoing story, and we'll see you in Dereth!
Build Notes
Material retrieved from original Zone caches available at http://web.archive.org.
Original Link (now dead) - http://classic.zone.msn.com/asheronscall/news/junebuild.asp
Developer's Notes
June 14, 2001
Here are just some of the additions made in the June 14 game update, “Chains of Command.” The following list is comprised of detailed notes straight from the developers themselves. For a summary of things of most interest, be sure to consult the official event article, Chains of Command.
Detailed Notes for Builds 2528 -- 2539:
New Functionality
- Allegiance communication enhancements are in! For further word, see Details of Allegiance Communication.
- Hey, look -- it's the component buyer! For further word, see Details of Component Buying.
Miscellaneous Improvements
- Peas are now spell components. They appear in the F6 panel in the client. Handy!
- Wrapped frost, acid and lightning arrowheads can now be split apart.
- Max stack size on Mnemosyne reward arrows has been raised to 250.
- It's summertime! Seasonal trophies change once more.
- Level 7 Creature Magic is in. ph34r.
- All vendor buy/sell rates altered to prevent “money running.” It's no longer possible to make three million weightless pyreals in an hour by schlepping items to and fro.
- Monster rebalancing continues! Crystal Fragments, Niffis, and Tumeroks have all been visited by the Sanity Check Fairy.
- All level 1-5 spells have had their durations extended.
Minor Details
- Danby's Outpost now has its intended Lifestone.
- There are 3600 seconds per hour, not 3660. :) This was causing /age to display incorrectly.
- Larry the Bunny Master isn't quite so shy anymore -- he shouldn't run away from visitors.
- You can no longer recall to the Hieromancer Lyceum after going through the Trial Dungeon exit portals.
- The low-stakes Sho Gambler was giving out Small Mnemosynes instead of the Tiny Mnemosynes he was supposed to. The pit bosses came down on him pretty hard.
- The Casino Bosses have invested their winnings in some shiny new objects.
- @r and @rp now map to @reply, while @rt now maps to @retell. @reply and @retell still work as usual.
- Changed default state of status bars to on instead of off. No more clicking on those @#$%&*^ bars every time you login!
- It took five years, but vendors now wear aprons to make them visually distinct from players.
- Bug: No tribute to Douglas Adams in game. Bug fixed. All fish duly appreciated.
- Underwear is now ivory/off-white. Let's never speak of this again.