Hello! Welcome to Athens J If
you’re scared and lost, don’t worry.
Take my hand and we’ll go step by step.
This guide isn’t meant to cover everything in one shot, but rather to
give you a good solid base to get started.
Some
commonly asked questions:
What is this game? How do I play?
Hercules & Xena: Alliance of Heroes is a text-based world in which you, the player, assume a persona that may have lived in that time period. Everything you see or are seeing is in words. It’s pretend. You get to be someone you’ve always wanted to be. If you’ve ever been in a chat room or chatted online with a friend, this is the same idea. One key factor here is ROLEPLAYING. That is, acting out your persona in an acceptable manner to those around you. I’ll cover the basics of role-playing in a minute, but first and foremost, every one of us who plays Hercules and Xena is a real person, just like you. (Excluding Non-Player Characters, which I’ll cover laterJ)
A Word on Mentors
Mentors are a group of dedicated volunteer players that help other citizens by answering questions, helping with events, etc. Mentors DO NOT have any special privileges, none of any kind. We’re players just like you. Here are a few commonly asked questions to give you a better idea.
Nope. As I said before, we aren’t gifted with the ability to magically locate anyone. However, there is a way your friend, or friends can be located. It’s called your BEFRIEND LIST (Check BEFRIEND or BEFRIEND HELP for more information) you have to be added to each other’s list in order to see the full effect. Here’s an example:
When you first type in BEFRIEND LIST, you’ll see:
Searching for your friends in the lands….
Now, say you chose to BEFRIEND me, and I have you on my list, you’d see the above example except in number one it would read:
And I’d see:
<Your character’s name> is <location> or something along those lines. On to the next question, shall we>
No, we don’t know everything my friend; we’re players, just like you are. We can get you started on a puzzle maybe, but finding the solution is up to you. That’s the fun part! <Smiles>
Back to the rest of our lesson, shall we? <Gentle smile>
When you first arrive in Athens, you will end up in a shaded garden. This is what you’ll see on your screen:
[Athens, Shaded Garden]
Flowering trees loom overhead, casting pale shadows over a ground cover of moss. A hammock of braided twine has been secured between two especially robust trees, while a simple log bench sits nestled among ferns. Beyond the iron gate can be heard the sounds of a fountain. You also see a NOTICE, a weapon rack with some stuff on it, an engraved plaque, a LARGE SIGN you should read, a wooden stand with a folding pamphlet on it, a brass bell and the Hall of the Heroic.
Obvious paths: out.
Now, see the words in larger letters? Those are clues as to what you can do here. Verbs you can use right away are:
READ
LOOK
SIT
LIE
GET/PUT
WEAR/REMOVE (ex. WEAR MY SHIELD/REMOVE MY SHIELD)
Try them out, experiment. See what works and what doesn’t. See HELP VERBS for ideas too.
See the line marked Obvious paths? Those are exits. If you wanted to LOOK AT something you’d type LOOK AT <object or person’s name goes here>Example: LOOK ON RACK/LOOK AT RACK. Before you leave the garden, please READ the NOTICE and READ the SIGN, you’ll be glad you did! <Big Smile>. Their wording is as follows:
When you READ the NOTICE, it says:
NOTICE
All Areas within the gates of the Shaded Garden are Private property
of the Promethean Mentor Society. Anyone who is not an official
Mentor may not mentor on the property. Please do not disrupt the
mentors at their work by mixing, lock picking, performing, or anything else that may cause unnecessary noise.
Loiterers may be asked to leave at the discretion of a mentor.
** Pull the bell if you need assistance from a mentor. **
Thank You for your consideration.
Translation: We know you want to help, but we ask that you do not actively seek to help people within the garden. This prevents any miscommunication as to your affiliation with the Mentor Society, or wrong information being given out, and lessens any confusion the novice may suffer."
When you READ THE SIGN, it says:
Please take a pamphlet from the stand. You'll be glad you did! If you would like to ask a mentor a question, please pull the bell.
If you need it, type ADVICE or START HELP at any time.
OK, I’m out of the garden, what do I do now?
Relax, and stay with me here. Let me tell you about a GREAT thing we have called DIRections.
DIRections are a great tool to help you get around the city, each quadrant of the city and Athens Central have their own DIRections list, but when you know how to use them, you will never get lost in town. HELP DIRECTIONS is a good start for finding out about them.
Basically, DIREctions is a list that tells you 3 things, 1. some of the shops and services in town, 2. the other parts of town you can go to, and 3. which quadrant of the city you are in exactly. To use them, you would type DIR <exact name from list>, so for example DIR GUIDES.
When you typed that, you would get a step by step list of what you needed to do to get to that place. And if you forgot, you can ask again and again, because they do work from anywhere on the streets. So really they are very useful and you really can't get lost easily when you use them. Also, you’ll want to take a look at a great website that has maps, shop lists, and other great stuff. Just go to http://www.ancient-muse.com/ and you’ll be off to a great start
OK, you’ve gotten this far. Great! See the next section for more information. Don’t forget, READ your PAMPHLET when given one, and don’t be afraid to take notes J Also, if you need specific help at any time, ask the folks around town, or just PULL the BELL in the garden .
What do I look like? What am I holding?
You can LOOK MIRROR when you’re in front of a mirror and that will give you in words what you look like. To see what you’re holding, type the word INVENTORY, and it will give you a description. All commands or phrases can be typed in either upper or lower case.
Where do I carry stuff? Do I have a pet?
You can carry stuff in your knapsack, or in any other container you have on your person. Also, every citizen in Athens is gifted with a mule. You can call him by typing WHISTLE FOR STEED. Our mules have SADdlebags that we can carry stuff in when our hands get full. To access them, simply OPEN the SADdlebags. When you’re done, SLAP MY MULE to send him away, or else he’ll follow you everywhere. You can’t ride the mule, but you can PET it and CLEAN it.
How do I earn money? What can I do here?
You can earn money one of many ways.
Go and hunt, run jobs around town, or offer goods or services to other
players for a price or in the hopes of earning some tips
How do I get a weapon? How do I use it?
Every new arrival has a surplus scimitar as their first weapon. You also have a shield. When you’re hunting, be sure to REMOVE it. WEAR it again when you’re done with it. To use your weapon, simply SWING <critter’s name>, or JAB <critter> If you are using a crossbow, FIRE <critter> will work. It must be reloaded each time you use it. (Just LOAD your CROSSBOW again and you’ll be set.) Crossbows can also be worn. To do so, you simply WEAR CROSSBOW.
If you don’t like the weapon given to you, you can exchange it for a new one by PUTting the <weapon> ON THE RACK and GETting one of your choice. You can do this until you reach level 3.
(Check my new section below for information on the new combat system.)
To check your status in relation to level, simply type EXPERIENCE.
A word on NPC’s (Non-Player Characters)
Some of the folks in and around Athens are computer generated to respond to specific questions and offer information. These include trainers, some merchants, and some shop owners. To interact with them, simply ASK <NPC> ABOUT <subject>. Example: ASK HIGH PRIESTESS ABOUT CHARITY, or ASK CAUTU ABOUT TRAINING.
To inquire what a merchant has for sale, type ORDER. In a tavern, type ORDER or MENU, then follow the instructions given.
Check the HELP files; they have a wealth of information available to you on a variety of subjects. If you’re not sure where to start, type HELP LIST.
BASIC ROLEPLAYING 101
Okay, you’ve gotten the hang of moving around and such. Now, comes the fun part, fleshing out your character. Yep, this is the part where you get to play pretend. How should your character speak and act around others? Remember, this is Ancient Greece in the time of the TV show. Using abbreviations such as AFK BRB LOL, etc. and techno terms such as IM’S, computers, etc should be avoided out loud if at all possible. Here are come creative substitutes if you must speak out loud about these.
LOL=use the verb LAUGH
BRB=spell out the words “be right back”
IM’S=carrier pigeon or pigeon
EMAIL=missive
ROFL=use the phrase ROLL LAUGH
Another great tool is WHISPER. To whisper, simply type whisper <character’s name> <message>
These tips will help you remain IC (in character) as much as possible J Good role-playing sets an example.
If you decide to use a dialect for your character, stick to it. Same goes for a character history. Give your character mannerisms and traits that folks will identify with.
MANNERS
For clarifications on any of this, either ask, or check the policy in-game by typing the word POLICY.
If you see an item on the ground, and aren’t sure who it belongs to, ask, or use the verb CLAIM (Ex. CLAIM BACKPACK or CLAIM CHEST) to see who the owner is.
Profanity is frowned upon. If you’re upset about something, talk about it, or use verbs such as FROWN, MUTTER, CRY, FLAIL, SCOWL, etc.
There is a verb that affects how others see you. It is called DEMEANOR. (Check HELP DEMEANOR for more information.) If you are ever taken by the hand or dragged against your will, don’t panic. SIT or LIE, or go in another direction. Also check your AVOID SETTINGS if you need to.
COMBAT AND TRAINING:
Several months ago, the gods decided that the time had come to improve upon the new combat system. You can still ATTACK the first critter you see, but SWING is a bit different now:
You can now be surrounded on all four sides: FRONT RIGHT, LEFT, and REAR, so SWING<critter> doesn’t work completely in this situation. Hence, you’d SWING FRONT, RIGHT, and LEFT. EVALUATE allows you to determine your position, and the level of the critter you’re fighting. To engage a specific target, TURN LEFT or TURN RIGHT. I believe you can also LUNGE and THRUST at a critter, but please be advised that while engaging them in this manner, you are more vulnerable to be attacked. The concept of encumbrance has also been introduced along with new combat. Here’s my explanation. The higher your ATHLETICS skill, the more armor you can wear. See example below. And vice versa if the skill is too low. Checking your INFO will tell you how encumbered you are. If you can’t wear a lot of armor, don’t worry. Dodging will save you, if that skill is up there too. You can train in both if you like, but watch your points. The more encumbered you are, the slower you’ll move. Be careful.
EXAMPLE:
You are <your persona’s name>
You are aligned with the Olympian god/goddess <their name>.
Strength: xxxxx
Coordination: xxxxx
Intelligence: xxxxx
Piety: xxxxxx
Appearance: xxxxx
Luck: xxxx
Your mind is a river, turbulent and strong.
Like sands through the hourglass, so goes your fame.
**Your heavy armor
encumbers you****
If you’ve got enough
armor on, it’ll tell you “Your armor is light enough to bear”
For rogues, there is a nifty new thing called AMBUSH. This is based on your stealth. The higher your stealth, the better your chances, and the lower your roundtime will be. Just AMBUSH <critter>. Warriors also have a few new moves. Below is a partial list:
The following help listing is based upon the keyword: "brawling"
Brawling involves attacks using your fists, arms, legs, and your body, they include:
Lightning Punch Uppercut Axe Kick
Hip Toss Ear Box Spear Hand
Knife Hand Sweep Flurry Punch
Flurry Kick Double Fist Flying Ram
Clothes Line Body Slam Pulverize
Eye Rake
Trial and error is the key here. Start simple, and work up.
The following bit of info is taken from HELP COMBAT (subject to change at anytime to reflect current documentation and implementation as the GMs see fit)
The combat system in the "Adventures of Hercules and Xena" is designed to be simple. To this extent, several systems were designed for automatically attacking, automatically re-targeting and automatically detecting weapons and ammo as required. Typically, anything can be used as a weapon, but real weapons still do the most damage with the best recovery time.
Some basic combat terms:
Roundtime: The time to perform an action where other action verbs are restricted from use.
THT-To-Hit-Threshold: This is the d100 roll required in combat to hit.
NOTE: a d100 result of 1 will always miss and a d100 result of 100 will always hit.
Translation: Think of a 100-sided die. If you roll a 100, you’ll always hit, if you roll a 1, you’ll always miss. Anything in between determines your chances of hitting the critter in question depending on your weapons skill and level.. I’m not a GM so please don’t ask me to do the math, because it’s all random rolls.
TRAINING:
Training is very easy to do. Just get DIRections to the TRAINERS from anywhere in the city, and then ASK <NPC> ABOUT TRAINING. For example: when you type ASK LAPHIERA ABOUT TRAINING, this is what you’ll see (or something similar)
Laphiera pulls you aside and says “Yes indeed, I am a master in the art of catching. A lesson will cost you 5 training points and 1 dinar for my services.” If the offer is appealing to you, just TRAIN LAPHIERA <or other NPC>
Check the website listed in this guide for suggestions and a complete trainer list. Good Luck!
PROFESSIONS:
Don’t forget to read the official Simultronics files, if you haven’t done so already. The following explanations are from my point of view based on my experiences:
ROGUE- The fighters and survivalist o the bunch. They make their living by picking boxes, hunting, and in some cases, stealing. Not all rogues are malevolent, but watch your valuables anyway <Grin> Autolycus is an example of a very crafty, yet handsome rogue.
ALCHEMIST- these guys are the “mixers” of the bunch. Their potions and elixirs, powders, and wands allow them to hunt and heal from their own mistakes. <Grin>
STORYTELLER- These are the bards. They tell stories, and sing songs. Their songs allow them to become stronger, hit harder, and even improve their appearance if needed. Gabrielle is an example of a storyteller. This is also an excellent profession to imbue some of your own creativity into if you want.
PRIEST- These guys use spells to help them fight. You learn ONE ritual per circle and you can choose from one of three realms to study: Spiritual, Mental, and Alterations. There is also a realm called Commonality. You arrive in the realms knowing one spell/ritual from each realm. To learn the rest of the commonality rituals, there is a quest you must complete.
WARRIOR- These are the hand to hand and weapon experts, they also excel in brawling and drinking <grin> Just kidding. Warriors also train in smithing to help them balance weapons.
Well, that’s all for now folks, stay safe, and may a shadow always cross your path J If you have questions, feel free to come find me in Athens, or drop me a note at moonseer@play.net and I’ll answer it as best I can J Be Well!
Demitria