City Maintenance (V)

From: City Hall
Object: City Maintenance
Date: Mon. Jun. 30

Mayor Tarn Pagott,

A total of 54350 credits has been paid from the city treasury for maintenance and upkeep of structure.

Elections anyone ? (IV)

FM: City Hall
Obj: Election won
Date: Mon. Jun.30, 11:50

Congratulations, Mayor Tarn Pagott!

The populace of Twin Mountain Base has elected to retain you for another term. Your rights and privileges as Mayor have not changed. The next mayoral election has started and the results will be tabulated in three weeks' time.

The city thanks you for your continued service.

New Member in TMB

Joining the TMB community (both guild and city), long term friend, Enkarn Lightmist (Jedi 90) will share the fate of our city, guild and community. His Mustafarian bunker is located behind the Eastern Heights, a breathtaking location. We wish him to find long lasting friendships and to feel at home within our ranks. Welcome !

From Dathomir to Dantooine to Dathomir

It was an opportunity to complete the flagging process, this time for Enkarn and Axkva Ming. Traveling back and forth to Dathomir and stopping via Dantooine, it was also an opportunity to catch up on some roleplaying storyline.

Enkarn's comeback from the depths of the Kashyyyk forest where he hid from Order 66 to after the destruction of the first Death Star over Yavin. Catching up with a longtime friend, former Republic then Imperial Scout and then retired. Founder since of a chapter of the Antarian Rangers.

TMB's mishappenings (IV)

Fluffy-Stitch removed himself from the guild a couple of days ago without letting his reasons known. While all options can still be considered, it must be noted that he didn't log once at the same time as this writer over the last three months. Thus, he may have had a server change or disappeared from the game. For the time being, we will assume that he actively logged once, if only to remove himself from TMB (guild).

On a sadder note, the Empire Day celebration was also an opportunity to meet with someone holding a longstanding grudge against fellow community member Nas Choka, whom he said attempted to "control everyone", presumably within the TMB/TWIN community (no dates were given). Since the discussion could not really take place 'I don't speak with anyone that relates to Nas', further explanations were not available.

However the grudge, the misrepresentations or whatever else, it is a clear example of how the reputation (famous or infamous) of a player affects the entire community. A lesson to heed.

Celebrating Empire Day

Naboo, Theed. It is a grand day as the Empire celebrates the day the Old Republic was dismantled. Lord Vader visited Theed, where Imperial citizens gathered in front of the Emperor's statue and addressed the crowd:

"Loyal Imperial citizens, we are here today to celebrate the day our Emperor made his Declaration of a New Order and dissolved the Galactic Republic. Out of the ashes our Emperor formed the mighty and invicible Empire we are today. It was not easy, even for the Emperor. Without the help of extraordinary Imperial citizens, it could not have been done. Extraordinary citizens, or one might even say, heroes, such as <...>." The Imperial Celebration Organiser asked then : "<...>, step up and bow before Lord Vader", and Lord Varder to resume : "Congratulations, <...>. From this day on you shall wear the title 'Hero of Empire Day'. Stay forever loyal, the Force is with us."

Beyond the festivities, it was also an opportunity to have a frank and amicable discussion with members of the Rebel Alliance, on visit to Theed for a PvP session. Few casualties on both sides were reported. In an another attempting to disrupt the ceremony, a giant worshyyyr tree from the Life Day Giftbox was dropped, presumably by Naraelle (though unconfirmed) when Lord Vader made his speech. While the prank was pretty original, it also risked hindering the Vader radial for the title recipient (/tar is to be used is such case).

Quite interestingly, it was mostly an opportunity to meet up with fellow Imperial citizens and reminisce about old times, such as the long shuttle waits (10mns) and the trading, fighting and socializing that took place there, the small population in these parts of the galaxy (with friends list down to 10 active people), how guilds became the center of social life in lieu of random meeting and grouping, and how emote contests were being runs in cities.

In addition, it was a great time to catch up and meet new friends, spend time with people we've known for long, yet never had the time to chat if only for a few words. Expanding the circle of friends always seems like a good idea. As one mentioned, updating the friends list regularly and adding new people means to have between 40 and 50 friends online every day.

Twin Mountain Base, as far as the celebrations were concerned was honored on this day, Kohaeg Noubat, received from the title from the hands of Princess Leia on Coronet. Though, this was the 'Remembrance Day celebration', congratulations nevertheless. Ashelin (former guild/city) received the Empire Day badge.

What are you up to ?

This seems to be the most frequently asked question (oftentimes the answer is "nm") when running into friends or in the chat tabs. So the answer would have been tonight, Meatlump Theme Park and some RP, while for others, Looser in this case, a strong case of interplanetary shopping spree.

Happy Birthday

Logging in this evening (June 25th), was the opportunity to see the reward pop-up window informing me that Tarn Pagott is now 54 months old. Somehow it is a reminder of long gone childhood days when I would wake up to hear that I was one year older. Would a three months period for a toon be like a year for a Human (a bit like dog years ;) reminds to be seen. If so though, thank hyperspace and cloning technologies, Tarn lived a really busy year. Happy Birthday old friend and thanks for being the diligent (or so) vessel of hours of gameplay.

Decorating TMB

The metropolis of Twin Mountain Base has received a new decoration, the Lokian flag flies in front of the city hall. It is our hope that other flags will soon fly next to it.

A first attempt placed the flag in front of the shuttleport, unfortunately, the placement affected too strongly the perspective on Kimogila Way and it was concluded that the position was unfortunate.

City Maintenance (IV)

From: City Hall
Object: City Maintenance
Date: June 23rd

Mayor Tarn Pagott,
A total of 54200 credits has been paid from the city treasury for maintenance and upkeep of structure.

This is the weekly mail that arrives in the mayor's mailbox for city upkeep. As a reminder, the city treasury is currently 4 752 146 credits. Details on taxation (or lack thereof in our case), population count and other city information are available to all citizens at the city management terminal in the city hall.

Also, militia members empowered with city pardon may lift an old ban applied to Shel'by Fieron whenever the opportunity arises. The ban was put into effect long ago and does not appear to be any longer needed.

ISD Run

Travelling to the Imperial Star Destroyer was a fun run (and successful), it was a good moment to spend with friends in a challenging environment, especially in the first room. The use of the cloning facilities aboard the ship was also the demonstration that there's no need to have an ent buff when doing this heroic.

Congrats' on the entire team for a job well done, it's always a pleasure to work with our friends at Phenix Rising.

Also, as a side note, it was a great opportunity to explore Nova Orion Station (never been before) and to complete the Four Sages of Dwartii collection. The statue will be displayed in an undisclosed location...

Museum of Natural History (III)

Adding to the collection of odd rocks, the Museum of Natural History's mineral collection has increased with a burning rock. Samples of the burning rock are currently being examined to understand this unusual phenomenom. While first reports tend to priviledge a rare chemical imbalance within the rock's structure, other explanations are being sought. Indeed, this rock, along with the bubbling and the steaming rocks have been found on only ten planets, Yavin IV, Dathomir, Endor, Dantooine, Corellia, Rori, Talus, Tatooine, Lok, and Naboo, suggesting that these planets share rare chemical elements.

Renegades

Spotted Renegades near the Tatooine Space Station have been destroyed following a brazen raid aboard the Ionic Bird, a modified TIE-Interceptor. While it was fun to recover the space mobile and complete a collection, it was also an opportunity to realize how quiclky one can forget how to pilot!! SWG really caters for different gameplays and different expertises, it's quite difficult to master them all. Kudos to smugglers having to master ground and space gameplays as part of their profession.../hattip Vewock!

From Dantooine to Endor to Dathomir to Corellia

A small roaming hunting TMB team (Vewock, Darkossk, Tarn) traveled from Dantooine to Dathomir in search of burning rocks - in the process, it faced various opponents ranging from Jedi Elders to Nightsister Initiates. The collection was successful, and lead to another one, completing (or make significant progresses) on Endor, the infamous Order 66. Padawans, Knights, Masters fell to the merciless attacks - carrying out the Emperor's will.

On Corellia, Vewock, Darkossk and Brite investigated the identity of the Meatlump King, passing puzzles, combat and finding bombs with success.

Joining the TMB community

On Friday the 20th June, Brite Sunwalker joined the TMB community (guild). We're happy to count him among the members, though he had been a close friend for a long time now. As a leveling character after a respec' from trade, we'll all be happy to lend a hand whenever the need arises. Welcome Brite!

City Maintenance (III)

City maintenance for the metropolis of Twin Mountain Base has been paid ; 54 350 credits have been paid to planetary authorities.

Nightsister Funtime

The Nightsister Stronghold POI truly has an amazing dark building, and it was an opportunity to visit it. Enkarn and Tarn traveled there for an enjoyable ride deep in the lore of Dathomir's best kept secret...Or at least, officially so, since Dathomir is quite off limits until the Courtship of Leia. But, heh, it doesn't mean that no one had knowledge of the planet's existence and of all its secrets. Or does it ?

At any rate, it was a good opportunity to just go out in the wild and enjoy the scenery, while also getting some equipment and loot.

New Member in TMB

Vewock Eisis, a pillar of the TMB community, has officially joined the guild on Sunday 15th. It is with great pleasure that we welcome him as a member, although, many have known him as a very good friend, often partaking in TMB events and teams.
/hattip Wevock

A call in the Force ?

It was with great pleasure that I met up with a very old friend this evening, Enkarn Lightmist. On a rainy day on Dantooine, unexpectedly; the hidden master had left from his years of exile from the depths of Kashyyyk.

We talked about the Galactic Civil War, the illness of the Old Republic and the madmen running the Empire. Of the Living Force and of the Jedi and Sith Orders and how to preserve what little there is to preserve.

It was also the opportunity to piece parts of a long standing puzzle, to establish a link between a former Jedi Master, Anikin Skywalker, of whom I have pod racing helmet, the tomb of a certain Shmi, and the youth named Luke Skywalker whose face is on the "wanted" posters. Surely, more than just coincidence. But no proofs yet, just a strong suspicion.

Poll Results ! (II)

How often do you log into Scylla ? Such was the question asked on this blog. Interestingly, the poll response does not match direct observation. With 33% logging everyday, and 33% logging several times a week and 33% logging hardly ever, it seems a contradiction exist between respondants and players. While small, the TMB community tends to log in more often than 33% hardly ever - hardly ever being understood as less often than a monthly basis.

Of memories and friends

With returning players visiting more often, it's interesting to see how conversations among players change. Discussions about keymap setup, knowing where and how to keep in touch with memorable friends arise more often. Beyond game mechanics, it's been said that players come into a game for the mechanics and remain (or return) for the community. Those last days have mainly been about that. Gives a sense of home to a galaxy far, far away.

Killing time and spies...

While not adding much content to the game, small collections such as the Broken Fryer, Wayfar Spies, Exceptional Bone, provide with touches of lore within the SW narrative. The opportunity to learn about the inner workings of friers may not be life changing, yet, it addresses with great talent the behind-the-scenes daily life of heroes of the Empire or the Alliance to Restore the Republic alike. Bearing this in mind, downtime collections are a nice segment of play for those looking at SWG beyond the high-end game (Heroics, GCW).

Museum of Natural History (II)

Three new items have been added to the Museum of Natural History.

In the exploration room, a faintly glowing bone completes the partial skeleton. While this bone is impressive by its size alone (studies to determine the creature's specie have been launched), its "glowing" characteristic adds to the mystery surrounding its origin. Indeed, in this context, glowing does not refer to an inate ability to produce light or to refract it, but rather, alludes to the mysterious energy known as the Force, or scientifically, to the unusual count of midi-chlorian in the bone structure. It is hoped that further research will soon yield more information.

Staying in the exploration room, a Human skeleton replica has been added. This composite structure is displayed to further knowledge of the Human body and echoes with the various artifacts in relation with the inherent dangers of exploration.

Finally, a strange "bubbling rock" is now on display in the mineral room, in level -1. The fascinating feature of this rock is not without reminding the "steaming rock" in the same room. The natural properties of these minerals are yet to be fully understood. However, it is believed that chemical reactions are at the origin of these phenomena.

TMB's mishappenings (III)

Oloos Asmirho has left TMB (guild) today for the greener pastures of Armies of Sparta . Although he failed to comment on his departure, Goddess- (yes, there's a link with Lord Godess) has informed me that she was the reason for which he left. Something's brewing ? Perhaps, but it's not for me to say...

Local Trade

More crafters in the city ? This has been the main community development topic over the week end. While the city is being used by visitors for its shuttleport, shopping is not the city's main attraction (and the destruction of Helios may be a testament to the state of Scylla's commerce). Nevertheless, with returning players in need of equipment and still some very comfortable economic niches to exploit, something ought to be done for city commerce.

A first suggestion to split crafting among alts has been made, but nothing has been decided as of today. At any rate, there is still some room on Kimogila Way for new merchant tents and the City Hall has some spare. So all traders / crafters are invited to come forward.

The multiplication of vendors and crafters would act as a nice complement to the use of Scylla's trade forum, where most high end items tend to be negotiated.

Elections anyone ? (III)

Elections have been held in the city and city maintenance has been paid. I would like to thank Kawi for running against me during this election. I'm always pleased to see that citizens care enough to run and to vote. It's a great motivation to make the city better.

Since new elections are coming up, please register to run or vote for your favorite candidate...and let's make the Rebellion lie about the lack of democracy or direct rule in the Empire...

Welcoming back Hadrianus

Hadrianus Lightmist came back from the Outer Rim yesterday (Sunday). It's great to see old friends coming back to the game and, in time, helping them to get used to the new mechanics. It'll take a few days, but levelling, acquiring equipment and getting accustomed to the new ropes will sure come in fast enough. Until then, the entire community is here to help.

Waiting for Obi-Wan

On Monday evening, I finally had the chance to meet with the etheral form of Obi-Wan Kenobi and trailblaze one last time on Mustafar...One last time, because I have my hands on the lava skiff and thus won't need to take the longer road to any point. It comes as a relief...

Elsewhere in the Galaxy, Darkossk was frantically chasing Mantrigues. Anyone interested in joining in this wild hunt, contact him.

From Mustafar to Endor

The TMB strike team (Darkossk, Vewock, Iascoeto, Blaster, Tarn) struck again yesterday, still in the process of tightening those loose ends, it ran from Mustafar (Sickness of the Storm Lord, Slayer of the Sher Kar, Fragments of the Past, An archeologist problem) to Endor (Star Destroyer Location). It was also the opportunity to team again with Doman (Blaster), hoping to see him more and more often.

Death of a city

Readers of this thread, posted on the SOE forum, were saddened to hear about the end of Helios (Tatooine), Scylla's oldest player city, on the 7th. Despite the reasons put forward by its running guild, it still is a landmark that disappeared.

The event was attended by a small crowded that grouped toghether, emphasizing the emotion. Storyteller tokens were also placed - including an Acklay Boss Elite (level 90). Quite disturbingly, as soon as a the city hall went down, a spawn of giant worts appeared in its place. The pest invasion was a brutal reminder that nature fills empty space with an amizing speed.

In line with the motivations of the former mayor and of the guild's running council, the old saying "Helios is dead, long live Helios" will be the basis for a future city on Tatooine.

Pex Farewell's Bash

With SWG Development Manager Pex leaving to a promising position in the SOE gaming community, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th have been chosen for a farewell cross-server visit. The event was very well attended with over 167 people attending the party on the 7th and likely as many on the 6th. Under a continuous roar of ovations, Pex, in full Destroyer Droid attire (6th) and in Geonosian attire (7th), thanked both the organizers (Mauric and Eugenie) and the crowd, while distributing accolade badges to everyone. This event typifies how players and developpers alike care about the game, showing support and encouragements.

Pex's speech was rather brief, greeting the server with a "Hello Scylla". Pleasingly, the speech's typos proved that it wasn't macro'ed despite being repeated on each server. Reminiscing on his experience in SWG, Pex mentioned that "it's been a fun five years at SWG, and I am going to miss it very much. It's the great people that make events so great and I hope that you'll continue to get together and have fun". Regarding a specific event, he recalled "the Ewok April Fool day event is one of my gems [...] nobody expects a 50 foot Ewok!" Asked about is future prospects, he mentioned his excitement, adding "change is good in my books. But I'll miss running events". It'll remain to be seen if Dar'Ness suggestion to have June 7th named Pex Day will stick till next year.

It was pleasing to hear about lag and drawing comparisons to the fall of Restuss or Coronet during the heydays. Both events had a different feel, the first event being mostly attended by veteran players active in their respective communities (such as the PvP crowd and community leaders) and players visiting more rarely ; the second event, seemed to have a wider audience with veterans and newer players alike (or perhaps, more alts :).

Overall, this shouldn't come as a complete surprise as this event was posted on the forum and the official site and relayed by community leaders within cities and guilds, and thus was primarily addressed to the hard core gaming community.

From Kashyyyk to Mustafar

Strolling down from instances to instances, it was an opportunity to haphazardly stumble into NK-Necrosis' cave, HK-47's cave, Malfosa's cave and the Storm Lord's temple. A very good moment indeed, despite the odd track record in each instances. For some unexplained reasons, it ended up in a widespread failure. Not entirely surprising for HK-47's cave as the team had neither doc, nor buff, nor a full group, but completely faced with the Storm Lord who floored the five-members team.

Tonight, will be the revenge, setting the record straight.

Weapon Development Facility

The Weapon Development Facility was taken over single-handely by corporal Pagott on Friday, June 6th. It was an opportunity to discover the place, meet the locals...Well, shoot them at least, and switch those terminals. A small action, but publicized over the entire server ; though it failed to prompt a response. Much later during the night, around 4.15pm PST (1.15am EST), a Rebel strike team took the Weapon Development Facility, though it is unknown if it had changed hands between the two actions.

Endor Fun Faire

The Death Watch was the site of an impromptu fun faire with a group of friends. A nice place where Super Battle Droids tend to gather for everyone's enjoyment. It was nice just as a shooting party, and actually leaving the place in one bit is quite a challenge, but an interesting one.

Community and Friends (June)

Community members and friends of the city having logged :

TMB city & guild
1. Darkossk
2. Tarn Pagott
3. Nas Choka
4. Teradok Bear

TMB city
5. Kawi Aenebaf
6. Aryeka Kreyel
7. Ibeoki Nao

TMB guild
8. Kohaeg Noubat
9. Iascoeto Fepa
10. Hadrianus Lightmist
11. Vewock Eisis
12. Brite Sunwalker
13. Enkarn Lightmist

Alumni
14. Dar'Ness Mandilor (former guild)
15. Doman (former city)
16. Ashelin (former guild)
17. Oloos Asmirho (former guild)
18. Fluffy-Stitch (former guild)

TMB's mishappenings (II)

With many interrogations regarding her departure from TMB during the week end, we hope that Ashelin's new directions will fulfill her expectations. As a TMB alumni, she's always welcome to join our events and, of course, to come back either in the guild or the city. So long, and hope to see you very soon.

Also, while this news is old, it had gone unreported, Lord-Godess did move away from the city. It is likely that this move took place while she left the guild, but it is unconfirmed.

Joining the TMB community

Our community has gotten larger as Teradok Bear, Bounty Hunter, moved in on Veers Boulevard and in Downtown South - as a real estate mogul would do. A veteran of many years, returning to Scylla, we wish him to get accustomed as quickly as possible to the new mechanics and hope to see him soon join our budding strike team.

City Maintenance (II)

City maintenance has been paid, 54350 credits have been paid to planetary authorities.

Experimenting

The storytelling system, the lore from the mission terminals, missions and artifacts combined with screenshots, video captures and plain old writing offer a great way to narrate stories. Unfortunately, with so much material and means to express, this writer must confess being confronted to the proverbial blank page. For several days, I have been struggling with various story arcs and the way to express them.

Caught between a character's narrative or a playable story arc for the TMB community, confusion has made painful an otherwise pleasant process. More soon, to be sure. Till then, this place is worth looking at.

Getting Flagged

With the new update coming into effect and the numerous expertise reset that have come with it, it has been a time to further undergo the Heroics flagging process. With some community members, at long last completing the attunement quests, while others freshly discovering adventurous lives, moving away from their crafting stations to embrace combat professions.

In this context, the TMB community has been travelling from Lok to Talus to Yavin IV to Tatooine to Corellia to Endor, and of course, to Dathomir.