War Games: Trinity 1 & 2 - Maps + MO

[Rman Virgil]

Cool!

(Could you please feed my interest and tell me something more about what you wanted to tell me before about your culture? Would be nice, thanks. )

.........................>


* Sure, & thank you for responding to my efforts.

* The core cultural value is 2 fold: self-mastery through learning by doing (& acting honorably) and sharing in-turn with others lessons learned, if they are so inclined to that reciprocity.

* In other words, power over one's self, one's abilities, is the mission - NOT power over others.

* In the same breath, giving first (the basis of what we call "potlatch"), more than taking (unless it is a gift freely offered)...and those offerings are simple in nature like so - here, this may or may not, be of use to you or bring you delight... if it's not, kwel, sorry to bother you..... if it is, I expect nothing in return - which is summed-up by the common phrase: "De nada"... the English equivalent being - "It's nothing really, my pleasure to be of service."

- l8r, rv

[Rman Virgil]

[Rman Virgil]

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* Well since I already posted the opening still to the "Trinity 2; High Command" FMV, it seems only appropriate that like a matching pair of bookends, I post the closing still..... so -

[Truetom]

Lots of reading... Is it finished yet? 

TT

[Rman Virgil]

Lots of reading... Is it finished yet? 

TT

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* Hey there TT...

* In all fairness there's lots of purtty pics of chit exploding, wouldn't you concede ?

* The text is mostly to reveal my process for those who may be into creating there own stuff in the WZ game world (maps or whatever, hopefully complementing the "How-Tos" from the Docs Project).

* And some of it is deliberately meant to entertain as well as reveal modus. In volume, IMHO, it wouldn't even qualify as A single Cliff Note to "War and Peace" - its one of those "its all relative" deals, I guess.

* Fact is the Map has been playable for weeks though I continue to fuss over it trying this and that from the pile of constructive feedback I received from the MP beta stress testing of my Lan Club buds a couple weeks back.

* What'll end-up happening is I'll abandon it when I can no longer make it better - and that state I'm fast approaching.

* But actually where I'm engaged now is with the accompaning FMV brief i'm creating - something I was inspired to just recently by the generous comments posted here by those shareing their own creative insights for which I am deeply grateful.

* Still have a fair bit of work left on that FMV: GFX, SFX, music to compose, play & record... final edits and seamless integration with the smallest mem footprint - chit like that.

* To be honest, ALL the joy is in the process and its challenges. When that runs its course & I feel that I can do no more to implement the vision effectively, then I'll let it go and move on to the next project.

* That's the way I do it in public - the same as in private save for the added exposure to possible distraction that can be worthwhile at times or, now & then, not at all.

* In the meanwhile there are 2 more sections of story to complete and post vis-a-vis "The Meeting of Leaders"....

L8r, rv

[Truetom]

Nice to see somebody who is trying to perfect his product before the release.    I was trying to make sure I didn't miss a download link somewhere. Go on. 

TT

[Rman Virgil]

Nice to see somebody who is trying to perfect his product before the release.    I was trying to make sure I didn't miss a download link somewhere. Go on. 

TT

* Hey TT that's kwel, its all  good.

* Actually I'm really glad you posted because you reminded me of something very serious that could prevent "Trinitys" release.

* I've posted elsewhere about the problem - which can only be addressed at the source.

* Since it has never been responded to or acknowledged I cannot know if it will be taken care of by the time my work is done.

* I say problem because i'm not sure it technically qualifies as a "Bug" (which is why I haven't submitted a formal report) or if it is simply a manifest limit to the game engine being exposed because of an added feature under certain  mapping conditions.

* The feature I'm refering to is the "Zooming".

* The possible game engine limitation is the handling of "Dynamic LOD" and specifically "Geometry Instanceing".

* Here's how it gets exposed and what happens:

* "Trinity" is built on principles of what I call "Etreme Verticality" which you can see in recent posted screen caps.

* You can build WZ Maps with Heights ranging from 0 (Sea-Level) to 5 Tiles. My "Trinity 1 & 2" maps are 3 Tiles High. Most WZ Maps are 1 Tile High.

* I also utilize a lot of Water Tiles - Most WZ Maps are predominantly land based.

* So - combine those two conditions - extreme verticality + lots of water - with the Zooming Feature's current threshold setting in the source PLUS multiple human players in MP and what results......

* A high incidence of CTDs which totally skrews-up the MP experience.

* These CTDs are directly related to the invocation of TTs out-of-range as far as the engines coordinate processing (an info cascade it cannot handle presently) or that Dynamic LOD /  "Geometry Instancing" limitation.... i'm not really sure technically

* What I'm fairly certain of is that if the "Zoom-in" threshold is re-set higher it is likely these CTDs will not be precipitated and thus a possible straight-foward FIX attained.

* Anyway, thanks for posting TT.

- L8rs, rv

[Rman Virgil]

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* Let's put them one after the other - the previously posted along with the new; the second of three total story sections.

The Meeting of Leaders



Elijah put the last component of his EXO, the synaptic link, on a tidy desk which fronted the only window in these quarters over-looking the Trinity facility east to west.

With the early morning sun slowly burning off the mist that blanketed Trinty's lowest watery region, Elijah considered the long journey leading to yet again, another milestone in the entwined history that was his life's service to the Project. It was a blessing to be facing this new challenge than muddling through the grief of his life mates losing battle to the plague. For her he could only offer words of comfort that would in no way change the outcome. On the other hand the words forged this day with Akbar could very well spell the best chance for a future free of the Mangodai dominion.

Sure it was a gamble. Then again what wasn't. The very Project Protectorate, his rise from lowly squad leader, to General, to Commander & Chief, the building of Trinity itself.

In the years following the exodus from NORAD in the bowels of the Rocky Mountains to re-opening what was left of the Air Force Academy between Colorado Springs and the Denver ruins, every step along the way was a gamble risking threadbare lives and even scarcer resources, along with any slim hope for a brighter future.

And always the chorus of naysayers dogging whatever new undetaking was brought foward and this proposed treaty with the Seven Scav Nations was no different.

"Sir, for what it's worth, I believe you are doing the right thing," his chief aide Mallory spoke, stirring him out of reverie.

"Shedding the Exo, going to the Pow-wow solo or the Treaty itself ?"

"All the above," Mallory said, without hesitation.

"Inspite of most of my cabinet's luke warm support, I'm sure within myself... and, mind you, I'm not blind to the real possibilty of having my head lopped off like John the Babtist and served up at Trinity's main access gate some moonless night."

Mallory shook his helmetless head side to side, a liberty he took for granted having made total honesty a condition of service to the Commander and Chief.

"Akbar is a man of honor as we understand it and under a flag of truce you can be sure no harm will come to you. You know I know his measure first hand."

"I don't doubt your judgement but chit happens. For all we know, as we speak, or before I arrive or even while there in the midst negotiating, Akbar could be ousted as chief of chiefs. In any of those scenarios all bets are off as to keeping my head attached to my neck."

"True enough, but unlikely. I have seen, and owe my very life, to the powerful bonds of honor between the war chiefs of the Seven Nations and Akbar. He is truly revered and only his passing to the Happy Hunting Grounds will unseat him."

"Time will tell. See to the hover truck's readiness yourself. I'll be done here shortly and will meet you at the Western Depot."

(to be cont.)

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cont.

Chandar tousled the mane of his fathers pie-eyed pony teathered outside the council lodge. That his father was riding his hunting pony and not his war mount was yet another gesture of good faith towards Mal-of-Ory who helped bring about todays Treaty Council with the Mekka leader Bearheart.

"You are to ride alongside him."

The Seer's steps as sly as ever, Chander didnot let on he'd been caught unawares.

"It is rightfully your place as Seer, is it not ?"

The Seer gently stroked the pony's withers.

"That has been my honor but it is time to pass it on. It is appropriate. Your time is here."

Chandar bristled at the vieled suggestion but kept calm.

"You know my path remains forked and undecided one way or the other."

The old man smiled at the youths rebellious spirit reigned-in with a natural grace and genuine respect.

"Indeed, Chandar, only too well. All the more reason to accompany Akbar as his Watcher."

Chandar's nimble mind tried to uncover The Seer's meaning but quickly decided a simple question was better than misinterpreting in silence.

"How so Seer ?"

He would make a fine chief, or seer, someday; the old man thought to himself which was nothing new as far as insights.

"Till such a time as your path unfolds clearly before you like a boar trail in the jungle... you must place yourself where you are not yet comfortable. Indeed the more against the rivers current the better. Only by such challenges will you call forth what is your true destiny. Can you see that ?"

The Seers wisdom was clear and Chandar nodded assent.

"Good."

Then the bison hide flaps to the Council Lodge parted. War chiefs exiting first and lastly Akbar.

Chander untethred his fathers mount from the wooden post and handed the reigns to the Old Man.

"You do the honor. I'll go fetch my mount and join you and my father shortly."

Chander rounded up his mount and walked it over to where the Seer stood with Akbar already atop his pony.

Akbar looked upon his son, and concealing his pride, simply signaled that he mount up.

"My son you will always be, Chander, but today you must first be a Watcher for our people. Do you understand ?"

"I do, my Chief."

Akbar turned to look upon the Seer.

"Mitaguyasin old friend."

The Seer raised his right palm in acknowledgment.

Akbar reined his steed toward Chandars.

"A good day to make peace - or to die..... let's ride."

A plume of dust trailing behind, they cantered east.


(to be cont.)

[Rman Virgil]

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* Here are 2 simple screen caps illustrating the problem that is being dealt with presently in the "Trouble Shooting" forum.










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* Here is a progressive log of my thinking on this issue as we have followed a diagnostic protocol to isolate the source of the CTDs so as to devise a remedy:

* I'm almost 100% sure it is directly correlated to "Zooming" below sea-level.

* The pre-GPL engine was obviously never designed for that.

* Though it makes for some interesting images & possibilities that  may be useful down the road as a game GPM enhancements - right now it is the source of CTDs in MP with Humans (playing the AIs in SKI is less likely to cause it since the AIs don't use the feature but it can still happen if you slip-up Zoom-Scrolling.)

* The simple FIX is to cap the Zoom-in to "0" Sea-Level.

* Once you are below Sea-level and scroll / Zoom-up you trigger out of range tertile coordinates, a mem / info cascade, and the game crashes.

* The other alternative is to enable such a handling - but that would be more complex and wouldn't make any sense since WZ doesn't have submersible GPMs, units or weaps - at least, not at this time.

.......besides, the polygon pop-ups are butt ugly and it serves absolutely no tactical purpose whatsoever to utilize the "Feature" in this way."

* It's like tunneling through the high elevations like some space-time anomaly worm-hole then suddenly dropping below sea-level then up again worm-holeing beneath the polygons to the surface structs again (bit of a roller-coaster ride) - as you can see from the stderr, wz starts processing the SAME feature as trying to occupy 2 diff map coordinates - at least that's how I'm interpreting the durn thing.

* What my output is indicating, incorrectly, is 1 feature occupying multiple map coordinates, something more like "folded space / teleportation / string-theory/ quantum mechanics / cloning" etc.)

* Whats happening here is fooling the math operants like so ....

* In the original WZ - without the extreme Zoom feature - you could not readily violate the coordinate mapping like going right through the polygons of a mountain..... instead you were kept to the surface: up and over or around, not through.

* Looking thru the crash log & dump, I believe the issue is mathematical ..... what is being triggered by going thru polygon elevations (negative space?) is an attempted division by 0 in the progressive game tracking process and that's a no-no (aka exception) that puts the brakes on everything.

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* Like I said in the Trouble Shooting thread - every day above ground is a good day and even more so if you can add to your learning, expanding your understanding.

* The process of analyzing this problem has been very rewarding for me from the vantage of learning a bunch of new stuff.....

* PLUS, with Dev's input and spearheading, we've been able to formulate a very useful step-by-step "Diagnostic Protocol" for the Win Platform - yet another boon to tackling the problem.


* All good things - the proverbial silver-lining in the butt ugly polygon pop-ups.


l8rs, rv 

[Rman Virgil]

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* Like mentioned in the above post, there is an effort in the "Trouble Shooting" Forum to try to get to the bottom of this problem. To unlock it's mystery will help in many ways beyond this occasion.

* Right now we could use some assistence.

* I've been able to recreate the conditions of this issue on a stock Pumpkin Map called "Ziggurat".

* I've also uploaded a "Ziggy 1" Save Game to the Troubleshooting thread HERE

* It would be of tremendous value to the cause (WZs robust Resurrection) if more peeps with diff hardware & OSs configs downloaded this Save Game, played it and let us know your experience by posting briefly (or at length - your choice) to the above linked thread.

* There are 2 possible outcomes -

* ONE: It will NOT crash - in which case you'll have a blast fending-off 7 tough & relentless A.I.s ..... you do have the defenses and offenses to prevail if you know how to command them.

* TWO: You'll duplicate the CTD and be able to provide much needed additional data for the diagnostic effort - which does indeed transcends this particular situation in the real sense of advancing a greater understanding of WZ's inner-workings AND how it all hangs together - prerequists to fundamental evolution.

* Let's see - I'd guesstimate that the whole procedure, including down-loading the Save Game file, at about 5 - 8 minutes of your time..... alright, lets say 10 minutes if you decide to get a glass of milk and some choclate chip cookies.  ;D

* 'Course if you don't CTD and are up to the Command challeges you could easily be enagaged in a fun 30+ minutes of pure WZ play which you can save at any time to continue another day.

* The following screen cap gives an Overview of what you'll be faced with.... BUT actually you will be at absolute ground level when you open the SG - sort of like the DROP-IN Mode that was 1st seen in MP "Ground Control".... chit happening all around you, explosions, howitzer canonades, Vtol squads trying to hold back the onslaught, Borg Mechs & Engineers desperately waddling around trying to fix chit up pronto.... scary, nerve rattling, not easy on the cool, calm & collected composure needed to take charge of the situation.. Yea, maybe it's best not to find out what that will call forth. 

* Course that assumes you play WZ - surprisingly, lots of folks around the hood actually don't or haven't in so long they can't remember when.... an interesting phenomenon in itself.  ???

* Thanks folks, rv




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* EDIT: I am taking a cool scientific PoV (& pivot) as these circumstances lend themselves beatifully to such an analysis - just an added, irresistable, boon, like Mana from above.  The data so far, in this short span, is mind-boggling - well, not quite, more like "revealing".... very much so & indispensible to maintaining an earthbound perspective along with a nice cappuchino and slice of genuine NY cheesecake. ::)

[Rman Virgil]

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* Long time no see folks - the Salt Lake,  Utah, Project rollout became (& is still) more all consuming than I originally anticipated some 5-6 months ago. A mixed bag, but mostly quite good.

* Haven't forgotten or abandoned this WZ project and will share some stuff - the only reason to be here, IMHO.

* Before posting the revised Parts 1 & 2 along with the freshly minted conclusion of the tale "The  Meeting of Leaders" (which brings full circle a dramatization of the "Trinity" backstory also outlined in this thread)

... let me say a few words on this particular 'tree' before turning to look briefly at the 'forest' that is the gaming fascination for me in general  & how I engage it specifically in WZ .

* First, the present status: the "Trinity" project made use of the stock "Rocky Mountain" tile set which left me when done with the bulk of the work with a strong sense that the textures had to be radically improved or the sub-par aesthetics would dearly detract from experiencing the hyper strategic GPMs that had been achieved.

* I've seen some beautiful stuff done  around here with textures, models and map features that I would love to use if they were made available under the GPL but since they're not (and I can understand those creators drive to perfect their work before releasing) I'll continue along with my own adequate (if not as stellar) modifications. When will it be finished ? - can't say cause much else comes before related to my professional responsibilities and their ongoing  expansion - such is life for those not independently wealthy.

* Now moving on to the "forest" POV

- I feel the need to put this all in the context of a vision that has been consistently evolving for me since the original Pumpkin moderated eXtreme BB days (some 8 years... hard to believe that much time has passed) and informs all my involvement throughout since beta-testing the original WZ way back when. This is, and always has been, my particular sandbox WZ-wise. The passion needing only that I exercise what  gifts I've been blessed with (rudimentary pen & paper, more than sufficient to the task), a purely joyful pastime in and of itself.

* Let me begin at the beginning -

* WZ (like most games) can be understood by utilizing the following design-structure terms or, conceptual framework:

* (1.) "Agency" aka GPMs (the rules made manifest) to facilitate the gamers acts of "figuring stuff out, making decisions, choosing one course out of many" and thus leading inexhorably to the "Contest" - blowing chit up & general blood-letting. Such has been the thrust of past WZ mods like Lord Apoc's unbalanced but fun v. 1.11, Strata & 4Nik8r's "v.1.12", Speedy's "A.I. Boost", Troman's "Aivolution" along with his & Elric's "Gates", NiKer's "Become Prey", RSgod's "Live or Die" as well as Coyote's many strategy imbued maps, likewise Maynard's "Bootcamp", Laws245's "Citadel Elite" and Prometheuses' "H2O", to mention but a few creators and their major WZ works. As I understand it, Watermelon's present efforts fall within that continuum-tradition of new Wz toys.

* (2.) "Immersion" - any and all components to the game world that promote the 'willing suspension of disbelief' thru sensory seduction (virtual & actual) - such as the game's GFX, SFX, music, textures, modeling, physics, bot a.i., etcetera.

* These elements of "Agency" & "Immersion" are, & have been since way back in the day, the core of the comp-vid gameing experience. In reality the elements should be seemlessly integrated (thus mutually reinforcing feedback loops are engendered) and are only seperated for the convenience of discussion and the practicalities of creative tasking & project management.

* Now we come to the crux of my game-story-theory and fascination:

* (3.) "Transformation" has always been a part of the community surrounding the common interest in the game that is WZ. "Transformation" as in gamers changing, evolving, growing, learning, and so forth (keeping it positive) as individuals in ways that have little or no bearing on their specific game playing skills. In this case the medium of interaction being mostly BBs (lately IRC has taken a more expansive role, and all along, IMs & emails have also had a place) the result, personal transformation.

* As such "Transformation" is clearly as powerful as it is compelling and to make it a vital component of the in-game world is, IMHO, to join it at the hip to 'story' or more precisely, 'cyberdrama' or IF.

* Heretofore, however, in-game "transformation" of the individual gamer is in no way, shape, or form an intended part of the experential gaming construct that is WZ or any RTS. At least not to date. Course you can see some baby-steps in this direction (rudimentary & barely scratching the surface) by way of RPGs - the most current model being MMOGs with persistent game universes.

* My passionate interest in WZ since day one (& all comp-vid gameing, for that matter) has been to extend "Agency" into "Transformation" within the game-world experience itself not just outside of it.

* Further defining this dimension of gamer "Transformation", it's intrinsic value, future game design extentions & possible implementations, and HOW the foregoing relates to so-called "RL" is outside the present scope of this post. But, if there is any expressed interest I'll elaborate or engage any of it. Otherwise, I'll make like a banana and split for another spell. (Btw, did you notice the tri-lateral thrust of my presentation ? Trinity, threes - get it ? Brings to mind the last fight sequence in Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" - the one in the hall of mirrors with the malevalent Han.)

* (For a more expansive treatment of this "Trinity" notion you may want to explore Peter Watson's magnificent "Ideas: A History of Thought from Fire to Freud" - distinctly edifying & grand fun at the same time, a rare combo.)

* Meanwhile, I shall submit later today the conclusion of "The Meeting of Leaders", along with newly revised sections 1 & 2, for your amusement.....

* Lastly, something of a caveat - while I have done my best to make this Trinity tale self-contained (and I think it is) -  there is no disguising that it is adapted from a larger work. That more expansive tome would be a WZ novel that I will be releasing in '08 under a Creative Commons License and which will be hosted at a couple of E-book sites as a .pdf file (with freehand  illustrations done in my favorite graphics  progs "Art Rage" & "Painter" which I'm much fonder of than the vector-based modeling of say Adobe "Illustrator CS3"). At that time I'll post links for those interested.

* Oh, yea, in the novel I do lavish over key battle sequences much like any die-hard grognard.

* Back in a few hours with the completed 5,000 word WZ Trinity  SS - "The Meeting of Leaders".

===============

[Rman Virgil]

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"Trinity" Story - Complete

(Part1)

The Meeting of Leaders


Elijah Bearheart put the last component of his EXO, the synaptic link, on a tidy desk which fronted the only window in his quarters over-looking the Trinity facility east to west. Though fully garbed, he felt buck naked without the electronic implant that not only drove his EXO but connected him intimately and at will to the entirety of the Project through its Central Main Frame at NORAD.

As the dawning sun began burning off the fog canopy of Trinty's lowest watery region, Elijah considered the trek leading to yet again, another milestone in the entwined history that was his life's service to the Project.

It was a blessing to be facing this new challenge rather than muddling through the grief of his life mates losing battle to the plague. For her he could only offer words of comfort that in no way changed the final outcome. On the other hand the words forged this day with Akbar of the Seven Nations could very well spell the best chance for a future free of the looming  Mangodai invasion.

Sure it was a gamble. Then again what wasn't. The very Project Protectorate, his rise from lowly squad leader, to General, to Commander & Chief, the building of Trinity itself.

In the years following the outward expansion from NORAD in the bowels of the Rocky Mountains to re-opening what was left of the Air Force Academy between Colorado Springs and the Denver ruins, every step along the way was a gamble risking threadbare lives and even scarcer resources, along with any slim hope for resurrecting civilization to a level above hand to mouth subsistence..

And always the chorus of naysayers dogging whatever new undertaking was brought foward. That such and such was just another road to techno damnation, they'd say. And this proposed treaty with the Seven Scav Nations had its fair share of virulent opposition.

"Sir, for what it's worth, I believe you are doing the right thing," his chief aide Mallory and first contact with the Seven Nations in a generation, spoke, stirring him out of reverie.

"Shedding the Exo, my link, going to the Yuwippi without an armed escort or the Treaty itself ?"

"All the above," Mallory said, without hesitation.

"Inspite of most of my cabinet's luke warm support, I'm sure within myself  and, mind you, I'm not blind to the real possibilty of having my head lopped off like John the Babtist and served up at Trinity's main access gate some moonless night."

Mallory shook his helmetless head side to side, a liberty he took for granted having made total honesty a condition of service to the Commander and Chief.

"Akbar is a man of honor and under a flag of truce you can be sure no harm will come to you. You know I know his measure first hand."

"I don't doubt your judgement but chit happens. For all we know, as we speak, or before we arrive or even while there in the midst negotiating, Akbar could be ousted as chief of chiefs. In any of those scenarios all bets are off as to keeping my head attached to my neck."

"True enough, but unlikely. I have seen, and owe my life, to the powerful bonds of honor between the war chiefs of the Seven Nations and Akbar. He is truly revered and only his passing to the Happy Hunting Grounds will unseat him."

"Time will tell. See to the truck's readiness yourself, my friend. I'll be done here shortly and i'll meet you at the Western Depot."

"I will, and I'll double check our basic provisions as well. Akbar's Seer was clear the landscape would present some hardship before we reached our destination."

"Hardship... ? As long as it doesn't include that ceremony you told of  with the piercings through chest muscles, I'm in good shape to handle most rigors of the trail, don't you think ?"

"You'll be fine. That other is only for traditional pipe carriers who have achieved the status of Sundancers."

"Well then...," said Bearheart putting his hand on the synaptic link winking green on the table, not entirely sure if there was enough common ground to bridge his instinctive distaste for such an act of self-mutilation, and the no doubt vastly different beliefs it sprang from, to forge a genuine alliance with the Scav Nations.

"If you haven't noticed, I've removed mine as well. I know what you're feeling, Elijah, but I'm sure you won't regret it."

Bearheart smiled, nodding agreement.

"Pick you up at the Western Depot in short order, sir."


(to be cont.)

------------->

cont.

(Part 2)


Chandar tousled the mane of his father's pie-eyed pony tethered outside the council lodge. That his father was riding his hunting pony and not his war mount was yet another gesture of good faith towards Mal-of-Ory who helped bring about todays Treaty Council with the Mekka leader Bearheart.

"You are to ride alongside him."

The Seer's steps were sly as ever but Chander made a point to not let on he'd been caught unawares.

"It is rightfully your place as Seer, is it not ?"

The Seer gently stroked the pony's withers.

"That has been my honor but it is time to pass it on. It is appropriate. Your time is here."

Chandar bristled at the vieled suggestion but kept calm.

"You know my path remains forked, undecided one way or the other."

The old man smiled at the youths rebellious spirit reigned-in with a natural grace and genuine respect.

"Indeed, Chandar, only too well. All the more reason to accompany Akbar as his Watcher."

Chandar's nimble mind tried to uncover the Seer's meaning but quickly decided a simple question was better than misinterpreting in silence.

"How so Seer ?"

He would make a fine chief, or seer, someday; the old man thought to himself which was nothing new as far as insights.

"Till such a time as your path unfolds clearly before you like a boar trail in the jungle... you must place yourself where you are not yet comfortable. Indeed the more against the rivers current the better. Only by such challenges will you call forth what is your true destiny. Can you see that ?"

The Seers wisdom was clear and Chandar nodded assent.

"Good."

Then the bison hide flaps to the Council Lodge parted. War chiefs exiting first and lastly Akbar in his finest buckskins, warrior bonnet,  silver smithing turquois braclets and Tatanka pendant necklace.

Chander untethered his fathers mount from the wooden post and handed the reigns to the Old Man.

"You do the honor. I'll go fetch my mount and join you and my father shortly."

Chander rounded up his mount, the pack mule with their provisions and ceremonial accoutremounts and walked them over to where the Seer stood with Akbar already atop his pony.

Akbar looked upon his son, and concealing his pride, simply signaled that he mount up.

"My son you will always be, Chander, but today you must first be a Watcher for our people. Do you understand ?"

"I do, my Chief."

Akbar turned to look upon the Seer.

"Mitaguyasin old friend."

The Seer raised his right palm in acknowledgment, wondering to himself if the Mekka leader Bearheart would live up to his name and manage to make it all the way to the treaty council site.

Akbar reined his steed toward dawn and stared at the sun's blood welling horizon. Chandar and the Seer abided these eternal moments in silence till alas the chief of chiefs spoke:

"It is a good day to make peace or look death in the face..... Let's ride, Watcher."

A cloud of dust trailing behind, they cantered into the brightening sky.


(to be cont.)

[Rman Virgil]

---------------------->

(concluding section)



"The Meeting of Leaders"


The first downpour struck them a kilometer out of Trinity. Sheets of water like cisterns being over-turned from up on high. In a second wave, rain became hail the size of knuckles making them uneasy about the truck's windshield shattering.

"Good thing I'm not superstitious. I'd take this for a bad omen or, at least, a not so promising beginning."

Driving under these conditions posed its challenges but Mallory felt he had to say something.

"Well sir, I am. Superstitious that is, and I don't see it that way."

The windshield held through the hail's pelting but the hair line cracks would spread like a web work soon enough. What had them more wary than glass crashing all over them were the thunderheads lingering, flashing the occasional muffled bolt of lightning, making morning as if nightfall were closing in noose-like.

"It's not idle curiosity, my friend. Honestly, how do you see it ?"

Taking advantage of the calm between outbursts, Elijah Bearheart rolled down his window. Steering one-handed, Mallory followed suit, relishing the ozone infused electric breeze like a heady elixir.

"You follow your true heart and pay the piper, come whatever. Putting failure on this, that, or some other is pure bull chit."

Bearheart couldn't help but let out a laugh. Mallory, knowing him well enough to tell the difference between mockery and appreciation, joined in.

The truck started angling upward and Mallory shifted into four-wheel drive. The ride soon had them whipping about like rag dolls in every direction, restraints digging into chest and collar bone as they bounced through mud slop, gouged earth, and inconspicuous rocks that felt like they were rolling over mighty boulders. Within minutes a curtain of opalescent white confronted them.

"We're gonna drive through that at this speed ?," asked Bearheart.

"Well, maybe I should slow down some," which he did but not by much.

Up they went straight into the mist blanketed flank of the caldera, aiming for its unseen plateau.

Casting a bobbing side-long glance, Mallory read Bearheart's taut jaw as a stoic gutting-it-out prompting him to pass on the Seer's reassurance; the caldera's rim would become visible well before they could roll over it blindly.

"Is there a limit to your trust or is it unconditional like a mother's love for her child ?"

Memories of two worlds surged through Mallory like white water rapids. Then in a breath, by some mindful discipline now second nature, he drew back into the present moment like a calming tide.

"I am of them, of their generations, that cannot be altered by neural implant, years ripped apart or my Project training. In time, if the treaty becomes reality, you'll see for yourself." He paused then as if cutting himself short, thought Bearheart.

"Go on, I can tell when you have something more to get off your chest."

That little encouragement was all Mallory needed.

"Just this, I'll add. We are our word. There is no other road to honor and life without honor is pathetic to no end."

Bearheart first heard Mallory speak to this honor of the Scavs when he stood defiantly before the High Council reporting on the last Southern Expeditionary Force before the Trinity initiative was born. As he only pondered those many months past the Project leader chose this moment to address the distinction that adled him still:

"Isn't that the same intent of our words honesty and integrity ?"

Mallory took a deep breathe, clenched his teeth, then delved deep within for the truest words, and at last, as a sculptor striking chisel with confidence, said:

"There's over-lap for sure, but there's more to it as well. Through honor we seek power within ourselves and over ourselves alone. Not over others or their destiny or, for that matter, blighting the land, the waters or the beasts that share this world with us to the sole end of containing our misplaced fears of dieing or simply being shamed or humiliated."

Bearheart pondered on the divergence of life-ways, granted Mallory had a point, kidded him about missing his calling as a speaker on the High Council and then  added:

"Maybe someday i'll know the difference as well as you."

As unexpected as the morning storm, the thick fog parted in a swirl of serpent wisps, the jagged rim some thirty meters ahead. Mallory cut the engine, letting the truck coast slowly to a crunching halt, each tire stirring a plume of dust. Dust not mud, for on this side of the mist the ground was desert dry and the light of midday as it should be though the sun was still veiled.

Standing outside the truck, scanning from left to right they caught sight of the two pie-eyed mustangs slackly tethered just shy of the drop-off, each with a feed bag draped from pole and crest, tails flicking back and forth. Carefree they munched and Mallory, to avoid spooking them, advised Bearheart to step surely but lightly as they began to close the distance on foot.

"Are those for us ?"

"Yes and no."

They reached the rise, some paces aside the mustangs, who paused in their meal, whinnied and then shuffled back a step, to better keep a wary eye on the strangers who smelled nothing like their usual mounts. If the need to bolt arose, those loose tethers would pose little resistance.

"Is that a riddle, my friend ?"

Odd, thought the Project leader, how the mist clung to the slope on either side of the crown, leaving just the curled ridge with about twenty to thirty meters of scrub, dirt and crumbling limestone exposed. The perimeter ring itself had the shinny appearance of fused stone, likely the result of volcanism, and was many  kilometers across, but that was just a guess. It was hard to judge because the view to the far end was obstructed by the bed of mist itself mushrooming upward at what he took for the middle. It was a spectacle more rightly seen way up in the sky during sunset; cloud billows reminiscent of mountain fortresses or, at their most intricate, celestial cities. He wondered how a VTOL would fair flying above this crater. Could it navigate well enough through the hyper thermals, the likely instrumentation disruption, to manage a birds-eye-view above that middle mushroom. From such a vantage you might  see below to the very bottom landscape, what he imagined an earthen bowl. But in truth whatever the basin was would remain a  mystery till they reached it on foot.

"Not at all. Thinking aloud. Sorry."

Bearheart, not the least bit annoyed, attended Mallory in silence. Gathering himself, Mallory continued:

"The animals were left behind for a couple reasons, I believe. First, in case we were unsure of making the descent on foot. Second, to let us know."

"Know what ?"

"That they await us below and that they saw fit to make the final passage under their own power."

"Sounds like something of a test."

"Indeed, one of a few I dare say we'll face on this journey. More of the spirit than the body, be assured, though it may seem otherwise."

Bearheart nodded acknowledgment. Mallory sensed his friend's trust without words and supposed that none of this would have been possible without such at the heart of both these leaders. Of course there was a substantial contingent on the Project High Council who were hardened cynics and whose support was gained in the end appealing to their baser instincts. In essence, what was there to lose by hedging our bets against the common Mangodai threat. How Akbar convinced his dissenters, for surely there were those whose suspicions of the "Mekkas" ran deep in the blood, Mallory had no clue.

"Sir," Mallory held out his hand with a small brown satchel, "take this. It is an offering. I have one as well. Just follow my actions when the time comes."

"An offering ?"

"As we spoke about at Trinity, there will be a purification ceremony before your treaty council with Akbar. Some details I reserved for when we stood on this  sacred ground for then there would be a gut connection not just words. Yuwippi it is called and these bundles are a token of respect offered to the ancestors that they bless the proceedings to come with good will all round. They are also a reminder that whatever is decided this day must also hold good for seven generations to come."

Bearheart was touched deeply by the genuine consideration for the world the unborn would inherit.

"I see. I share those beliefs and that is a great deal of common ground. That said, any more suprises ? Scratch that. Let it be as it may. Your loyalty is all I need be sure of here and now. May we continue ?", Bearheart made a gesture of pointing open-palmed to the crater's interior clearly indicating Mallory take the lead.

"Yes, let's."

The incline began fairly steep for a good distance and Mallory showed Bearheart the side-wise jog technique, much like a scampering shore crab, that allowed for a more controlled descent at this severe incline than a straight, headlong stride. Eventually the slope tapered gently as they approached the second layer of mist and the brightly painted eagle totem. Beautiful and fearsome this wood-working, thought Bearheart, before uttering a much more practical concern.

"We'd best get another compass bearing before we cross this threshold or we could end-up walking in circles, no ?"

Mallory shook his head side to side and said:

"Ordinarily true enough but our compass needle spins useless here."

"That's hardly reassuring, not to say strange."

"Strange as in rare, I agree, but the laws of physics still apply. There is much to tell of this crater going back to an age when our ancestors scurried about weaponless trying to out-wit flesh-eaters. But that's for another occasion. You might look it up in our history-base back at Trinity under 'Alvarez', a late twentieth century astro-geo-physicist slash paleonthologist, or something like that, if I recall. As for our safe passage through this ground hugging cloud to the Yuwippi lodge, we'll be fine. Guides will lead us on the true path of the sacred hoop."

"Guides ? Have you seen some sign I missed that the Seer and Akbar will meet us here ?"

"No. As far as I can tell they await us still at the lodge below. The guides I speak of are called Thunderbeings. Come, you'll see."

Crossing into the second band of mist was like stepping into an inferno without flames. Both men were drenched in sweat within seconds, their garments chaffing, compelling them to shed shirt and trousers to continue bare chested, clad only in briefs. If the ground had not been brittle-sharp like sandstone, and scalding hot to boot, they would have gone barefoot as well.

Bearheart's breathing become labored and he began to feel the air sucked out of his lungs. It was as if the mist itself was suffocating them, squeezing the life out of them.

"Stay calm. This will pass." What Mallory didn't say was that to panic would be certain death, a drowning on dry land. Instead what he added was:

"Can you smell that spicy, smoky, scent ?"

Bearheart had caught a whiff of something he couldn't place.

"Yes. What is it ?"

"Sage, burning in a fire pit not far."

Mallory could hear his leader's breathing become more regular, the dire gasp subsiding and wondered if they had chosen to ride the mustangs from the ridge would the animals have crossed into this inner hoop of near scalding mist. He let go that question to focus on Bearheart's wellbeing. 

"Try to recall a past experience that brought you pure contentment, bring it to the fore and relive it in your heart."

Bearheart turned inward back to his youth and that shining moment when he asked and she assented, while he cupped her graceful hand in his bear paws.

"We'll get through this. It is as the Yuwippi below in many ways. I can see what the Seer meant now."


(continued)

[Rman Virgil]

----------------------------------------------->

(concluding section continued)


Mallory pivoted slowly in a circle, seeking some hint of the glittering blue decay that trailed thunderbeings like spent fireworks. Three quarters round and there it was. With a tinge of reluctance Mallory averted his gaze to instead look Bearheart in the eye, noting the absence of creases on his face. The Project leader had found his safe harbor, that much was obvious, and keeping him close by was more important than pointing-out their one path revealed.

"Here," he handed Bearheart the buckle end of the belt, "take this, it'll keep us together through the thick of it."

Bearheart grabbed hold and Mallory turned to follow the first guide's quickly dissipating spoor. When that one vanished another appeared and in between, firepits of smoldering embers wafting sage. At each pit Mallory would cup his hands, dipping out of the pit the vapors, bringing them up and over his face, inhaling deep.

They kept a steady pace, focused tightly on the trailings, but with no visible sun, sky or landmarks, the passage of time, and distance traveled, became meaningless. Were minutes passing or hours, meters or kilometers, they couldn't say and as long as they could quench their thirst when need be, it wasn't critical.. Twice they slacked their parched throats. Was there enough water left to complete the journey ? A question Mallory could not answer so set aside to concentrate on the glittering trail. Which he did till none appeared to follow the last and still the impenetrable mist surrounding them as they stopped beside yet another fire pit reeking sage.

"What do we do now ?," asked Bearheart calmly.

Mallory could think of no course of action.

"Best if we wait here for a sign, I think. Be sure, this was no trap and we have not been lured to our death."

Saying his peace Mallory sat cross legged on the pile he'd just dropped that were his shirt and trousers,and reaching for the offering bundle that hung from his neck, held it pressed to his chest, inhaling deeply burnt sage.

"You're praying ?," asked Bearheart, as if perplexed.

Mallory looked up, offered a lop-sided smile and when Bearheart asked "May I ?", nodded to the place beside him.

After saying his prayer in a whisper, Mallory closed his eyes, stopped thinking about anything in particular, and let his sense of hearing predominate; a skill battle hardened warriors had in common with successful hunters.

At first he heard only his and Bearhearts breathing, the grating against the ground when either one shifted their weight but there was something else beneath those sounds; a pattern, faint, intricate alluring . The more he focused on the rhythm the more it stood out till even the sound of his own breathing fell away and if it hadn't been for the dryness in his mouth he would have been happy to lose himself in the cadence, to be one with the drumming.   

So it was the drum that would lead them on the last stage of this journey, something the Seer had left out when Mallory spoke to him last.

Mallory lifted the canteen to his lips and took a modest swig, noteing how little was left.

"We passed the point of no-return a while back didn't we ?," asked Bearheart, not expecting an answer, as he too drank but drops from  his canteen.

"Yes. But we have a way to continue now."

Bearheart stood up and stretched while Mallory told of the drumming in a voice drained of emotion. In turn, as hard as he might, Bearheart could hear none of it.

"Let's put our belts together and you  stand where you are while I hold the other end and walk the circle."

Purely attuned to the beat Mallory felt confident in the direction by the second circuit.

"This way."

And so they stalked the drum song for a dream time.

When at last they crossed the threshold it was like stepping from night to day in one fell swoop, no dawn between.

"Truly, we are now walkers between the worlds, my friend," Mallory said, useing a phrase Akbar's Seer had shared with him after hearing his testament during the last moon's Yuwippi. The testament of a scav child made citizen-soldier of the Project and now, the first bloodless contact between these nations in more than a generation.

"Worlds indeed. Who could've imagined anything like this."

Mallory let go his attention on the drumming to take in the other worldly terrain before them.

Steam geysers punctuated the land, haphazardly it seemed, as far as the eye could see. The land itself was mottled like puzzle pieces of tan, dark brown, emerald green, reddish bronze  and, most unusual, deep lavender. Then there was the array of stone slabs, strenuous handiwork to some end. These stela appeared at first blush strewn throughout the basin but then when the eye wandered from one to the other rapidly they somehow managed to conjure a geometry of spiraling inward, drawing them bodily to an invisible nexus.

"Look at those steam fumeroles. Think of the possibilities - geothermal electric generating plants, comes to mind loud and clear."

Mallory bristled, turning to face his friend and leader.

"Don't even go there with Akbar. That could only happen through war with the seven nations, exterminating every man, woman and child old enough to wield a weapon. This is sacred land for all the tribes as it stands and inviolate for those yet to be born. That is also the scav way."

There was a passion in Mallory's voice that reminded Bearheart of believers expressing their religious convictions.

"Way ahead of you, my friend. I was actually taking the Mangodai strategic point of view. This would be a hell of a prize and foothold. Ideal for a strong natural defense and resources to no end."

Already in negotiating mode for the treaty council, thought Mallory,
closing his eyes to better focus again.

"I see a pennant," said Bearheart, pointing.

"Yes. That's where we're headed," he said, knowing it was one and the same with the drum song even without looking.

They couldn't take the most direct route as the crow flies, having to skirt hot springs, erupting geysers,  bubbling mudholes and those enigmatic but mesmerizing stela.

Before long the drumming stopped and where they could only make out the triangular pennant flapping from a pole atop an earthen mound, they could make out at its base what looked to be a four legged critter smaller than a horse, and two silhouettes hunkered to the left that began unlimbering to stand tall. To Mallory's eye the graceful movement of both figures bespoke a youthful vigor which was at odds with his expectation of Akbar being accompanied by the old Seer. At the same time he took notice of his own shadow moving ahead and, looking up, realized there was sunshine penetrating through the center of that mushroom cloud they had observed before entering the second layer of mist within the caldera. There was also a breeze that tingled reminding him, along with Bearheart, that they were practically naked and redressing before entering Akbar's camp would be in order, which they did. Besides the  heat and humidty were far less extreme here on the basin floor than the mist cloaked slope above.

"We've been in tunnel-vision mode for the better part of this journey," Mallory said in a voice that Bearheart recognized as his friend  thinking aloud and not as any attempt at persuasion.

"Yes. It's time to switch gears and start operating like a wide-spectrum sensor, if you catch my meaning."

Mallory grinned.

"I do. Let's get you introduced and remember, follow my lead with the greeting and the satchel."

Within thirty meters Mallory could make out that it was Chandar who accompanied the chief of chiefs of the Seven Scav Nations.

"That's Akbar's son, Chandar.  I expected the old Seer.  That being what it is, treat the boy as a man, a peer and don't give him any special deference because of his father. I'm sure the reason for his presence will be made clear soon enough."

At five meters Bearheart could make out the artfull body painting, raven hair flowing below the shoulder, one braid at each temple and the rainbow spray of Akbar's feathered  headdress. By comparison Chandar's apprearance puzzled Bearheart for its striking plainess and with his close cropped hair the young man could pass for a common citizen of the Project Protectorate.

Mallory led the way first exchanging the scav warrior forearm grip with Chandar while uttering, "Mado, mitaguyasin" and then the same with Akbar. Bearheart followed in kind, matching  Akbar's intent gaze, fierce and calm at the same time.

After formally introducing the Project's leader to the chief of chiefs, Mallory said:

"Come my friend," nodding towards the pennant pole and the docile pack mule.

Looking at the base of the pole mound, Bearheart saw the sapling with several satchels dangling and the curve horned, and massive, bleached white skull. After Mallory added his offering, Bearheart did likewise after which  Mallory pointed to the skull and said:

"That is Tatanka. It's meaning you've  come to know a little on our journey. The rest will unfold in council with Akbar."

After speaking Mallory turned full circle as if looking for something and with a puzzled look uttered:

"I don't see it."

Walking back to where Akbar and Chandar still stood, close on Mallory's heels, Bearheart wondered what his friend was refering to.

"The Yuwippi ceremony lodge.... is it somewhere else ?"

Akbar spread his arms, turning to look and take in the whole of the caldera's horizon.

"This is our lodge."

To which Chandar added:

"Your journey to get here was the Yuwippi, Mall-of-ory."

Akbar looked to Bearheart, taking his measure. The moment was not lost to Bearheart.

"You've honored us with this journey. We'll break bread now and tell what deeds we are proudest of in our different worlds. And out of all that passes this day will be born a new future between our peoples."

Hearing the open-hearted conviction girding these words, Bearheart could also believe that from these simple beginings would grow an alliance to not only resist but shred asunder the Mangodai campaign of conquest.

"I could hope for nothing finer, Akbar."

The leaders and their trusted companions shared food and drink, speaking well into the night of noble deeds past and those yet to come.


==============

[Watermelon]

------------->

* Long time no see folks - the Salt Lake,  Utah, Project rollout became (& is still) more all consuming than I originally anticipated some 5-6 months ago. A mixed bag, but mostly quite good.

* Haven't forgotten or abandoned this WZ project and will share some stuff - the only reason to be here, IMHO.

* Before posting the revised Parts 1 & 2 along with the freshly minted conclusion of the tale "The  Meeting of Leaders" (which brings full circle a dramatization of the "Trinity" backstory also outlined in this thread)

... let me say a few words on this particular 'tree' before turning to look briefly at the 'forest' that is the gaming fascination for me in general  & how I engage it specifically in WZ .

* First, the present status: the "Trinity" project made use of the stock "Rocky Mountain" tile set which left me when done with the bulk of the work with a strong sense that the textures had to be radically improved or the sub-par aesthetics would dearly detract from experiencing the hyper strategic GPMs that had been achieved.

* I've seen some beautiful stuff done  around here with textures, models and map features that I would love to use if they were made available under the GPL but since they're not (and I can understand those creators drive to perfect their work before releasing) I'll continue along with my own adequate (if not as stellar) modifications. When will it be finished ? - can't say cause much else comes before related to my professional responsibilities and their ongoing  expansion - such is life for those not independently wealthy.

* Now moving on to the "forest" POV

- I feel the need to put this all in the context of a vision that has been consistently evolving for me since the original Pumpkin moderated eXtreme BB days (some 8 years... hard to believe that much time has passed) and informs all my involvement throughout since beta-testing the original WZ way back when. This is, and always has been, my particular sandbox WZ-wise. The passion needing only that I exercise what  gifts I've been blessed with (rudimentary pen & paper, more than sufficient to the task), a purely joyful pastime in and of itself.

* Let me begin at the beginning -

* WZ (like most games) can be understood by utilizing the following design-structure terms or, conceptual framework:

* (1.) "Agency" aka GPMs (the rules made manifest) to facilitate the gamers acts of "figuring stuff out, making decisions, choosing one course out of many" and thus leading inexhorably to the "Contest" - blowing chit up & general blood-letting. Such has been the thrust of past WZ mods like Lord Apoc's unbalanced but fun v. 1.11, Strata & 4Nik8r's "v.1.12", Speedy's "A.I. Boost", Troman's "Aivolution" along with his & Elric's "Gates", NiKer's "Become Prey", RSgod's "Live or Die" as well as Coyote's many strategy imbued maps, likewise Maynard's "Bootcamp", Laws245's "Citadel Elite" and Prometheuses' "H2O", to mention but a few creators and their major WZ works. As I understand it, Watermelon's present efforts fall within that continuum-tradition of new Wz toys.

* (2.) "Immersion" - any and all components to the game world that promote the 'willing suspension of disbelief' thru sensory seduction (virtual & actual) - such as the game's GFX, SFX, music, textures, modeling, physics, bot a.i., etcetera.

* These elements of "Agency" & "Immersion" are, & have been since way back in the day, the core of the comp-vid gameing experience. In reality the elements should be seemlessly integrated (thus mutually reinforcing feedback loops are engendered) and are only seperated for the convenience of discussion and the practicalities of creative tasking & project management.

* Now we come to the crux of my game-story-theory and fascination:

* (3.) "Transformation" has always been a part of the community surrounding the common interest in the game that is WZ. "Transformation" as in gamers changing, evolving, growing, learning, and so forth (keeping it positive) as individuals in ways that have little or no bearing on their specific game playing skills. In this case the medium of interaction being mostly BBs (lately IRC has taken a more expansive role, and all along, IMs & emails have also had a place) the result, personal transformation.

* As such "Transformation" is clearly as powerful as it is compelling and to make it a vital component of the in-game world is, IMHO, to join it at the hip to 'story' or more precisely, 'cyberdrama' or IF.

* Heretofore, however, in-game "transformation" of the individual gamer is in no way, shape, or form an intended part of the experential gaming construct that is WZ or any RTS. At least not to date. Course you can see some baby-steps in this direction (rudimentary & barely scratching the surface) by way of RPGs - the most current model being MMOGs with persistent game universes.

Actually I think what makes MMOGs so popular is its cooperative gameplay,in most pc games,a cooperative gameplay experience is usually lacking:either throwing yourself into a crazy space scene wielding some huge guns,running around and killing each other,or in a non-stop clickfetish mass more tanks state.Even though I am not a fan of MMOGs and never really played a MMO game,but I do think fighting against NPC monsters or sumthing cooperatively plays a more important role than human vs human matchups in MMO games.Also MMO games might make players more sociable,similar to 'transformation' you mentioned I think.

From reading the writer's/artist's section on rts.net(I was too lazy to register on that site,and it seems it's closed now/requires an account to view its forums  ),I always think rts.net forums feels more like a 'home' for players than this site,I am not saying this site is not home,but this site is usually filled with serious technical debates,and rarely pay attentions to 'outside world' or 'transformation'.

* Lastly, something of a caveat - while I have done my best to make this Trinity tale self-contained (and I think it is) -  there is no disguising that it is adapted from a larger work. That more expansive tome would be a WZ novel that I will be releasing in '08 under a Creative Commons License and which will be hosted at a couple of E-book sites as a .pdf file (with freehand  illustrations done in my favorite graphics  progs "Art Rage" & "Painter" which I'm much fonder of than the vector-based modeling of say Adobe "Illustrator CS3"). At that time I'll post links for those interested.

* Oh, yea, in the novel I do lavish over key battle sequences much like any die-hard grognard.

* Back in a few hours with the completed 5,000 word WZ Trinity  SS - "The Meeting of Leaders".

===============

would be cool if we can get a copy of all contents that got posted on rts.net as a pdf or CHM,there are many fascinating articles/novels/fan-fictions/poems and never-seen-before articles like 'the-inventor-of-TV' ,though the copyrights of different articles/authors will be a problem I guess.