Player Instructions for Atlantis 3.0

Copyright 1996 by Geoff Dunbar

This document is now defunct; the Atlantis 3.0 game is over, and any references or addresses in here may no longer be valid.

This document describes the game specific instructions for playing Atlantis 3.0, as well as various game policies. It does not describe the rules of Atlantis 3.0; there is a separate document which details the rules of Atlantis 3.0.

Orders Instructions:

The game is run once per week, on Sunday nights. Orders are due at 6 PM on Sunday, Pacific Standard Time.

Make sure you always have the latest set of rules. There are some early draft versions of the rules which are inaccurate, and various rules may change or be clarified during the game.

The address for orders and times articles is game30@prankster.com. Messages sent to this address are processed automatically; the subject is ignored, it simply looks through the body of the message for #atlantis or #times. You should get a receipt for the message you send, confirming the orders or times article you sent in.

Any administrative mail should be sent to admin30@prankster.com, so that I can process it by hand. (Such as bug reports, requests for copies of the rules, or anything else). Mail sent to game30 is processed by computer, and I will never see it.

To submit orders, put the lines: 

#atlantis [faction number] [password]

#end
around the orders that you wish to submit (as the rules detail). If you a have password set, you have to give your password on your #atlantis line. You may send in multiple sets of orders; only the last one received will be used.

IMPORTANT: If you set your password, the change does not take effect until the next turn is run. So if you resubmit orders for that turn, you should use the old password.

To submit times articles, the procedure is the similar; times articles are published in the Atlantis Times, sent out each week. If you submit a times article, you are eligible for a 50 silver reward (though the reward may be withheld for exceptionally poor or off topic articles). When you submit an article, surround it with the lines: 

#times signed [faction number] [password]

#end
The "signed" keyword is optional; submission of a signed article will identify your faction as the author of the article in question; if "signed" is omitted, the article will be submitted anonymously. This has no effect on your eligibility for the 50 silver reward.

These are some special orders to have files sent: 

#send report [turn number] [faction number] [password]
#send times [turn number]
These are used to send old reports or Times articles. In either case, the word "LAST" may be used, in place of the turn number, to send the most recent Times or report. These orders should be sent in the body of a message to game30@prankster.com; they do not need to be inside of a set of "#atlantis" and "#end" orders.

Player Mailing List:

There is now a mailing list set up for the use of Atlantis 3.0 players. To subscribe to this list, send mail to majordomo@prankster.com with the words 'subscribe players30' in the body of the message. Note that this list is completely optional; you don't need to be on the list to play Atlantis 3.0.

Player Rules:

  1. Exploiting bugs is not permitted; the punishment for exploiting a bug depends on the circumstances, but I reserve the right to remove you from the game for exploiting serious bugs. If you find a bug (or even just a documentation error), please let me know about it. Bug reporters may be eligible for a reward in the game; typical rewards are 50 silver. Let me know what your faction number is when reporting a bug if you wish to receive this reward.

    For especially serious bugs, I may resort to other measures to try to repair your faction, such as restoring items, moving units, etc. However, all of this is at my discretion, as these changes can have effects on many other players. Only for the most serious bugs will the turn be re-run; if this happens, everyone's turn fee will be refunded for that turn.

  2. Harrassing other players in not permitted; this may also result in you being removed from the game. There is sometimes a fine line between an acceptable threat within the game, and an unacceptable threatening message. Please make sure that your messages are clearly designated as Atlantis mail, and any threats are confined to game terms. Also, be aware that your standards of acceptable language may not be the same as someone elses. Example:

    Acceptable email message: 

    Subject: Atlantis: Prepare to die!

Greetings to Hans Shadowspawn,
Beware you scurvy dog, I will hunt you down and kill you!
  Signed,
  Lord Vox
    Unacceptable email message: 

    Subject: I'm gonna kick your ***

You little *****, I'm gonna come to your house, and tear your **** off!

  3. Players are only allowed to play one faction, and each player must have his own email account. Breaking this rule is grounds for removal from the game. Note that this rule can be particularly difficult to enforce, but breaking this rule can give players an unfair advantage, and makes the game less fun for all involved.

  4. As a warning, game delays are possible. I strive to run Atlantis 3.0 on time, but keep in mind that it is a one man, one computer operation. This is just a warning though, I expect all turns to be run on time, or at worst a day late.

  5. Please use your common sense. Just because something isn't spelled out here or in the rules, doesn't mean that it is all right. In all cases, the gamemaster has the final say on acceptable behavior, and his judgement is final.

  6. That's about it, except make sure you have fun!

Payment Policy:

  1. The cost for Atlantis 3.0 is (US) $1 per turn.

  2. Payment is generally in half-year increments ($26). However, should you decide not to play Atlantis 3.0 anymore, the fees for any unplayed turns will be refunded. Note that the fees for played turns are not refundable.

  3. Acceptable forms of payment are by credit card (VISA or Mastercard), or by personal check made out in US dollars.

  4. To make a credit card payment, you may email the relevant information, or phone the Merry Prankster Games voicemail at (425) 827-6103. Note that email is not a secure transaction, and Merry Prankster Games is not liable for any theft of you credit card number when transmitted this way. In either case, make to sure specify the name on the card, the type of card, the card number, and the expiration date.

  5. To pay by check, send a check made out to Merry Prankster Games, in US dollars, to: 

    Merry Prankster Games
218 Main Street #292
Kirkland WA 98033

  6. Any refunds that are due will be refunded in the manner of payment. If you pay with a credit card, we will refund the appropriate amount to the credit card account; if you pay by check, we will mail you a check.

  7. If there is a valid reason for multiple players to pay at once, this is acceptable. (Such as international players, or family members). However, remember that each player may only play one faction, as per the player rules above.