06.28.01 - Crossroads of Dereth returning today

Crossroads of Dereth should be back up sometime today. Be sure to check back often and give your support to this incrediable AC site. When it gets back up a lot of the links in the resource section should be working, if not I'll be fixing them shortly thereafter.

06.25.01 - I'm trying

Yes, I know it's been almost a week since I've done an update and I'm sorry. If you knew all the stuff I had going on you'd be surprised I even keep a website. Besides my real job and RL stuff, I'm trying to get Dizz to 50, working on this website, working on a Clan website, working on an undisscolsed AC Utility and I just accepted a position at the new CoD website. So I'm staying busy to say the least.

Anyway enough complaining, I finally fixed a few links in Resource section. The link to the Mdxp sheet is now working so everyone can stop sending me emails about it now ;) I had no idea how popular it was till it was down, I promise I will update the sheet after I get 50. Also I fixed the link to the Pull scrolls everytime thread. Seems I archived it and forgot to change the link. Since I'm talking about this thread I have some new info on this topic that I'll be posting soon.

Also I want point everyon in the direction of the OG board. Fahrenheit has posted an excellent interview with Og the One eye Source of the Og (my interview with Og the One Eye) .

Yes I know I usually give analysis on the monthly patch and I haven't done one yet, and this patch I should have so maybe I'll get to it today or tomorrow.

06.18.01 - More Site Stuff

First off that post 50 Battlemage, Warhead, is having entirely too much fun and talks a little about it in his latest journal entry part14

Second, I've been archiving some of the messages on the boards so that we don't loose them.  Since I'm having to do this all the BMs who have contributed journals will eventually be getting proper webpages for each of their journals.  To start Tokugawa is getting his section done.  So if you haven't visited his now might be a good time.

06.18.01 - Site Happenings

Well I've went through all the resource section and deactivated all the dead links that were pointing to CoD.  Some of these docs were of great value.  So if you have any of them on your hard drive I would really like to give them a new home here till some resemblance of Cod comes back.  I had the portal map that I use so it has been moved locally

Also in the resource section I have add the Essence of Enchantment to the Level 7 spell information. 

Also Fahren Al-Heit has added another excellent story to his collection.  Check it out and give him a comment here : The Road of Sin and Corruption.

06.14.01 - Splitpea has moved and...

One of our favorite programs has been MIA for a little bit but it's back and can be found at www.rainpea.com What is RainPea?  Well it's the name of the next version of splitpea with an amazing amount of new features.  See what all Merry has to say about it here http://vnboards.ign.com/message.asp?topic=12642714

06.14.01 - OG Starter Guide in the Works

I absolutely love this community of mages we have here.  On our newly create OG forum we have an OG Starter Guide v0.5 that has been created by Finges.  He's currently looking for improvements to it before we make it official so if you think you know your stuff when it comes to OGs go there now and help contribute.

06.14.01 - Put some clothes on!

Dizz in his tiny whities

06.14.01 - New Stories online

We have a new addition to the site.  Fahrenheit has been contributing Stories/Diaries to our message board for a little while now.  They are well written stories about his Battlemage.  So I've created a section for him and they can now be from the website.  I do hope you enjoy these as much as I have.  His new section can be found here : Fahren Al-Heit

06.13.01 - Dizz's Diary - Dizz Explores the crater

That's right boys and girls I got off my butt and put together a new diary. In this diary I explore the very depths of the crater for you. I do hope you enjoy. You can get your fresh copy here :Dizz Explores the crater

Let me know what you think

06.13.01 - What kind of site is this again?

Well this is a mage site, I try to post all things related to mages and I know I've been keeping this site focused to BMs but the time has come for that to change. I want this site to eventually be all encompassing. So to start out I'm including the OGs out there. I have created a new forum specifically for you OGs out there and do hope that you decide to contribute there. Also I will over the next few weeks start to add OG sections to this site. But being that I'm a BM I need some OG contributers. Mainly right now I'm looking for an OG beginners guide, so if you think you would like to make one please send it in or let me know your ideas on how I can better facilatate this mage class.

For now just go and visit our new OG forum here Welcome OG Brothers and Sisters

06.10.01 - Comp Buyer is on Tap for June

That wonderful gift from turbine that we have all been waiting for is finally going to happen. You can get all your questions answered here about the new comp buyer : http://zone.msn.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEcompbuying.asp

To bad they aren't giving us the ability to do this with peas.

06.07.01 - Resource Section updated

I had to remove the csv, and excel sheets from the resource section since worlzone.net won't allow them with their free membership. Added the new thread that is currently going on about steel chest to the Level 7 spell information section. Also I added warhead's website under battlemage links.

addition 06.10.01 - The MdXp list has now been fixed. Thanks to those of you who sent that in.

06.07.01 - Warhead Keeps on blowing things up

Warhead continues to plow through after breaking the barrier. He has 2 new journal entries. Of particular intrest is part 13, if you need any kind of encouragment for getting your BM up to 50 this is where you should go to find it.

Part 12 is up, what a milestone!
And here's part 13 :)

Also I would like to take this time to bring attetion to Warhead's BattleMage Serverlist he is trying to compile a list of BMs accross all servers. To help in this effort I have started this thread which will hopefully fill in a lot of blanks.

06.04.01 - Oh NO!! Those crazy BMs are graduating

Well even though I haven't had a diary in quite a while, some of the other BMs around here have. And both these guys have graduated this week so they definitly deserve a big hand for that. Read about their recent additions

Warhead
........A somewhat short part 11
........w00000000ttt!!!! :) < Cool picture here

Tokugawa
........Diary of Tokugawa the Mage, Part XII - Graduation Day

I can't tell you how much I appriciate these guys contributing to the site with their diaries. So make sure you stop by their threads and congradulate them.

Here are a couple of other BMs from the boards that have graduated. (sorry if I missed any)

Aiel - Woo Hoo!!!!!
Leeny Bruce - COMPLETION =] STATS@50

06.03.01 - Growing Pains

Well as you can tell brinkster.com is no longer servicing my site because I'm using too much bandwidth. They are to expensive to upgrade to so I'm moving to a new website. This one has quite a bit more bandwidth available so maybe we can keep this alive here. I was planning on moving this site sooner or later but I guess it came sooner. I was really planning on purchasing a domain name when I made this move but the urgancy has not made that possible. So this probably won't be the last move I make for the website. I realize the mandatory banners are causing a problem with the contents pane and hope to get rid of those ASAP. Also you may find dead links and such because I'm moving from a windows system to a linux one. Please bare with me while everything gets switched over. I'm a one man show here and trying my best to keep this site up.

For now the new address is http://dizzarian.com/acmages/ so update your bookmarks.

Any problems with the new webpage should be reported here : The Webpage is now moved

05.31.01 - Negative Spell Economy?

Ken Troop wants to know what you think

Post in this forum, if you have had wacky spell economy things happening to you this month.

Maybe at some point, we'll post some theories we have of what's going on

Let him know here : Negative Spell Economy?

05.31.01 - Spiltbeans yanked

Just caught this news on the message board. Spiltbeans has been pulled by it's creator until speed hacks are fixed. This is the news from his thread on AcDev.org

Well, the proliferation of speedhacks is now completed. I went PK for a bit of fun on TD, and out of 4 or 5 encounters, there are 2 I am CERTAIN were using speedhacks, 1 probably was, with a grand total of 40% honest players. This is entirely the fault of Microsoft, who have persistantly failed to enforce their own rules.

Either way, I only post this to make note that all the programs I've been developing for AC are now on hold, and removed indefinatly. This includes the dungeon viewer, model viewer, land viewer, Spiltbeans, and a few other minor sidelines. Please read http://www.archgrove.co.uk/spiltbeans.html for more information.

Well, theres not much more to say. I will return if and when Microsoft wake up to the world, and provide a customer service. If it doesnt happen in 28 days (the length left on my subscription), someone lucky is going to get a few scints and ingots, as I don't want them to just fade away like this game is.

Thanks guys, it's been fun
Bye
Asriel

Now I know you have something to say about this. Tell the bm community what you think here : A sad day...

05.31.01 - New Journals

While I was away a couple of the guys updated their journals.

Warhead - Part 10, a preview of things to come

Tokugawa - Diary of Tokugawa, Part XI - Major Atlan Stones

Good stuff, check em out.

05.25.01 - Happenings

Well I've got another outage for my computer usage starting tomorrow. I won't have a phone line till next wednesday or Thursday so there won't be any updates to the site till then. I haven't got play AC this week and I'm starting to see the symptoms of withdraw, hopefully I'll make it till wednesday.

Till then Warhead , Tokugawa and Trendkill have all made updates to their journals so make sure you check them out.

Part 9 is up, the Essence visit... 

Diary of Tokugawa, Part X - Tumedion and GSA 

The Trendkill Diaries Book 6- Life is Good

05.24.01 - Warhead blasting on

Warhead is totally plowing through the levels till he gets to 50. Read about it here : Untwinked Battlemage Progress, part 8

Questions and comments for warhead go here Part 8 is up

05.21.01 - While I was out

Doesn't look like anything spectacular happened, in game, while I was out. But several new journals have been added. Seems like everyone's getting to power-level except for me.

Warhead - Warhead has made 2 new entries in his journal. Make sure you check these out, he has made some startling observations about armor that you definitly need to know.

Trendkill - Made a small update on what he's up to with a good rant in the mix about AB.

Finally, one of our local battlemage, The Deity Ras, has completed his battlemage this weekend. He made a little page that shows this event and also shows his creature magic before and after the event. So if you're concerned on what your numbers will be at level 50 check out his page here : www.geocities.com/dloweincaol/ras50.html also make sure you stop by the message board and congratulate him on his accomplishment.

05.17.01 - Short leave

As most of you know I'm moving to Pennsylvania from Arkansas. Well today's the day I pack up my computer and go. Therefore I won't be updating this page till probably Monday or so when I get set back up. I'd really like to comment on the patch thus far (weightless pyreals = happy mages) but just don't have time. In the meantime our messageboard is very active so if you're looking for help I'm sure you can find it there.

05.16.01- Level IV Creature Stat Buffs Bug

Be aware there is a bug in the game right now.

We are aware of the bug which is not allowing Creature Mages to cast Level IV Stat increases of the Self and Other variety. We are monitoring the effect which it has on gameplay and a fix is in the works. - Orion-Turbine

Further reports say

seems it's a specific bug to level 3 and 4 stat buffs, the diff is 275 on em.. 5's, 6's, 1's, and 2's still work

http://vnboards.ign.com/message.asp?topic=11737342&start=11737553

05.16.01 - Amid's guessing again

I was wondering were this silly thing was for this month, I found it here http://webpages.charter.net/bhunlock/notes/may/

I think everyone knows by now that I really don't care for this thing but here are few "highlights" from it that pertain to us.

Everyone knows the spell economy has been in the dump ever since split pea became a required download to play the game. And the devs kept saying that they couldn't remove the spell economy because it was still better with it than without it (IE you get 37pts of focus instead of 35). Unless of course you used certain life spells like the protects and transfer spells like drain and stamina to mana. Here the spell economy is "reversed" for very technical reasons and instead of providing a bonus you get a penalty. This is a long standing and well known bug and guess what...

It IS the weakest link. ByeBye.

Source: May Chat

<devilmouse> On a vaguely related note, the "reversed" economy for some of the life magic spells will have their economy removed "real soon now" so they won't penalize players.

This has been debated on our board quite a bit on this thread Here is the link to the dev chat from last night.. Amid talks like he knows what the "reversed" economy and that it's common knowledge, I'm not for sure that's the case from our disscussions.

Also Amid guess that Creature 7's will be here this month. I pretty sure they won't be from a talk with Jesse on the Ac Radio show.

My guesses? I think it's going to be a good month for trade skills and that casinos will come back into popularity. Also there should be good storyline advancement this month.

What are your guess for this month

05.15.01 - Topheron's Essay : "The Math behind the skill check"

Topheron is a promonent poster on the Cod message board and is truely knowelagable player. He has written a very good essay about skill check for casting spells and the resulting fizzle. This is required reading for all of you so go check it out now. http://boards2.xrgaming.net/forums/read.php?f=120&i=8634&loc=0&t=8634#8634

It's also common to blame Turbine's random number generator. There has been no evidance presented that a statistical analysis has been done to find if the random numbers generated by Turbine's game code actually are random numbers. It might be perfectly random, it might not. We don't know.
I was commenting to Opal the other day about the Skill Check formula, and he said:

If this is correct then Mu really should be rewriting his rant about the steepness of the bell curve being the root of all evil in AC. From the posted empirical results, what a life spec'd mage can drain 50% of the time, a life-trained mage can drain 25% of the time, *not* the paradigm difference that specialization is often described as.

Weird. It's hard to swallow that when I take a life inept 5 on Aerlinthe, my ability to drain a coral golem is not even cut in half.

This got me thinking. If the skill check formula is correct, why is specialization so important? Why does Life Inept V SEEM to give such a dramatic difference in game when it by the math only decreases a 50% probability to 29%?

This got me thinking about the probability of streaks.

05.15.01 - Level 7 spell information

Lots of request for this information and one of the local posters to the board encouraged me to do a write up on them so this is now available in the resource section. I haven't gotten these yet so if any of the information is incorrect please let me know here : Level 7 spell information. I will update this information when the critter and life spells are put in.

Also I made a small addition to Warhead's page. He has put up a small website to store his journals on so that link is available in his section.