Brd : Art of War 1/65: Would you like ...to play...a Game? Name: Andromeda X. #1 @5416 Date: Tue Feb 19 14:47:27 1991 The title is the famous line from the movie Wargames. It applies on BBS because what we do is a game of verbal strategy and imagery...not to mention a bunch of old tricks, dirty and otherwise. It's about time that we had another war discussion board for those who are interested in how BBS war developed; its current condition; its future. I wouldn't do this on any second rate scale. I have asked the Untouchable to moderate this sub and he's agreed. You will have nothing but the best of BBS history and a discussion of the present. Like love and marriage, you can't have one without the other. Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat its mistakes...and in this case they might never learn to use all the great stuff that was developed back then. If you've ever wondered about the so-called "Rules" that keep rearing their ugly heads on warboards, this is the place where you can talk to the people who made them... and argue...and possibly watch some of the founding characters disagree on the "exact" view of the past. I think we might be able to entice a couple of retirees into posting again. This is NOT a warboard. It's for discussion only...whatever that includes...for as long as it's useful. A.X. Brd : Art of War 2/65: Ye Old Art Of War Board Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Fri Feb 22 01:45:17 1991 Ah, the old tricks of the trade. Where to begin? That's not an easy question considering most of you know of the nuking by hearsay; some may have actually been there, but unless they notice a drastic difference between those last days and the present, they never knew the intricacies of the old days. I suppose the best way to start a discussion like this is by describing what war was and how the its present state came to be. Imagine if you can a world of few IBM clones and even less IBMs. Apple //e, Atari, and Commodore were the crude weapons of the early BBS warrior. The Commodore 64 was a decent machine compared to its ancestor, the Vic-20, of which there were many. Nearly all alias boards had a warboard, and some real info boards had secret alias boards hidden away on sectors secure from indignant eyes. Everything rolled along at 300 baud. If you think baud rate doesn't make a difference, try calling a board at 300 baud and read a few msgs. The average BBS was run on two floppies, not a hard drive; most line editors only allowed for twenty-two lines (or less). The fighters were mostly young, although all age groups were represented. When there wasn't a war you might find only four or five msgs posted a day, but that was very rare. Twenty new msgs a day was not uncommon. There were many great wars before the Babbys and DoF were formed, and while the two groups were potential rivals, they maintained peace between themselves and usually supported each other when there was a fight with an outsider. Another group formed and began to rise just as I entered BBS. They were aggressive and foolish, and after weeks of trying to start a war with the Babbys, they succeeded. The Babbys had eight or nine members at that time, the Terminators had six. The DoF had fourteen or fifteen, there was a minor group or so, and there were at least ten Indys. And to be quite serious, I'm not counting the double aliases. One warboard at that time could easily match any two present-day BBSes for number of posts. So there was a war and the Terminators were crushed. A new wargroup was always on the horizon so there wasn't much of a power vacuum. But that's old history; it doesn't tell you anything of what war was like. In those days there were only two kinds of fighter: baddie or goodie. Don't ask how they got those names (it was way before my time), but those are what they were called. The bad guys came on and attacked the good guys. The good guys always swarmed to the battlefield like an armada of ants. Soon the bad guys were routed and disappeared. The good guys would then crow about their fighting prowess and, after a couple of days, would soon moan because there were no "baddies" to fight. War had been slowly transformed from a "fuck your mother" playground for kids to a satiric, sarcastic, bloody fantasy for "mature" people to blow off some steam. To join a group you had to be a good guy. You applied for admission by posting "Babby Applicant" or "DoF Applicant" under your name for several weeks. The group would either accept you or not. If you were a "baddie," you had to renounce your past. It was very much like a soap opera. There was always someone to fight, but everyone wanted to fight a member of a group. Unfortunately for the Indys, fighting one group member usually meant fighting the whole group. And since group members were always targets, they could pick and choose who they wanted to fight, which meant you HAD to be somewhat interesting just to get a fight, and unique if you wanted to make a good showing. As groups became more dominant, group members began to meet each other outside. Before this time BBS was not an especially safe place to give your real info. There were those who really would egg your house or destroy your property. One day a few Babbys and some DoF went to meet a "baddie" at Sicily's Pizza and forever changed the course of BBS War. There was a rift in the Babbys because some saw the groups as having gone "outside." The DoFL was threatened internally because the group had become more of a social group than a war group, so to re-assert his leadership the DoF attacked the Babbys. It was a major war, and as all wars in those days, it only lasted a few weeks. When it was over both groups were shattered, the DoF having withstood the war but succumbing to a civil war of their own. Perhaps more important to this discussion is not the rise and fall of wargroups, but the attitudes that resulted from these wars. For some time there had been an argument that BBS should be kept separate from the outside world; after the Sicily's incident and the resulting war, most of BBS united behind this idea. It became a law on most BBSes and grounds for a loss on all. BBS morals had become a fact of life. Another result was the fight-till-they-die attitude that persists to this day. Before the Babby/Terminator War and the Great War, and including those wars, a fight would last only a few weeks at most. Usually one of the major groups would step in and insist the war end or a peace would be negotiated. After the major groups were weakened, there was nothing to limit a war. Worse, both those big wars had been fought to destroy a group or kill an alias. It soon became the custom for wars to last until one fighter or the other was killed, or until they both grew so tired and bored that they just quit fighting. Wars began to last three and four months, and every fighter killed was one usually run out of BBS. The population soon declined. It wasn't the end of war, to be sure. The Babbys and DoF soon returned, but the two groups never cooperated or co-Existed. There was constant war and the BBS Community was split into factions; each group had its home base and satellites. Wars became more complicated, more technical, and more drawn out. Exposure rules became more stringent -- to suggest that an alias was a double was tantamount to exposure. War became more sophisticated -- spies, misinformation, offensives into enemy territory, counter-offensives, and yes, Mantronic, the high point in MindFuck. That last year before the nuking there was a core of experienced fighters who were able to destroy any new fighter making an appearance. It became apparent that war was slowly decimating itself, so in an effort to end the madness of killing for victory, the Bloom County Convention was called. For the first time in three years, Babbys, DoF, and Indys agreed unanimously on a set of rules governing war. Within a few months after the Bloom County Convention, the Babbys learned that Beastmaster and Alpha One, the two top DoFs (it should be noted that there was another DoF civil war when Iron Man, the group's founder, returned to retake the name. Whether you supported Iron Man or Beastmaster depended upon whose claim you acknowledged as legitimate. For many, the DoF name rests with Iron Man; for others, with Beastmaster), would attempt one last offensive and then call it quits. The nuking had been discussed for over a year between several of us, so we decided to bring it up for a vote. The idea was to give the newer fighters a chance and to end the legacy that scarred BBS. It passed and a voluntary nuking took effect. It's hard to relate what BBS was like without getting into the boring details. Perhaps some of the details would interest those of you who weren't there. Or some of the tactics we used, or aliases we cooked up to aggravate the others. No one was off limits for a double alias, not even a fellow group member (in fact, they were usually the most fun). I should make one thing clear, however... we were all pretty good friends off the warboard. We sent each other mail and discussed the fun we'd had in past battles even as we fought a new one. There was a sense that you had to win, but there was no animosity towards the person behind the alias. A war alias was like a mask that you wore. You fought the alias, not the person wearing the mask. Well, now it's time to get some feedback and let some of the others put in their two cents. The idea is to discuss war in all its aspects, and I'm sure there are other old fighters who have a lot to say. I've only touched on some of the themes that were familiar to us all. Also, I'm really interested in knowing what those of you who fight on the warboards now think of war. What do you think is good war and for what are you fighting? What is fun and what isn't? UT Mr Dickens Brd : Art of War 3/65: Art and discussion of War Name: Shinzu #92 @5416 Date: Fri Feb 22 13:03:18 1991 I am very glad that you, Andromeda, and you, Untouchable, decided to do this. I have very much been wanting something like this for sometime. As you will both see I probably have more questions about this War stuff than anyone else here. Because regardless of popular opinion I am new and have no ideas about what went on in the Great History of BBS War. I am curious about your discussion, UT, concerning Double Aliasing. Specificly that part where you say that exposing a Double was tantamount to exposing real life info. That doesn't seem to be the case today and I would like your opinion on how you think that change came about. Exposing a Double certainly seems to me to be well within the rules of `inside BBS information.' Of course, I am referring to a Double that is fighting on a WarBoard as a Double. Until I witnessed your recent decimation of Mr. Dickens I had never thought of the boundless limits of BBS War. My conception of it was much more limited in scope and as a result of that much less powerful. Multiple aliasing was a concept that was rather foreign to me but I can now see the overwhelming advantage that it brings to a War. The actual simplicity of it is its greatest strength. As far as why I fight I can only say for the enjoyment. I find it fun. That pretty much sums it up for me. I enjoy getting into and out of sticky situations in a medium where the only real risk is ego. And ego's heal. As far as what I don't like about war. That is something that I have addressed with others before. I don't like to fight an E-Mail war. I think it is a waste of effort and personally don't consider it war at all. I just lump it into the hate mail category. I believe that a carefully constructed and tacticaly placed piece of E-Mail CAN be an effective weapon especially (as Pun says) when setting up a MindFuck. It is the idea of fighting the entire War in E-Mail that I don't like. The current condition of war is obviously not in the same league as it was in its heyday several years ago. At least not from what I have seen and heard. Obviously (and I am guilty as well) there isn't as much originality in War nor is there as much deviousness. I think it was probably those two attitributes that gave the Age Of War Groups their mystique and their charm. If tearing another alias to shreds can be considered charming that is. Perhaps this recent `kick in the balls' and this Discussion Board may help to bring back some of the better parts of BBS War. There certainly seems to be a recent wave of Hayes and Rizos and other obvious `purpose' aliases. Maybe things will get cooking again. Oh, and I am curious about the posting of your signoff now. The: UT Mr. Dickens I am assuming that you are indicating that you have beaten him. Sort of like a gunslinger carving a notch in his gun. Is that far off base? Brd : Art of War 4/65: That signoff Name: Harbinger #60 @5416 Date: Fri Feb 22 16:47:37 1991 means that someone has declared victory on technical grounds over someone else. Using it after the post which claims victory is almost like daring the guy to argue with you about it, kinda waving the red cape. It's been forever since I've seen it used regularly. Nimbus was fond of it. As far as the current state of war is concerned, it's pretty pathetic. There were thirty people involved at the time of the nuking, but there's been only four or five at a time since this summer. I think after all the prenuking people retired, leaving the drudges and penny-ante quote people behind, everybody just lost interest. There's much less appeal to the current kind of war than there is to the old style, with stories and 10 different spin doctors for each side. Much more entertaining. What we need is a renaissance. Harbinger Your Friendly Neighborhood ex-Omen of Doom Brd : Art of War 5/65: The nuking.. Name: Punisher #35 @5416 Date: Fri Feb 22 19:30:30 1991 As far as i'm concerned, the state of war is just about the same as it was directly before the nuking. Matter of fact.. Some of the liveliest fighting was going on at the Manhattan Project (The Board MotH set up at the discussion board concerning the nuking). On the day of the nuking.. The warboards of the Cradle and the Guild were wiped clean.. I think on the first 2 or 3 days, the message bases got about 50 or 60 messages each. The idea was to bring a fresh approach to war, by getting rid of all the old aliases.. AND getting rid of their histories.. I believe the histories of a lot of old aliases was what was supposed to keep them from returning to a warboard where all the new aliases could use their history against them. On nuke day, I did as the rest of the old aliases and stayed away.. Even tried to develop a new alias or two.. But found that I couldn't get into it.. So about 6 months later.. I returned and quickly found that these new aliases were going to use my history against me.. (Namely Gargoyle and Berkut).. They had been fighting another old alias.. Shadow, and ripped him apart with that same tactic.. When I started in on Garg and Berk.. I came up with the idea that if one of these new aliases were to draw upon my history.. It could only be heresay as THEY were not around to actually see whathad happened before they were born. I saw that as a way for old aliases to come back into the game without having to start at the same disadvantage Shadow got hurt by. As for now.. I'm personally having more fun with war than I've had in a long time. I'm not exactly happy with the competition out there, though. I've heard people complaining that wars go on and on for the longest time over one little point.. (How many times have we seen IF-if on the boards?).. It's no different than 3 years ago.. when a fight went on for about 3 or 4 months over the issue of whether hicks are an ethnic group or not. I don't see where war has changed very much since the nuking.. both in it's execution.. and the amount of people playing war. Pun Brd : Art of War 6/65: Nuking? Name: Lazarus #32 @5416 Date: Sat Feb 23 00:38:40 1991 Am I correct in assuming that nuking refers to wiping the message base and everybody starting over without making any references to past statements? If not, would somebody please explain the term "nuking" as it applies here. Brd : Art of War 7/65: errrrrr I thought I did that.. Name: Punisher #35 @5416 Date: Sat Feb 23 07:45:29 1991 I believe the exact date was August 15, 1988 when by agreement, all active war aliases ceased to exist and a new crop of aliases arose from the rubble after the nukes were detonated. ÿ ÿNo.. It wasn't so much that someone couldn't make reference to past statements.. But as Iÿû said, the idea of an established fighter (With a history) would be fair game to any new alias he happened upon. ÿ It was when it became apparent to me that the idea fell on it's ass that I decided to bring Punisher back into active war. The first thing I had to contend with, was someone who tried to use my past against me.. which I put an end to by coming up with the heresay idea. I wasn't the only one to return at one time or another.. Jack the Rió—pper did a little war.. I think a few minor leaguers.. (Eclipse.. White Phoenix.. etc) tried to bring their group back one a couple of occasions.. Lemme see if I can remember all of my history... (I know... i'm gettin old).. Using UT's timetable.. I got into bbs war just before the Babby/Terminator war.. I joined the Terminators and admittedly didn't fight worth a shit.. However I became a factor in that war aftô¨er a bit of an internal power struggle and publicly blasted the group's puppet leader, Lone Wolf.. Bringing about his immediate surrender to the Babbys.. The outcome of that war was never in doubt... but my actions brought it to an end about two weeks or so before it would have ended with the same result anyhow.. After that.. I joined the Warlords and dô¨id nothing but listen to them bitch about the babbys.. then watched them take pop shots at Angelica Alpha (Then Babby leader) in the Angel vs Rest of the World fight.. I think I was the ONLY one to stay neutral in that one.. From there.. I joined the Babbys and remained there until their eventual disbanding.. For about the next 5 or 6 months.. I started my own group called Explosion.. and filled it with people ÿûwho had never been on the war boards.. Out of the 7 or 8 members.. 2 of them eventually joined the Reformed Babbys.. and another 2 remained with the group until it's eventual loss to the Babbys (Which i'd joined when they reformed) Wait... I ain't done yet.. Brd : Art of War 8/65: Okay... more history.. Name: Punisher #35 @5416 Date: Sat Feb 23 07:52:44 1991 Okay.. ÿOnce again in the Babbys.. the 3rd or 4th Babby/Dof war had just started when ole Pun started having outside problems and had to þòtake a leave of absence.. Well.. the problems weren't all THAT bad.. I went on ahead and sent that Mantronic fella to the boards in my place.. ÿÿÿÿI had a ÿlot of fun with that one.. I got to fight my own group while plotting to get Mantronic into the Dof and pull us a little mindfuck.. ÿ The effects of that one are remembered every Feburary 17th on mantronic day.. hehehe.. But it was a classic mindfuck we all had a lot of fun with.. (Err... I don';t think them Dofs were÷³ all that happy about it though).. ÿÿ Then after that.. I stayed pretty much in the background during the Dof internal struggle and evenÿûtually returned to active fighting just before the nuking.. Damn.. I did quite a bit, didn't I?.. ÿ Brd : Art of War 9/65: How very interesting, all of this history... Name: Analog Kid #25 @5416 Date: Sun Feb 24 17:31:49 1991 I have a question. How did Flamewars ever come to be? Is that just a holdover of the original warboard concept that exists elsewhere? It's declasse here in N.O., I know. In my brief tiê ·ûme posting long-distance on Tudor Nightmare VillagTudor Nightmare Village, I noticed that, in Charlotte, where the board is located, Flamewar is still very much in vogue, and is little more than a nasty variation on that streetcorner game, The Dozens. Insults on the level of "I don't fuck for fortune, and I don't fuck for fame, but the way I fuck your mother is a goddamn shame." And worse. Really puerile, and good stupid fun from time to time. (Damn line noise) The Analog Kid Brd : Art of War 10/65: Arrrrggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Name: Shinzu #92 @5416 Date: Sun Feb 24 20:48:36 1991 Where is Angel????? I want to meet the Lady of War. Brd : Art of War 11/65: Angel? Name: Punisher #35 @5416 Date: Sun Feb 24 23:41:56 1991 Yeah... I know that bitch is running around here somewhere.. Oh.. If she shows up.. you folks oughta ask her for a copy of her book.. Angel's Book of War.. great stuff.. some of it's even true! Why did I say that?.. hehehheh Flamewars.. I suppose that's how war started out.. I mean seeing how many creative uses for the word fuck one can put in a massage... All I know is that someone must have seen that war could be much more that simply coming up with insults. Matter of fact.. when CvZ put up that new warboard on the loft.. We ran into a bunch of flamers from around the country and made em all look stoopid. Brd : Art of War 12/65: Flamewars Are From Oregon And Are Not To Be Confused w/War Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Mon Feb 25 01:50:55 1991 Shinzu, the change in attitudes on double alias exposure was in part a reaction against too stifling restrictions and conscious effort on the part of several of us who wanted to let new fighters roam in relative freedom. While I don't condone it, and would never participate in it, it was apparent that some freedom had to be restored to the warboards. It was by a gradual process that exposure extended to double aliases. You have to understand that at one time, complete and full exposure of real info was the norm. The only protection an alias had was to never disclose personal info. Gradually we, and I was included only in the very last days of this campaign, were able to make exposure the lowliest of BBS crimes, done only by desperate fighters. Since many fighters wanted to participate and interact with others on a more personal level, it was often very common to have a war alias and an alias for everything else. Your "general" alias could meet people without fear of retaliation for what your "war" alias might do. As you can immediately see, there were cases when exposure of a general alias could very well expose a fighter's identity. Because the possibility existed that exposure of a double alias might unintentionally expose someone's identity, it very soon became established that ANY exposure was bad. You should also know that many fighters who were unknown to their enemies, and who were trying to infiltrate their enemies' ranks, would often meet or talk with their opponents in an effort to "assure" them that they weren't doubles. Mantronic did precisely that. Had someone posted that Mantronic was a Babby, Punisher's identity could have been jeopardized and his enemy would then have his name and address. As it was, Mantronic was smart enough to give them false info so he was never in any real danger. I think the great difference lies in the fact that today's fighter lives in a world where exposure and outside activity is talked about but never done, whereas five or six years ago it was common to have midnight calls and toilet paper on the lawn. We also had our share of bona fide lunatics running around the boards. Doubles are not as simple as they look. They are the art of the magician. You must first give the enemy something to concentrate on. Once he thinks he has spotted your double, he will relax. That's when you infiltrate, and that's the most dangerous double of all. Like the magician, let your audience concentrate on your right hand while the left pulls rabbits out of hats. Harbinger, while there were thirty people around at the time of the nuking, less than ten were fighting. In some areas the nuking has enjoyed tremendous success. At some points in time, the number of fighters almost rivals the latter wars. The problem isn't just the warboards, though. All of BBS experienced a decline in active membership. The last year or so has convinced me that ALL of BBS must be rejuvenated, not just the warboards. When I speak of the great wars and innumerable fighters, I'm primarily speaking of the "Golden Age" of BBS, of which it can be argued that there were two. The first would have existed at the time of Hell's Keeper, the second lasting from just prior to the Babby/Terminator war to just after the second Babby/DoF war (of a continuing saga). Punisher, I don't think there's anything especially bad with the competition out there except that maybe there's not enough of it. As raw material, they're better than many of the kids we fought long, long ago. I've noticed that some are a little too serious, but that's only because they haven't realized that good humor is as effective a defense as it is an offense. Hell, I'll never forget when you were fighting the Wolf Pack and attacked them on the "truth" of one of their claims. I don't remember the particulars of it but I do remember something about "bowling old ladies over." They took you seriously and tried to defend against your attack because they didn't know you were fucking with them! Yeah, I was hip deep in that "ethnic-hick" war, as you well know. But if you'll remember, the early wars, the ones we broke into the game with, were major disputes that lasted only two or three weeks. I thi became desensitized to long wars over the years. Besides which, you'd probably feel differently if there was a host of competition out there. As it stands now, it takes an effort to make a war last long enough for new blood to appear on the horizon. nger... we need a renaissance. UT Brd : Art of War 13/65: Yeah, I remember that one... Name: Analog Kid #25 @5416 Date: Mon Feb 25 20:30:24 1991 RE: Angel? ...the national net warboard on Ravenloft. It was in good use when I first started posting, but it died after a while, and I believe Strahd then deleted it. Just as well--MindFuck and Flamewars don't match up well at all. The Analog Kid Brd : Art of War 14/65: Angel's here, dudez Name: Angelica Alpha #10 @5416 Date: Mon Feb 25 23:27:07 1991 I'm reading and watching. Us lil Texas gals like to think about all this bs before we post. I talked to The Flame today. Told him he'd better get his DoF ass over here to rebutt all the hot air being posted. It's only fair. He seemed interested enough. I've only got time to say one thing this time. Don't you go thinking that the Nuking was anything like a unanimous decision. There were a lotta aliases that didn't go gentle into that good night. We all agreed to abide by the majority vote and we all kept to that promise. It's the promise that killed war. I told 'em that it takes a long time to build charisma as a war alias and all new fighters would be boring as hell. Everybody just sat around trying to guess who was whom. It wasn't any fun. As for me, well, I knew it would do to my alias by vote what nobody could do with fighting. It would eliminate Angel from BBS. I mean...how the hell do you bring back anothehter that nobody knows? How many females ever fought and how many of those were any good? I'd stand out like a gold plated toilet. Oh...oh yeah, I forgot about the advice I got: "Well, Angel, you can just take a male alias." Fuck that. I'm about as fed find no fun in pretending to be male. Oh, sure, I coud do it...I'm good, but it wouldn't satisfy me for long. So, it was back to the androgenic warboard. Oh well, I'm happy here in BBS Valhalla with people like The Beastmaster and Buffalo Billhat Punisher dude. Ain't nuthin worse than some old Cowboy talking a better Rodeo than he played. Over Houston way they give prizes for yarns like he's been spinning. later, Angel Babby secret weap of War 15/65: [F] Memories.... Name: The Flame #59 @5416 Date: Tue Feb 26 21:10:22 1991 Ah, they have indeed become warped to say the least... Well, it's to be expected..and I won't argue with UT or Pun...selective memories they have to say the I was told there was some interesting posts being made here(thanks for the intro Angel), so I called to check out all the typical Babby-talk... Hell, I haven't fought a war since GBBS's were the rule in BBS, and I can see that I'd need to oil the a bit to do so... But frankly, the DOF have all essentially vanished in BBS since the nuking. I am the only one left that is in BBS, and I do not even call local BBS's at all(cept today), and my only reasons for being in BBS have nothing to do with .. I must say though, about the only descent war that I saw occur after the DOF/Babby war, was the DOF/Renegade war.... After that, BBS warfare declined in almost every aspect, group warfare especially... There was obviously too few people left of folks on the outside had forced many a good fighter to sit back and weigh just how much they cared about it all, and many of them packed their bags and departed from alias BBS...much less BBS war... This elimination of people who were vital in 'ro BBS war or alias BBS had the eventual effect of a stagnating battlefield.. Nobody won wars anymore in reality, they just bored their opponents to tears, people kept buffers of others for MONTHS, and whenever the tinyest inconsistancy could be found(nsistancies which were CREATED through the taking of posts out of context or even physically modifying them to suit purposes), victories would be declared on the most insignificant matters.. Also, there was a time when fighters would spar with eaor the jugular, but fight a good fight and then one fighter might declare that the other had the fight and not be 'dishonored' by the 'defeat'.. This totally dissappeared unless it was done to boost a double's supposed reputation... But in reality, table victory over true issues or talent and honorable defeats recognized as a good fight was what built up the reputations and egos of many of the pre-nuke fighters... The state at which "modern war" ended up as, was in reality already a wastelittle more than mass suicide rather than the forging of new relationships and so forth to continue the warfare.. In retrospect, it is quite possible that the remnants of the DOF & Babbys should have gotten together and agreed to a cease fire and perh Eventually such treaties would be broken surely, but possibly after the groups had enough time to build BBS war back up and perhaps, just MAYBE enough time for the ink to fade off of the paper of the massive buffers kept by many folks, or if kept on have other uses for such media space... The buffer became a real pitiful method of fighting as well, instead of keeping buffers at worst to recall the main points an enemy would hold and use should there be a major shift, the creatures would be cant shift, usually taken out of context, and sometimes made months beforehand....that was the epitamy of the post DOF/Gade war period, and it certainately convinced many people to just abandon the game as a boring and worthless exercise... Brd6/65: [F] ... Name: The Flame #59 @5416 Date: Tue Feb 26 21:16:04 1991 I realize that last msg was a bit choppy, but I am doing a few things @ once... Had to say one last thing though, it is most amusing to sit back and watch the warboardsd Punisher flapping about like some kinda king of the hill...haha...I guess those scientists were right, about the only thing that can be expected to live through the nuking is a cockroach... :) adieu, Defender of the Faith Brd : Art of War 17/65: Ouch! Flame 1, Punisher 0. Name: Harbinger #60 @5416 Date: Thu Feb 28 14:46:58 1991 Actually, ol' Pun is quite famous himself for the ol' "hit 'em with something he said isinterpretation is another one of his specialties. Lord knows he fried me with that number. Brd : Art of War 18/65: Hello to both Angel and Flame... Name: Analog Kid #25 @5416 Date: Thu Feb 28 18:11:34 1991 I've only been in BBS for eight months guys, but I'll say one thing--it sure is good to see some real warboarders back again. What passes for BBS war these days is, to my mind, a feeble attempt at recreating the My Lai Massacre scaled down to BBS level. Shinzu and Punisher most certainlyey and Medina of the warboards they would like to think. The Analog Kid Brd : Art of War 19/65: Analog Kid Name: Shinzu #92 @5416 Date: Thu Feb 28 19:02:02 1991 RE: Hello to both Angel and Flame... That's absolutely correct. I ain't Sergeant Calley. Calley was a Lieutenant. And I've been lamenting the absense of good competition ever since Punisher and I began taking on Vanguard. I mean look at you. Brd : Art of War 20/65: Children.......... Name: Andromeda X. #1 @5416 Date: Thu Feb 28 22:31:57 1991 ..........Children....please. The warboard is one sub to the left. We're not here to fight or bash Punisher, we're here to discuss. Be nice, be good little warriors and talk. You can't learn anything or teach ifttle fingers and minds are flapping like that. I don't throw people off subs for being naughty. I just bitch...and bitch....and then I turn them into frogs and pigs and armadillos. Nobody loves that fighting edge in you guys more than I do, but tst a teensy bit on this board. You might scare UT and Punisher away. That leaves you with Angel, and I wouldn't wish that on unsuspecting soul. (just kidding, AA). A.X. Brd : Art of War 21/65: Gee.. Name: Punisher #35 @5416 Date: Fri Mar 01 07no.. I doubt seriously if anyone is gonna scare me away, Androm... The only thing I have to tell all these folks (Especially Angel).. Is that the war board is one flight down.. By the way, Angelkins.. them pink jeans are looking a bit tighter since I laure you oughta be out here?.. ÿ Flame.. it's funny.. I've always thought the same thing about your own memory.. But not to matter.. Challenging you to meet me on the warboard would in all likelyhood get one of your patented long winded speeches abougonna do it. Harbs.. You know where the warboard is, fella.. ÿAnytime you want a crack at me, I'll be more than happy to take you on. Put a muzzle on me?.. hehehehe I see some things never change.. Still tryin to get someone else to do things fo Pun Brd : Art of War 22/65: Character Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Sun Mar 03 23:55:24 1991 Good Lord, Angel and Flame, reunited at last. Perhaps we could interest CBS in a reunion show. And both of 'em taking potshots at Punisher, tothey may combine forces and start a new wargroup. Stranger things have happened, ya know. Well, it's good to see both of you back. There's nothing a little 3M oil can't fix like new. Angel, you know as well as anyone that we faced a choice -- eit inglorious death or take drastic action. There was no one left to fight, and when someone did manage to find a fight, it was almost always divided along the line dividing the two major groups, which meant that it was divided between BBSes. Yeah, charf the nuking. That is the one substance that we have seen little of in this post-nuke world. I think the problem is that today you can get along just fine on the warboards without creating a character. Before, nearly everyone created their character andhow to fight. But folks don't sit around these days and try to pick Angel, or Beastmaster, or Bill from among the new aliases. For an old fighter looking for some fun, the current warboards are virgin territory. There aren't too many virgins, unfortu territory nonetheless. I don't mind mega-posting, as Flame should know, but this isn't "Ye Olde Warboarde Of Historie." I kept to a few basic themes, call it selective if you wish, but I did give the more sensitive issues a quasi-objective approach o-old enemies. This isn't a Babby board, Flame. You and Angel can both be proud of your heritage, but this isn't a place to bash DoFs and this isn't Babby talk. It isn't even just about war, so far as I'm concerned. I think all of BBS has been in a pome time now. As for logic fighting, yeah, it probably didn't help war all that much. But then neither would any fighting style if overused. If everyone posted Corkscrews the boards would become just as boring. It was variety and innovation that kep I've seen Punisher in quite a few fights the last year or two, and in most cases his opponent attacked him for logic fighting. Hey, Punisher was there when logic fighting was first being developed, right along with Death Merchant and myself. He has a if he wishes. One or two logic fighters isn't going to kill war; it's only when you have twenty or thirty that the boards can get into trouble. But much of what you say is correct, Flame. The tendency to fight for a "kill" drove many people out. Th was resurrected in the Convention Rules, but everyone wants a win, not a good fight. Quite frankly, we cannibalized ourselves. However, I saw very few fighters admit defeat. Certainly not between major group members, unless you're talking of a time beheated exchange and then a gradual reconciliation, or a long series of intermittent short fights. Buffer fighting is pretty much dead, even in terms of logic fights. We had a certain sense of honor regarding buffers which is gone now. There was littlw that to get caught once was to destroy the credibility of any buffer you posted. In recent years, however, buffers have been faked, mail has been faked, lies about outside events have been told... all of this smashes the legitimacy of buffer fighting.ll of that. One of the things I've noticed is that the aliases in BBS seem to be a real individual, namely, the person behind the alias. You don't need alias BBS for that. Alias allows a person to create a character, give it a background and a life o it on the boards. That isn't the case these days. By creating a character you can play; if your alias is simply a "handle" and the persona behind it is your own, you will eventually take things personally. A character, on the other hand, will "take things personally," but the person controlling the alias will not. It's like wearing a mask at a costume party, or acting on a stage. Angel and I can (and have) get into a furious war and hurl insults back and forth, yet at no time will either of us take it personally. Angel is a cowgirl from Texas (condemned to life in an iron lung, poor thing), a psychology student at Tulane, I believe. Yet for all you know, the person behind Angel may be an offshore rig worker with a sixteen inch dick. As you can ima to laugh. And that, folks, makes for good-natured war. Don't take it seriously and have fun MindFucking them. If your war alias is your real persona, develop a new one. Create an outrageous character and put him on the boards as if he were as genuiBob... you don't think that guy had fun creating a character, putting him on the boards, and then getting people to accept him for what he claimed to be? You can keep the alias you now have, that really doesn't matter. You'll wind up having as much oracter. Some characters can be one-dimensional, ie, they have only one specific purpose, or they can be multi-dimensional and used on many boards (you don't always have to fight to have fun). It can be fun just to watch the reactions of people. t of War 23/65: Scrambled Eggs Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Wed Mar 06 08:12:13 1991 Don't tell me, let me guess... you're from out of town, right Hawk? New Orleans sucks, your hometown of [insert city of choice here] is better and has better e are stupid, lazy, and ignorant. Does that about cover it? It's been done before, Hawk. It's been done many, many times before. But at least you're trying, and that's a good sign. As for those claims, they are of course rejected. One is by sthe distinction of being in a fight with me, and so is dismissed. The other had the honor and prestige of a fight, but fell short of the brass ring. A duel begins and ends on the same board unless both parties agree to a change. It's also rather difclaim victory a week after the battle ended in favor of the other fighter. Mr Dickens' defense was on the shabby side, as well. He claims he posted within the seven day period, which no one denies. However, he did not post an attack or war msg, which isy required by BC Regulations and what I specifically stated in my Victory Address. To the letter of the law means to the letter of the law. However, on the bright side, Mr Dickens did try to use the Bloom County Rules in an attempt to declare vicans he accepts the authority of the Convention and its rules. That ties up whatever loose ends there may have been and seals my Victory. UT PS: Where have you earned the right to complain, Hawk? Brd : Art of War 24/65: Butow, UT. Name: Harbinger #60 @5416 Date: Thu Mar 07 01:50:06 1991 You left the enemy unbowed. You declared victory on a technicality just after he said he wouldn't be around. Such a small technicality after so much effort hardly seemed worth it. A mas Harbinger Brd : Art of War 25/65: Purposes Of War Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Fri Mar 08 00:05:52 1991 Harbinger, you've been reading too much warboard rhetoric. The point of friendly warfare is not toyour opponent. In many instances that would drive him out of BBS. Quite frankly, I'm more interested in attracting new blood into war, not driving people out. It is more fun to maneuver with an opponent and jockey for superior position than it is to most interesting and fun aspects of war are the prelude to the war itself. Now, it's true that much of the rhetoric states that the enemy will be humiliated, but that is not a very productive game. We played it before and the result can be read in somsted here. Why should I, who certainly knows better, want to repeat the mistakes of the past? To destroy an alias is to depopulate an already depleted warboard. War in the BBS sense should not be a killing game. If it is not to be a battle to the de end to the fight be accomplished? I'm well known for "alias fights," and although they are effective (it's win or die), there is very soon no one left to fight. A game shouldn't be personal and it shouldn't destroy. That's one of the reasons why I aias and anonymous aspect of BBS. Don't tell them who you are or what you do and it cannot be used against you. So forget about destroying the opponent. That road goes nowhere. It was fun fighting Mr Dickens and I'm more than satisfied with the outcouver in the event that he is not satisfied. It's a game, not a contest. Technicalities are a part of the game, and it is the skill with which they are used that determines who comes out on top. Lighten up, chill out, have fun. That's what it's all a Brd : Art of War 26/65: Tell me something UT... Name: Mr. Dickens #7 @5416 Date: Fri Mar 08 18:31:42 1991 RE: Scrambled Eggs Who's to decide what is an "Attack" or "War" message? You? Or are we about to hear some more BC rules... of which I nev before our little skirmish. I'm glad nobody disputes my claim to posting within the "seven day limit", because your own posts seem to suggest otherwise...ohh, I get it..."attack or war" messages...semantics...opinions. War, however subtle, is in the Mr. Dickens Brd : Art of War 27/65: Now on a serious note here... Name: Mr. Dickens #7 @5416 Date: Fri Mar 08 19:05:58 1991 why doesn't somebody post here the "rules" of that Bloom County convention. I'm catching a drib here and a drab there on this matter... prithee...elaborate! [BOZ] Brd : Art of War 28/65: Will Do... Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Mon Mar 11 22:42:48 1991 But at the moment there has been a small tragedy. I'll be with you in a re three "final" draft that were voted on, and I'll post all three. UT Brd : Art of War 29/65: [F] Name: The Flame #59 @5416 Date: Sat Mar 16 21:30:12 1991 UT, there were often times when fighters would recogni.. The Terminators were a pretty good example of that, they put up a good enough fight against the best of the Babby flock, and lived to fight another day after the Babs backed off and behind the scenes mail was sent where the two parties expressed thee Terminators' internal quarrels lead to opportunities for 1) The Babbys to get a decisive killing blow, and 2) The Terminator's leader to join a well established war group and MORE IMPORTANTLY wreak havok on her Terminator's who were attempting to oustime the two groups fought, they BOTH walked away, and neither was substantially wounded, in fact it gave the Termies credibility to have walked out alive after a war with the Babbs best.. This happened I BELIEVE during your time.. There is alsoized DOF such as Kamikaze Koko recognized EtP's Pearly Gates story as an excellent piece of work... This didn't hurt either fighter and gave EtP credibility as a fantasy fighter.. It's not that EtP ever really did much work that was as good as that abasis, but it was his REPUTATION for a "great fantasy fighter" which gave him a rather substantial ego and a lust for the warboard that he might not have ever had.. Buffalo Bill was also recognized as a very good character fighter and the first and laslly ply the "this town sucks" brand of fighting.. He was recognized as such by most people and respected for it.. Those are some of the most obvious examples, but truly it was not an unusual occurance for it to happen publically, many times priva game.. If everybody had gone for the jugular at those times then you have to bet that HALF those people wouldn't have continued to play the game..... Anyway, perhaps we have totally different views of what was going on at t hose times, is it ay I saw it, and that's the way I'm calling it.. As for what has gone on not being Babby talk, and this somehow being just a typical off the wall random place for it to be occuring, come on, be realistic... I do not doubt that you truly believe now and then.... :) -:=The Flame=:- Defender of the Faith Brd : Art of War 30/65: [F] Oh... Name: The Flame #59 @5416 Date: Sat Mar 16 21:45:52 1991 Almost forgot... Pun, you scnd now....before someone finds a can of RAID.. Good luck kid...with your abilities...you'll need it...haha You don't have anything to worry about from me Pun....I'm retired...remember? hahahahahha.. Later . . -:=The Flame=:- Defender of the Faith Brd : Art of War 31/65: Oh Flamey... Name: Punisher #35 @5416 Date: Mon Mar 18 23:46:57 1991 I wouldn't have had anything to worry about even if you WEREN'T `retired'. the point. Ole pun ain't gonna take advantage of you on a discussion board.. Brd : Art of War 32/65: Why not Pun? Name: Lone Wolf #81 @5416 Date: Tue Mar 19 16:51:46 1991 Seems to me that everyone takes advantage of ole Flamey everyoncepecially on a discussion of war type board. Gosh! Just like old times - big name aliases lollygaggin' around each other in tu tu's. Takin' a nip - afraid to bite. Just like old times, Lw Brd : Art of War 33/65: Akela? Name: Mr. Dickens #7 @5416 39:32 1991 well said... [BOZ] Brd : Art of War 34/65: Hello All Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Sun Mar 24 23:09:19 1991 Flame, you've broken my heart! After all the evil, nasty things you've said about me over theithout doubt the most crushing. The fantasy to which you referred was "EtP At The Pearly Gates," and it was about him, not by him. Don't you remember? The story was about him explaining to God and St Peter how he fought baddies here on earth, thereby eare in heaven. It was written by yours truly, and you're right, established fighters did recognize its merit. Not only did I become less bellicose afterwards, I actually came to represent the "establishment" of BBS war. A far cry from humble beginnings ofus things to get a fight. Seriously, though, I don't dispute that fighters didn't go for the jugular in those days. I really don't remember all that many warriors admitting defeat, but I do remember them admitting the other guy was a good fighter afte things were in the process of changing when I first came into BBS. I wasn't around for the first Babby/Termie war, but did fight in the second one. You and I have discussed the earlier wars, but it was primarily me asking you what things were like. exchanges, I of course wouldn't have seen them. Actually, it never occurred to me to send someone mail ending a fight. I generally encourage a fight in my mail since a good fight keeps interest high. Also, I take it for granted that whatever mail I send wboards, and so presume everyone does the same. I suppose that is peculiar to what was happening when I first entered war. That's probably also why my wars tended to last forever. Thinking back, many times an opponent may have been subtly suggesting a ce mail. I never thought of that before. Anyway, I don't pretend to be neutral or unbiased when it comes to our own wars. How could either one of us be? I'm sure we both have very different views, if for no other reason than we base those views on the the time. Amid mounds of misinformation, partial information, and group loyalty, no one was neutral. That's why this is an open discussion board... let the old fighters talk about The Game so new folks can see how it was done. Sad to say, I don't haher BBSes. Since this discussion of what war used to be like was begun here due to a few old time fantasies I posted, Androm offered a board for war discussion; it was no random accident that the board is here, but neither was it a deliberate attempt to ds. And hey, Lone Wolf is back as well! For those of you who don't know him, Lone Wolf is perhaps the sweetest, most lovable person to grace a warboard since Mother Teresa graduated from Our Lady of the Chastity Belt High School. His honesty is legendaung children in grammar school sing songs about the virtuous Wolf Man. I extend you a hearty Babby Salute, Wolf. You know what to do with it. Matador sent me mail a few weeks ago, so I suppose he's taking peeps at our discussion, as well. What other? What other ghoul from the past will rear his hellish head from the grave? Brd : Art of War 35/65: Better Download This One, It's A Biggie Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Sun Mar 24 23:11:07 1991 Okay, the following are three final drafts ission. Each draft became more refined for a very practical reason... to gain the maximum number of votes. All versions had majority approval, but updates allowed us to gain more support. Each fighter who participated in the discussions was given threehis name was affixed to the document in support of it. There were three honorary names, aliases who did not participate because they were no longer in BBS, but who had made earlier efforts to create a set of war rules. At Beastmaster's request, Tiny Tim'rary role. All I have are hardcopies, none of which were buffered from the board itself. Alpha One wrote the first draft, AO and I collaborated on the second, and I put the finishing touches on the third and fourth (the first draft was a basic blueprint). I seem to recall other versions that had too many unacceptable flaws. So, a blast from the past, here are the Bloom County Convention Rules: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Duel: formerly known as a One on One, a duel is a fight between two single fighters. Seven Day default: all fighters are allowed seven days to respond to war messages. After seven days the fight is defaulted. Duel Rules 1. All duels are fought for ten days. 2. All duels are to be fought by Convention Standards. 3. All duels are to be judged by three neutral parties. 4. Each side is allowed one message per day. 5. Interference in a duel will be ignored. Group leaders are responsible for their members and are expected to enforce Convention rules. Independents are free to use force on violators of this interference clause. 6. Duels must take place only on the BBS where the challenge was made. 7. A fighter who needs additional time due to extenuating circumstances will be allowed to petition the judges for more time. 8. All stakes are to be determined prior to the start of battle. 9. A public challenge must be made by one party, to be known thereafter as the Challenger, to a second party who will be known as the Defender. 10. All fighters who ignore Convention Standards will be dismissed from serious battle. These Standards agreed upon this day, July 12, 1988, by the following aliases: (Alphabetical listing) Nex---------------------------------------------------- Duel - By popular consent, a Duel is a battle between two opponents without interference from group members or outside parties. This term refers to what was once known as a 'One on One'. Seven-Deement among the fighters present at this Convention determines that a defeat goes to any fighter who vanishes from the warboards for seven or more days without prior notice. In the case of a Duel, the Seven-Day Default extends the Duel indefinitely, the by the first fighter who is absent for seven days or more. The following Convention Standards concern Duels only: 1) A Duel is a battle fought for ten days. This standard may be lengthened or shortened if both parties agree. 2) A public Chalaccepted before a Duel can begin. The Challenger must state any deviations to Convention Standards, there-after both parties may negotiate further alterations. 3) The parties involved may determine the method of judging to be used. Both parties musmethod and the judges picked. If no agreement can be reached on judges, the outcome of the Duel is determined by the Seven-Day Default. 4) One post period per day, no limit on length or number of msgs. 5) Outside interference will be ignored by thup leaders will discipline their members for interference and all non-involved parties will pressure the violator to cease, with force if necessary. 6) The Duel will take place only on the BBS where the challenge was made. 7) Any fighter who requesing circumstances will be so granted. The Duel will resume upon his return. The following are suggested methods for determining the outcome of the Duel. a) The final outcome will be determined by agreed upon judges, the number of which will als's Victor will be determined by popular vote of the fighters present on the Warboard. All Convention Standards are negotiable so long as both parties agree to any changes. Because of their past efforts in progressing the Game of War, Death Merchante recognized as honorary signatories to these Convention Standards. These Standards agreed upon this day, July 18, 1988, by the following aliases: [Three column alphabetical listing] Final Version ----------------------------------------------********************************************************** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Duel - By majority vote, a Duel is an organized battle between two opponents without interference from outside partgeneral term for any unorganized battle lasting twenty-one (21) days or less. There is no limit to the number of parties who may join. Defeat is determined by admission of the party conceding defeat or by the Seven Day Default. War - By majority votefor determining victor and vanquished apply. Suspension - By majority vote, hostilities between fighting parties are suspended by mutual agreement during a Suspension. Neither party concedes defeat in asking for a Suspension, but to imply or suggest tension Request is cowardly, or is a loss of face, will result in an immediate defeat for the alias doing the suggesting and all subsequent aliases who follow suit. Each fighter is allowed to request only one Suspension per month. Battle - By majority v joined only after the opponents have traded a minimum of one attack each. All Duels, Jousts, and Wars are a form of Battle; Battle and Fight are interchangeable terms. All fights are restricted to the board of origin, but are expanded to other boards on posted a minimum of one attack against each other. Seven Day Default - By majority vote, any fighter engaged in any form of battle who does not respond with an attack seven (7) days after his last attack, and while his opponent is still in the field, defaults the fight. Prior public notice of an absence not longer than twenty-one (21) days extends the default period until his return. After twenty-one (21) days of absence he is acknowledged as defeated. Exposure - By majority vote, exposure is thmation concerning an alias which is not public domain. Exposure will result in an immediate and automatic defeat for the expose to delete all exposers. Standard Duel Rules: 1) A Duel is a battle fought for ten (10) days. This standard may be lengthened or shortened if both parties agree. 2) A public Challenge must be issued and accepted. The Challenger must state antions Standards in his message of challenge, from which both parties may negotiate further alterations. 3) The parties involved may determine the method of judging. Both parties must agree to the method and judges. 4) One post period per day, no of messages. 5) Outside interference will be ignored by the combatants and judges. Sysops are encouraged to temporarily delete such disruptive messages and attackers who interfere with a Duel. Group leaders will police their members. 6) The DuelOn BBSes with multiple warboards, it will take place on the warboard where the challenge was issued. 7) Each fighter is allowed to request a temporary suspension of the Duel not to exceed fourteen (14) days in the case of extenuating circumstances. T after fourteen (14) days, whichever comes first. All Convention Standards regarding Duels are negotiable so long as both parties agree to any and all changes. Because of their past efforts in progressing the Game of War, Death Merchant and the Orator are recognized as honorary signatories to these Convention Standards. These Standards agreed upon this day, July 22, 1988, by the following aliases: [Alphabetical Listing of all those in agreement] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- I believe I said previously that the Convention Rules were accepted unanimously by all those who participated. Looking back over the msgs posted, however, I see that Buffalo Bill posted a single msg on the Convention Bine rules. Basically, the Convention Board was a war discussion board in which fighters discussed what rules they'd like to see. We then gathered the main points and posted them as you see here. Fighters then discussed each point and the rules were room for individual interpretation in the first drafts, and in addition they focused primarily on Duels. As anyone from the old days remembers, Duels were very uncommon, so we included definitions to limit interpretation and balance the rules with more per We fully intended for the rules to be used by newer fighters. During the latter part of the Convention some of us had begun discussing what is now known as the nuking. The Manhattan Project (the board on the Guild set up for nuke discussions) began odraft of the Convention Rules was passed. In fact, my hardcopy of the final draft also has mail from Rainmaker concerning the effort to convince MOTH to give us a board. If I'm not mistaken, the last three drafts of the rules were publicly posted (neces, just "no" if they disagreed), but I'm sure there are a few earlier drafts that I've missed. I know for sure that Alpha's first draft is missing, and I believe there was a draft listing the definitions as amendments. It's been so long and all I have if yellow buffers. The Bloom County Convention Board closed shop the day the Manhattan Project began. And the rest is history. Brd : Art of War 36/65: Thanks UT! Name: Lone Wolf #81 @5416 Date: Mon Mar 25 17:23:21 1991 I was waiting forE nature. I leave you two alone to work out your.. whatever you two do..ta.. Lw Brd : Art of War 37/65: That was enlightening, UT... Name: Analog Kid #25 @5416 Date: Tue Mar 26 18:23:00 1991 Thanks for outlining the Bloom County rules. Now I kno rule came from. It all makes a little more sense now. The Analog Kid Brd : Art of War 38/65: Most Of The Rules Were Old Traditions Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Tue Mar 26 22:36:35 1991 The seven day rule is prob the Convention accomplishments. Most everyone recognized that after a period of absence a legitimate victory could be declared, but everyone had a different idea as to when. I wanted it to be a three day rule, some wanted five days, but the majority tho fair. The Duel rules were really nothing new. Previous Duels had involved lengthy negotiations on judges and judging methods. We simply refined already existing protocols. The joust was simply a name invented. No one ever called their war a "joust term suggested by Tiny Tim when he and I began to chat about the need for some organization. The suspension was a totally new creation and was never used. As a matter of fact, when fighters joined the Convention discussions, all war stopped. Shortly afn Project began. There was no need for the rules to be used. You can probably see a big difference between the old idea of exposure and the present one. In fact, it was considered "illegal" to "bring outside info into war." Outside info meant ANYTHIrd. Something posted on the general board by an alias could not be repeated on the warboard because that was considered "bringing outside info into war." There would be immediate calls for deletion on the grounds of exposure. Fighters were restricted towarboard. Also, the Guild had two warboards at one time... the Arena and the Dueling Field. MOTH made it clear that the boards were not interchangeable, so a war on one (the Dueling Field was made for non-war aliases who had a gripe with someone) coulother. This was the primary reason that all Duels had to occur on the board of challenge. And it was a long-standing tradition that to attack a fighter on a BBS of which he was not a member, or was not actively engaged, was unethical and cowardly. It a fighter who attacked someone on a board that was never read by the opponent could not claim a legitimate victory, thus victory could only be claimed on those boards on which the fighters were engaged. The Bloom County Convention only established traere already in existence. What rules it tried to create out of thin air failed, most notably the joust and suspension. The Convention clarified things and put time limits that everyone could agree upon. In some cases it wasn't as strict as tradition... mpared to what was practiced. That's probably due more to us being unable to conceive of a more lax interpretation than anything else. UT Brd : Art of War 39/65: It seems like the duel failed, too... Name: Analog Kid #25 @5416 Dce there's not very much of that going on anymore...if any. Generally, there's a lot of 2-on-1 fights and other combinations involving greater numbers on either side, but very little 1-on-1 duelling anymore. The Analog Kid know AK... Name: Mr. Dickens #7 @5416 Date: Fri Mar 29 00:18:41 1991 Have you seen none of the dialogues which have erstwhile taken place between our out-caste friend and myself?.. hmmm?... [BOZ] Brd : Art of War 4zu #92 @5416 Date: Fri Mar 29 21:57:12 1991 RE: Oh, I don't know AK... I don't think that The Untouchable is outcaste at all. It's just that some of you can't understand true intelligence when confronted with it. Brd : Art of War 42/65: Duels A#5 @5416 Date: Sat Mar 30 00:27:34 1991 Duels were never very widely used, AK, and when they were, they were usually fights to the death. Anytime a fighter ran the risk of allowing a panel of judges decide his fate, he usually wanted compensation. each fighter sent the judges a list of his passwords on all boards, and the winner took all. A fight to the death, and it didn't happen all that often. Since the nuking, I don't believe it's happened at all. I agree wholeheartedly with the gist oMr Dickens was probably referring to the Indian caste system wherein an untouchable was an outcaste from society. He's made a few G-man comments, as well, so it is likely that he is playing off the alias. For those interested, my alias came from ne came from something a fighter said way back when I was viewing the boards only, and he being one of the best (if not the best) fighter, I originally shaped the alias to fight him. Somebody stick an "n" after India and before Elliot. The fingers aren't smashing the keys quite like they should. UT Brd : Art of War 43/65: I beg to disagree there... Name: Mr. Dickens #7 @5416 Date: Sat Mar 30 13:25:54 1991 RE: I must protest the reference was made, quite tongue-in-cek, to the aforementioned G-man's "handle", and to nothing more; the problem is that some of "us" don't have a proper appreciation either for intelligence, or the intelligence to recognize facetious humor, irony, and parody when we read it--or some rea [BOZ] Brd : Art of War 44/65: OK, there's that... Name: Analog Kid #25 @5416 Date: Sat Mar 30 16:57:49 1991 RE: Oh, I don't know AK... ...but actually, Dickens, what I meant was that it goes on very little on most of the warboardT are an exception. The Analog Kid Brd : Art of War 45/65: Purgatory Blues Name: Eric The Penguin #270 @5416 Date: Sun Apr 28 01:13:15 1991 Never mind how it is that I am no longer in BBS Purgatory. Suffice to say, I wuffice it to say, too, that I got screwed in the process. "Go on back," they said. "Help them out," they said. "Do fantasy...teach them double aliases," they said. Yeah yeah yeah. It was all great, and the second I got out they said, "Oh, by the w You think owing the Mob a favor is shit, try owing the Ministry. Especially when you weaseled your way out of a sentence to Hell. They say jump, I say how high. Which brings me to why I'm here... If you recognize this alias, if you knew that liases such as "Hell's Keeper", "The Plaid Maggot of Doom", or "The Watcher" ring any bells, then I need you. If you remember boards such as "Dante's Inferno", "The Morgue", "Kami's Korner", then I need you. If you are a child of the Golden Age, pre-Nessed it. "Do us a favor," they said, so I'm doing it, but I'll need some help in doing it. By all means, if this makes any sense, leave me mail. Thanx & Pax, Eric the Penguin Brd : Art of War 46/65: What's up? Name: Frank Castle #121 @5416:59:52 1991 Yep, you guessed it. It's Uncle Frankie paying another visit. Well, I wasn't around for the Nuking....or, I suppose, for a long while after the Nuking, but what amazes me is that I and JC have become, actively, the only two who are stio years ago. We're actually "old" to these newby's around here. That's alright, I know that we'll always be new to you guys. So, how about them DoW? Nobody's said too much about them, except that they tried to start up their group once again.....Eism. Well, catch you on the warboards..... Frank Castle WIE Brd : Art of War 47/65: Ut.... Name: Julius Caesar #124 @5416 Date: Sat May 25 14:38:46 1991 What happened at the Sicily'us Caesar WIE Brd : Art of War 48/65: Pizza And Herb Toast (And Babby Hats At Denny's) Name: The Untouchable #5 @5416 Date: Mon May 27 23:12:45 1991 Ah, Sicily's Pizza. Now that brings back memories! I had been in BBS just over a monthtook place. I wasn't involved -- in fact, I was fighting all of the participants at the time -- but it was well publicized. Supergnat was what they called a "baddie." He was one of those nasty aliases that attacked the "good guys" (good and bad can bhreatened to beat people up outside. Before you get horrified, that was the way things worked in the old days. Threats of physical violence were common. Indeed, for a "baddie" to have credibility they were a necessity. And there were times when the thrbys and DoF decided to pay Supergnat a visit at his work. As you may have guessed, he worked at Sicily's. I don't know why but Gnat had posted where he worked. If memory serves me correctly, he challenged one of the group members to meet him at work for ek after the incident, Gnat's place of occupation was known to everyone in BBS. The group members went, met Gnat, and actually wound up liking him. He didn't mind the visit and there was of course no fight. However, others felt that by going to Gnimidated him. They had gone outside and more or less let Supergnat know that they could get him if they wanted. It didn't matter if Gnat enjoyed the visit or not... it was a form of intimidation outside BBS. Without getting into the morality of the eadvantageous at the time for me to play one side off the other, thus I never really studied the morality of the intimidation -- there was a division in BBS and especially within the Babbys. Two powerful Babby fighters who had gone to Sicily's that night f that this event set in motion the chain of events that ultimately led to the nuking. If this is so then it is only because the Babbys were momentarily vulnerable and the DoF leader at the time chose to take advantage of it (a good strategical move, actuasix months of chaos (much of it productive and innovative) followed before the DoF regrouped and the Babbys reformed. UT Brd : Art of War 49/65: Sicily's Pizza -- the True Story Name: Eric The Penguin #270 @5416 Date: Sat Jun 01 the above account is partially true, but needs a few details to round it out. Yes, Supergnat had this habit of threatening people outside, which most folks didn't take seriously. However, I was fighting the Gnat at the time and started getting all kinom him on my answering machine. In addition, I found out that he had been going through the records of a certain real-life association I had been a part of, in order to get hold of real information about me. Myself and a number of others went to Sicilhat he really didn't want to take things off the boards, as there were a lot more of us than there was of him and because we knew information about him as well. We did NOT end up being pals with him. We hardly talked to him. We ate pizza and got a bie bad-ass threatmaker sweep the floors and pick up trash. And then we left, simple as that, but only after signing a napkin with all of our aliases. When word of the Sicily's Visit got to Angelica Alpha, she threw a hissy fit, saying that we had brokeethics of BBS by visiting him there. Somehow she had gotten word that we had done all sorts of horrible threats and intimidations to him, when really all we had done was the above. I argued that he was the one digging for my real-life info and threatend I didn't care whether or not he was in BBS, I was going to stop him. I asked her if I was supposed to wait until after he had done whatever he was going to do before I could react. The whole thing blew over and looking back, chances were he would nell. Nevertheless, I don't think what we did was wrong, given his actions. And that was the Great Sicily's Visit. Apparently, JC, you let the word "Great" fool you into thinking it was something exciting. EtP Brd : Art of War 50/65: War... Namow I saw it... I had just been in BBS for a little over 3 months when I had decided what I wanted to do. I wanted to be in war. Nothing else. While not having the courage to post on the Guild or Cradle, I took to the Atari boards. I meet Eclipswarriors in The Art of War (sub-board on Guild). The nuke occured when I had been in BBS for about a year. But, I simply could not get back into the grove, again. I feel that in that year or so, I had some of the best times of my life. I met very stlike the idea of a nuke, but I never voiced my opinion. I thought of it as "who would listen to a 13 year old?" So I went along with it. While coming back (2 or 3 times) might not have been the best thing to do, I have no regret. As Pun said, peopleou, while you have nothing on them. I still wonder what BBS war would be like today if the nuke had never occured. Would it be in its current state? Fool Killer Brd : Art of War 51/65: Gee.. Name: Alpha One #219 @5416 Date: Fri Jun 14 23be fair unless I had my say in these matters. ..First off, Androm, Untouchable shouldn't be coordinating this sub.. he sux! ..But since he at least broke wind on my name, we'll let him slide. ..Second, this board should be named after moi is needed. ..Something, just something.. Alpha Brd : Art of War 52/65: Dagnabit... Name: Nimbus #242 @5416 Date: Sat Jun here while all this posting was going on... Oh, well... y'all take care... and (as always) HAVE FUN! Nimbus ---- Independent... WIE (and that, folks, did not last long AT ALL!) RoT (Poor start but I made the most of it byetelgeuse... See, Bopper, you DID get something right!!) Avengers VanGuard Independent... again... for the last time, I suppose... And he walks off into the sunset... Brd : Art of War 53/65: DoW Name: Grendel #134 @5 Would That Be The Dogs of War, Formerly The Devil's Advocate? Jeez, I am old.. Grendel Brd : Art of War 54/65: You aren't old until.... Name: Lone Wolf #81 @5416 Date: Wed Aug 07 14:25:59 1991 postings like EtP's and UT's cause a chucrt of the Siciliy's visit was of course most fun, even if it wasn't really that exciting. It was fun to watch the Gnat man sweep, etc.. And of course eating pizza, listening to the Juke Box, and gathering with BBS friends(so to speak) was pretty fun foose times. Sure, it lead to the nuking. So what? It was bound to happen anyway, I don't want to get into one of those deep discussions about it. But, it was what bbs was at that time. Killed aliases, but gave a certain group of people one helluva tr separate ways. I personally would not have given up those times we had for anything. BBS was falling apart anyway, we all knew who was who... Too much speculation, not enough war game playing. Oh well, so much for a sentimental tear. BBS will never hance. Nothing beats the excitement of eggs flying, flag implantations, and pizza parties with the great variety of people that gathered because of this medium. Oh well, enough of this rambaling bullshit. Take care.. Lw Brd : Art of War 55/65: 108 @5416 Date: Wed Aug 14 12:10:03 1991 Something fun to do is go to lafreniere park and look under the roof of one of the picnic-enclosure deals, where there are many signatures of various old alias's bb Brd : Art of War 56/65: haha! Name: Jahu Aug 15 00:24:26 1991 That's funny to hear about... JTR Brd : Art of War 57/65: In Lafreniere Park? Name: Analog Kid #25 @5416 Date: Fri Aug 16 13:44:05 1991 Hmm...must've been a lot of BBS get-togethers there at one time. These days, The Analog Kid Brd : Art of War 58/65: Boy this sub just flies along! Name: Julius Caesar #124 @5416 Date: Tue Oct 08 21:44:43 1991 WIE is around. How bout anyone else? Brd : Art of War 59/65: Although I have be Oct 14 00:03:27 1991 warring and BBSing now since 1982, not all of them were here... could someone please give me some of the history leading up to this 'nuking' the 'nuking' it itself and the effects of it on the users and BBSs and Warboards of this amewhere... ATH Brd : Art of War 60/65: SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...... Name: Attila The Hun #6 @5416 Date: Thu Oct 17 23:59:17 1991 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMting off a Hydrogem bomb in here, cause I noticed no one has even bothered to answer my question I left ON MONDAY!!! Hey, whata I gotta do, come to your homes and sit you in front of you computer and press yer fingers on the keys or somethin??/ HUH?! Wolf #81 @5416 Date: Fri Nov 01 00:36:39 1991 Nuking, NUKING, NUKING! Is that ALL that you people want to talk about! Sheesh.. Ok, here it is in a nutshell. Everyone knew everyone, war became boring, so everyone (well, not everyone) was killed off, g, I dunno. Unfortunately, all those wonderfully splendiforus people either grew up or grew out(of bbs that is).. and it is left in this dormant state of nothingness. Pretty boring, as compared to yesteryear. But, everything has to evolve into someth I miss the warring, the pow-wows, etc.. but, even if you refuse to grow up the world won't let you slack on by for too long. Oh, and if any of this makes sense to you, Happy Halloween old buddies. Lw Brd : Art of War 62/65: The Nuking Name: Ad09:40 1991 As Lone Wolf said...several years ago(was it really that long ago?) a few sysops decided that the war boards were dying and so NUKED the whole kit and kaboodle. War Boards were basically killed for a stretch until the Sysops decided that thlicting self-injury. It was a rather radical means to an end but nonetheless, an effective one. The war boards were once an avenue for creative writing and wars were actually fun. Then some people started taking things seriously and started using m I hope it doesn't get to that again. War Boards are supposed to be fun and should not be a board for hurling insults and name-calling. They should be used as intelligent mediums for warring...not unlike the way messages are posted on the storyboards. ADRIC Brd : Art of War 63/65: many thanx... Name: Omegaman #231 @1515 Date: Sun Sep 10 23:58:54 1995 RE: The Nuking BY: Adric #70 @5416 To Amdrom & Chrys for placing this sub here. You have no idea how impossibly fascinating this istP. the Warlords, posting with cheesy abbreviations (U R pitiful, etc), 300 baud, the whole nine yards. I'm sitting here at what, 11:30 at night, smoking a cigar, drinking bourbon, & flipping out completely at the names and references posted here back alled "glory days" considering the technological hurdles. It's no wonder that so few even believe such a time existed. (Let's just say I could neither smoke cigars nor drink bourbon when I did all of my fighting) It is impossible to adequately explain Just out of curiosity, does anyone recall the alternate warboard created for a time on the Ravenloft in which users created entirely new aliases and alliances? It long predated the "nuking" decision and eventually failed. I suppose the only question ns war fully rejuvenated since that fateful decision? I'd have to say quite honestly that no, it has not. Unfortunately, I cannot really explain or qualify that opinion fully to the users and warriors of today. I can only say that I am not being nostaand elsewhere was largely spontaneous & coincidental. Gems such as the aformentioned "EtP at the Pearly Gates", "Angel on the Edge(self pat on the back there), and many others have not been produced in the year and a half worth of posting I've viewed.am to the modern crop, but as a challenge. If war truly and fully rejuvenates, however, it will be as before...entirely by accident. Even if all of my contemporaries returned, they could not recreate what evolved and inevitably dissolved. Could it be testing/intense again? Of course. Omegaman DoF(I can do that here) P.S.-forgive the rambling. I'll be back with more concise efforts. Brd : Art of War 64/65: Editing just a bit. Name: Chrysalis #1 @1515 Date: Mon Sep 11 15:47:06 1995 I wanred sub originally had 73 messages. I have to admit that I edited out about 9 of them. They had nothing to do with war history and were flat out attempts to start a conflict. Now, that's pretty funny considering that it all happened a few years ago,ading the stuff by a dork named "Hawk", whoever the hell he was, talking about his activity on some sort of "razz' board on a now defunct BBS, (and if it was the BBS I'm thinking of, it only lived for a few months after birth). Seems all his posts were simple insults for a few people posting here that he wanted to fight...not to mention a blatant attempt to generate activity for that other BBS. Well, that shit isn't even history and to my knowledge, this fool never had the balls to plunk his alias onREAL warboard. A couple of short posts responding to Hawk also went because they no longer made any sense...and they were pure and simple war retorts. If anybody is curious, I'm sure the entire sub is on Cat's Cradle. It takes a little more thation to move Androm into editing mode. I mean...the woman still has backup disks from all those YEARS ago...incredible. In this case, I'm grateful for her compulsion to guard words and thoughts. Some neat stuff on here, eh? Chrys Brd : Ar War 65/65: ooh. Name: Raccoon #26 @1515 Date: Mon Sep 11 19:29:07 1995 Silly, yet somehow fascinating. If i was feeling erudite, i'd make some analogy to Arturian myths, perhaps, something about now-vanished Avalon (no, NOT Dayspring's board!), or some seudo-mystical bullshit. I do wonder how much of the "Great Days Of The Past" is just pumped-up memories. I didn't get a modem until sometime in the mid-eighties (um, '85 to '87, somewhere in there; i'm really not sure), but i mostly stuck to the c64 bven though i had one of the very early c64s, the 64 had become firmly the computer of the shallow end of the gene pool, somehow. War on those C-Net and Ivory BBSs was mostly just horribly-spelled, boring insults flying back and forth. I stayed away. Thontact i've had with "real" war was reading a third-hand loaned copy of "The Hacker", a novel which involved (parodies of) New Orleans warboarders of the time. So i really wonder, were the early days of war really so glorious and amazing as all the "Elmake them out to be? Or is it merely another case of the accelerated nostalgia for the days when computers were a new, exiting, and elite (not 3|_1t3, elite) toy? Who can tell? All the messages are lost into the aether; perhaps some percentage are storedious incompatable formats, perhaps some are printed in faded 8-pin dot-matrix on badly yellowed paper stored in an attic... -raccoon (nowadays, i look at all the 8-bits with equal nostalgia; i'm delving into the world of Apple 8-bit warez via emulation,round the quirky English world of the Spectrum, and wishing i could find a decent Atari emulator to run on my machine, too. And the only true hatred i have relating to other platforms is an intense avoidance of anything from Microsloth.) < Art of War Q-Scan Done >