CL: Intro and Algernon question OOC

 > And a few in particular
 > have been very considerate and have taken my character "under their
 > wing." Almost like becoming friends, but IC. Very cool. Thanks to
 > all.

You have no idea how deep the rabbit hole goes. I took 2 cross-country
trips to visit CL people, and would probably take a 3rd if I had the time.

 > One silly newbie question: What's the deal with Algy? Is he
 > part-NPC/part-PC, or a bot, or...? He's listed as a player, but
 > roleplays like a bot.

Algy is a character developed by a real player, who is now run totally by
script. He responds to simple commands and on occasion can be "taught"
things. He mostly exists to heal people and provide a little bit of
entertainment for anyone sitting in town bored. He is also sometimes
kidnapped, hidden, or killed, also for entertainment.


 > Also, I've seen people request his help to heal
 > (and have done so myself a few times now when I wasn't strong enough
 > to raise somebody), and they've also told him to move and dance. I've
 > read about his history (can't recall the site), but figured it was
 > fictional.

Well, all our "histories" are fictional, right?

Algy can respond to requests for healing. He can also tell you what time it
is. Also, if you share him, he talks about you if you've fallen. The macro
power of CL allows anything that registers in either the text window or the
message window to potentially be made to trigger a script, and Algy uses
this to do what he does. If you talk or sunstone the right words, or if you
fall or share him, he can respond.

 > And some players seem to have an "issue" with having him around.
 > Why's that? Because of the healing capability or...?

Some people dislike Algy because he is a bot, and other bots or character
scripts are not allowed (although GMs can't always find and remove them as
fast as they appear). Others dislike a bot-healer in town, but would not
mind Algy if he was not a healer.

Lex<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: CL: Intro and Algernon question OOC 

In article <bknkoa$fove$1@netnews.upenn.edu>, "Lex" <corra RemoveThis @mac.com>
wrote:

 > Algy is a character developed by a real player, who is now run totally by
 > script. He responds to simple commands and on occasion can be "taught"
 > things. He mostly exists to heal people and provide a little bit of
 > entertainment for anyone sitting in town bored. He is also sometimes
 > kidnapped, hidden, or killed, also for entertainment.

I think that some Algernon trivia are interesting enought to warrant a
note:

* Every item Algernon has, someone gave him.
* Every coin he has, someone gave him.
* Every XP he has came from either shares or someone walking him to the
library, where he took a nap -- but the vast majority is from the former.
* Likewise, his training is all from people "helping" him find a
trainer, and introducing him.
* Algernon's keeper ("keeper") does not "play" him, does not siphon
coins, items or share XP (I believe that Algernon has never weilded a
weapon) -- he's purely there for the town to do with him as they like.

---

As to the controvercy: it's as others have said -- Algy is a bot, and we
strongly discourage bots. However, we make an exception to Algy,
because we feel that he is Just That Good. You can google this group to
see how various counter-arguments and "what if *I* want to make a bot
that cool?" type discussions go. But the bottom line is: Joe (and
almost all the other GMs) like him, so he stays, and we (collectively)
dislike other bots, so we ...uh... "discourage" them.

--
You have to remove stuff from my e-mail to reply, it's not difficult.
Everything here is my personal opinion, do with it what you will.

"[T]he idea of a game with people nicer than in CL makes me wanna puke."
-Michael<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: CL: Intro and Algernon question OOC 

Helpful GM <HelpfulGM@*NO-SPAM*PlayNaked.com> wrote:

 > * Likewise, his training is all from people "helping" him find a
 > trainer, and introducing him.

Not possible anymore I dont think because of having to say yes to train
with a trainer. I know the clicker will sometimes take over to depart
Algy from a place he cant be rescued (KI), but I am not sure about
training now that its changed.

Michael<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: CL: Intro and Algernon question OOC 

In article <1g1tg50.11kretertdv80N%mike17032@aol.com>,
mike17032 RemoveThis @aol.com (Michael) wrote:

 > I know the clicker will sometimes take over to depart Algy from a
 > place he cant be rescued (KI), but I am not sure about training now
 > that its changed.

Algy can say "yes" on command when is clicker is at the keyboard, but
it's still the choice of the other players.

--
HWC for Hidden <hidden RemoveThis @noDASHop.com> <http://www.oralse.cx/>
"Give a man some nuts, and he'll eat for a day.
Kick him in the nuts, and he'll forget about eating."<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: CL: Intro and Algernon question OOC 

In article <hidden-6D5EC0.23585624092003@localhost>,
Hidden <hidden.TakeThisOut@noDASHop.com> wrote:

 > In article <1g1tg50.11kretertdv80N%mike17032@aol.com>,
 > mike17032.TakeThisOut@aol.com (Michael) wrote:
 >
  > > I know the clicker will sometimes take over to depart Algy from a
  > > place he cant be rescued (KI), but I am not sure about training now
  > > that its changed.
 >
 > Algy can say "yes" on command when is clicker is at the keyboard, but
 > it's still the choice of the other players.

I think the word for that is "cheating".


HWC for Phelps
obPhelpses of the World
obBalanceTaxSDB

--
"The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is naive and usually
idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of
us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched.
He is not a bad citizen turning to crime; he is a good citizen driven to
despair." -- H.L. Mencken<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: CL: Intro and Algernon question OOC