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Written by Guru Bear
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Wednesday, 13 April 2011 14:56 |
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 And Berris, fabled tracker of Independance on the Freedom Isles has done it - he has at last reached 100.0 tracking skill. Berris came to wurm in October 2008.
"I came to Jenn Kellon Home when I first arrived and visited Wild once to see the sights and PvPed for a few days on an alt. When the servers split I moved to Wild and then later to Independence. I live just south of Darkenstone on a little coastal spot. Ruffle, who taught me the the game, came over with me and she found this most perfect spot, so we set up as neighbours - Berrisville and Rufflehome - what egotists!"
When you go through the lists of the top skilled players, mining and digging tend to feature, probably as both are so important to life on Wurm, apart from eating, of course. Tracking, on the other hand, is useful, but not a usual skill to grind.
"On my first night on Wurm Ruffle made me a meal. While it was cooking she suggested I try some actions like forage, botanise and track. So tracking was what I did while I was waiting for stuff. After that it became a sort of joke and I kept at it."
Obviously, Berris, like most players is pretty well rounded and his skills do not start and end at tracking.
"I am close to 90 mining, and I would love 70 fighting, but its just a pain to find creatures. I don't do much smithing. When ore used to take hours to melt I found it boring and it seemed like everyone did it so I didn't bother. I do have 70+ masonary which the mining is useful for. I just do what ever I feel like each day - that is what is great about Wurm. But there is only so many hours of Wurm in a day and so many things your can do!"
So, what does this amazing 100 skill in tracking give Berris?
 "A very short timer, some nifty titles, and lots of very odd looks. Really the mechanical benefits are very few, it's not the route to ultimate power sadly. In the early stages some Mind Logic and a little bit of Soul Depth. At very high levels though the gain is tiny even if you grind 5 hrs you might not see any gain."
Training any skill to a very high level is often more than just repeating an action. Finding the right combination of events can help too. Berris used "climbing" to help him.
I used climbing to manage my stamina to increase the timer - so I gained some Strength and Control off that! At first I just did tracking every time I was waiting - so waiting for ore to melt or food to cook. Later I walked along roads so I had a clear path and used climbing to keep my stamina below 100%. I didn't do that until about 75 or so. I don't think it gave faster gains but it gave less clicks, which before keybinds was important. I did 90 on the mouse; I'd never have done the last 10 without keybinds."
So, congratulation from the team to Berris for what has been an epic voyage of tracking. And at least we can be certain that if anyone can find their way home, Berris can! |
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Written by Artashes
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Monday, 23 November 2009 13:01 |
 Not a highway robbery, but one of the first deliveries of the recently opened Freedom Post Office. This venture has been started by a group of enterprising citizens calling themselves the Postmens Guild, under the guidance of self-appointed Postmaster General, Gwydion. Based in a central location near Halcyon, to the southwest of Dragon's Fang, but looking to open sub-post offices around the island, this is a new beginning for a business that first started some years ago in the kingdom lands to the north.
Their ability to carry bulk items, and the comparatively low cost (they boast that a 20kg delivery across the island will cost only around 10 copper coins, only as much as a single item delivery by the more traditional spirit mail) are the major selling points of their service, whilst speed of delivery is a potential drawback. However, their motto is "We'll deliver it eventually!".
Insuring your items costs an additional 5 copper coins, though this does cover you for up to 5 silver. In its earlier incarnation, this was a safeguard against storm damage causing the loss of cargoes when travelling between the islands. While this is not currently an issue on our single island, there is always the possibility of a hold-up by those true highwaymen of Independence, the trolls, which could cause your goods to get mislaid in a forest.
Certainly to begin with, the members of the Postmens Guild will need to be on their toes. The rugged landscape of Independence continues to prove hard work to tame, and while a number of significant road-building projects are underway, we anticipate that it will be some time yet before major roads are put in place to all corners of the island, and many outlying communities may be largely dependent on boat transport for some years to come. |
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Written by Artashes
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Sunday, 15 November 2009 16:04 |
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 Not disheartened by the loss of their champion crocodiles during the flesh-eating plague that swept the land during the Starfall of Dancers of the year 1000, Oreo's animal breeders are back in action, with a veritable production line of baby bears being produced by their pair of champion brown bears, Bear and Bertha.
Bertha recently produced her fifth(!) baby of 1001, pictured here with his parents, and rumours abound that a sixth is on the way and could be born before the end of the year.
Renowned Beast Speaker Rosie, head of Oreo's breeding initiative, had this to say: "We're very pleased with how our bear breeding programme is coming along. Bertha was not in the best of condition when she arrived, but she's put on a lot of weight since then, and both she and Bear are in excellent health now. Naturally, we're a little disappointed that they haven't managed to produce a champion baby yet, but it's no secret that Bertha is pregnant again and we're hopeful that this time, the baby will have all the traits of its parents. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going, as it's nearly their feeding time." |
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Written by Kingdom Scribe
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Monday, 19 October 2009 15:19 |
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 After many weeks heavy work, and much speculation, Freedom Market is finally open for business on Independence. Set beneath the dramatic beauty of Dragons Fang, the market offers room for up to 72 merchants plus a kingdom trader. In keeping with the philosophy of the Freedom Isles, grown out of the spirit of friendship that filled the hearts of those that escaped the clutches of the Northern Kingdoms, the market plots are being offered for free for any that wish to come here to sell their wears.
The market has been built within the shire of Rockcliff and is placed on a hill just south of Dragons Fang, North of the western entrance to the Cave Canal and South East of Rockcliff Retreat. Many hours hard labour have been put into the project which is not just the market but the wide, clear access roads (some still a little unfinished). Citizen thanks go to Annette, Artashes, Neddie, Strider, Tich and Uzetaab.
We hope the market will not only be an active centre of Trade, but also a meeting point from all points of this fair land - something that has been sadly missing since we first stepped on the sandy shores of Samling, fair beaten and worn from our journeys across the Circle Sea, and headed into the unknown.
There are few restrictions on using the market, however the market management have asked that Merchants refrain from putting up signs for the moment so that the lanes do not become cluttered.
 For those wishing to visit, Tich has given the following directions:
- From Rockcliff Retreat, there is a 2 lane highway South from Rockcliff Retreat up the hill, which joins the North-South road, keep going South following the road as it turns South-East and you will come to the market. Note the North-South road is incomplete, it still needs to be done around the lakes edge to join up with the road from Samling, also it does not continue to South coast (yet)
- From the west end of the cave canal, this route is in progress of being upgraded. There will be a selection of carts available at the Canal soon(tm) to help people haul up their merchandise, please dont forget to bring the cart back down so others can use it.
- From the East side there will be a road from Crystal Lakes, this has not been started yet.
- and last of all there will be a road going South over the cave canal to the south coast, not sure of the route as not scouted it out... If anyone is willing to do so, would be greatly appreciated.
New arrivals at Samling should note that this is the perfect place to head as you start on your own venture as the merchants will no doubt be selling everything from Carts to Canaries!
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