Fed Meet and Greet with Jopejope

February 7, 1999

Chiefsgirl stands up on her barstool and clears her throat

"I'd like to welcome you all to the Meet & Greet", Chiefsgirl says.

"Every week we meet a different personality and get to know them and their history", Chiefsgirl says.

Chiefsgirl smiles, "Tonight we have the plasure of having Duke JopeJope as our guest"

Jopejope bows.

"Feel free to ask questions as the evening goes on", Chiefsgirl smiles.

Chiefsgirl plops down and applauds wildly for JopeJope

Jopejope grins at all the people here.

Jopejope finds a nice comfortable barstool to tell his story from.

Jopejope says, "Well, I started playing fed back when it was on AOL, in september or october of 1995"

Jopejope winks and says, "So I guess I could be described as one of those old conservative type players."

Fiesta asks, "Conservative?"

Zeusgod tries to think

Jennifer winks and says, "don't try too hard zeus"

"Was that just before AOL flat rate?", asks Zeusgod.

Chiefsgirl covers a grin with her hand

Jopejope says, "Well, you know how there are all these players who have been around a long time, and they always complain about how the newbies have it easy, and they had to haul through 10 feet of lag paying $10 an hour or whatnot..."

Jopejope winks and says, "I guess I'm kinda like that."

"<---- remembers the days", smiles Zeusgod.

Chiefsgirl laughs

"My duke, the snob", smiles Fiesta.

"Yes, I was playing before AOL went flat rate. When I started playing it was about $3 an hour.", says Jopejope.

Chiefsgirl asks, "Did you have huge bills?"

"or did you control yourself?", asks Chiefsgirl.

Jopejope says, "I controlled myself -- and still had huge bills."

Fiesta checks out Jope's huge bills and webbed feet.

Jopejope says, "Well, a few times my AOL bill was over $100, which isn't as much as some people's, but is still pretty high when you have to actually pay it."

Chiefsgirl nods

"Did you rise slowly through the ranks?", asks Chiefsgirl.

Jopejope says, "yes, it was a very slow and enjoyable climb."

"Do you have a rank that you enjoyed most?", asks Chiefsgirl.

"I think my favorite rank was trader, because in order to get past that rank I had to solve the Spire puzzle.", says Jopejope.

"Spire puzzle?", asks Fiesta.

"Yes, there was this planet named Spire that had a really cool puzzle on it.", says Jopejope.

Fiesta exclaims, "LOL! I thought you typoed SQUIRE or something! Wondered what puzzle I missed!"

Jopejope grins.

"Then you've always been interested in the puzzles around here?", asks Chiefsgirl.

Jopejope says, "Well when I first started playing Federation I was interested in the puzzles."

Zeusgod asks, "I love to hear what you thought about FED in those days.... Did you actually aspire to Duke or did you play for the challenge of the puzzles?"

"I never thought I'd be a duke.", says Jopejope.

Zeusgod drops down laughing

Chiefsgirl never thought she would either, but then remembers she's not

"Let's see, back then I thought of Fed as a really cool adventure game.", says Jopejope.

Zeusgod smiles, "things chang hey Jope"

Jopejope says, "Since there were lots of other players, I figured I had to get a sufficiently high rank to be able to influence people and have power."

"or whatever it is you do in this game.", says Jopejope with a wink.

Chiefsgirl nods

Jopejope says, "anyway I thought it was pretty cool that there was an adventure game where you were competing with all these other people for status (rank)."

Chiefsgirl asks, "Do you still view Fed like this?"

"Of course back then there were very few POs... most people were below the rank of JP.", says Jopejope.

Jopejope says, "Fed is different now."

Chiefsgirl nods

"But at the time, I would meet a lot of people who were a couple ranks above me. Pretty soon, I would catch up to them.", says Jopejope.

"I was really kind of a loner. I pretty much just did my own thing.", says Jopejope.

"vouches for that", smiles Zeusgod.

Ranger asks, "i just got here. Are you takling about the days of aol?"

Jopejope says, "yes"

Ranger says, "i remember it back then free ahhhhhhhhhh so......free...."

"hehe", says Ranger.

Chiefsgirl smiles

Jopejope winks and says, "actually, I'm talking about the $3 per hour AOL."

"no Ranger.. we talking pay AOL", says Zeusgod.

"ouch", says Ranger.

Jamdroid doent remember that

Jamdroid came with unlimited

"i coulnt use that if i wanted to!! hehe", says Ranger.

"I do, as do many", says Zeusgod.

"How did you cope with the changes that unlimited AOL brought to Fed?", asks Chiefsgirl.

"Most people started after AOL went unlimited. I'm one of the oldest players in the game.", says Jopejope.

Kaitlin says, "how many were playing during $3 AOL when you were here Jopejope... on the average"

"let's see, I think between 40 and 70 people were on during regular hours.", says Jopejope.

Kaitlin nods

"maybe a bit more.", says Jopejope.

Jamdroid says, "sorta like now"

Fiesta says, "About the same as now"

"Well the big difference was that there weren't many POs then.", says Jopejope.

"Do planets disappear after time?", asks Fiesta.

"on free aol there were tons more people!!", exclaims Ranger.

Jopejope says, "Each rank had its own channel. There were a LOT of captains and adventurers, and there were tons of traders."

Ranger says, "i remeber the channel thing"

Jopejope says, "Channel 4 had the most people but they were all asking for price checks and stuff."

"did you have to do the JP puzzle when you were growing up?", asks Kaitlin.

Fiesta asks, "I thought we have rank channels now...?"

"channel 6 was the power channel. The JPs were essentially the highest in the game.", says Jopejope.

Ranger says, "no one uses the channels now! i hate that"

Jopejope says, "Yeah, back in those days you had to do the JP puzzle."

"Most people spent several months at the rank of JP trying to get past the snark puzzle.", says Jopejope.

Jamdroid asks, "did u like more people or the way it is now ?"

Zeusgod asks, "and Duchies were limited to some thing like 10?"

"no, in those days duchies could have unlimited planets.", says Jopejope.

Jopejope says, "but there weren't very many planets."

Jopejope says, "I think there were about five or six duchies, run by Fed staff or volunteers."

Ranger asks, "which rank would you say was the most fun and least work to have?"

Jhack says, "Ah yes, the good old days."

Jopejope says, "My favorite ranks were trader and squire."

Kaitlin says, "Everyone hates Trader, including me"

Kaitlin laughs

Jamdroid says, "my most unfavorite"

"Trader because of the Spire puzzle.", says Jopejope.

"Trader bites the big one...in my humble opinion", smiles Fiesta.

"I can see Trader... but Squirt?", asks Zeusgod.

Jopejope says, "See that's the thing about Trader... hauling as a trader sucks, you gotta go solve a player planet puzzle to pass that rank.l)"

Kaitlin agrees wholeheartedly with Fiesta

"Fortunately, a few old friends helped me past trader the other day. Yuck.", says Jhack with a wink.

"no, Iliked Trader myself", says Zeusgod.

"I've NEVER had the unpleasant experience of trading as a trader to buy all those stats. It sounds pretty awful though.", says Jopejope.

"Especially since I couldn't remember half of the answers to those god awful puzzles.", says Jhack.

"lol jope", says Jamdroid.

Jhack says, "Hehe..same here."

"I always had PO friends that gave me money.", says Jhack.

Jhack snickers.

Jamdroid says, "b4 i discovered the miracle of fed nav"

"well see you all around im gonna go get past the treaches of being a commander", says Ranger.

Jopejope says, "When I was a trader Fednav didn't exist and people didn't give out money."

Kaitlin waves to Ranger

"Good luck Ranger, tb me when you make Captain if you want any help.", says Jhack.

"will do jhack", says Ranger.

Chiefsgirl thought she'd be a trader forever

Jopejope says, "I actually remember this one rather interesting thing that happened when I was a captain..."

"so u traded in 15t bays to raise yourstats 40 points ?", asks Jamdroid.

Jhack says, "My first time around people didn't give out money much either, but the guy who gave it to me owed me a favor."

Zeusgod asks, "uh oh... a Captain ??????"

"Once when I was a captain there was this journeyman looking for a hauler, but I only had a harrier ship.", says Jopejope.

"This guy couldn't find a hauler. I said I would haul for him except I only have a 75 ton hauler.", says Jopejope.

Zeusgod Grabs another Corona and waits for the story

Jopejope says, "I think his name was CMartel862 or something like that."

Jhack says, "So he bought you a ship? That happened a lot in the later days of AOL."

Jopejope winks and says, "He most certainly did not buy me a new ship."

Chiefsgirl giggles

Fiesta nudges Zeus, "I only brought a case of them along...drink a lil slower!"

"Oh..then you hauled a helluva lot in that little ship?", says Jhack with a wink.

Jopejope says, "He was impressed by the fact that I was a captain who could actually talk and respond so he called me over to meet with him."

Jopejope says, "anyway he wanted to loan me 300,000 ig, and I would have to pay him back 600,000 ig later."

Jopejope says, "This didn't sound very good to me at all."

Fiesta exclaims, "A loan shark!"

"but we negotiated for about an hour and finally I agreed to take the loan. Although in retrospect I really didn't need it.", says Jopejope.

"So that's how I got my 300 ton hauler.", says Jopejope with a wink.

"I hate hauling.", says Jhack.

Chiefsgirl laughs

Jhack winks.

"heheh, so funny", smiles Zeusgod.

"So, if you had no thoughts of becoming a duke, what made you start trying to solve the puzzle?", asks Chiefsgirl.

Kaitlin laughs

Jopejope winks and says, "Well CG, I just wanted to do the puzzle."

Chiefsgirl nods

Zeusgod smiles, "ack!!!1 you getting too far ahead CG"

Chiefsgirl laughs

Jopejope says, "actually by the time I made Baron the thought of becoming a duke sounded pretty interesting."

Jopejope laughs

Chiefsgirl says, "I've been thinking about that the whole time.. I had to ask"

Fiesta had no interest in hearing about how he made thane ;)

"You have a puzzle on your planet, don't you Jope?", asks Chiefsgirl.

Jopejope says, "Let's see, where was I? I think I just skipped 3 years of Fed life..."

Zeusgod says, "I just have 1 question....."

"Yes Zeus?", asks Jopejope.

"We were Duchymates in Mash... when you made Baron, what made you leave?", asks Zeusgod.

"I think Carabou kicked me out due to inactivity.", says Jopejope with a wink.

"You see there are a couple holes in my Fed life.", says Jopejope.

Chiefsgirl hopes they were patched eventually

Chiefsgirl asks, "What holes?"

"lol, I saw you in my EX each day...errr.... night I was on", says Zeusgod.

Jopejope says, "The first hole was while I was a JP. It takes FOREVER to get the required stats to do the snark puzzle, and I got tired of paying $3 an hour to do that, so I quit playing Fed around mid 1996"

Jopejope says, "Then I came back when AOL went unlimited."

Chiefsgirl nods

Kaitlin asks, "how long did it actually take you to do the JP puzzle?"

"The second hole was when I was a baron. I had completed all 50 builds and the baron builds, but no duke puzzle, and really nothing left for me to do, and I was really busy in RL, so I quit again.", says Jopejope.

"that's when I got kicked out of Mash.", says Jopejope.

"ahhh", says Zeusgod.

Jopejope says, "then I came back when the duke puzzle came back."

Jopejope says, "I never did the JP puzzle."

"I quit because I couldn't get the stats to do the JP puzzle, and by the time I returned the puzzle was no longer a requirement.", says Jopejope.

"I think Fed life was most interesting for me when I was a squire.", says Jopejope.

Chiefsgirl asks, "Why is that?"

Zeusgod asks, "Where were you then Jope?"

Jopejope smiles, "I had this really cool puzzle on my planet, and I loved watching people try to figure it out."

Jopejope says, "I was in the duchy of LEO then."

Zeusgod says, "I mean what Duchie"

Zeusgod says, "gothcha"

"also it was at this time that I got really interested in planetary economics.", says Jopejope.

"oops, got gothra on the mind", smiles Zeusgod.

Jopejope says, "I would attend the planet management class every week, taught by the all-knowing FireImp, and I learned a lot about how exchanges work."

Chiefsgirl wonders when she'll get interested in economics

Jopejope says, "It turned out that the popular beliefs about how to run exchanges were completely wrong, and I wrote a couple econimic guides to try and correct this."

Chiefsgirl was referred to one of your guides when she was a new squire

Fiesta hasn't seen them...

"Really? I wouldn't mind you sending the papers to me", says Zeusgod.

"they're on my web page. http://memebers.aol.com/jopejope", says Jopejope.

Zeusgod smiles, "great"

Fiesta smiles, "Cool...thanks Jope"

Chiefsgirl watches to see if Zeus runs off to surf the web

"It was really cool watching Federation evolve back when AOL was unlimited.", says Jopejope.

Zeusgod says, "I have Shavers and EODs papers"

Jopejope says, "That was when macros started to be widely used."

Jopejope says, "There were these "sleeper" macros that would keep you online all day and all night so that your factories could run."

Jopejope winks and says, "that's why AOL fed was so popular"

"Anything you did was totally free??", asks Fiesta.

Jopejope says, "there would always be some 500 people online, and about 400 of those would be macroing."

Jopejope says, "yeah, AOL was free, so people figured, what the heck, I'll just have my computer keep me on all the time."

"I'd be here 24 hours a day too!! LOL", says Fiesta.

"Course it would be ME here all the time, not a macro!", exclaims Fiesta.

Jopejope says, "It was a critical flaw. Federation is set up so that time is a resource, but players could just get unlimited amounts of it with these sleeper macros."

Zeusgod says, "That's true Jope, it was a something"

Jopejope winks and says, "I used to speak out against macros all the time back then."

"It's rather strange, because back in January of 97, right after AOL went unlimited, we considered the surge of new players to be newbies, not very experienced, prone to use macros...", says Jopejope.

Chiefsgirl nods

"But today, people who started in Jan 97, why, they're the old poeple now!", exclaims Jopejope.

Chiefsgirl bounces happily

"lol, ya", smiles Zeusgod.

"That would be me", says Chiefsgirl with a wink.

"now they're all these newbies, feeding off inflation, everyone giving them groats, promoting to squire in 3 days...", says Jopejope with a wink.

Chiefsgirl boggles

Jopejope grumbles like an old timer.

Jopejope smiles.

Fiesta pokes at her duke.

Singapore checks the annexation status of Engoria....

Jopejope says, "Ah yes, annexation..."

"Engoria won't be annexed by anyone.", says Jopejope.

"I don't understand why we are blamed for this inflation, when it seems to me that the game created it", says Fiesta.

Singapore looks innocent.

Jopejope says, "I feel that Engoria is a fine duchy in and of itself. It is strong enough to stand alone. I don't have much use for all these complicated organizations and alliances..."

"Fiesta, the game has become too easy in my eyes... how abot you Jope?", asks Zeusgod.

"Of course it's not your fault Fiesta.", says Jopejope.

Fiesta says, "The game IS easy...but I still struggle to understand what I don't need to understand"

Singapore is getting a headache following that sentence....

Kaitlin giggles

"Today, the groat isn't worth very much. Making money isn't important. Someone will just give you money for free. This is probably a result of people feeling like they have to give away money if their treasury gets maxxed out.", says Jopejope.

Chiefsgirl nods

Bored with Death and Taxes, Lear has appeared with a shimmer of teleportation effect.

Lear has bought you a Foaming Volcano (fat free hot fudge foaming up a cookie cone a top a sinfully delicious frozen yogurt)!

Singapore pours a shot of rum over his Foaming Volcano, and lights it on fire.

"Did someone have a question?", asks Jopejope.

Singapore blows out the flames, and begins munching....

Chiefsgirl nods

Bored with Death and Taxes, Lear has just vanished.

"I want to hear about your duchy. Any rules, regulations, guidelines?", asks Chiefsgirl.

"Okie, so Jope, on to Duchy management.... What are your rules for the planets?", asks Zeusgod.

"The duchy of Engoria is ever-evolving.", says Jopejope.

"lol, CG", smiles Zeusgod.

"I want to have interesting and active people in my duchy.", smiles Jopejope.

"di engoria", says Zeusgod.

"oops", says Zeusgod.

"lol", says Zeusgod.

Fiesta isn't the least bit interesting

Chiefsgirl laughs

Fiesta grins!

Chiefsgirl asks, "Are you achieving that so far, Jope?"

"I'm trying to get my duchymates to have a meeting, but so far that hasn't worked to well. But there's one scheduled for tuesday that I hope everyone comes to.", says Jopejope with a wink.

"Any truth to the rumor that a team of elite commandos from Weasel (i.e. the Rabid Weasels) is about to land in Engoria to enforce Arch Duchess Poco's annexation edict?", asks Singapore.

Fiesta widens her eyes at Jope

Jopejope grins.

Fiesta asks, "An invasion?"

Chiefsgirl shudders at the thought of invading weasels

Singapore looks innocent.

Singapore says, "Not so much as invading...just accepting an invitation to visit from freedom loving WT's on your planets."

Chiefsgirl asks, "Any other questions for JopeJope?"

Singapore winks and says, "Excuse me, I've got to get an invasion force...er...tour group going to Engoria."

Singapore waves.

Weasel Intelligence Agent Singapore has just gone north.

"The WIA?", asks Fiesta.

Chiefsgirl asks, "no final questions?"

"I'd like to thank you all for coming to tonight's Meet & Greet", says Chiefsgirl.

Jopejope smiles.

"And I thank Duke JopeJope for being the guest", smiles Chiefsgirl.

Fiesta applauds and hugs her duke!

Chiefsgirl says, "next week my guest will be Wingdgirl and later in the month our exciting series continues with Kellbo and Hof"

"Nice one Jope...", says Zeusgod.

Chiefsgirl applauds wildly for Jopejope

Singapore applauds as well.

Jopejope bows and waves