The Outpost Post
                                   15 Sept 2003

We were having a problem with network lag when groups of people were
  simultaneously moving across the world.  To try and fix that very annoying
  lag without investing in a faster network link, we've made some changes that
  we hope will lower the peak output bandwidth of the game.  Here is what has
  changed:

Compress mode has been changed into an automatic brief like mode.  If you run
  with compress mode enabled, room description text and auto exits information
  will be surpressed if you start moving through the world beyond a certain
  rate.  Once you slow down, the room descriptions start appearing again.  If
  you dont run in compress mode, then you will always see the room description
  text, but you may notice that movement commands take slightly longer to
  execute.

The amount of stuff that followers see when entering a room while they are
  using brief mode has been reduced.  Instead of followers seeing the full room
  description, all of its contents, the people in it, and possibly the obvious
  exits, they will now only see the room name and the people that are not
  following their leader.  

Finally, some of the character description messages that described a visible
  aura on a person have been shortened.  Instead of seeing extra lines like
  'Sam glows with a bright light!', you will see '(white)' after Sam's
  description.

Hopefully these changes will help keep us lag free and happy for some time to
  come!  If there are other areas of the game where we could reduce the overall
  output, please let us know.  Direct your questions, complaints, or
  compliments, or ideas on this matter to Rahj the Third.

View the previous issue of the Outpost Post.