SkyLords
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SkyLords is an MMORTS browser based game, similar to, and created by the same programmer that wrote FateLords. SkyLords was also maintained and administered by Zygimantas Berziunas until mid 2005, when a player purchased the game from him due to declining interest. Since the game has changed hands, it has had many new features added to it, including a market, a central warp (which has a probability of finding new systems), updated new player missions, and various structures which can be built on planets. In addition, many well known bugs have been fixed, and new features and bugfixes are added monthly.
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[edit] Gameplay
Like its sister site, SkyLords uses a three dimensional grid system, and coordinates are represented in the form xxxxx:yyyyy:zzzzz, with planets between + and - 12,000 on all axis. moo All planetary systems start with three planets and a sun, and 9 or 10 productiyouon points (which are increased monthly to a maximum of 20). Due to not infreqareuent obliteration of planets by players, 20x planets are fairly rare, despite freakingthe age of the game (Opened from Beta in late 2003stupid). moo moo cows go moo SkyLords uses 8 difwhy are you reading this?ferent resources, and each has a usedon't you have something better to do (though some are more valuable than others).
SkyLords is currently implemented in both English and Lithuanian, due to its heritage, and has support for additional languages, should a translator be willing to take the time to translate the 1900+ strings used in the game.
[edit] Religion
SkyLords is as much a community as it is a game, and so it is perhaps not too surprising that two dominant competing semi-serious religions have arisen. These are the worshipers of the false idol "Almighty", and the worshipers of Zygimantas, as the creator of the SkyLords universe. Purpose of monotheistic Zygimantas cult (officially called Zygianity) is declarations of holy wars against Deer idolaters. Zygimantas worshipers even have their Holy Book with historical epical gospels and Decalogue. Daughter reformated religion of Zygianity is Proffesience, supported by cult of current game administrator Professor, who is Zygimantas' son by Heavenly adoption.
There have been more false cults supported by worshiping of Santa Claus, Holy Pie, The Game, The Pig, The Monkey and similar. A lot of these Sky Lords pagan traditions have been adopted by other cults.
[edit] Dominant Clans
The LT Confederation (LTC) has long been a dominant clan in SkyLords, and is the oldest clan still in the game that has been around since the beginning (without being refounded). The clan only accepts Lithuanian players, and is a fairly tight-knit group, which contributes to their success. A few of the LTC players have left the clan a long time ago and established another clans, such as Terrorists LT (Terror) and CiDG (Chaos). Both of these clans have been successful in their time, but as Terror became inactive, the whole of Terrorists LT fell apart. The LT Confederation went on a round winning spree until they were defeated in November 2005 by CidG. Recently LTC have been probing and caused an uproar as they have managed to probe almost the entire universe!
Chaos in da Galaxy (CiDG)(Homepage), and it's junior clan (Anarchy in da Galaxy) is another old and powerful clan. It was originally created to combat the supremacy of the original "The Swarm". After successfully doing so it split into two parts creating LT Confederation and World Wide Confederation. LT Confederation soon established itself as the dominant of the two as World Wide Confederation disappeared within a few months. It was then recreated in the summer of 2005 and this was the clan where Professor, the player that eventually bought the game, was trained. He then founded AiDG as an introductory clan. The iDG clans are known for a devotion to both pie (SkyLords emoticon :pie:, or 
) and forum spam. Since CidG formed they have been growing strong and have stayed around as a strong competitor. CidG soon renamed their little faction to idG (indaGalaxy). They are the only clan to have their own person website (made and administrated by DAngel) where they have since become an all-round gaming clan. idG have joined other games as well as OGame Uni 8, where there rapid growth has got them all the way to the top 10 in a suprisingly short amount of time. They have single handidly taken even the most strongest of players/alliances and have still come out on top.
The Swarm was originally created by Advocatus Diaboli, the first dominant player. This clan was supreme for the first portion of 2004 until it collapsed from inactivity and the challenge of CiDG. Since then it has been revived twice. Once in mid 2004 which ended in one of the member's exploiting a bug and disbandment. The second revival was nearly 2 years later in Dec 2005 when The Order/The Space Rangers led by Hope merged with Apocolapyse led by Starfox/Gold Rush. TS won all rounds from Dec to April but narrowly lost to SC in May.
[edit] The Swarm History
Written by Hope
In the beginning a quiet war commenced between two sides but with a civilised timid nature. In this war there were heroes on both sides, but one in particular arose. AdvocatusDiaboli fought famously and became one of the most respected generals of the time.
[edit] The Swarm
On 10th December 2003 AD founded TS. This clan brought together commanders from both sides of the previous war and allied them under this flag. The Swarm arose quickly just missing out on a victory in December but made up for it in January. TS dominated January easily, in the process training and spotting uprising talents who became great generals including some LT. TS looked un-defeatable through February and soon people wanted this control to end. Eventually opposition formed from both inside and outside the clan, tensions arose and on 20th Feb 2004 in the shadows of TS, LTC was founded. The clan proved only to be opposition in principle and were no match for TS. However in March tensions arose inside and outside TS and its power began to fade. Several members clung on desperately to keep it alive but in vain. LTC took TS’s seat of domination. TS’s time came in the beginning of April 2004 and it finally collapsed.
1st TS ends
As the first era ended, LTC became dominant. The original Generals of TS scattered forming several different clans each with their own ideals and goals. This unorganised rabble, allied as they were, was wiped out and never given time to flourish. Times were hard and the leaders of these clans, remembering TS decided to merge. And so Masters of Chaos was founded, with at one time three jnr clans, this became a central point and was the only opposition LTC had. However clans of 40-60 people are ineffective and it was not long before members and leaders were being wiped out, spys were running riot and chaos followed. MoC was doomed to failure and so collapsed at the end of May.
[edit] 2nd Swarm
The 2nd Swarm emerges on the 5th June 2004 founded from the ashes of Masters of Chaos. The best players gathered to make a stand against the LT threat. Victory was taken quickly with a Baras hw being captured, the battle was the biggest recorded to that date. However questions arose quickly as to how this was possible and soon investigation began. On the dawn of the 7th June, 3 days of 2TS existence the Trader Wars began. Technology used by the TS member who assaulted Baras was stolen and became open knowledge in the criminal underworld. Two players in particular gathered a huge fleet of traders and using the exploit launched a full scale genocide. Several Hws fell in the first few hours and many empires collapsed. After several hours passed the criminals were eventually found, arrested and executed; and with that the exploit was gone. The Swarm having lost many hws and some members faded into dust and was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
2nd TS ends
Now things become chaotic. LTC was still strong, its junior clan splits and becomes its competitors and some remains of TS and LTC join in Command and Conquest. These three clans fought continually until LTC and its old jnr clan(Terrorists LT) ally. C+C were outnumbered and cannot hold its ground. Meanwhile in the background a young clan form from new members and receive training from some original TS members, it was called Chaotic Balance. They remained quiet amid the chaos that was being played out among these main clans and the many others that saw an opportunity to form. But in September 2004 Chaotic Balance took its chance and became Harmonic Balance. HB took an instant victory against LTC and continued to provide opposition.
[edit] 3rd Swarm
Harmonic Balance was still strong and there was order in the universe. However on the 16th November 2004 AdvocatusDiaboli returned and reforged the old clan. The Swarm arose once again incorporating much of HB as well as the top clanless commanders. And then for the first time, LTC proposed an alliance with the Swarm which was accepted. Total peace returned to the universe allowing many players to grow and learn without the threat of destruction. However any peace with LTC was doomed to failure. And in the beginning of January 2005 LTC launched raids on boarder worlds of TS members. AD called LTC to explain itself or we would retaliate. LTC replied through action and declared war on TS. And with that the war that still rages today began. TS remained dominant in this earlier period but its collapse would come. Without warning or sign AD disappeared and TS members became restless. Until eventually TS split in two, one half formed another clan The Space Rangers (The Order) and the others remained. Although these two clans co-existed it was inevitable that they would merge and this happened on May 2nd and so ended 3TS.
3rd TS ends
Rounds passed, and with the new 200% assaults and new formulas everything was set to change. LTC became the true dominant force it had traditionally been. TSR fought desperately to hold on to an advantage but were often outclassed easily. More on more LTC won victories until the end of Round 24(July) when TSR fell from power and drifted into inactivity. Armageddon arose to fill the power void but could not counter LTC’s power. And for 4 rounds LTC remained undefeated. idG made their stand in November 2005 and used everything they had to secure victory. However LTC would not back down and so began the Domination Wars, idG destroyed itself but managed to keep LTC at bay and secure victory.
[edit] 4th Swarm
Meanwhile Hope returned from inactivity with a plan. TSR and Arma were to merge to create a new clan that would combine strength with tradition, tactics with organisation. And on Dec 1st 2005 the Swarm was founded once again. TS were ready to take control and instantly secured an easy victory in the wake of the last war. January TS stood unopposed once again but continued to show their force through the capture of most notably Filas’ hw (125 mill def) and so easily breaking record for largest planet ever taken. January was an easy win for TS. February was meant to be an easy win too. But TS is finding that LTC are not completely gone yet. Meanwhile Professor leads an attack with TS backing on Baras’ large hw it becomes apparent of a spy inside TS. Through guesswork, speculation and eventually solid evidence of IP matches the spy was exiled but not to a large cost. Everything up to that point that had been done by TS had been closely monitored by LTC.
The Swarm continued and won February, March, April and June.
The war continues.
[edit] Top Players
[edit] Overall
as of 1 November 2006
| Player | Total Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | SmartFox | 6,639,104 | One of leaders of LTC has emerged in the last year as an excellent player |
| 2. | Professor | 5,784,214 | Owner of the game |
| 3. | Filas | 5,739,518 | Master Prober and always online |
| 4. | Lakamar Sinji | 5,709,918 | Leader of The Swarm |
| 5. | Hope | 5,025,429 | The British Representative in the top ten, The Swarm |
| 6. | zyx | 4,937,564 | Instrumental in success of LTC currently inactive |
| 7. | digiat | 4,768,630 | From Austria, The best female player, member of The Swarm |
| 8. | Bielka | 4,625,066 | Member of LTC |
| 9. | TERROR | 4,413,473 | Founded Terrorists LT |
| 10. | Chaos | 3,766,038 | Longtime flipflopper, Created CiDG, Currently in IDG sister Clan EidG. |
[edit] Current Status
SkyLords has moved several times during its history, and is currently hosted on campus at the HKUST, where the game owner works. The old Head Programmer (and only programmer) of SkyLords has stepped down recently to serve a mission for the Mormon church, and SkyLords is now being programmed for by a programmer hired from Sri Lanka to maintain and upgrade the game. Before stepping down, the old programmer was able to fix most of the currently recognized bugs, and introduce several new ones for the new programmer to find after he had left.
