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#86 GAME BASHING, SCENARIO MAKING AND GRAPHICS Skorpion59 comes to the defense of C:CTP after last week's "attack" from Blackclove. #87 CALL TO MOD-MAKERS Wes Whitaker agrees that while MODs for CTP will be fewer than CivII's, they can be more powerful. #88 APOLYTON VERSION 2 MarkG details the plans for Apolyton "Version 2". #89 C:CTP: UPS AND DOWNS Timothy Pintello talks about the hits and misses he sees in C:CTP. #90 IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CUSTOMIZATION DarthVeda looks at the simplicity he sees in customizing CivII any which way. COLUMN ARCHIVE

It was very, very late last night (18th December) that I resolved to make an attempt to pen a second column for Apolyton; the masses of Apolyton visitors, probably much to the consternation of our honourable administrators, again appearing to cower like feeble sheep when a column shortage trundles along. Never backwards in coming forwards, I pondered long and hard, with not inconsiderable effort, over what subject to tackle.

It was in the midst of that of deep thinking that I realised the ideal subject matter for my foray back into the Apolyton literary circle. It was around half past two on a Saturday morning; since midnight I’d been online at the Apolyton forums, whilst simultaneously talking to people from, yes, the Apolyton forums, on ICQ. It had got to the stage where, having replied to every thread, in every forum, that I was even vaguely interested in, I resorted to mindlessly, and repetitively, hitting refresh, hoping vainly that someone had replied to a post of mine. And then despair upon despair, as I disconsolately returned back to the off-topic, and found that the vile PROT thread had slithered its evil way back to the top like a black mamba.

I called it a day (or rather a morning) sometime after 3am, when tiredness finally overcame me; even the most addicted poster needs sleep at some point. Of course, as with any good addiction, a minor conflict resulted; I found out the next morning that by trudging up the staircase, I’d woken up the whole household. I was told not to do it again, but ha! I just laughed at their feeble threats! Still, I wondered, if I did it again, what would a major conflict be like?

Anyway, tonight I’m up to the same trick again. It’s approaching the cursed hour I swore not to pass awake again. I’m a semi-insomniac, unable to escape from the evil clutches of Ming, Markos, Dan, and their Apolyton empire. It’s like being a prisoner, but enjoying it. Like sado-masochism, but without the whips. Someone may say that these nights are bad for my health. I scoff at their petty knowledge. They should come back when they have some worthwhile advice to offer.

I’ve been reduced to drinking whisky and lemonade, in the vain hope that my insomnia will be cured through drink. We’ve run out of beer. I can’t remember, but I think I must have drank that last night. Ah well. If I’m not careful I’ll demolish the New Year stock. Now that would be a disaster.

As I sit here tonight, with only the pale glow of the Christmas tree lights for comfort, with typing taking an age as I consistently press the wrong keys in the darkness, I wonder whether it is all worth it. I offer 200 gold in exchange for sparing me.

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ABOUT AUTHOR: "Taxes from Iain's alcohol consumption are the real reason for the UK government surplus this year" (self-quote).

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