DRAGONS WATCH - September 16, 2007

There is an "Amazing Race" coming up each month sponsored by Dragons Watch's Deputy Mayor and Mayor, Phoenix and NANOC.  According to Phoenix, the Amazing Race is an ongoing race where one leg is done each month.  The full Race runs for 6 months.

The Race consists of Racers starting and racing through towns and villages looking for clues to the next destinations.  Clues may involve meeting someone, doing a task to obtain a clues, and more.  When the Racer has figured out the clue, they go on to the next spot and complete what is asked of them.  An example of what a clue might be is to look at a skypage or a Forum and if the clue is solved, the Racer gets 5 points for completing it and bringing the answer or item to the start of the Race each month.  Such a clue can be solved IN ADVANCE before the event.  Turn in the clue solution at Skara Brae Community Center on the announced days of the Race.

The first of this monthly event starts on Thursday, September 20th at the Skara Brae Community Center in Trammel near the bank.  There's a second independent running on Sunday, September 23rd for those who can't make it on the 20th.  Now that's a lot of running!!  Racers can not run in both monthly events.  There will be some changes between each running.  Keep an eye on calendars.  Read more below for how the race works.

Interview at Dragons Watch Town Hall
of Phoenix and NANOC about the Amazing Race, September 16, 2007

At the start of the Race, Racers receive a pack with everything they need to complete that monthly leg of the race and some things they won't be needing.  It will be up to each Racer to run the race the best and fastest they can.

By solving the advance clue, a Racer gets 5 extra points, but they can still enter the Race if they don't solve it.  The extra clue is just a pre-Race incentive worth points.

Each monthly Race will have a first, second, and third place winner.

Each month a Racer starts at 0 points, but the previous month is added to the Racer's total for the grand prize at the end of the 6 months.  Example, this month a racer gets 80 points.  Next month only 15 points.  For every month, the Racer also gets 5 points for just coming to the Race and participating.  That's a lot of racing!!

Some places will have a little danger and each monthly leg of the Race will get more difficult as the Racers gain experience.

This is an individual Race, not a guild or team Race.  Hopefully, even the newest of people may enter this Race and have a shot at winning.

Racers will not even have to use "recall".  They will have to solve puzzles and such, find a box containing a clue, or help someone make something that requires no skill.  No need to run fast, no need for a horse, no need for recall runes.

In the future, there may be time limits on completing the monthly Race.

Each monthly Race will take about 1 hour to complete.

There will be some prizes at each Race day which will vary from week to week.  The Grand prize at the end of 6 months will be big!

There will also be a Race trophy room, showing who is winning each month.  There will also be news on skypages.

A racer may obtain about 100 points per month--more if the advance clue is also obtained.

At each checkpoint, the first Racer who gets there receives 10 points, and the Racer must solve something to even know where the checkpoint is located.  This helps determine who the winner will be: 1st, 2nd, 3rd.

People can easily make a comeback in the later months or even that day/night if behind.

Everyone receives points, even if 10th in coming in to a checkpoint.

Observers are out in the field to make sure people don't cheat on the course.  For example, a Racer may determine a check point is certain city's dock.  A boat leaves that dock every 5 minutes to take the Racer to the next location.  If the Racer doesn't get on that particular boat, they are in trouble and must wait until the next boat docks.

The Race will not be in Felucca--at least not yet.  But if it is, it will be in protected areas.

Phoenix and NANOC will hopefully run the Races on the same days/weeks of each month.

Happy Racing, Running, Solving, and ... out of breath ... winning!!  Thanks Phoenix and NANOC for the interview!