Readme file for Osiris Norn v1.5
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This file is the readme for the v1.5 release of Osiris Norn. The file
Osiris15.zip contains this readme text, an egg agent file, and the raw
genome for Osiris 1.5. Hopefully these three files will provide for all
your needs using the Osiris Norn v1.5 in your worlds. Please note that
to use the egg agent file you must have the latest version of Creatures
3. This is usually accomplished by downloading the patch upgrade from
the Cyberlife website, and running it.
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Description
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Iy yi yi where to begin.... At first, I had wondered just how I could ever do
enough to Osiris v1.4 to make another release happen. I had thought that
Osiris was as good as it could pretty much get. The first thing to change
my opinion of that was that suddenly the facial expressions weren't working
right, apparantly a side effect of the patch upgrade. Then some discoveries
led to adjustments in the behavioral responses to reproductive related stimuli.
Finally, a new side-project was conducted, named "Set", after the brother of
Osiris who ultimately killed him. The idea was to produce a Norn-freindly hybrid
creature whose sole purpose was to attack and kill Grendels and Ettins. While
turning out to be rather unpredictable, the Set project had produced stunning
advances in the area of self defense. After I was fairly pleased with the Set project
results, I found a way to add the crucial Ettin and Grendel attack genes to Osiris,
without disrupting too much of Osiris' character. Then alot of time, patience,
observation, and tweaking later, I was FINALLY ready... Whew!

The results?

* Osiris 1.5 now becomes flirtatious when tickled by the opposite sex
* Osiris 1.5 hatchlings run from Grendels like they are on fire
* Greatly enhanced facial range gives Osiris 1.5 MUCH more character
* Child-stage and older Osiris 1.5 Norns learn to attack and kill Grendels and Ettins
* Osiris 1.5 will attempt to eat bugs and critters when hungry for protien

Obviously, the main change in Osiris is the attack instinct. Never before has
Osiris been able to adequately defend against Grendel attacks and Ettin disruptions.
Early observations showed immediately that Osiris would not only keep the Norn
terrarium much cleaner of these invaders, but also dominate the desert and jungle
terrariums. In the first run of the nearly final v1.5 genome, within 2 hours Osiris had
completely conquered the jungle as it's main habitat, and no grendel was making it past
the age of 5 minutes. The Hand never assisted in any way, and yet only 2 children
were lost to grendel related attacks in a total of four hours of wolfing run time.

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Issues
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Embryo, or baby stage Norns, will flee from Grendels. This may sound great at first,
but the fact is, a fleeing norn is a hazard to itself at times. For instance, it has been
proven that a fleeing child will often drown itself in the Norn terrarium pool. The idea
here, however, is that while a child or female is fleeing, one  or more older Osirians
may close in from behind and attack and kill the agressor.

Another *possible* problem is interaction with differing species. The original Norns in C3
have no concept of what it means to be approached and attacked by a Norn of superior
physique. It is very possible that an Osiris v1.5 will kill a weaker breed of Norn, though
thier instincts make them generally quite loving and amicable towards Norns of any type.
This says nothing about specialzed Ettin and Grendel breeds, however. If it smells like an
Ettin or Grendel, it simply is an endangered species, and that is that. This will probably
aleinate Osiris a bit from C3 enthusiasts that use multiple species purpously in thier worlds,
but if the mood strikes me I may also produce a non-attacking version of Osiris 1.5, for
those who wish to have it.

Other issues? That depends on how you see it, I suppose, but I'm very pleased with Osiris
so far. I do have some qualms with certain things in Osiris, but so far they are a great,
durable creature. Any issues beyond those above are mostly a matter of taste, and any
additional bugs and problems are not serious in nature. If you have an issue with Osiris,
you may contact me with it on my website. I would be glad to hear from Osiris users!

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A Guide To Osiris Moods
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Here are the facial expressions and what they are caused by:

Shocked/afraid expression - Fear or Pain
Tired expression - Tiredness or Sleepiness
Happy expression - Sex Drive
Neutral expression - No high drives
Angry expression - Anger or Crowdedness

Example #1: An adolescent Osiris Norn is approached by an Ettin. The Norn notices, and approaches
the offending creature. He hits the Ettin, and then the Ettin hits him back. The pain causes the Norn
to looked shocked and afraid. An adult Norn, however, is turned on by the slaps, and grins gleefully
to show the increased sex drive. The end result of such a meeting may either find the Norn losing
interest and leaving the area, or finishing the Ettin off in a mad barrage of blows.

Example #2: A baby-stage Osiris Norn has just recently hatched. He is hungry, and soon begins
to look miserable. Eating some nearby seeds allieviates the hunger, and the facial expression returns
to the usual neutral look. Soon, however, the Norn becomes sleepy, and begins to look tired. Just as
he sits down to sleep, a Grendel enters his range of smell, and his eyes bug in terror, as he flees across
the terrarium.

There are many factors that can influence the drives of Norns. In time, you will learn to use the facial
expressions as helpful guides to the state of mind of your Norns, and thusly how best to help them.

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Thanks and stuff
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To everyone who has played with Osiris, and especially those who have helped is some way
or another with the project, thank you! Special thanks go to the following for thier knowing or
unknowing support and guidance:

My loving girlfreind Jean. Such patience!

JayD of A.G.C for inspiriation and the fantastic egg-maker agent! Also much help in altering
COS files!

John Levins of A.G.C for inspiration and comments

Carol Bertand of A.G.C for comments

xOtix of A.G.C for comments

Chris Double of A.G.C for his great C3 genome programs

Lis Morris of A.G.C for that great post about egg PRAY files!

My good friends Letha, Dave, and Frances for thier humorous and helpul commentaries

Here's hoping you all like Osiris 1.5 and Set, and that I can come up with enough ideas for
a future 1.6 release!

To contact me:
------------------------
alt.games.creatures on usenet

and

nite417@xoommail.com


To get the latest stuff I've done:
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http://web.infoave.net/~missy1/osiris

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