The Mayors of Ellis Valley - Year of the Monkey stamps are here!

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Excellent storyline there!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: Someone's calamity could be another's serendipity.

Nathanthemayor: Thanks for your comment - always good to see you here.

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Episode 4.34: Season 4 epilogue part 1

Despite the late hour, there is a lot of activity in St Basil Square.

Cars take a drive around the square to admire the cathedral lights at night.

People stroll through the plaza, enjoying the fragrant gardens and refreshing fountains.

Even the Mayor-bishop of Kirkbridge is up late, rapt in prayer. He slowly emerges from his communion with the spiritual plane. The altarmen offer him wine, which he accepts gratefully.

"It is as we feared," he announces. "The queen has begun to spin her web."

Next: season 4 epilogue part 2

  Edited August 21, 2011 by Benedict  

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Queen?

Web?

Is Queensferry somehow involved in this?! (shudder)

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: As far as I know Queensferry is not involved. Should I be worried?

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Episode 4.35: Season 4 epilogue part 2

Next: season 4 epilogue part 3

[Schulmanator 5,815]

BOB!!!???

Could be a Queensferry agent!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: I would be very surprised if Queensferry ever hired a mammalian to do their dirty work...

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Episode 4.36: Season 4 epilogue part 3

In Westmouth, mayor Sue Ellen has finally managed to get her new house guest to speak a little.

"Thank you so much, Sue. I am feeling a lot better. I still don't remember very much after leaving The Asylum, but my vision is getting better, although things are still quite blurry..."

"I know how you feel, Charity. I'm the same way. Although I'm not sure if it's the valium of the vodka that's to blame..."

"Oh, Sue Ellen, you do make me laugh. I actually don't think it is either of those... in fact I think I might have figured out what's causing my insanity..."

Next: season 4 contest, interlude, and census!

[emperordaniel 1,281]

Insanity?

Causes??

Vodka???

Interesting

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Vodka, valium, and .....

Not a good combination...

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

emperordaniel: Sue Ellen has a long history of problems with vodka... but it pales by comparison to what Charity has been through.

Schulmanator: No, poor Sue Ellen, no matter how hard she tries nothing seems to work... other than a splash or five of vodka, and one or three valiums.

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Season 4 contest!

Well, everyone, season 4 has come to a close, and that can only mean one thing - it's time for the Season 4 contest!

Have you been paying attention? Have you been wondering about the odd symbols that are at the bottom of every 'Secret Report Within The Flock'?

If you can translate any one of them from the season, or the one below, then you can have a character in season 5 (or season 6 if nobody answers this before season 5 starts), or a transit map created by me made exclusively for your CJ. Good luck!!

While you're pondering that, the Simtropolis member who got the most answers correct in the season 3 quiz is Mentarman! Private message me to claim your prize...

The correct answers were that all episode titles were song titles, all episode images were the same width, and that within the season episodes were presented in groups of 3, usually according to location or character. The season finale was also in 3 parts.

Next: season 4 interlude part 1

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Grrrr.... I am going to have to put my thinking cap on for this one...

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: You may well have to do some brain-racking for this one, sorry.

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Season 4 Interlude 1.1

Well, it's Interlude time. We're going to start with a look at transit in Ellis Valley, and what better place to start than Eloff's Elevated Lines, or the EEL, as the locals call it.

We'll start at the south end of Line 1, in the town of Bellamie, which is served by 4 stations.

Enoch Street is the end of the line, with a short buffer section for overruns - not as uncommon as you'd think, given the steep slope down to the station, which is close to the road that takes you to Anessa.

Next is Gabriel Street. Most of this part of line 1 curves around Bellamie, with agriculture on one side, and the town on the other. Some say that this explains the low ridership numbers, but I'm sure that can't be right, Mayor Benedict knows what he's doing. (What's that, he's currently under house arrest? Hmmm....)

Michael Street is a lot like Gabriel Street, although the neighborhood is a little run down.

At Bellamie you can interchange with EllisRail. This is also the last stop before corssing the river into Eloff itself.

Travelling high above the water is quite relaxing...

...but as the line joins the Eloff Loop there is often a wait as trains on line 2 have right of way at the junction.

The next station is the first chance to change to Line 2 for New Square.

Change to line 3 for Quelton and Oxbdige stations at Short Street.

The busiest station is next. Change at Eloff Central to any of the other lines or EllisRail. This is the best place to change for the Uphof stations and the CBD.

Stable Street is the only other station served by all 4 lines. Change here for the Northbridge part of line 2.

Fountain Plaza's next. A station with a nice name, but you can't see the fountain from the train as it's a bit of a walk.

Likewise, City Hall is a short walk southeast from the station. Change here for line 4 to Ellis Landing.

North Avenue is the last stop to change to Line 3 heading east to Westmouth.

Westwood Park isn't the most desirable area in town...

...although Mill Street isn't much better.

The final stop on the Loop is Appletree Gardens. Another example of a nice name trying to make a neighborhood sound better than it really is. Change here for line 2 trains to Elmouth.

And finally, here's how the line 1 in-car diagram looks:

Bonus image: the real-life Eloff Loop, with annotations showing stations as well as where the 4 lines enter/leave the loop.

Next: season 4 interlude part 2

  Edited November 12, 2011 by Benedict  

[Schulmanator 5,815]

As usual, your transit maps totally ROCK!!!! :ducky: :ducky:

[emperordaniel 1,281]

Those maps are amazing!

[dfnva 34]

Nice... I like the transit tour along Eloff Elevate Rail Route 1... would be an interesting way to see more of the region, esp. with the key role transit plays in your region.

-Dan

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: And as always, thanks for your support of my CJ!

emperordaniel: Thank you, I really enjoy making transit-related maps for my cities, so I'm always happy when others like them too.

dfnva: Hi, Dan, well, that was a blast from the past! So good to see you active in the forums again. There'll be more transit tours during the season 4 interlude.

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Season 4 Interlude 2.1

The interlude continues with a look at the past, present and future of Line 2 of the EEL, brought to you by Ellis Valley's very own wiki!

(For best effect, open image in a new browser tab or window)

Next: scrolling down to Stations and references

  Edited November 16, 2011 by Benedict  

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Awesome! I love it! Very nicely done. Perhaps your best graphic yet!

[emperordaniel 1,281]

Awesome article

Is there really such a website as Millipedia?

[BuggUla 405]

Ah, yes, Millipedia.... one of the most trusted websites in Queensferry. www.millipedia.qf is one of the most popular websites in Queensferry, right after www.weloveyou.heeheehee.buggula.com.qf.

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: Thank you - it took quite a bit of work to get it to look the way I wanted to.

emperordaniel: Looks like the Queensferry version is accessed at www.millipedia.qf.

BuggUla: Thanks for pointing that out.

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Season 4 Interlude 2.2

The interlude continues by scrolling down for more of Line 2 of the EEL on Millipedia...

(For best effect, open image in a new browser tab or window; warning large image (1 MB))

Next: EvolutioN

  Edited December 15, 2011 by Benedict  

[simlink 1,098]

Looks cool! I like how you inlcuded the pictures of the stations on the lines in the article. Also, those maps are fantastic as well.

[packersfan 667]

Wow. I love how even though your SimCity game is vanilla, your journal certainly is not. Very impressive elevated rail maps, station names, and even a mock wiki-site, so much detail. I'll definitely check back here when I want to do a Metro system map. Keep it up!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Gotta say... the millipedia is continuing to rock my world!

:ducky: :ducky:

[Raysfan16 5]

I rarely come to ST anymore, but wow! It amazes me how the story still continues to this day. I like the maps, they are as professional as ever. And your Millipedia articles are definitely wiki-like. Haha.

  Edited December 2, 2011 by Raysfan16  

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Wow!I really like how you replicated Wikipedia!I'll try that!

[rewright 804]

Your transit system is really impressive, maps and station stops. Wow!!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Sim_link: Thank you - I really like having realistic-looking maps for my CJ.

Packersfan: I am still not bored with vanilla... but you never know when I'll give in to the temptations of mods and bats!

Schulmanator: I am a bit surprised at the response my Millipedia stuff has received - must be a good thing!

Raysfan16: I remember when you used to be a regular. Nice to see you here again, thanks for your encouraging comment.

Nathanthemayor: Thanks! It was a lot of work...

Rewright: Thank you. I try really hard to make the vanilla game give me a realistic feel.

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Season 4 Interlude 2.3

The interlude continues by scrolling down for more of Line 2 of the EEL on Millipedia...

Next: Line 3

[crazychickensc12 84]

Nice work here Ben! Great to see some vanilla gameplay well done! Keep up the great work here and in the top ten!!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

I hope that's not a bugg takeover!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Crazychickensc12: Thank you, your comment is much appreciated. I remain fascinated by the vanilla game, and I still haven't explored it all.

Schulmanator: I hope so too... seems pretty innocent so far, right?

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Season 4 Interlude 3

The interlude continues with the release of the Ellis Valley Mail seasonal stamps!

The winter collection is called "The Lights of Ellis Valley" and features landmark buildings lit up at night.

The first class stamp shows St Basil's Cathedral (Kirkbridge). First class mail is delivered the following day if it is post-marked before 4pm.

The second class stamp features the renovated Maxis Theatre (Ellington). Second class mail is delivered in 2-3 days after mailing.

The excess weight stamp portrays the Clocktower (Uphof). Letters weighing more than 30g (1 oz) and irregular-shaped mail must have an E stamp attached in addition to regular postage.

The international mail stamp shows the Casino Royale (Port Sinclair).

Let me know if you'd like a Christmas post card delivered to your CJ from Ellis Valley, which town you want on the postmark, and which stamp you'd like on it.

Next: Happy Hogmanay

  Edited December 21, 2011 by Benedict  

[Schulmanator 5,815]

I would welcome a postcard... feel free to surprise me with the stamp!