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[Mangled]

Long story short my mayor mandated the construction of Electrum whatsits and me being in a good mood decided to make a statue for him. Upon opening the manager and making a slight spelling error (an R instead of a T.) I get this.



Funny to be sure, thing is I have no idea what Toady is talking about.

[LordShotGun]

I dont get it as electrum IS a metal in DF and the SR shouldnt make a difference.

If anyone get this please explain it.

[AncientEnemy]

I don't recall exactly but I think this was an 'easter egg' toady put in because he initially didn't realize electrum was a real metal (as opposed to something fantasy based like adamantine)

[Urist Imiknorris]

Try "electu". It worked for that in the last version.

[LordShotGun]

But what does this easter egg even mean?!?

[Mangled]

No idea, as far as I know electrum is an alloy of gold and silver and the Egyptians used it as ammo for slingshots.
Other than that I have no idea what Toadys on about.

[twwolfe]

No idea, as far as I know electrum is an alloy of gold and silver and the Egyptians used it as ammo for slingshots.
Other than that I have no idea what Toadys on about.

they also used it as the top of thier pyramids

[Mangled]

If he wasn't so busy I'd PM Toady about this weirdness.
Maybe He's forgot himself 

[Untelligent]

In early releases of DF, Toady wasn't aware electrum was a real alloy so he put a few strings in the manager screens that would bring up that message. Later, he discovered electrum WAS a real alloy, so he made it so that people could create electrum bars and crafts without triggering the easter egg.

It can still show up, though, generally when someone mistypes an electrum order, leading to topics like this so someone can explain the easter egg to a new generation of players.

[Walliard]

In early releases of DF, Toady wasn't aware electrum was a real alloy so he put a few strings in the manager screens that would bring up that message. Later, he discovered electrum WAS a real alloy, so he made it so that people could create electrum bars and crafts without triggering the easter egg.

It can still show up, though, generally when someone mistypes an electrum order, leading to topics like this so someone can explain the easter egg to a new generation of players.

It also continues to show up in the later 2D versions until the Dungeon Master immigrates.

[Mangled]

That's somewhat helpful.
However, I'm still somewhat curious about the "Go play DND" comment.
What's this "favourite metal" stuff all about?

[smjjames]

I think I get it. Remember how Electrum is sometimes a favorite metal of your Dungeon Master? Theres your DnD reference right there as the person setting the rules and doing the die rolls is called the DM.

[AncientEnemy]

However, I'm still somewhat curious about the "Go play DND" comment.

as in 'dungeons and dragons'.

What's this "favourite metal" stuff all about?

not sure what you mean. basically toady put in an easter egg (a joke) if you searched for this 'fictional' metal. he later finds out it actually exists and puts it into the game, but leaves the easter egg.

[puke]

I dont think you're giving the man enough credit.  I'm sure that Tarn was well aware of what electrum is, but its likely that he didnt originally intend for it to be in the game as anything besides a joke.

and if you dont get the joke, then you probably were not playing dungeons and dragons in the 80s (or prior).  the idea (now a long standing fantasy trope) that different valuations of currency needed to be made from different elements / aloys (instead of different sizes of coin) is perposterous, and the fact that they had to dig up electrum as a mid-way value between gold and silver coins (when historically native electrum was more valueable than either) is pattently absurd.

hence why its a funny easter egg.  but i guess only so if you were in the right demographic for Tom Hanks appearance in Mazes and Monsters to put a crimp on your social life.

edit:  additionally, the "Dungeon Master" was a continuation of this same joke.  I believe he was hard coded to like electrum, and he was the only noble with labors enabled so that he would work at a smelter or forge or whatever to make electrum coins.  I dont know how it is now, but back in 2D I had to give the little bastard his own magma forge so he didnt keep crowding out my actual metalsmiths.  The bastard got up to legendary like a lightning bolt, and he'd never get off that stupid forge.

see:  http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/40d:Dungeon_Master their list of likes mirrors the currencies from original D&D.  and as for the cloaks, well you probably dont need to be told that Tycho Brae's choice of formal wear for dungeon mastering isnt exactly an original concoction but rather a parody of a type.