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A ''strict'' '''wolfling run''' is where you hatch a group of [[norn]]s in the plain [[Albia]] or on the [[Ark]], with no additional [[COB]]s or [[agent]]s, and leave them to grow up by themselves for a period of time without interacting with the game at all.
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:''This page is about the play method. For the German Community [[aktion]], see [[Wolfling Run|Wolfling Run 2003/2004/2005]].''
  
A ''relaxed'' wolfling run is where you set up the world before you begin the run, adding any [[COB]]s, [[agent]]s, [[metaroom]]s or [[world]]s you like, but once the run begins you are no longer allowed to interfere with the game for the remainder of the run.
 
  
'''Did you know?''' [[Rowena]] considered the term "wolfling run" to belong to members of the US [[Early Adoption Program]] - however, it has fallen into more general usage. <br> Alternatively, [[Denise Voskuil]] believes that: <br>''The first mention that I have found was in a post on May 24, 1997 from "Magic Hacker" in response to a post by "[[Aznin]]" which was not archived by Deja News. The title of thread was "Wolfling norns". Aznin asked if anyone had let the norns just do what they want after hatching. It appears to be the first mention on a.g.c of what we now call wolfling runs. [[Magic Hacker]] reported that he or she had done one, but the offspring did not seem intelligent.'' <br>
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A '''wolfling run''' (sometimes incorrectly referred to as a '''wolfing run''') is a method of playing in which the player does not intervene in the lives of their [[creature]]s, resulting in a [[natural selection]] of creatures. There are four types of wolfling runs:
  
''In a post from September 18, 1998 (subject: "Attention helpful experts....What is....."), Aznin describes the inspiration for the term, saying, "The term wolfling derives from science fiction, more precisely from the Uplift novels by David Brin - where humans are wolflings."''  from [[The Truth About Grendels]]
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* '''Strict''': The player hatches [[egg]]s in a [[world]] with no additional [[COB]]s or [[agent]]s. The player does not interact with the world at all for a period of time.
  
==Related links==
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* '''Relaxed''': The player sets up the world before the run, adding any [[COB]]s, [[agent]]s, and/or [[metaroom]]s as they like. Once the eggs are laid, the player ceases to interact with the world for a period of time.
*[[Feral run|Feral Run]]
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*[[Wolf Control|Wolf Control utility]]
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* '''Global''': Commonly abbreviated to ''GWR''. This requires [[Docking Station]]. A group of players set commonly-defined rules and set their [[Warp]]s to only allow warps to members of the group.
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* '''Forum''': Creatures are sought from the [[Creatures Community|community]] and set loose in a world together hosted by the game-master, or GM. The GM updates the submitters of the creatures of the world's progress in a forum thread, often with pictures. A  forum wolfling run may be either strict or relaxed.
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==History of the term==
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The term originated from the [[wikipedia:Uplift Universe|Uplift novels]] by [[wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]], in which the term refers to intelligent races that achieved space travel without the shepherding of a patron race. [[Denise Voskuil]]'s [https://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.games.creatures/browse_frm/thread/1584d456b720c398 FAQ about wolfling runs] (also available at [[The Truth About Grendels]]) traces the use of "wolfling run" to [https://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.games.creatures/browse_frm/thread/cb7225cded1b8994 a post] on [[a.g.c.]] in May 1997, made by [[Aznin]], a member of the US [[EAP]]. This date puts it at approximately 6 months after the UK release of [[Creatures|C1]].
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[[Rowena]] considered the term "wolfling run" to belong to members of the US [[Early Adoption Program]], or at least to those runs which [https://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.games.creatures/browse_frm/thread/dd3e934c30b63914 held to specific guidelines] (January 1998) - however, it has fallen into more general usage.
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==Hand visibility==
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In C2, the ability for the [[hand]] to become invisible to creatures was included.  This could potentially be used in wolfling runs to allow players to observe without themselves being seen.  [[Dylan]] created an agent called [[HandSight]] for C3/DS with a similar functionality, [[Chani]] created an agent for DS called [[Hand Hider]] as well.  Do not confuse this with the [[Invisible Hand Bug]], where the hand is invisible to the player.
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==Wolf Control==
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The [[Wolf Control|Wolf Control utility]] was included with [[Creatures 3]] (1999) and [[Docking Station]] (2001) with a [[fast ticks]] mode to make it easier for players to run the game wolfling style.  Prior to this, players typically ran the game "wolfling style" in the background, ignoring it, or overnight, with [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/alt.games.creatures/overnight/alt.games.creatures/MEALxWA_8ro/3YXU5iVA2HsJ varying results].  This technique was even [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/alt.games.creatures/overnight/alt.games.creatures/xguAEU596EM/CeEvnyPqecwJ used] to check the [[Creatures 2 genome]].
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==Unofficial tools and utilities==
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Several unofficial tools and utilities have been created to assist with wolfling runs.  The ability to change the [[population limit]] was an unofficial feature that players would install addons for, but this ability was officially allowed for in [[Docking Station]].
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===C1===
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*[[Wolfling Monitor]] - a utility for C1 and C2 with helpful features.
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*[[Terra Nornia]] - had a larger population limit.
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===C2===
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*[[Wolf Control (C2)]] - a utility for C2 with helpful features.
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*[[Life Guard]] (C2)
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*[[Underwater Egg Hatcher]] (C2)
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*[[Egg-Sitter]] (C2)
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*[[40 Norns]]
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===C3/DS===
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*[[No Hand Holding]], [[Grettin Toggle]] and [[Hands Off]] - agents created by [[Kezune]] to remove certain functionalities of Creatures 3 and Docking Station to make the games more similar to C1 and C2.
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*[[Wolfmate]]
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*[[Devthing]]
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*[[Ghostcam]]
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*[[Seasonal Wolfling Run Tools]] - can be used to make aspects of the world [[season]]-dependent.
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==See Also==
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*[[Feral run]]
 
*[[Creatures IQ test]]
 
*[[Creatures IQ test]]
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*[[Norn torture]] - another way of playing the game
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[[Category:Terms]]

Latest revision as of 05:06, 11 January 2022

This page is about the play method. For the German Community aktion, see Wolfling Run 2003/2004/2005.


A wolfling run (sometimes incorrectly referred to as a wolfing run) is a method of playing in which the player does not intervene in the lives of their creatures, resulting in a natural selection of creatures. There are four types of wolfling runs:

  • Strict: The player hatches eggs in a world with no additional COBs or agents. The player does not interact with the world at all for a period of time.
  • Relaxed: The player sets up the world before the run, adding any COBs, agents, and/or metarooms as they like. Once the eggs are laid, the player ceases to interact with the world for a period of time.
  • Global: Commonly abbreviated to GWR. This requires Docking Station. A group of players set commonly-defined rules and set their Warps to only allow warps to members of the group.
  • Forum: Creatures are sought from the community and set loose in a world together hosted by the game-master, or GM. The GM updates the submitters of the creatures of the world's progress in a forum thread, often with pictures. A forum wolfling run may be either strict or relaxed.

History of the term[edit]

The term originated from the Uplift novels by David Brin, in which the term refers to intelligent races that achieved space travel without the shepherding of a patron race. Denise Voskuil's FAQ about wolfling runs (also available at The Truth About Grendels) traces the use of "wolfling run" to a post on a.g.c. in May 1997, made by Aznin, a member of the US EAP. This date puts it at approximately 6 months after the UK release of C1.

Rowena considered the term "wolfling run" to belong to members of the US Early Adoption Program, or at least to those runs which held to specific guidelines (January 1998) - however, it has fallen into more general usage.

Hand visibility[edit]

In C2, the ability for the hand to become invisible to creatures was included. This could potentially be used in wolfling runs to allow players to observe without themselves being seen. Dylan created an agent called HandSight for C3/DS with a similar functionality, Chani created an agent for DS called Hand Hider as well. Do not confuse this with the Invisible Hand Bug, where the hand is invisible to the player.

Wolf Control[edit]

The Wolf Control utility was included with Creatures 3 (1999) and Docking Station (2001) with a fast ticks mode to make it easier for players to run the game wolfling style. Prior to this, players typically ran the game "wolfling style" in the background, ignoring it, or overnight, with varying results. This technique was even used to check the Creatures 2 genome.

Unofficial tools and utilities[edit]

Several unofficial tools and utilities have been created to assist with wolfling runs. The ability to change the population limit was an unofficial feature that players would install addons for, but this ability was officially allowed for in Docking Station.

C1[edit]

C2[edit]

C3/DS[edit]

See Also[edit]