HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dv52151@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Axly)
Subject: Re: Some BattleTech/MechWarrior Questions
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 00:42:46 GMT

cmeadows@nyx.cs.du.edu (Chris Meadows) writes:


>I am a relative newcomer to the world of BattleTech.  My younger
>brothers are actually the ones who have the game.  They have the
>BattleTech boxed game, the MechWarrior 1st Edition RPG, the Battle-
>Tech Compendium, the ComStar blueprints of Clan Mechs (those huge
>blue-paper things that are really meant for hanging on walls or
>whatever), and a few of the Clans novels.  What do you, the experts,
>think that they should purchase next (or I should get them for
>Christmas)--what supplements do we REALLY need?

2nd Edition MechWarrior is a good idea if you are into roleplaying
that stuff. If not, then I'd try picking them up the record sheets
books. (A Very Useful Item).
Other than that, most of the other stuff isn't really that much
of a help as far as playing the game goes.


Axly
From: spivey@stortek.com (Jerry Spivey MS2286 x8008)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Paranoia question
Date: 29 Aug 92 20:37:27 GMT
Organization: Storage Technology Corp.


Hi, I'm starting a Paranoia campaign soon, but I have a few of
questions...

1) Is there such thing as a Paranoia campaign?  What I mean is, if the
   players are sufficiently paraoid enough, wouldn't most of them have 
   all their clones killed off by the end of the adventure?

2) If characters do survive one adventure, what do you do about updating
   clones?  It seems like 6 clones wouldn't be enough to survive very many
   adventures.  Do you up them back to 6 clones for each adventure?


On a side note, what are your favorite adventures and campaign ideas (if
there are campaigns, see #1 above)?  Are there any supplements still around
that I should consider buying?  All I have is the 2ed sourcebook and a
couple of modules.

Failure to respond to this post is treason.

Thanks for your help,
Jerry
(Eye-R-DUM)
From: cfw2@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (CARL F. WALDBIESER)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: hello out there...
Date: 1 Sep 92 01:09:39 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <1992Aug28.020349.24731@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>, rau@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Dr
au) writes:
>In article <ghartzog.187a@terapin.com> ghartzog@terapin.com (Garrett Hartzog) w
rites:
>>Any call of Cthulhu fans out there?
>>Garrett Hartzog
>>ghartzog@terapin.com
>
>       Grossly hacked (kinda like my first seventeen investigators...)
>Oh, yeah!  Like it so much, I'm using it as source material for an AD&D
>Ravenloft campaign.  (Strahd : "What..."  Azathoth : <writhe>
>Strahd : <squish> >=->
>
>- Drau : The Dark Elf
>
I just gotta know. Is it drow like snow or drow like cow?
From: ward1@husc8.harvard.edu (Lester Ward)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: SRUN: Shadowrun II Errata
Date: 28 Aug 92 15:15:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc8.ward1.715014921

GAYNOR@agvax2.ag.ohio-state.edu (Jim Gaynor) writes:

>Here's the full text of the FASA errata sheet for SRII, as downloaded
>from the RPGAMES forum on CompuServe.  Now, if only my local gaming
>shop (The GuardTower) would get the dang thing in...

Yeah, mine too.

The fact that this erratte sheet is only a page long instead of the 
200K the of SRI's erratta is a testament to how well written SRII is
(from a linguistic perspective).  The text is much clearer and has
many more examples.  It is also written for new gamers which was not
true of SRI.

Wordman
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: acd@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (andrew.c.durston)
Subject: Re: Rolemaster news from GenCon??? Is there any??
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 21:10:54 GMT
Summary: Time Riders, Alchemical Companion, Shadow World Atlas

In article <1992Aug25.151457.10621@pacifier.rain.com>, michael@pacifier.rain.com (Michael Smith) writes:
> The subject says it all:  Was ICE at GenCon with any new products?  They
> have been advertising a few new products in Dragon Magazine for a few
> months now.

	Hi,
	They were there though initially it was easier to find the Grey
	Worlds booth than the ICE booths. The main Rolemaster products
	released were Time Riders - time travel notes and scenarios ( looks
	ok, nifty timeline to integrate Middle Earth and Earth ), Alchemical
	Companion - alchemy classes, rules and spells ( looks good, lots of
	nice source material and item creation rules all in one place ) and
	the Shadow World Master Atlas, 2nd Edition - complete with places,
	people and history ( looks good, a Shadow World must ).

	ICE also had CyberHero and a new Adventurer's club for HERO stuff.
	Rolemaster Companion VI is due in September as is the Silent Death
	Night Brood supplement. So far, based on initial readings, I think
	Alchemical Companion is the best of the new releases ( and that is
	not because my name is in it ).

	Cheers!
	ACDurston, ..!att!hotld!acd
	[ buy Grey Worlds! A Companion every 3 months... ]
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: acd@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (andrew.c.durston)
Subject: Re: RM Mailing List
Organization: AT&T
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 13:36:23 GMT
Summary: me too!

In article <seah.715573809@sfu.ca>, seah@fraser.sfu.ca (Simon Seah) writes:
> To whoever is in charge :
> I've tried posting to the list several times.  Failed miserably with
> mail bouncing back at me.
> Is this the address?
> ice-l@gyaos.kpno.noao.edu
	I got a bounce at "ice-request" as well using the same address.
	Please add me as well...
> 
> Simon

	ACDurston,...att!hotld!acd

	"Well, the slaying was Morganti and we can't contact the soul,
	 but the divinations say he's alive and his sword has been acting
	 strangely, so says his apprentice..."
					-- The Death of Steven McCauley?
From: smith@ctron.com (Larry Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Improvisation!
Date: 25 Aug 92 19:57:29 GMT
Reply-To: smith@ctron.com
Organization: Cabletron Systems, Inc.

In article <1992Aug22.041047.14654@tronsbox.xei.com>, dfrancis@tronsbox.xei.com (Dennis Heffernan) writes:

>	Of course it is.  How would you like to try solving a jigsaw puzzle
>with pieces that keep changing shape?

I consider it a challenge, but playable provided that once I find something
that fits, it continues to do so.

>|As for the "if the players" bit, the players won't get the idea unless they
>|_already_found_proof_.  You may not have meant to leave it there, but there

>	Nonsense!  Players constantly go off in completely stupid directions.

"Stupid" is a very pejorative term, Dennis.  If you have players that are
at all competent, they are reacting to information _you_ gave them.  Turning
around and telling them that they are all wrong seems to me to be the very
poorest style.

>	The better game is the one wherein the GM plays fair.  Improvising the
>plot, _ESPECIALLY_ in a mystery, is not fair.

Heh, heh, heh.  "You say that so often, I wonder what your standard of
comparison is..."

>|Maybe you can make that playable and fun, but that sure doesn't sound like
>|the starting point of a shared fantasy to me.

>	Why not?  Because it means that the players (gasp!) might NOT figure it
>all out?  Failure has to be part of the game, or there's no point in
>playing.

Failure can occur within the context of the game, not because they couldn't
read your mind.

Larry Smith (smith@ctron.com)  No, I don't speak for Cabletron.  Need you ask?
-
How about we all do something reasonable?  I bet that'll confuse 'em!
From: krelos@agora.rain.com (Neal Feldman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Seeking Mailing Lists, Archive Servers and FTP Sites
Date: 29 Aug 92 13:56:42 GMT
Organization: Open Communications Forum

I am seeking mailing lists, FTP sites and archive servers that deal with
GURPS, the Hero System, Amber, Torg, Shadowrun, Call of Cthulhu and Dream
Park.  If you know of any, please Email me with the information.

Thanks.
From: millerl@wharton.upenn.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Improvisation, do I do it?, do I not?
Date: 27 Aug 92 22:23:20 GMT
Organization: Newt World Order

> In article <4882@balrog.ctron.com> smith@ctron.com writes:
>>In article <RANNOU.92Aug22105140@zuse.info.polymtl.ca>, Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou) writes:
>>
>>>I observed that many of the OLDER gmers used a kind of nearly only impro
>>>gaming.
>>
>>I have not been keeping track.  If so, that's a very interesting observation.
>>Does anyone concur???

I think it's the truth. I've been GMing for 16 years and I definitely
moved towards winging it during that time until now I have to whip
myself into a frenzy to do any prep at all because I know the game and
players well enough that we have fun whether or not I prepare.

I still have to do some prep on background, but don't even write down
anything for NPCs besides their names and any physical or personality
quirks. I use a 3x5 card for each, and have an alphabetically arranged
card box. Most NPCs are invented on the fly. Their names are easy to
make up, and that's the hardest part.

I think I'll start treating factions like NPCs and give them 3x5 cards
of their own, with a spot on the upper right of the card for alliances
or allegiance information.

Any plotting I do is on a single sheet of paper with compact notes so
that I don't have to shuffle papers to run the game.

I don't know. Is this prep or not? I sure don't make any neato-keen
maps, handouts, or props, and most of the prep gets done during the
game, but seems to me that I'm pretty well prepared even if I have been
winging it. No?

-- 
whoah,
+++++++++++++++++++++++23
Loren Miller                           internet: MILLERL@wharton.upenn.edu
The more corrupt the government, the greater the number of laws -- Tacitus
From: schwarts@cps.msu.edu (Steven Eric Schwartz)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: GrimRules
Date: 3 Sep 92 18:00:43 GMT
Reply-To: schwarts@cps.msu.edu (Steven Eric Schwartz)
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, Michigan State University
Originator: schwarts@atlantic.cps.msu.edu

I recently found 3 files on the old eklektik area (which is on potemkin now) 
which are v3.1 of GrimRules:

				grim3.1a
				grim3.1b
				grim3.1t


Is this the most up-to-date version? Are there supplements?

-- 
Steven Eric Schwartz            "It's not safe out here. It's wonderous, with
(schwarts@cps.msu.edu)           treasures to satiate desires both subtle and
125 East Wilson Hall-MSU         gross.  But it's not for the timid."
East Lansing, Michigan  48825                           - Q, "Q Who"
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: lib1p@jane.uh.edu (Tammy Stark Blandino)
Subject: Allowable combat actions (was Re: Improvisation!)
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 00:20:00 GMT

In article <28AUG199214231685@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov>, spzkny@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (JAMES ZAKANY) writes...
>In article <27AUG199218132376@rosie.uh.edu>,
> lib1p@rosie.uh.edu (Tammy Stark Blandino) writes...
> 
>>>I have actually seen a game where the above went :
>>> 
>>>GM : The Orc hits you with his pike
>>>Player : But I disarmed him last round
>>>GM : Oh, he picked it up off the ground and hit you with it
>>>Player : I didn't notice him trying to get past me to pick up the pike
>>>GM : No, you were busy
>>>Player : So, an orc can get past me, bend down and pick up a pike and swing
>>>it at me all on one action
>>>GM : Yup
>>> 
>>>Now, personally, I'd have left the game at that point.
>>(Tammy) 
>>As you should.
> 
>I wouldn't.  Sometimes (okay, often) the DM will make a gaffe.  It happens.  
>The WORST thing a player can do is stop play to bitch!  After the "No, you 
>were busy" line, play should have continued.  Pick the bone with the DM 
>during a break.
> 
>Why should a player (who can jump around, duck blows, remove and rummage 
>through his pack, uncork and quaff a potion in one round) bitch about what 
>an orc can do, given a minute of action?
> 
>In a recent post, I had a situation where a player disagreed with one of my 
>rulings.  He did not, however, bitch until AFTER the session.  Now THAT'S 
>what I call a good player.
>                                                  James S. Zakany

I think my comment may have been misinterpreted.

My impression was of a DM who was being unreasonable.  If a DM is
being unreasonable it is time to stop.  Unless this is corrected
in a manner which is satisfactory to both DM and players then
one or both become soured on the game.  It loses its fun and
after all that is what we are trying to do: have fun.

In our game we allow one physical action and one mental action
in a segment (our combat turn).  In our game system we probably
do more "mental actions" than in most game systems.  However
a mental action could be "observation" while the physical action
is grabbing for a weapon.  

By putting this system in place we have eliminated the arguing
over how much a pc or npc can do at a given time.

--Tammy--
From: sl9b4@cc.usu.edu (Deep Six)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Improvisation!
Date: 27 Aug 92 21:49:13 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

In article <ALANB.92Aug25115438@swordfish.sdl.mdcbbs.com>, 
 alanb@sdl.mdcbbs.com (Alan Braggins) writes:
>>>>>> On 24 Aug 92 13:39:37 MDT, sl9b4@cc.usu.edu (Deep Six) said:
>> Some have mentioned the difficulties of too much prep (players will never 
>> use it all, too much time, you can't prepare EVERYthing, etc), but no one 
>> has said that prep GMing is undo-able.
> 
> Prep GMing with no improv is undo-able. There, I've said it.

Here again, I have argued that a mix of the two styles is ideal. Part of the
confusion, I think, has arisen from people (like Alan here) coming in late
in the thread without knowing what went before. I was originally talking to
a guy who said he improvised 99% of the time. His argument was that a GM 
could survive on improv alone. My argument was to prep when you can, then
use improv when the prep doesn't cover. 

But now that some of those original posts have expired, people with almost
the same philosophy as mine are showing up and arguing my points against me, 
believing that some out of context comments mean that I am arguing that improv
is totally un-necessary. Not true. Never said it.

Okay,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chadd VanZanten SL9B4@CC.USU.EDU + ``There  is water  at the  bottom 
of the ocean.'' --David Byrne, Once in a Lifetime
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: garbett@utkvx2.utk.edu (Garbett, Shawn)
Subject: Re: Tekumel mailing list - dead or alive?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Tennessee Computing Center
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 12:22:00 GMT

In article <1992Aug26.182322.1@wharton.upenn.edu>, millerl@wharton.upenn.edu writes...
>I'm looking for the tekumel mailing list or to access some active
>discussion about tekumel and the empire of the petal throne and when I
>sent mail to the most recent know e-mail address for subscription
>discovered that Brett Slocum was not available at it. Does anybody know
>if the tekumel mailing list was still alive or if Brett still has
>internet access?
> 
>Thanks.
> 
>-- 
>whoah,
>+++++++++++++++++++++++23
>Loren Miller                           internet: MILLERL@wharton.upenn.edu
>The more corrupt the government, the greater the number of laws -- Tacitus

I was wondering why there was no traffic on this mailing list. If you
hear of anything please let me know. It's been dead silent now for about a
month and a half.

Shawn Garbett
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: damatt01@starbase.spd.louisville.edu (David A. Mattingly)
Subject: Re: Hero: Vitals HitLoc (Was Re: Champions: Mental Questions...)
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 19:02:46 GMT
Organization: University of Louisville

davis@cwis.unomaha.edu (James J Davis) writes:

>The vitals hit location, 
>includes everything under the
>ribcage going down to the genetals. 

Fine. I've seen it go both ways. Some say vitals = genitals and surrounding 
area, some say vitals = heart, lungs, various internal or sensitive organs.

To target the heart, I'd still call it a vitals shot, not a chest shot. How
would you like it if everything that hit you in the chest was considered to
go through your heart...?




-- 
        Dave Mattingly               "Can you snog the dentriface?" 
damatt01@ulkyvx.ct.louisville.edu    "I was an innocent, now I'm magnificent."
        (502) 584-6707               "Here's lookin' at you, sideways!"
Xref: sparky rec.games.frp.misc:4638 rec.games.frp.dnd:3254
From: jgostin@eternal.chi.il.us (Jeff Gostin)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc,rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: MISC: Player Classifieds
Date: 29 Aug 92 01:03:55 GMT
Organization: The little node that could...


     Hi Folks! In honor of the impending doom called school, I am
compiling a list of Classifieds for rpg groups. If you are a player
looking for a party, or a party looking for a player, please let me know.

     If you are a party looking for a player, I need to know:
          1. Game system/edition
          2. Amount of experience wanted
          3. Size of party now
          4. Number of players wanted
          5. Are you looking for a GM, either part-time or full time?
          6. Valid Email address (*optional* phone number with a real name)
          7. Time/place gaming takes place
          8. (*optional*) Small background on the campaign


     If you are a player looking for a party, I need to know:
          1. Game system/edition desired
          2. Experience playing
          3. Valid email address (*optional* phone number with a real name)
          4. Would you be willing to GM, either exclusively, or
             part-time? What experience do you have GM'ing?

     IMPORTANT: I will need to know your geographical location,
                specifically a campus, or University name. I don't want to
                send info to Texas about a player in Conneticut! :-)


     Please don't request the list immediately, as I'll need to compile
     the list. I'll post a notice when the list compiled.

                                   Jeff

...From a tiny little node called Eternal!
--
    /|Email  to:   jgostin@eternal.chi.il.us, offline@infopls.chi.il.us
   / |Smail  to:   Jeff Gostin, 917 High Ridge Pass, Carol Stream IL 60188
   \ |Vmail  to:   708-293-5526
    \|Flames to:   trashcan@eternal.chi.il.us
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: bkdavis@eos.ncsu.edu (B K DAVIS)
Subject: Re: Battletech - is there a newsgroup???
Originator: bkdavis@c00084-100lez.eos.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: bkdavis@eos.ncsu.edu (B K DAVIS)
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 03:51:45 GMT


In article <92246.205906OPQ@psuvm.psu.edu>, <OPQ@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
|>Path: taco!gatech!rpi!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!opq
|>Organization: Penn State University
|>Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 20:59:06 EDT
|>From: <OPQ@psuvm.psu.edu>
|>Message-ID: <92246.205906OPQ@psuvm.psu.edu>
|>Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
|>Subject: Battletech - is there a newsgroup???
|>
|>I have been looking through Netnews and I can not find a separate news group
|>with only Battletech or a group which is mostly Battletech news. Please mail
|>me info on this subject.
|>
Ditto for me as well.
Please email me as well.

Brian
From: thantos@runic.via.mind.org (Paul Williams [SysOp])
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Mekton Empire -- Psionics
Date: 3 Sep 92 02:17:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: runic.6u7HqB1w165w
Organization: Runic Writings / Lawrenceville, GA

I've been burrowing into Mekton Empire in preperation for a serious
campeign that should have far-reaching effects (for example, the
character have to eventually pay off their maxed-out frigate and their
Meks) and I seem to have found a problem.

In the psionics section, frequent reference is made to the modifiers for
multiple targets, range, etc.  Unfortunately, the only real mention I've
seen is in Telekinesis, in which it states multiple objects can be
lifted for +5 per object.  Am I missing something, or do I need to send
off to Talisorian for errata?



---
thantos@runic.via.mind.org (Paul Williams [SysOp])
Runic Writings
From: ratinox@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu (Richard Pieri/Stainless Steel Rat)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: RFI - CyberHERO
Date: 1 Sep 92 14:57:20 GMT
Reply-To: ratinox@meceng.coe.northeastern.edu
Organization: 3WA, Boston Office. Or Nu Meta Chi. Take your pick.
In-reply-to: andrew@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk's message of 1 Sep 92 10:32:55 GMT
X-Get-A-Clue: Have two, they're small.
X-Signature-Virus-Protection: Version 1.51
X-Posting-Software: GNUS 3.14.1 [ NNTP-based News Reader for GNU Emacs ]

>>>>> "AW" == Andrew Walker <andrew@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk> writes:

AW> I hear that CyberHERO is out. Anyone out there with any reviews,
AW> opinions, comments on it that they wish to share with the net?

Yes, it was out at GenCon, and should be hitting the stores Real Soon
Now(tm).

I only briefly skimmed through the cybernetics section of a friend's copy.
Looks good (before the fine-toothed comb gets run through it). Augmentation
is built with normal Powers, with a standard set of Limitations for each
body area (body, head, arm, leg, internal), much like the Limitations list
for weapons and armor. Cyber purchases are done with the same three
recomendations in GURPS Cyberpunk: you pay character points, you pay CP and
money, or you pay money; the third method is made with the caution that
characters with a lot of money can rapidly outstrip the campaign levels.

--Rat

||||| | | | |  |  |  |   |   |    |    |    |   |   |  |  |  |  | | | | | |||||
                                                   __        ___ 
Richard Pieri, Northeastern's Stainless Steel Rat/   | /| / /   | The Worlds
Internet: ratinox@meceng.coe.northeastern.edu   /__  |/ |/ / /| | Welfare Works
    UUCP: ...!northeastern.edu!meceng!ratinox  /   | /| / / / | | Association:
  BITNET: UA_RLP@NUHUB{.BITNET}               /__  |/ |/ / /  | | I will solve
  USNail: 14 Westdale RD  Holbrook, MA 02343 /   | /| / / /___| | any problem
 ICBMnet: 42 deg 1 min N, 71 deg 0 min W    /    |/ |/ /_//_____| for you.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: magnus@nexto.udac.uu.se (Magnus Ring)
Subject: Different playing styles(was Improvisation)
Organization: UDAC, Uppsala, Sweden
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 08:45:17 GMT

I think it's time to move the impro/prep thread on to a playing style
discussion instead. Could someone start this up by giving a good  
description of the different styles (Hack'n'Slash, Wargaming, Story  
Playing, Role Playing etc)? It seems to me that some people has too
little knowlege about the different styles and this was rather obvious
in the impro/prep discussion. Someone should be able to get the style
descriptions from some rpg-magazine. I think it's better to use an  
'official'-description, if someone can get it, and start the discussion
from there.

BTW, I'm new to the net and of course to this group. I haven't been
playing any rpg for about 6 or 7 years now but I'm still interested
in the hobby and I think we could have a nice discussion.

/Magnus Ring
From: macgyver@turtle.cis.ohio-state.edu (MacGyver)
Subject: Re: ShadowTech Errata
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 05:01:39 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.063524.25016@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au> ins894r@aurora.cc.monash.edu.au (Aaron Wigley [Wigs]) writes:
>As a piece of cyberware, it would rate amongst the Encephalon, and 
>the like. All it is a computer, and a lot of interfacing with the 
>person's own sensors, etc.

I could come up with a good science explantion on why TacComputer cost
more in terms of essence. But the bottom line is, the reason behind such
high cost is for game balance. If the essence cost for TacComputer isn't
set at such level, you can combine lots of other cyberwares along with
TacComputer, which would destroy the game balance.


-- 
Wilson MacGyver                      |"I do like a road, because you can be 
Internet:macgyver@cis.ohio-state.edu | always wondering what is at the end
=====================================| of it."
Disclaimer:All opinions are mine only|=======================================