HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: kinsler@newton.physics.uq.oz.au (Paul Kinsler)
Subject: Re: Cursed Items - Why?
Organization: Physics Dept. The University of Queensland
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 07:23:50 GMT

In article <1993Jan11.042539.24924@nwnexus.WA.COM>, phaedrus@halcyon.com (Mark Phaedrus) writes:
>>    In article <C0nvED.M10@bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au> kinsler@newton.physics.uq.oz.au (Paul Kinsler) writes:
>>    >Yeah. but its no fun if the PC can just throw the cursed sword away, is it?
>>    >
>>    >Either you lie through your teeth to the player: [...]
>>    >Or you just say:
>>    >DM: This sword somehow keeps forcing you to wield it in combat. It also seems
>>    >    be -3.
>>    
>>         I think you're operating under a faulty assumption here; namely, that the
>>    players are somehow contractually entitled to know, down to the point and the
>>    plus, exactly what the modifiers are in their rolls and how much damage they're
>>    doing when they hit.  I've never played under a DM who operated this way.
>>    In almost all the groups I've played or DM'ed in, the players still get to
>>    make their "to hit" rolls, but all damage rolls are secret.  Then the DM
>>    describes, in genuine English words, [...] 

I've always played it that the PC's make as many rolls for their character
as possible (ie *not* for hideShadows, etc) - but certainly to-hit and
damage - mainly to free the DM from the hack work of rolling lots of dice.
I agree that DM making secret damage rolls is a good idea, it just depends
on how keen the DM is. And you can say, "I hit an AC5 with a damage roll
of 5" and the DM still does the english description -and with the AD&D hp
system, almost all damage is non physical until the last few dice (for all
but the last die or so for most monsters - but admittedly not so for 
those such as elephants & dinosaurs), so the DM can just mark off the 
adjusted damage. Result - the monster takes longer to die:

PC: why isn't it dead?
DM: but this must be a tough orc - obviously a leader type, it is still alive...
PC: Hmm, this has been happening a lot lately...

Same result, diferent approach.

My second example:
DM: This sword somehow keeps forcing you to wield it in combat. It also seems
    be -3.
PC: what!! damn.. now i'll has to go to the Lost City of Inginarrrd, to find
    the Wizard of Bibblefrip, and convince him to remove it's powerful curse.
    I bet that bastard will make me go on a quest to recover the Amulet of the
    Seven Mad Nuns from the Demon IxxIchalIn, for which I will need the 
    Famed Ring of ...

The point is that either way (hidden rolls, or known properties) can be 
made interesting. You just use different tactics. 
 
-- 
+soluble fish+
"You people, you do not see the grandeur in the wind and stone and stars,
 in the blood and fire and iron - but paint only the flowers."
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: jdelisle@udel.edu (J. G. Delisle)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: collection
Keywords: collect, handbook
Date: 7 Jan 93 17:52:00 GMT
Organization: Boyz from the Dwarf
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41


	I'm starting a new collection -- the Complete.Net.Handbook, which will
try to fill in some of the gaps that the other handbooks don't cover. 
I'm looking for new:
	- Classes or subclasses
	- Kits (like those in T$R's Complete XXX Handbooks)
	- Psionic Abilities (second edition only)
	- Spells or Magic items that are class-specific 
	- House/Variant rules regarding specific classes

Submissions, comments, and questions can be mailed to jdelisle@cs.loyola.edu,
but please put the word "collect" in the subject. Short comments or questions
can be sent to jdelisle@loyola.edu.

	Thanks muchly,
	Joe Delisle

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| From the terminal of Joe Delisle      |                                    |
| jdelisle@loyola.edu  (preferred)      |    "Home is where the hell is."    |
| jdelisle@cs.loyola.edu                |                                    |
|              "I was up above it, but now I'm down in it"                   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: t_gross@informatik.uni-kl.de (Thomas Gross)
Subject: Wild Mages. Any Spells out there?
Keywords: Spells
Organization: University of Kaiserslautern, Germany
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 15:05:00 GMT

Hi all out there!

I'm searching for some usable new Wild Mage Spells for my campaign.
I have a 5th level Wild Mage in my group, who managed to blast the group sky high
only two times in his carrer. :-) 
He is very proud of his character, but the spell published in the tome of magic
are not enough to keep the game going and i have no time to invent new ones.

Please Help me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post the Spells here or email them to t_gross@informatik.uni-kl.de .
But i can't respond on emails cos of our admin not allowing students to do so ;-(

Hope to hear from you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO APPARENT MOTIVE, JUST KILL AND KILL AGAIN
SURVIVE MY BRUTAL THRASHING, I'LL HUNT YOU TILL THE END
LIFE'S A CONSTANT BATTLE, THE RAGE OF MANY MEN
H O M I C I D A L   M A N I A C !!


Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: jwolf@nyx.cs.du.edu (The WolF)
Subject: Re: T$R dropping Spelljammer?
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 16:24:52 GMT

In article <1993Jan10.135548.16181@cs.kuleuven.ac.be> philipd@cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Philip Dutre) writes:
>Last week I heard a rumour that T$R intends to drop the Spelljammer range
>of products. Does anyone know more about this?

>Phil

Buck Rogers XXVc and Marvel Super Heroes are both GONE from the 1993 catalog,
but Spelljammer has five new products this year, so maybe next year, but
clearly not this year!

Jon WolF - Je ne joue pas Spelljammer, mais j'aime Greyhawk.
From: water@david.wheaton.edu (Paul Waterman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: D&D and Christianity
Date: 8 Jan 93 15:13:49 GMT
Organization: Wheaton College

In article <1993Jan7.125306.9876@camaro.uucp> tfoley@camaro.uucp (Tim Foley) writes:
>  Jeez, this reminds me of the days of MADD, I just recently went into a 
>drugstore and some guy was handing out leaflets to support MADD, at first I 
>was getting ready to slug this guy and stuff these leaflets down his throut, 
>but after reading the leaflet, its on Drinking & driving, they stole the 
>other name that the Mothers against D&D were using...gotta like it.

Hmmmm.  I think you're mixing things up a bit here.  MADD has always been
Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  There is another group that was formed by a
woman whose son committed suicide or something, supposedly D&D related (the
fact that he was high on drugs at the time had nothing to do with it, of 
course), called BADD, or Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons.  BADD was
modelled on the MADD concept, even to the point of borrowing from their
name.  Thank goodness that BADD hasn't been nearly as effective as MADD.
(It must have something to do with the cause of MADD actually being a
logically supportable cause, as opposed to BADD, whose "arguments" all
seem to be purely reactionary with no basis in reality.)

Anyways...

	  - Paul
-- 
------------------------------. 
| Paul Waterman (708) 682-5085 |  WCST Spoilers        ------------------
| water@wheaton.wheaton.edu    |  817 College Ave, #1  --------------------
`------------------------------'  Wheaton, IL 60187    ----------------------
Organization: University of Maine System
Date: Tuesday, 12 Jan 1993 09:12:45 EST
From: The illustrius Pat Ellis (the DM) <IO11330@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Gary Gygax

Well this is by no means accurate but it is to my knowledge what
happeneed, if anyone else would like to add what they know please
feel free:

     While Mr. Gygax was the President and CEO of TSR he began to
loose control over the company, it was at this time that TSR really
started to expand and Gary could review and work on everything, so
some stuff had to be delegated.  At the time the only "world" was
Greyhawk, and Gary had stated that (at this point after many other
modules....) this was were HE would introduced new material and
modules, everything was to be designed independent of Greyhawk (the
begining of the down fall of Greyhawk with TSR in my Opinion)  secretly
behind his back a group of writers created there own world and began
work on a series of modules (this would become Krynn and the Dragonlance
Chronicles) When Gary found out he was somewhat upset that a new world
was being created with out his knowledge.  many months pass and basically
this rift continued to expand eventually Gary resiged as CEO, and after
a while he even sold his stock in the company loosing all control.  He
 then left the company all together to create New Infinities ( and took
a bunch of the best game designers from TSR with him (Kim Mohan)

      I think.......

                         Corrections would be appreciated.....

              Pat Ellis
                  THE DM
Ethan

947-6017

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: wgarrett@cs.cornell.edu (William F. Garrett)
Subject: Re: Walking Bandages
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 15:05:15 GMT

In article <1ib3lbINNba9@charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu> pkralik@ecst.csuchico.edu (Wintermute) writes:
>
> I often play Clerics, and it seems that every time I do, I wind up in the 
> position of being viewed as the party's walking first aid kit.

Just about everyone has seen this problem -- the party gets scuffed up,
so they yell "Medic!" and run to the nearest cleric for help.  As a PC
cleric, there are several things you can do to avoid being cast in this
role.  As a DM and game designer, there are even more options.  Here
are a few suggestions:


For Players:

- Make it clear from the beginning that you are *NOT* a paramedic, unless
of course, that's what you want to play.  What else can you do?  That
depends upon what type of priesthood you're a member of (especially
if your DM uses non-generic priesthoods).  More on this below.

- In very few priesthoods are healing services performed completely
without recompense.  Some temples might charge money, others might ask
the supplicant to perform a small service in return.  Most temples
will not repeatedly assist non-believers, so PC's may have to convert
to their cleric's religion if they want healing.


For DM's:

- Define different priesthoods and activities for them.  Typical
duties of priests are leading worshippers in service, educating/
finding new members, protecting members, working with or in
government, and all sorts of other church business.  Entire campaigns
can be centered around a cleric and his/her activities for the church.

- Change the role of priests and churches in society.  Consider a
society in which the churches (usually only one or a few, though)
are the government.  As a priest of one of those churches, a PC
cleric could find many things other than healing to keep him/her
busy.  Or in that same society, consider a priest of a non-ruling
church.  What if churches aren't the government, but are strong
influences on people?  What if a given church is outlawed?

The variations on theses theme are endless.  The important point to
remember is that, as game designer, the impetus and the ability
to make priests less one-dimensional rests with you.

				- The Wizard

But what do wizards know
about priests, anyway?  ;)

-- 
*-----------------------------------------------------------------------*
| Bill Garrett                                       Cornell University |
| wgarrett@cs.cornell.edu                Department of Computer Science |
*-----------------------------------------------------------------------*
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: slip@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Doolie)
Subject: Re: Cursed Items - Why?
Keywords: Curses, magic
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 19:14:29 GMT


Another possible source of Cursed items...

Unlucky Adventurers.

For example, a group of adventurers is assaulting a powerful
sorceror's  lair....

The theif is climbing his rope up the wall when the hidden warlock curses
the rope, causing it to wrap up the theif.

The Fighter charges down the long corridor at the Lich, who just grins
and casts his 9th level spell- (reverse enchanted weapons from a distance)
(A lich has plenty of time to research that.)

A drunk cleric Tells his god where to get off while wearing his +2 armor
in a thunderstorm on top of a hill. guess what happens.

and of course, you can always just say it was made by that CN Jester/mage

-- 
* Gordon Emore	          *   <Place nifty quote here>      *
* slip@sage.cc.purdue.edu *   < Or maybe not >              *
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: drizzt@spock.uucp (Neela Jacques)
Subject: Night masks
Organization: Choate Rosemary Hall
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 16:40:53 GMT

I just read Night masks (third book of the cleric Quintet) by R.A. (Bob) salvator.
The book is awesome! I recomend the book to anyone who likes Frogotten realms books.


Has anyone read The Legacy? I can't decide wether or not to pay $22 to get it.
Comments appreciated.
From: scythe@stein.u.washington.edu (The Grim Reaper)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Spelljammer's in, Greyhawk's out! (Was Re: T$R dropping Spelljammer?)
Date: 10 Jan 1993 20:09:12 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
NNTP-Posting-Host: stein.u.washington.edu

In article <1993Jan10.193615.4494@athena.mit.edu> mittman1@athena.mit.edu (Christopher T Chiu) writes:
>Phil Dutre writes:
>>Last week I heard a rumour that T$R intends to drop the Spelljammer range
>>of products. Does anyone know more about this?
>
>While Spelljammer is one of the most unpopular game settings
>for AD&D, T$R is still going to support it--they're going to
>release at least half a dozen new products for SJ.  Greyhawk,
>on the other hand, is only getting 4 new products this year,
>and the entire line up even with the new products will 
>be very small.  It seems faith in Greyhawk is disappearing
>up in Lake Geneva.
>
>Can anybody come up with some explanations?
>
>From a curious adventurer,
>Genghis
>mittman1@athena.mit.edu

Mmm.  Where did you hear that SJ is one of the most unpopular settings?
Just from discussion here, it sounds more popular than say Kara-Tur, or
the Horde, or some other settings.  T$R supports SJ because it's a new concept.
They hope that people will pick up interest in it.  Greyhawk, on the other
hand, has already reached its high point, and it's coming down again.  People
are not suddenly going to becomse interested in Greyhawk again, unless T$R
does something drastic.  So they decided to start a war on Greyhawk,
and change the setting some, to make it interesting again.

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: phranx@krill.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Phranx Gramsson)
Subject: Re: Funny spells
Keywords: Weird Stupid Funny Insane Spells
Organization: University of Bergen, Norway
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 93 18:55:27 GMT

I have plan to use a strange ring in one adventure.

It's called "The Emperors Clothes Ring".
All garments becomes instantly invisible.
Hmmmm... What if I make it change back and forth....

Good suggestions for a "trigger" anyone...?

Phranx
From: jviv@usmi01.midland.chevron.com (John Viveiros)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Cursed Items - Why?
Keywords: magic items, cursed items, wizards
Date: 8 Jan 93 14:36:59 GMT
Organization: Chevron

In article <1993Jan8.005616.9419@lclark.edu> ross@lclark.edu (Anthony Ross) writes:
>
>	Here's my question, and I'm pretty damn sure the FAQ doesn't
>answer it:
>
>	OK, given the amount of time, effort, money, etc... needed
>to contruct a magical item, why would a mage be making a cursed one?
>I can see a few very special instances where it makes sense to put
>forth the effort, such as:
>
>	The king will soon be leading his troops into battle, the royal
>wizard has been plotting to figure out how to seize the throne.  Hah! 
>Instead of working to complete his suit of +5 plate, I'll actually make
>cursed -5!  That's pretty sneaky, it still radiates magic, looks nice,
>etc..
>
>	But...that's pretty rare. More often the function of cursed
>items in most published scenarios is to have them mixed in with the
>hoard just discovered by the adventurers just to add a little danger
>or whatever.  What sort of mega-wizard would sit aruond for weeks
>wasting time and resources constructing items he can chuck in his 
>vault on the off-chance that some persky PCs are going to kill him
>and access his vault? The wizard would have to be rather unstable for
>him/her to do so. I don't see how any dying wizard would gain satisfaction
>from this arrangement.
>
>	Anyway, enough rambling....let the replies (and flames I'm sure 
>;-) begin).

I argued that same point for YEARS with my groups.  I thought it was
just Gygax's way of messing with our fun.  Find a magic item, but you
can't use it until you know it's not cursed.

I was wrong though.  You know what proved that to me?  What in the real
world is like a cursed item?  A computer virus!  Think of all the
viruses and all the effort put into making them.  It's astounding.  So
now I really believe that in a "true" fantasy campaign, cursed items
would exist because it is a part of human nature to find enjoyment in
wreaking havoc with your fellow human beings.  (Certainly with chaotic
or evils).

My $1/50.

-- 
John Viveiros     (jviv@chevron.com)
Chevron USA        Standard disclaimer applies
Midland TX 
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: kroth@david.wheaton.edu (Ken Roth)
Subject: Re: D&D and Christianity
Organization: Wheaton College, IL
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 16:54:26 GMT

****FLAME SUIT ON****

In article <1993Jan4.230152.21701@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> kdelgado@loligo.cc.fsu.edu (Kevin Delgado) writes:

Again, deleted cause you can read it if you so desire.

THIS post was the kind of drivel I was referring to in my previous post.
Kevin, in a fit of self-righteousness and 'wit', I guess, decided to make
personal attacks against someone who has different views.

some reasons why his post is, at best, pathetic: 

1)  The person he keeps flaming DIDN'T EVEN POST THE MESSAGE!!!  If you look,
it was posted by someone who pulled it of another board.  So, some of your
statements make no sense, and some of your 'please explain' words to certain
statements (like 'I was rescued by Jesus) make perfect sense to the people
that it was posted to in the first place.

2)  If YOU have a problem with Christianity, remember, you can't stand it when
people write off your views because of what you believe.  Grow up, Christian
bashing went out with Gay-bashing.  If YOU cannot tolerate other people's
views, then you should NEVER expect them to tolerate yours.

3)  I hate it when people repost 400+ lines just to flame, especially when
they have nothing to say...

4)  You, in short, as as bad as they are in every way.

To everyone else.  If you want to understand more about what I am saying, read
my last post in response to the original message.  Kevin basically did
everything that will offend people who don't like AD&D (which, of course, he
didn't want to do, he wanted to make them feel below his INFITE WISDOM!!!  All
he does is come off as a Jerk...)  

Ken

Flame away...
-- 
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
kroth@wheaton.uucp  ||  uunet!tellab5!wheaton!kroth  ||  They call me Gryfalia  
   "We believe, we believe, 'cause we felt it burning in our hearts"--77's
  "He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose."
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: mcohen@ravel.udel.edu (Michael Roger Cohen)
Subject: help.
Organization: University of Delaware
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 22:03:00 GMT

	Hi.  I am starting a new campaign, and the people 'elected' me as the DM
I was wondering if there was somebody out there that could help me.  Are there any hints that anyone could share?  What would be a good module or world to start in?  Some say Forgotten Realms, and others say different things.  I would appreciate your opinion and help.  Thanks in advance. :)



							 Coaster
From: williaid@HYDRA.ROSE-HULMAN.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: druids underground
Date: 11 Jan 1993 20:27:59 GMT
Organization: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Reply-To: williaid@HYDRA.ROSE-HULMAN.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: hydra.rose-hulman.edu

   In the campaign that is currently being run I am playing an treant druid
 4th level but the setting is going underground,  The DM didn't allow me acces
 to the elemental sphere so my combat spells are limited.  What I would like
is creative ways to role play this situtation other than being the party
ambulance.  The only one that come to mind is using a rope with an entangle
on it.  thanks in advance
From: larwick2476@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: AD&D Character Generator (version 2)
Date: 12 Jan 93 11:43:57 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

   I have just released my NEW version of my Character Generator program.

   I posted it to greyhawk.stanford.edu this time (due to wuarchive.wustl.edu
deleting my last one).

   It is entitled DNDGENV2.EXE

   The following was added:
      -Classes (supports ALL from PHB -- including Multi-class)
      -Calculation of Starting Wealth
      -Calculation of Starting HP (shows MAX and CON bonuses also)

Comments appreciated,
   Bret Larwick

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: mittman1@athena.mit.edu (Christopher T Chiu)
Subject: Re: Lankhmar?? Modules!!
Keywords: Lankhmar
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 15:52:19 GMT

In case you don't know, TSR will be putting out a brand
new Lankhmar sourcebook to replace the old "Lankhmar: City
of Adventurer" tome in a few months.  As for modules,
there are only(even after this year's introductions) only
about a dozen of them.

By the way, Lankhmar is an interesting world,
but magic users have much less power here than in
other settings.  You are forewarned.....

From a curious adventurer,
Genghis
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: pmwg1641@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Peter M. White)
Subject: Re: D&D and Christianity
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 08:25:28 GMT

By the way, there is a very good reason why those descriptions of
devil and demons coincide nicely with Bible references and
common occult sources; Gygax lifted them directly.  Now we get to
the important point: he did so without any qualms BECAUSE of his
Christian beliefs.  Gary Gygax is a Seventh Day Adventist; so,
he does not believe in Satan.  (I am far from versed in the subtleties
of this strain of faith.  But I did get this story from a reliable
source.)  Therefore, devils in DnD is a nonissue for Gygax.  But including
actual Christian religion in the background IS a touchy problem;
it seems to have been very carefully avoided.  Notice how devil/demon
rich the Multiverse is presented as, while it is very angel poor?
The Diva didn't come about until the Fiend Folio, which is just
a hodgepodge anyway. 

The bottom line:  Ironically, the DnD world, upon cursory inspection, appears
anti-Christian because of its respect for Christianity.

--Malthus

______________________________________________________________________________
						|
     "Guards!  Let me draw their fire!"		|	p-white@uiuc.edu
		   --Scapegoat,_Marshal Law_	|
______________________________________________________________________________
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd