From: scythe@byron.u.washington.edu (The Grim Reaper)
Subject: Re: Xanth Talents
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 22:27:29 GMT

In article <1992Nov8.204726.3285@news.cs.brandeis.edu> st923058@pip.cc.brandeis.edu writes:
>
>	I noticed that someone wants to start a Xanth game. How would you deal
>with the basic Xanth premise that everyone has a magical Talent, when 
>psionic rules are so fucked-up (and rarely used) in the AD&D game? And do
>you have a list of magical Talents? If not, I have some that a friend and
>I collected for a frp set in Valdemar, and this might be a kind of
>interesting new thread for those of us who are more interested in 
>role-playing than rule-picking (and again, that's not a flame; to each his
>own. Maybe I should make a macron that says that...). Anyone interested?

Hmmm.... First of all, I don't think that you'd use Psionics to
simulate Xanth talents.  Just because they're both called talents =)
I'd say treat Xanth talents as innate abilities to use mage or priest spells.
It wouldn't be too hard to make up a few tables to pick talents....
One to determine mage or priest spell, one for level, one for uses
per day, one for limitations.  Wouldn't be hard at all....
Okay, here's one Xanth monster, off the top of my head:
Tangle Tree
Frequency: Rare
Climate: Any forest
Alignment: Neutral (Evil)
HD: 8-20 - branches have 2 HD each, not counted vs total HD
AC: Stalks 4, Trunk 6, Inside 9
# Attacks: 9-21+digest
Damage per attack: Contrict for 1d10 x 8-20, Bite for 2d10, Digest for 4d10
Size: Tree-size (whatever that is)
Intelligence: Low (5-7)
Special Attacks: Pin, Digest
Special Defenses: None
Morale: 15
Exp: 9000-21000 (Maybe more?)

Description: The Tangle Tree, as its name suggests, is a carnivorous
tree that preys on anyone foolish enough to get nearby.  It often
remains motionless, waiting for people to travel along the paths
near to it, then several tendrils/branches/arms reach out to attack them.
The Tangle Tree has one branch it can attack with for each of its HD.
When a branch scores a successful hit, it wraps itself around the person
and squeezes.  This does 1d10 points of damage per round, and the branch
need not make an attack roll after the first time it hits.  If
a person is caught by the branch, there is a 50% chance for an arm to be
pinned.  If one arm is pinned, the other is 25% likely to also be pinned.
If neither is pinned, it is assumed the tree has grabbed them by their
legs or torso.  Regardless, anyone with a pinned limb may not attack
with that limb.  If they make a successful bend bars/lift gates roll
(this may be their only action that round), they can free themselves.
Also, anyone who attacks a branch and misses must roll to hit against
anyone pinned by that branch.  If a branch grabs a person by one arm,
on the next round another branch will attempt to grab the other limb,
attacking with a +2 bonus to hit.  Once both limbs are pinned, the tree
attempts to bring the victim to its mouth, in the center of the branches
at the top of the trunk, taking one round to do so.  After the victim has
been brought to the mouth, the tree will make a bite attack.  If the bite
attack if 2 or more greater than the roll needed to hit, the tree has
swallowed the victim.  If the tree successfully swallows a victim,
the victim takes 4d10 points of damage per round from digestive acids.
The victim may hack their way out, but they may use only size S
piercing weapons, or innate abilities (no other spells tho).  
Only one victim may be at the mouth at one time, and only
5 size S, 2 size M, or one size L or greater can be inside the tree.
Each limb has 2 HD before it is ripped off the tree.  The tree can
regenerate lost limbs at a rate of one per 2 weeks.  Often after
a large kill (or several small ones), the tree will go dormant for
up to a week or two.  During this time it will make no attacks
unless attacked. 
There.  If I forgot anything, feel free to flame.

I suppose I'll write some more once I get the time....

Until then, 


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