HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: cmcarthu@esk.compserv.utas.edu.au (Christopher Gary McArthur)
Subject: Re: Deaths Door
Organization: University of Tasmania at Launceston
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 02:33:45 GMT

In article <1992Sep30.170430.1@vx24.cc.monash.edu.au>, edb892rsft@vx24.cc.monash.edu.au writes:


>I was just wondering what effects apply to a character to is reduced to
>a hit point total of between 0 and -9? I know that you lose 1 hp per
>round unless administed first aid or healed but how long can a person
>stay between these ranges. Also if they are healed they wake up in 1 - 6
>turns but do they suffer weakness or other ill effects?
>
>I just wanted to get a range of opinions on the matter as this sort of
>situation crops in my campaigns from time to time especially at low
>levels and the the standard PC reaction is to bind the wounds of the
>character at Death Doors, thus stabilising them and then wait for the
>Cleric or Healer of the party to wait, rest and get good old cure light
>wounds etc to save day thus the time the stricten character is in a coma
>is about 4 - 5 hours?
>

The way we do it in out campaign is that if the character's hit points are
below zero, they are unconcious and bleeding at -1HP per round.  If they are
at zero hit points exactly then they do not bleed to death.  To determine how
long they last their constitution score is divided by two, and this is the
maximum below zero they can go.  If someone spends a round binding their wounds
they stop bleeding.  Using this system allows people with a high constitution
to survive longer than those who are weaker.  This adds a spice of realism into
the game.

Chris McArthur
University of Tasmania, Launceston
"The opinions expressed in this document are my own and not those of any companyor corporation that I know of at this time"
From: cb317@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Stephanie J. Kessler)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Drow Offspring with elves & Rangers.!
Date: 2 Oct 1992 05:25:59 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


By some strange luck, one of the characters in my current campaign
is 1/2 drow and 1/2 surface elf.  His father  was a  drow spy
who had an affair with a female cleric.  She was outcast from
the land, and raised her child as far from other elves as possible.

I determined his abilities based on one important factor, that
he was raised above ground.   In my land, the drow's  major
abilities come from being underground near radiation.    While he
has a vague appearance of the drow, he has only an excellent
night-vision and a  sensitivity to bright light, especially the
sun (because he has the  drow coloring).  I think its up to  each
DM to decide based on his  idea of the elves... and each
situation might mean different things, as I described above.
-- 
The United States is a nation of laws:  badly written and
randomly enforced.     Frank Zappa

cb317 @ cleveland.Freenet.Edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: joeg@meaddata.com (Joe Gayda)
Subject: Re: Missed Move Silently Results
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 18:51:26 GMT
Distribution: na

In article <1992Oct5.145529.28523@Princeton.EDU>, tao@ginger.princeton.edu (Terry Tao) writes:
|> There seems to be a lot of nails and bees in your world.  I don't
see how creeping

Technically, a missed move silently, and the thief is discovered.
Ruling out the possibility that you could roleplay / adlib and cover
your blunder.  The purpose of this chart is to add COLOR to the, "Oh,
you missed your move silently.  What did I do?  I dont' know.  You
stepped on a creaky board.  I'm outside!  You kicked up some dirt..."

If you like less comedy.  Nails and Bees, then replace them with
something else.  

|> would require the same things happening.  Also, people creeping around silently
|> are more CAREFUL than people taking a normal stroll.  They don't step on things

People on a "stroll" walk in the middle of the room, and along the
path.  People moving silently are usually going around the center of
action.  Moving silently off the trail around the opponent, or around
the outer edge of the dark room.  (I.E. They can't see where are
stepping in darkness)

|> Also, I like to be kind to thieves, seeing as they really have it tough compared
|> to other classes.  practically no spells, armor, mediocre hp and attack rolls,
|> in a party tends to be used as a lockpick and a mine detector.

Volunteering for deadly tasks is the fault of the fool hardy player.
Not the player class.  I'm very generous with what thiefs can
accomplish with their skills, but there must be a balance.  If there
are big rewards, but little penalty for failure, then the challenge
and the enjoyment will be diminished.

A thief is the best individual class available.  Play them like a
survivor NOT like the party's cannon fodder.

|> However, there can be some interest with, for example, a buzzing bee around the character.  Will the thief swat the bee, and risk being heard? if he doesn't, the
|> bee may land on his nose and cause all sorts of problems.  Also, creeping tends
|> to build up the adrenalin: one loud noise and you can be shocked quite badly.
|> Another interesting thing is trying to convince the guards or whatever that the
|> noise they just heard was natural ("miaow... miaow").
|> 
|> How fast can you move silently? is moving real slow an advantage in the rolls?

We play that a move silent is half your normal movement.

-- 
Joe Gayda           | The probability of       |          (513) 865-1560   
Mead Data Central   | someone watching you     |     
P.O. Box 933        | is proportional to the   |       joeg@meaddata.com
Dayton, Ohio  45401 | stupidity of your action | ...!uunet!meaddata!joeg

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Date: Fri,  2 Oct 1992 15:13:55 -0400 
From: "Jordan M. Wolbrum" <jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Lich & Demi-Lich...
	<1992Oct2.114050.17239@ugle.unit.no>

What's all the commotion about a Lich?  It's just a monster, not even
the most powerful undead!  Now a Type VI demon, that's a monster!  

If you really need to kill a lich, have your henchman break the Staff of
the Magi near it.  It will never survive.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: brunborg@solan.unit.no (]dne Brunborg)
Subject: Dancig Sword and THAC0
Organization: Norwegian Institute of Technology
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 12:15:13 GMT

My character, a fighter at 8th level, has just recently found a Sword of Dancing.
The fighter has a strenght score of 18,76 (+2/+4) and double specialisation
(+3/+3, per Unearthed Arcana), wich gives him a THAC0 of 8-x, x=1..4.

 BUT when I release the sword, my DM will just give it THAC0 13-x, not counting 
neither strenght nor specialisation. The DMG says: "The sword will fight for itself as
it's wielder..."(or someting like that, shoot me if I'm wrong).
What do you think?


PS: I'm a DM myself, so don't shoot me for reading my own book!

So long!

		Aadne Brunborg
		Norwegian Institute of Thechnology
		University of Trondheim
		NORWAY

	"If ye can't see it, it's right behind ye..."
From: gupw@uniwa.uwa.edu.au (Paul Wagland)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Lich & Demi-Lich...
Date: 4 Oct 1992 04:26:09 +0800
Organization: The University of Westrn Australia
NNTP-Posting-Host: uniwa.uwa.edu.au

"Jordan M. Wolbrum" <jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>What's all the commotion about a Lich?  It's just a monster, not even
>the most powerful undead!  Now a Type VI demon, that's a monster!  

Type VI Demon???? HUH!  Give me a Tarrasque any day..... :)

>If you really need to kill a lich, have your henchman break the Staff of
>the Magi near it.  It will never survive.

Well one flaw in that plan....the henchman are alomost guaranteed to
flee, unless you are there with them, I mean it's a kind a suspect
action, and not very good.  And if you are there with them, you'll most
likely die as well.  No the only *GUARANTEED* way to beat a Lich is to
become a god.  Otherwise you are at the whims of the dice....

PS. put a smiley on that last sentence......
-- 
Paul Wagland            | These opinions are mine and no-one elses
gupw@uniwa.uwa.edu.au   | Bingy Bingy Bingy Frogs Go round and round
------------------------+     -- Another silly quote from me  :-)
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology-Office of Information Technology
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1992 16:58:21 EDT
From: Paul Goodwin <CC100PG@GITVM1.GATECH.EDU>
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Spiders: What can they do for you?

In article <69010@hydra.gatech.EDU>, ccoprdj@prism.gatech.EDU (Jorge Diaz) says:
>And as a cleric/mage with an irrational fear of spiders, I think it would
>be great (think of the role-playing involved)!
>
>--
>Jorge Diaz                       | Sign in a restaurant:

Bravo!  *DONE*   *hahahahahahahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH*

Jorge's DM    :-{)}
From: pkralik@ecst.csuchico.edu (Wintermute)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Enchanted weapons to hit...
Summary: How do you justify it?
Date: 5 Oct 92 07:37:17 GMT
Organization: California State University, Chico
NNTP-Posting-Host: cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu

Greetings!

I have read this newsgroup sporadically for a while and have finally decided
to ask the world this question:

Exactly how do you explain to a character *why* an enchanted weapon is needed
to hit certain more powerful creatures.  Now, I realize that this is one of 
the things that perhaps makes the creature more powerful, but I want a more
logical explanation to give players than this...

Is it simply that the creature is surrounded by a magical aura that requires
a countering aura(from the weapon) to "break through"?  If this is the case,
then why does the DMG(well, 1st ed anyways...) give a table that allows monsters
of higher hit dice the ability to damage these creatures.  If a fighter drops
an elephant off a cliff onto a demon, will he do damage to it???  

Or is it that the weapon imparts a higher degree of skill that is necessary in
order to hit the creature.  If this is the case, then why can't high level 
characters have enough innate skill to overcome this?

Also, if a creature with this defense is struck by a non-magical weapon, what
exactly are the effects?  Does the weapon simply bounce off of it?  Is there
any knock-back if a boulder were thrown?  Would the weapon simply miss(i.e. the
creature dodged it)?  Or would it pass harmlessly through the creature.

Well, that is all for now.  Any responses would be most appreciated....


					WINTERMUTE
-- 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Patrick Kralik(a.k.a. WINTERMUTE)        pkralik@cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu   +
+                                                                             +
+ "I've lost my mind, but it's backed up on tape somewhere"                   +
From: pittman@pi.uleth.ca (Shawn Pittman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: net.spellbook
Date: 28 Sep 92 17:50:18 GMT
Organization: University of Lethbridge

marcnarc@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca (Marc BRANCHAUD) writes:

>and was refused for both.

	Tybalt is also refusing my anonymous logins these days.  Thought it was a
problem with my ftp client here as I am having the same problem with several
other sites which I used to use on a regular basis.  I can still get into the
following site with the login name "anonymous" so here it is:

	potemkin.cs.pdx.edu 

	This site has more files than the last two in my previous post, but not
quite as many as tybalt.  I don't know why I can no longer access it.  I have
forgotten the addresses for the news net archives (there are several, use archie
to find them).  One or more of these may also contain some of the dnd stuff
posted to the net, I don't know.

Hope this helps a little.

Shawn

pittman@alpha.uleth.ca

He will triumph who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
					Sun-Tzu
From: skelly@coral.bucknell.edu (Kelly Sean David)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Enchanted weapons to hit...
Date: 6 Oct 92 06:34:39 GMT
Article-I.D.: coral.1as85vINNbdv
Organization: Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: coral.bucknell.edu

In article <1aorbdINNe0p@charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu> pkralik@ecst.csuchico.edu (Wintermute) writes:
>Greetings!
>
>I have read this newsgroup sporadically for a while and have finally decided
>to ask the world this question:
>
>Exactly how do you explain to a character *why* an enchanted weapon is needed
>to hit certain more powerful creatures.  Now, I realize that this is one of 
>the things that perhaps makes the creature more powerful, but I want a more
>logical explanation to give players than this...

It is my understanding that when a 'hit' is scored it really means a 'hit that
did damage'.  The D&D system assumes that many hits are scored during one
melee round but only one or two actually do damage (thus the 'to hit' roll).
A magical weapon is sharper, and thus has more of a chance to do damage during
a melee round (ie. a greater chance 'to hit' the monster).  Since demons and
the like tend to have rather incredible armor, it takes a magically sharp
weapon to actually hurt then ('hit' them).

>If a fighter drops an elephant off a cliff onto a demon, will he do damage to
it???  

I would tend to say yes, although it depends on the size of the demon :-).

>
>					WINTERMUTE

-Sean Kelly
From: Devon_Sheppard@mindlink.bc.ca (Devon Sheppard)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Players reading item descriptions
Date: 29 Sep 92 10:20:14 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

Edward Swatschek writes:

>   It should be noted he did not say they snuck out back to read up on the
>item upon finding it; it may have been the case that the DM was consulting
>with the players on how to best handle it. And how to handle those players
>who, from experience, are familiar with the stats anyways? It's not what they
>know, but how they play it.

Yah, I know there's a difference between player and character knowledge, and so
do you, but some players just can't keep it separate. I think that's all the
"shoot the DM" comment was meant to imply.

  Devon

--
devon_sheppard@mindlink.bc.ca

Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Date: Tue,  6 Oct 1992 16:54:22 -0400 
From: "Jordan M. Wolbrum" <jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Enchanted weapons to hit...
	<6875@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP>

Some creatures can only be hit be magic weapons due to
semi-coporeality(i.e. they are not completely physical)
ex:wraith, ghost
Others have a foreign "skin" made of a material not normally suseptable
to weapon damage.
ex:stone golem, gargoyle, iron golem
And others have an incredible regeneration factor preventing mundane
wounds from remaining open long enough to be more than an irritant.
ex:lycanthrope

If none of these alone or in conjunction can explain the magical weapons
needed to hit a creature, then make something up.

PS.  If its works for monsters it works for PCs in my campaign.  Skilled
adventurers can use the table the monsters use to hit magical creatures,
but like the monsters, they must use natural attacks!  (Another reason
to remove those cesti!)

\begindata{text,17029828}
\textdsversion{12}
\template{default}
\majorheading{Jordan M. Wolbrum

}\center{\smaller{at jw67@andrew.cmu.edu

}}\enddata{text,17029828}

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: dwest@cwis.unomaha.edu (David West)
Subject: Re: Cleric Worships a Mortal
Keywords: cleric
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 19:55:20 GMT

tsouth@techbook.com (Todd South) writes:

>In article <14468@chalmers.se> d9bertil@dtek.chalmers.se (Bertil Jonell) writes:
>>In article <1992Sep25.014124.8920@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov writes:
>>>Barnard Starr, my brand-spanking-new, 0 XP, 1st level AD&D 1 cleric, 
>>>(title: Acolyte) worships Arthur the Just, 16th level High Priest of
>>>Athena.
>>
>>  Wasn't this how St Cuthbert (St Cuthbert as in 'Mace of St Cuthbert'),
>>started out? :)
>>
>>>      kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov  (713) 483-4368
>>
>>-bertil-
>>--

>This is one reason I've incorporated the D&D Immortals rules into the
>AD&D world setting.  I think that while gods should not be played as
>individuals, they should have the desires of an individual since they
>and all real world mythological gods we base most campaigns off of are
>based upon extremely involved and emotional beings from history.

>The D&D Immortals set allows you to take any character you've ever seen
>from any campaign, improve them into godhood with some sort of logical
>progression without them taking over the pantheon in 2 days and also
>gives good guidelines for clerical relationships with the diety.

If you want something that is a little more compatible with AD&D 2nd
Edition, go out and pick up Primal Order, bye Wizards of the Coast. I
thought this supplement would be a joke, but I was wrong. It gives very
realistic rules on how a character can become a diety, as well as a list
of standard deity powers...all in all a nice addition.

--David Luven Lightfinger

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: tao@potato.princeton.edu (Terry Tao)
Subject: Re: Trolls' regeneration
Originator: news@nimaster
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 14:44:57 GMT

I suddenly have a bad vision of trolls enchanted with permanent resist fire spells and some form of protection against acid.. SOMETHING MUST BE ABLE TO KILL THEM? eating them should (digestive acids), what about putting a troll in a blender?

if the trolls ability is magical, can it be DISPELLED or temporarily negated?

And, oh yes, there are worse cratures than trolls, the tarrasque comes to mind, as does the Zhakar worm.. (in an adventure in one of the Dragonlance series).

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov
Subject: Re: Cleric Worships a Mortal
Originator: kjenks@gothamcity
Keywords: cleric
Organization: NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 14:12:34 GMT

In article <24SEP199222360924@juliet.caltech.edu> aaron@juliet.caltech.edu (Packman, Aaron I.) writes:
>This is very interesting and kinda' cool, IMO.  To have a living, breathing,
>up-close-and-personal (and hopefully personable) god(ling?) to worship
>definately will make for some interesting situations, I'm sure.  

Actually, he's kind of embarrassed and doesn't know what to do with me.
(How would YOU feel?)  It brings to mind celebrity groupies, but 
Barnard has the utmost respect for Arthur.  Fun roleplaying so far.

>       [...]   First, your mortal-god could conveniently ascend to true
>godhood and gain the ability to grant spells.  

This, of course, is Arthur's ultimate goal.  But DDG1 (p. 11) says
"after several centuries of superior service and gradual advancement,
exceptional servants may be awarded the status of demigod, which
includes having an earthly priesthood and the ability to grant spells
(of up to 5th level) to the demigod's clerics."  I'm a human, and I'm
unlikely to live for "several centuries" until Arthur makes it to
demigodhood.  I'm hoping for your Option Two.

 [...] The second way your DM could play this is
>to have Athena grant spells for Arthur.  This assumes that Athena is
>happy that Arthur is working his way to godhood, and will support him.
>If this isn't the case, Arthur's in a shitload of trouble and so are
>you.

This would be good.  If Athena isn't happy (and Greek gods tend to be
jealous and intolerant of other clerics), we're gonna have a LOT of
fun.

>  The third,
>and possibly most interesting alternative is to not allow Arthur to
>give you spells, but to have him help you out in other ways instead.
>He could, for example, give you a special magic item every time you
>reach a new level.  This would give you power equal to other clerics of
>your level, while retaining (even requiring!) the personal interaction
>that makes this idea interesting.

This might work well.  Arthur is psionic, with Molecular Manipulation.
He changes metals all the time.  Maybe he could teach me some psionic
minors.

I'll give these ideas to Bill, the DM, and I'll keep you all posted.

-- Ken Jenks, NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
      kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov  (713) 483-4368

      "Orcs are cruel and hate living things in general, 
       but they particularly hate elves and will always 
       attack them in preference to other creatures."
         -- AD&D Monster Manual 1, p. 76.
From: Devon_Sheppard@mindlink.bc.ca (Devon Sheppard)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: World sizes
Date: 28 Sep 92 13:05:30 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

Can someone tell me how I would go about calculating the distance to the
(apparent) horizon of a spherical world, assuming I know the diameter? Also,
what effect would height have on the calculation? Ie: viewing a distant
mountain while on a flat plain, or viewing over a flat plain while levitating
at 5000ft.

  Devon

--
devon_sheppard@mindlink.bc.ca
From: dks@acpub.duke.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Dual classing
Date: 30 Sep 92 16:38:59 GMT
Reply-To: dks@acpub.duke.edu


	I have a few strange dual-class situations, and I want to know how
some other people would respond to/rule on them:
	We have a 9th level fighter, Str 15, Int 17, Con 15, proficient in
the use of the staff, among other weapons. After years of study, he dual-
classes as a magic-user (this is for 1st or 2nd ed.)... He takes dagger 
proficiency as an m-u.
	1) Does he get a "free" proficiency in the staff, so long as when
he attacks with it he uses the mage tables?  He already knows how to use
staff, and m-u's have staff on the allowed weapon list...  Does he mystic-
ally "forget" and need to attack as an m-u with the -5 non-prof penalty?
	2) (2nd ed in particular)  What happens to his non-weapon proficien-
cies?  Languages I'd expect he'd retain at no penalty for their use. (Lang-
uages are NWP's in 2nd ed, in many campaigns.)  Can he use all of his other
NWP's at no penalty?  Only non-warrior group ones? Only the general and 
(though unlikely to be possessed) wizard-grouped ones?
	3) a) Say he somehow gains a point of Constitution (making it 16)...
Does he get 9 extra hit points immediately? Wait until he gets to be a 10th
lvl m-u, when he ordinarily starts getting extra hp's?
	   b) Our lucky guy gets another Con point, up to 17... Since he
got his original hit points as a fighter, does he get another 9 hp's (as the
hp bonus goes from +2 to +3)?  Or since he's an m-u now, is he denied the
extra 9?
	I'd appreciate some opinions.
	I'll also come up with a signature in the meantime.
From: covin@tartarus.uchicago.edu (David Covin)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: More musings on Regeneration & Trolls.
Date: 30 Sep 92 19:43:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: despair.COVIN.92Sep30134356
Organization: University of Chicago Computer Science

System shock (for being de-petrified, for instance):  I would allow
  trolls to automatically survive system shock.  After all, they have
  no trouble recovering from death, which also normally requires a
  system shock roll (to survive resurrection)... 

Other regenerating critters: In one of the Gamma World modules there's
a kind of mutant flying squirrel that's completely immortal.  Short of
disintegration, they just cannot be killed.  You could kill one, throw
the body into a blender, burn the finely-ground remains, and sprinkle
the ashes across the continent from an aircar, and the dust would 
coalesce and re-form in about a day.
  As a result of this strange immortality, all the members of this
(intelligent) race that the PCs are likely to meet are completely
insane, and monomaniacally suicidal.  They will attack *anything* that
looks like it might fight back, and then try to allow themselves to be
killed.  If the PCs do succeed in temporarily killing one, it will 
then pursue them for the rest of their days, hoping that eventually
they'll find a way to kill it permanently...

--
David Covin                           covin@despair.uchicago.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd