HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: phi@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Minotaur)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: SR: Shamans & Spirits; Mages & Elementals....
Keywords: shadowrun, SRUN, anarchy, magic, etc...
Date: 16 Apr 92 16:56:25 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Labrynth (Shamanic Lodges for those over 10 ft tall!!!)

>>>>>[ Okay here's one for all ya magic theorists out there. Suppose
     John Doe mage was to summon up a elemental. And for some reason,
     I dunno, like his ass is gonna get scragged and the spirit would
     be stronger is free, John says "Would you like to be free?" then
     maybe adds in a few extra requirements, i.e. Ya don't kill me,
     ya help me escape, etc.. whatever. My question is, do ya think
     the elemental would wish to be free? I always got the impression
     that once free, these spirits are kinda stuck here in
     mortalsville and they would prefer to be back on their home
     plane. While we at it, what do you think is the relationship
     between summoner and spirit? Do ya think these guys resent being
     here? How do ya conjurers out there treat these guys? Like slaves
     or like entreatied friends? 
	Hell, while we're on the subject what do ya shaman's think?
     I mean, for you guys it is a bit different since you could conjure
     up a forest spirit to help ya squash some drek out there trying
     to frag up their domain. It almost seems as if there would be
     a stronger bond between the shaman and his spirit over the mage
     and his passive elemental?
	Well, whadda ya guys/gals think?]<<<<<
						-Minotaur(11:51:00/4-16-92)

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Steve Mancini (a.k.a. The Minotaur) | phi@sage.cc.purdue.edu          |
|    Grad Student {Dazed & Confused}  | mancini@vm.cc.purdue.edu        |
|    Political Science Department     | mancinis@mentor.cc.purdue.edu   | 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| "We are in a Universe with more and more information, and less and    |
|  less meaning." - Jean Beaudrillard					|  
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From: brunner@kazoo.ssd.loral.com (Brian Brunner)
Subject: Re: SRUN: Sniping, silencing
Reply-To: brunner@kazoo.ssd.loral.com (Brian Brunner)
Organization: Space Systems/Loral
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 22:23:50 GMT

In article <cyang.703453653@chilko.ucs.ubc.ca>, cyang@unixg.ubc.ca (Christopher
Yang) writes:
!!
!!Much more preferable as a long distance sniping round: .50 BMG
!!I've heard rumours of accuracy at ranges of 1.5 km.
!!Of course, rocket launchers rank right up there for excellent
!!sniping weapons, too. 8)

This is not a rumor... Desert storm recorded 1.5 mile confirmed kills
with the .50BMG (Browning Machine Gun)

What we're talking about here is a 35 pound semi-auto rifle that
shoots the same bullet as the heavy tank machine gun... a bit of a
monster.
10,000 fp of energy at the muzzle... .357 Mag is about 1000 fp
785 grains bullet weight... compared to 75 for the M-16.
Muzzle Velocity of mach 4 or so compared to  mach 3 for the M-16.
Quite a lot of rifle. Todays' prices about $3500. That is without
scope & etc. 5 shot magazine. $2.00/round ammo. At mach 4, drop
across 1 mile (about 1/4 second time) is about 12 inches... 
(please note... since the bullet slows down as it penetrates air,
the time to get to target will be longer than 1/4 sec and the drop 
ore than 12 inches. I said 'about'.)

and... at 1 mile, who needs a silencer? Or hollowpoints?
You can even use a tracer! Or explosive ammo, and forget
any ballistics experts mapping the barrel grooves to your weapon...
but they are so rare the FBI (or game equivalent) doesn't have
too many suspects to sift through =:^(

--
HELP!! Somebody slapped a "stop payment" on my sanity check!!
brunner@kazoo.ssd.loral.com; Space Systems/Loral; Palo Alto, Calif.
Black Holes... the /dev/null of the Universe; the opinion of 65534.
From: loydb@fnordbox.UUCP (Loyd Blankenship)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: New GURPS License
Date: 7 Apr 92 08:02:39 GMT
Organization: Texas Net Illuminati

Steve Jackson Games is pleased to announce that they have recently signed
a licensing agreement with the E.E. "Doc" Smith estate to produce a
worldbook based on the _Lensman_ series. The book will be released in 1993
as a supplement for GURPS -- the award-winning Generic Universal RolePlaying
System.

GURPS Lensman will be written by Paul Hume, co-author of FASA's roleplaying
game Shadowrun and author of the upcoming GURPS Cyberworld (late 1992).

For more information, e-mail me or contact Dave Searle at the phone number
below!

Loyd Blankenship
Product Development Manager, Steve Jackson Games

***************************************************************************
* loydb@fnordbox.UUCP	     Once you pull the pin,  *	Loyd Blankenship  *
* GEnie: SJGAMES	    Mr. Grenade is no longer *	PO Box 18957	  *
* Compu$erve: [73407,515]	 your friend!	     *	Austin, TX 78760  *
* cs.utexas.edu!dogface!fnordbox!loydb		     *	512/447-7866	  *
***************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: mark@trillian.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Manning)
Subject: Re: Some older Riddles
Organization: Simulacron I
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 14:07:35 GMT

Blarney!  Tis kids I heard.  What would they be doin' with kits?
Tha wee ones would-a torn a hole in the bag!  Are ye daf?  Tis the
kids who helped keep the cats in order.


;-)
From: boelter3945@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Ad&d: creatures hit by magic
Date: 8 Apr 92 14:34:51 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1992Apr3.185809.6515@rice.edu>, stevens@horta.rice.edu (Richard Stevens) writes:
> Another quiestion:
>   If a chracter wearing a girdle of giant strength throws a boulder at a
> were-creature, will that creature take damage?  
> 
> It seems to me it should take damage from any over-sized missile like a 
> catapult. Things such as falling, drowning, and having a 20 ton boulder
> dropped on it should be able to kill a were-creature. The problem is
> where to draw the line.
> 
> Any Suggestions?

   Okay, here's my comments on the above problem, which is a very good
question.  Had to think a bit about this one before responding.

   I checked what the rule book said, although it wasn't very helpful.  It
basically said that "The listed weapon, or one of greater power, must be used
to damage the monster." (DMG, p.68).  So if you are using weapons of any sort,
your answer is very well defined.

   Now, as for other things.. anything that would replicate a natural injury
would be effective against these creatures.  This would include drowning,
falling damage, and having a 20 ton boulder dropped on them (seems like an
avalance to me there.. :-)

   If you just threw a boulder at the creature, it would depend on the size of
the boulder, but I would say no that it would not cause damage, because it is a
"weapon" attack (in a sense).  However, I would have the creature perform a Dex
check (penalized by the damage adj number for the STR of the thrower), and if
failed, then the creature gets knocked back for 10x(amount roll failed by)
feet, and would take 'falling' damage for that distance.

   The above example was made as I am sitting here thinking.. I'd have to flesh
out a more specific rule if I were to actually use this.  I don't usually use
Girdles of Giant Strength in my campaigns, as IMHO they are _much_ too powerful
magic items.  But, I did want to offer an answer to the above post, so here it
is. :-)

                                        John "Nightwind" Boelter

--
*******************************************************************************
* John Boelter        a.k.a. Nightwind            boelter3945@iscsvax.uni.edu *
* Organizational Manager and contact person for everything and then some.     *
*******************************************************************************
* I don't know, I don't care, I don't want * They're fleeing the wrong way!!  *
* to know, and I don't want to care.       *        -confused adventurer-     *
*        -Martian Manhunter-               ************************************
*        -Justice League International-    * Why is the DM smiling like that? *
*******************************************************************************
Organization: Freshman, Drama, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Date: Thu,  9 Apr 1992 03:09:35 -0400 
From: Anthony Russell Rosania <ar2j+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Sex and RPG's - Why Oh Why ?
	<1992Apr8.214401.21644@samba.oit.unc.edu>

	To take it seriously, I think what happens is most amles start playing
AD+D at a young age, at least I did, when females are not quite the only
thing they think of yet, and so DO NOT include females in the game (like
sports). Later they continue to play but have probably through the high
school years stick with the same group of players. When they do start to
pay attention to girls they don't admit there fantasy hobby because they
think it sounds "silly". Many females I know think it is (Like Football
and Beer) so they don't try to involve them. Or just don't think of it.
Also at this point it is low key in general, a group gets together,
plays,  and does not think of adding new players. Later when females may
actually become interested in roleplaying they just don't get the
exposure. I noticed this at many NERO sessions ( New England Roleplaying
Assoc.) It is a live action roleplaying group. You find many females
there, since it is fairly new (at least in NJ) and they are brought into
it independent of any roleplayin experience. I met several females there
who had NEVER played any "book" roleplaying games. In college , When new
campaigns begin, I have also found more females get involved. What it
comes down to is, they often are not given the chance. 
							Anthony
From: alvalent@husc9.harvard.edu (Alvin Valentine)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Herb List Needed
Date: 9 Apr 92 23:53:54 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc3.1992Apr9.195355.10894
Organization: Harvard University Science Center


Try 1st Ed. DMG appendix as many people already noted
pg. 39 of Dragon #130 under alchemical rules
Best of Dragon #4 (silver cover) has a whole section on herbalism



Lee Valentine
From: droe@cs.tcd.ie (David Roe)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Some older Riddles
Date: 9 Apr 92 14:36:07 GMT
Organization: Trinity College, Dublin (Computer Science)

In article <1992Apr8.140735.12442@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> mark@trillian.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Manning) writes:
>Blarney!  Tis kids I heard.  What would they be doin' with kits?
>Tha wee ones would-a torn a hole in the bag!  Are ye daf?  Tis the
>kids who helped keep the cats in order.

This is obviously meant in fun, but since we're all being so
moraly correct around r.g.f these days I would like to point 
out that this psuedo-oirish shite makes everyone here grind 
their teeth and spit blood. Dont do it, stereotypes affect 
everyone.


BTW Where did this idea of this being an Irish riddle come from?
St. Ives is in England as far as I know.

	Dave Roe.
From: dlc@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Dennis Clark)
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 20:17:47 GMT
Subject: Re: Alien Generation
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Date: Mon,  6 Apr 1992 21:18:57 -0400 
From: William Henry Timmins <wt0b+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: SJG & TSR???!?!?!?!?!!?
	<bmb06v.54z@wang.com>

>You are being *astonishingly* cruel to the highly-gullible segment of this
>audience.

They deserve it, I think.

-Me
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: sesharp@happy.colorado.edu
Subject: Re: CHAMPS: question on turn sequencing
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: 9 Apr 92 00:55:05 MDT

Many of the arguments for why halving your actions to get +3 DCV (or +5
for martial dodge) most of the time is not abusive have assumed high SPD
attributes.  Let's not forget that these same rules are intended to be
used in genres other than superheroes (though I have my doubts as to their
success there).  In these genres such assumptions don't apply and should
not be necessary to balance the rules.  Wide differences in CVs are less 
likely there as well and a +3 DCV is not trivial.  It cuts the chance of
being hit more than in half if CVs are equal.

One reason I am concerned about this is that the superhero campaign I am in
is at a 175 point starting level, not counting the Normal Characteristic
Maxima that everyone was required to take for no points.  SPDs are finally
starting to be bought up from 3 to 4 after taking care of more important
weaknesses.  Combat Levels aren't exactly common either.  The problems that
have resulted may not be common in other super campaigns, but may occur
in other genres with lower point values.

Steven Sharp
sesharp@happy.colorado.edu
From: ted4646@sigma.tamu.edu (kid eternity)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Inspired character names
Keywords: "the thread that took over the newsgroup"
Date: 16 Apr 92 22:01:00 GMT
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

We have in our little group a guy that always plays LG fighters or paladins.
(Hi Craig)  Regardless of whatever he names his character, all the other 
characters call him Duddley.  Duddley DoRight.

thomas
From: mwasson@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Michael Wasson)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: GAME SYSTEMS
Date: 13 Apr 92 22:26:02 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.1992Apr13.222602.5408
Organization: University of Hawaii

>
>In particular, can someone give a run down on the following:
>Shadowrun, Megatraveller, Chill, Vampire, MERP.
>

IMHO Shadowrun is really akward because there's no way to tell what's
going on with the combat system. The system isn't straightforward; 
there's no way to figure (even estimate) probabilities; none of it
seems really to *simulate* anything. Also I think the backgroung is
lame. It's supposed to feel "cyberpunk" but none of it holds together,
whereas if you take the time to read Gibson, Sterling etc, they make
*sense* (well, maybe not Rucker :-) )  -- but to each his/her taste.

As for Megatraveller -- well, here we get into religious dogmas, but
MEGATRAVELLER DOES NOT COMPARE TO ORIGINAL TRAVELLER. 
If you can get ahold of a copy of the Traveller Book, at least give it
a look. The combat system isn't as detailed as it sounds you'd like, but
1) it's *really* flexible, and, therefore,
2) it's easy to expand on. Lastly,
3) the background and source material is really nice.
Of course, it's out of print, so maybe more effort than it's worth... :-(

------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike @ u of hawaii
"The computer is your friend. Trust the computer."
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: taltos@nevada.edu (dml)
Subject: New Games (repost)
Originator: taltos@helios.nevada.edu
Organization: Evil Geniuses For a Better Tomorrow
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 00:36:24 GMT


      Dear netfolks,
      As something appears to have happened to my original post, I am reposting
      my original request.
     
      Please e-mail me (taltos@helios.nevada.edu) details and opinion on 
   any of the following games: 
 
        Title                                   Publisher  
 
    Worlds Beyond SF-RPG                        Other World Games 
    Synnibarr (World of ...)                    Real Dream Inc.
    Princess Ryan's Space Marines               SIMTAC 
    Desperado RPG                               Skycastle Games 
    Albedo RPG                                  Thoughts and Images 
    Realms of the Unknown RPG                   the walnut group 
    High Colonies SF-RPG                        Waterford Publishing 
    Quest of the Ancients                       Unicorn Games 
    Fifth Cycle RPG                             Shield Games 
 
                                           Thank you in advance,
                                              dml 
 
 
-- 


  The Nevada Test Site: Better bombs for a better tomorrow.
From: morpheus@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Morpheus Nosferatu)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: The Undead and level loss
Date: 14 Apr 92 15:01:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: mentor.45330
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center

In article <167C2E738.MHART00@ricevm1.rice.edu> MHART00@ricevm1.rice.edu (mason hart) writes:
>Adventurers have an uncomfortable tendency to lose hard-earned
>levels after an encounter with the Undead.  I love it when my
>monsters and NPCs do well against the players, but I work as hard
>(harder) than they do to advance their characters in level, and I
>hate to see those levels lost in a fight with a wight.  Rather
>than ignore the more powerful undead completely, I've been toying
>with the following options, and would be interested in your opinions.
>
>1)  Characters recover lost levels at the rate of one per week, unless
>      they are reduced to less than zero.
>2)  Characters may save against Death Magic to avoid level loss.
>3)  The Priest spell Restoration is level four or five, rather than
>      level seven.
>
>Further suggestions?
>
>-- mason

My personal solution is to subtract a percentage of earned experience
from a character, rather than losing an entire level or two.  Begin
hit by a wight results in losing 10% of earned expeience, and by
a vampire about 20% (instead of two levels -- besides, I think a
vampire should only be able to drain levels if it bites you on the
neck, which should be rather difficult to do in the middle of battle --
but then who ever accused AD&D of being resonable.)

Losing a percentage of experience tends to soften the actual xp 
loss due to level loss, especially at low levels and because of the
doubling of xp required to gain a new level, when mid-level characters
can easily lose 50% of their xp from a single hit of a wight.

Another way of handling life-draining is to just subtract a fixed or
variable amount of xp, rather than a level -- say 1d6 x 1000 xp.
But this can really hurt low level characters, and high level characters
with massive amounts of xp can easily shrug off the loss of a couple
thousand points.


/----------------------------------------+--------------------------------\
| Jeff Standish, Dreamwalker, and        |  morpheus@sage.cc.purdue.edu   |
| Morpheus Nosaferatu, The Dream Vampyre | standish@mentor.cc.purdue.edu  |
| Too many minds trapped in one body.    |      Reality is for those      |
| And it would be a human one, at that.  |    who can't handle fantasy.   |
\----------------------------------------+--------------------------------/
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp,rec.games.design
From: sjs28257@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Steve Stelter)
Subject: Re: NPCs Weaker than PC's?
Keywords: GDW, Twilight, Dark Conspiracy
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 16:51:55 GMT

c9e-al@danube.Berkeley.EDU (Chua Hak Lien) writes:

>If you've ever looked through or played withe the T2000, or Dark Conspiracy
>rules, you'll see that Pc's have a great advantage over NPC's in terms of
>ability to withstand damage. ( About 3-4 times as much, at least... )

>I can see how this fits into the concept of the PC as a 'heroic' character,
>but think that it's pretty unrealistic. It just doesn't seem as fun to
>have characters that have such distinct advantages over their advesaries.

>What do you guys think? Are there any other games that give PC's such
>an advantage?

Star Wars and Torg give PCs big advantages over most of their opponents.
I happen to like that, but not everyone does.  It seems to depend (as
does just about everything) on what you want out of your campaign.

Personally, I like running PCs who can cut down dozens of cannon-fodder
villains without working up a sweat, but that's not everyone's cup of
tea.  Such a character certainly wouldn't be appropriate in a Warhammer
Fantasy setting, for example.  In some game systems, combat is meant to
simulate wild, cinematic action; in others, combat is more of a 
tactical, thoughtful experience.

                                          --Steve Stelter
                                      sjs28257@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu

Organization: Senior, Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 23:06:30 -0400 
From: Charles Anthony Leone <cl2g+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Inspired Character Names

Well, I've had a few.
Some are actually by my friends.


Three vigilantes from V&V:
	Judge (mentalist)
	Jury (multiple man-like replication ability)
	Executioner (death touch and lots of guns)

A kender from an old Dragonlance adventure:
	Danilo Findabuck

A little princess we had to protect, she was non-combatant:
	Jehnna (Conan II)

A big guy from V&V, who was invincible:
	The Brick

A  villain who was immune to poison, gas, acid, and energy:
	The Cockroach

Another villain, whose body was covered with spikes:
	Me So Horny

Various bard groups touring in the very rough Falco's Tavern:
	H.W.A. (halflings with attitude)
	Crossbows N' Roses
	Geologicca
	Music for the Deaf

Someone mentioned this guy on the net:
	"The name's Aloc. Aloc Acoc. My friends call me Ekoc."

A vampire couple from Ravenloft:
	Jerry and Regine


I'll look up some more; these are all I can remember now.
________________
Tony L.

8^\)
________________
From: smash@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (Scott Mash)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Marvel Game Alien Stats?
Date: 6 Apr 92 16:10:39 GMT
Organization: Smasher Land BBS (614)593-8359


I just bought the Marvel Basic and Expert Set and I was just rolling
up some characters to create a few new groups.  Then I rolled up an
Alien, the DM that I usually game with knows the different plusses and
minuses for aliens.  Does anyone out there have a chart of what aliens
have what powers, for example I think an internal (sp?) can fly at 
Shiftx speeds, what about other aliens?

Hopefully someone can decifer the above message, I didn't quite know
how to word it.

Scott Mash


-- 
| smash@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu         |  Scott A. Mash               |
| smash@bigbird.cs.ohiou.edu         |  Smasher Land BBS            |
| mashbbs!smash@oucsboss.cs.ohiou.edu|  (614) 593-8359, 2400 Baud   |
| cs819@ouaccvmb.bitnet              |  RPG Textfiles And Utilities |
From: seawasp+@pitt.edu (Ryk E Spoor)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: The Undead and level loss
Date: 14 Apr 92 15:18:28 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh


	[delete discussion of problems with level-loss, work on characters,
etc.]

	Best thing I can suggest is: when you're level drained, you lose
the physical stuff that comes from the level (i.e., the HPs) and the 
energy stuff (magical power, etc), but NOT skills (THAC0, level of
spells you can cast [you've lost power but not skill and knowledge],
lockpicking, etc.). This makes more sense, I mean, why would you suddenly
forget how to pick that lock? But it does model the "enervating" effect
of the Undead pretty well, and the characters are STILL going to be afraid;
after all, they're taking damage and then LOSING the ability to heal to
their former level, plus losing any power they might have had. 

	You could also have them drain Con points.

				Sea Wasp