HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: arsmith@nyx.cs.du.edu (Alan Smith)
Subject: Re: Minimum spell failure chance
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 92 06:53:17 GMT


Maybe it should be tied into however often you do it.  Like tying your
shoes, the more often you do that, the better you become at it, and the
less likely you are to tie your finger in a granny not.  That's not to say
that you won't do it from time to time...

Bigal the 10th level ranger.  Currently sitting in the chocks while I
figure out how to compile moria on nyx.
From: cdb@waikato.ac.nz (Craig D. Beere)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Minimum spell failure chance
Date: 27 Jul 92 14:14:20 +1200
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

> 	Even the most experienced spellcaster is bound to botch a spell
> every now and then, regardless of his or her experience.  To have a 0% failure
> rate on spells would be unrealistic, and would diminish the challenge of the
> game - imagine a mage who can *ALWAYS* depend on his teleport spell to bail
> him out of a tough situation.
> 
> -- 
> Matt Bernhardt
> University of Buffalo             THIS SPACE FOR RENT.
> mjb@acsu.buffalo.edu

My point was to only make the 0% apply to lower power spells.  I agree that a
Teleport spell should never work 100% of the time, I just get annoyed when a
Light spell fails.  It doesn't add atmosphere to the game to have these low
spells fail, it justs adds to my frustration level (which is usually pretty
high due to lots of invisible things that drain Int, Dex and Experience!).

{*******************************************************************************
** Craig D. Beere  (a.k.a. ++Byron)
** University of Waikato, New Zealand
** CDB@waikato.ac.nz
*}
{$I standard_disclaimer}
{$I witty_quote}
From: bigham@acpub.duke.edu (Scott Bigham)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Identifing Stuff (possible SPOILERS!!!)
Date: 23 Jul 92 16:41:06 GMT
Organization: n. Arrangement in an orderly or logical fashion.  See "miracle".

From the Holy Book of <23JUL199209383521@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov>
  as spake by smneyln@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov (Michael Neylon) :
>Staffs - Try as soon as picked up.  If no obvious effect, go to another
>screen and try again.  If no obvious effect, try with monster in the room.

If still no obvious effect, try when you're down on hit points.  I found
this out with the last two staffs I couldn't identify.

						-sbigham
-- 
Scott Bigham                   | The opinions expressed above are
bigham@hercules.acpub.duke.edu | (c) 1992 Hacker Ltd. and cannot be
                               | copied or distributed without a
                               | Darn Good Reason(tm).
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: c8841288@cc.newcastle.edu.au
Subject: Re: Amulet of DOOM
Organization: University of Newcastle, AUSTRALIA
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 02:50:43 GMT

In article <Bs498t.4ur@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, dls30876@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (DaveMan ) writes:
> I was on level 40 with my 34th lvl ranger when I identified an
> Amulet of DOOM (-5).  What exactly is this?  I know it sounds bad
> and I was not about to try it on for size, but I would like to know
> just for curiosity.  Thanks in advance.  

This wonderful amulet takes (-5) of all six stats, making you
a virtual blubbering idiot. It's also damned, of course.

I wouldn't try it on without a spell of remove curse handy!

It turns you into a Frank Spencer instantly.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

	====== Honorius the Holy Avenger ======

	" Damn the Ghosts ... full speed ahead! "

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jason Quarry
C8841288 @ CC.NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU
Newcastle Uni, Australia (2 gold medals ...)

Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: jra37189@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Kwyjibo)
Subject: Re: Elvish Waybread?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 01:51:51 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.190317.15021@midway.uchicago.edu> wen5@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
>
>Read Tolkien.  The Grey Elves created some kind of magical light wafers
>called lembas that would fill better than normal cram rations.  They are
>used by travellers.  Thus 'waybread'.
>
>-- 
>__________  ______
>  _|       _\      Stan T2 Wen    wen5@midway.uchicago.edu
>  _|     _____/                     chimera@minds.bsd.uchicago.edu
>  _|    ________      "I think it was his eye, cold and blue like a vulture's."

I can't figure out why they just don't call it lembas in the 
game....maybe that would be too confusing.  Ah well, just 
speculation.  

		Aragorn, the 28th level Ranger


Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: Scott.Maxwell@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Scott Maxwell)
Subject: Re: Elvish Waybread?
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 19:13:27 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.190317.15021@midway.uchicago.edu> wen5@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
>In article <1992Jul21.180045.22068@samba.oit.unc.edu> Scott.Maxwell@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Scott Maxwell) writes:
>>	(Incidentally, Moria spells it "waybread," but shouldn't it be
>>"wheybread"?)
>
>Read Tolkien.  The Grey Elves created some kind of magical light wafers
>called lembas that would fill better than normal cram rations.  They are
>used by travellers.  Thus 'waybread'.

Ah. I have read Tolkien, but I didn't remember that. Thanks.

--
Scott Maxwell (CSMAXWEL@ECUVM1.BITNET or Scott.Maxwell@bbs.oit.unc.edu)
--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
From: grabiner@math.harvard.edu (David Grabiner)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Wizard's Quest--Chapter 23
Date: 21 Jul 92 20:29:22 GMT
Article-I.D.: zariski.GRABINER.92Jul21162943
Organization: Harvard University Dept. of Mathematics


Wearing my magic ring, I now have the maximum possible intelligence for
a human, and thus enough mana to cast plenty of spells.  I already know
all but two of the spells, and am about to learn one of those two.

I have cleaned out most of the level when something summons a skeleton
next to me.  The skeleton doesn't last long, but before I can dispatch
it, the same creature summons a green glutton ghost.  Again, that's not
much of a monster.  Whatever is doing the summoning is probably watching
me from the corridor on the east side of this room, so I move out of
line, and then haste myself in case it plans to summon some more undead.

I run twenty feet into the corridor before a grey wraith blocks my way,
and I fight-backup-fight my way to victory.  As I stand in the room, my
spell of detect monsters doesn't show anything, so I try the scroll of
detect invisible that the wraith was carrying.  It reveals a Quylthulg
in the corridor; that's not an informative description, but at least I
know that something is there.

I'm tempted to send fire bolts down the corridor until the thing fries,
but then I realize that an undead farm could be useful.  I put all my
mana into hasting myself, then rest to recover mana; I get the mana back
before the speed runs out.  Then I stand in the room, visible from the
corridor.  The Quylthulg teleports into the room, and I see what it is.
It's a pulsing mound of flesh, teleporting occasionally but not moving
physically; it doesn't even touch me when I stand next to it.  It is,
however, magically invisible, as I discover when I switch weapons to
fight a killer beetle that wanders into the room.

As long as I stay hasted, I have little to fear from undead.  I defeat
several vampires and wraiths, and pick up lots of treasure.  Even a lich
cannot hurt me much now that I have free action.  And I do have plenty
of potions to protect against the accidental mishap, such as the banshee
that cornered me when my spell fizzled.

But then, the Quylthulg summons an emperor lich, and I certainly can't
fight that while more undead are being summoned, so I must teleport
away.

--
David Grabiner, grabiner@zariski.harvard.edu
"We are sorry, but the number you have dialed is imaginary."
"Please rotate your phone 90 degrees and try again."
Disclaimer: I speak for no one and no one speaks for me.
From: mjb@acsu.buffalo.edu (Matthew J. Bernhardt)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Minimum spell failure chance
Date: 24 Jul 92 16:32:24 GMT
Organization: UB

cdb@waikato.ac.nz (Craig D. Beere) writes:

>One thing that really BUGS me about Moria is spell failure for lower level
>spells.  I like the suspense when you wonder "will this fire ball go off...?"
>but I hate it when a light spell of detect doors & traps doesn't go off.

>The 5% minumum spell failure IMHO doesn't add anything to the game, it is just
>damn annoying.

>My suggestion is to make the minumum spell fauilure 0%.  I.e. spells can get to
>the stage where they will always work.  Even at 40th level characters, this
>should still be only a small proportion of spells (the first 10 or so?).

	Even the most experienced spellcaster is bound to botch a spell
every now and then, regardless of his or her experience.  To have a 0% failure
rate on spells would be unrealistic, and would diminish the challenge of the
game - imagine a mage who can *ALWAYS* depend on his teleport spell to bail
him out of a tough situation.

-- 
Matt Bernhardt
University of Buffalo             THIS SPACE FOR RENT.
mjb@acsu.buffalo.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: ddn21434@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Me!)
Subject: Confused and Afraid.
Summary: Cures for Confusion and Fear?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 21:48:24 GMT

I am new to playing moria and my 23rd level ranger keeps coming close to
death every time I run in to one of those U creatures.

What are the options for curing or preventing Confusion (and Fear)?


Fortunately I don't have to worry about being paralyzed, I found a set of
gauntlets of free action at 900ft.  Am I correct in assuming that these
dont help you when you bash into things?

Last question:
Is there a better way of dealing with Jellies and molds which like to rob 
stats and damage equipment?  I always just avoid them because they aren't
worth many experience points and the risk is not worth it (especially
grape Jellies).  It is annoying when they drain your mana though.
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: hankdtank <hank@waffle.sns.com>
Subject: New character
Organization: Systems'n'Software, Fremont, CA  94539-6669
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 92 23:34:10 PDT

I want to start a new character, but I don't want to be a mage.  Anyone have 
any hints on what character (ie race and class) I can try?

----
hank@waffle.sns.com  (hankdtank)
Systems'n'Software Free Public Access BBS --- (510)623-8652
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: kidwell@bnlux1.bnl.gov (Christopher Kidwell)
Subject: Re: Elvish Waybread?
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 14:37:11 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.145225.16423@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> hades@Dartmouth.Edu writes:
>price@uclapp.physics.ucla.edu (John Price) writes:
>
>>So, like, what's it do?
>
>    It's about 1/10th the weight of a Food Ration and lasts about 1.5x
>longer.

Actually, more like 1/3 the weight...  A ration of food weights 1.0 lb
whereas Elvish Waybread weighs 0.3 lb.  It will also cure poison, and
restores a small number of hit points.

Chris Kidwell
40th level Mage
32nd level Thief
33rd level Warrior
36th level Ranger
29th level Priest



Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: price@uclapp.physics.ucla.edu (John Price)
Subject: Re: Getting your stuff back
Reply-To: price@uclapp.physics.ucla.edu
Organization: UCLA Particle Physics Research Group
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 92 20:25:31 GMT

In posting <...> angus@hardy.u.washington.edu wrote:
> None the less, the idea is intriguing.  Perhaps monsters could even
> use the items they grabbed.  It would give those kobolds at 1500' a
> bit of a survival advantage.
> "The kobold hits you with his Katana (+10,+10) (DF)!  -more-"

Or:

"The kobold reads his scroll of genocide, and selects '@'.  -more-"

No end to the fun...

           John Price * * * * price@uclapp.physics.ucla.edu
           Where there is no solution, there is no problem.
From: Robyn.C.Reed@dartmouth.edu (Robyn C. Reed)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: what is "compacting monsters..."?
Date: 24 Jul 92 01:05:57 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

My character, a level 10 rogue at 250 feet keeps running into a message
that says "Compacting monsters...", near the doorway to a room filled
with Giant White Lice.  It doesn't decrease its HP or change any stats,
but toggles off the "Search" mode.  What does it mean??
From: bigham@acpub.duke.edu (Scott Bigham)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Information for anyone archiving the Wizard's Quest
Date: 29 Jul 92 23:52:31 GMT
Organization: n. Arrangement in an orderly or logical fashion.  See "miracle".

From the Holy Book of <GRABINER.92Jul29180351@zariski.harvard.edu>
  as spake by grabiner@math.harvard.edu (David Grabiner) :

>One change in the next version of Umoria [...]
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Does this imply that you're privy to information about the next version
of Umoria?  Does it further imply that you are in fact involved in the
development of the next version of Umoria?  More to the point, what can
you tell us about the next version of Umoria?

						-sbigham
-- 
Scott Bigham                   | The opinions expressed above are
bigham@hercules.acpub.duke.edu | (c) 1992 Hacker Ltd. and cannot be
                               | copied or distributed without a
                               | Darn Good Reason(tm).
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: GAMEL@rzmain.rz.uni-ulm.de (GAMEL ANTON)
Subject: VMS MORIA-MAP FORMAT good for TPU
Organization: University of Ulm, Germany
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 21:37:27 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.23

Hi all VMS-MORIAS!

Are there some people interested in a slow but simple(!) DCL
procedure that converts the four sections of the map into one
continous map? Counters are set far right and below, so one
can use TPU get_location without counting. Moreover it displays
almost the whole map by using VT 132character mode on a
window-system.

Please MAIL!

If possible please reply directly to <GAMEL@DULRUU51.bitnet>
+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
:            Anton J. Gamel              : <GAMEL@DULRUU51.bitnet>            :
:        Elf Priest 30st level           : <GAMEL@RZMAIN.RZ.UNI-ULM.DE>       :
: -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  : <GAMEL@PATVCL.RZ.UNI-ULM.DE>       :
:    Die on VMS and start at Level 0     : <GAMEL@RZ.UNI-ULM.DBP.DE>          :
:                                        : <GAMEL@INFORMATIK.UNI-FREIBURG.DE> :
+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
From: Vasilii.V.Petrenko@dartmouth.edu (Vasilii V. Petrenko)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Any Hints?
Date: 24 Jul 92 02:05:55 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

the [-2] in front of the armor means that you are more likely to get
hit when wearing the armor, however, because of the protection that
your armor provides, it doesn't really matter.  whenever you wear armor
i think you're more likely to get hit - i don't know why - i guess
because youre more noticible or something.

-Karen Reed
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: mgxg1342@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Michael G. Xakellis)
Subject: effectiveness of priest spells
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 20:20:01 GMT

Here's another question for those moria gurus out there.

I've been playing a priest (pc-moria 5.2) and I've been
wondering about the damage done (formulas or other quantified
info please) by the following spells:

	1. Orb of Draining - I've heard that it's damage is
		based upon level and wisdom.  It's been my bread
		and butter offensive spell -- and has worked well.

	2. Dispel Undead - Is this spell better on undead creatures
		than the Orb of Draining?  It takes me twice as
		much mana and fails much more often.  Unfortunately
		it doesn't seem to kill the nasties as well as Orb.

	3. Dispel Evil - Same observation as Dispel Evil.  It fails
		quite a lot, but I can still kill things faster with Orb.

I'd be very interested in any insight anyone can give.

Mike
From: garyp@gvls2.gvl.unisys.com (Gary Palangian)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Weights of stuff
Date: 30 Jul 92 16:36:48 GMT
Organization: Unisys Defense Systems, Great Valley Labs, Paoli, Pa


I'd like to see a new Moria (or whatever) include the bulkiness or
weight factors (whatever) in the store listing.  My Half-Orc Priest
is too weak to wield an 18 lb Dwarves pick, I learn... AFTER spending
500 gold on the sucker.  

And one more... I think after completing a drop command, the screen 
should return to the map.  Why do I still see my inventory list?  If
I want to drop something else I have to move anyway.  Or, let the new
game have several doo-dads on one spot.  That would be cool.


Gary
From: jonok@terapin.com (Jonathan Keller)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Elvish Waybread?
Date: 23 Jul 92 16:31:42 GMT
Organization: BBS

In article <1992Jul21.145225.16423@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>,
hades@coos.dartmouth.edu (Hades) writes:
>price@uclapp.physics.ucla.edu (John Price) writes:
>
>>So, like, what's it do?
>
>    It's about 1/10th the weight of a Food Ration and lasts about 1.5x
>longer.
>
>--
>                       "Seems awfully breezy in here." - Drip-along Daffy
>-Hades (Brian V. Hughes, Moderator: Rec.Arts.Comics.Info)

It also acts like a potion of Cure Small Wounds.
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: pjb4288@ultb.isc.rit.edu (Pete - Toonatic - Boulay)
Subject: Re: Any Hints?
Originator: pjb4288@ultb
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 22:22:01 GMT

No no no..the [-2] means you lost two points of strength for the weight
of the armor...
-- 
Peter J. Boulay --17 Split Rock Road-Pittsford, NY 14534-The ToonAddict!
Email should be sent only to PJB4288@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Disclaimer: You don't like what I'm writing? Oh well.
"Well shut my mouth wide open!"- Tiny Toons HISMV
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: clone Mr B.
From: grabiner@math.harvard.edu (David Grabiner)
Date: 29 Jul 92 13:35:44 EDT
Organization: Harvard University Dept. of Mathematics
In-reply-to: swota@cs.albany.edu's message of 29 Jul 92 02:57:51 GMT

In article <SWOTA.92Jul28215751@odin.albany.edu>, Judith A Swota writes:

> In posting <...> usenet@rz.uni-karlsruhe.de (USENET News System)  wrote:

>>[trying to clone the Balrog, but one clone vanishes]
>> So, why won't the game allow me my triumph?  Is it a bug, a feature ?

> I don't think there can ever be more than one Balrog per game because
> it's the WIN creature:  When you kill it, you've won the game, and since
> you can't win the same game twice, what's the point?  (Other than
> setting a record, of course :-)  ...)

That's not what is going on.  The Balrog, like ant-lions and oozes, can
eat other creatures of equal or lower experience point value, including
another Balrog.  If you want to defeat two Balrogs, you have to separate
them somehow.

--
David Grabiner, grabiner@zariski.harvard.edu
"We are sorry, but the number you have dialed is imaginary."
"Please rotate your phone 90 degrees and try again."
Disclaimer: I speak for no one and no one speaks for me.
From: grabiner@math.harvard.edu (David Grabiner)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Minimum spell failure chance
Date: 30 Jul 92 17:00:04 GMT
 41420.9665@waikato.ac.nz><1992Jul29.084926.15714@cs.aukuni.ac.nz><92211.133643DK6TOPER@MIAMIU.BITNET>
Organization: Harvard University Dept. of Mathematics
In-reply-to: Dan Karipides's message of Wednesday, 29 Jul 1992 13:36:43 EDT

In article <92211.133643DK6TOPER@MIAMIU.BITNET>, Dan Karipides  writes:

> It's been a long time since I looked at the code in detail, but I believe
> spell failure is a function of (among other factors) current mana.  So once
> you fail Identify a few times your mana is probably quite low.  

The only time current mana matters is that the failure chance is
increased by 5% for every required point of mana you are lacking.  (The
maximum failure chance is 95%.)

--
David Grabiner, grabiner@zariski.harvard.edu
"We are sorry, but the number you have dialed is imaginary."
"Please rotate your phone 90 degrees and try again."
Disclaimer: I speak for no one and no one speaks for me.
From: mjb@acsu.buffalo.edu (Matthew J. Bernhardt)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Minimum spell failure chance
Date: 28 Jul 92 01:50:04 GMT
Organization: UB

cdb@waikato.ac.nz (Craig D. Beere) writes:

>My point was to only make the 0% apply to lower power spells.  I agree that a
>Teleport spell should never work 100% of the time, I just get annoyed when a
>Light spell fails.  It doesn't add atmosphere to the game to have these low
>spells fail, it justs adds to my frustration level (which is usually pretty
>high due to lots of invisible things that drain Int, Dex and Experience!).

	Your assumption here is that "lower power spells" are never lifesavers.
Many scenarios can be concocted where a "lower power spell" is critical to the
survival of a player.  Some examples: 1. A mage low on mana and hit points who
would have a chance at survival if his/her Cure Light Wounds spell worked. 
2. (Using your example) The spell caster using Light Area discovers a [insert
nasty creature name here] in the room, just prior to its waking up.  3. (Using
another one of your examples) A mage whose life is spared by Phase Door, cast 
because there is insufficient mana for Teleport Self.
	I'm sure real life testimonials would be more compelling, and I will
defer to the readers for these.
	And a quick editorial: the "atmosphere" of Moria includes frustration.
No one ever said the game would be easy.

-- 
Matt Bernhardt
University of Buffalo             THIS SPACE FOR RENT.
mjb@acsu.buffalo.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: lrfox@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (linda ream fox)
Subject: Level Descent
Originator: lrfox@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington IN.
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 22:45:49 GMT

What is a good rate for descending levels per your class level.  That is, I'm a
15th level rogue, and I'm currently down at 200 feet.  Is this too slow or too 
fast?  I'd been assuming about one level per 5 class levels, but that seems
awfully slow--and boring!

LRF
From: jra37189@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Kwyjibo)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Argh!!
Date: 22 Jul 92 21:38:11 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana


I'd just like to say that 1600 ft is really starting 
to piss me off!  I have yet to map out the entire
level at any time...I always end up having to go
back to the town....all these monsters that drain this
and that and corrode the other are just starting to get
to me, and I don't have any ego weapons or anything to
show for them!  I wish I could at least find some speed
items of some sort so that fighting these things would
prove to be effective.

		Aragorn, the 28th level ranger

(still looking for an ego weapon.....)