From: scythe@stein.u.washington.edu (The Grim Reaper)
Subject: Re: Class' power (was Re: how to imprison a psionicist)
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 00:33:21 GMT

In article <gfAv=Vi00YUo4XlLg1@andrew.cmu.edu> "Joseph E. Beck" <jb8n+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>
>dagolden@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Alexandre Golden) writes:
>> In article <1992Dec18.145226.1@ulkyvx.louisville.edu> tfpayn01@ulkyvx.louisvil\
>> le.edu writes:
>> >In article <1gr21hINNgqd@master.cs.rose-hulman.edu>, operbwt@nextwork.rose-hu\
>> lman.edu (Barry Trottier) writes:
>> >> In article <1992Dec17.023455.24956@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>  
>> >> praxis@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Laura L Perkinson) writes:

>> [followed by various commentaries]
>> 
>> OK, but what happens to that awesome psionicist when he runs out of PSI 
>> points?  Say after taking on multiple opponents.  Sure, teleport away before
>> it's too late, but you can't run away forever and still get anything done.
>So the psion is weak because he can got a lot done (is versatile) and
>then escape.  Wow.  Sucks to be him.  
Not if he's been trying to dominate or disintegrate too much.
Then he's stuck, PSIless.

[SNIP!]

>Y...
>
>	joe
>
>> What has to be realized is that ANY class seems overly powerful if you 
>> create the right scenario, i.e. one suited for that class' strengths.
>Ok, I want to hear one for a fighter or a thief.  
>
>	joe

Fighter: Let's first agree that thieves can be beaten by a fighter, okay?
         Mage/Cleric/Psi#1 vs Fighter#1 - M/C/P wins, with any number of
         abilties.
         M/C/P#1 vs F#2 - M/C/P probably still wins.
         M/C/P#1 vs F#3 - It's harder (less high-cost spells/powers), but
                          M/C/P#1 still wins
         [This continues for a while, depending on level of F and M/C/P]
         [But then....]
         M/C/P#1 vs F#X - Oops! Seems that M/C/P#1 is all out of PSPs/tough
                          spells.  Looks like Fighter wins.
         M/C/P#1 vs F#X+1 - Oops! Fighter wins again!
         [Repeat as desired]
Fighters don't have as much power as a mage/cleric/psi, but they can do
it OVER AND OVER AND OVER again, and never run out.  A sword is always
a sword.....

Thief: This is harder, mostly because thieves are the weakest class in AD&D.
        But here goes.
Thief vs Fighter - Thief backstabs.  Thief flees.  What's the fighter going
                   to do?  He's gotta chase the Thief.  But he doesn't
                   notice that the Thief is right behind him, hiding.  Thief
                   backstabs again, or sets off a trap, or whatever.  
                   Eventually, fighter go bye-bye....
Thief vs Cleric - Another toughie, because clerics have a lot of hp.  But,
                  Thief waits for cleric to fall asleep, sneaks into
                  home/church, and steals holy symbol.  Now what's the cleric
                  going to do?  No holy symbol = practically no spells.
                  Bye-bye, cleric.

Thief vs Mage - This ones easy.  Sneak into mage's home, steal spellbook.
                Sure it's trapped, and so's his home, but F/R traps works
                good, and you don't care if the mage's spellbook blows up.
                Mage wakes up, is slightly annoyed.  Even more so when you 
                backstab him.

Thief vs Psi - For all their powers, PSIs gotta sleep sometimes.  And
               They got only d6 for hps.  And they have almost no
               alarm-type powers that can guard them.  Bye-bye Psi.

It's possible to set up a situation for anything to kill anything else.
Just look at Tucker's Kobolds.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
When he goes swimming does he get wet, | The Grim Reaper
Or does the water get him instead?     | scythe@u.washington.edu
-They Might Be Giants, "Particle Man"  |
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Villager: She turned me into a newt!   |Lister, If two people came to you 
Bedevere: A newt?                      |for a job, and one of them was dead,
Villager: I got better.....            |who would you choose? -Rimmer
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BTW, I'm leaving for California tomorrow.  See ya all in a week and a half =)