From: Professor WHO?
Subject: Re: Interested in TITAN variants...
Summary: Corrections etc.
Originator: boyiny@minkowski
Keywords: titan, variants.
Reply-To: boyiny@math.mit.edu (Dr. Weird)
Organization: Ayatollah's Correct Bidding Lessons
X-Subliminal-Message: Minos are better than Warbears!
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 92 16:54:26 GMT

Steve Zwanger responds to me on the two MIT Titan variants:

>>One of them, which I call Titan-Y, involves both a set of demi-lords and
>>super-demilords with interesting quirks and extra recruiting of powerful
>>creatures.  Basically, the idea is that triples will lead to a better
>>up-recruit. 

[I will post on the demilords if anyone asks for it, coming weekend.]

%###############################################
%[=> is triplet up-recruit, -> is pair up-recruit.]:
%Minotaurs => Roc (11~*3) => Phoenix (15~*3)-> Juggernaut (13~4),
							^^^^^^^^^^^
	Should read 15~4, OOOOPS!
 
%	Dragon => Phoenix, Roc -> Colossus			<Mountains>
%	[The Phoenix and Roc are Volcano natives.]
%Warbears  => Roc => Gog (24-2) -> Jotun (23-3)
%	Giants => Gog, Roc -> Colossus				<Tundra>

>It seems like the Jotun (69) is considerably more powerful than
>the corresponding Juggernaut (52). Is this correct?

%Wyverns   => Medusa (7~~4) -> Gog  [sic!]			<Swamp>
	      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>If ~ means rangestrike, what does ~~ mean? And why do you say "Sic"?

The Medusa's reangstrike is a _FULL_STRENGTH_ attack (7 dice at skill 4) as
opposed to the usual half-strength attack, thus making it the most powerful
attack weapon of the same creatures of its grade, but a poor defender.

%###############################################

>> The other features are Cross-recruiting (recruits that needs
>>two critters from different development lines)
>This is a really interesting idea.

Thank you.

%Any two distinct critters from the set [Unicorn, Behemoth, Wyvern, Griffon,
%Demon] in either of their terrains can get a Phantom Knight (7~*4).  A
%Phantom Knight and any one from the above set in its terrain can also get
%another PK.  A single PK itself is sterile.   
>Can two PK's summon a third?

NO!  This is what keeps the PK in check, else a stiff pair of PK's will
create the worst self-contained killing machine.

The PK's special attack ability, which I neglected to post in my haste and
tiredness-- a PK may attack _before_ other pieces have finished movement.

%###############################################
% and bigger Angel-analogues that increase with pointage earned.
%Per 300 points		Dominion (7*4)
%Per 500 points		Archangel (9*4)		as usual.
%Per 700 points		Virtue (7*5)
%Per 1100 points	Seraph (12*4)

>At 1500, do you get an Archangel (since it's more powerful)? What about
>3500 (though this is mostly theoretical)?

You have the choice of getting an Archangel, an Angel, or a Dominion.

>>There are a few special rules designed to improve playability as well.  I
>>actually took time to make counter tops for everything in colour and am
>>quite proud of my own handiwork.
>What are these rules?

Special Rule: Skill 5 chars cannot be set up in such a way as to decrease
the number of pieces that the opponent can bring into the battle.  One can
however force opponents into entry in awkward or silly formations.

Special Rule: One cannot Titan Teleport to a different tower on turn 1.

Special Rule: With two Basilisks alive in a stack, all Gorgons promote to
8~*3 as do Behemoths.  Gorgons and Behemoths may be recruited from the
dead into said stack.

>>[... Cosmic Encounter Titan]

>>    81 Bramblephobe: You _HATE_ Bramble and its denizens.
>>[3] You may Challenge stacks skipped to Duels in order.  Challenged stacks
>>    may flee for _NO_ points or to defend normally.  

>This sounds confusing. Can you explain this? Does it mean that your stack
>can attack 2 enemy stacks in one turn?

Correct.

>>    64 Immobiliser: the power to hinder is your long point.
>>[1] If an opponent rolls just high enough for a stack to reach you, [but not
>>    a teleport on six], you may prevent that stack from attacking you.
>
>Does the hindered stack then move n-1 instead of n?

The hindered stack may then make any other legal move, if possible.  In
extremely well-balanced situations, this may prevents the opponent from
attacking on a more advantageous side.