HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: grabiner@math.harvard.edu (David Grabiner)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Winner & thoughts on Half-Troll Priests
Date: 14 Dec 92 19:44:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: birkhoff.GRABINER.92Dec14144534
Organization: /etc/organization
In-reply-to: cmen@hunter-02.strath.ac.uk's message of 14 Dec 92 14:58:16 GMT

In article <11302@baird.cs.strath.ac.uk>, Chen Yee Men IE90 writes:

Spoiler involving bug follows...

> Dispel Evil in my opinion is too random for most uses i.e. 1 to 3 x
> caster's level. However it can be used to quite good effect against
> Ancient Multi-Hued Dragons (AMHD). I don't know if this technique is a
> spoiler or even a bug, but what you do is find a very long corridor,
> one that stretches over at least 2 sectors. Make sure the AMHD (or any
> evil creature) is at one sector, and your at the other. Now cast
> Dispel Evil and the monster shudders.  For some reason it doesn't wake
> up and just sits there - so just keep on Dispelling it until it
> dissolves :-)

This is a bug which has been fixed in 5.5.  The Dispel Evil code forgot
to check that the monster was within spell range.

--
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.
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: sh30443@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Shiva the Destoyer)
Subject: Re: IS this a bug??
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 20:24:30 GMT

kashyap@wharton.upenn.edu writes:

>Hi!
>	Just started playing Moria after a break of almost 2 years. I am
>playing on the Mac version 1.0 picked up from Sumex. 
>	My character(priest) is already upto level 18 and I still am unable to
>read spells from the 1st book. I tried the old trick of dropping all books
>except the one from which I wanted to learn a spell from, and it still gave me
>a spell from another book. Seems like a bug. I am really hurting from the lack
>of Orb of Draining. Has anyone else got this problem/fix or solution. Please
>email.
>RK

No it's not a bug.  Priests get their spells based on random selection out 
of the spells they dont know but can access, so it is possible to get spells
even if you dont have spellbooks.  It just sounds like you are having bad
luck, since once it took me to be about 24th level before I got the Orb.



Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: mrmarcel@eos.ncsu.edu (Mike Marcelais)
Subject: Re: Winner (UMoria 5.5)
Organization: North Carolina State University
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 01:13:48 GMT

In article <jon.taylor.66.724378527@uuserv.cc.utah.edu>, jon.taylor@uuserv.cc.utah.edu (JON M. TAYLOR) writes:
|> In article <14DEC199213515595@rigel.tamu.edu> z0w6103@rigel.tamu.edu (WU, ZUOGUO) writes:
|> >From: z0w6103@rigel.tamu.edu (WU, ZUOGUO)
|> >Subject: Winner (UMoria 5.5)
|> >Date: 14 Dec 1992 13:51 CST
|> >Another priest winner, so what's new? Well, this character doesn't have any
|> >speed items.
|> >
|> >My 34th level went down to get Mr. Balrog in a hurry. After detecting the
|> >Balrog, he threw all his wands and staffs across the room to prevent the
|> >Balrog from charge draining. When Mr. B came into the room, he immediately
|> >quaffed a potion of invulnerability and started to fire the mighty orb of
|> >draining. After used up the 2 potions of restore mana, he switched to
|> >hand to hand combat, and the great Battle Axe worked well. When the Balrog
|> >collapsed, he still had one potions of invulnerability left.
|> >
|> >Here is the stats before killing the Balrog.
|> >
|> >
|> >  a) You are wielding   : a Battle Axe (Balestarius) (HA) (2d8) (+13,+17) [+2] (+3 to STR).
|> 		       						     ^^^^^^^
|> 
|> 	Good God!  No wonder you won w/o speed!
|> 
|> 	-Jon


As I recall, v5.5 lets you  have enchantments as high as the max damage of the
weapon +1.  2*8+1 -> 17.  He was lucky (or used a lot of scrolls) but it's
possible.  Almost as much fun as a (can't remember) (5d6) (+22, +29)

-- 

+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
|  Mike Marcelais                     | mrmarcel@eos.ncsu.edu        |
|  356 Tucker, Box 04783, NCSU        | Fourth Bryan Productions     |
|  Raleigh, NC  27607                 | #include <disclaim.h>        |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| if the above address bounces, then try the address below:          |
| mrmarcel%eos.ncsu.edu@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu                              |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: tob@world.std.com (Tom O Breton)
Subject: Re: As long as we're taking suggestions...
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 02:35:28 GMT

Christopher:

>  If we want to balance out spellcasters, how about this---

> Give high level creatures magic RESISTANCE.  In other words, they can make
>  a saving throw, and if they make it, that magic attack is 1/2 its 'actual'
>  damage.  Or, even better, give certain (RARE) critters the ability to HOLD
>  MAGIC---no spells for x rounds, OF ANY KIND.

Isn't there?  "%s is unaffected"... It's not exactly what you suggest, but
it's magic resistance, and it's there. Broaden it to include occasional
damage-spells? (Especially OOD)

Doesn't 'drain mana' effectively hold magic?

>  WARRIORS:  Give them monster-perception (extended infravision that also
>detects ANY critters within a limited range, walls included---reason,
>warriors have NO WAY to detect any creatures, like even Rogues have),

It's balancing, but it's difficult to justify Moria-wise. Tends to undercut
believability.

How about if there were another race, not too different than half-troll, that
1) could do this, 2) could only be fighters.

Or, yank 'b) priest' away from half-trolls (I am playing 1/2T priest myself
now, and the advantages are perhaps a bit unfair) and give 'em your Xray
vision. Not too strange, since 'T's can detect you through walls.

>  ROGUES:  Make them more resistant to Pickpocket and Steal Item attacks
>(for chrissakes, they do it, so they know how it's done---this increases
>with level).  Give them Backstabbing attacks (If critter is asleep, you can
>do 2x, 3x or 4x normal damage for that one attack only).

Both sound reasonable.

>  Also, to limit EVERYONE, maybe make it so that characters have a Carrying
>Capacity for gold, (high for Warriors, lowest for Mages/Priests).  Use this
>to determine extra weight added to character for each gold piece.

I tend to like it - one problem is that finding 10 gp worth of copper adds
more weight than 100 gp worth of mithril. Could make money real objects, but
that'd make steal-money attacks not work.

Would mean rewriting LOTS of stuff. Too much, if ya ask me.

>  Do these sound reasonable?  (I'd test them out, but my ZIP file was
>screwed up, and won't decompress---I can't recompile.  :&P )

Me too. Had a backup. }:)

        Tom

PS: Did you know Nether Wraiths can cast spells that ruin your monitor? I was
fighting one yesterday, and it cast a spell and my monitor blew a fuse. Gawd,
I wish I'd seen that in [r]ecall...  }:)


-- 
The Tom spreads its huge, scaly wings and soars into the wild sky...      
up...       up...     out of sight...   (tob@world.std.com)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: ketilaa@edb.tih.no (Ketil Aasaroed,o90a)
Subject: No speed items.....
Reply-To: ketilaa@edb.tih.no
Posting-Front-End: Winix Conference v 92.05.15  1.20 (running under MS-Windows)
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 15:11:39 GMT

I have a problem...

I am currently playing my first highlevel character, a mage.
He is now level 34, and has been searching for a speed item 
at about 2000 feet for a long time. He's found 2 HA's 3 DF's
3 SD's, 3 FB(?)'s and 1 SU. Wonder if he's ever going to find
that f*#&ing speeditem...

Maybe he has to descend even lower in the dungeons?
Any ideas?

Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: petitc@vccsouth30.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit)
Subject: Balancing Out Mages and Priests with Other Classes
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 03:35:29 GMT

  I think I found a way to help give Warriors and Rogues a fighting chance
(pun intended).  Make it so that all classes can only wear armor up to a
certain 'bulkiness' (e.g. minus to-hit).  Of course, Mages and Priests can't
wear ANY armor (even Soft Leather).  Warriors can wear anything, while
Rogues can wear almost anything, Rangers wear less, but Paladins wear a decent
amount (But take Glyph of Warding away from these guys!).

  Sound decent?


-- 
Now on sale, in Aisle 5 of the Divine Supermarket---Lives, and Clues.  Buy
yours now and avoid the rush!  They make great Christmas gifts!
Cynicism is only realism projected into the future.
If your fondest wish is to fly, don't draw up plans for flippers.
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: wag5@quads.uchicago.edu (john peter wagner)
Subject: Balrog&Mana
Reply-To: wag5@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 05:03:04 GMT

I have found that it is a bad idea to go into combat with the Balrog
when you have full or high mana because he very efficiently will
drain it from you and use it to grow healthy again.
For example, I was beating him most horridly, such that his fire breath
caused a few points of damage against me-the end was near; he then
'absorbed' or whatever my mana and his next breath did roughly 50 points
against me and I was not able to quickly put him away. I think the best strateg
then is to empty most of one's mana at the beginning of the confrontation into
haste and offensive spells and leave only enough mana for a teleport out of
sanger, leaving the rest of the fight to wands and/or staves and hand to hand
or physical missile.

		John
.
Dang vi editor!

Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: dave_f@sn3001.oldham.gpsemi.com (Dave Frankland)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Winner (UMoria 5.5)
Date: 17 Dec 92 13:58:29 GMT
Organization: GEC Plessey Semiconductors

In article <d2l256=@rpi.edu>, petitc@nuge111.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit) writes:

|>  I must beg to differ.  WoD is VERY useful.  Especially when the failure rate
|> is modest.  What if you run into a room filled with 2 AMHD's, 1 EL and an EI?
|> You WoD to save yourself.

Now I must beg to differ, by the time you get to WoD with a moderate fail rate, you must be fairly well armed, so a better solution would be to MBF outta there, rest fully, then go back and lure each one out one by one and take them on separately. That way you get XP points, treasure and gear and you have a lot more fun.

Ermintrude.
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: 10563563@eng2.eng.monash.edu.au (ARTHUR GIANNAKIS)
Subject: Re: To die or not to die?
Organization: Faculty of Engineering, Monash University 
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 03:57:14 GMT

In article <wjj2dyn@rpi.edu> petitc@nuge113.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit) writes:
>From: petitc@nuge113.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit)
>Subject: Re: To die or not to die?
>Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 04:31:48 GMT
>jatg5423@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (John A. Ternent) writes:
>

Stuff Deleted.......


>
>  Yes!  I agree totally.  Moria is all about having fun first, and winning
>second.  If you have more fun by using save files (and gaining the extra
>thing of 'protection' from it), more power to you.  And, if you want the
>bragging rights of not using the backup save files, you have every right to
>gloat.  That's why I propose possible Ressurection (for a hefty fee), with the
>penalties I listed before.  In case you didn't remember, I said that, if you
>die:
>
>(1) You lost ALL items and gold (Hey, you're dead---HOW did your ghost carry
>that?)
>
>(2) You lost maybe 20% of your Experience (Dying kinda makes you forget things)
>
>(3) You lose 1 point of Con (This is tracked---when you lose all your original
>points of Con, you are permanently dead---regardless of Gain Con)
>
>(4) Each stat has a 20% chance of being drained by 1 (The new body just isn't
>as good as the old one)
>
stuff deleted.....

>realm, so Resurrection should be no exception.  Side note:  Maybe Mages or
>Priests should get, as their highest level spell, a spell that conveys auto-
>matic Resurrection if they die.


I don't like this side note since warriors and rogues would get shafted 
once again............but the rests sounds very reasonable..........

			Keep Hackin'..........
				The Metallian.

			
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: wyvern@iastate.edu (Nuno Bettencourt)
Subject: Re: "True" Winners?
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 03:12:06 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.225425.6174@jlc.mv.com> scot@jlc.mv.com (Scot Salmon) writes:
>In article <1992Dec14.130809.29381@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> mdale@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Michael L Dale) writes:
>>I have gone on record before that this game is the most fun when it has the
>>keen edge provided when you know death (REAL DEATH) couls be around the
>>next corner.
>
>Well, real fake death anyway.  It would be interesting, though, if being
>fried by an AMHD in Moria meant you got actual 3rd-degree burns or something
>like that on your real body.
>
>Would add an entirely new level of realism.  I'll bet there wouldn't be
>too many people playing without backups :).
>
	Yeah, I can hear that shop owners now....

"What?!? I think those claw gouges went into your brain! $$$ or nothing!"
"Trying to save money for the plastic surgery? I want $$$!!"
"You've had skin-grafts from a troll! $$$ or I'll tell!"

*--*
Wyvern
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: somebody help me i am morialess
From: zeezee@codewks.nacjack.gen.nz (Leon Murray)
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 92 19:31:07 NZST
Organization: The Code Works Limited, PO Box 10 155, Auckland, New Zealand

        Hello is there a kind soul out there who has the latest amiga 
version of moria? is so could you leave ZeeZee a message please and 
then we could work something out hopefully!! thank you well i suppose i 
should save the thankings until after response well Zeezee says -=|C Y 
Zeezee says -=|C Y A|=-

--
zeezee@codewks.nacjack.gen.nz (Leon Murray)
The BBS Works -- +64 9 630 7739 NZL	New Zealand's Oldest BBS
Organization: Sophomore, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 10:06:08 -0500 
From: David Reeve Sward <sward+@CMU.EDU>
Subject: Re: As long as we're taking suggestions...

Excerpts from netnews.rec.games.moria: 15-Dec-92 Re: As long as we're
taking.. by Mike Marcelais@eos.ncsu. 
> |>   If we want to balance out spellcasters, how about this---
>  
> Here are my ideas.
>  
> Magic Resistance:  Not a save for half damage, but a percent chance that the
> spell won't effect the monster, even for things like Orb of Draining, Fire
> Ball, etc.  This is in addition to any normal saving throw the game already
> give s the monster.

I would suggest giving each monster a 'maximum magic resistance' by
percent - so a monster with a magic resistance of 50 would resist
between 0 and 50% of the damage.  A monster with the maximum resistance
of 100 would resist between 0 and 100% of the damage.

Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: scot@jlc.mv.com (Scot Salmon)
Subject: Re: "True" Winners?
Organization: John Leslie Consulting, Milford NH
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 22:54:25 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.130809.29381@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> mdale@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Michael L Dale) writes:
>I have gone on record before that this game is the most fun when it has the
>keen edge provided when you know death (REAL DEATH) couls be around the
>next corner.

Well, real fake death anyway.  It would be interesting, though, if being
fried by an AMHD in Moria meant you got actual 3rd-degree burns or something
like that on your real body.

Would add an entirely new level of realism.  I'll bet there wouldn't be
too many people playing without backups :).


-- 
"Man himself is so unlikely that if he did not          | Scot Salmon
 exist, his possibility would not be worth discussing." | scot@jlc.mv.com
                                    - Damon Knight      | 101010 222 52 2A...
Newsgroups: rec.games.diplomacy
From: belboz@frc2.frc.ri.cmu.edu (Barry Brumitt)
Subject: Re: Opinions - Diplomacy between moves and retreats?
Reply-To: belboz@frc2.frc.ri.cmu.edu (Barry  Brumitt)
Organization: Field Robotics Center, CMU
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 17:11:25 GMT

In article <CKD.92Dec9181449@loiosh.eff.org> ckd@eff.org (Christopher Davis) writes:


   The _Gamer's Guide_ says (p.22, "IV. A Sample Game"):

      The reader should bear in mind that although negotiations prior to
      adjustments are prohibited by the Rulebook, it is impossible to
      prevent them in games played by mail.  *Such negotiations often took
      place in this game.*

   (emphasis mine)

   Well, if it was good enough for 1966AA...

   (This really should be dealt with in house rules.  I'm of the opinion
   that diploming between phases is, or should be, legal in postal and
   email play simply due to the time lags involved.)


I'm of the opinion that the original purpose of prohibiting diplomacy
inbetween moves and retreats/builds was to keep the game flowing. As
we all know, diplomacy periods in a "live" game can often easily take
an entire half hour, and adding more periods would only slow down
gameplay further.

Realistically, it makes sense to permit conversation. The tighter
deadlines makes this more difficult, but it's still possible.

Anyway, in my opinion, you should permit it -- I can't see how it
possibly *detracts* from the game -- it only makes it better!


Barry



--
Barry Brumitt                        belboz@frc2.frc.ri.cmu.edu
RI Graduate Student                  (or) bb1v@andrew.cmu.edu
Field Robotics Center                Phone: (412) 268-7144
Carnegie Mellon University           "Who is John Galt?" $ Skydive!

Boring Disclaimer: The opinions contained herein do not necessarily
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  represent those of the FRC, SCS, RI or even CMU. 




Newsgroups: rec.games.diplomacy
From: lokendr@ecf.toronto.edu (LO KENDRICK)
Subject: Canadian Diplomacy Players
Organization: University of Toronto, Engineering Computing Facility
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 00:31:10 GMT

I am trying to get an idea of how many players on the Judge, live in
the Metro Toronto area or the suburbs.  I was thinking of setting up
something in the new year directed at players in this area, and also
just out of curiosity.  Please drop me a line if you think you might
possibly be interested.  Thanks and Merry Christmas!

Kendrick
lokendr@ecf.toronto.edu
From: ewn@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.diplomacy
Subject: terminating a game on the Judge.
Date: 17 Dec 92 18:23:43 EST
Distribution: rec
Organization: Cornell University

Background:  I am playing France in game TON on the Washington Judge.
England and Turkey are the two other survivors.  We have agreed to a three-way
draw.  Since then, I am the only person to have sent inorders on the off chance
tha tthe drwa was not agreed upon.  England and Turkey have been aabandoned.

Question:  What we don't know is: how do you end a game?  Is there a command
you can send to the Judge?
MB

PS How can they get credit for the draw, seeing as they've just been abandoned?
	I'm sure that was not their intent.
From: group250@csdvax.csd.unsw.edu.au (Cameron Hooper)
Newsgroups: rec.games.diplomacy
Subject: Re: Diplome?
Date: 14 Dec 92 17:12:52 +1000
Organization: University of New South Wales



>>js138@cus.cam.ac.uk writes:
>> The verb from which 'Diplomacy' is derived is 'Diplome'

>I don't know about the standard British usage, but, according to Webster's
>Third New International, neither "diplome" nor "diplomacize" is a word. The
>only relevant verb listed is "diplomatize,"  [...]
>
> - Sandy Kutin (kutin@husc.harvard.edu)

Here is my $0.02 worth.  The origin of "diplomacy" lies in the Greek 
"diploss" meaning double.   From this the Greeks came up with "diploun"
meaning folded paper and hence offical.  It seems that the Romans, ever
keen on adopting things Greek, came up with "diploma" which found its way
into French as "diplomatie" meaning having to do with a diploma (offical
papers).  The word "diplomate" (English "diplomat") was derived 
from this form.

It was introduced into the English language by Edmund Burke in the 
form "diplomacy" on the pattern of aristocracy (from aristocrat).

As for the verb form, I have been unable to find any references
to "diplome".  I have, however, found support for "diplomatize" 
in both the Shorter Oxford and the Century Dictionaries.

Here is an example:

"Not being a scheming or a diplomatising man himself, he did not look
upon others as if they were always driving at something." 
Max Muller, Biograph. Essays, p. 132 (note the "s", Muller was writing in
England).

This seems to give "diplomatizing" a negative connotation but I doubt
that it always retains this flavour.

Well, that all I know.  If I have made any mistakes please inform me.
And now, I really have to complete that literature review, or
perhaps now would be a good time to tidy up my desk....:-)


BTW thanks to all of you who replied to my questions on the GAME
diplomacy.  You have made my introduction to the game quick and
simple.
-- 
**************************************************************************
* Cameron Hooper                   University of New South Wales         *
* (Finally found out how to attach a .sig file)                          * 
**************************************************************************
From: ewn@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.diplomacy
Subject: Terminating a game, part two
Date: 18 Dec 92 00:46:10 EST
Distribution: rec
Organization: Cornell University

A follow-up to my last message: I received a responce saying that the command I
wanted was TERMINATE, etc.  So I type it in, and lo and behold...

The Judge says that game TON is moderated.  So I check....  It lists no
moderator.  What's going on here?  Is there a default moderator?  How can I get
in touch with him/her to terminate the game?

MB

PS now England has been taken over, as well.
Newsgroups: rec.games.diplomacy
From: braker@dutiws.twi.tudelft.nl (Hans Braker)
Subject: Three more players needed for Youngstown game
Keywords: Diplomacy, Youngstown, Openings
Organization: Delft University of Technology
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 17:27:52 GMT


The Youngstown game `jojo' is forming at the Durban judge,
judge@shrike.und.ac.za.
The game is `any-site', and upto now seven players signed up.
Two pairs are among them.
The game is supposed to have relatively fast moves; 48 hrs instead
of the usual 168. The rest of the game parameters are standard...

Youngstown rules are the same as those of the standard game, but 
the map is extended to include Asia and more of Africa. Starting
positions differ in that most countries initially have more armies
than standard; several countries have colonies.

Hans Braker, witajgb@dutinfh.tudelft.nl

Newsgroups: rec.games.diplomacy