HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu (John White)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Re: DM: How to Enter Tournaments
Date: 12 Oct 1992 22:58:42 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: scratchy.caltech.edu
Originator: johnjohn@scratchy

In article <1992Oct12.200459.5595@jade.tufts.edu> gharris@jade.tufts.edu  
(George W. Harris) writes:
>
>I posted this once, but got no response, so I don't know if it got off
>site (our newsfeed's been flakey).
>
>I just got a turn back (2-1-1, think I'm getting the hang of this), and
>there was some info about the upcoming mail-in and tourney of the dead (I  
got my
>mini-overviews, anyway), but I didn't get any info on how to register my  
war-
>riors, or how much it cost, or any tourney strategy sheets.  So, what's the 
>bird's-eye low-down on this caper, whatever that means?

Ok, every 6 months or so, there is a mail-in tournament.  I guess you didn't  
get a sheet filling you in on the general rules, and the easiest way to get  
that is to write customer service, requesting them.  At the same time, you  
should also request a "Tournament Strategy Sheet" for each of the warriors  
that you plan to run.  I.E. I plan to run between 15-20 warriors, so I need  
about 20 Tourney Strategy Sheets.

It costs $7.00 for every warrior you run.  I tend to only run warriors that  
I plan on keeping long-term.  I send them in and get them back with skills  
they would have taken a while longer to get.

--
John White
johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu
|===============================================================|
|                          What the HELL?!                      |
|                   Did I come BACK to Caltech?!                |
|===============================================================|
-- 
John White
johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu
|===============================================================|
|                          What the HELL?!                      |
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
From: tmikkola@galactus.cs.hut.fi (Topi Mikkola)
Subject: Legends Help needed!
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, CS lab
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 12:01:39 GMT

Hi Everybody,
 

I'm a beginner in Legends CoA and I'd like to have some help with starting.

1. What is the best race to start with? (mercenary)

2. How many troops you need to beat a monster in his lair?
   Particularly a rocktroll or a giant spider.

3. How large stats and bonuses you need to beat a monster in a single combat?
   ( a troll practically walked over me!!)

4. How should one start playing? (ie aggressively or not)

5. How hard is it to influence characters to join you??


                       Please reply!


                                Yours Topi Mikkola

       ps If there are any people playing Legends in Europe please contact me!
           (PBM Express)

       pps I'll gladly accept any sort of help or advice!
From: rorschak@daimi.aau.dk (Jesper Lauridsen)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Re: i don't understand
Keywords: mud
Date: 16 Oct 92 20:37:23 GMT
Organization: Exile Government of Bramming

jblonon@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Jason B Lonon) writes:

>I'm sure I am missing the point.. but my question is why go to all this
>trouble for a PBM game through internet, when there are literally 100's
>of MUDS scattered throughout the net. I mean a MUD is free, and its
>quicker than PBM (its real time folks)

Some kinds of games are good as MUDs, some are good PBMs. What kind you
play is a matter of taste. MUDs allow you to have many turns in a very
short time, PBMs gives you a few turns in a long time. That doesn't make
the MUD better, it just means that much less time is spent considering
(and preparing) each turn. 

-- 
No News is Bad News
From: johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu (John Carlos White)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Re: Duelmasters: Crip the Punster
Keywords: DM, Crip, puns, character names
Date: 7 Oct 92 06:10:55 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
NNTP-Posting-Host: sandman.caltech.edu

OUCH!  Those hurt!

John

-- 
John White
johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu
|===============================================================|
|                          What the HELL?!                      |
From: johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu (John White)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: DM - FAQ
Date: 9 Oct 1992 12:20:04 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: scratchy.caltech.edu
Originator: johnjohn@scratchy

Ok, here's the DM FAQ...

--
John White
johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu
|===============================================================|
|                          What the HELL?!                      |
|                   Did I come BACK to Caltech?!                |
|===============================================================|
-- 
John White
johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu
|===============================================================|
|                          What the HELL?!                      |
From: crip@eebbs.isis.org (Garth Werner)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Re: Duelmasters: Crip the Punster
Keywords: DM, Crip, puns, character names
Date: Thu, 08 Oct 92 16:54:21 EST
Organization: Electronic Encounters BBS

adler@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Philip Adler) writes:

> I don't have my turnsheet handy, but I think I can dispute the
> title.
> Currently in Khalhums (53) there is a team run by a certain
> mega-manager who wishes to remain unnamed which is called:
> Alistarian Gyros, with such warriors as Pitatello.
> 
> Erias Talon
> 
> AKA PHil.
> .
> 

        That maybe so, but here on the net, I will only accept direct 
competition.


**************************************************************************
                        *
Garth Werner            *       Remember:
(613)-733-3958          *               You can tune a piano
Ottawa, Ont, Canada     *                 But you can't tuna casserole!
crip@eebbs.isis.org     *
**************************************************************************
From: LIPSCOJA@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu (Andy Lipscomb)
Subject: DM FAQ
Organization: Vanderbilt University 
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 01:51:03 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.21

Could someone please post the FAQ for Duelmasters?

Andy Lipscomb
lipscoja@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu
Mt. Juliet Capulets--Ultra Cricket
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
From: wool8657@mach1.wlu.ca (john woolsey 9209 U)
Subject: Re: New PeBM game through internet
Organization: Wilfrid Laurier University
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 02:00:12 GMT

Hello everyone tonight I wrote up some basic documentation for controlling,
and creating fighters underneath your manager. I am looking at finalizing
most of the information over the weekend, and then putting a playtest into
action. I will be accepting anyone who wishes to playtest in the order they
arrive. I am looking for at least twenty managers, and I hope not to have to
limit the number. If you have already requested to playtest please resend a
quick note in again from the account that wish to use. I will then keep that
in my master-list. I really want more input relatively quickly though. Once
I create the mass warrior list things get more difficult to change :-( I
hate writing database conversion packages.
From: dani@netcom.com (Dani Zweig)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Re: PBM Game Recommendations
Date: 9 Oct 92 20:46:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: netcom.1992Oct9.204644.3322
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

ddo@wmod2000.larc.nasa.gov (Dale Ohmann):
>If any of you have any other games that you think are just great,
>could you post a brief description and the address of the company?  
>I prefer complex multi-player type games with emphasis on conflict.

I'm also in Legends, and I've also been in Alamaze, so I may have a
good handle on the kinds of games you'd like.  Let me suggest something
different, that I found surprisingly enjoyable.

"Space Combat" is described, correctly, as "a game of pure tactical
combat".  The setting is amusing:  You use space-going monsters instead
of typical weaponry.  The game design is incredibly good:  You are
constantly becoming aware of how different the game would be if this
critter could go just *one* unit faster, or if that attack just had
a *little* more power.  There's precisely as much diplomacy as you'd
like:  You can go it alone or you can ally with other players.  And
each turn consists of nothing but combat or preparation for combat.
I wouldn't play this as my only PBM game, but it's cheap, it's fun,
and it's a great change of pace.  To try it, send $1 Twin Engine Games
for the rules (they won't sign you up until you've read the rules).
The address is  Twin Engine Gaming/Dept 432/3254 Maple Leaf Ct/
San Jose CA 95121.  The typical game runs about a dozen turns, at 
$3.50 per turn.

-----
Dani Zweig
dani@netcom.com

   'T is with our judgements as our watches, none
   Go alike, yet each believes his own
		--Alexander Pope
From: skrenta@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Rich Skrenta)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Re: i don't understand
Date: 16 Oct 92 02:38:57 GMT
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

MUDs have a fine-grained focus.  You have one character and one point
of view, and you spend time solving little puzzles.  PBMs let you order
vast armies, develop entire economies, compete and fight against tens
or hundereds of foes simultaneously.

PBM turns tend to proceed lock-step, with a turn every week or two.
The spoils don't go to the player who stays logged in the longest.

But inter-turn time isn't void of game activity.  Plotting conspiracies,
diplomacy and backstabs can take all of the time between turns.  At
tense points in the game, 10-20 messages per day in an email game is
not unusual.

--
Rich Skrenta
From: eisen@fermat.cs.jhu.edu (Hal Joshua Eisen)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: call for duelmasters help
Summary: newbie confusion
Date: 15 Oct 92 15:50:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: blaze.1992Oct15.155009.25461
Organization: Johns Hopkins Computer Science Department, Baltimore, MD

Hello.  I'm new to duelmasters, and I just got my first set of roll-ups.
I've seen a few people ask the net for opinions, so I thought I'd do the same.
I hereby invite all duelmasters players here to comment on what I'm thinking
about doing with the following raw material:

8-9-10-10-10-12-11 becomes
8-9-10-15-15-15-12 PS
This guy seems pretty average, with a slight bent for speed and decisiveness,
so I thought to give him a good WT so he might learn some stuff over time.

5-17-11-9-9-10-9 becomes
5-17-11-9-15-15-12 LU
Since this guy had such a high CN, I thought he'd do well with an active
style.  Is this true?  Is a 5 ST too low for a warrior who fights with the
LU style?

6-7-15-8-13-12-9 becomes
12-13-15-8-15-12-9 BA
This is my only guy with a relatively big SZ, so I thought I'd try a style
which could dish out some big damage.  Unfortunately, his ST was low, so I
figured I'd sink 6 points into it - is this a good plan?

11-12-5-11-12-5-14 becomes
11-13-5-15-15-11-14 TP
I figured since this guy was so small, he would never hurt anything he hit,
so I thought to try a long-term scum strategy with him.  The short intro
that comes with the roll-ups implied that SP is important in parrying, which
is why I put 6 points there.  I could have gone for a 17 WT and a 13 WL
instead - would this be better?

8-5-9-13-8-17-10 becomes
8-5-9-17-13-17-15 AB
I had a lot of trouble deciding what to do with this guy.  He's got WT and
SP, but which style needs those the most?  With a CN of 5 he can't take an
active style, as he'd tire too quickly, I assume.  I thought that with
some brains and some quickness, he'd be able to "surgically strike" to
good effect.  Has anyone tried this with any success?

As I was doing these guys, I noticed it was much easier (no kidding!) to
get 15's than 17's, and in some cases I decided to go for the 15's instead
of the 17's so that I could use the 2 points elsewhere.  are 17's so
good that they should always be pursued, even to the detriment of other
stats?  also, they ask me if I want to be in a particular arena.  is
there a good arena for newbies?  Thanks for any help!

		hal (soon to be manager of the Rainbow Rogues in arena ???)

<=============================================================================>
Hal J Eisen, TMWTMOASS              | "Violence is the last refuge of
eisen@cs.jhu.edu         (personal) |     the incompetent"  --Salvor Hardin
eisen@jhuigf               (BITNET) | Safer Sacs: Overprotect with
mimsy.umd.edu!empress1!eisen (work) |     Nimzovitch's Prophylaxis
bus error (passengers dumped)
From: johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu (John White)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Re: Duelmasters: Need some help!
Date: 12 Oct 1992 22:58:05 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: scratchy.caltech.edu
Originator: johnjohn@scratchy

In article <4619@equinox.unr.edu> kirby@pyramid.unr.edu (Stephen Kirby)  
writes:
>In article <1afrv1INNaut@gap.caltech.edu> johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu (John  
White) writes:


>Flyn
> 9-16-7-15-15-9-13
>She is 0-1 having fought a 4-1 PS with 29 recognition.

>>Not bad.  What style, though?  I must admit that I've never run a warrior  

>Ooops! She is a Parry-Lunger

You got 6 wit comments with that?!  I was under the impression that wit  
comments were in some way related to the stats that a warrior had.  I guess  
this isn't the case.

>Could you (or anyone else) get more specific on the effects of comments.
>Are they just additional modifiers to various skills? I guess they aren't
>exactly meaningless. Do they relate to how skilled the character is in
>various areas (attack, def., init., etc.)?

At one time I believed that they were modifiers, but I don't know how or in  
what way.  I tend to ignore them (it's a sin, I know, but what else can I  
do?)

>I could still use the advice. :]

With PL's?  Try going offensive (like 10-10-6), or midrange (like 5-5-3), or  
dodging (like 4-9-3).  I've had limited success with each of those  
strategies.

>I also have another question. About 3 turns ago(?) there was an ad in the
>newsletter about a book explaining the intracacies (sp?) of Duelmasters
>for $20. I was wondering if anyone had gotten the book and what they
>thought of it. I have been considering getting it since it would help
>the learning curve. I also wonder, though, if it will take some of the
>fun away...

Yeah, Mike LaPlante's DM Handbook.  The ideas about warrior development are  
a crock of shit, as are 99.9% of the warrior designs, by "modern" standards,  
but it does have some charts that are vaguely interesting and useful.  The  
most important ones (weapons) are online, though.  What are you looking for?

And don't worry, if you buy the Handbook, learn and follow it's principles,  
you won't start winning beyond belief.  Quite the opposite, actually.

--
John White
johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu
|===============================================================|
|                          What the HELL?!                      |
|                   Did I come BACK to Caltech?!                |
|===============================================================|
-- 
John White
johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu
|===============================================================|
|                          What the HELL?!                      |
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
From: 10779957@eng2.eng.monash.edu.au (ADRIAN KOK)
Subject: Rules for DIPLOMACY - where do I get them?
Keywords: diplomacy, rules
Organization: Faculty of Engineering, Monash University 
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 07:16:37 GMT


	Where can I get Diplomacy rules? I've contacted the Washington 
judge, but they're not allowed to distribute them. Do I have to buy a copy 
of the game to get the rules? Or is there any FTP site I can get them off?

	If possible, I'd appreciate anyone who can E-mail it to me. Thanks!
From: willow@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (cheryl.ann.frech)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Monster Island Newsletter
Keywords: monster island mi
Date: 8 Oct 92 17:43:02 GMT
Organization: AT&T


Greetings Fellow Montser Islanders,

	There is a group of us, currently 66 strong, who share
monster island information.  The collective information comes out
in a newsletter form as well as several group members handling
things like far structure locations, blurbs, battle cries and so
on.

	If you would like to partake in this group please send your
mailing address to  willow@cbnewsd.att.com.  I will add you to the
mailing list and you will get the next newsletter.  If you want
the past newsletters please indicate so in your email.

	For those of you who were involved in this group prior to
the summer and are now back, if you have not received a newsletter
it means we have the wrong address for you.  Please send you
emailing address to willow@cbnewsd.att.com  and I will add it to
the list.

			Cheryl Frech
			
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
From: ddo@wmod2000.larc.nasa.gov (Dale Ohmann)
Subject: PBM Game Recommendations
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA USA
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 13:47:42 GMT

Hello,

	I'm somewhat new to the world of play-by-mail gaming, but I've been
playing games all my life.  Anyway, I was interested in which pbm games are
the best.  I'm currently playing Legends "Realm of the Immortal - Variant 
Game 10" by Midnight Games, and Alamaze (Games 304 and 318) by Pegasus Prod-
uctions.

	If any of you have any other games that you think are just great,
could you post a brief description and the address of the company?  I prefer
complex multi-player type games with emphasis on conflict.

	Thank you,
	Dale
--
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Daring Dale Douglas           ddo@wmod2000.larc.nasa.gov            IMHO  |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm,rec.games.board,rec.games.misc,news.groups,bit.listserv.dipl-l
From: nick@watfrost.uwaterloo.ca (Nick Fitzpatrick)
Subject: Re:      CFV rec.games.dip
Followup-To: new.groups
Reply-To: nick@watfrost.uwaterloo.ca 
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 13:36:35 GMT

In article <DIPL-L%92100704292140@MITVMA.BITNET> Bob Blanchett <s1029708@GIAEC.CC.MONASH.EDU.AU> writes:
>Can anybody confirm Nick Fitzpatrick's ID as nick@WATFROST.WATERLOO.EDU?
>
>I get a host unknown when I am trying to cast my vote in favor of the new
>group.

Try nick@watfrost.uwaterloo.ca, which #SHOULD# be what is now in the header
(we have had some local configuration problems)

Nicholas Fitzpatrick  nick@watfrost.uwaterloo.ca

Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
From: st1lv@rosie.uh.edu (McLeod, Stephen)
Subject: Looking for *HUGE* copy of Legends magic items.
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 21:26:00 GMT


Hi.  I was told that a 300-400 item list was posted.  It has expired at my site,
unfortunately.  Could some kind soul please E-Mail the list to me?
Thanks in Advance.
---
Stephen McLeod
The Eternal? Student
From: desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Re: Rules for DIPLOMACY - where do I get them?
Date: 12 Oct 92 15:37:45 GMT
Organization: IDA Center for Communications Research, Princeton

ADRIAN KOK <10779957@eng2.eng.monash.edu.au> writes:
> Where can I get Diplomacy rules? I've contacted the Washington judge,
> but they're not allowed to distribute them. Do I have to buy a copy of
> the game to get the rules? Or is there any FTP site I can get them
> off?

Of course, copying them would violate Avalon Hill's copyright.
Fortunately, AH will sell individual game components at a quite
reasonable price.  I believe the Diplomacy rules would be about $5.

I believe their toll-free phone number in the US is 800-993-3222, but a
toll-free number won't do you much good from Australia.  I'll try to
look up the regular number and send or post it.

                                        David desJardins
From: zamick@yoko.rutgers.edu (Jonny the Z)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pbm
Subject: Re: New PeBM game through internet
Date: 11 Oct 92 19:27:26 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

I'm coming into this a wee bit late so...


The arena combat system is an interesting idea, and despite what some
people say, I have a feeling it will be quite popular in a simple
format considering the faithful following of Duelmasters exhibited here.

(As a side note, I would suggest setting up the system to work with
smaller numbers and simpler first. You can make it more complex if you
design it with the intention of upgrading)

A point system would be nice. One thing that we set up in a house RPG
for character design was giving characters specialty areas. That is,
not all stats cost the same. So some characters could advance dex
easier than others, while their competitor might be be a giant. This
is a nice alternate to random starting points, and as an addition to
random starting points. (It really only works well if characters can
train their abilities over time)

Consider carefully if losing characters have to die.

I kinda liked the suggestion of unusual powers.. (maybe advantages
could be bought with some of the points.) Of course if characters died
immediately upon loss than this would probably not be balanced.

For simplicity, you might want to start with a basic man to man
system, no advantages etc... just to get out the bugs.

You could then add in more equations for the more complex elements:
1. double/triple teaming. 	2. experience		3. advantages
4. alliances between teams	5. more weapons/skills	6. odd arenas

Really it comes down to making the basics interesting and building
from there. Duelmasters has a heck of a developed system to model a
very simple battle. One person fighting one other person. This aids
its popularity. 

Anyway, I'm prbably repeating many points or talking on a totally
wrong subject.

Jon Z
Newsgroups: rec.games.programmer
From: dmatiske@nd.edu ()
Subject: Re: Sprite Engine News, VOL #1
Followup-To: rec.games.programmer
Organization: University of Notre Dame
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 18:53:00 GMT

In article <BvwxLH.FHz@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, jas37876@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (John
A. Slagel) wrote:
If you are going to make a card to program arcade games you should really
consider adding scrolling capabilities.