From: cheesmna@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu (N Allen Cheesman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Xanth Talents
Date: 10 Nov 1992 14:26:41 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department at Rose-Hulman
Reply-To: cheesmna@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu (N Allen Cheesman)
NNTP-Posting-Host: yellow.nextwork.rose-hulman.edu

In article <1992Nov8.232815.28680@u.washington.edu>  
scythe@byron.u.washington.edu (The Grim Reaper) writes:
> In article <1992Nov8.224141.10685@news.ysu.edu> ag757@yfn.ysu.edu (Ian  
Clysdale) writes:
> >
> >In a previous article, st923058@pip.cc.brandeis.edu (Rosaleen Dhu)  
says:
> >
> >>
> >>	I noticed that someone wants to start a Xanth game. How would you  
deal
> >>with the basic Xanth premise that everyone has a magical Talent, when 
> >>psionic rules are so fucked-up (and rarely used) in the AD&D game? And  
do
> >>you have a list of magical Talents? If not, I have some that a friend  
and
> >>I collected for a frp set in Valdemar, and this might be a kind of
> >>interesting new thread for those of us who are more interested in 
> >>role-playing than rule-picking (and again, that's not a flame; to each  
his
> >>own. Maybe I should make a macron that says that...). Anyone  
interested?
> >>
> >I wouldn't allow  players to run any strong talents (ie. Magician,  
Sorcerer,
> >Enchanter) without a lot of serious consideration.  But anyways.  Maybe
> >we could make a net xanth handbook.  :)
> >
> >-- 
> >			Ian Clysdale
> >		 Student and Official Nobody
> >	        Internet:   ag757@yfn.ysu.edu
> >	      Fidonet:   Ian Clysdale, 1:163/241
> 

	Actually, the reason I asked in the first place was that I was a  
little antsy to run a blatant munchkin game.  We've been playing serious  
for a few weeks (Typical Friday night, play from 11 to whenever we start  
dropping like flies game).  I thought it might be kinda cool to just say
"Hey!  Let's blast the snot out of Xanth"  I had thought about the talents
factor in Xanth NPC's, but my general feeling on Xanth citizens is that
their talents pretty much bite unless they're Magician level.  Of course,
some things, like toasting someone's buns, might just be useful in combat
(Spellcaster : I'm going to roast these guys with a fireball.
 DM : One of them starts staring at your butt.
 Spellcaster : Say what?!
 DM : You suddenly let out a yelp of pain, you just lost your spell.
 Spellcaster : $#@#$@%!)
Of course the rainbow urine talent would be REALLY useless, unless you run  
across some cult that worships blue urine.

Of course, Trent DID wander around in Mundania for a while and was able to  
learn about the items and devices there.  Maybe you could get a Xanthian  
with an inherent talent ranging from useless to very good (like 00 on  
percentile is a Magician level talent) and let him/her trot on over into  
Mundania for some good ole barbaric training in fighting and/or  
spellcasting.  Of course, how would magic be handled?  Would spells have  
the same effect in 'Mundania' (the normal D&D universe) and then be  
somewhat more powerful in Xanth where the whole land is pretty much  
permeated with magic?  Would spells be less effective since the 'magical  
energy' might be of some different variety?  Would it be harder to gain  
levels i.e. more xp, since the technique to cast spells in Xanth would be  
different?
*huffpantpantpant*
Well, there's my hmmmmm...$0.14 worth.

Allen Cheesman
cheesmna@hydra.rose-hulman.edu
cheesmna@nextwork.rose-hulman.edu
cheesmna@cs.rose-hulman.edu
Remember, no matter where you go, there you are.  --  Buckaroo Banzai
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd