HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: arromdee@jyusenkyou.cs.jhu.edu (Ken Arromdee)
Subject: Re: Kobolds (Re: Intelligent opponents)
Organization: Johns Hopkins University CS Dept.
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 07:32:46 GMT

Another point about the kobolds with green slime buckets as weapons: What
would you do to PCs who tried to do that to the monsters?

You would no doubt think of some reason why not only would it not work most of
the time, but it'd be too hazardous for any sane player to do.  Now, remember
most of those reasons apply to the kobolds too....
--
"the bogosity in a field equals the bogosity imported from related areas, plus
the bogosity generated internally, minus the bogosity expelled or otherwise
disposed of."  -- K. Eric Drexler

Ken Arromdee (UUCP: ....!jhunix!arromdee; BITNET: arromdee@jhuvm;
     INTERNET: arromdee@jyusenkyou.cs.jhu.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: barnett@mummy.agsm.unsw.OZ.AU (Glen Barnett)
Subject: Re: Kobolds (was Re: Intelligent opponents)
Organization: The Australian Graduate School of Management
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 02:23:59 GMT

In article <1992Oct7.203655.29858@pbhyc.PacBell.COM> djdaneh@PacBell.COM 
(Dan'l DanehyOakes) writes:
>In article <1992Oct7.004210.15057@usage.csd.unsw.OZ.AU> 
>barnett@mummy.agsm.unsw.OZ.AU (Glen Barnett) writes:
>
>>This thread was quite interesting in that a number of reasonably intelligent
>>ways for a lich to be more than another lamb to the slaughter were put 
>>forward. What other ideas for other monsters (or ideas in general) can
>>you crafty xdnd DM's put forward?
>>
>>Glen Barnett
>
>The problem, really, is exactly what you say:  too many DMs and their monsters
>are *not* crafty.
>
>Consider the lowly kobold.
>
>"Sword fodder," says the Real Gamer(TM).  But I assure you, I have had more fun
>-- as a GM -- with kobolds than with any other member of the "giant class."
>
  [major deletions - see below]
>Dan'l Danehy-Oakes, Net.Roach

This was EXACTLY the kind of thing I was hoping to see. Thanks. If you missed
Dan'ls post go back and see it. A gem of a post. The point I was hoping to
lead this into was that ANY monster can be nasty (HAS to be, if humans
like PC's are running around wiping them out). In fact Dan'l exceeded
my hopes. I had a few bits and pieces myself, but didn't think there
was much compared to what I might see. Thanks to the other posters, and
to those who kindly sent me email. Most of the other stuff I saw was 
about dragons (including a few neat ideas), but dragons are supposed to
be highly intelligent in general, so most DM's have figured out a few
tricks for them. If anyone is interested in the contents of the email
I got, email me and I'll summarise to the group. (unless I only get
a couple of emails - in which case I'll save bandwidth via mail).

If kobolds can be deadly to a 10th level party, what could, say, a few
lizardmen do? You don't need to rush your players up against the
deadliest thing you can think of, and then play it like it was
looking forward to losing. A neat trick that was played on me many
years ago involved defeating a weak form of a fairly nasty monster
at low level (we were very clever, and even so were almost wiped).
Much later (around level 7 or 8), we encountered a much nastier
one, and figured we'd make mincemeat of it. We were treated to
a nice object lesson in intelligent oppenents.

Glen (barnett@agsm.unsw.oz.au)
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 16:58:32 -0400 
From: "Jordan M. Wolbrum" <jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: A question about dual class characters
	<dmatiske-141092215420@archmacconsultant.architecture.lab.nd.edu>

>	Actually your arms are just as strong but nowhere as dextrous. My question
>is how many attacks a round does a character who has specialized in a long
>sword get if he is using a long sword in both hands?

Directly from the 2nd edition PHB, the offhand can only give one extra
attack.  Actual most recent ruling:  
1)unless a ranger wearing studded leather or less, or specialized in
Two-Weapon style, you may use two weapons of different sizes
only(exception:two short) at a -2 penalty to the primary and a -4 to the
secondary.  You also must use the bigger weapon in the primary hand.
2)if you are ambidextrous, or take Two-Weapon spec., the penalties are 0
and -2 (ambi-'s pick which gets the penalty).
3)You must have Two-Weapon style to use two of the same size
weapon(above M size), or be a ranger wearing the prev specified armor.
4)Rangers meeting the armor requirement have no penalties.
5)Others lower the penalties(or raise them) based on reaction/att
adj(the penalties cannot become bonuses!)

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From: b_kondalski@trwvssi.vssi.trw.com (Brian J. Kondalski)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Running out of things for dragons to breathe?
Date: 14 Oct 92 20:36:40 GMT
Organization: TRW Vehicle Safety systems Inc  MI

In article <1992Oct14.191442.14667@pbhyc.PacBell.COM>, djdaneh@pbhyc.PacBell.COM (Dan'l DanehyOakes) writes:
> In article <1bgi2eINN6qn@master.cs.rose-hulman.edu> parkerma@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu (Mark A. Parker) writes:

> Dragon-Toad (unintelligent):  Looks like a toad roughly the size of Milpitas,
> 	breathes (actually, spits) a venom that causes warts and intense 
> 	itching; if inhaled or swallowed (check for mouth open when the mutha 
> 	breathes), this will cause the throat to swell shut and the victim 
> 	suffocates; in the eyes (check for open when the mutha breathes), it 
> 	causes blindness for d100 _weeks_.  No treasure.

Would licking this dragon cause you to hallucinate?

-- 
Brian J. Kondalski                             b_kondalski@trwvssi.vssi.trw.com
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc                            Voice: (313) 781-7382
4505 West 26 Mile Road
Washington, MI  48094
From: jb8n+@andrew.cmu.edu (Joseph E. Beck)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: house-rules
Date: 12 Oct 92 00:41:04 GMT
	<1992Oct10.174242.7488@iscsvax.uni.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Junior, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


In article <1992Oct9.145716.5145@Princeton.EDU>, tao@potato.princeton.edu
   (Terry Tao) writes:
> I'm all for doing away with percentile strength ! (sorry Mr munchkin..) not
> only is it unfair to other non-warriors,

Unfair to non-warriors?  Are you serious?  Yes, it is an advantage
that warriors get that no one else does, but are you actually claiming
that warriors are too power with this mod?  It's like saying that it's
not fair the mages can cast mage spells and no one else can.  Strength
is a weak enough attribute as it is, would you make +3 +6 the bonus
for having an 18, or just keep the bonus for 18 as it is?  If it's the
latter you're making strength completely worthless for fighters (who
would want it the most), compare it to CON and DEX to see what I mean
(CON especially).

> the difference between 18 and 19
> strength is so massive that any race with a +1 to strength suddenly gets
> super 18/00 strength far too often!
> 

I don't see this as much of a problem.  Again, compare a 19 strength
to any other 19 attribute; it doesn't seem out of line to me.

	joe
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 19:09:53 -0400 
From: "Jordan M. Wolbrum" <jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Level draining seems sadistic, doesn't it?

Thought it was time for a new topic!

I think the current rule for level draining are sadistic.  With each
successful hit, a vampire can destroy several long game sessions of play
for the victim.  And, although this rarely bothers me in AD&D, it makes
no sense!

My solution:

When a level-draining creature hits, temporary level draining occurs. 
HP's do not drop from the draining, nor are proficiencies lost, but the
fighting of spellcasting effectiveness is lowered as a standard level
drain.

The levels will return at a rate of 1/day, and a restoration will return
them all right away.

The only exception would be energy drain, it's a ninth level spell, and
should be on par with wish, so it's still just as nasty!

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!

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From: dv52151@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (RedSwordTarga)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: house-rules
Date: 14 Oct 92 22:51:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.Bw4vHn.2zu
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

"Joseph E. Beck" <jb8n+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

>Ok, they have a bow ready (I'll argue that it's *not* drawn).  Bows
>have a weapon speed around 7 (sorry, this is from memory), sleep has a
>casting time of *1*.   It's incredibly likely the sleep spell will go
>off before your fighter even gets off a shot, of course you could roll
>a 2 or 3 on 2d8, but there's only a 3/16 chance of this.  Bye bye
>fighters.

A knife/shuriken/dagger up the sleeve is something most fighters carry
for making sure that mage doesn't get his spell off. Sure, it won't do
much damage, but it'll keep him from doing any spellcasting until I'm
close enough to do serious damage. True, he may be further away than
those weapons can reach, but that's situational, as the bow can out
distance the spell most of the time... 

Sleep also only works up to 4th level if I remember. Try that one
on a 5th level fighter and life can be interesting. Short, but interesting.

The most effective tactic a fighter can use against a mage is one we
call the "LT special". Basically, pretend you are Lawrence Taylor and
the mage is a wimpy QB in the pocket. 

Axly
From: jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jordan M. Wolbrum)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: house-rules
Date: 16 Oct 92 20:27:01 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

>Well, that's an nice analogy, but I've yet to see a mage who had a 
>spell that could take down a fighter of equal experience in one round.
>Sleep works at low levels, but only if the mage starts out a good distance
>away. If he starts out in close, he can usually take the spell
>and then put the mage on the floor. 

Part of a save vs area-effect spells is a dodging aspect.  If a fighter
keeps on charging, that means no save.  Even though you can't completely
dodge a fireball, you can curl up, or jump away, so as to get only
partially hit by it.  

Also, I hope you're kidding about never having seen a mage spell capable
of taking down 1 equal level fighter.  I'll just list a few.
Color Spray(just as effective as if both combatants were first level
except for better save-  making the save blinds you)
lightning bolt- with a bounce, it hits you twice, double damage
finger of death- if you fail the save, you die
Bigby's crushing hand- no save, if I remember correctly
hold person- one person saves at -4
charm person-self ex
rock to mud- hard to reach that mage from the bottom of a thirty foot pit.

Also, don't count out the other spell resources a mage has:
teleport- if you get too close to me, I'll disappear(casting time 1, V
comp only)
Wall of (pick any you like)
grease- a very underestimated 1st level spell-  Whoops!
fly- I'd like to see you catch me up here
wraithform- I'm intangable now
stoneskin-  I'm relatively invulnerable now
fire shield- you hurt me, and you hurt yourself twice as badly
mirror image- which one's the real me?
invisibility- where'd he go?
and many others

also, don't forget, if the fighter fails his save vs. fireball, cone of
cold, lightning bolt, etc. all his equipment must save as well.  Yet
another reason not to discount Melf's Acid Arrow.

Don't ever underestimate the magic-user, it's a mistake few make twice.
From: ccoprdj@prism.gatech.EDU (Jorge Diaz)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Lich / Holy Swords
Date: 8 Oct 92 21:54:36 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

In article <7065@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP> seawasp@vm2.cis.pitt.edu (Sea Wasp) writes:

>	If you really want a level number, well, considering the power of
>the item, I'd guess around 20th.

Around 20th???  You're kidding, right?  Most players don't even GET to
20th level (unless they started at higher levels)..  By the time they
do, he won't need a holy sword.


-- 
Jorge Diaz                       | "I want you to remember, Clark... in all
Georgia Institute of Technology  |  the years to come, in your most private
Office of Information Technology |  moments...my hand at your throat.  I want
ccoprdj@prism.gatech.edu         |  you to remember the one man who beat you."
From: dutech@reseau.Berkeley.EDU (Groupe ELEVES)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Swords of Sharpness and Incredible Constitution
Keywords: Trolls, regeneration, sword, sharpness, constitution
Date: 7 Oct 92 08:28:36 GMT
Reply-To: dutech@reseau.Berkeley.EDU (Groupe ELEVES)


> > what if he sustains enought damage to take him below -10, does he die or
> > does his regen still work and eventually he will get back up like a troll.
> 
>    No, reaching -10 will still cause death.  In fact, a troll hitting
-10 will
> still dies as well, at least in my ruling.  It's the fact that they
regenerate
> that makes it difficult to bring them to -10. :-)

  I don't think it's right. Remember, a troll can be litterally chopped
to tiny little bits and still regenerate! Check on "Three hearts and 
three lions" by Anderson (an AD&D reference, and certainly the one from
which the troll inspiration comes). According to my understanding, a
troll brought to -10 WILL regenerate, except the acid/fire damage. So,
the only solution is : burn it down.

							Redwing
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: barnett@mummy.agsm.unsw.OZ.AU (Glen Barnett)
Subject: Re: Trolls' regeneration
Organization: The Australian Graduate School of Management
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 01:56:52 GMT

In article <torban.718514816@csuvax1> torban@csuvax1.csu.murdoch.edu.au 
(Torban Bennett) writes:
>As for reproduction are Trolls asexual or sexual? It would be possible for
>them to have one of these 'normal' methods if they were an animal.
>(And yes, before anyone writes in, Aphids can reproduce asexually.  So that
>method is not unique to plants)
Indeed, creatures more closely related to humans can reproduce asexually.
For example, it occurs among certain species of lizards. 
Rarely, (I think I recall reading this) it 
(parthogenesis? - sorry if thats not the right term) occurs among
rabbits - a female rabbit gets some shock (not electric, just
some major stress) some time around ovulation or shortly after, and
the nucleus of the egg divides (or something like that) to provide
the full complement of chromosomes. Undoubtedly I have the mechanism
wrong, but please only gentle corrections.

Glen (barnett@agsm.unsw.oz.au)

Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 18:33:12 -0400 
From: "Jordan M. Wolbrum" <jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: house-rules
	<1992Oct13.003357.10122@u.washington.edu>
Distribution: usa

>>Please tell me this is a joke.  A cleric can't spank a mage.  Win?
>>Perhaps.  But certainly not a sure thing (sleep, color spray,
>>fireball, etc. come to mind).
>>
>Command-sleep, cause blindness, cause light wounds.....

There's a huge thing that you've overlooked in these cleric spells:  THE DICE!

I'll compare them one-for-one
1)sleep vs. command: sleep has no save and lasts 5 rds/lvl-  command has
a save if your intelligence is 13 or higher(good luck finding a mage
stupid enough to not get a save!) and it lasts one round.  I'll give it
to the mage.(Note: In contests where the cleric is too experienced to be
affected by sleep, I'll assume different spell use!)
2)color spray vs cause blindness:  Fail your save vs color spray and
you're unconscious, make it and you're blind.  Fail your save vs. cause
blindness, you're blind, make it and nothing happens.  Mages save better
vs spells too!  I'll have to give it to the mage, even though his spell
is two levels lower!
3)cause critical wounds vs fireball:  I decided to make this matchup a
bit fairer, but it still doesn't help.  To use any cause wounds spell,
the cleric must successfully hit the mage.  A miss means the spell is
wasted!  A fireball gets a save, but still does half damage, plus
requires no hit roll, plus can be cast at a distance, plus has a much
lower casting time(more likely to be cast first and ruin the other guy's
spell).  Again the mage!

Don't try to compare cleric attack spells to mage attack spells, they
are inherently weaker because they were designed that way!  Picture
flame strike, which does 6d8 damage.  Compare it to the fireball of a
mage 5 levels lower than minimum cleric level needed for flame strike,
which does 8d6.  Sure, the fireball has a save, and the flamestrike
doesn't, but the mage has over twice as many fireballs as the cleric
does flamestrikes, and has a better casting time, and is casting a spell
4 spell levels lower!  On a purely offensive spell assault, mages eat
clerics for a light snack between meals!

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From: weeks@astroatc.uucp (Pat Weeks)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: A modest proposal concerning HEALING
Date: 12 Oct 92 15:37:05 GMT
Organization: Astronautics Technology Cntr, Madison, WI

In article <7114@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP> seawasp@vm2.cis.pitt.edu (Sea Wasp) writes:
>
>	Since the game mechanics NEVER, EVER differentiate between these
>so-called different kinds of hit points, neither should the Healing
>spells. They should heal wounds of proportionate severity in proportionate
>ways.
>
>
>                                 Sea Wasp
>                                   /^\
>                                   ;;;

	Isn';t this once again taking from the ever so popular idea of game
balance??  If this should all be proportional then, gee, let's make that
goblins short sword do proportional damage to the fighter because their healers
will do that much more healing...  Listen I'm not here to war about this, but
some posts of this nature are trying to fix something that works, that someone 
isn't comfortable with, but the fact of the matter is...

1.  D&D is NOT realistic
2.  If you want reality do it yourself or play another game, or apply the 
	rules of another game to D&D.
3. D&D's draw and success is its simplicity, however silly...
4.  D&D has worked? for how many years with its current form of healing, etc...
	

	Thanks for the post, I'm not saying I'm ungrateful for the added opinion
and suggestion, I just don't agree with it( for the above reasons...)


						Have a nice day...
						Ghostwheel
From: z_copeab@ccsvax.sfasu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Critical Hits
Date: 13 Oct 92 10:13:35 CST
Organization: Stephen F. Austin State University

In article <RANNOU.92Oct8173847@watson.info.polymtl.ca>, Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou) writes:
> In article <1992Oct7.095529.1402@ccsvax.sfasu.edu> z_copeab@ccsvax.sfasu.edu writes:
> 
>    In article <1992Oct6.211155.29474@u.washington.edu>, scythe@byron.u.washington.edu (The Grim Reaper) writes:
>    > Actually, I always assumed that happened to be an arrow of Dragon Slaying
>    > that Bard was using.  But on damage-face it, AD&D damage is not realistic.
>    > In real life, people get killed by dagger thrusts.  In AD&D, people
>    > have a good chance of survival. People also get killed if they fall
>    > off high buildings.  Level 20 fighters can jump into deeeep pits and
>    > walk into battle the next second.  Face it, damage is not realistic.
> 
> 
> 	   But in AD&D, a normal person *can* be killed by a dagger, or falling
>    off a building! A normal person only has about 1-6 hps.
> 
> 	   There is nothing (majorly) wrong with weapon damage in AD&D. The
>    problem is inflated hps at higher levels; *that's* what makes things
>    unrealistic.
> 
> No. There is a problem. You say in AD&D a normal person CAN be killed
> by a dagger hit, because it has only 1-6 HP. That's not exactly true.
> 
> Suppose the guy has 4 HP (pretty standard). Longsword hit, over 50% chance
> that the guy is dead. If he isn't, the next blow WILL kill him. The problem
> isn't that the person CAN be killed, it is that the person WILL be killed.
> 

	Well, I use the 'unconscious at 0 HP, dies at -10 HP rule', which keeps
0-level types from 'automatically' dying. 

	If there is a problem with AD&D damage, its either that average people
have too few HPs, or the weapon's do *too much* damage (guess which one is
easier to fix...).

Brandon Cope
From: dv52151@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (RedSwordTarga)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: house-rules
Date: 15 Oct 92 19:39:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.Bw6H9z.B95
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

"Joseph E. Beck" <jb8n+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

>The dart thrower is still in a lot of trouble against the mage; it's
>unlikely he'll beat the sleep spell and actually get to shoot.

Actually, it all depends on the dice you roll. If the mage sucks eggs
on the initiative die, Joe D. Fighter may get there before he's even
started with his spell. Add two fists and beat vigorously. 

Axly
From: ts2a+@andrew.cmu.edu (Thomas Omar Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: house-rules
Date: 16 Oct 92 00:57:31 GMT
	<Bw4w39.3BH@news.cso.uiuc.edu>
	<0erDIry00UhW88
Distribution: usa
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Here's a suggestion for the thief.

Allow the thief to fight 2 handed.  Almost every story I've seen has the
nimble thief with two weapons.  Then, let the theif use the other weapon
to parry.  Now, he can have a really good AC or get more attacks.  Each
attack is lower quality than a fighter's, but the extra attacks or
parries make the thief both more in line with the fiction the game is
based on and more balanced in combat.

					Tom the non hacker
					Kemp in 96!
					"If patriotism is the last refuge
					of scoundrels,  Then environmentalism
					is the current refuge of totalitarians."
					Bob Jackson
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: thedm@leland.Stanford.EDU (Marcus M. Trevino)
Subject: Re: Kobolds (Re: Intelligent opponents)
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 92 21:47:52 GMT



This had to be one of the best stories of a *dangerous* dungeon I've heard all year.
I really enjoyed reading it, and I was wondering if any other DM's have similiar
*best* dungeon tales.  If so, post them so that the rest of us can compare *best*
dungeons.  I'll post mine sometime when I have the time to write it down.  Once
again, LOVED the story.

TheDM @ Stanford University

Marcus Trevino
From: jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jordan M. Wolbrum)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Killing Liches with Staves of the Magi, HA!!!
Date: 11 Oct 92 19:57:02 GMT
	<1992Oct10.205724.11485@aio.jsc.nasa.gov>
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Never thought a joke would get this much of a response.  Here's another
one for you:

Does anyone know how many spells my 57427th level mage gets of each
level.  He was thinking of becoming a god, but then no more advancement,
so forget it.  PS:  He is able to use Thor's hammer.  He wished it.

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Organization: Junior, Mathematics, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA