HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: v054nn84@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Foto...Taking pictures again, and Happy for it!)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Matriarcal Societies
Date: 8 Sep 92 21:10:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

To the poster who posted a rebutall to me comments, it is funny that you do not
acknowledge the growing trend to idolize matriarchal socieites when you cite
the very sources (disreputable or otherwise) that are advancing the cause.  I
am not debating the value of the sources, just that there is a trend to make
these claims.  I think it has something to do with the current fad for
Political Correctness.  

Okay, I conceed the point about the evidence.  Let me rephrase that...when I
was in college in the mythology course, and several semesters later the
religion course the subject of matriarchal societies existing in the
Mediterranian area came up and was commented on in the positive by two seperate
professors.  All I am saying is that if there is sufficient cause for this
topic to be brought up, then why is it soe hard to even acknowledge the
possibility?  What is it, male egos on the line again?

Skeksis
From: batemanc@p4.cs.man.ac.uk (Mad Chris)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Star System Generation
Date: 14 Sep 92 15:33:40 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.085420.10742@waikato.ac.nz> calb@waikato.ac.nz asks:

<things about world building>

If you can find it, use the Outlands star and stellar system tables to 
generate stellar systems (I did one year of an Astrophysics degree and I 
can vouch for these rules as being 'correct', given the assumptions the
designers made).

Once you've done that, use 'The World Builders Handbook' to create  
planets in detail, and the socio-political tables from 'Space Opera',
if you need them.

That, a mon avis, is the best way to go about it.

Mad Chris.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: v054nn84@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Foto...Taking pictures again, and Happy for it!)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Women Gamers
Date: 7 Sep 92 09:28:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Someone mentioned Lace and Steel and women gamers and my first reaction is huh? 
The reason for that is Lace and Steel is aimed more at the traditional
stereotype of the stay-at-home, scheming-coniving-vain-party-hopping socialite,
which to say the least seems to be an unpopular way to portray woment these
days.  From my experience, the two ladies in my group, are more interested in
action than being shy and retiring so I have to wonder if the two ladies I am
gaming with are not representative of the norm for women gamers. Any input on
this (other than flaming me for some of my player's preferences) would be
appreicated and of interest.

Skeksis - Let me get this straight.  I'm driving a 91 Geo and he's driving a 93
Vette and you want me to drag?  What are you, some kind of optimist?
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: lib1p@rosie.uh.edu (Tammy Stark Blandino)
Subject: rec.games.frp.srun
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 12:46:00 GMT

Might I suggest that the Shadowrun people start their own
newsgroup.  It looks like there are enough postings on this
subject to warrant one.

Just a friendly suggestion.

Tammy
From: slb3y@cc.usu.edu (Punk Rocketeer)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Surprises
Date: 14 Sep 92 10:10:50 MDT
Organization: Omega:  The Final Solution

In article <1992Sep13.220137.16939@cs.yale.edu>,
lower-tony@CS.YALE.EDU (Tony Lower) writes:
> 
>     WHEN HAVE PLAYERS SURPRISED YOU?

     Oy.  Champions game set in San Francisco.  I've given the players
a diskette with one WordPerfect file on it (and the Michaelangelo
virus, but that's another story).  The file contains riddles, which
the players solve.  Someone is going to detonate an atomic bomb in the
bay, and it's coming in on a boat.  The key clue pointing to the ship
was

A gathering of angels
Appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope
And this is what they said

     One of the players (the superteam leader) remembers that the
"angels" were really space travelers, and through a tortuous chain of
logic decides that the bomb must be on the USS Enterprise aircraft
carrier!  Well, it was fun getting them kicked off the naval base,
anyway.
-- 
Patrick S. Clark | When the world's in trouble I am not slow.
Email is life!   | So it's hip-hip-hip and away I go!
Usual Disclaimer | (You should know this one.)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: wljohnso@nyx.cs.du.edu (William "Wes" Johnson)
Subject: Battlelords of The 23rd Century
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 92 06:41:06 GMT


Well I am not involved with Optimus Design Group, I am not getting .01% of
anything, I don't live in Buffalo, and lastly I do not have a "mysterious"
net address.  With that out of the way, lets get on with it. :)

After hearing about Battlelords of The 23rd Century on the now assumed
dead rec.games.frp, I went out and bought it plus the supplement
Lock'n'Load.

Admittedly it was from much false PR from "Blue Razor".  While I seriously
doubt it sold all he said it did at GENCON, I admit I was dupped into
checking out this game.  Being a poor college student, I have to seriously
justify buying ANY new RPG to add to my annoyingly vast collection.

After reading BAttlelords of the 23rd Century (BL23C) I was impressed with
the game and really liked it.  It is one of the better Science Fiction
based RPG's that I have found.  I only now wish I had the players/GM to
accually run or play the game.

But that is not to say there are flaws in the system.  But all games out
there have that to some degree or another. (Almost anything by FASA proves
this point).

The things I liked about BL23C;

     1. The combat system is fairly quick and the assortment of weapons,
armour and gadgets is impressive (especially with the supplement L'n'L)

     2. There is a fairly detailed and interesting histroy and universe to
the game, but it is also opened ended to allow for vairiety.

     3. They have a good philosophy about gaming and how it should be
played and designed.
  
     4. There are character races for pretty much everybody.

      5. Neat and nasty background options that can really flesh out a
character.

And of course there are things I had problems with too;

     1. While apparently better that the last edition, BL23C is still a
bit cluttered and out of order.  Some things are out of place and hard to
find.

     2. Could use a good appendix

     3. The max stats for races is a little to AD&D 1e -ish.  It would be
a lot vlearer if put in a chart for each race in thier description too.
 
     4. They could put all vital formulas and charts in the back of the
book for easy reference.
 
      5. Some rules are a little unclear (such as heavy points).
 
 
     Overall I really like BL23C and recommend anyone in the market for a
good Science Fiction game to browse through it if they get the chance. 
While it may be easy for some gamers to pick apart a system because they
have no lives, give a game a chance.  If you like it, will use it and/or
afford it.  Pick it up, I did.  And I liked it.

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc,rec.games.frp
From: Elizabeth.Mccoy@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Elizabeth Mccoy)
Subject: Re: GURPS Will Rolls
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 21:55:25 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.010714.58565@cc.usu.edu> sl9b4@cc.usu.edu (Deep Six) writes:
>In article <BtxpGu.KDu@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, (Dave Deitrich) writes:
>
>> In the GURPS Basic Set (don't remember the exact page) it flatly states that
>> any will roll greater than a 14 is an automatic failure.  Yet, in a lot of
>> the sample characters me and my friends have seen we find things like IQ 15
>> and Strong Will +3.  Isn't this a waste of points?
>
>Not really. Strong Will is used in quick contests of skill and in magic
>resistance too, not just the straight Will roll. If you are in a quick 
>contest of skill against someone (like the enemy spy who is trying to
>seduce you -- the example in the book), you roll against 18. If you roll
>a 15, you make your roll by 3 instead of 0.
[snip]

Also, if you have to make a "Will - [x]" roll, you can be sill rolling
at 14, rather than at 10 or something. (Say, you have Curiosity, and you
want to keep from playing with the rocket launcher -- that's a Will-3
roll.) 

--EM
--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Xref: sparky rec.games.frp.misc:5507 rec.games.frp.advocacy:2275 rec.games.frp.dnd:3651 rec.games.frp.marketplace:573
From: cwatters@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Coyt D Watters)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc,rec.games.frp.advocacy,rec.games.frp.dnd,rec.games.frp.marketplace
Subject: FAQL
Date: 14 Sep 92 15:34:20 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University


All the changes and corrections are NOT in this FAQL.  Anyone who sent a 
correction, please be patient - I am working on it...

This was posted because of the enormous number of incoming new users who
are just itching to post.  This FAQL was bequeathed to me by a former
NET_GOD (Loren Miller), who has renounced his status as the keeper of the 
newsgroup shortly after the split.

**********************************************************************

NEW USERS ARE WELL ADVISED TO PLEASE READ AND HEED THE INFORMATION IN 
THE WELCOME AND FAQL POSTINGS.  IT IS HERE FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND
USE.

**********************************************************************

-Coyt
From: ratinox@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu (Richard Pieri/Stainless Steel Rat)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Werewolf
Date: 5 Sep 92 14:15:43 GMT
	<RATINOX.92Aug31111506@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu>
	<1992Sep1.214443.5461@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
	<RATINOX.92Sep3122303@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu>
	<uk02700.715540451@mik.uky.edu>
Reply-To: ratinox@meceng.coe.northeastern.edu
Organization: 3WA, Boston Office. Or Nu Meta Chi. Take your pick.
In-reply-to: uk02700@mik.uky.edu's message of 3 Sep 92 17:14:11 GMT
X-Get-A-Clue: Have two, they're small.
X-Signature-Virus-Protection: Version 1.51
X-Posting-Software: GNUS 3.14.1 [ NNTP-based News Reader for GNU Emacs ]

>>>>> "mef" == mitchell e french <uk02700@mik.uky.edu> writes:

>KJ> Do lupine physicly enter the Umbra?

>Common sense time: no, of course they don't.

mef> 	Hmmm....that's odd....Then how come it says that the distance
mef> travelled in the Umbra translates into distance travelled in the "Real
mef> World" (tm) ?  

Because the distance is the same. Ten miles in the "Real World" is ten
miles in Umbra. Even if ten physical miles does not equate 1:1 to ten Umbra
miles, they are *relatively* the same from a traveller's perspective.

mef> 	Personally, I think they *do* physically enter the Umbra.  They've
mef> already got 'teleporters' (ie the Moon Bridges).  Why shouldn't they be
mef> able to enter a higher reality?

With a powerful gift, I certainly think it might be possible to use the
Umbra as a means to physically move from point A to point B. But I doubt if
*all* Garou would be capable of this, and not commonly. Otherwise they'd
use that ability far more often, especially the eco-terrorist types.

--Rat

||||| | | | |  |  |  |   |   |    |    |    |   |   |  |  |  |  | | | | | |||||
                                                   __        ___ 
Richard Pieri, Northeastern's Stainless Steel Rat/   | /| / /   | The Worlds
Internet: ratinox@meceng.coe.northeastern.edu   /__  |/ |/ / /| | Welfare Works
    UUCP: ...!northeastern.edu!meceng!ratinox  /   | /| / / / | | Association:
  BITNET: UA_RLP@NUHUB{.BITNET}               /__  |/ |/ / /  | | I will solve
  USNail: 14 Westdale RD  Holbrook, MA 02343 /   | /| / / /___| | any problem
 ICBMnet: 42 deg 1 min N, 71 deg 0 min W    /    |/ |/ /_//_____| for you.
From: millerl@wharton.upenn.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Looking for "women's" rpg.
Date: 6 Sep 92 16:48:00 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Newt World Order

Let's talk about the kinds of RPG that might interest more women than current
roleplaying systems do. Something that caught my attention earlier, and it may
not have been in this thread, was that the diceless Amber rpg was more
attractive to women than rpgs with lots of dice. I think this was anectdotal
evidence from some tournament or another. Anyway, I can easily understand this
given the aversion to numbers exhibited by many women.

Let's try to assemble a number of characteristics of a roleplaying game that
might fbe attractive to non-roleplaying women, and later try to make it
attractive to men and women who already roleplay.


I'll start.

1. Less dice rolling. Ideal would be no dice rolling, since that way you know
what you can do and don't have to mess around with probability theory to
predict your character's capacities.

2. Less emphasis on violence and mayhem. In most rpgs the biggest section of
the rules is the combat section. This alienates many people, especially women,
who don't want to worry about murder and warfare when they're just trying to
relax.

3. Mechanics that emphasize *role*playing and perhaps problem-solving rather
than power trip stuff and board-game style play. I think the best way to do
this is to remove other distractions, but there may be some positive steps as
well.


What other aspects of play or design should be emphasized or de-emphasized in
order to attract non-roleplayer women to our games?

-- 
whoah,
+++++++++++++++++++++++23
Loren Miller                           internet: MILLERL@wharton.upenn.edu
The more corrupt the government, the greater the number of laws -- Tacitus
From: woodhams@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Michael Woodhams)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: GURPS Combat - Step & Wait vs. All Out Attack
Date: 12 Sep 92 17:23:28 GMT
Organization: Princeton University Observatory
Originator: news@nimaster

In article <1992Sep11.200317.6004@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM> jjohnson@ccscola.Columbia.NCR.COM (Jeffrey H. Johnson) writes:

[discussion of all out attacks - no defenses lasts until end of this
turn, or until all out attacker makes another action]

>We played the way Marsh describes at first, until we noticed that the player
>who goes last could take an all-out attack at no penalty, since he would be
>able to defend immediately after his attack, since it was the beginning of a
>new turn.

You could say that anyone who has made an active defense this turn has
forfited their right to make an all out attack. It still helps the
slow people a little, as they can abort the decision to all out attack
any time until they swing. e.g. consider a fast and slow fighter
dealing with an unexpected attack: El Fasto the famous elven fencer makes
an all out attack at the start of the round and skewers his opponent
through the left eye socket, then the Slice N. Dice the Barbarian
comes out of hiding in the bushes with a battle axe steps out and makes
El Fasto coleslaw. "Tank" Sherman, the dwarf in a can, doesn't defend
against a fencer, intending to all out attack. Slice comes out, and
Tank decides to use those active defenses after all.
From: v054nn84@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Foto...Taking pictures again, and Happy for it!)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Let's talk REAL sci-Fi systems
Date: 12 Sep 92 08:25:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Sep11.140011.102@gems.vcu.edu>, porterg@gems.vcu.edu writes...
> 
>If the system is *much* more realistic than all others, I think a side by
>side comparison is in order, to convince the net.public of the truth.  Using
>examples we can all imagine, and hope to not personally experience.
> 
>1.      A medium caliber pistol hit (9mm or .45) to the unarmored head.
>2.      A medium caliber rifle bullet (7.62mm) to the unarmored torso.
>3.      A broadsword swung by an average person to the unprotected neck.
>4.      And of course, a plasma cannon (equivalent to a RPG-7) to the groin.
> 
>As the author of TimeLords, I of course will open my own system to comparison,
>and further suggest we add GURPS, Hero System, and Twilight:2000 to the list
>(as a control point, maybe we should throw in Macho Women w/Guns as well).
> 
>If anyone else has systems to add to this list, please post them.  And as to
>the "objective" reviewer of BL23c, it is time to put up or shut up.
> 
>Greg Porter
>BTRC
Greg,

    I would like to include Star Wars to your comparison list, but I don't
think it would work...not enough weapons for comparative purposes.. ;)
Seriously, before I try to include any other systems into the discussion I
want to ask if, for the sake of the debate, the systems do not have all of
the weapons will they be discounted? I have to be honest, I have run only a
couple of Sci-Fi systems in my time (Alpha Dawn and Star Wars) and don't recall
seeing too many plasma cannon in the others I have looked at.  You idea of 
a consistant framework for the discussion is a good one so I hesitate to
jump out of the boundaries so quickly.

Skeksis
From: dlaird@terapin.com (Delbert Laird)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: ARTISTS
Date: 7 Sep 92 22:48:51 PST
Organization: BBS


Attention artists:
 
Maelstrom Hobby, a start-up RPG design company, is presently looking for
several artists to solicit samples of their talent in horror and science
fiction for possible contract work.  Prospective artists should be able to
take self-direction in addition to specific assignments and be able to draw and
ink both action (with and without multiple characters) in addition to single
character poses.
 
For immediate consideration, please submit a minimum of 3 original (photo-
copied) samples of your work to the address listed below.  (Should you have
skills with color or airbrush, please make a note of it when sending samples.)
 
 
MAELSTROM HOBBY
ATTN:  Delbert Laird
2660 Lassen Way
Pinole, Ca. 94564-1137
From: hsr@physics.ucla.edu (Harisankar Ramishan)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: RPG Fiction
Keywords: RPG fiction, drivel
Date: 15 Sep 92 22:09:35 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: UCLA Department of Physics

In <3607@bcstec.ca.boeing.com> hall@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Robert J. Hall) writes:
>Good post, and I agree with much of what you wrote. The primary reason I enjoy
>some of the RPG Pulp out there is that it sometimes helps to fill out the
>game world in a manner that many of the RPG supplements fail to do. 
>Unfortunately, many of the pulp RPG novels fail even at this modest task.

> Bob Hall,                 | "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

I think the reason I have for reading the few rpg based novels I have ... is
that they give me a feel for the world. Not details exactly. Rather, I now
know what kinds of things priests did in Forgotten Realms. How much did
they charge? What is the attitude of mercenaries towards the clergy? What
is the status of nobility in such a land were mages and clerics are far
more powerful people? How common is human-elven marriage? Is it invariably
human nobility with elven commoner? And what happens when the human part
of the couple pops off anyhow?

[Incidentally, this has always bothered me about the Paksennarian books. We
are told that the 'joint kingdom' of Lyonya (or whatever) had elven blood
in the king's line. So an elven maid (only 900 years old!) comes traipsing
up and marries this heir to the throne. After 80 years ... husband dies. She
is a widow. How do elves (who live essentially forever) handle this? Does
she pine away and die? Does she go back and remain a widow forever? Or does
she, duty done, go back and get back into the swing of elven singles clubs? 
And horrors, does she come back and marry her grandson a hundred years hence?
There just aren't that many elves after all! Inbreeding must be fierce in the
royal line :^]

It is the style of the world that I look for in these books. Not the rules
or details, which I always tend to modify wholesale.

hari
hsr@uclaph.physics.ucla.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
From: davis@cwis.unomaha.edu (James J Davis)
Subject: Re: Let's talk REAL sci-Fi systems
Keywords: The best
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 08:31:53 GMT

cleggp@aix.rpi.edu (Paul Jason Clegg) writes:

>1)  The rules were designs to encompass as many possible genres as possible.
>Examples are GURPS and the Hero System.  Some work (I've never played GURPS,
>so no comment there), and some don't (Hero System).  The Hero System was 
>originally intended to be a superhero game, and so its systems are designed
>for that (and I like Champions a LOT), but they don't work in the "generic"
>role.

A fact of games is that they all have specialties.  GURPS and Hero have
notable specialties.  But, I'd hardly say Hero does not work as a generic
system.  I've got too many hours of watching it do pretty well at any
task I put it to to say that.  Some of the non-champions games in Hero
System I've played include: secret agents ('real' and cinematic), monster
hunters, fantasy, space opera, Victorian era, the pulps, espers, hope I
didn't forget one.  I am just noting that it might not have performed to
your expectations when you played it, but my long-ish experience says
otherwise.  I'm hardly all knowing, but I didn't feel that those games
didn't work.

-james
From: mancinis@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (steven mancini)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Background Count (Was: SRUN: Questions from the Minotaur)
Date: 5 Sep 92 00:01:25 GMT
Organization: The Labyrinth

In article <186um6INNgnp@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> at731@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Troy L. Nothnagel) writes:
>
>In a previous article, mstorer@ponder.csci.unt.edu (Mark) says:
>
>>A spell that created a background count shounld be too complicated either...
>
>Quite easy, actually.  Just waltz in twenty or thirty of your favorite
>enemies and torture them to death.  Guaranteed background count.
>
>-- 
>Troy L. Nothnagel                                                      
>at731@cleveland.Freenet.Edu                                            
>"And for a gorilla, his English wasn't half bad." - Den of Earth
>"No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time-a!" - Guard, MP&tHG

Actually, I had a team develop a safe house once. They went in search of
the best target. They found a child-molester who happened to also be a
catholic priest. The Samurai took the guy into the cellar and proceeded to
torture him for about 2-3 weeks straight. In the end he soaked the blood
into the wood walls, then took the bones, ground them into a fine powder
and mixed it in with the paint that now covers the walls...

Needless to say, our astrallly actives do NOT like the cellar.

							-Minotaur


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| Steve Mancini (a.k.a. The Minotaur) | mancinis@mentor.cc.purdue.edu   |
|    Grad Student {Dazed & Confused}  | mancini@vm.cc.purdue.edu        |
|    Political Science Department     | phi@sage.cc.purdue.edu		| 
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| "We are in a Universe with more and more information, and less and    |
|  less meaning." - Jean Beaudrillard					|  
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Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc