HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dgreen@jarthur.claremont.edu (David Green)
Subject: Shocking swords?
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 05:08:18 GMT

How unbalancing do people think it would be to throw in another type of ego
weapon: one that does lightning damage to a creature?  (My thought on the
matter would be to call it SF--storm forged--but there're probably better
ideas out there. :)
-- 
dgreen@jarthur.claremont.edu		        	   David "Mishael" Green
		    Have you scritched your local Furry today? 
************************Who ordered the muon? -- I. I. Rabi*********************
  I have not been appointed Judge, Jury, or Executioner by God.  Just witness.
From: mjb@acsu.buffalo.edu (Matthew J. Bernhardt)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Polymorphing AMHD's
Date: 24 Nov 92 00:54:48 GMT
Organization: UB

rages@pan.arc.nasa.gov (kathy rages) writes:

>The other day I got flame-broiled while trying to polymorph an AMHD into
>something less formidable.  I have concluded from this experiment that
>the procedure has too high a failure rate to be advisable in these
>circumstances, but I'm still curious to know whether it's possible.
>Is there any chance at all of turning an AMHD, EL, etc. into a happy
>singing drunk or a blubbering idiot?

	Absolutely.  The only problem with Polymorph Other is that it fails
more often than not on high level creatures (e.g. AMHDs).
	There is another item that will do the job, however: the Staff of
Mass Polymorph.  While you will have to go deep down (around 2000 ft and down)
to find it, it has a useful property: no saving throw.
-- 
Matt Bernhardt
University of Buffalo            If it is to be, it is up to me.
mjb@acsu.buffalo.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: cmarble@cbrown.claremont.edu (Chris Marble)
Subject: Beginner Moria questions
Organization: Harvey Mudd College
Date: 18 Nov 92 14:57:02 PDT

Okay, I'm about as new at Moria as can be, only picked up the game
last week, so be prepared for some beginner questions.
 Are random skeletons that I find around worth keeping?  I pick them up
figuring that if something gets stolen by a Rogue it might be them.
 Are characters assumed to be normal speed unless the character
description says otherwise?  It doesn't matter how much I'm carrying
until I get slowed?
 Are Half-Troll priests probably the easiest character to start with?
 Is there anything one can do if there's no Pick or Shovel in the
General Store?  Tunnelling takes too long without either.
-- 
    Chris Marble - Publicist for Amiga Tech Users Group (ATUG)
     Unemployed engineer so my opinions must not matter much.
From: petitc@nuge109.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Mages Priests -- the battle continues
Keywords: Mage kick priest
Date: 18 Nov 92 18:32:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: rpi.r!y19sd
Reply-To: petitc@rpi.edu
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.

In article <$d#@byu.edu>, ash@zapotec.math.byu.edu (ashworth nathan) writes:
|> 
|> 
|> I've read several article measuring priests up to mages.   I do know that mages  
|> can get Experience points faster than any other class.  In one day of playing  
|> my character went from Level 29 to 33. This was accomplished by using my  
|> polymorph spell at the town level AND by using a wand of clone monster and  
|> sveral spells of recharging.  The results were 70 YGD, 35MBD, 2ABD and a wide  
|> assortment of several high level monsters equaling about 180,000 exp. 

Yeah, that's true.  But what about the good ol' AMHD you summoned up?
It's a risk, and if you take it, and win, you deserve the rewards.
Any class can take risks like this---just go REAL DEEP into Moria.  So,
it's a bit easier for Mages.  So what?  If  a Priest yanks out his Orb, he
can do around 80 points of damage PER ORB to ANY evil critter.  Just try that
against a MMHD and see how USEFUL it is.  And, of course, there is the Glyph, and
Heal prayers...

|>   Now I've never played a priest, but I know he cannot cast polymorph or  
|> Recharging and if he wanted to do what I did above he would have to hoard up  
|> several scrolls of recharging and  a wand of polymorph and clone monster.  If I  
|> was Priest I would still be bumming around at level 25 or so -- hacking away  
|> monsters.

I don't think so.  Priests advance more quickly, and they can go Dragon
hunting VERY soon---when they get their Orb, bye bye dragons... Not to mention
Resist Heat/Cold.

|>   Another point is that the Indentify spell is far more useful than anti-mage  
|> proponents give it credit for.  I just don't understand how people can really  
|> think priests are so much better than mages.

The Idenfity spell is VERY useful, I'll agree.  But, then again, if you're high
level, just stock up on Scrolls of Idenfity.  Only difference there is that (1)
the Scrolls take an inventory slot, and (2) The scrolls can be burned away.
  
Also, the really hardy races (Dwarves, Half-Orcs, Half-Trolls) can be Priests.
This offsets the Priest's lack of Strength.  I mean, really, I rolled up and
won with a Priest who had, to start, 18 Str and 18 Wis (after adjustments).
It takes patience, but I don't think a Mage EVER gets decent Str (Potions of
Gain Strength not withstanding).

Don't get me wrong---I love mages.  But, this is why priests can be more powerful
than Mages.  They just require a different playing style.

-- 
 *HUGS*, a @>---'--,----, and a :&) to whoever needs them.
"Whoever said that life was fair never read the rules, and found out that
there were none."
"Mysteries are for detectives; confusion is what the rest of us get."
From: hemlock@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (Bleeding Rivets)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: If the Balrog is too wimpy ...
Summary: King of the Mountain (under the Mountain)
Keywords: Lock, Tumbler, Pins
Date: 21 Nov 92 03:38:30 GMT
Organization: University of California; Santa Cruz
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucscb.ucsc.edu


My suggestion:  
To ascend to King, you must kill the old King!

Have the Win Monster be whoever killed the Win Monster the last time; that 
is, have the game generate a 'p' with the same characteristics and abilities 
that the winner of the last game had.   Same speed, resistances, etc. and so 
on.  % of time for spellcasting could be fudged by looking at mana and rate of 
mana regeneration.

The first Win Monster would have to be the Balrog of course.

that would be bitchin' fun to see how long your king would last ...
he could be on the scoreboard as  "Reigning King" until toppled, at which
point his score entry would read, "Killed By Usurper".

hemlock@ucscb.ucsc.edu

-- 
"The possessed's mad speech is the higher wisdom of the world, since it is 
human...Why have we not yet acquired this insight in relation to the world
of the free will?  Because outwardly we are the masters of madness, because
the insane are violated by us, and we hinder them from living according to
their ethical laws...Now we must endeavor to overcome the dead point in our
relationship to insanity."       --Wieland Herzfelde, 1914
Organization: Sophomore, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 11:42:44 -0500 
From: David Reeve Sward <sward+@CMU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Priests

Excerpts from netnews.rec.games.moria: 20-Nov-92 Priests by John
Carpenter@birch.gvs 
> I also started a Half-Troll priest and now have him up to level 15 and  
> rising fast.  But I do have one problem with him.  He still has three  
> first level spells he still has NOT learned and I was wondering if this is  
> normal.  When I played Moria version 4.873 and you were a priest you got  
> to pick the spells you learned and I assumed that was true for 5.5 and I  
> was WRONG.  I do like my priest though.  He can really pound on some EVIL  
> monsters with his War Hammer (3d3) (SE) (+3,+5) I found at only 200 ft!!

Get your wisdom to go up and you'll learn the spells you don't know yet.
From: angus@hardy.u.washington.edu (Angus the Demonchild)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Level Draining Monsters
Date: 18 Nov 92 18:29:01 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov18.182901.15982
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

In article <squire.722069379@rintintin.Colorado.EDU>
squire@rintintin.Colorado.EDU (SQUIRE JOEL NATHAN) writes:
>	Is there any reason to kill these things? After I drink a
>potion of restore life levels, I go back to the experience I was at
>BEFORE I killed them. What gives?

You're drinking the potion too late.  Wait until the monster is just
about to snuff it, drink the potion, then get in the killing blow.  If
you're worried about it draining you after you've quaffed the potion,
well that's what wands and crossbows are for.

--
>				Sabrina -- 25th level Half-elf Paladin.

Disclaimer:  I could be wrong.  It wouldn't be the first time.

another fine product from the house of angst
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: rages@pan.arc.nasa.gov (kathy rages)
Subject: Polymorphing AMHD's
Organization: NASA-Ames, Space Sciences Div.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 20:57:12 GMT

The other day I got flame-broiled while trying to polymorph an AMHD into
something less formidable.  I have concluded from this experiment that
the procedure has too high a failure rate to be advisable in these
circumstances, but I'm still curious to know whether it's possible.
Is there any chance at all of turning an AMHD, EL, etc. into a happy
singing drunk or a blubbering idiot?

Kathy Rages
From: aarons@yang.earlham.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: To B(alance) or not to B(alance)?
Date: 19 Nov 92 05:48:02 GMT
Organization: Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana

Hello, Everyone.
	All this talk of Moria has naturally made me want to get back home 
where I can play it!
	Talk of beefing up certain classes makes me wonder why different 
races and classes came into existence. I would think that, and if I 
remember the rules to Moria 4.87 (or somewhere around there), they stated
(inferentially or directly) that, the idea was to provide different skill 
levels. So why bother helping classes out? Or, if I read you all 
correctly, should we try to balance all the classes and limit the skill 
differences to race (and sex, i.e., inventory limits)?

					Yours sincerely,
					Aaron G. Stock
					runner of Mungo, the Ration King
					(always finds 'em)
					Half-Troll Warrior (20something Level)
-- 
Aaron G. Stock          |          Ace Pumpkin
aarons@yang.earlham.edu | Peter Gabriel Fan and Abalone Player
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
419 Redman Avenue|"And in this moment, I need to be needed
Haddonfield, NJ	 | When my self-esteem is sinking, I like to be liked
08033-2611       | In this emptiness and fear, I want to be wanted
Nov.27 to Dec.31 | 'Cos I love to be loved, I love to be loved" -Peter Gabriel
From: smidt@fy.chalmers.se (Peter Smidt)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: New Tough Monster
Date: 20 Nov 92 09:44:11 GMT
Organization: Chalmers University of Technology




 Name        : Maaniker                Age          :     15   STR : 18/100
 Race        : Human                   Height       :     71   INT : 18/100
 Sex         : Male                    Weight       :    182   WIS : 18/100
 Class       : Mage                    Social Class :     16   DEX : 18/100
 Title       : **KING**                                        CON : 18/100
                                                               CHR : 18/100

 + To Hit    :     13        Level      :     78    Max Hit Points :    363
 + To Damage :     16        Experience : 7309789    Cur Hit Points :    363
 + To AC     :     44        Max Exp    : 7309789    Max Mana       :    153
   Total AC  :     86        Exp to Adv : 29555613    Cur Mana       :    153
                             Gold       : 828104

(Miscellaneous Abilities)

 Fighting    : Superb       Stealth     : Excellent    Perception  : Superb
 Bows/Throw  : Superb       Disarming   : Superb       Searching   : Very Good
 Saving Throw: Superb       Magic Device: Superb       Infra-Vision: 0 feet

Character Background
 You are one of several children of a Serf.  You are a
 credit to the family.  You have blue-gray eyes, straight
 red hair, and an average complexion.
 

  [Character's Equipment List]

  a) You are wielding   : a Morningstar (DF) (2d6) (+7,+10) [+8] (+3 to stealth).
  b) Worn on head       : a Steel Helm [6,+5].
  c) Worn around neck   : an Amulet of the Magi [+3] (+20).
  d) Worn on body       : Full Plate Armor (R) (-3) [25,+9].
  e) Worn on shield arm : a Large Metal Shield [5,+4].
  f) Worn on hands      : a Set of Gauntlets of Free Action [2,+3].
  g) Right ring finger  : a Ring of Speed (+1).
  h) Left  ring finger  : a Ring of Speed (+1).
  i) Worn on feet       : a Pair of Hard Leather Boots of Stealth [3,+3] (+2).
  j) Worn about body    : a Cloak [1,+4].
  k) Light source is    : a Brass Lantern with 13257 turns of light.
  l) Secondary weapon   : a Two-Handed Sword (Claymore) (SE) (3d6) (+10,+17).


  [General Inventory List]

a) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Beginners-Magik].
b) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Magik I].
c) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Magik II].
d) 2 Books of Magic Spells [The Mages Guide to Power].
e) 2 Mushrooms of Restoring.
f) 14 Rations of Food.
g) 10 Flasks of oil.
h) 4 Potions of Restore Life Levels.
i) a Potion of Resist Heat.
j) 20 Potions of Restore Mana.
k) 15 Potions of Invulnerability.
l) 12 Potions of Healing.
m) 22 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds.
n) 4 Scrolls of Word-of-Recall.
o) 20 Scrolls of Magic Mapping.
p) 5 Scrolls of Rune of Protection.
q) 20 Scrolls of Teleport Level.
r) a Staff of Detect Invisible (27 charges).
s) a Staff of Summoning (2 charges).
t) Rusty Chain Mail (R) (-5) [14,-2].
u) 2 Wooden Torches with 4000 turns of light.
v) some shards of pottery.


-- 
+=======================================+
"The whole valley is like a smorgasbord."
					-- TREMORS
Organization: Junior, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
From: Virginia.A.Reed@dartmouth.edu (Virginia A. Reed)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Town Riot
Date: 21 Nov 92 18:11:42 GMT
 <1764@prlhp1.prl.philips.co.uk>
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
X-Posted-From: InterNews1.0a5@newshost.dartmouth.edu

Yeah, but resting for a long time in the town level is FUN!  Not only
can you rake in a lot of $$ (if there's an ego weapon in a shop and you
can't afford it), if you have a polymorph wand or spell, or a summon
monster scroll, you can gain a lot of experiance points.  Just make
sure you stay by the steps so you can go down if you create an Emperor
Lich or something you're not ready for yet.  You do, however, have to
be carefull about resting too long.  I usually make 5000 to 10000 turns
my maximum, or there are too many people to handle at once....

-Karen Reed
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: nwang@black.clarku.edu (The freak)
Subject: Bashing
Organization: Clark University (Worcester, MA)
Date: 18 Nov 92 16:58:56 GMT


Run into 2 Ancient dragon in the same room today. I recall someone said
he killed 4 AMHDs using bashing?  So I tried and got a message "the
<whatever> ignores your bashing".  I can't find anything in the manuel
that says this, so what's the deal?

Thanks in advance.

Andy
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: abaddon@supr.scm.liv.ac.uk (Kevin o donovan)
Subject: Moria ftp sites
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 16:37:18 +0000

What ftp sites contain the sources for the latest version of Moria? The latest
version I've found for my machine (Atari ST) is 5.22, and I quite fancy
compiling my own version.

TIA,
Kev
From: mbfeld@unix.amherst.edu (Lorenzo the Magnificent)
Subject: IDEA FOR NEW MONSTER
Organization: Amherst College
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 03:52:23 GMT



I am not a programmer, so I couldn't add this creature to my own game, but
here are the rough details...

The Coven Master

Worth maybe 3000-4000 for a l. 40 character
Has maximized life rating of 40d20
Drains experience and terrifies in hand-to-hand combat
Teleports its prey often
Casts "cause critical wounds" (NOTE: Does he have to be in a line with you
for this to work?  I'm counting on the fact that he doesn't.)
Casts spells to blind
Evil (of course)

He would be hell to beat.  He'd keep you out of a line with him by teleporting
you, and causing critical on you all the time (I ASSUME this works).

Marlon
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 10:46:45 MST
From: ash@zapotec.math.byu.edu (ashworth nathan)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Mages Priests -- the battle continues
Keywords: Mage kick priest



I've read several article measuring priests up to mages.   I do know that mages  
can get Experience points faster than any other class.  In one day of playing  
my character went from Level 29 to 33. This was accomplished by using my  
polymorph spell at the town level AND by using a wand of clone monster and  
sveral spells of recharging.  The results were 70 YGD, 35MBD, 2ABD and a wide  
assortment of several high level monsters equaling about 180,000 exp. 

  Now I've never played a priest, but I know he cannot cast polymorph or  
Recharging and if he wanted to do what I did above he would have to hoard up  
several scrolls of recharging and  a wand of polymorph and clone monster.  If I  
was Priest I would still be bumming around at level 25 or so -- hacking away  
monsters.

  Another point is that the Indentify spell is far more useful than anti-mage  
proponents give it credit for.  I just don't understand how people can really  
think priests are so much better than mages.

-Nathan-- Gandolfin, the level 33 mage
 p.s.-- If some young mages out there want a detailed description of the  
polymorph/clone/kill'em strategy speak up.
From: carpente@birch.gvsu.edu (John Carpenter)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Priests
Date: 20 Nov 92 14:26:55 GMT
Organization: Grand Valley State University


I also started a Half-Troll priest and now have him up to level 15 and  
rising fast.  But I do have one problem with him.  He still has three  
first level spells he still has NOT learned and I was wondering if this is  
normal.  When I played Moria version 4.873 and you were a priest you got  
to pick the spells you learned and I assumed that was true for 5.5 and I  
was WRONG.  I do like my priest though.  He can really pound on some EVIL  
monsters with his War Hammer (3d3) (SE) (+3,+5) I found at only 200 ft!!
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: petitc@nuge109.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit)
Subject: Re: Bashing
Reply-To: petitc@rpi.edu
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 18:34:52 GMT

In article <nwang.722105936@black.clarku.edu>, nwang@black.clarku.edu (The freak) writes:
|> 
|> Run into 2 Ancient dragon in the same room today. I recall someone said
|> he killed 4 AMHDs using bashing?  So I tried and got a message "the
|> <whatever> ignores your bashing".  I can't find anything in the manuel
|> that says this, so what's the deal?

  First off, the Balrog cannot be bashed.  Other than that, I think the guy
killed an AMHD by (1) Bashing it, and then (2) Hitting it, and repeating.

  Also, Bash ability depends strongly on your weight and what shield you have
on.  If you're playing a Halfling Mage, don't expect to bash for much use.

-- 
 *HUGS*, a @>---'--,----, and a :&) to whoever needs them.
"Whoever said that life was fair never read the rules, and found out that
there were none."
"Mysteries are for detectives; confusion is what the rest of us get."



Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: cgarnett@unix.amherst.edu (Craig Garnett)
Subject: Re: Somebody Port BOSS to the Mac!
Organization: Amherst College
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 22:32:49 GMT

CHUCK WILLIAMS (34A6J53@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU) wrote:
: Hello Morians,
: 
: I would like to start by saying I LOVE MORIA!  Unfortunately classes,
: work, sleep and the girlfriend prohibit me from playing it 24 HOURS A
: DAY.  Enter BOSS, a "faster" version of Moria.  I was dismayed to
: learn it was only available for a VMS platform.  Well gentlemen and
: gentlewomen, I feel the time has come for BOSS to come out of the
: closet.  Who will take on the challenge?  Has someone already?  Is
: there a BOSS for the Mac out there somewhere hiding in the shadows?
: I would even attempt to convert it given the VMS source code but that
: too eludes me.  SO,  is anyone working on it?  enlighten me.
: 
It's written in Pascal for VMS. Porting it is going to be a real
pain.... :)

-C
From: v084nqtk@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Michael A Moreback)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: How to play Moria
Date: 22 Nov 92 07:03:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41


     I just got a vax account and started reading this news file.  I 
found it extremely interesting and would like to know how to enter the 
game.  Please E-mail me if possible.  Thanks.
                                 Michael Moreback
                                 V084nqtk@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
From: pl297722@academ01.mty.itesm.mx (RODRIGUEZ RIZO VICTOR MANUEL)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: about compiling moria (pc) & adding stuff...
Summary: I compiled it but how do you add items
Date: 22 Nov 92 00:55:26 GMT

Hi every one!

  With all the talk about Great Swords, new monster, and modifying
the Balrog, I decided to try to compile Moria. I found it very 
easy to do, just got the source from KSU (5.4 ibm color), launched
BC++ 2.0, loaded the project file, and it was done.

  I was able to modify the items appearing in the game, but
I have no idea on how do add new items. I would really appreciate
any help anyone can give me.
  
  I have been playing around with the source code. First, I found
in KSU an archive named moria.patch.no.barter, but it turned out
a patch to enhance the look command (it tells you if the creature is
asleep, and how healthy it is).     
  Then I tried the Great Sword, and created a couple of my own.   
I eveN got it to emit light (normal light, unfortunately).
  Right now I'm trying to do some new classes of ego weapons. I just 
finished the class (S) with slay animal, dragon, evil, undead; but
I'm not yet sure, even though it works, I have taken into account
everything that should have been.
        
  I also modified an armor, to be something like "a Mithril Something
Armor [+x, +y]". Note there is no (-to hit), and it is also very light-
weight. I really think Mithril armors should appear in new versions of
Moria. Remember Bilbo, and then Frodo carried a shirt made with it.


  Well, so long...

 
36th level elf Mage, looking for those @#$ evil iggies who keep hiding...

(my name is Victor Rodriguez, I'm a student in Monterrey, Mexico.
 I welcome any e-mail at pl297722@academ01.mty.itesm.mx)  
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
From: lim@pecan.cns.udel.edu (Julie Lim)
Subject: Non-weapon damage
Organization: University of Delaware, Newark
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 17:19:24 GMT


	How is damage calculated when you lob non-weapon items at monsters? I've
been merrily hurling empty chests, spikes, and extra Rings of Speed at critters,
just to keep the items from clogging the game's memory-- is damage from these
things based strictly on weight? And what's the exact relationship between how
much something weighs and how far you can throw it?


-- 
Coming soon: lim@graphics.rent.com
Please direct mail to this new address. I need a reason to use my local
(and free, as far as my phone bill goes) account. Murky buckets.
From: smidt@fy.chalmers.se (Peter Smidt)
Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: Re: Class Balancing (Are These Reasonable?)
Date: 20 Nov 92 09:50:20 GMT
Organization: Chalmers University of Technology

In article <reynolds.722127483@judy.cs.iastate.edu> reynolds@cs.iastate.edu (Owen Reynolds) writes:
>
>The only thing I really care about at 2400'
>is not getting killed by an AMHD from off the screen.

Type 'W' and you can move around the screen and possibly avoid
AMHD's off the screen.


-- 
+=======================================+
"The whole valley is like a smorgasbord."
					-- TREMORS
Organization: Junior, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA