Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: how to imprison a psionicist ?
From: engf002@csc.canterbury.ac.nz
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 00:48:52 GMT
Organization: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

>>Jorge A. Diaz suggests locking a helmet on to stop psionicists escaping 
>>(since on page 16 of the Psi handbook it states no psi powers with 
>>helmets).
>>And Seawasp replies:
>>>	Maybe because most people looked at the rule that says "helms
>>>shut off psis" and realized how ridiculous that rule is, and jettisoned
>>>the rule [ because it panders to the semi-mythical beast game balance 
>>>and that he requires a reason ]. 

>> You can apply this sort of "black/white reasoning" to almost
>>facet of the game. 

>	And I do.

A few black/white examples of various DND spells and rules follow and 
Seawasp ripostes them with his heavily modified spells and rules...

But now you are not really playing DND anymore? Your 
"proportional HP functioning variances" [I presume abilities
drop off proportionally to damage taken] is a way off the DND 
line.

But then you could argue that the DND rules are exactly what the 
DM says and that noone plays DND totally "by the book" - this
I totally agree with you. But let us continue...

>>As to your "semi-mythical beast Game Balance", yes it is 
>>important. Why not let fighters have a D100 for hit points? Why 
>>not make Fireball a level one spell? Let's say that all paladins 
>>get D6 wishes each day.
>
>	That's not a case for game balance. The reason I don't do such 
>things (in general... I recall one first level fighter with 75 HP
>a few years back, but he happened to have rolled well and was lucky
>enough to be playing a dragon) is that I require a REASON. 

Point taken, I now agree Game Balance is not in itself a reason 
for a rule, but what is your definition of "REASON". I could
come up with ten "reasons" why psis cannot wear helmets. You
might point out that some of them are contrived and I would agree
with you, but this does not matter. If you take any
action/reaction/event/phenomenon in the DND world and keep saying
"give me a reason" to every answer the DM gives, you are
eventually going to get the arbitrary and contrived answer
"because it is" or "because I said so". 

Take one of the examples:
Decay at the end of the magic missile "binding projective energy
sheath" - an interesting idea. What kind of decay is it?
What function do you use? Exponential? 1/X? 1/X^3? 
What is the "reason" for the function chosen? 

Say, because the ionized air molecules in the beam exhibit these 
properties.
Why?
Because when the magically excited electrons in the nitrogen
atoms jump down to the lower energy state, they emit a high
energy photon which collides with another molecule ionizing it. 
Why?
Because it does.

Or
Why do helmets disrupt psionicists?
Because the psi's scalp gets very hot and an exposed head is
required for the cooling. This is also why psis must be shaved
bald. This is also why psis can dunk their heads in the pot 
to boil water for Adventurers' coffee when firewood is short.
So psis cannot use their powers in hot climes?
Only when they wear the Psi-patented "no hands" sun umbrella with 
the built-in solar-powered fan.
Why not use a helmet with cooling vents drilled in it?
Because then you get "spot" cooling and stress fractures appear 
in the psi's skull.
Why not build a helm with a fridge-type cooling mechanism built in?
We are working on it but the Wizards' Guild has a monopoly on the 
freon.
Why does the brain get hot?
From all the extra mental activity required.
But why does it do this?
Because I said so.

Andrew Earl
-- Many pages make thick book except for pocket-bibles which are 
   printed on very thin paper. --
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd