HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: boelter3945@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: A question about *Bracers*
Date: 31 Jul 92 14:37:18 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <31JUL199203500642@zeus.tamu.edu>, ess3791@zeus.tamu.edu (Storm)
writes:
> After reading a couple of the posts about how low can your AC go, I was
> reminded of something that has bothered me for awhile.  As a rule, how
> does everyone classify Bracers of Defence?  In other words, are they magical
> armor or just a misc. magic item that lowers AC?  I've always ruled that
> they are not magic armor and thus rings of protection can be used with them,
> but apparently everyone doesn't feel that way.  What do you think?
> -Storm

   Well, if you look up in the desc of Magic rings and (I think) cloaks of
protection, they specifically say that they can be used with Bracers. (This may
not be true in 2nd ed, but I remember reading it in first ed).

   This shows that they are not really armor per se (like a suit of chain
mail), but a magical item that lowers AC.

   That's what I think, and that's what I've always treated them as.

                                        John "Nightwind" Boelter

--
*******************************************************************************
* John Boelter        a.k.a. Nightwind            boelter3945@iscsvax.uni.edu *
* Organizational Manager and contact person for everything and then some.     *
*******************************************************************************
* The individual who said we only use 10%  * "I hit it with my Sword+10 of    *
* of our brain's mental capacity, was      *  Super Slaying" - "It laughs" -  *
* probably 90% incorrect.                  * "I give the DM the rest of my    *
*            -Unknown comic on A&E-        *  pizza" - *munch* "It dies"      *
*******************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: willimsa@unix1.tcd.ie (Gavin Williams)
Subject: Ftp site?
Organization: Trinity College, Dublin
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 16:31:27 GMT


What I'm looking for is an ftp site with interesting AD&D stuff.
E.G. Character generation programs for the PC, etc.

Also, I'm looking for teh net.books  

Any ideas?



Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: was28667@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (palamino)
Subject: Questions about liches and undead
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 20:45:55 GMT


If all this is covered in 2nd edition, I apologize for my ignorance...


Do undead reconstitute in any way (do they regain hit points)?  I could see
that animated dead (skeletons/zombies) wouldn't, but I would think that ghouls
or ghosts or any other undead that wouldn't be considered volitionless would
have some way of regaining hit points.

An answer to that may explain my second question...

I was reading through the chapters and appendices on garfield and there is 
a note in the Undead section that reads:

	2.   Each time a lich flees to its phylactery, it loses a
	level.  A 10th level lich will be destroyed if it returns to
	its phylactery.  To maintain itself, a lich must cast
 	Nulathoe's Ninemen on their phylacteries at least once every
	777 days.

But it never says WHY a lich would flee to its phylactery.  What does that do
for the lich, anyway?


Thanks in advance,
palamino
-- 

					 my .sig is in the shop for repairs. 
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou)
Subject: Re: New uses of dices...
Organization: Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Canada
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 05:06:17 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.130209.14114@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> cwatters@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Coyt D Watters) writes:



   How many GMs use a D10 as a "round counter" placed on the table at the onset
   of combat?  Until I get my electronic round counter built, this has been one
   of the handiest things I've learned from other GMs.  No more players trying
   to pull a 3/2 with 2 attacks a round.

Marvelous idea!!!

Here's another one: use your D10s as INITIATIVE counters.

When there's a fight, I often use individual inits. Having a couple extra
D10s means that I remember excatly at which segment everybody acts...

Paradak.
--
/---------------------------\
| Patrick "Paradak" Rannou. |
| Rannou@info.polymtl.ca    |
\---------------------------/

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: johnf@apollo.hp.com (John Francis)
Subject: Re: New uses of dices...
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 21:27:57 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Chelmsford, MA

In article <Brt5pw.L0s@apollo.hp.com> keary@apollo.HP.COM (Matt Keary) writes:
>We have a thief who often runs around invisibly, so it has been standard
>practice for some time now to put his figurine on a die to denote this
>status (anyone else, too, when they're invis)

No, No - you put a figure on a die (or stack of dice) to indicate flying.
Each d6 represents 10' of elevation. Finer-grain information can be shown
by the uppermost face of the top die.  The imaginative DM can also use
other types of dice, but I don't recommend a d4.
Invisibility is indicated by putting the figure inside a coke-bottle cap.

-- 
John (Would you like your figgin toasted?) Francis  johnf@apollo.hp.com
The world can be divided into two classes :-
 those who divide people into two classes, and those who don't.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: laruedm@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (David Larue)
Subject: Re: CHARACTERS WANTED
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 15:00:20 GMT

You said...

> I have a C progam that generates AD&D II characters.  I'm afraid
> if I post the program I may break some TSR copyright.  I would
> love to distribute it because I've spent 40 or 50 hours writing
> the program. Can I post this program?  Anyone from TSR have
> anything to say?

If you wrote it yourself then there is no problem passing it around.  Go
ahead, I'd like a copy too!  hehehe  But if TSR complains, tell them that
(a) you wrote it yourself, and (b) it's not their problem if someone
designs an easy way to generate characters...

-= Justin =-
From: jek@duke.cs.duke.edu (James E. Kittock)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Too many notes! (Was Re: New uses of dices...)
Date: 23 Jul 92 21:49:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: tyranno.711928182
Organization: Duke University Computer Science Dept.; Durham, N.C.

In article <92205.134844CC100PG@GITVM1.GATECH.EDU> CC100PG@GITVM1.GATECH.EDU (Paul Goodwin) writes:
>Excellent question!  Please, does anyone have a better way to handle private
>communication?
>
>A second note:  In a campaign (which I'm DMing for) I have a thief who likes
>to go on private intellegence-gathering missions, etc. and this can really
>slow down the game flow.  Anyone have any ideas for how to avoid slowing
>things down too much for the group in situations like this?

Assistant DM...  we had one in our last campaign.  It worked pretty
well for a lot of things that are traditionally difficult: split up
parties, huge battles, etc.  I think he got bored just being assistant
DM, though.

To remedy this, I think the following might work: select a trusted
player.  This person would essentially be "in" on everything in terms
of plot (at least short-term) & environment.  They would have a
character, but because of the vast player knowledge, their character
would be an NPC for all intents and purposes.  Then, the person could
play but also act as an assistant DM whenever necessary.  I plan to
try this the next time I run a campaign.

--james
-- 
James Kittock   --   Duke class of 1992    --    Computer Science/Mathematics 
jek@cs.duke.edu | mcnc!duke!jek | PO Box 5750, Duke Station, Durham, NC 27706
"Yes, I will kiss the girl from Venus for science." - They Might be Giants
From: smayo@wang.com (Scott Mayo)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: How many dice?
Keywords: dice
Date: 24 Jul 92 16:27:53 GMT
Organization: Wang Labs, Lowell MA, USA

keary@apollo.HP.COM (Matt Keary) writes:

>How 'bout this...

>if you flip as many dice as the number you are trying to get, and
>add all the heads you get : 1...1...1...1...1...0...1...1!  I rolled 7! almost
>max damage!
>   Then as your dXX (whatever you are rolling) gets bigger, you'll have
>to flip a large # of coins, but it will be a _defined_ large number, as 
>opposed to an *arbitrary* one.  :=)

Bzzzt. But thank you for playing!

You are proposing using 7d2-7 to simulate 1d7. There is a slight problem.
1d7 has a flat distribution; 3 should be as likely as 7. 7d2-7 doesn't
come close to being flat: you will get 3,4,5 much, much too often. Try
it. 

To roll a Dxxx, where xxx is inconviently non-platonic but less than
1,000, just roll a d-million and divide down. Of course it won't
generate exactly equal ranges, but that is likely to cause less problems
then the inherent non-randomness of most dice. An a d-million (or whatever
large number you choose) is rolled with a predictable number of d10's.
--
"I forsee that you will meet a king, the father of the beautiful Princess
 Plote DeVice; and he will insist that you rescue her from the keep of the
 infamous Duke, Cared Bored Vilan."   "Can we kill the DM now?"   "No."
smayo@wang.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou)
Subject: Re: Beginners.. should they read the PH or not?
Organization: Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Canada
	<RANNOU.92Jul15014010@zuse.info.polymtl.ca>
	<1992Jul16.210020.71@ccsvax.sfasu.edu>
	<1992Jul17.174154.20892@umbc3.umbc.edu>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 03:49:47 GMT

In article <1992Jul17.174154.20892@umbc3.umbc.edu> cs106b16@umbc5.umbc.edu (cs106b16) writes:


   I feel reading all the books made me a better AD&D'er...There are alot of
   concepts to the game and only reading through all the texts can you start
   to understand what a DM will probably be thinking in a situation. Besides,
   as far as PH and UA go, they are for the Player! And should be read by such.
   It may not be a bad idea for a TRUE beginner who has never played ever to
   try to join an ongoing adventure before reading any of the books, but once
   he gets to a certain point some reading will prove useful.


Correct me if i'm wrong, but in your "I feel reading all the books made me
a better AD&D'er", do you include the following:

1-> The spell descriptions for mages and priests in the PH (and UA)?
2-> The magic items descriptions in the UA?
3-> The classes skills/specific descriptions in UA and PH when your PC
    ISN'T of these classes? (only the specific parts, not the one which
    describe the class in a general "character concept" way)?

I'd grant #3, but any new player who study by study #1 and #2 while he
clearly DOESN'T have these spells or magic items has, IMHO, read things
that he could have had more fun discovering THROUGH actual gaming of his PC
persona instead of reading it as a player.

If you don't include neitgher 1 nor 2 nor 3, then I agree 100% with you.

Patrick Rannou.
--
/---------------------------\
| Patrick "Paradak" Rannou. |
| Rannou@info.polymtl.ca    |
\---------------------------/

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: cwatters@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Coyt D Watters)
Subject: Re: Number of Dice
Summary: Rattle rattle rattle....
Organization: The Ohio State University-James cancer Hospital
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 13:02:09 GMT

In article <Brq420.5ou@undergrad.math.waterloo.edu> l2wang@napier.waterloo.edu (  Lei Wang  ) writes:
>  I have about three or four sets of d4-d20s, and two d30s.  It's quite
>enough for personal use.
>
>  2.  Many times, there are several players (new ones perhaps) who didn't
>bring any dice or doesn't own any.  At these times, the one with more sets
>would loan a set or two for use to the newbies.  This is the most use
>that I have gotten out of my own sets.
>

When a GMed a campaign for the 4th grade Talented and Gifted students in
my home town school system, I made sure I had enough sets of polyhedral
dice to go around (12) with at least 3d6 for each student.  Conversely I have
a lot of dice, which makes a wonderful sound when you can grab 18d6
and toss them on the table to figure the damage resulting from fumbling when
trying to throw a glass flask of gnomish wine!

How many GMs use a D10 as a "round counter" placed on the table at the onset
of combat?  Until I get my electronic round counter built, this has been one
of the handiest things I've learned from other GMs.  No more players trying
to pull a 3/2 with 2 attacks a round.
From: marrou@cs.ucf.edu (Lance R. Marrou)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: New uses of dices...
Date: 24 Jul 92 16:53:31 GMT
Organization: University of Central Florida

For people who are invisible, I try to NOT place anything on the board for
their representation, trying to maintain the location in my head.  Sometimes,
though (for many combatants) this is impossible or just really diffult.  Then,
I use a non-painted figurine.

Lance
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: laruedm@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (David Larue)
Subject: Re: CHARACTERS WANTED
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 16:25:26 GMT

On the subject of posting a C program to generate character stats, etc, the
following was said:

 -=> |> Well, I can't speak for TSR, but I would like a copy.
 -=> I would sure like a copy, since my C program only generates dice
 -=> rolling and  treasure types.

Et cetera.

Looks like most people think (a) it would be a good idea to post it and (b)
TSR wouldn't give you any trouble...I too want a copy!

-= Justin =-
From: ccoprdj@prism.gatech.EDU (Jorge Diaz)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Stoneskin revisited
Date: 21 Jul 92 18:10:21 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology


I wrote:

>>Opinions?

Matthew, that wimp, wrote:

>Yes...pretty damn brutal, if you ask me.  I would think that the risk of 
>casting a protective spell should be *less* than the risk of not casting it.
>:-)

OK, since most people seemed to think that 2 system shock checks are a
bit much, I thought of something that might be a little better.  Mages
can't wear armor because it inhibits their ability to move and gesture,
things which they need to do in order to cast spells, right?  Why not
have a stoneskinned character not able to cast mage spells (cleric spells
are still OK, because clerics can cast spells in armor)?

Now, if you're thinking "this makes the spell useless!"  No, it doesn't.  The
mage can still cast it on non-mage members of the party (the ones who
need it most anyway, because they fight the most), and he can cast it on
himself if it's a life-or-death thing.  He wouldn't be able to cast any
others spells, but he could cast it on himself and then run like hell. :-)


-- 
Jorge Diaz                       | "You're outmanned, you're outgunned, you're
Georgia Institute of Technology  |      outequipped what else have you got?"
Office of Information Technology | "Guile."
ccoprdj@prism.gatech.edu         |      -- Riker and Worf   "Peak Performance"
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: aloysius@Chaos.mcs.kent.edu (aloysius)
Subject: Marking figures as invisible, etc.  -  Was: New uses of dice(s)...
Organization: Kent State University
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 17:10:28 GMT

In some of our campaigns, we have often used (35mm) film cans, especially
the clear ones, to denote player figurines which were invisible.  Opaque
cans can be used to indicate figures which are blinded, stoned, etc.
In use, the cap is discarded, and the main part of the film can is up-ended
over the figure being marked as invisible.  Works well for small figures,
dice, and other small markers.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: spzkny@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (JAMES ZAKANY)
Subject: Secrets
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords: secret communication 
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 23 Jul 1992 12:12 EST  

In article <64168@hydra.gatech.EDU>, ccoprmd@prism.gatech.EDU
 (Matthew DeLuca) writes...

>Is the campaign I am currently playing in unique, or do most games frequently
>have flurries of notes flying back and forth among the players and DM?  There
>are times when the DM can get almost nothing done due to the mass of paper
>flying about.
>Do other groups have better ways to handle private communications?

Yea.  I discourage note-passing.  My players either get up and whisper to 
me (they won't usually do this) or they'll speak up.  I simply warn the 
others that they do NOT have that information!  To their credit, my players 
are good about that.  When they aren't, I have the xp tally sheet right in 
front of me...

By the way, I DO get an occasional note and I DO send them, but no more 
than one a session.  Perhaps a house rule of one note per player per 
session would come in handy for you...
                                                  James S. Zakany
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: StarWatcher@uiuc.edu (StarWatcher)
Subject: Seeking outside input....
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Reply-To: StarWatcher@uiuc.edu
Organization: UIUC Actuarial Science Program
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 16:19:22 GMT
Keywords: significant words from a document used as an index to content

OK, I've been toying around with an idea for a campaign, and I thought
I'd ask a couple of questions to the net at large, to get other folks'
opinions.

This would be a Greyhawk, 2nd ed. AD&D campaign, centering around a
fairly large caravan/trading organization, based just outside
Greyhawk City.

The part where I am seeking outside opinions:

In addition to/besides what is suggested in the T$R materials, what sort
of NPC's/0-levels and equipment would you put in an "above average" caravan 
of roughly 150 individuals?

What sort of staff would you put on a smallish river-trading boat?

How many/what kind of "support staff" and equipment would one expect to be 
found at the company's home base?

Yes, I do have ideas on all of this, but I'd appreciate some input
from other DM's or adventurers out there, just to see if I am forgetting
anything.

Thanks in advance!
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Michael Adams (aka StarWatcher) 	   |    "To spend too much time in    |
|UIUC Actuarial Science Program 	   |     studies is sloth."	      |
|+1 (217) 344-0709, +1 (217) 344-4857	   |	  	-- Sir Francis Bacon  |
|StarWatcher@uiuc.edu (NeXT mail accepted) |				      |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|          The standard disclaimer is here...it's just invisible....          |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: perry@tartarus.uwa.edu.au (Perry Staltari)
Subject: Re: The DM is Never Wrong (was: Re: Scribing from a Spell Book)
Keywords: DM technique
Organization: University of Western Australia
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 03:26:51 GMT

gupw@uniwa.uwa.edu.au (Paul Wagland) writes:

>Sorry, I should of made myself clearer ealier. The DM can make a
>mistake, but if the DM makes a ruling, so long as it is consistent with
>the game then it cannot be considered 'wrong'. You can doubt his
>judgement, but you can't say he is wrong. BTW none of players have ever
>complained about DM'ing, but if I make a rule I consider it's
>implications first, to make sure it is logical. And if I apply a rule to
>the players then I also apply the rule to the NPC's.

	I actually have a character in Paul's party. We may not always
like the rules and regulations that he imposes but he is fair about them
and so far he has been consistant. 
	We've only been playing for about a month and actually have a
session tonight. If he screws up you'll be the first to know..


--
-----------------------------------------------------------
Perry Staltari		          	| Things aren't always as bad
perry@tartarus.uwa.edu.au       | as they seem. They're worse.
University of Western Australia | "Use the force Luke."
From: kiko@ax.apc.org
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Taladas (DragonLance)
Date: 27 Jul 92 20:19:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:ax:51300002:000:258
Nf-From: ax.UUCP!kiko    Jul 27 13:19:00 1992


I am having a little problem in finding material to run a campaign in 
Taladas (DragonLance). Can someone please send me a list of Dragonlance
books!?
I live in Brazil so I have to import these books, and there is no list
here in Brazil!!

Thanks!!

KIKO!!!
From: ccoprmd@prism.gatech.EDU (Matthew DeLuca)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: New uses of dices...
Date: 22 Jul 92 13:35:15 GMT
Organization: The Dorsai Grey Captains

In article <RANNOU.92Jul22000617@zuse.info.polymtl.ca> Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou) writes:

>Here's another one: use your D10s as INITIATIVE counters.

>When there's a fight, I often use individual inits. Having a couple extra
>D10s means that I remember excatly at which segment everybody acts...

The fastest way I have found to do initiative is to do individual initiative
for the players and group initiative for the monsters, and then just start 
calling off numbers.  When a character's number is called he raises his hand 
and his action goes through.  All I have to keep track of is (usually) the 
one monster initiative roll, although occasionally I'll let the monsters do 
individual initiative as well.  This has (to date) been a pretty fast and 
workable system.

-- 
Matthew DeLuca                      "I'd hire the Dorsai, if I knew their 
Georgia Institute of Technology      P.O. box."
Office of Information Technology                - Zebediah Carter, 
Internet: ccoprmd@prism.gatech.edu              _The Number of the Beast_
From: wright@latcs2.lat.oz.au (Michael G. Wright)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Scribing from a Spell Book
Date: 27 Jul 92 16:04:41 GMT
Organization: Comp Sci, La Trobe Uni, Australia

In article <1992Jul27.022947.8670@uniwa.uwa.edu.au> gupw@uniwa.uwa.edu.au (Paul Wagland) writes:
>drool@retreat.Bah.Rochester.NY.US (Paul Coene) writes:
>
>>In article <1992Jul23.042006.28886@umbc3.umbc.edu> cs106b16@umbc5.umbc.edu (cs106b16) writes:
>>> 
>>> I am well aware that scribing a scroll destroys it, but have always believed
>>> that scribing from another mage's spell book was perfectly safe and both copies
>>> of the spell (original and copy) are intact. In a campaign I played in at a
>
>>Well, I don't think there is a black and white ruling in the DMs guide.  I
>>believe it is something left up to the DM.  In my campaigns, these things
>
>Well, what I do in my campaigns is to allow MU to copy spells between
>their own spell-books, thus enabling them to make back-up spell books,
>though not cheaply, but they can't copy from anothers spell books. The
>reasoning behind this is that the spell in the spell book is like a
>recipe...but very finely tuned to the caster. You can scribe from a
>scroll because they contain the magic force neccessary to cast the
>spell, ie. even though the MU isn't fully proficient with the spell the
>force behind the scroll 'pushes' him through the spell.
>
>So tell me what you think.

I think that there's someting very important that nobody's considering here.
If mage's couldn't scribe from any spell book, then how do they get new spells?
A mage can't create new spells until 9th level and if you can't copy a spell,
then there's no possible way to learn spells without creating them.
	Think about it.....
So a mage _has_ to be able to copy from a spellbook without destroying it.
Any arguments?

>Paul Wagland            | These opinions are mine and no-one elses
>gupw@uniwa.uwa.edu.au   | I still don't like Microsoft, even after using
>------------------------+  their products. :-)


-- 
Michael Wright            _-_|\     Peg- "Al, can I have a thousand bucks?" 
LaTrobe University,      /     \     Al- "Why sure honey, have you got change
Melbourne, Australia.    \_.-_*/          for a million?"
wright@latcs1.lat.oz.au       v                Married with children. :-)