From: shoham@ll.mit.edu (Daniel Shoham)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: TITAN: questions about Bo-Yin Variant
Date: 14 Oct 92 01:29:40 GMT
Article-I.D.: ll.1992Oct14.012940.22743
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

In article <Bw2E2K.MD6@news.cso.uiuc.edu> MULLEN@scorpion.ag.uiuc.edu (Evil Twin) writes:
>Hi there.  I have some questions concerning the Bo-Yin variant of Titan posted
>March of 1991 and September of 1992 (so it took me a while to look at these
>things).  I would have sent mail, but Bo-Yin Yang hasn't logged into his
>account since the middle of August.  So here they are.

No wonder, as he is now in Taiwan. (I don't know if he can still get this 
newsgroup). As I have taken part in the development of this variant, I can
answer most questions about it. (If BY authorizes me I will post his new email
address). Anyway, I can get in touch with him if even I don't know the answer
to a question.

>o Gog special properties.  "Can *DISENGAGE* from BOG, DRIFT."  Does this mean
>that during a battle a Gog can disengage from an opponent(s) when the Gog is in
>bog/drift, they both are in bog/drift, or when the opponent(s) are in
>bog/drift.

If the Gog is itself in the BOG or DRIFT (collectively called "wet" areas), it
cannot be locked in combat. On its turn to move, it may do so even if "engaged"
in battle. It makes no difference in what terrain the opponent(s) is (are).

>
>o Scorpio special properties.  "150% damage when striking from/to SAND."  Since
>nothing is said about rangestriking I'll rule that out.  But does this bonus
>come into play *ANYTIME* the Scorpio or opponent is in the sand, or only when
>both the Scorpio and opponent are in the sand.  Then also, what about
>carryover?

There is a 150% (rounded up) bonus for damage inflicted by a Scorpio in the
sand regardless where the target is. There is *ALSO* a 150% (r.u.) bonus for
damage inflicted against targets in the sand regardless where the Scorpio is.
If both Scorpio and target are in the sand, then the bonus is applied TWICE
(with the rounding up after each bonus calculation). If a Scorpio rolls 3 hits
on a target and both are in the sand, the first 150% (r.u.) would make that 5
hits and the second 150% (r.u.) make it 8 hits! (one clearly avoids engaging
Scorpios under such conditions).
As for spills, if you are entitled to a bonus (or a doubled bonus) against the
additional victim(s), you may spill. (This is the same as with ordinary Titan
bonuses).

>
>o Phoenix special properties.  "VOLCANO native. adj.op. 1 hit @h.turn"  I get
>the volcano native.  Does the next part mean that all adjacent opponents take a
>hit per strike phase, or per Phoenix strike phase (not including strikeback).

 Phoenix strike phase (not including strikeback).

>
>o Phantom Knight recruiting.  Can two of a kind (behemoth for instance) muster
>a PKn in the stated land (jungle in this case).  Or is it a listed creature in
>the proper terrain (behemoth in jungle) with any one of the others (unicorn,
>Demon, griffon, wyvern, Phantom Knight).

The latter. PK's can only be recruited by a stack with two different 3rd level
creatures!

>
>o Dominion and Virtue summoning.  May be summoned into the mentioned stack once
>per 3+ hour game?  Is there a reason why.

I don't recall such as being a rule! (perhaps a commentary?) As I understand,
Dominions and Virtues act as normal Angels (like Archangels do). Perhaps you
have a variant that I didn't know about?

>
>o Illusionist calling in illusions.  Do they move or call an illusion.  Or can
>they move AND call an illusion.  And are you saying that the point value for a
>won battle for an illusion is 10pt (20pt for I-Lord summonings).

Illusionist may move AND call in (multiple) illusions. If the other side wins,
they get points for all creatures killed with illusions counting as 10 points
each.

>
>o Assassin.  "Scores 150% damage rounding UP on Lords, Demilords."  Does this
>include rangestriking.

As funny as it sounds, Assassins may not range-strike lords. No bonus when
range-striking demilords.

>
>o In amongst the new demilords is a line:
>"Power Enhancer(9*3) Each h.turn makes 1 adj. piece do 150% damage."
>What does "h.turn" mean.  How does one muster this creature.  I think a line is
>missing here.

After much debate the PE was dropped from most variants.

>o Mirror assuming identity.  Does the mirror assume the identity of any
>creature, only this involved in the battle, or only one of those on "his" side.

Any.

>
>And as far as these new creatures with a skill of 5.  A friend of mine is
>vehemently opposed to such a skill factor.  His reasoning is that this
>unbalances the game as far as skill-2 and skill-3 creatures are concerned. 
>Thus a behemoth and a troll are equal in regards to hits against a skill-5
>creature.  And for instance why go for a Hydra, which only rolls 10-dice (for
>6's) against a skill-5, when a serpent is just a bit more difficult to recruit
>(in my opinion) but gets 18-dice (for 6's).

Well, this is defenitely a strategy that is used. However, skill 5 creatures
have been kept to a small number for this reason. (In normal Titan, skill 2
creatures are great against skill 4 creatures that have a terrain advantage -
tower-wall or slope).
>
>And in closing.  What does a Gog look like, anyways?

Kind of like a Hipo. Or maybe a giant slug.

>
>Tony -
>--
>
>Evil Twin -                                                       one_spike
>	the Man, the Myth, the Legend in His Own Mind -         //~____/  ~\\
>		mullen@scorpion.ag.uiuc.edu                     \\~    \  ~//
>                                                                  one_kill!
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