HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jlagrave@zeno.ss.uci.edu (John Lagrave)
Subject: That wonderful spell, wish
Keywords: hot damn a wish!  Looking for advice.
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 01:54:19 GMT
Reply-To: jlagrave@zeno.ss.uci.edu (John Lagrave)
X-Posted-From: zeno.ss.uci.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu


Ok, so we killed a few ghouls and went looking for their crypt.  We
found a few more and wasted them too.  So, it treasure time.  Well we
blow the rolls on gems, platinum, and gold, (our DM lets us roll up the 
treasure), but we do find some scrolls, four of them.  We rolled the 
levels and sure enough-- one 9th level spell.  Cool, the party exclaims.
"Alright," says the DM, "roll a 20 sider; reroll 19s and 20s."  Wish is 
the 18th spell in the PHB, so the group is thinking 18!  First roll, 19.
Second roll, 18.  Dead silence, then a lot of screaming, yelling, running, 
etc.  Its 3 a.m. and one guy say "shh, my roommates asleep," to which 
another member said, (in jest, at least partially) "fuck your roommate!"

Wow, my first wish, and I need some advice.  I'm playing a bard.  I've read 
the wizard's handbook on wish adjudication, so I am familiar with those 
limits.  But I am wondering, just what the hell would a bard really want,
above all else?  The innate ability to charm?  To always have some gold in
his pouch?  I really want to play as something that is truly treasured by
a bard.  All advice and opinions are welcome.
____________________________________________________________________________
The four points on the compass be logic, knowledge, wisdom and the unknown.
Some do bow in the final direction.  Others advance upon it.  To bow before
the one is to lose sight of the other three.  I may submit to the unknown,
but never to the unknowable.  The man who bows in that final direction is 
either a saint or a fool.  I have no use of either. R Zelazny, Lord of Light

jlagrave@aris.ss.uci.edu
From: young@wattle.dg.oz (Philip Young)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: wish spell results
Date: 20 Nov 92 07:28:53 GMT
Organization: Data General Australia

In article <Bxx527.583@jabba.ess.harris.com>, jcarl@jabba.ess.harris.com (Joe Carl Jr.) writes:
|> [...]
|> I agree theres no need to limit the wish for wording like
|> "I WISH the next spell I cast will be the ultimate in POWER", if your the
|> DM and you don't like the next spell he's about to cast make him flub.  The
|> wish won't have come into effect yet.  Your the DM and in control.  If in
|> your mind the player has warped the intentions of the wish then make the
|> fool trip each time he tries to cast a spell you don't want to be the most
|> POWERful!

Only the DM can warp the intentions of a wish - the PC just makes it 8^}
Having been both DM and PC for many years, I still strongly disapprove of
sentiments like "if your [sic] the DM and you don't like the next spell he's
about to cast make him flub."  Only the dice can make him flub.  The DM has
both the right and the obligation to maintain game balance, but has no right
at all to arbitrarily "make the fool trip", etc., or otherwise penalize him
for being particularly effective with the creative use of a wish, or any 
other spell for that matter.  Of course, an alert DM will remember the
episode, and the player ought not to be surprised if they meet a monster in
a dark alley, or on a cliffside, who ...

-- 
Philip R. Young                   | Sir Lloyne might rib his friends,
Data General Australia Pty. Ltd.  | but he always gets in for his chop.
 
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: covin@tartarus.uchicago.edu (David Covin)
Subject: Re: That wonderful spell, wish
Organization: University of Chicago Computer Science
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 19:55:55 GMT

In article <1992Nov18.015419.5131@sol.ctr.columbia.edu> jlagrave@zeno.ss.uci.edu (John Lagrave) writes:

  [ Found a wish scroll; what would my bard really want to wish for? ]

Well, first of all, you might consider selling it; for a wagonload of
cash or political favors or magical assistance or all three.  Unless
the 2nd Ed. rules are very different from 1st Ed., your chance of
successfully casting a 9th-level spell from a scroll, assuming you're
of a level to be seriously challenged by ghouls (as you relate), is
slim indeed.  And do you really want to mess with a mis-cast Wish?

Other than a *really* nice harp/lute/guitar, I don't know what a bard
per se would necessarily want; however, if he's a very political bard,
the favors and connections that selling a Wish scroll might get him
could very well be worth as much as the Wish itself would.  Or he
could Wish for something that would ingratiate him to someone else.

If it were my PC, I'd probably Wish for a point of Dex.  But then, I'm
a munchkin.

:)

--
David Covin                           covin@despair.uchicago.edu
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 13:35:18 -0500 
From: "Jordan M. Wolbrum" <jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Most powerful first level spell
	<By43Jy.GH2@news.cso.uiuc.edu>

Excerpts from netnews.rec.games.frp.dnd: 22-Nov-92 Re: Most powerful
first lev.. Thanatos@uxa.cso.uiuc.ed (1471)

> Well, not quite...
> First, the mage ought to be toasted a bit.  Water's a very unsafe 
> environment to be casting electricity spells from, and should have to 
> save for 1/4th damage.
> Second, slip on some chain mail, without the padding.  FEEL how it chafes
> when uncovered metal rubs against skin.  You want something between you and
> the armor at ALL times.  This ought to provide enough insulation to render your
> touch metal arguement moot. 

I disagree entirely.  First of all, the mage has to automatically be
immune to his own shocking grasp, otherwise the spell would always hit
him too, in or out of water.  Secondly, I do remember in the 1st edit.
DMG, there were some mondo rules for how lightning crushes armor
wearers, and water creatures.  I think it was 5x damage for a
metallic-armored victim in water!(Ouch!)

Also, clothing is not nearly a good enough insulator for the damge of a
shocking grasp.  Basically, the shock from an electric eel can throw a
man across the room, but not kill him(exception, heart attack!).  On the
average the shocking grasp kills all average 0-lvl humans, and all
> average lvl 1 PC's(damage average at 5.5)

Don't sell this spell short!
J the W


-The Wizard
---------------------------------------------------------------The
hearts of all were filled with hope, for even though Lancer, tried
war-hero, had met his match, there was a new power to be reckoned with. 
The Wizard had returned home, and this time no tyrannical lord would
hold the town in thrall.   
---------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: arromdee@jyusenkyou.cs.jhu.edu (Ken Arromdee)
Subject: Identify (was Girdle of Femininity/Masculinity)
Organization: Johns Hopkins University CS Dept.
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 21:34:06 GMT

In article <COVIN.92Nov19142441@despair.cs.uchicago.edu> covin@tartarus.uchicago.edu (David Covin) writes:
>As a player, I have never been able to get any use out of the spell;
>nor have I ever seen anyone else bother with it.  It doesn't tell you
>more than you could find out by other testing methods ("My mystic
>powers tell me that it's a sword with a small number of plusses!" "No
>shit, Sherlock-- that would be why it glows but isn't sucked towards
>its targets with a very strong effect in combat.."), it completely
>wipes you out for adventuring purposes until you've had serious rest,
>it exposes you to any curse the item might have (no advantage there
>over ordinary testing), and it has to be used as soon as you find the
>item.  Which means that a) it takes up a spell slot which could
>otherwise be used for Sleep, Magic Missile, Charm Person, Unseen
>Servant, or even Detect Magic; and b) you'd better leave the dungeon
>as soon as you find a magic item, reach a safe haven quickly, cast the
>spell, then rest for another day before returning, if you want it to
>be any use at all.  

In second edition, at least, they took out the time limit and the goldfish.
Anyway, the spell is still quite useful when you consider that there are many
cursed items that don't work if you just hold or wear them.  I would much
rather find a Brazier of Sleep Smoke by using the spell, for instance, than by
lighting the thing and falling asleep, then getting killed by the fire
elemental that comes out.  There are also cursed items whose curse doesn't
start up until combat (Bracers of Defenselessness), so wearing them in your
laboratory just to identify them shouldn't hurt.

Though there's still a big ambiguity: many descriptions for cursed items say
"this item is indistinguishable from a normal item, except that when you use
it, it...."  Does indistinguishable also mean indistinguishable by identify
spells?
--
"the bogosity in a field equals the bogosity imported from related areas, plus
the bogosity generated internally, minus the bogosity expelled or otherwise
disposed of."  -- K. Eric Drexler

Ken Arromdee (arromdee@jyusenkyou.cs.jhu.edu, arromdee@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu)
From: educ@unixg.ubc.ca (Vicki Domansky)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: A very good POINT on Bow Profic.
Date: 19 Nov 1992 18:46:56 GMT
Organization: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
NNTP-Posting-Host: unixg.ubc.ca

In article <1992Nov19.015231.1@ulkyvx.louisville.edu> tfpayn01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu writes:
>	In the 1st ed rules (Unearthed Arcana), they state that those who spend
>the proficiency slots (3) to gain a bow specialization get two attacks per
>round at levels 1-6.  Now the question:
>	The 2nd Ed. rules say the creature gets no extra attacks/round.
>	What gives?  Does the 1st Ed. mean one fires 2 arrows per attack, 
>	or does one get two separate attacks per round?

In the 1st edition player's handbook it states that longbows have a
standard firing rate of 2 arrows per round.  I don't recall if they changed
that in the UA, but in 2nd edition if you have taken bow proficiency
(not specialization) you get the standard # of arrows off per round
which is still 2.   

I believe specialization in 2nd ed. gives crossbows but not longbows
or short bows extra attacks per round (you normally only get 1 bolt
off per round). The advantage of specializing in longbow is the
additional range capability and the point blank range (which
does mucho damage) but not extra attacks.  Since the original 1st
edition and the 2nd edition both seem to agree that you automatically
get 2 attacks per round if you are capable of using the longbow, I
would suggest ignoring the UA rule if you don't like it.

-- 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Vicki Domansky                                          educ@unixg.ubc.ca
Education Computing Services                       v_domansky@mtsg.ubc.ca
University of British Columbia                    usereduc@ubcmtsg.bitnet
From: rugi@cie.uoregon.edu (Russ Gilman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Spicing up combat?
Date: 20 Nov 92 16:14:05 GMT
Organization: University of Oregon Campus Information Exchange
NNTP-Posting-Host: cie.uoregon.edu

In article <By0L9C.5w9@newcastle.ac.uk> Mark.OLeary@newcastle.ac.uk (M.D. O'Leary) writes:
[stuff deleted, including the question about getting Moo's and Clerics into
combat.  Excellent mind at work.]
>
>It takes the first few battles for my MU and Clerics to realise that they can't 
>really charge into hand-to-hand combat (if they live)... However, thats how it 
>should be... They stick to the sidelines, lobbing a spell when it will be 
>helpful... The rest of the time, distance weapons. Slings can often turn a 
>battle, used well. Of course, I always have a few baddies with distance 
>weapons, so they can shoot back. Cant have them too safe, now...
>
>
Especially if the sling-user is aiming at people in the middle of a spell.
If you deign to use the casting-time/initiative deal, the slinger can wait
until she sees a moo begin to cast a magic spell, and assuming the casting
time is longer than as long as it takes to zing a sling stone, can hopefully
disrupt a mage's spell.  Be creative with the bad guys, too- I once had a 
group of ogres who rolled well on the "treasure table", and went to a half orc
and paid him to get them some specially built armour and magic weapons.

It took the characters a fortnight to get over seeing Ogres in Bright Shiny
Plate Mail.  And then the ranger tried to go into the woods and kill orcs while
her buddy the mage went mano-a-mano against the ogres in *melee*.  Sigh.



-- 

Cthulu in '92!  Why Settle for the Lesser of Two Evils!

rugi@cie-uoregon.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: lacquer@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Ron La Duke)
Subject: Re: New D&D Alignment ...
Organization: Purdue University
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 02:33:34 GMT

In article <1047@dgaust.dg.oz>, young@wattle.dg.oz (Philip Young) writes:
> In article <raa.056x@guild.socal.com>, raa@guild.socal.com (Raa Lopez) writes:
> > One of My friends created an alignment for D&D ... and I think I should share it with everyone.
> > 
> > It's called "Ammoral".
> [...]| 
> > Then you have the Ammoral ... who does what he damn well pleases. He can do both good things ... nuetral things ... and evil things ...
> > 
> > Ammoral is like neutral with a weird twist ... 
> > 
> > Well ... whaddya think?

Not bad for a new one, but I got one just a little better.  We like to 
affectionately call it "Greedy Insane".  We have a player who, no matter
what character he plays or what alignment, he always winds up playing this.
I don't know if it is his own personality or just a need for power.

It never fails.  He could be playing a cavalier, just saved a little ol'
lady from a horde of goblins, and still turn to the poor peasant and
ask for his reward.  I tell you, it gets real old real quick.  Finally,
the DM's that we play with started getting him back by having him find
cursed items that forced him to play his alignment or take damage.  I
suppose this was better than the verbal beating he usually got everytime
we played.  Not that I have anything against a good VB every once in awhile
but it does slow play down.

Until then...
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology-Office of Information Technology
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 16:11:13 EST
From: Paul Goodwin <CC100PG@GITVM1.GATECH.EDU>
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Testing for Biased Dice
 <Bxu26A.3F6@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> <BxvuzM.CsI@bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au>
 <Bxz6p8.26o@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca>

In article <Bxz6p8.26o@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca>, alongley@cape.UWaterloo.ca (Allan
Longley) says:
>sides the die has (eg., a d20 is probably more biased than a d8).  I have
>seen a d20 that was almost perfect -- it was a precisely machined rod of
>brass that weighed about 5 pounds -- not very good for regular use.

No, but it may help you build those bulging muscles while playing D&D!  Think
of it...D&D that gives you exercise!


Paul   :)
From: maillet@tls-cs.cert.fr (Luc Maillet)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Girdle of Femininity/Masculinity
Date: 19 Nov 92 15:36:30 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: CERT, CS Dpt. Toulouse, France

In article <1992Nov16.192114.13531@blaze.cs.jhu.edu>, arromdee@jyusenkyou.cs.jhu.edu (Ken Arromdee) writes:
|> In article <1992Nov16.140955.4090@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> kdelgado@loligo.cc.fsu.edu (Kevin Delgado) writes:
|> >I was in a campaign where this did actually happen. We had a mage (transmuter
|> >actually) who was doing item identification for the party. Well, as is part
|> >of the identify spell, he had to put the girdle on to properly identify it...
|> >whammo...instant chick.
|> 
|> Isn't the item limited to warrior, thief, and cleric classes?

  The concept is weird : why couldn't a mage wear such a thing ( which has NO
specific abilities ). Except, of course, if females can't become mages in your
world... :-)

								Redwing
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: cwatters@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Coyt D Watters)
Subject: Re: Athas is FR?
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 15:05:04 GMT

In article <gf1oEoe00awGQaRHEp@andrew.cmu.edu> "Jordan M. Wolbrum" <jw67+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

>Basically, this could be an alternate FR, billions of years in the
>future, abandoned by the gods, and where the raw primal forces of
>nature(air, earth, water, fire, and magic) took over.  The reason
>everyone has psionics on Athas, is because the weak do not survive. 
>While some psionics wild talents really are wimpy, I'm sure almost all
>of them have some use somewhere.  The crystal sphere fits the god's
>leaving the dead world theory(maybe the existance of gods prevented this
>"isolation of destiny."
>But, it' s your campaign, do what you want.  It really doesn't matter
>very much anyway, does it?
>But it's a fun intellectual exercise!
>Happy gaming,
>-JW

Recommended reading:  _SPOCK'S WORLD_

In this work, Vulcan was changed from a lush world to a desert in a few minutes
by a massive solar event, which burned off most of the plant life and blew
a lot of atmosphere into space.  Those that survived had to learn to cope
with a desert environment.

The psionics can be explained as evolution combined with society pressure:
if you were leader of a clan, and one of your members had a "talent" which
was useful, such as killing by thought, would you not want for that talent to
be reinforced as much as possible, by either allowing the member to produce
a lot of offspring, while discouraging those who do not have a talent?
Part of negotiating with neighbors might include the exchange of people with
useful abilities the other finds lacking.

Lack of gods - After seeing the aftermath of the "God Wars" on Toril, it might
	       be likely that the _gods_ could have caused the destruction
	       of the world.  The population, intent on survival, and angered
	       with the gods, would stop worshipping them.  Once survival is 
	       is established, and a viable (though just barely) population
	       is formed, religions will form again.  The most powerful
	       individuals might be promoted to "diety," similar to the 
	       ancient egyptian belief that the Pharoah (sp?) was a god.  Since
	       the "believe and it works" priciple is established in FR, the
	       worship of these leaders could actually empower them.

-Coyt
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov
Subject: Re: spell combination question
Originator: kjenks@gothamcity
Keywords: Mirror Image, Invisibility
Organization: NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 15:19:25 GMT

In article <BxtM4K.Cv6@jabba.ess.harris.com> jcarl@jabba.ess.harris.com (Joe Carl Jr.) writes:
>If I cast Mirror Image first then cast invisiblity what happens to the
>mirror images?

When this came up in my campaign, I ruled that the Mirror Images do
exactly what the magic-user does, including becoming Invisible.  This
is good, because anybody of a reasonable level and intelligence has a
chance to see invisible creatures -- including your images.  You WANT
these creatures to see your invisible images; otherwise, the images
won't do any good.

And, yes, according to the spell description, the images surround the
spell caster.

-- Ken Jenks, NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
      kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov  (713) 483-4368

      "There is no doubt; you have come to a place of ineffable Evil.
       Still, it is most certainly a place for high adventure and 
       untold treasures.  It is time to ready spells, draw weapons,
       check equipment, and set forth into the maze of peril that
       awaits you."
         -- AD&D Module T1-4, Temple of Elemental Evil, p.36
From: jcarl@jabba.ess.harris.com (Joe Carl Jr.)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: wish spell results
Date: 18 Nov 92 15:44:30 GMT
Article-I.D.: jabba.Bxx527.583
Organization: Harris Corporation - ISD

In <1ecackINNau1@escargot.xx.rmit.OZ.AU> s892341@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au (Matt=Goodall) writes:


>	A wish spell is power I would allow the above wishes as long as they
>were phrased without rule mechanics in them. "I WISH the next spell I cast will
>be irresistable!!!", "I WISH the next spell I cast will be the ultimate in
>POWER!! (has a certain ring to it). The DM controls when and where wishes come
>into the campaign so why bother with the "can't affect an unwilling being"
>next you will want to make the spell thrid level!.

I agree theres no need to limit the wish for wording like
"I WISH the next spell I cast will be the ultimate in POWER", if your the
DM and you don't like the next spell he's about to cast make him flub.  The
wish won't have come into effect yet.  Your the DM and in control.  If in
your mind the player has warped the intentions of the wish then make the
fool trip each time he tries to cast a spell you don't want to be the most
POWERful!
--
Joe Carl Jr.               "If you ever drop your watch      |Deep Thoughts
jcarl@jabba.ess.harris.com  in a pool of molten lava,        | Saturday Night
                            let it go, cause man it's gone"  | Live
From: silk@mcl.ucsb.edu (ken mencher)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Girdle of Femininity/Masculinity
Date: 16 Nov 92 22:43:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: mcl.silk.721953797

Then there was the time the male drow in our party put one on.....

hehehehehehehehe....

made the female drow in charge of the group a wee bit peeved...

silk
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: tap2368@venus.tamu.edu (Saufferin)
Subject: Re: A call to the Sages of the Forgotten Realms
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 05:57:00 GMT

In article <92323.123432RMB111@psuvm.psu.edu>, <RMB111@psuvm.psu.edu> writes...
>  I need the help of my fellow scholars.  I need information on a wizard from
>the Forgotten Realms.  His name is Halister.  My new DM (I DM'ed until recently
>) says that he is listed in some form of published material about Waterdeep.
>He told my I could "try" and find something out and to "use ALL my resources"
>but that I wouldn't be able to find him, But if I wanted to try.... well I do.
>Little did he know I had the help of all you ladies and gentleman, he he he ;)
>So how about it, can you help a poor little sage find this Halister from
>Waterdeep?  ANY help AT ALL will be appreciated.
> 
>                                            Thanks in advance,
>                                                 Meldlm (Sage/Mage)

     Try looking in the Ruins of Under Mountain boxed set, everything you've
ever wanted (and never wanted) to know about Halister is in there...

Little thought, brace yourself for one hellish campaign if Halister is involved.


################################################################################
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Texas A&M University   |"Yeah, you go to pieces so fast people get hit by the
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================================================================================
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Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
From: 890661b@ace.acadiau.ca (MATTHEW EARL KEITH BALL)
Subject: Thanks. Now as for Ravenloft...
Organization: Acadia University
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 17:52:43 GMT

Thanks to everyone who gave me the pointers for uncompressing the files.

I now have a fair deal of information and ideas I can implement in my 
Ravenloft campaign. Which leads me to my next question - Does anyone who has 
used the Ravenloft demi-plane setting have any neat ideas, tricks, settings, 
etc. that have not been collected in the Ravenloft Digests. If so, I would 
be most interested in hearing about them or any good stories you have about 
Ravenloft.

Please e-mail anything of this nature to me at 890661b@ace.acadiau.ca

And once again, thanks.

Matt