HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jduffin@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Joshua Duffin)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Shadowrun: Controlling magicians
Date: 11 Apr 92 01:44:14 GMT
Organization: People-Net [pnet51], Minneapolis, MN.


ward1@husc8.harvard.edu (Lester Ward) writes:
>mkkuhner@milton.u.washington.edu (Mary K. Kuhner) writes:
>>Otherwise all the SR scenarios which have top-secret corporate data on
>>on-line computers get a little hard to swallow.  I know people do it
>>today, but they are under increasing pressure to stop, and with rampant
>>decking it just wouldn't make any sense.
>
>For the first time, I find myself in complete disagreement with Mary.
>Business is now taking on a more global stature.  More information needs
>to accessed more quickly.  By 2050, both of these trends will be much
>more excelerated than they are now.  Wageslaves, especially salesmen and
>"propagandists" (people who push the wonders of, say, phone networking) are
>sent all over the world to reach the global market.  It is becoming more
>and more necessary for these people to have instant communication of
>progress (including non-vocal data), gain near instant feedback (including
>non-voice data), have access to up to date information, and have access to
>computer resources for presentation and other purposes.  Cutting a computer
>off line would toss these people back to the stone age.
>
>I could go on, but I think the gist is clear.
>
>Wordman

Nonetheless, why would these people need to get TOP-SECRET corporate data?  It
would be infinitely more safe to keep the really secret stuff offline if it
were possible.  Mary's points seem extremely valid to me.

UUCP: {crash, kksys}!orbit!pnet51!jduffin    | Life is complex.  It's made
ARPA: crash!orbit!pnet51!jduffin@nosc.mil    | up of real and imaginary
INET: jduffin@pnet51.orb.mn.org              | parts.
From: JLM@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Stupid adventures
Date: 9 Apr 92 19:54:10 GMT
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

In article <1992Apr9.104630.15038@wpi.WPI.EDU>, dnab@wpi.WPI.EDU (dnab, I wanted
dna) says:
>
>        Okay, all you DM's, GMs, Storytellers and Judges out there- here's
>a fun new thread to while away the hours...  What was the _dumbest_
>adventure you ever refereed?  Preferably one of your own, but if you ran
>a prepackaged adventure badly enough, you should include it, too!
>


 The most stupid campaign I've ever refereed was one of my own. It wasn't
run badly and the players loved it so much that every time we meet for
our regular game, they ask if they can go back to "that place". It's just
that the premise of the game was so silly that I must have had a bit of
fever when I came up with the idea.

 The adventure magically transported the group to Toonland. There they
encountered every cartoon character I could think of (even some I made up
as we went along). It took the group awhile to get used to the idea of
going up a flight of stairs, opening a door a drop from an infinite height
without suffering any damage whatsoever. Or accepting the concept that
water would leak out of their bodies after they got shot by Yosemite Sam.

 Anyway, to make a story short: The Little Mermaid is no longer rated PG,
Bugs Bunny is worshipped as a high level deity, Bullwinkle is smarter than
Rocky, Donald Duck is the emperor of Toonland and one of the PCs built
a hot dog stand in Toonland that has already served quazillions and
quazillions and is making the PC stinking rich in Toon-dollars.
From: wew@naucse.cse.nau.edu (Bill Wilson)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Swashbucklers vs. Knights in Armour,and more!
Date: 17 Apr 92 15:53:18 GMT

From article <Apr.16.11.27.38.1992.19678@math.rutgers.edu>, by bonar@math.rutgers.edu (Doug Bonar):
> I second Jeff's comment.  I don't think it matters (or can be
> determined) "who would win" in "real life" in a single combat
> Fenser vs. Armored Knight.  

I have experience in this type of action.  I marshalled a bout between
a guy without armor, but using a rapier and buckler, against a
fighter wearing heavy armor and carrying a broadsword and shield.
Both fighters were very experienced in their craft.  The rapierist used
agility and his buckler to keep the blows from landing and timed
his shots to the other fighters face mask.  He won two times without
difficulty.

If the fencer was not as experienced as he was, he probably would have
been cut to ribbons.  The early rapiers were made cut to be used by a
lightly armored individual and were used to pierce plate.  These
swords were typically over 4 feet long.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: bkoike@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Bryce Koike)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Steve Jackson Games is gone?
Date: 6 Apr 92 16:19:28 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

In article <44079@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> jacobus@symphony.cc.purdue.edu (Bryan J. Maloney) writes:
>TSR has gobbled up SJG, and rumors abound that they are putting out feelers
>for Glorantha from AH/Chaosium.
>
>Of course, they will completely re-write Glorantha to only be compatible with
>AD&D3 (which will still have all the hallmarks of AD&D1 and AD&D2.)
>
>Unfortunately, that's how the dollar rules the gaming industry.

	Yow.  I'm so looking forward to AD&D3!  Glad I never shelled
out for that cruddy edition 2!  I'm definitely looking forward to
AD&D3 Supers and AD&D3 Uplift...yowk!  And just think, TSR will get
Cyberpunk as well!  Whoa!  TSR's the only company that I've ever
come across that is capable of putting out a good product.  I mean,
Indiana Jones was one of the greatest RPG's in the world.  (And in
edition 3 you'll be able to do cross-genre gaming...just think,
Indiana gets transported into the Wildcard's world...boggles my
mind!)
	(I think I'll vomit now...)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: GURPS combat time.
From: yingst@milori.ccit.arizona.edu (JIM YINGST)
Date: 12 Apr 1992 23:25 MST  
Distribution: world,local
Organization: University of Arizona
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

In article <u894793.703130394@bruny>, u894793@bruny.cc.utas.edu.au (Timothy D Little) writes...
>yingst@skyblu.ccit.arizona.edu (JIM YINGST) writes:
> 
>>In article <ELK.92Apr10103952@cblpo.att.com>, elk@cblpo.att.com (elk) writes...
> 
>>[stuff deleted]
> 
>>>The most curious thing about the quick contest rules are this notion
>[stuff deleted]
> 
>>Yes, but the problem is that as you increment your skills, parry and block
>>go up only half as fast as the attack skills - so even if attack and defense
>>are well balanced at one point, they become unbalanced as characters improve.
> 
>In the Quick Contest rules under discussion, the *full* skill is used in a
>quick contest of skills, the winner of which hits, and may do damage.
> 
>Please correct me if I am wrong.

Lucky me, I actually have my book with me for once.

Excerpt from B108 (sidebar):

	Treat each attack/defense as a _Quick Contest of Skills_ (p.87).  If
	the attacker hits, the defender must make his defense roll by _as much,
	or more._  This makes successful defense rolls harder, and speeds
	combat.

"Defense roll" is what they call it on B98-9 when you add active+passive
defenses, where the active part is half your weapon or shield skill for a parry
or block, respectively.   The point was that if you increase your weapon skill
by two points, your parry skill (and thus defense roll when parrying) only
increase by one.

Jim Yingst

yingst@ccit.arizona.edu
From: jason@pawnee.ugrad.ee.ufl.edu (Jason Griggs)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: CHAMPIONS: Variable Advantage
Date: 14 Apr 92 20:30:52 GMT
Organization: UF EE Department

In article <RATINOX.92Apr13231139@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu>, ratinox@meceng.coe.northeastern.edu (Richard Pieri/Stainless Steel Rat) writes:
|> 
|> Let's see if I understand this. You want to use the advantage Variable
|> Advantage to get Variable Special Effects? No problem, as long as you've
|> bought the Variable Advantage high enough.
|> 
|> You should have a valid reason for doing this, however, within the central
|> effects of the main power. Even with Variable Special Effects, there should
|> be some form of encompasing concept to the power and the character with it.
|> 
|> --Rat

   I've already posted about the hi-tech adjustable assault rifle, but I
thought I'd also mention possibilities for energy projectors.  Say a guy absorbs
any type of energy (energy absorption) and releases it again in any form he
wants (EB +1  1/2 var advantages; and maybe END reserve to power it).

--Jason
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: robs@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Rob Schaeffer)
Subject: Re: Inspired character names
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 17:57:50 GMT

A NPC cleric that tagged along to heal us:

Generic the Cleric.


-- 
 ----------------------------robs@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu--------------------------- 
|             "My God...it's full of toasters!"                              |
|                               --2001, A Hardware Odyssey                   |
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: ratinox@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu (Richard Pieri/Stainless Steel Rat)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Stormbringer 4th ed. review wanted
Date: 10 Apr 92 23:21:23 GMT
Reply-To: ratinox@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu
Organization: 3WA, Boston Office. Or Nu Meta Chi. Take your pick.
In-reply-to: sl7sg@cc.usu.edu's message of 10 Apr 92 14:46:45 GMT
X-Signature-Virus-Protection: Version 1.51
X-Quote: "Wow! Look!! A stray meatball!! Let's interview it!"
X-Quote: -- Zippy the Pinhead
X-Posting-Software: GNUS 3.14.1 [ NNTP-based News Reader for GNU Emacs ]

>>>>> On 10 Apr 92 14:46:45 GMT, sl7sg@cc.usu.edu said:

> I am thinking about buying an RPG called Stormbringer and would like to get
> some sort of review as to its workings and general playability. Anyone care
> to enlighten me?

sl7sg> 	Most everything is percentiles, magic items are really demons, the
sl7sg> gorier and higher death rate means the best campaign.  If the entire
sl7sg> world and multiverse instantaneously combusts, you win the game.

My biggest complaint with the 4th edition is that they've balanced the
magic. I'm sorry, but magic (summoning demons) is incredibly powerful in
the world of Elric. Now, sorcerors are about as good as your average,
mundane sword for hire.

If you can still get it, get the 3rd edition (which includes the
Stormbringer Companion). Magic is much more powerful, as fits the world of
Elric.

--Rat
--
||||| | | | |  |  |  |   |   |    |    |    |   |   |  |  |  |  | | | | | |||||
                                                   __        ___ 
Richard Pieri, Northeastern's Stainless Steel Rat/   | /| / /   | The Worlds
Internet: ratinox@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu /__  |/ |/ / /| | Welfare Works
    UUCP: ...!northeastern.edu!splinter!ratinox/   | /| / / / | | Association:
  BITNET: UA_RLP@NUHUB{.BITNET}               /__  |/ |/ / /  | | I will solve
  USNail: 14 Westdale RD  Holbrook, MA 02343 /   | /| / / /___| | any problem
 ICBMnet: 42 deg 1 min N, 71 deg 0 min W    /    |/ |/ /_//_____| for you.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: smayo@wang.com (Scott Mayo)
Subject: Re: Steve Jackson Games is gone?
Organization: Wang Labs, Lowell MA, USA
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 92 14:20:07 GMT

loren@wmkt.wharton.upenn.edu (Loren Miller) writes:

>I think that more people ought to post bald faced lies on this newsgroup. 

Um... Loren... I think that is all anyone *ever* does here.

>This conversation has been a lot more fun than it would have been if the 
>topic had been, for instance, why gurps blows ad&d out of the water and vice 
>versa.

Amen. Next proposed bald face lie: a Secret group of far-righters, with
funding from the NRA and klu klux klan, are secretly planning to buy up all
gaming companies and rerelease all games with a few changes: all games
must feature AK-47s and other such hardware as the primary weapons of
choice.
--
"Let's reincarnate him.  He deserves nothing better."
smayo@wang.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: GURPS combat time.
From: yingst@milori.ccit.arizona.edu (JIM YINGST)
Date: 7 Apr 1992 20:45 MST  
Distribution: na,local
Organization: University of Arizona
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

In article <UdsOnvc91Hvk8wdude@rchland.ibm.com>, "Bill Seurer,905161 " <billseurer@vnet.ibm.com> writes...

<stuff deleted about what real combat is probably like> 

Step 1 usually takes much longer than step 2.  This is something that
>GURPS is missing.  There's no need to size up your foes, you just wade
>in.  Perhaps there should be some sort of contest of IQs (or weapon
>skills?) beforehand and if you win you get a bonus on your skill (you
>figured out some weakness in the opponent's stance) and if you lose you
>get a penalty.

Isn't that basically the idea behind the feint maneuver?  

In games I've played in, we always went with the optional rule that made a "to
hit" role a *quick* contest between weapon skill and defense skill, in order to
speed up combat.  This tended to limit the usefulness of the feint; I can't re-
member anyone using it.  But it seems to me that if defensive rolls are
relatively easy to make (which they usually are not, given the optional rule), 
then feinting would be an attractive option which would lead to the effect 
described above.  Do most people use the optional rule?  Without it, do people 
try feinting?  If not, how about adding a few points to everyone's defensive
skills?  I'd like to know what people think.

Also, reguarding someone's earlier comment about the effects of combat fatigue
kicking in ten rounds into the fight:  If we're talking about lengthening
combat by forcing (encouraging?) players to "catch their breath" every few
rounds, then the current combat fatigue rule should probably be modified too.
Schemes to give -1 modifiers for every consecutive swing already would model
fatigue during combat well enough for me.  I'd just tack on fatigue points at
the end - no need to bother in the middle if we're already forcing them to rest
every few rounds anyway.

Always, IMHO.

Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: c9036971@cc.newcastle.edu.au
Subject: Sex and RPG's - Why Oh Why ?
Organization: University of Newcastle, AUSTRALIA
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 07:42:47 GMT


I'd like to call on the experience of you all to answer me a question.
It seems to me that the number of female roleplayers (not characters!)
is surprisingly small - in my experience of role playing (about 8
years, mainly AD&D) I have seen fewer than ten females who were at
all serious about gaming.

I was wondering if this is the case with the rest of you. Is the fairer
sex poorly suited to gaming, perhaps? Do they just have better things
to do than sit around a table roling dice, speaking in jargon (whether
fantasy, futuristic or whatever) and wandering in imaginary places? Or
is it just me?

For the record, I am a bloke (that's MALE to all you non-Australians),
and an avid gamer.

Please flame by mail. It makes life easier for the rest of us.


Maxx.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: fnord@close.columbia.edu (Andres Harasty)
Subject: Re: Playing yourself in GURPS and Hero too!
Reply-To: fnord@close.UUCP (Andres Harasty)
Organization: Columbia University Department of Computer Science
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 21:34:34 GMT

bout 1987 or so, I picked up a game at Origins called _TIME LORDS_
It's premiss was that you were to play your in a time hopping campaign.
It gave very clear and deterministic ways on assigning attributes, then
on your first adventure you would only be able to take with you that
wich you had in your pockets.  

The system had many other interesting features but i did not get a
chance to fully play the system in order to see how it worked.

If anyony has played it could you post your comments on how the mechaics
worked.

Just my n-cents {n:n>=2} worth.

-fnord
~.
From: fl0m+@andrew.cmu.edu (Faye Levine)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Sex and RPG's - Why Oh Why ?
Date: 10 Apr 92 16:59:12 GMT
Organization: Junior, Art, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Nicolai Shapero writes:

>I play OTHER SUNS, HERO, and Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0 and SURPRISE, SURPRISE!
>ALL of the female gamers I know play one of the aforementioned games.

>A "little" statistical skew?

Um...I've played Warhammer Fantasy, RoleMaster, and GM-made systems
ranging from Sam Robb's GrimRules to no rules.  I personally have no
interest in Cyberpunk, and very little in superhero-type stuff.  My
roommate has played D&D for many years, RoleMaster, GrimRules (she was a
playtester), and another system whose name slips my mind (but it allows
for mutants like intellegent geraniums).  Her former roommate played
RoleMaster.  Another friends likes Paranoia and Palladium.  In fact, I
know of no women who play the games Nicolai mentioned.

Now this may just vary from campus to campus, etc.  It seems there are
quite a few RoleMaster campaigns here, some *D&D, and a variety of
others in smaller quantities including Rifts, Battletech, Paladium,
ShadowRun, Paranoia, super-hero genre, and Cthulu.

FLOM.
From: loydb@fnordbox.UUCP (Loyd Blankenship)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re:  New GURPS License
Distribution: world
Date: 8 Apr 92 18:22:02 CST
Organization: Texas Net Illuminati

urban@stout.atd.ucar.edu (Art Urban (PROFS)) writes:
>As product manager, perhaps you could tell me what, if any, progress is being
>made on GURPS software tools. Thanx.
>

We have a signed contract for a Mac program, and are negotiating with people
on several other platforms. The author of the Mac program is laird@think.com.
Write him and encourage him to finish!

<grinning evilly at the obscenities Laird will spout when he gets his mail
the next few days>

Loyd


***************************************************************************
* loydb@fnordbox.UUCP	     Once you pull the pin,  *	Loyd Blankenship  *
* GEnie: SJGAMES	    Mr. Grenade is no longer *	PO Box 18957	  *
* Compu$erve: [73407,515]	 your friend!	     *	Austin, TX 78760  *
* cs.utexas.edu!dogface!fnordbox!loydb		     *	512/447-7866	  *
***************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: huesmann@wam.umd.edu (Joseph Edward Huesmann)
Subject: AD&D2: Al-Qadim F*cked Up Everywhere?
Originator: huesmann@rac2.wam.umd.edu
Organization: University of Maryland at College Park
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 00:48:51 GMT


Hi. A friend of mine and I recently bought TSR's Al-Qadim "Arabian
Nights"-type sourcebook for AD&D2. The pages were f*cked up. By
f*cked up, I mean that pages 65-80 were replaced by pages 49-64.
That is to say, instead of pp 65-80, they had repeated pp 49-64.
Are Al-Qadim's all over the country f*cked up like this?

Also, I've noticed that both the "Pirates of the Fallen Stars"
sourcebook and "Al-Qadim" had screwy bindings: The spines of the
books are skewed, or twisted. Is TSR trying to save printing costs
and maximize profits even more?

Thanks.

Joe
From: Loball@cup.portal.com (Bill - Vitro)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: AD&D:  So what happens when ...
Date: 7 Apr 92 23:10:40 GMT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)

>Here's some unproductive dribble.

>What happens when you
>	(a) Turn a Bag of Holding inside-out
The inside of the Bag of Holding sucks the universe into the pocket dimension,
and everybody dies.

>	(b) Cast Chainlightning in a Rope Trick
The Chainlightning bounces off the edges of pocket space, and kills everyone
inside.
>	(c) Cast Rope Trick inside a Rope Trick and the first one ends
When the first one goes away, the occupants have no way home, the pocket
eventually runs out of air, and everyone inside dies.
>	(d) Eat the horse summoned by Mount
After the spell duration ends, you get hungry.	(Think of long-duration
Chinese food)
>	(e) Feed people Troll pieces
Since a troll is destroyed by acid, it would not regenerate (sorry, didn't
mean to put a serious answer in here...)
>	(f) Are an elf polymorphed into a Fire Giant and are about to hav
>	    children with your new Fire Giant wife
Assuming you survive the gestation period (I can not imagine a female Fire
Giant is any more stable than a female human during this time), and run far
away while the baby is being delivered (ditto), the baby should be a normal
Fire Giant with a _serious_ inferiority complex.

>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Allan Longley, University of Waterloo, Department of Chemical Engineerin
>e-mail: alongley@cape.uwaterloo.c
>voice: (519) 885-1211 x3816		Why are there no brown lights
>home: (519) 746-574
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

***************************************************************************
Loball@cup.portal.com (Bill Vitro)
.sig follows:
From: weeks@astroatc.UUCP (Pat Weeks)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: u-area?
Keywords: u-area,swapping
Date: 7 Apr 92 21:38:34 GMT
Reply-To: weeks%astroatc.UUCP@uwvax (Patrick Weeks)
Distribution: comp.unix.wizards
Organization: Astronautics Technology Cntr, Madison, WI

While trying to run a software program I got the following area on a client
machine(SPARC IPC)

panic: error swapping to u-area

Can anyone shed some light on this??


						Ghostwheel
					weeks%astroatc.uucp@cs.wisc.edu
From: mark@trillian.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Manning)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Answers:Some More Riddles
Date: 9 Apr 1992 15:40:25 GMT
Organization: Simulacron I

1. Wind
2. Ball
3. Pecan or Walnut Tree
4. Stairs
5. Time
Xref: sparky rec.games.frp:18143 news.answers:1055
From: douglash@meaddata.com (Douglas Holzworth)
Subject: Amusing PC Tricks
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 22:32:11 GMT
Distribution: usa

How about this PC, he had an eye put out by an arrow in an earlier campaign,
but now finds himself the recipient of a WISH!

Party: What will you wish for?

PC: I'm FINALLY going to correct my "limited outlook" on life!  <<grins>>. I
    wish my one eye was just like the other one!

DM: Everything goes black...
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
From: srklump@descartes.waterloo.edu (elm)
Subject: Looking for D&D module X2
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Sun, 5 Apr 1992 19:06:06 GMT

Hello,

Does anyone on the net have a copy of X2 (something about a Cha^teau D'Amber-
ville) that they could part with for money?

The cover was gold-coloured, if I remember correctly.

Steve.
From: dragon@camelot.bradley.edu (Matthew Korth)
Subject: Re: Inspired character names
Organization: Bradley University
Date: 16 Apr 92 01:07:37 GMT

In <siet7INNphi@network.ucsd.edu> bcoleman@weber.ucsd.edu (Bob Coleman) writes:
>  For inspired names how about  PETE the Pious.   Not
>mine, but really inspired.

Could be worse...
My Champions character is named Moe.
("Well, waddaya gonna name him?"  "Gimme a minute!"  "OK, he's Moe.")
--
*** Matt Korth *** dragon@camelot.bradley.edu *** dragon@buhub.bradley.edu ***
You are confused.  Black does not represent evil.  Black represents
anxiety.  Sen. Jesse Helms represents evil.

			--the Omniscient Usenet Oracle