Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site pur-phy.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!ixn5c!inuxc!pur-ee!CSvax:Pucc-H:pur-phy!rb From: rb@CSvax:Pucc-H:pur-phy.UUCP Newsgroups: net.games.frp Subject: Kill Orcus Contest Message-ID: <955@pur-phy.UUCP> Date: Fri, 23-Sep-83 10:45:10 EDT Article-I.D.: pur-phy.955 Posted: Fri Sep 23 10:45:10 1983 Date-Received: Mon, 26-Sep-83 21:53:47 EDT Organization: Purdue Univ. Physics Dept., W. Lafayette, IN Lines: 71 Sorry, but your DM did not dream up the "1st Annual Kill Orcus Contest", unless your DM is Dave Collins, who came up with the idea and ran it at this year's GenCon. The scenario went something like this: ----- You are a member of a party of high levels who have been asked to look into an undead problem. You soon discover that the area's many undead are coming from a hidden gate, and decide to enter the gate to attempt to stem the tide from the source. You do so, and find yourselves on Orcus' home plane. A large palace is visible in the distance. In a remarkable display of poor judgment, you press onward. You are soon beset by many low-level undead. You manage to fight them off, due in no small part to the aid of your cleric. Upon entering the catacombs near the palace, however, disaster strikes. Level draining undead, towering behind whom is Orcus himself. You fight valiantly, but the vampires seem to know to concentrate their attack on the cleric. Soon he is no longer effective at turning the tide, and the party's level drops rapidly. Convinced of the outcome, Orcus turns and leaves through a side passage. But the battle was more evenly matched than the demon judged, and you manage to slay the last wraith on the same melee round that it drains you to level 1. You quaff your last healing potion, and collect the few surviving magic items from your friends, who were less fortunate than yourself. Suddenly you hear heavy footsteps coming from the corridor that Orcus had used. You hide behind the door, and the terrible arch-demon charges in to survey the results. ----- This sets the stage for the 1st Annual Kill Orcus Contest. You are a level 1 , with full hit points and max stats in the appropriate areas. You have 5 magic items as descibed in the DMG, and 1 potion. None of these may be an artifact, but you are familiar with them and you may select their abilities as per the DMG. You will have 1 free round of surprise against Orcus, and you will have initiative on the following round. Any weapon you choose will be at least +3. If you choose +3 darts, you will get a set of 20 +3 darts, which will count as one item. If you choose a book of infinite spells, you may specify the spell it is turned to, but none of the following spells. Items may be tailor made to match your abilities, as per the DMG. Be advised that spell failure may apply. Preference is given in the following order: 1) Kill Orcus and survive. 2) Kill Orcus and not survive. 3) Not kill Orcus, but survive. 4) Not kill Orcus, and not survive. Bonus points are awarded for: 1) Using less than 5 items and a potion. 2) Toying with Orcus. (I.e., using your surprise round by saying "Turn, demon, and meet your doom!", and then killing him on the next round.) There is a sure win using 6 items and a potion. The best he could come up with using only 5 was about 95%. Dave Collins also has a scenario for the "Kill Demogorgon Contest", which I may relate at a later time. Ross Bogue pur-ee!pur-phy!rb