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From: jj@rabbit.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: interesting uses of wishes
Message-ID: <2044@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Oct-83 11:17:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2044
Posted: Tue Oct 11 11:17:26 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Oct-83 01:18:03 EDT
References: <1017@pur-ee.UUCP>, <3547@decwrl.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 47



Hmmmm. Crocking wishes all to hell...  Well, when I read the original
article, I got the impression that the wishes in that
universe were far too common, and being misused, therefore I
decided that they should be crocked.  Certainly if there
are NOT a lot of wishes around (and there never could be,
since each wish aged a high level MU) then crocking wishes
isn't such a good idea, unless the wish is being used in
a disreputable manner.   <On the other hand, I would greatly hesititate
to let anyone use all three wishes off a ring of wishes in three segments,
or even TURNS, unless there were extremely mitigating circumstances.  It's
my opinion that a quickly dashed off wish means that the 
"mental image" of the wisher isn't complete, and solid, and thus
the wish is really likely to crock. <Of course, a quick wish to be
back on the prime material plane in one's own house, alone,
when faced by Orcus DOES represent a clear mental image, so...>
As ar as crocking the "ice sword" wish, I still think that the
wish was ill-designed, since it really didn't go to the ROOT of why
a sword breaks, and as had been pointed out, WISHES HAVE NO INTELLEGENCE,
thus they can't do what you "meant", if you didn't say so.  I would
generally use what I got the impressions was the PC's idea of
unbreakable in the case of that wish, usually in a way that was
unexpected.  I also usually roll percentiles when giving wishes, but first
I add 15% for every level BELOW 9th of spell that would result in the
same sort of effect, i.e. if a sixth level spell would work, I add 45%,
roll percentiles, and take that sum to show me what percentage of the
"correct"(as far as the spell caster intended)  effect occurs. 
(The entire POWER of the wish will be used, in any case.)  I also
add 5% for every point of Int, if the effect is external, or for
Wisdom, if the effect is internal.

Like it or not, that's this DM's way.  
Since a wish represents 5 years or more of someone's life energies,
I regard wishes as a sacred trust, to be used for significant reasons,
and with care.  (Weapons of most sorts aren't good enough, rings, maybe,
people, yes.)


OH YES..   As far as "Kill Orcus".  I have a question:
	Why are all of you GOOD people trying to KILL?  I like the idea
of subverting Orcus.  Given any sort of magic item in the DMG, you
should be able to reverse his alignment, one might think.  Of course,
that's a bit chaotic, but .......
I regard KILLING as WRONG for good types, unless their immediate survival
is at stake.  Given the time to consider, killing Orcus, when you can
get all that magic, is WRONG!