Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site qubix.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!sun!qubix!steven From: steven@qubix.UUCP (Steven Maurer) Newsgroups: net.games.frp Subject: Re: Creative use of spells Message-ID: <763@qubix.UUCP> Date: Wed, 11-Jan-84 15:02:22 EST Article-I.D.: qubix.763 Posted: Wed Jan 11 15:02:22 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 13-Jan-84 06:11:42 EST References: <253@inuxg.UUCP> Organization: Qubix Graphic Systems, Saratoga, CA Lines: 141 >> This is ridiculous. The spell says the recipient's weight is reduced >> to that of a feather, allowing him to float downward at the rate of >> (x=very small number) inches per round, or some such. Gravity still >> acts on a feather, and air resistance will make it very difficult >> to push a body up before it slows down and starts to fall again. Unless >> the 3rd level MU used some other spell to help, or else pushed the Xorn >> off of a 1/2 mile high cliff, the above-mentioned feat is impossible (in >> my opinion). The said 3 level MU, had a Screech Owl as a familiar. The familiar was sent aloft, invisible (of course) with a 15 foot piece of string, with a loop at the bottom. Hooking the Xorn with the string, it flew upwards. The Xorn, cut the string a number of times, but there was always more string..... >> True, Steve, but Invisibility does NOT include Inaudibility. Any D.M. >> that would allow an entire party (which would in all probability include >> Fighters wearing clanking armor) to sneak through a dungeon without >> being detected is guilty of flagrant misunderstanding (and abuse) of >> the rules. Even if the party is not inaudible, pray tell me, how are the monsters supposed to attack invisible characters? They literally can run through the "Dungeon", dodging the swings of clumsy monsters, and get them to fight one another. >> Wrong. It says that the Disk will follow the magic-user at a certain >> distance, or will go where he tells it to go within a certain range. >> I also believe (I don't have the book with me) that it states it will >> not come any closer than some minimum distance. However, >> even if the rules allow the disk to get close enough for the MU to >> hop on, rulings by both Gygax and the writer of "Sage Advice" in >> the Dragon have precluded this use of the spell. >> One interesting use I did see written up for this spell: A 5th level >> MU and his 1st level apprentices needed to cross a river. The MU had each >> apprentice cast a Tenser's floating disk. Then he cast both a fly spell >> and a Tenser's Floating Disk. Then the first apprentice sat on the MU's >> disk, the second apprentice sat on the first apprentice's disk, etc, >> until all apprentices were seated on another apprentice's disk. Then >> the MU simply flew across the river with the apprentices in tow. This >> sort of use IS allowed (because I saw it as the solution to the AD&D quiz >> in the Dragon, which was written by Gygax). In typical Gygax fashon, TSR requires that you buy their magazine to get the official patches to their buggy rules system. There is still nothing that says that one apprentice could not Tensor's Disk another, and vice versa. (Pulling each other up by their proverbial britches). >> Great idea, Steve. What about the part of the spell that says the charmed >> being cannot be forced to do something that is against its nature. Also, >> the charm only makes the creature friendly toward the one casting the charm >> spell; the charmed creature will still be hostile toward the caster's >> friends UNTIL told to do otherwise, and it will still treat them with >> a degree of mistrust. Also, the creature gets another saving throw every >> time it is asked to do something "unnatural". I would love to see a >> whole hoard of orcs suddenly turn on the group and attack because they >> all made their saving throws... Tell me, why is the statement "Why don't we all go out and kill things to get rich" against a hobgoblins nature? I might be able to believe that a Chaotic Evil creature would get a saving throw if it was asked to show mercy, but not just to go out and slay. >> Box a Basilisk. Hoards of fun. Watch characters five times >> your level scream in horror. >> >> How high level is your group? What do you mean by "Box a Basilisk"? Procedure for capturing a basilisk (1st - 3rd level party) 1] Meet Basilisk 2] Don't Panic 3] Quickly throw your web spell (hopefully the basilisk was surprised, so someone isn't dead yet). 4] Get your strongest fighter to put his helmet on backwards, and have someone guide his way through the web to the trapped basilisk. 5] Throttle the creature till it faints. 6] Put it in a box with a hole out one side. Point box in one direction, and watch Umber Hulks die...... >> Do you mean to hollow out a Medusa's head and wear her snakes to make >> it look like YOU are a Medusa? Not a bad idea, really, but again, how >> high level is your group, to allow you to wantonly slaughter Medusas >> and use them this way? No. The Medusa is already dead from looking at the basilik, (or in some equally rules-buggy manner). Now, cut off the Medusa's head, and put it on a Tensor's floating Disk. Float the head out in front of the party. Watch dragons turn to stone. >> Handling of any such poison requires great care; even Assassins must >> make saving throws against accidental poisoning when trying to handle >> poisons and poisoned weapons. I would probably allow the players to >> try to extract poison from a dead creature, but there would be lots >> of saving throws required, and the poison would have to be treated >> by an Alchemist to put it in a suitable form for use on weapons (as >> well as make it stable enough to keep without losing potency). A good kludge. Isn't it a shame, that AD&D did not include such a system in the basic rules? Even in the advanced rules?? >> True, but intelligent evil dragons will always be on the look-out for >> opportunities to turn on their masters. Dragons, like wizards, are subtle >> and quick to anger. A dragon might very well fake being subdued by a >> powerful party, in order to gain time and advantage over the group. Then there was the time a 1st level hobbit thief, trying to steal a magic sword from a Black Dragon's pile of gold, accedentally woke up the dragon. Even though he was invisible (of course), he realized that this was one creature that would not be bothered about the nicities of getting a direct hit in. So he attacked to Subdue!! One sucessful 3 point shot, and a 04% roll later, the 1st level hobbit rode out atop his new dragon...... suuuuurrrreeeee.... (but the rules make it very easy to do). How about Psionics?? I saw a first level thief go from 1st to 6th level, in as many advantures, by simply going out to the local swamp and Psionicly blowing away all the brauntasaurouses (sp?). Of course this was not as bad as the 1st level fighter, who accedentally said "Demogorgon", met him, and blew him away with a Ego Crush (he had a 2% chance of doing so). Steven Maurer