Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site aecom.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!aecom!eliovson
From: eliovson@aecom.UUCP (Moshe Eliovson)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Limiting Magic and Fleecing PC's (at once)
Message-ID: <1480@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Apr-85 14:13:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: aecom.1480
Posted: Tue Apr 30 14:13:46 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 2-May-85 04:34:53 EDT
References: <4993@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 46

> Take for example the idea of a magic item breakage system.

	Good.  Although my character won't like what I'm about
  to say: A cloak of elvenkind will not be as effective in melee
  once it's been through some rough stuff and is a bit tattered.
	This enhances the reality of the game.  To fix it would
  require the assistance of neighboring elves with Mending spells.
	Armor has a condition field next to it.  Based on the
  number of adventures the armor has gone through it should be
  rated by the DM as to what it's condition is.  Chain might be
  worn by the third hack & slash adventure, but Plate +5 will
  remain shiny and new for alot longer.

> Another suggestion:  If things REALLY get crazy, monsters of intelligence and
> some social consciousness (orcs, for example) will notice that a lot of their
> number have been disappearing and/or turning up dead.  This could lead to a
> punitive force getting together to look for/kill "Znylarg Fangtooth's Bane"
> with the resulting pillaging on local human populations.  The humans will thus
> not be too happy with the party of bold adventurers, either.  Size of the
> force doing the pillaging will be related to their perception of the serious-
> ness of the problem, how much loot there is to be gained by sacking the
> humans, and their generally rotten tempers.

	Although this is reality+ it is also just another way to
  fleece pc's, which you complained about earlier.  I think orcs
  do this all the time and that's why they have to be pest-ridden;
  Devils on the other hand might seriously go after the pc's.

> An erosion system on magic items also helps with regard to the problem of
> limiting the amount of magic items a party can effectively make and put to
> use on their own.  If they create enough items to cause problems, that many
> items will make a good target for a small and sneaky baddie with a throwing
> hammer.

  Don't forget party infiltration!  There is no honor among thieves, except
  where alignment is concerned.  A friend once told me that his DM wanted
  to test his party when an old friend came into town.  He gave him an AC-10
  and a new wand of illusion.  Examples include: continuous dead ends and
  arch-monsters, treasure traps, the dwarven fighter losing his clothing
  and armor in the middle of melee.  There are plenty of alternatives to
  this scheme.

			"UltraChaos, Inc."

			 Moshe Eliovson
			 ...!philabs!aecom!eliovson