Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site gitpyr.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!gatech!gitpyr!kss
From: kss@gitpyr.UUCP (Kevin Smith)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Tomb of Horrors
Message-ID: <1101@gitpyr.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Nov-85 11:42:35 EST
Article-I.D.: gitpyr.1101
Posted: Wed Nov 27 11:42:35 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 28-Nov-85 04:48:55 EST
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 27
Keywords: DM's responsibility


    I disagree with the recent assessment of the Tomb.  I played this adventure
(and survived), and like any other its playability depends on the DM running it.
We started with a party of 6 and got out with 4, and we did solve most of the 
traps.  We were actually a pretty low level party, averaging somewhere around
8th; the DM adjusted, as is always necessary.  The thing is, the Tomb is not
designed to be a monster crashing trip so much as a _thinking_ challenge.
The challenge of outwitting the particular traps given is one I have not seen
equalled anywhere.  In my opinion, it is the responsibility of the DM to make
the challenge within the reach of the characters--every module I have looked
at starts with the advice "modify this to fit your needs" or some such.  If
as we were you are given the very heavily worded advice that you have to think,
you can do it.

    That borders on one of my pet grumbles.  I've played and DM'ed both--we
kind of took turns among my group--and I've noticed a number of DMs set them-
selves up as antagonists against the party, even taking it personally when a
resourceful party beats one of their clever ploys.  A DM is supposed to be a
*referee*, not an enemy.  Thoughts?...

Kevin Smith
once known as - - Eelar the Blue (and others)

-- 
Kevin Smith
Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!kss