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From: kimcm@olamb.UUCP (Kim Chr. Madsen)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Using a light spell as a laser
Message-ID: <127@olamb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 26-Nov-85 13:19:42 EST
Article-I.D.: olamb.127
Posted: Tue Nov 26 13:19:42 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 29-Nov-85 07:55:50 EST
References: <6700005@uiucdcsp> <938@udenva.UUCP> <> <880@nmtvax.UUCP>
Organization: Ambrasoft, Copenhagen Denmark
Lines: 32

In article <880@nmtvax.UUCP> wildstar@nmtvax.UUCP (Andrew Fine) writes:
>Could anyone give me some suggestions for play restrictions on the use of
>this device?

Yes, don't allow such a ding, unless your campain is run in a world which
is similar to ours in the late 20'th century!!!

If you campain is run in the normal AD&D universe which somewhat represents
the age 800-1200, you should think about what happens if a character states
that he or she would like to manufactor a telescope, you should remember
that even though glass was invented and one had the oppotunity to shape it,
the principle of putting two convex lenses together forming a telescope
must be known. When the principle is known its rather easy to reproduce
the item, but the chances for one of you characters even with INT 18 to 
discover the principle is verrry small.
BTW: Telescopes was invented about 1250, but if you allow your characters
to invent the laser in a time period (roughly) equal to year 800-1000 in
Earth's history you might as well invent gunpowder (the rawmaterial is
present), guns, cannons and other technological items - say what's wrong
about creating a machinegun!!! (-;

Always keep game balance in mind, and make the campain consistent a player
roaring about with a laserblaster would be invulnerable and what monsters
do you plan to face him/her with.

If you decide to allow the laserblaster anyway, make it very unstable
due to missing technology, which means is has a high risk of malfunction
or backfire (explode between the hands of the player applying it!) As not
to make it a superweapon.

						Kim Chr. Madsen
						kimcm@olamb.uucp