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From: slb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden)
Newsgroups: net.games.board
Subject: Re: Talisman balance
Message-ID: <168@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-Jan-86 12:15:35 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.168
Posted: Wed Jan  8 12:15:35 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Jan-86 03:25:51 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 43


>I've just started playing Talisman, and have encountered a seeming imbalance.
>The Prophetess, Wizard, and the owner of the wand get spells regenerated
>auto-matically.  If those players are willing to be very free with their
>spells, they can run through an amazing number of spells each turn, and
>become far more powerful than any other character.  Most of the spells can
>be wasted (such as barrier on a useless square, turning any number (like 0)
>of items into gold, healing a character with 4 lives, etc.)  Thus by simply
>running through the spell deck, these characters can almost always have the
>one spell they most want.
>Has anyone else encountered this phenomenon, and if so, how do you deal with
>it? --Tim.

We noticed the same thing, and were discussing possible balancing rules 
last night.

One possible suggestion was to make a rule that you cannot cast a spell 
until you have had it in your possession for a round.  That is, you can 
cast 3 spells in your turn if you already have them, but any you draw to 
replace them must sit with you until your next turn.

Another that occurred to me was to limit the total number of spells you
can cast in a round (including your own turn, and any counterspells you
use during other player's turns) to the number allowed by your craft.
If I can have 3 spells, but only have 1, and can replace it with the
wand, then I can replace it twice, and use those spells.  The third
time, the spell would be replaced, but couldn't be used.  (This could
get me in trouble if someone attacks me during the next round--which
I probably deserve if I've deliberately wasted some of those spells.)
This makes sense, because your craft should be a measure of your spell 
casting strength.

Any other ideas?
-- 

                                     Sue Brezden
                                     ihnp4!drutx!slb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      To search for perfection is all very well,
      But to look for heaven is to live here in hell.   
                                       --Sting
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