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Message no. 1
From: "Steven A. Tinner" <bluewizard@*****.COM>
Subject: Chakram (Was - list opinion wanted.)
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 1997 20:52:48 -0400
>I'm not sure at all how 'real' the chakram is; I remember seeing
>something roughly similar in an old "Weapons of the Weird" column in
>Dragon Magazine here (old being c. issue 70 or so.) For those not in
>the know, it's a 'hollow frisbee' made of metal; the outside edge is
>sharp, while the inside is smooth for catching.

The chakram IS a real weapon.
It is IIRC an Indian/Polynesian creation.
Essentially it's similar to a boomerang, and NO, it was not meant to return
when thrown!
That part is pure fantasy.

>I'd probably use something along the lines of the monofilament whip
>rules for inflicting self-damage when trying to catch it, base damage
>along the lines of a light axe -- Xena's a high level physad, of course,
>so she does mondo damage with it. (Probably bonus dice in its use, plus
>missile mastery -- woohoo!)

If you allow returning weapons this is probably a good way to rule it.
I'd rather have the "Return Shot" ability as a physad power, maybe an
offshoot of missile mastery?

Damage-wise the chakram is most likely about as dangerous as a thrown axe.

Steven A. Tinner
bluewizard@*****.com
http://www.ncweb.com/users/bluewizard
"Until you find something worth dying for, you're not really living"
Message no. 2
From: Matb <mbreton@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: Chakram (Was - list opinion wanted.)
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 1997 04:21:21 -0700
> >I'm not sure at all how 'real' the chakram is; I remember seeing
> >something roughly similar in an old "Weapons of the Weird" column in
> >Dragon Magazine here (old being c. issue 70 or so.) For those not in
> >the know, it's a 'hollow frisbee' made of metal; the outside edge is
> >sharp, while the inside is smooth for catching.

> The chakram IS a real weapon.
> It is IIRC an Indian/Polynesian creation.
> Essentially it's similar to a boomerang, and NO, it was not meant to return
> when thrown!
> That part is pure fantasy.

And on parallel lines, we have the 'blade of death' the Feral Kid used
in Road Warrior.. he used a thick glove to catch it, though. I have a
hard time imagining any (thrown) weapon keeping enough momentum to pass
through a human body and then bounce off (several) surfaces and return
to sender - kinda like the bus in Speed: it just ain't gonna work.

Not that I think people are weak in the tossing department - the old
Romans could chuck spears through iron-plated wood (and I've seen the
feat repeated IRL) - not to mention there's some aboriginal group which
can, iirc, toss axes several hundred yards, with amazing accuracy.

> >I'd probably use something along the lines of the monofilament whip
> >rules for inflicting self-damage when trying to catch it, base damage
> >along the lines of a light axe -- Xena's a high level physad, of course,
> >so she does mondo damage with it. (Probably bonus dice in its use, plus
> >missile mastery -- woohoo!)

> If you allow returning weapons this is probably a good way to rule it.
> I'd rather have the "Return Shot" ability as a physad power, maybe an
> offshoot of missile mastery?

A verrrry interestin' idea, there..

> Damage-wise the chakram is most likely about as dangerous as a thrown axe.

...Which would be something like (Str+2)M or (Str)S.
Message no. 3
From: Jaymz <justin@******.NET>
Subject: Re: Chakram (Was - list opinion wanted.)
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 1997 20:35:43 -0500
At 04:21 AM 9/13/97 -0700, Matb wrote:
#> >I'd probably use something along the lines of the monofilament whip
#> >rules for inflicting self-damage when trying to catch it, base damage
#> >along the lines of a light axe -- Xena's a high level physad, of course,
#> >so she does mondo damage with it. (Probably bonus dice in its use, plus
#> >missile mastery -- woohoo!)
#
#> If you allow returning weapons this is probably a good way to rule it.
#> I'd rather have the "Return Shot" ability as a physad power, maybe an
#> offshoot of missile mastery?
#
#A verrrry interestin' idea, there..

Hmm, and how much should that cost?

And would missile mastery be a prerequisite, or would it be another power
altogether.

--
/--justin@****.mcp.com----------------------justin@******.net--\
|Justin Bell NIC:JB3084| Time and rules are changing. |
|Simon & Schuster | Attention span is quickening. |
|Programmer | Welcome to the Information Age. |
\------------ http://www.mcp.com/people/justin/ ---------------/
Message no. 4
From: Gabriel <bginc@***.ZEELANDNET.NL>
Subject: Re: Chakram (Was - list opinion wanted.)
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 19:35:53 +0100
On 14 Sep 97 at 20:52, Steven A. Tinner wrote:

> The chakram IS a real weapon.
> It is IIRC an Indian/Polynesian creation.
> Essentially it's similar to a boomerang, and NO, it was not meant to return
> when thrown!

hehe, but, IIRC there are some stories about Chakrams that told of
them returning when thrown correctly (with the help of solid granite
walls and such).

> That part is pure fantasy.

Maybe, but it ads a nice touch doesn't it?

> Damage-wise the chakram is most likely about as dangerous as a thrown axe.

You think so? As a Xenite I have to disagree. It does a lot more
damage especially when used in conjunction with monowire (hmmm......
not a bad idea, Gurth, let's talk ;), and it throws easier, it's lighter and about
as easy to throw as a frisbee (In case there are other Xenites on this list:
I'm not saying the Chakram IS a frisbee, the gods forbid ;-)
It would take some special skill to throw it (melee weapons 3 or
such) but nothing special IMO.

-Gabriel Knight

"Doom is brought through songs of night,
only one can set it right,
out of the Darkness, into the light
all give praise to Gabriel Knight."

http://people.dahx.demon.nl/bginc
http://www.dahx.demon.nl/
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Message no. 5
From: Tim Cooper <z-i-m@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Chakram (Was - list opinion wanted.)
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997 21:53:56 EDT
On Tue, 16 Sep 1997 19:35:53 +0100 Gabriel <bginc@***.ZEELANDNET.NL>
writes:
>> Damage-wise the chakram is most likely about as dangerous as a thrown
axe.
>
>You think so? As a Xenite I have to disagree. It does a lot more
>damage especially when used in conjunction with monowire (hmmm......
>not a bad idea, Gurth, let's talk ;), and it throws easier, it's lighter
and about
>as easy to throw as a frisbee (In case there are other Xenites on this
list:
>I'm not saying the Chakram IS a frisbee, the gods forbid ;-)

No, your right, it's not a firsbee... it's an Aerobee.
(you know those really cool pink rubber things that look exactly like the
weapon in question, except for the pink rubber part that is.)

>It would take some special skill to throw it (melee weapons 3 or
>such) but nothing special IMO.

..a throwing weapons specialization is more like it.

~Tim

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