| From: | Doctor Doom <JCH8169@*****.TAMU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Order now and recieve a year's supply of Quickenings! |
| Date: | Wed, 13 Apr 1994 23:42:34 -0500 |
1. Von Herrn Hilberg:
> I just finished reading the Germany Sourcebook <the entire thing>, and
>I have to say that the book was one of the best <if not _the_ best> locational
>sourcebook FASA has ever put out.
I was, on the whole, quite pleased with it . . . except for the history of
course -- for fairly obvious reasons. The magical sections I felt were the
most fascinating, with particular emphasis upon magical sites.
It was my impression that the culture was "a few degrees off"; however, that
did not detract much from my enjoyment.
2. Von Herrn Bill Flint:
>Remember that Essence drain feels better than sex or that how FASA wants to
>protray it.
That is hardly an unusual description as contemporary vampiric literature is
concerned. The Vampire Chonicles by Anne Rice depicts and embraces the
sensuality of the act (almost laying in on a bit too thick). P.N. Elrod's
series of books likens the act of draing to sexual arousal and ecstacy --
although this wasn't quite so emphasized in her "I, Strahd" novel.
3. Von Herrn Allison:
>IMO, changing the SR rules to allow astral to physcial attacks through
>anything would damage the game, through the balance all to hell, and
>encourage more Munchkinism than the game needs. It would be inconsistent
>with the way FASA has set up SR, and in fact contrary to the current
[...]
>negative effect into a postive effect. Am i the only one who sees the
>munchkins just waiting to explode into being?
It is my inclination to view the matter in a decidedly different light:
Most of the Munchkin activity I have witnessed has been through excessive
"loading up" on Quickened spells (around half a dozen in one case that comes
to mind), while thumbing their noses at the increasingly frustrated Game
Master, supremely confident nothing truly detrimental could be enacted against
them -- save perhaps just "break" the Quickening.
When it transpired that judgement was handed down from the Dark Lord indicating
that Quickenings nay longer were to be considered so fully secure, I was
elated. The myriad malignant manifestations of Quickening Munchkinism could
finally be reigned in, unless they wanted their characters char-broiled by a
grounded spell.
With this revelation, players consequently became far more relucatant to laden
themselves with potential lightning rods which they could not turn on and off,
as with Spell Locks. Munchkins typically tread far more quietly due to the
fear of the Game Master "getting the drop on them."
True, it is quite true that ambitious characters may also endeavor to ground
spell down NPC's Quickened "lightning rods", but that is merely an equal
application of the ruling. As a Game Master, forseeing such an eventuality, I
would avoid any heavy dependence upon quickened spells.
[ I am playing a recently Initiated magician right now . . . and I am not quite
willing to give up my spell locks yet. ]
It is my (only occasionally humble) opinion that the situation is far more
equitable at present with the ability to ground down Quickenings. They have
their advantages and disadvantages; as it should be.
>Oh, and Dr Doom, sorry I made you feel ignored. Next time, would you
>user a fresh carp? That one stunk!
Of course . . . that particular carp has been lying about for a while; the
last time I deemed someone deserving of the THWAP was some time hence.
Be thankful, however, I didn't implement the /original/ TWAP, that particular
carp's age is quiet advanced by now.
4. Von Herrn Timothy Skirvin <tskirvin@********.UNI.UIUC.EDU>
>> *goes mad*
> Sorry to hear that. Then I assume that Doom will take over as full-
>time listowner/whatever?
"Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be breakthrough. It is
potential liberation and newnewal as well as enslavement and existential
death."
-- R. D. Laing
> (Which reminds me, in some Internet listserv book
>I was flipping through at Waldenbooks they didn't have you down as the list-
>owner of ShadowRn, and they didn't even mention Shadowtk/Plot-D/NERPS. Just
>thought you'd want to know...)
'Tis a plot.
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