[pnpgm] Game Update #125 - File #696 - New Adventure!

J Hooten jhooten at binary.net
Wed Apr 1 08:07:21 CEST 2009



Scott Adams wrote:
>
>         From Chion: [Re: Actions] 
>           Book and scroll casting was also covered in the rules: you use
>           the EL you KNOW the spell at... if its ZERO, you use zero. You
>           can still read the scroll and cast it at EL 200000 if that is
>           what the scroll/book is. However, you get NO BONUS for the roll
>           UNLESS you know a little (have an EL above zero) about the spell
>           you are scroll/book casting.
>
>           It really does make the most sense. IMHO.
>
>           This prevents someone from being able to cast MASTER level spells
>           as well as written down on a piece of paper. Which in turn
>           prevents the highest level magic user from "arming" all his
>           fellows with tons of high level scrolls (because they will fail
>           casting the same spells with no bonus (no EL) and versus a MDV
>           of any kind). If you did the EL cast and EL known, they would
>           get a bonus even if they didn't know the spell. Which really
>           makes no sense. Simply because a spell is stronger doesn't mean
>           it will work better. See also "Fireballs in Melee".
>         GM: Ack.  Yeah I know how books and such work.  Like I say I
>             can see both sides of the argument.  I honestly can't
>             recall what my table group felt the biggest argument was
>             since it was 20 odd years ago.  One reason I sort of
>             forgot the rule and in pbems its just far more work.
>             So now I put it back up and will use it since voted on.
>             Slave drivers! More work for me! :)  This also means that
>             in the below mission certain high level beings will have
>             a huge advantage. :)
>
>                         --------------------
>   

There is never a simple solution.
But you definitely do not want books or scrolls making it too easy for
mages.
So godlings will be a big problem, thats what MDVs greater than 100 are
for ;)
If they can be hurt by Abysmals then it may be the best way to take them
down!
But yes high level high skill casters with staffs and other useful items
have a huge chance of success in general
Assuming Mel20 El10 you can have modifiers to casting of -70 pretty
easily and thus need an MDV of 150 or more to be safe ;)
I do not think the party has anyone who can reach that very easily
So the best thing is not be a target to start with, use darkness or
invisibility or other sneaky methods.
To kill a high MDV target with magic you use sneaky spells like
destruction and explode nearby things, or other indirect attacks
There is lots of solutions if people think about it
Transmuting the floor or ceiling to manure or worse is always fun, it
tends to distract your target quite a lot, though it may make things
worse later...

The big question is are the characters smart enough to handle such
things, can they out plan an avatar?
The answer is.... Quite likely! LOL, most deities are not all that
bright, having ridiculous amounts of power means you do not have to plan
all that well most the time.
So I suggest going for the fun solutions and make the avatar die of
disgust, he will never be able to show his head around the others after
you do bad things to him...
I used my great powers to totally obliterate them!  Sure you did...but
after they showed how stupid and gullible you were, they made a fool of
you...well maybe they just showed what a fool you actually are... And
the tutu looked good on you until they dumped all that excrement on your
head, you need a bath, a really strong bath on another plane..really, go
now, soak for a few decades
>         From Z'leyra: [Re: Taking a bath]
>           The evening before the audience Z'leyra will bathe and clean
>           herself, getting rid of the accumulated dirt from working at the
>           forge for days. The morning of the audience she will take time
>           to dress in her best clothing.
>         GM: Ack. Would you like Raban to help out in anyway? :) 
>
>      -----------------------------------------------------------------
Is Raban having a naughty dream?





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