gordon@alberta.UUCP (Gordon Atwood) (11/29/85)
I have been watching the articles go by ever since the idea was suggested. As yet no reponse has appeared to my own follow-up article, which was essentially in favor of the idea. (At least no response that is worth mentioning). I am surprised and dismayed by the reactions that are appearing. After all, this is Fantasy Role-Playing discussion, isn't it? Numerous articles side-step the question by saying that the idea would never, occur to anyone in a FRP universe. Why? How did someone dream up Fireball, Time stop, Cloudkill? Surely Cloudkill is a form of biological warfare, no one in a Fantasy universe would think of it. Why wouldn't an MU, interested in making an extremely focused beam flashlight? Maybe he has observed that crystals distort light an make pretty patterns? If someone is running a universe in which he does not care whether OUR physical laws are violated, this might allow a real-live laser, just like in the movies. Some have said this will destroy game balance. Of course it can. Anything can destroy game balance if the DM, GM, is not careful. In this universe it might require grinding a 100,000 gp gem down to the size of a cigarette. That is one hell of an investment, and it's not going to be to popular. I, myself, am interested in keeping some semblance (Note keyword SEMBLANCE) [Hope that is the right spelling] of physical laws intact. To this end I requested some details on Laser principles. I could have gone and looked it up. But, instead, I approached the net. Several good articles have gone by already, outlining what would be needed to make such a device. Unfortunately, so have some bad ones.