[net.games.frp] Acrobats monks and Falling Damage

michael3@garfield.UUCP (Mike Rendell) (09/04/85)

 According to AD&D rules,acrobats can tumble down walls for reduced
 damage. I can understand breaking your momentum using the corners
 of buildings, but it seems impossible otherwise. Likewise, a high
 level monk can fall an infinite distance so long as he is within
 eight feet of a wall.

 Barring magic (a bad excuse) how is this done?

							 PSP

jims@hcrvax.UUCP (Jim Sullivan) (09/06/85)

>  According to AD&D rules,acrobats can tumble down walls for reduced
>  damage. I can understand breaking your momentum using the corners
>  of buildings, but it seems impossible otherwise. Likewise, a high
>  level monk can fall an infinite distance so long as he is within
>  eight feet of a wall.
> 
>  Barring magic (a bad excuse) how is this done?
> 
> 							 PSP
As a person falls, he tends to grab at anything that could break his
fall.  During the early days of flight, it was felt that a person
who fell out of his plane would die before he hit the ground.  This
was later 'proven' wrong when falling pilots were observed to clutch
and grab at the air. (what proof :-)

Now, monks happen to be very good at this clutch and grab method of falling.
As long as they are close to a wall, they can control their fall by grabbing
outcroppings and trees etc. as they fall.  When normal people try this,
it doesn't work, because they're not experienced in the technique.

To test this, climb a ladder, and step off.  On your way down, grab the
window ledge, eavestrough, etc.  You'll arrive safely. (Don't laugh, I did!)

Jim