lmaher@uokvax.UUCP (09/10/84)
#N:uokvax:2400067:000:1101 uokvax!lmaher Sep 9 17:17:00 1984 This is an interesting survey - kudoes to inmet!jmd for suggesting it. Of course if they're actually used he's geased to post a summary so we can all find out what happens. My guess is that with this much evil and power the likely goal is an artifact. Then after they get it they can betray each other and try to grab it for their own. This is so much fun I was going to post another character, an 8L Fighter/13L Assassin/14L Mage, but seeing as how both pur-phy!rb and rabbit!jj have posted a 14L Assassin/18L Illusionist I won't. I am toying with the notion of posting Black Jack and his Attack Drac Mack, but will resist the urge. Is there anyone else out there who suspects the 200 xp for Girdle of Giant Strength is a typo? They probably meant to say 200 xp per hit die or strength point. Cursed items that don't have xp costs can be very useful, too. But in terms of cost-efficiency, it's hard to go wrong with a Luck Blade with exceptional intelligence. In addition to all the powers, you get 5 wishes for 1000 xp (1 kxp?). And on that note I'll close. Carl ..!ctvax!uokvax!lmaher
lmaher@uokvax.UUCP (09/18/84)
I see my usage of xp as a shorthand for "experience received for
magical items" has confused some readers. ep and xp are common
abbreviations for experience points. Since in the "design an
evil character" contest you are limited to only (only?!?) 30,000
xp of magical items, it's worthwhile to consider the cost
effectiveness of each item. Example: A ring of 3 wishes costs
3000 xp (that means if you found the ring, you would get 3000
experience points. But in this contest, it uses up 3000 of the
30,000 points you are allowed to allocate to magic items.
Clear?). A ring of multiple wishes costs 5000 xp for 2-8 wishes;
obviously you'll take one with 8. So the cost/wish for a ring of
3 wishes is 1000, for a ring of multiple wishes it is 625. But
you can get a luck blade with 5 wishes for only 1000 xp, at a
cost per wish of 200. In addition to the 5 wishes, you get the
other benefits of having a +1 sword, +1 on your saving throws,
and all the benefits of an unusual (intelligent, reads magic,
disentegrates opponents in the pursuit of its conveniently-chosen
purpose, etc.) weapon, at no additional cost.
Now most of the magic items are trade-offs. By that I mean
that you can take one or the other, and justify either choice.
Which would you rather have, a cap of teleportation or a ring of
spell storing (both 2500 xp)? It depends. But some items are so
immensely underpriced that it would be foolish *not* to take
them. Which would you rather have, a healing potion or a girdle
of storm giant strength? Both are 200 xp! You'd be foolish not
to take the girdle, if you're interested in creating a powerful
character. Some chose not to because it wasn't in their
character conception - their resistance to temptation is to be
commended.
Likewise, the cursed items do not have xp values (you don't
get experience for finding cursed items), so they are effectively
"free" to the designers in the contest (I know it isn't really a
contest, but I can't think of the proper term). Dust of
Disappearance is also free, for some odd reason - I suspect a
typo. Items such as a Scarab of Death, Necklace of
Strangulation, Rug of Smothering, et al. are extremely useful
when you know what they are, especially if you're a sneaky type
able to plant them on the victim. Instead of picking a victim's
pocket, place the Scarab *into* their pocket. No matter how
powerful they are, they die (unless they find it in time).
I actually statted up *4* entries to this contest, but only
used my favorite. So I spent quite some time looking through the
DMG at the magic items, and I thought I'd mention the Girdle and
cursed items.
Note that the most powerful and extreme choice would be just
to take 100 Ioun stones (the Green Prism that adds 1 level) and
be a 105th level everything. Who needs any other items than
that? (Actually, one of the characters I designed could kill the
105th level nasty in one round, maybe less. But you don't want
to know about that! And she was neutral anyway.)
Carl, the mathematical assassin
..!ctvax!uokvax!lmaherbryan@uiucdcs.UUCP (09/20/84)
#R:uokvax:2400067:uiucdcs:9300036:000:620 uiucdcs!bryan Sep 19 20:38:00 1984 I too thought that the 200xp for a Girdle of Giant Strength was a typo and checked it out but was not surprised by E.G.G. 's answer: (I believe the question was in an old Dragon Sage Advice column) the makers said that the xp listed was not a typo and came up with the reason that the anyone wearing a girdle has the added strength but not the cordination to use the added strength and is thus very awkward. However no where else have I seen any mention of a disadvantage to a girdle and if one exists it must be good too conteract 35% addition to hit and I believe fourteen more points to damage. w not d -rob bryan