Re: Gloranthan Physics & Science

From: Loren Miller <loren_at_wharton.upenn.edu>
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 15:52:17 -0500

David Cheng <cheng_at_io.com> sez:
> EXAMPLE OF A BAD ADVENTURE SCENARIO:
> GM: You're deep in the cave. There is a sulfurous smell in the air.
> There is a rockslide. You're trapped.
> Player: What's the chance my character can make a roll on his high
> Intelligence to make gunpowder from the sulfur in the cave?
> We'll blow our way out!
> GM: Um, your chacter is an Orlanthi thane... Where does he get the
> inspiration that gunpowder is made from sulfur? And, what is
> gunpowder?

It seems to me that there is another manifestly correct answer for Glorantha.

GM: Interesting. How does Orlmack reason that? PC: It just stands to reason. If you're smart enough you might just happen to put sulphur and saltpeter and carbon together in the right quantities to form a powerful explosion. It's nothing special.

GM: Gunpowder is special mostali knowledge on Glorantha.
PC: Awwwww, come on. It's nothing special.
GM: OK. I hoped it wouldn't come to this, but *POP* your character returns to his 

correct form, that of a dwarf. All right everybody, suddenly Orlmack is gone and in his place is a 3 foot tall dwarf with a bad complexion and a surprised look on his face.
Other players: Kill the dwarf spy! Kill the dwarf spy!

Cheers!
Loren

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Loren Miller <loren_at_wharton.upenn.edu> "If men cease to believe that they will one day become gods then they will surely become worms." --Henry Miller, "The Colossus of Maroussi"

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