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From: holt@convex.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: AD&D magic item competition: Potion
Message-ID: <35400003@convex.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 15-Oct-84 16:43:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: convex.35400003
Posted: Mon Oct 15 16:43:00 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Oct-84 05:40:45 EDT
References: <532@nmtvax.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:nmtvax:-53200:convex:35400003:000:1400
Nf-From: convex!holt    Oct 15 15:43:00 1984

[immune to line printer bugs.  Hey Orkin...]

As far as magical booby traps are concerned, I say, why not? 

I can certainly see the use for cursed magic items from the
perspective of an evil wizard.  He is building an item which will destroy
his enemy.  The fact that it will be done by deception, as opposed to
direct confrontation, probably appeals to the guy.  He doesn't risk his
own hide, but instead invests a lot of time in conjuring an item.  Think
about it.  After the item is created, an assassin or other of like ilk
replaces a like object in the intended victims belongings with the 
cursed item.  When the victim goes to use it, voila, the desired result is 
achieved, and noone is the wiser for who was really behind the scenes.
Whether it be the loss of a Paladin's charisma due to a potion,
the death of a Mage due to a "cloak of blending", or an arrow of slaying 
returning to burrow itself in an archer's heart, a cause for this type
of item's creation can be thought of.  Granted, the probabilitity of finding
such an item should be greatly less than a beneficial magic item, but they
should and do exist.  

I do agree with others who have said that such items should not be used to
"control" unruly, or overly powerful characters.  They should simply exist
in the range of "possibilities".

				Dave Holt
				Convex Computer Corp.
				{allegra,ihnp4,uiucdcs,ctvax}!convex!holt