# D & D on the Straight Dope setup thread. (In Middle Earth FA63) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Tags:** middle-earth-game\ **Created:** [February 26, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276 "2008-02-26T20:17:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 79
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1561 "2009-04-14T02:16:08Z")
I would certainly appreciate any help anyone’s willing to give. ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1562 "2009-04-14T07:28:55Z")
As the other resident hobbit in the party, if you need a hand PM me. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1563 "2009-04-14T12:32:44Z")
> [@CatInASuit](#): > > As the other resident hobbit in the party, if you need a hand PM me. I certainly will. Us Hobbits need to keep the Big Folk honest, you know. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1564 "2009-04-14T18:52:41Z")
I am already preparing to pull Brin, Miron and Elfstan out of the party. Though maybe \*\*Glee \*\*and \*\*Malacandra \*\*will opt to take them over for a bit while they are off training. Theogrim is off to lead the Domebo party. Speaking of which, I can still handle more players in that game if anyone is interested. I would like **Glee** , \*\*Malacandra \*\*and \*\*appleciders \*\* to think over what they want to do as a hiatus. \*\*Appleciders \*\* was hinting that he might have Deor do some extra training which is a very good idea. This option would also be open to any of the other players but I don’t see much need for it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1565 "2009-04-14T18:53:37Z")
Aw, we’ll be sorry to lose them… their characters, if not their players. All for the best, though, I hope. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1566 "2009-04-15T01:53:00Z")
I’ve sent you a PM regarding hiatus. It’ll depend a lot on what the next adventure is. ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1567 "2009-04-15T07:34:56Z")
It will be interesting to see what happens when the three of them go for training. It will be quite different with them not around, but I’m sure they will come back all the better for it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1568 "2009-04-15T16:26:14Z")
Just a reminder, we’re getting sloppy in the Game thread, me included. Let not rise to every typing error. Let’s try to keep the player jokes here and minimize using reply instead of posting in context. I still hope this can read as much like a story as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1569 "2009-04-15T18:35:18Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Just a reminder, we’re getting sloppy in the Game thread, me included. Let not rise to every typing error. > > Let’s try to keep the player jokes here and minimize using reply instead of posting in context. I still hope this can read as much like a story as possible. Sorry. I was just amused by the mental image of a middle-aged chess teacher popping up in our war camp. 🙂 I could consider running one of the existing characters while GG is off training, but I do have another idea I want to think over. If I manage to think to some purpose, I’ll run it by you soon. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1570 "2009-04-16T20:14:54Z")
From the PM: > [@Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson](#): > > The burst of the fireball does not expend a considerable > amount of pressure, and the burst will generally conform to the shape of > the area in which it occurs, thus covering an area equal to its normal > spherical volume…The magic-user points his or > her finger and speaks the range (distance and height) at which the fireball > is to burst. A streak flashes from the pointing digit and, unless it impacts > upon a material body prior to attaining the prescribed range, flowers into > the fireball. It sounds as though we’d be safe using it in a narrow passage since Fireballs emit more heat than pressure. How straight does Deor’s arm and finger need to be to “point”? Can I sneak just the tip of a finger around, or just my hand? I realize that’d give a big penalty to accuracy, but we don’t need much accuracy because the goblins are only five feet back, right? This is probably academic because I think it’s unwise to spend my only Fireball on such a minor group of goblins, but I’d like to know your feelings on it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1571 "2009-04-16T20:17:19Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > From the PM: > It sounds as though we’d be safe using it in a narrow passage since Fireballs emit more heat than pressure. > > How straight does Deor’s arm and finger need to be to “point”? Can I sneak just the tip of a finger around, or just my hand? I realize that’d give a big penalty to accuracy, but we don’t need much accuracy because the goblins are only five feet back, right? > > This is probably academic because I think it’s unwise to spend my only Fireball on such a minor group of goblins, but I’d like to know your feelings on it. See the game thread but while I am here. Don’t expect any large groups at this point and by placing the fireball in the intersections you will get both sides at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1572 "2009-04-16T20:29:22Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > From the PM: > It sounds as though we’d be safe using it in a narrow passage since Fireballs emit more heat than pressure. > > How straight does Deor’s arm and finger need to be to “point”? Can I sneak just the tip of a finger around, or just my hand? I realize that’d give a big penalty to accuracy, but we don’t need much accuracy because the goblins are only five feet back, right? > > This is probably academic because I think it’s unwise to spend my only Fireball on such a minor group of goblins, but I’d like to know your feelings on it. The way I’ve seen it refereed before is this: Exactly because it does not exert much pressure - and so cannot burst out a bigger space for itself - it squishes out until it has covered about as much volume as if it were going off as a sphere in an unconfined space. That means in the cliched 10’ high, 10’ wide dungeon corridor it will cover 330’ linear feet, often with amusing results for the caster. 3rd Ed, on the other hand, was at pains to point out that this didn’t happen in that version of the magic system. As this is a 1st Ed campaign I thought it best to ask, especially since the spell’s quite torqued-up damage-wise. The spell’s blast pressure won’t do much to a wooden wall, but even thick planking has a lousy saving throw against being burnt to ashes by it - fireball is right up there with dragon breath in terms of destroying inanimate objects. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1573 "2009-04-16T20:43:55Z")
How much smoke will be produced, do you guesstimate? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1574 "2009-04-16T21:06:46Z")
Not much. At that temperature, you should be looking at a pretty clean burn. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1575 "2009-04-17T03:01:14Z")
> [@Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game: Fifth Adventure - War in Goblin Gate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-fifth-adventure-war-in-goblin-gate/475898/1679): > > …Óttarr, Rafin, Áki, Tobbe, Gedda & Fridi are about 1500’ back. Hvatar, Vakr, Sparr, Gautor, Sölvi & his brother Sörli are about 700’ back at a Y intersection… The last one is, uh, sorely missed. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1576 "2009-04-17T13:18:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The last one is, uh, sorely missed. The Dwarve names are all Old Norse Male names. (Yes there is a web site that has this.) It is the naming scheme that the Professor used for the Khâzad and so I did the same. I use to use an Icelandic-English Dictionary for this and games that included the Norse Pantheon. The Internet makes it so much easier. There was some disappointment last time it seemed that the Dwarves were not named so I did the extra work. It wasn’t hard. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1577 "2009-04-17T17:51:56Z")
Certainly harder than my pun, though. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1578 "2009-04-17T19:34:14Z")
I certainly caught the Norse flavour and assumed that was what you were shooting for, and why, though I didn’t know about the online resource. Still, it comes as no surprise. One advantage of online DMing, and to think I remember back when we thought a pad of hex sheets was pretty cutting-edge. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1579 "2009-04-17T21:19:32Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > I certainly caught the Norse flavour and assumed that was what you were shooting for, and why, though I didn’t know about the online resource. Still, it comes as no surprise. One advantage of online DMing, and to think I remember back when we thought a pad of hex sheets was pretty cutting-edge. 😃 Truth. I remember the 10 sider, AD&D and the small 10 square per inch graph paper as Godsends for gamers. Having my own carefully collected Elvish translation notes to go with the Icelandic and Latin dictionaries I had allowed me to add a lot of flavor to the game. Now I can get it all and sunrise charts and on-line ME references all on the Internet. Many of us have the DMG & PH in PDF format and I have a spreadsheet with most of the 1st Ed Monsters collected on it. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1580 "2009-04-18T00:04:12Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > … Many of us have the DMG & PH in PDF format and I have a spreadsheet with most of the 1st Ed Monsters collected on it. Ah, it’s not the same as when the DM opened the Monster Manual 1 and the watching players would mutter “Hey - he’s looking at names beginning with H - could it be a Hydra?!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276.md?page=78) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276.md?page=80)