Rules of the Game Part 2

[Darklone]

If you play NWN, go with the following rule: Who needs rules, let's get more items and bash dragons.

 

[Grazzt]

In principle, it's easy to crack someone's password too. Just try all possible combinations of numbers and letters. You're bound to get it eventually.

And that's why people should listen when their network administrator tells them to use characters such as the exclamation point !!!!! in their passwords.

 

[Darklone]

Thanks for the hint, I always wondered why I didn't get YOUR password, Grazzt.

 

[Joshua Randall]

I'm going to forward The Sage's articles to the folks at PCGen, and let them code up their software properly. Then I can simply select what my character is wearing and presto, PCGen calculates the AC for me.

 

[Henry]

Neverwinter Nights has some other variances, too - such as the spell Mage Armor gives you (instead of a +4 armor bonus) a +1 natural, +1 armor, +1 deflection, and +1 (something else, can't remember). That way, it becomes completely obsolete when you start building up other armor-boosting items.

On the subject of rules, I'm glad to see the new column. (A) It's giving Skip more work, and (B) it can be turned hopefully to some even thornier problems.

 

[Pielorinho]

And that's why people should listen when their network administrator tells them to use characters such as the exclamation point !!!!! in their passwords.

[hijack]And this is why I don't let users set their own passwords any more on our system. If I tell Mary to come up with a password containing at least one upper-case, lower-case, number, and punctuation mark, and tell her it's got to be at least 8 characters, dollars to doughnuts her password will be Mary123!

Given the same information, Frank's will be Frank123!, and Oliver's will be Oli11-23, where 11-23 is his birthday.

Assigned passwords are the way to go.
[/hijack]
Daniel

 

[Grazzt]

[hijack]And this is why I don't let users set their own passwords any more on our system. If I tell Mary to come up with a password containing at least one upper-case, lower-case, number, and punctuation mark, and tell her it's got to be at least 8 characters, dollars to doughnuts her password will be Mary123!

Given the same information, Frank's will be Frank123!, and Oliver's will be Oli11-23, where 11-23 is his birthday.

Assigned passwords are the way to go.
[/hijack]
Daniel

Agreed. Last company I worked for (before I got laid off) was that way. They let me run the IT dept how I saw fit. Company I am with now, unfortunately doesnt. They recognize the inability of their workers (accounting dept and customer service mainly) to remember anything other than their first and last name, and so let them set their own passwords. And most are, in fact, the person's name followed by 123.

[hijack over]

 

[Joshua Randall]

[more hijack]
I found a great way to set my own passwords. Take a keyword -- the more obscure the better. Now, move your hands up one row on the keyboard and type the keyword. Presto! Instant password.

For example if my keyword was ventifact (off my Word-A-Day calendar for 1/28/2003), then the password would be f3h58rqd5. Pretty much unguessable unless you know I'm using this system and also guess the keyword.

Flavor by holding down the shift key (creating some special characters and uppercase letters) in a few places and you're all set.

 

[smetzger]

Perhaps ambiguous it's not, but the entire system of different types of bonuses, what stacks with what, etc. is (IMO) unnecessarily complex. If WOTC feels the need to post this information over 3 years after the rules were published, that's a pretty clear sign that the basic design is flawed.

IMO the problem is in the presentation in the books. The types of bonuses should be in bold or italics so that it stands out and the reader can easily identify the bonus.

 

[dark2112]

They recognize the inability of their workers (accounting dept and customer service mainly) to remember anything other than their first and last name, and so let them set their own passwords. And most are, in fact, the person's name followed by 123.

[hijack over]

[more hijack hijinks]

I've always figured that if someone can't come up with an easily remembered, yet complex password, then they deserve anything they get. Mine are always 8 characters minimum, except when system administrators force me to smaller passwords(!!!). My solution to the above, were I the boss, would be this: You are responsible for all activity that occurs on the network that is logged to your account. If you give out your password, or someone hacks your account, you're still responsible. Choose your password wisely.

[jeepers, hijinks over?]