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<blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 5279367" data-attributes="member: 58197"><p>You're the one claiming the 4E interpretation is somehow inconsistent with the original concept of Medusa. I have made no similar claims about the pre-4E interpretation. Therefore it is on you to prove that the 4E approach is wrong, not on me to prove it right. The way I see it, the legend doesn't say a word about the details of the process, and therefore the game designer has plenty of leeway to come up with something that works both conceptually and mechanically.</p><p></p><p>Now, shall we discuss how well D&D's demons and devils match up to their mythological equivalents (those that have them)? How many dragons in real-world legend were color-coded? How many of them breathed lightning, acid, or cold? Does the mythological Asgard really look like rivers of earth churning through empty space? Was the old Greek idea of Tartarus actually a chain of red-glowing pearls in a black void?</p><p></p><p>I consider verisimilitude quite important in game design, and I have a number of beefs with 4E's designers on that point. SSSoD is not one of them, however. It is merely a different take (a more mechanically convenient one, true) on the concept of how petrification works within the game world. You don't like it, that's your privilege, but it's just as valid as the old way.</p><p></p><p>(And when you apply it to other areas, such as poison, SSSoD makes far more sense than the old save-or-die. Instantly lethal poison is so rare as... well, as far as I know there isn't any such thing. Hydrogen cyanide gas will knock you out in seconds but takes a couple minutes to kill; if your companions had the antidote, they'd have time to administer it. Even sarin gives you a minute or so in which to jab a needle full of atropine into your chest. Most animal venoms take many minutes before you even feel the effects, and as for the sort of poisons people put on weapons in medieval times, they'd take hours if they worked at all.)</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I predict the response I'd get is, "Medu-what?" And for those who know what Medusa is, "Uh... I dunno." Probably, on sufficient questioning, they would shrug and say not very much, but I doubt they would object if I suggested it might take a few seconds.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dausuul, post: 5279367, member: 58197"] You're the one claiming the 4E interpretation is somehow inconsistent with the original concept of Medusa. I have made no similar claims about the pre-4E interpretation. Therefore it is on you to prove that the 4E approach is wrong, not on me to prove it right. The way I see it, the legend doesn't say a word about the details of the process, and therefore the game designer has plenty of leeway to come up with something that works both conceptually and mechanically. Now, shall we discuss how well D&D's demons and devils match up to their mythological equivalents (those that have them)? How many dragons in real-world legend were color-coded? How many of them breathed lightning, acid, or cold? Does the mythological Asgard really look like rivers of earth churning through empty space? Was the old Greek idea of Tartarus actually a chain of red-glowing pearls in a black void? I consider verisimilitude quite important in game design, and I have a number of beefs with 4E's designers on that point. SSSoD is not one of them, however. It is merely a different take (a more mechanically convenient one, true) on the concept of how petrification works within the game world. You don't like it, that's your privilege, but it's just as valid as the old way. (And when you apply it to other areas, such as poison, SSSoD makes far more sense than the old save-or-die. Instantly lethal poison is so rare as... well, as far as I know there isn't any such thing. Hydrogen cyanide gas will knock you out in seconds but takes a couple minutes to kill; if your companions had the antidote, they'd have time to administer it. Even sarin gives you a minute or so in which to jab a needle full of atropine into your chest. Most animal venoms take many minutes before you even feel the effects, and as for the sort of poisons people put on weapons in medieval times, they'd take hours if they worked at all.) I predict the response I'd get is, "Medu-what?" And for those who know what Medusa is, "Uh... I dunno." Probably, on sufficient questioning, they would shrug and say not very much, but I doubt they would object if I suggested it might take a few seconds. [/QUOTE]
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