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the invading PCs. Very rarely does an NPC survive such an encounter to go
back and appear later on. So, the NPCs will use all their Runepower to defeat
the PCs. So, they will use Dispel Magic, Crush or whatever without thought of
what will happen later.

This means that the PCs are at a very grave disadvantage because of the
Runepower rules. If they could only cast the spells they had, the NPCs would
not be able to cast ridiculous levels of magic.

That is why I agreed that the variation spoken of elsewhere is far batter and
could work.

> These arguments remind me of those put forward in the early 80s as to why
> certain spells were "unbalancing.*" Generally it was a GM using Johny One
> Notes to try and liquidate a particular character in a party. You have the
> same problems with "standard" Divine Magic - I've seen it happen with one
> adventurer piling all his Divine Magic into Lightning. As I said before, it
> must be differences in play, 'cause I don't seem to have these problems
> anymore.

Personally, I allow any spells that are in the book and a lot that aren't. If
the players want to try and abuse them, I let them. After all, as a GM I can
abuse the rules a lot easier than they can. They soon learn that if they
don't abuse the rules then neither will I (much).

Trevor Ellis:
> > Simon
> >=20
> > The trouble with broo groups is that the weakest ends up with a couple =
> of
> > dozen broo larvae growing inside him. Players don't like their PCs =
> being the
> > butt of broo activities.
> >
> 
> BROO TROOPS
> 
> I'm trying to imagine a Broo troop where the weakest (and therefore the =
> nearly always the youngest) is used as a one-use breeding vessel.  =
> Firstly the average age of the troop would be getting younger and =
> younger.  Secondly any youngster with even a little intelligence would =
> probably try to run away.  Unless that is you play Broo like the Borg, =
> where there is no sense of the individual and everyone is willing cannon =
> fodder to those above them.

Broos can always make more broos. All broos know this and enthusiastically
prove it at every opportunity. Obviously, bros would prefer to make broos on
things that don't fight back, such as cattle, sheep, goats, captives and so
on. However, by their very nature, bros are bullies and have a nasty pecking
order. They prey on the weak and defenceless. If they are sat in a cave
because it's raining outside and there's nothing on the telly, and little
No-horns is annoying someone again, what's to stop them pulling him into a
corner and giving him something to bleat about? Broos are not very nice
creatures. Of course, if little No-horns turns out to be able to spit on them
and make them dissolve then he will be unharmed and they will turn their
attentions on someone else. That way, the broos with nasty chaos features,
those who a god in combat or are magically skilled, those with powerful
friends and so on will survive and the group will become stringer rather than
weaker. Unnatural selection at its finest.

> What advantage would the senior Broo gain by having an unprotected =
> massive pile of larvae, and very few members of the troop?  Just one =
> encroachment from a Troup with greater numbers (i.e. that allowed its =
> young to grow) would prove fatal.  The basic ecological/evolutionary =
> principles (and common sense) still apply in Glorantha IMO.   Broos can =
> not both live in groups and wantonly prey on their young.  I always seek =
> for social organisations that are sustainable (with a few odd exceptions =
> to keep the players on their toes).  =20

Not the young, the weakest. Sometimes the young broos are stringer or more
powerful than their elders. In any case, they can always make some more
broos. Quite often the leader of the group will stop things happening, or
will ensure that the group does not die out. 

> Instead I prefer to see Broos more like a wolf pack, where each member =
> is constantly looking to increase there position in the hierarchy, =
> whilst at the same time suppressing those below them.  Most 'conflicts' =
> must be non-lethal IMO.  Only a very weak Broo, or someone who made the =
> mistake of pushing a superior too hard might well be punished as you =
> describe.

Exactly, "Only a very weak Broo, or someone who made the mistake of pushing a
superior too hard might well be punished as you describe." There is often a
weak broo or a pushy one, although not always. The broo gangs from the Big
Rubble are powerful enough to protect themselves from each other.

Leon Kirshtein:

> > Nasty stackable offensive spells: Lightning, Crush, Slash, Chomping,
> Create Fissure, Shake Earth, Earthwarm, Firespear, Swallow, Venom Boosting
> Out of all of these the only one that gives me the "fits" is -- Swallow
> Why?  No POW vs. POW required and it (no matter what it is!!!) is gone
> forever!!!

I always liked the combination of Second Mouth and Swallow. Virtually
indetectible until the last minute when it is all too late. Also, the
victim's mind will probably be on other things than checking for
assassination attempts.

Simon


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