Post by delta on Jan 31, 2018 22:20:50 GMT -6
This is a question aimed at "how was it done in the old days", e.g., those familiar with play at Gygax's table or the like.
Based on outside conversations, I'm currently unsure if gaze attacks (from vampires, basilisks, medusae) force saves from everyone in front of them with their eyes open, or only from one single victim who gets targeted on the monster's turn. My instinct has always been the former (a whole bunch of saves), but having the latter proposed by someone else, I couldn't totally knock it down from the book text (and I even thought it was a fascinating interpretation).
Vampires say, "They Charm men-types merely by looking into their eyes" (which suggests targeting by the vampire, maybe). Basilisks say, "it has the power of turning to stone... those who meet its glance" (ambiguous). Medusae say, "turn those who look at its eyes to stone" (victim perspective, so more likely multiple). Also in module B2 it is said of the medusa, "Persons looking at the creature -- including those fighting from the front -- must save versus being turned to stone by the medusa" (clearly plural, action by victims, not medusa). But maybe these monsters don't all follow the same idiom?
And while I'm on the theme, likewise (if you have experience), what about Harpies? Some players and rulesets (late BECMI) assert harpy songs are targeted at just one victim at a time. Is that how it was played, or was it played that everyone in a whole party with open ears need a save?
Based on outside conversations, I'm currently unsure if gaze attacks (from vampires, basilisks, medusae) force saves from everyone in front of them with their eyes open, or only from one single victim who gets targeted on the monster's turn. My instinct has always been the former (a whole bunch of saves), but having the latter proposed by someone else, I couldn't totally knock it down from the book text (and I even thought it was a fascinating interpretation).
Vampires say, "They Charm men-types merely by looking into their eyes" (which suggests targeting by the vampire, maybe). Basilisks say, "it has the power of turning to stone... those who meet its glance" (ambiguous). Medusae say, "turn those who look at its eyes to stone" (victim perspective, so more likely multiple). Also in module B2 it is said of the medusa, "Persons looking at the creature -- including those fighting from the front -- must save versus being turned to stone by the medusa" (clearly plural, action by victims, not medusa). But maybe these monsters don't all follow the same idiom?
And while I'm on the theme, likewise (if you have experience), what about Harpies? Some players and rulesets (late BECMI) assert harpy songs are targeted at just one victim at a time. Is that how it was played, or was it played that everyone in a whole party with open ears need a save?
