Results 931 to 960 of 1495
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2012-10-11, 08:16 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2010
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- 127.0.0.1
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Yeah, the percentages did sound fairly high, and since I can't find any independent research on it, I have to stick with what the makers say. However, it does sound like it could be an amalgam. I'm just curious, as they say that the process to make it involves mixing the mercury with a selection of herbs (they won't say which), might it be metals in the leaves that the mercury is binding to (possibly copper)?
EDIT: (Yeah, I really need to stop with all these edits right after posting something) I found a discussion that furthers the amalgam theory: a video of someone placing gold leaf onto a lingam pendant, and the gold "disappears", or more likely becomes part of the amalgam. Furthermore, mercury-gold amalgam does appear as a dull silver color, so the lingam could possibly be that as well.
Anyway, back on the original topic, I'd say that a mercury-gold amalgam wall would be pretty bad, as inhaling or ingesting either of them isn't good for your health.
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2012-10-11, 08:28 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2011
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
The internet suggests that may not be pure solid mercury. For one, that's impossible at superzero (positive is too mainstream of a word) temperatures. By my estimates, if it's a sphere two feet across, it ought to weigh about 1600 kilos. The density of solid mercury obviously varies with temperature, but at -38.85°C it's 14.19g/cc, according to this article; a few other sources also give numbers (both experimental and theoretical) around 14.2g/cc. A sphere (that looks roughly spherical, right?) with a radius of 30cm has a volume of 113,097cc, so its mass would be about 1605kg. Assuming that water is around 15°C (fair for a shaded stone pool, right?), its density would probably still be upwards of 13.8g/cc if it were still solid...so if that ball is only 680 kilos, there's no way it's pure solid mercury (not to mention that pure mercury can't be solid at 15°C). Even if it were a clear glass ball of liquid mercury (more plausible), it would still weigh about 1530kg...
Sorry, can't help being skeptical about things.
The density should be about 6g/cc. So it's not steel or zinc (877kg, or 807kg). I can't think of a silvery metal with that density off the top of my head and I'm already procrastinating on my actual chem homework.Jude P.
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2012-10-11, 08:37 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2012
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- <<Undetected>>
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Blank 3.5 Character Creator Iron Chef Style Tables (in Google Sheets)
Chairman Emeritus of Zinc Saucier.
Avatar by Derjuin, sing her praises to Elysium.
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2012-10-11, 08:37 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2010
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- 127.0.0.1
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Yeah, I myself am fairly skeptical about it, but since Telok was talking about using a wall of Mercury, except that it wouldn't then be solid, this came to mind. Besides, this is D&D we're talking about, a world of fantasy and magic. Might as well have some pseudo-science thrown in :P
If you'll look above, nedz and I decided it is probably an amalgam of mercury and a less dense metal, possibly copper. As for the size and weight, yeah, that doesn't quite sit right any way you look at it, unless it's hollow.
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2012-10-11, 08:50 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2011
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
An amalgam of gold and mercury (RE: your last post) wouldn't work, way too dense.
Likewise, an amalgam of copper and mercury would be too dense. The density of copper on its own is about 9g/cc. I don't think that combining a metal with density 14g/cc and a metal with density 9g/cc could yield a metal with density 6g/cc. I'm not up on alloys and amalgams, though.
It's possible their numbers are way off, or they're using something completely non-mercury. Oh hey, I just remembered--gallium is a liquid at just above room temperature (29.77°C), which is probably Indian room temperature if my Indian friends describe the heat at all accurately. And the density would be right, 5.91g/cc as a solid at room temperature. (Though it's apparently denser as a liquid at its melting point, like water...so it's possible that it would be a wee bit less dense in a pool of cool water. Still, about the 6g/cc I estimated. Perfect.Jude P.
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2012-10-11, 08:57 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2010
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- 127.0.0.1
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
That… that just might work. Of course, now I have to ask how many souvenir lingams are actually made as a mercury amalgam, and how many are just Gallium? It probably wouldn't be too difficult to convince someone off the street that the liquid metal you're working with is Mercury which you make it, then sell it as though it were this über-rare solid mercury pendant.
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2012-10-11, 09:00 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2011
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Well, there's still the issue that gallium is liquid at 30°C. So if you cooled it somehow and then a person wore it as a pendant it would start dripping. Could be a gallium alloy? I have no idea about any of those. The mercury amalgam idea seems implausible to me, because the densities would probably be too high for the mass of that ball. Unless that number is way off. Still, even a mercury-copper amalgam wouldn't be all that cheap...
Jude P.
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2012-10-11, 09:40 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Apr 2010
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- London, EU
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
If it was mercury, then you might expect the gold to be recruited.
Mercury will form amalgams with almost any metal, it could just be sodium or potassium from the plant matter.
Apology not required, scepticism is a good thing you can't have enough of.π = 4
Consider a 5' radius blast: this affects 4 squares which have a circumference of 40' — Actually it's worse than that.
Completely Dysfunctional Handbook
Warped Druid Handbook
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2012-10-11, 09:49 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2011
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
On the pendant "absorbing" gold leaf--that particular pendant is likely an amalgam of mercury. It's beginning to seem more like the mass (or dimensions) of that lingam that site gave was way off, which is a better explanation than that it's some form of gallium. Though I'd rather it be gallium, it's less toxic, though harder to work with in some ways.
Jude P.
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2012-10-12, 04:13 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2007
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
More to the point, "average" isn't applicable to 1d20 results; 10.5 is the median result, but not actually possible to roll. Every number from 1 to 20 is equally probable (in theory; in practice the dice hate you), but a 2d10 roll has 100 possible outputs, and a LOT of those outputs total 11 (exactly how many I don't recall, but it's well more than 5). 2d10 will almost never result in 20 or 2, and it literally never results in 1, while 1d20 (again theoretically) produces each of those results 5% of the time.
I don't believe you; you can't possibly really be saying that, it must be some kind of trick.Last edited by willpell; 2012-10-12 at 04:16 AM.
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2012-10-12, 04:19 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2011
Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
You all lost me long ago, what do mercury amalgams have to do with dysfunctional D&D rules?
Let me give you a brief rundown of an average Post-3E Era fight: You attack an enemy and start kicking his shins. He then starts kicking your shins, then you take it in turns kicking until one of you falls over. It basically comes down to who started the battle with the biggest boot, and the only strategy involved is realizing when things have gone tits up and legging it.
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2012-10-12, 04:21 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2010
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- The Great PNW
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Author of The Auspician's Handbook and The Tempestarian's Handbook for Spheres of Power.Greenman by Bradakhan/Spring Greenman by Comissar/Autumn Greenman by Sgt. Pepper/Winter Greenman by gurgleflep
Ask me (or the other authors) anything.
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2012-10-12, 07:31 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2011
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Well, yes, but if you roll a d20 a zillion times, the mean of the results will be about 10.5. That's what I meant. Of course, the relative probabilities of the various results are more immediately important.
Everything. You can't have a wall of mercury unless it's about -40°C out. But you can have a wall of mercury-gold amalgam.Jude P.
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2012-10-12, 08:53 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2007
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
More usefully, it's also the mean. Meaning (pun unintended) that as the number of rolls you make, n, approaches infinity, the total cumulative result will approach 10.5n.
Exactly 10 of the outputs total 11: 1+10, 2+9, 3+8, 4+7, 5+6, 6+5, 7+4, 8+3, 9+2, 10+1. You have a 10% chance of rolling exactly 11 on 2d10.Quotebox
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Wish building characters for D&D 3.5 was simpler? Try HeroForge Anew! An Excel-based, highly automated character builder. v7.4 now out!
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2012-10-12, 09:45 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2007
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
I consider each roll individually, so a result that's impossible to roll is of little value to me.
Exactly 10 of the outputs total 11: 1+10, 2+9, 3+8, 4+7, 5+6, 6+5, 7+4, 8+3, 9+2, 10+1. You have a 10% chance of rolling exactly 11 on 2d10.
That's much the same thing I said, although I claim that my version was funnier. You are of course free to be skeptical of my claim.Last edited by willpell; 2012-10-12 at 09:46 AM.
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2012-10-14, 02:33 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2007
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Discovered a fairly minor dysfunction - according to the Animals section of the Monster Manual, the Toad (often seen as a wizard's familiar since it grants a very-handy-at-low-levels +3 HP) has no Swim speed and no ranks in Swim.
Last edited by willpell; 2012-10-14 at 02:33 AM.
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2012-10-14, 05:04 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jun 2011
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
We all know toads hop everywhere they go, and put lily pads in convenient areas to avoid having to splash awkwardly through the water.
Also, Hide +21? Really? I'm gonna have to seriously contest that, on the basis of having spotted small toads surprisingly often at distances greater than 10' and with arguably no ranks in Spot.Projects: Homebrew, Gentlemen's Agreement, DMPCs, Forbidden Knowledge safety, and Top Ten Worst. Also, Quotes and RACSD are good.
Anyone knows blue is for sarcas'ing in · "Take 10 SAN damage from Dark Orchid" · Use of gray may indicate nitpicking · Green is sincerity
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2012-10-14, 05:43 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2007
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Well the toad gets a +4 racial bonus for its coloration, puts all its 4 Skill points into knowing how to hold still and stay under cover, gets a +12 bonus for being Diminutive as per the rules on all characters' Hide checks, and has +1 for its Dexterity (why Dexterity affects Hide has never been clear to me; you'd think it'd be Concentration, governing your ability to avoid moving a muscle). +4 for the coloration and +4 each step for smallness when Hiding might be a bit much, but at least it's not +1, like what Fighters get to their attack roll with one weapon if they spend an entire Feat. Or +2, like most of the bonuses in the game, which is still not that much.
Last edited by willpell; 2012-10-14 at 05:45 AM.
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2012-10-14, 09:31 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2007
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Last edited by rockdeworld; 2012-10-17 at 10:17 AM.
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2012-10-14, 09:38 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2008
Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
"It doesn't matter how much you struggle or strive,
You'll never get out of life alive,
So please kill yourself and save this land,
And your last mission is to spread my command,"
Slightly adapted quote from X-Fusion, Please Kill Yourself
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2012-10-14, 10:08 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2010
Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Or simply wasn't trying to hide.
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2012-10-14, 10:49 AM (ISO 8601)
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- May 2004
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- Enterprise, Alabama
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Last edited by Starbuck_II; 2012-10-14 at 10:50 AM.
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2012-10-14, 06:51 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jun 2011
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Well, I suppose that depends. A toad sitting on similar-colored mud may not able to Hide, strictly speaking (although it's hard to spot), but a toad in water certainly has concealment, and I've been able to spot those as well. (And, of course, a toad in deep brush has total concealment and it doesn't matter.)
I probably have like a net +1 Spot. And it's not that +21 is necessarily vastly overestimated; it just seems to be several points too high, and I think it should be closer to +17 or perhaps even slightly lower (given that I am able to spot hiding toads rather more than 5% of the time).Projects: Homebrew, Gentlemen's Agreement, DMPCs, Forbidden Knowledge safety, and Top Ten Worst. Also, Quotes and RACSD are good.
Anyone knows blue is for sarcas'ing in · "Take 10 SAN damage from Dark Orchid" · Use of gray may indicate nitpicking · Green is sincerity
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2012-10-14, 06:53 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2010
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- 127.0.0.1
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
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2012-10-14, 07:01 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
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- <<Undetected>>
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Blank 3.5 Character Creator Iron Chef Style Tables (in Google Sheets)
Chairman Emeritus of Zinc Saucier.
Avatar by Derjuin, sing her praises to Elysium.
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2012-10-14, 07:21 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2007
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Quotebox
Avatar by Rain Dragon
Wish building characters for D&D 3.5 was simpler? Try HeroForge Anew! An Excel-based, highly automated character builder. v7.4 now out!
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2012-10-14, 07:37 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2007
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
So it was. My mistake
In case it hasn't been mentioned:
-you can disarm opponents using light or one-handed weapons with Sleight of Hand
-you can also use it to steal equipped armor from small races (but not their weapons)
-you can't use it to steal tiny or diminutive objects
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2012-10-14, 07:39 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2011
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2012-10-15, 07:33 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2011
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- Dromund Kaas
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
Because Truenamers can't catch a break even then, here's one of the feats meant for them:
Originally Posted by Tome of Magic, page 229
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2012-10-15, 07:34 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2011
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Re: "Wait, that didn't work right" - the Dysfunctional Rules Collection
I'm pretty sure we could just have a post that says "Tome of Magic" and call it a day.
Jude P.