Wandering Monsters in TFT

[Jim Kane]

Originally Posted by JLV

...Basically, I "stationed" a "wandering monster" at some particular point in the dungeon, and then gave it a radius in which it would freely roam and engage targets, but beyond which it wouldn't normally go.

This is where we ended up as well JLV, but instead of Diablo, in our case, the inspiration to create a more dynamic Wandering Monsters System for TFT came from modelling the concepts behind the effects of the Theremin Proximity Sensors; originally the product of Soviet government-sponsored research in the 1920s by Leon Theremin (a latter-day contemporary of Nikola Tesla). Theremin moved to the United States, patented his invention in 1928, and granted production rights to RCA, as a musical instrument for it's unique sound. In the 50s, 60s and 70s, the sound of the Theremin appeared on the soundtrack from everything from The Day The Earth Stood Still, to, the Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin.

But as you did, we found this principle superior for creating a logical and dynamic system for engaging a TFT Adventure Party with a Monster or Beast from within it's local lair, exactly as you described.

The proximity sensing principles of the Leon Theremin's work, also appear be the same principles at work as those now found in the Back-up Sensors in the Tesla Automobile.

JK

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by Jim Kane

This is where we ended up as well JLV, but instead of Diablo, in our case, the inspiration to create a more dynamic Wandering Monsters System for TFT came from modelling the concepts behind the effects of the Theremin Proximity Sensors; originally the product of Soviet government-sponsored research in the 1920s by Leon Theremin (a latter-day contemporary of Nikola Tesla). Theremin moved to the United States, patented his invention in 1928, and granted production rights to RCA, as a musical instrument for it's unique sound. In the 50s, 60s and 70s, the sound of the Theremin appeared on the soundtrack from everything from The Day The Earth Stood Still, to, the Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin.

But as you did, we found this principle superior for creating a logical and dynamic system for engaging a TFT Adventure Party with a Monster or Beast from within it's local lair, exactly as you described.

The proximity sensing principles of the Leon Theremin's work, also appear be the same principles at work as those now found in the Back-up Sensors in the Tesla Automobile.

JK

I think Star Trek TOS used the Theremin in a lot of episodes to set the future mood...

[KevinJ]

I attended GenCon ages and ages ago and while there I attended a GM workshop where we designed an adventure. This was a 3 day event and covered things like "Do you trap the bathroom door" where traps and how they are used was discussed as well as 'wandering monsters and why they don't'. This second topic dealth with why there should never be 'wandering monsters' in a 'dungeon' setting. Like every goblin is a mamber of the tribe and if you kill the goblins patrolling area Y there will be fewer goblins later on. Or, is the Ogre who stomps around the well in league with the goblins or could he be goaded into attacking the goblins for you? to, what are the goblins who are not on patrol or guard duty doing? And even, If these are wandering monsters, why haven't they killed or been killed by the goblins?

Basically it came down to, there should never be random encounters with wandering monsters.

So many modules written for a widely popular, but poorly designed, game system never took this into account, even at the time I was taking this seminar and for many years after.

[zot]

Originally Posted by Kirk

I think Star Trek TOS used the Theremin in a lot of episodes to set the future mood...

A lot of people think that but it's actually vocals and instruments together :)