[MUD-Dev] Gdn: item decay was: Blog about GDC implies changes to MMORPG population

[Jaycen Rigger]

Mathieu Castelli <mathieu at newtgames.com> wrote:

> Simply translated into the game it could be that right near the
> end, weapons and armours could blow out. The metaphor being that
> the crackles in the fabric becomes shrapnel (or, if need for a
> variant, that as the magical energy is not strong to hold the
> elements together anymore, it blows).

Certain magic items and artifacts from the 1st edition AD&D game had
the capability to do a "retributive strike".  By intentionally
breaking the item (snapping a staff over the wizard's knee), all of
the magic in the item was released in one, final explosion of power.
The effect typically killed everything in a set radius and destroyed
a certain amount of matter for a range, but there was also typically
a 5% chance the wizard would be plane-shifted to an alternate plane
of reality (otherwise going out in a blaze of glory).

A DM buddy of mine once came up with a Staff of the Necromancer.
When destroyed (smashing the glass skull at the top of the staff)
the Staff turned undead in the area as a 14th level Cleric.

Good times, good times...