Re: [HoE] [HOPLER] Nukin' Sticks vs. Glowsticks

[Allan Seyberth <darious@darious.com>]

At 06:57 AM 7/30/1999 PDT, you wrote:
>A couple of CotA questions.
>
>First of all, the info on Nukin' Stick (page 53) says that, "Rumor is that 
>the sticks are actually control rods...".  However, this is not clarified in 
>the Marshall section one way or another.  Are they or aren't they?  Why is 
>there any uncertainty here?

Accumulated rulings to the rescue....

Weapons:  Glow Rod
(See Weapons:  Nukin' Stick)
C)	it gives the stats for a control rod (Glow Stick, page 73) are:
Defensive:  +1, Speed:  1, Damage:  Str+1d6, COst:  $2,000
R)	These stats are (again, almost) correct for a nuclear control
rod/non-powered Glow Stick, which is a lightweight graphite staff. When
powered up, the stats are the same, except that Damage increases to
STR+3d10. The text was poorly-worded; the DB of +1 and Speed of 1 are the
same whether the Glow Stick is powered or not. [Charles Ryan, HoE listserv,
2/19/99]
Q)	Finally, can Nukin' Sticks be used as Glow Sticks and vice versa?
Again, I would assume so, but...
A)	I'd guess not, actually. - [Charles Ryan, HoE listserv, 2/19/99]


Weapons:  Nukin' Stick
(See Weapons:  Glow Rod)
C)	In the second chapter, in the Gear section, the stats for a Control Rod
(i.e. Nukin' Stick, page 53) are as follows:  Defensive:  +1, Speed:  2,
Damage:  Str+1d8, Cost:  $1,000
R)	These stats are (almost--see my note on prices below) correct for a
Nukin' Stick, which is a heavy metal staff =rumored= to be made from a
control rod. These are relatively unique items, each of which is
hand-created by Joan or Silas. [Charles Ryan, HoE listserv, 2/19/99]
Q)	Also, it seems to me that one of the specially charged Nukin' Sticks (as
blessed by someone important) should be worth a hell of a lot more than  a
mundane unblessed Control Rod. - ?
A)	Yes, that's generally true. But remember that nuclear control rods don't
necessarily carry a $2,000 price tag--that's just what some scavs can
gouge out of Doomsayers when they know that the Doomsayers are really keen
on using them for Glow Sticks. Also remember that Nukin' Sticks are not out
there on the open market--the $1,000 price tag simply represents their
relative value when bartered/traded/sold between friendly Doomsayers.
	In short, yeah, we should have been clearer. But always remember that no
costs in the Wasted West ever represent hard-and-fast price tags. It's a
society based on barter, where the relative value of an item to the trading
parties is far more important than any fixed cash cost. [Charles Ryan, HoE
listserv, 2/19/99]
Q)	Is there any outward effect of having a Control Rod in your possession,
in terms of radiation exposure?  It says that a Control Rod will redline a
geiger counter, so I have to figure that it's a good deal hotter than what
a person normally comes in contact with, but there aren't any real
guidelines with the descriptions. - ?
A)	"Redlining" the geiger counter is pretty much just a figure of
speech--they don't have any real in-game effects.
Q)	Finally, can Nukin' Sticks be used as Glow Sticks and vice versa?
Again, I would assume so, but...
A)	I'd guess not, actually. - [Charles Ryan, HoE listserv, 2/19/99]
-------------------
Allan Seyberth
darious@darious.com

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Newt Gingrich:
To get to the RIGHT side of the road.