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From: Jason Henry Parker <henry@freezer.humbug.org.au>
Subject: Re: Magic markers.
Date: 18 Sep 1998 08:17:42 +1000


To write a scroll or spellbook, you must have a magic marker with
enough charges, and:

 o Have hands ("You need hands to be able to write!")
 o Not have greased hands (or you will drop the magic marker: "The
   magic marker slips from your fingers.")
 o Not be blind ("You do not know if that scroll is blank or not!")
 o Have a blank scroll or spellbook ("That spellbook is not blank!")

Also, no-one may write

 o The Book of the Dead ("No mere dungeon adventurer could write
   that.")
 o A spellbook by description (eg a thin spellbook) ("Unfortunately
   you don't have enough information to go on.")
 o A scroll or spellbook of blank paper ("You can't write that!  It's
   obscene!")

Once you've satisfied those conditions, then:

 o Your wisdom is exercised;
 o The magic marker must have enough charges ("Your marker dries out!")
   and then for spellbooks:
      "The spellbook is left unfinished and your writing fades" and
      the spellbook is left blank;
   and for scrolls:
      "The scroll is now useless and disappears!" and the scroll is
       used up.
 o if the player does not know the scroll/spellbook, they will fail to
   write it ("You write in your best handwriting "My Diary", but it
   quickly fades." for spellbooks and "You write <foo> was here and
   the scroll disappears" for scrolls, which are used up.) most of the
   time, but:

    - Wizards have a 1 in 3 chance of "guessing" the type of
      scroll/spellbook;
    - As opposed to other classes, who have a 1 in 15 chance.

 o The resulting scroll or spellbook is created with the "average"
   blessed/uncursed/cursed status of the original scroll/spellbook and
   the magic marker (for example a cursed magic marker and an uncursed
   scroll will give a cursed scroll).  Scrolls of mail can never be
   cursed.
 o If you cannot hold another scroll, it will fall to the ground.
   ("Oops!  The scroll slips out of your grasp!").

Jason "I hope this isn't covered in an existing spoiler, it took me an
       hour to write!" Parker