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    Canonfire :: View topic - Very punny
    Canonfire Forum Index -> World of Greyhawk Discussion
    Very punny
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    Adept Greytalker

    Joined: Aug 10, 2003
    Posts: 337
    From: Harker Heights, TX

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    Tue Oct 18, 2011 4:48 pm  
    Very punny

    One of the endearing habits of the late Mr Gygax was his wordplay. In his materials, you could always find some fun little plays on words, puns, and little jokes. One aspect I found was to look at the materail components of spells for such puns.

    Now most material components were somehow logically associated or symbolic of the effects of the spells (i.e. bat guano as fuel for a fireball, or a cricket leg for a jump spell). Some were just made to make the spell in question expensive in order to make the casting of it costly for game balance (like Leomund's chest). And some were just extensions of the function of the spell (bit of butter for a grease spell).

    But some seem to be outright based on whimsy. Here is a partial list that I found. See if you can find more:

    the phantasmal force/illusion spells - bit of fleece - "pull the wool over one's eyes"

    sleep - sand - "Mr Sandman"

    various fog spells - split dried peas - for fog "as thick as pea soup"?

    ESP - copper piece - "a penny for your thoughts"?

    Slow - drop of molasses - molasses gathered in January should be doubly effective?

    Confusion - three nut shells - which one is the little ball under?

    Fear - white feather - "chicken"!

    Passwall - pinch of seeds - "Open Sesame"


    Heh heh
    GreySage

    Joined: Sep 09, 2009
    Posts: 2470
    From: SW WA state (Highvale)

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    Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:50 pm  

    I never really delved into the rationale of some components, but I appreciate your post. Very clever and mirthful...thanks for the chuckle this evening.

    Laughing

    -A laughing Lanthorn
    Journeyman Greytalker

    Joined: Oct 10, 2001
    Posts: 225
    From: NC

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    Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:53 pm  

    An EN World thread in which EGG contributed, which quickly turned to puns:
    http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/43551-origin-gnoll-again.html
    Master Greytalker

    Joined: Nov 01, 2007
    Posts: 699
    From: On a Cape on the East Coast

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    Wed Oct 19, 2011 1:12 pm  

    I have always loved the ridiculous materials for Tasha's Uncontrollable Laughter. ...

    A feather, and tiny miniature tarts... Throw the tiny pastries at someone, then hop around waving the feather around.

    Yeah. I'd laugh too. No save.
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