Episodes 6.23 The Love Spell Potential (May 9)

[Convict13]

When I read this I wrote "perfection".  To me somehow it didn't really show that way.  I liked the bedroom scene, it was nice, and well acted by both. But I don't know something in this episode stopped it from being excellent to me, it was good, but that was all.

[Moonbase]

When I read this I wrote "perfection".  To me somehow it didn't really show that way.  I liked the bedroom scene, it was nice, and well acted by both. But I don't know something in this episode stopped it from being excellent to me, it was good, but that was all.

 

I know what you mean. Not sure what it was either, it could be all that enthusiasm. They just won everything and cheered all the time, it seemed a bit fake.

[Convict13]

I know what you mean. Not sure what it was either, it could be all that enthusiasm. They just won everything and cheered all the time, it seemed a bit fake.

 

I think it was the way that is flowed, the way it was set up, and yes lots of cheering

[Berliner]

An Okay episode for me. Didn't like the R/L subplot and the Shamy scenes were a bit meh.

Looking forward to the next episode!

[Martian Girl]

I took it for granted that in the bedroom scene Sheldon used combat rules for determining which body part will be hit, but modified it offhand for, erm, non-combat purposes - but your comments made me rethink it and do a little research on the net.

 

Now, I am no expert on D&D, but the DM's screen Howard used seems to be this one: https://www.wizards.com/global/images/dnd_products_dndacc_218307400_pic3_en.jpg (cover) - http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61yj61vWvOL.Image._.jpg (tables inside), which means they were playing 4th edition, where there is no rule for called shots (attempting to hit a particular body part during the combat). So, I see the following possibilities:

 

1. Sheldon may have used some optional rule introduced by Leonard or Howard, similar to this one: http://www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/damage.htm and probably pertaining to combat in the first place. (I remember that such rule was a part of the combat system when I was GMing the 1st edition of Warhammer, so it would not be a novelty for many DMs.)

 

2. He may have used an ordinary roll, assigning 'critical' body parts (not a nose ) to the 'critical hit' effect. (Rolling to check whether an erotic action succeeded seems a little redundant, but if both Sheldon's elf and Amy's half-orc are completely unexperienced in this area, it may be justified ).

 

3. He may have invented a new rule on the spot - which is probably the most promising option for all Shamy fans, as it would suggest he intentionally used the game as a gentle way of answering Amy's concerns and not just played 'by the book' not to ruin the game  .

 

Anyway, I think there are ways to interpret is as consistent. Any experts on 4th edition here to correct me?

Edited May 11, 2013 by Martian Girl

[phantagrae]

I took it for granted that in the bedroom scene Sheldon used combat rules for determining which body part will be hit, but modified it offhand for, erm, non-combat purposes - but your comments made me rethink it and do a little research on the net.

 

Now, I am no expert on D&D, but the DM's screen Howard used seems to be this one: https://www.wizards.com/global/images/dnd_products_dndacc_218307400_pic3_en.jpg (cover) - http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61yj61vWvOL.Image._.jpg (tables inside), which means they were playing 4th edition, where there is no rule for called shots (attempting to hit a particular body part during the combat). So, I see the following possibilities:

 

1. Sheldon may have used some optional rule introduced by Leonard or Howard, similar to this one: http://www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/damage.htm and probably pertaining to combat in the first place. (I remember that such rule was a part of the combat system when I was GMing the 1st edition of Warhammer, so it would not be a novelty for many DMs.)

 

2. He may have used an ordinary roll, assigning 'critical' body parts (not a nose ) to the 'critical hit' effect. (Rolling to check whether an erotic action succeeded seems a little redundant, but if both Sheldon's elf and Amy's half-orc are completely unexperienced in this area, it may be justified ).

 

3. He may have invented a new rule on the spot - which is probably the most promising option for all Shamy fans, as it would suggest he intentionally used the game as a gentle way of answering Amy's concerns and not just played 'by the book' not to ruin the game  .

 

Anyway, I think there are ways to interpret is as consistent. Any experts on 4th edition here to correct me?

 

Kudos for going the extra mile on this.

I'm by no means an expert on all the newer permutations of D&D--I just know how we played back in the late 70s-early 80s.

 

When we rolled for hits and damage, as far as I know there was no differentiation between body parts, if you hit the enemy, you hit them.  If you hit them for enough damage points, either all at once or over the course of the battle (and depending on how many people were engaged in the battle) you would kill them.

So, if there's some way to differentiate what part of the body is hit, I'd never heard of that.

 

You could differentiate which weapons you used, and a creature might have different "weapons", like a claw and a bite and maybe a spiked tail or whatever, so when the creature attacks, the DM might roll to see if it used a bite or a claw or a tail and then roll to see which player got hit, etc.

But if we rolled to see if we hit, then rolled to see how many damage points we got, I don't remember there being a roll to see if a hit went to the creatures arm or head, etc.

[Tensor]

Kudos for going the extra mile on this.

I'm by no means an expert on all the newer permutations of D&D--I just know how we played back in the late 70s-early 80s.

You should have seen us in the early to mid seventies.

So, if there's some way to differentiate what part of the body is hit, I'd never heard of that.

There wasn't, IIRC, in D&D itself. However. in the miniature rules that D&D came from( it was called Chainmal. Rules for medieval battles) there was a table for determining losing a hand, arm, head and depending on the weapon, legs or being cleaved in two, or crushed,

 

KYou could differentiate which weapons you used, and a creature might have different "weapons", like a claw and a bite and maybe a spiked tail or whatever, so when the creature attacks, the DM might roll to see if it used a bite or a claw or a tail and then roll to see which player got hit, etc.

But if we rolled to see if we hit, then rolled to see how many damage points we got, I don't remember there being a roll to see if a hit went to the creatures arm or head, etc.

You have it right, for D& D.

[Moonbase]

Kudos for going the extra mile on this.

I'm by no means an expert on all the newer permutations of D&D--I just know how we played back in the late 70s-early 80s.

 

When we rolled for hits and damage, as far as I know there was no differentiation between body parts, if you hit the enemy, you hit them.  If you hit them for enough damage points, either all at once or over the course of the battle (and depending on how many people were engaged in the battle) you would kill them.

So, if there's some way to differentiate what part of the body is hit, I'd never heard of that.

 

You could differentiate which weapons you used, and a creature might have different "weapons", like a claw and a bite and maybe a spiked tail or whatever, so when the creature attacks, the DM might roll to see if it used a bite or a claw or a tail and then roll to see which player got hit, etc.

But if we rolled to see if we hit, then rolled to see how many damage points we got, I don't remember there being a roll to see if a hit went to the creatures arm or head, etc.

 

You are correct though Phanta, I've noticed other D&D players are saying it was not right elsewhere. But the same thing happened earlier in the season. Do you remember that guy who signed up because he was so angry about how wrong the D&D scene was in 'Santa'?

[koops]

Am I the only one who can't read the words D&D anymore without hearing it in Al Pacino's voice?

[phantagrae]

You are correct though Phanta, I've noticed other D&D players are saying it was not right elsewhere. But the same thing happened earlier in the season. Do you remember that guy who signed up because he was so angry about how wrong the D&D scene was in 'Santa'?

 

Yes, I remember that guy--but I also feel like it comes down to majoring in the minors, as I told that guy at that time, the point of the show isn't to give us a tutorial about D&D.  It's obviously a means to an end (and a lovely end, in this case. ), but anyone familiar with the complexities of the game will spot the differences.

 

But it has made me all nostalgic...

 

My friend that was our DM posted some pictures some time ago on her FB page of our gang playing D&D--probably one of our last games because it was years after college.

[phantagrae]

Am I the only one who can't read the words D&D anymore without hearing it in Al Pacino's voice?

 

I know what you mean.

[mjc45]

GREAT SHOW:

raj/lucy-so sweet with the kiss.

 

howard/simon-he was very good @ the

impressions that he did, as to b up for

some awards.

 

shamy fans-- best episode for all.

jim/mayim  did a great job better on tv

than from the report.( had to  .)

 

still a lenny fan(did not cross over to the dark side),

we will get are day in the sun next week

[Tensor]

still a lenny fan(did not cross over to the dark side),

we will get are day in the sun next week :qcool:

There were some nice Lenny moments, but they were mostly non-verbal. Go back and watch when Penny is rolling the dice. Leonard has his hand on her back. Some subtle intimate type touching.

[Pomita]

I'm intrigued by all these D&D details! And yes, definitely 'this whole apartment is playin' D&D'. :D

 

From the scene, it seemed to me that it was implied they were following some familiar rules, not something invented by Sheldon on the spur of the moment. At times, Amy looked at the dice to check the number, so it appeared that she also knew the number/body-part correlations.

[Martian Girl]

From the scene, it seemed to me that it was implied they were following some familiar rules, not something invented by Sheldon on the spur of the moment. At times, Amy looked at the dice to check the number, so it appeared that she also knew the number/body-part correlations.

Yes, but every time she waited for Sheldon to tell her what the outcome was - and she never rolled to check how her own actions turned out. Also, it is implied that much time has passed between "caressing her nose" and "nibbling her 14", so in the end she might have managed to learn by induction which number corresponds to which body part. Suddenly, option (3) seems more convincing to me now.

 

Now I've noticed that Sheldon acted as a DM in this scene, not only rolling the dice every time but also deciding when a roll is needed.

[Pomita]

Now I'm wondering whether they had a little tutorial session somewhere in between, whence Sheldon listed for her the respective correspondences.

[CaitAmber]

GREAT SHOW:

raj/lucy-so sweet with the kiss.

 

howard/simon-he was very good @ the

impressions that he did, as to b up for

some awards.

 

shamy fans-- best episode for all.

jim/mayim  did a great job better on tv

than from the report.( had to  .)

 

still a lenny fan(did not cross over to the dark side),

we will get are day in the sun next week

 

Dark side, what? Who the hell turned off the lights?! 

 

Oh wait, I know what happened. 

 

We were too busy fan-girling to pay the electricity bill.... And groping in the dark is fun. 

 

TO THE TREASURY!

Edited May 12, 2013 by CaitAmber

[rachelshamyfan]

[rachelshamyfan]

http://tvline.com/2013/05/11/the-big-bang-theory-simon-helberg-performer-of-the-week/

[Moonbase]

http://tvline.com/2013/05/11/the-big-bang-theory-simon-helberg-performer-of-the-week/

 

Nice to see some recognition for Simon. Without him that episode would have been pretty average IMHO.

[Martian Girl]

I agree, Howard's voice-changing skills were really impressive. I especially liked the trolls. I think that if he did it in some other episode, everyone would focus on his DMing, but in this one there were just too many things to focus on.

[koops]

Melissa is amazing with impersonations too, I hope they're going to have a Howardette-led D&D some time next season. It could truly turn into a little theater show. 

[Pomita]

Simon definitely deserves a 'performer of the week' nod! And an Emmy nod too, if possible. It's been long overdue.

[Lissie]

Howard was fantastic in this episode! (he deserves so much to have these moments)

And Shamy scene...OMG...that game was very very very sexy! :icon_redface:

How she can stop herself and not to jump on him!?

[rachelshamyfan]

Well she knows he is not ready for that, so holding back is a good thing