Philip Hart wrote: > This is the basis for one of my too-oft-repeated snarks about Issola - > Vlad is becoming too powerful to be interesting in non-comic-book > scenarios. To that I say: Read Gaiman's Sandman series. A character almost as powerful as it gets, certainly godlike, but it was the _limitations_ on his power that made the story interesting and the ending tragic. (I can't believe I missed that for so long. I finally discovered it, bought all the books in quick succession, and devoured it. With tears in my eyes while reading part of "The Wake." An amazing story.) I certainly think that Steve here is the equal of Gaiman in the "finding ways to screw his characters" arena. I suspect Vlad will be screwed interestingly and well. :-) -- Frank Mayhar frank at exit.com http://www.exit.com/ Exit Consulting http://www.gpsclock.com/