From:	paul collins paulcollins@*******.com
Subject:	Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic
Date:	Tue, 13 Jun 2000 12:57:23 +1000

----- Original Message -----
From: Wolfchild <nathan.olsen@*******.msus.edu>
To: <shadowrn@*********.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 6:41 AM
Subject: Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic


> At 07:33 PM 6/12/00 +1000, you wrote:
> >Hmm, my first thought is that you really should be able to limit the
> >targetting of ram type spells somehow. (Including 'Turn to Goo'), it's
just
> >comming up with a method to do so. Hell, they shouldn't effect all of a
> >large building anyway.
> >
> >How about making him burn dice to limit the area of effect, ala area
effect
> >spells.
> >The more localised the effect, the more dice reserved from the success
test
> >for changing the area.
> >
> >You should also do similar for enlarging the effect to larger buildings
etc.
>
> Actually I like this idea the best. The building is a single entity for
> purposes of spell targeting, however the spell cannot effect any more area
> than if it were designed with an Area of Effect. Let's call this a Virtual
> Area of Effect (or VAoE). Thus most light vehicles would be wholly
effected
> because the entire vehicle can fit within the
> VAoE but a building cannot because it is simply too large to be effected
as
> a whole. So if you cast a Ram against a building it will probably only
> damage a large section of wall (nearest the caster). Likewise if you were
> to cast Turn to Goo against a lock, the target would actually be the
> building but only the lock, the door, and a good portion of the
surrounding
> wall, ceiling, and floor would be effected.
>
> Of course the spell could be limited during the design phase but someone
> else already covered that quite well.
>
> Makes sense to me. YMMV.
>
>
>
> Wolfchild - "Life ain't easy for a troll named Sue."
> --
> "Quin tu istanc orationem hinc veterem atque antiquam amoves?"
> -Plautus, Miles Gloriosus "There are nights when the wolves
> are silent and only the moon howls." -George Carlin
> Wolfchild <nathan.olsen@*******.msus.edu>
>


The idea is still a little underdeveloped, but thanks for the comments.

After I wrote the above I then when on to think of a building as a number of
structural support elements, and how magic could be used to bring such a
building down. ) There's the toss a truckload of Super Phosphate and
diesel at it approach, or tightly focused, precision placed charges
approach. Both should be possible with magic. (Course I wouldn't like to
be the mage walking around blowing out support members with a Ram touch
spell)

I was also thinking, the more powerful the spell causing the effect, the
more dificult it should be to limit the effect to what you want. (With the
explosive effects especially) After all, theres a difference between
blowing out a lock, and sending it through the wall opposite :o)

Again though, you run accross some factors that GM's may want to limit
someway. (Annachie the mage walks up to the old style tumbler lock, pulls
out the fibre optic probe, and turns the tumblers too goo [Or perhaps melts
them with a minute acid ball] thus breakig the mechanism, but leaving the
casing intact)

Annachie



I will not draw naked ladies in class
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