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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: "S. Keith Graham" <vapspcx@***.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Shielding, PSI LAN, and PSI combat
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 1994 01:03:20 -0400
Well, no other comments other than Fearless Leaders's, but here's some more
justification to see if it draws any fire:

Shielding:

While FL seems to think this is from some other gaming system,
the concept is straight from Spell Defense/Shielding from the
*gasp* Magic Rules of SRII. I'm pretty sure, however, that
it shouldn't be able to defend a whole party, but I'm open
to suggestions for a conception/mechanism that would allow that.

Basically, PSIs are more resistant to mind effecting attacks.
(And there's ample examples of "PSI Sheilds" in the fiction.)

PSI LAN:

The ability for a number of PSIs to "chat" psionically.

If we don't have a "PSI LAN" power (possibly as an initiate
ability), then maybe most full PSIs will just buy a little
tiny bit of Telepathy to be able to do this. (And it should
be "backgroundable", or of such trivial effort that it
won't cause drain, and works over some moderate, non-line
of sight ranges.)

However, since PSIs can theoretically link up as initiates
(to do combined/ritual style effects), and it is *so*
very common in the fiction, and since there probably won't
be many PSIs in a party, I don't see a game balance problem
with letting PSIs chat between themselves. (And there's
ample justification available for it.)

Possibly a function of Initiation and/or Full PSIdom. (The
only Adepts that get this power are Telepathy adepts?) Give
the Full PSIs some additional edge over the Adepts.

PSI "Mental Combat":

Once again, given that PSIs can merge powers, it seems likely
that there is some "pathway between minds" available. If that
is happening, then using the same mechanism, you can "attack"
someone and disrupt their power (and therefore their mind/brain/body.)

If you've not got any PSI powers, you're immune. (Just like
you're immune to Astral Combat if you're mundane.)

Again, this may be limited to full PSIs, which might be the edge
that I'm looking for under Robert's system that a full PSI might
have over a TK adept.

It just seems rather strange to me that, given the "wrong" choice
of abilities, 2 PSIs locking in mortal combat might be best off
trying to strangle one another. And the decker/mage locked into
mortal solo combat with their counterpart while the rest of
the party desperately needs their skills "in the real world" makes
for good role-play. Might as well let the PSIs in on the fun. :-)

Keith Graham
vapspcx@***.gatech.edu
Message no. 2
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Shielding, PSI LAN, and PSI combat
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 1994 18:56:18 +0100
On Thu, 28 Jul 1994, S. Keith Graham wrote:

> Shielding:

The problem is that Shielding, which will likely be a natural function of
willpower, can tend to make a PSI untouchable. This is often the case in
AD&D or Megatraveller.

Instead, the solution would be to provide ample abilities that a PSI
could take (or hack) to act as shielding.

> PSI LAN:

Works for me. It should be just a general inter-psi linkup, no need to
make it a meta-abilitity

> PSI "Mental Combat":

Only FULL psis shoudl be able to do this. Target number woudl have to be
reflected by the force of the power, the willpower of the user, or a
composite of both.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> I do not necessarily speak for the
\/ Finger for PGP Public Key <=> City of Mankato or anyone else, dammit
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Message no. 3
From: "S. Keith Graham" <vapspcx@***.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Shielding, PSI LAN, and PSI combat
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 08:25:14 -0400
>> Shielding:

>The problem is that Shielding, which will likely be a natural function of
>willpower, can tend to make a PSI untouchable. This is often the case in
>AD&D or Megatraveller.

>Instead, the solution would be to provide ample abilities that a PSI
>could take (or hack) to act as shielding.

The correct solution to this might be to allow "direct PSI combat"
to bypass shielding. (Or else make it a factor, but not as serious
of a factor as it is if you use a power directly on a PSI.)

And in SR, Magic Defense and Initiate Shielding can make a Mage
nearly untouchable by Spells, so there is precedent in the game..

Keith
Message no. 4
From: Darth Vader <j07c@***.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject: Re: Shielding, PSI LAN, and PSI combat
Date: Sun, 31 Jul 1994 20:03:12 +0100
> > Shielding:
> The problem is that Shielding, which will likely be a natural function of
> willpower, can tend to make a PSI untouchable.

Why? Does it make mages too powerfull? I am all for instinctive
shielding.

> > PSI LAN:
> Works for me. It should be just a general inter-psi linkup, no need to
> make it a meta-abilitity

Me too.

> > PSI "Mental Combat":
> Only FULL psis shoudl be able to do this. Target number woudl have to be
> reflected by the force of the power, the willpower of the user, or a
> composite of both.

I agree with Rob, this could maybe a specialty of Telepaths.....

--
Strong am I with the Force... but not that strong!
Twilight is upon me and soon night must fall.
That is the way of things ... the way of the Force.

GCS d>d- H s+: !g p? !au a- w+ v-(?) C+++ UAVSL++>UAVSL+++ P--(aren't we all?)
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!G tv(++) b+++ D++ B- e+ u++(-) h*(+) f+ r- n!(----) y?

Further Reading

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