From:	mneideng@****.caltech.edu (Mark L. Neidengard)
Subject:	Re: Watchers, watchers, and more damned watchers. Could there _be_ anything more
Date:	Sun, 2 Jun 1996 19:42:40 -0700 (PDT)

According to Jaimie Nicholson:
>
>*grin back* Well, there are two schools of thought on that one. It makes
>sense that light has to bounce off of something for it to be seen, so they
>are affecting light phyiscally, but is that enough? As shown by mirages and
>heat hazes, you don't have to have much mass to affect light. In terms of
>physical presence, maybe manifested watchers could be compared to a puff of
>warm air.

On the other hand, the "Astral-echo" effect is a well-established effect
with documented mechanics (this is where you get a Perception test to see if
you notice a spell or spirit that's hanging around astrally). Given that
FASA invested that rotten, unorthogonal "be seen and heard w/out being
Manifest" thingie, it's probably not too much of a stretch to say that it's
just a modification of Astral-echo.

>Speaking of manifested watchers, could you ground an area-affect spell
>through them, as a way of zapping people from astral space? And if not
>(because its so damn dangerous), whats a good excuse for stopping
>characters (and NPC hit-mages) from doing it? I know the Awakenings
>sourcebook mentions use of a low force fire elemental for a similar
>technique, and this could be an absolute killer of parties without a mage
>who can go astral and defend against this sort of drek.

I don't think Watchers should manifest, and, as a consequence, that they
should not count for grounding spells through.
--
/!\/!ark /!\!eidengard, CS Major, VLSI. http://www.cacr.caltech.edu/~mneideng
"Fairy of sleep, controller of illusions" Operator/Jack-of-all-Trades, CACR
"Control the person for my own purpose." "Don't mess with the Dark
Elves!"
-Pirotess, _Record_of_Lodoss_War_ Shadowrunner and Anime Addict