Back to the main page

Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: "CR. Muskett" <gl2030@*******.AC.UK>
Subject: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 12:57:24 +0000
A friend and I have recently been alternately playing Ars Magica
(sic) and Shadowrun, and we both came to the conclusion that Spontaneous
Spellcasting would be a good idea in the shadowrun world, to get out of a
tight fix. After a few hours brain beating, we came up with some simple
rules, which are quick and easy to play, and seem to be reasonably well
balanced, re game mechanics.
Would anyone be interested?
Permission to post to the list, Mr.Hayden?
Message no. 2
From: Dave Sherohman <esper@*****.IMA.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Re: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 08:45:22 -0600
Count me very interested. (I've worked up my own, but they've received
minimal playtesting as they require normal drain calculations to be made
before you can throw the spell.) As long as they're not more than 60-80
lines, just post 'em.

esper@***.umn.edu
Message no. 3
From: Richard Pieri <ratinox@***.NEU.EDU>
Subject: Re: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 11:18:36 -0500
Call me naieve, but spontaneous means ``without preparation.'' And that's
what spellcasting of the non-ritual kind in Shadowrun is.

|||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| Rat <ratinox@***.neu.edu> WWW Page: http://www.ccs.neu.edu/USER/ratinox |
| GAT d@ -p+ c++ !l u+ e+(*) m-(+) s n---(+) h-- f !g(+) w+ t- r+ y+ |
| ...and I didn't even need pants! --Dilbert [Scott Adams] |
|||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||
Message no. 4
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 10:45:43 -0600
If it less thann 15K, post it, otherwise make it available for order and
send ot to teetot for FTP.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> To flame me, log on to ICBMnet and
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> target 44 09' 49" N x 93 59' 57"
W
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)
Message no. 5
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 11:08:01 -0600
On Tue, 18 Jan 1994, Richard Pieri wrote:

> Call me naieve, but spontaneous means ``without preparation.'' And that's
> what spellcasting of the non-ritual kind in Shadowrun is.

I read it as 'spells designed on the spur of the moment that don't appear
pre-made in the Grimthingy'.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> To flame me, log on to ICBMnet and
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> target 44 09' 49" N x 93 59' 57"
W
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)
Message no. 6
From: "The Annihilator (Brady Lane Wells)" <bwells@***.ETC.BC.CA>
Subject: Re: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 12:19:58 PST
> A friend and I have recently been alternately playing Ars Magica
>(sic) and Shadowrun, and we both came to the conclusion that Spontaneous
>Spellcasting would be a good idea in the shadowrun world, to get out of a
>tight fix. After a few hours brain beating, we came up with some simple
>rules, which are quick and easy to play, and seem to be reasonably well
>balanced, re game mechanics.
> Would anyone be interested?
> Permission to post to the list, Mr.Hayden?

Yo....Very interested!.............
-------------------------------------------------------------------
+ bwells@***.etc.bc.ca
The Ultimate in Destruction, + Brady Lane Wells
Annihilator + Fort Nelson, BC
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 7
From: Markus Turba <turba@**********.UNI-FRANKFURT.DE>
Subject: Re: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 1994 12:26:57 MEZ
CR. Muskett
> Would anyone be interested?
I would...

this message was brought to YOU by

Tupsi
Message no. 8
From: "CR. Muskett" <gl2030@*******.AC.UK>
Subject: spontaneous spellcasting (fwd)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 1994 14:09:59 +0000
Forwarded message:
>From gl2030 Wed Jan 19 14:06:22 1994
From: "CR. Muskett" <gl2030@****.bris.ac.uk>
Subject: spontaneous spellcasting
To: gl2030@****.bris.ac.uk (CR. Muskett)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 1994 14:06:21 +0000 (GMT)
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL21]
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Length: 2625

Spontaneous Spellcasting by Chris and Bill


The process of spontaneously casting a spell not already known by the
spellcaster is as follows;

1)Select the appropriate spell to be cast. Use spell lists where possible,
as there is usually an appropriate spell listed, which is much quicker
than diving thru the grimoire to design a spell.

2)Make a MAGIC THEORY roll based on the drain code, but instead of
dividing by 2, multiply by 2.One success only is needed.This is a COMPLEX
ACTION.If unsuccessful thenyou don't know how to cast the spell .Sorry.
This Magic Theory roll is used to establish a shaky link to the astral
plane, configured in the correct form of the spell required.

3)If successful, then make a normal SORCERY/SPELLCASTING roll, with any
MAGIC POOL dice you wish to allocate, ie treat as a normal spell.

4)Now comes the sting. Drain is similar to that of the original spell, had
it been learnt, except that, due to the tenuous astral connection, the
drain is at the force of the spell, not half the force.

5)Stand back and watch them fall.

NB Totemic advantages/disadvantages apply to BOTH tests. Metamagic applies
to the spellcasting only. Spontaneous spells cannot be Locked, Quickened,
or Hardened, due to their tenuous or transitory nature. There are no
bonuses to learning a previously sponted spell at a later date.

Example

Albion has been caught out (again). Lets just say that irritating the
Yakuza is not the wisest of natures pursuits. He is currently running full
tilt down an alleyway, completely unarmed, and without a decent spell to
his name. He begins to think that disappearing might be a good option,
but- oops! no invisibility spell, Mom. He begins to concentrate.

Albion has a Magic Theory of 6 and he wants a force 6 invis spell.
The drain is normally [(F/2)M] so his MT roll has a tn of 12 - (F*2).

He rolls 1,3,4,5,8,and 14 - lucky, but time consuming - 1 COMPLEX ACTION gone

Albion has Sorcery 6 and a Magic pool of 6, hence he can roll up to 12
dice, needing a tn of 4. He allocates 3, and rolls

He gets 1,1,2,3,4,4,5,and 11 - 4 successes, giving his pursuit an extra
modifier of +8 to their perception tests - they run right past (low level
goons - don't you love em)

The Yaks having gone, Albion now takes drain as he drops the spell. He has
a tn of 6, needing 4 successes to blank out the drain - no divider, remember.

He has a Willpower of 4, and 3 dice remaining, hence he has a grand total
of 7 dice to roll

He gets 1,1,1,2,2,3,and 6 oh dear, not good enough, but hey, whats a
Moderate Stun between friends?

Comments anyone?

Carnaby (my nth ever posting)
Message no. 9
From: Ioannis Fikouras <j07c@***.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject: Re: spontaneous spellcasting (fwd)
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 1994 10:37:26 +0100
> Spontaneous Spellcasting by Chris and Bill

[MUNCH] [MUNCH] [MUNCH]

I like it, I like it very much, its not too unbalancing and
it makes Magical Theory (which was nearly useless) some
practical worth, its good.... I liked the drain part, this is
a serious drawback, considering that the average mage if
designed properly NEVER should take any stun damage from drain.
This gives'en one extra advantage, and one very real threat.

--

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+@ -p+(---) c+++ l+ u+++ e@ m++(-) s/+ !n(-) h(*) f+ g! w+ t+ r++ y?
Message no. 10
From: Takashi Miyamoto <miyamoto@****.KEK.JP>
Subject: Spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 1994 11:35:15 JST
Hoi, chummers.

>From: "CR. Muskett" <gl2030@****.bris.ac.uk>
>Subject: spontaneous spellcasting
>Date: Wed, 19 Jan 1994 14:06:21 +0000 (GMT)
>
>Spontaneous Spellcasting by Chris and Bill
> :

I'm very interested.

> 2)Make a MAGIC THEORY roll based on the drain code, but instead of
> dividing by 2, multiply by 2.One success only is needed.This is a COMPLEX
> ACTION.If unsuccessful thenyou don't know how to cast the spell .Sorry.

Is it possible to gain extra dice from aid sorcery of elementals?

> 3)If successful, then make a normal SORCERY/SPELLCASTING roll, with any
> MAGIC POOL dice you wish to allocate, ie treat as a normal spell.

How about allocation of MAGIC POOL dice to the MAGIC THEORY rool?

----------------------------------------------------
Takashi MIYAMOTO miyamoto@****.kek.jp
Message no. 11
From: Andrew Corrigan <omen@*****.NET>
Subject: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 20:06:25 +0000
I cant seem to figure out what page the Paranoid Animals of
North America spontaneous magic rules are referring to in the
Grimoire.

Pana states p. 82
2) Make a magic theory test based on the drain code (see the
Grimoire, page xx)

Unfortunatley I cant seem to make out what page in the Grimmy it
is referring to.

Can someone help, Please.

Oh yea, its a terrific book, actually all the Plastic Warriors books
are. I would recommend them to anyone. Great going Gurth.

One more thing, has anyone found the spontaneus magic to greatly
disrupt game balance.


Take Care

Andy
Message no. 12
From: Matb <mbreton@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 20:10:53 -0500
> One more thing, has anyone found the spontaneus magic to greatly
>disrupt game balance.
>

*If* you've got a high level of Magic Theory to spontaneously cast at a
decent level, you no longer have to purchase spell formulae with Karma.

Of course you probably pitched twenty Karma into boosting Theory to
this level...
Message no. 13
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: spontaneous spellcasting
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 12:25:54 +0100
Andrew Corrigan said on 20:06/11 Apr 97...

> I cant seem to figure out what page the Paranoid Animals of
> North America spontaneous magic rules are referring to in the
> Grimoire.
>
> Pana states p. 82
> 2) Make a magic theory test based on the drain code (see the
> Grimoire, page xx)

Why did I miss that one...?

> Unfortunatley I cant seem to make out what page in the Grimmy it
> is referring to.

I've never used them myself (I found the rules on the net somewhere, I
think), so it took some finding, but from the example it seems that the TN
is twice the spell's Force. The page xx probably refers to the Table Of
Spells, page 133.

> Can someone help, Please.

I hope this helps...

> Oh yea, its a terrific book, actually all the Plastic Warriors books
> are. I would recommend them to anyone. Great going Gurth.

Thanks :)

> One more thing, has anyone found the spontaneus magic to greatly
> disrupt game balance.

Like I said, I've never used them myself. However, they look okay to me,
mainly because of the extra test -- which means you might not be able to
cast the spell "on the fly" at all -- and the higher Drain.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Creativiteit in de handen van ambtenaren is zoiets
als een staaf dynamiet in een kinderknuistje.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about spontaneous spellcasting, you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.

Thwap!