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Message no. 1
From: Steve Kenson <TalonMail@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Adepts and Astral Perception
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 09:34:58 -0400
<lots of talk about astral abilities of adepts snipped>

FWIW, He's how I see the interaction of magical characters with astral space:

Everything has an aura, which is present all the time in astral space.
Everything also has an astral body (or astral form), which is normally
concealed "inside" the physical form of physical things, not present on the
astral plane. Dual beings' astral bodies are present on the astral plane and
spirits and astral beings only have an astral body (unless they manifest).

Magical abilities comes in two broad types: the ability to draw astral energy
(mana) through the aura into the physical world to create effects (cast
spells, summon spirits, etc.) and the ability to send the astral body out
into the astral plane (perception and projection). Since all auras are always
present on the astral, adepts without the ability to free their astral body
for perception or projection are still quite able to use their magical aura
to draw mana for their skills.

Thus, IMHO, a character casting a spell or calling a spirit is no more
astrally active than a mundane. Power is drawn through the character's aura,
but the character's astral form is not present on the astral in any way. I'd
like to see the whole "synchronize auras" thing requiring a spellcaster to
use astral perception to go away in favor of forming a magical link: a
connection between the aura of the spellcaster and the aura of the target
formed by two factors: the ability to see, touch or assense the target; and
sharing a common "state" (physical or astral) with the target.

This means, IMHO, that you can't ground through a character who is casting or
sustaining a spell. They're not present in astral space any more than normal.
Since the character's astral body remains in the physical world, an astrally
projecting character cannot form a magical link with them: they've got line
of sight, but not a common state. No link, no spellcasting.

Thoughts?

Steve
Message no. 2
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@****.ORG>
Subject: Re: Adepts and Astral Perception
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 09:08:39 -0600
Steve Kenson wrote:
|
| FWIW, He's how I see the interaction of magical characters with astral space:
|
| Everything has an aura, which is present all the time in astral space.
| Everything also has an astral body (or astral form), which is normally
| concealed "inside" the physical form of physical things, not present on the
| astral plane. Dual beings' astral bodies are present on the astral plane and
| spirits and astral beings only have an astral body (unless they manifest).

I just want to paraphrase. It's my nature :)

So all physical beings have three aspects, a physical form, an aura
(which is present in astral space), and an astral form which is
normally present on the physical plane. Some beings are able to
project their astral forms (through astral perception) into the
astral plane, and some beings can also seperate their astral forms
(astral projection/travel). Is it possible for a physical being to
seperate it's astral form and project it into the physical plane (astral
travel with travelling to the astral)?

The astral forms of dual natured beings are present on the astral
plane.

Astral beings normally do not have a physical form (but do they have
an aura?). Do astral beings which have Manifestation have a physical
form which resides on the astral plane, which they can project into
the physical plane? Or does Manifestation grant an astral being with
the ability to create a physical form?

Is an astral being able to project it's astral form onto the physical
(that form of manifestation that's mentioned in a few of the books
and adventures)?

| Thus, IMHO, a character casting a spell or calling a spirit is no more
| astrally active than a mundane. Power is drawn through the character's aura,
| but the character's astral form is not present on the astral in any way. I'd
| like to see the whole "synchronize auras" thing requiring a spellcaster to
| use astral perception to go away in favor of forming a magical link: a
| connection between the aura of the spellcaster and the aura of the target
| formed by two factors: the ability to see, touch or assense the target; and
| sharing a common "state" (physical or astral) with the target.

I love this!

| This means, IMHO, that you can't ground through a character who is casting or
| sustaining a spell. They're not present in astral space any more than normal.
| Since the character's astral body remains in the physical world, an astrally
| projecting character cannot form a magical link with them: they've got line
| of sight, but not a common state. No link, no spellcasting.

Ditto!

-David
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
--
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing
which ones to keep."
Message no. 3
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@****.ORG>
Subject: Re: Adepts and Astral Perception
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 11:32:48 -0600
| Steve Kenson wrote:
| |
| | Everything has an aura, which is present all the time in astral space.

Um, I think there's a problem. Shouldn't the aura exist on the
physical plane, but be visible from the astral plane? That would be
more in line with your "either/or" philosophy of astrally active
beings. Cuz if all beings have an aura that is on the astral plane,
then part of them could be viewed as being active on the astral, and
therefor dual natured.

So my idea, is that there are three possible components to
everything: physical, aural, and astral. The physical may only
reside on the physical plane. The aural may reside on either plane.
The astral may reside on either plane.

The following table reflects my feelings on which component is
visible from which plane, depending on which plane it's on at the
time.

Components Plane of Existance Visible From
------------------------------------------------------------
Aural Physical Astral
Aural Astral Astral
Physical Physical Physical/Astral
Astral Physical Physical/Astral
Astral Astral Astral

Physical components may only interact with physical components.
Aural and astral components may only interact with eachother as long
as they are on the same plane of existance, and under very specific
circumstances (the rules pretty much cover this allready).

The gap between the physical and astral plane may only be bridged by
a dual natured being/object, a being/object that has one or more
components on both planes at the same time (a dragon with a physical
and aural presence on the physical plane, and an astral presence on
the astral plane).

-David
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
--
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing
which ones to keep."
Message no. 4
From: "M. Sean Martinez" <ElBandit@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Adepts and Astral Perception
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 16:13:12 -0400
In a message dated 97-07-29 15:54:45 EDT, you write:

<< This means, IMHO, that you can't ground through a character who is casting
or
sustaining a spell. They're not present in astral space any more than
normal.
Since the character's astral body remains in the physical world, an astrally
projecting character cannot form a magical link with them: they've got line
of sight, but not a common state. No link, no spellcasting.
>>

That should also clear up the idea that it is possible to ground through a
quickened spell as well.

I like it, a lot.

-Bandit

Further Reading

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Thwap!