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Message no. 1
From: Randy Nickel <RANNIC@****.COM>
Subject: Astral Combat (Spells, Spirits/Elementals, Astral Mages, etc.)
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 09:38:39 -0700
The recent discussion about grounding AoE spells through people, items,
etc., made me want to start this topic for discussion.

I am not sure whether I am reading the rules wrong or whether other
people are just running things differently.

Spells are considered "living entities" in astral space. That is right
out of SR 2nd edition. The do not have special effects in astral space
like AoE, elemental effects (acid, fire, lightning, etc.) and they
engage in combat, in astral space, just like spirits or elementals.

I love examples, so here goes a good one.....

Two astral mages decide to duke it out in astral space. One mage, a
hermetic, brings a pair of elementals, rating 6, and the second mage, a
shaman, brings a spirit...rating 8.

The hermetic sends one of his elementals to combat the shaman, and keeps
the other elemental to intercept spells. The elemental rushes over and
engages the shaman. The shaman has commanded the spirit to protect him
and thus when the elemental comes over they begin combat.

Now, as I understand this combat is conducted just like a melee, in this
case unarmed combat, with the exceptions that the elementals and spirits
use their force as attack dice (does anyone give these guys Threat
Pools?) and the shaman can use his Sorcery skill as unarmed combat.
Since the elemental is combating two opponents he also has a +1 target
modifier. Does this sound correct so far?

Let's assume that the elemental is getting his butt kicked. He takes
damage and instead of taking light, moderate, or serious damage he loses
Force Levels. Correct?

Now, the shaman goes and he throws a spell at the hermetic mage. The
spell...a Manaball Force 6...races at the mage but is intercepted by the
elemental. They duke it out and the hermetic decides to assist his
elemental buddy.

Now, while the elemental and the spell lose Force points rather then
taking the standard Light, Moderate, Serious, or Deadly....the hermetic
will take damage and it will likely be physical. It is up to the shaman
that cast the Manaball to decide whether damage is physical or stun.
Also, any damage that does occur to the astral hermetic will give him
target modifiers to combat in astral space.

Let's just say that by some luck the shaman's Manaball blows by the
elemental and causes a Deadly stun to the hermetic. The spell then goes
into body of the hermetic, where ever it may be, and enters the physical
world as a Manaball, which is AoE, and goes off with what ever Force is
left after fighting both the mage and the elemental. The elemental that
is fighting the shaman is now free and in fact has a slim chance of
becoming a free spirit....depending on GM, dice rolling, etc., etc.

Once again does that sound right? That is how I interpret astral
combat. The spell essential is just a ball of energy and is subject to
the same rules of combat, should they be intercepted or attacked, as
spirits and astral mages.

-- Eclipse
Message no. 2
From: Wordman <wordman@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Astral Combat (Spells, Spirits/Elementals, Astral Mages, etc.)
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 00:27:06 -0400
Eclipse wrote:
>Once again does that sound right? That is how I interpret astral
>combat. The spell essential is just a ball of energy and is subject to
>the same rules of combat, should they be intercepted or attacked, as
>spirits and astral mages.

Without actually consulting the rules and verifying everything, that looked
correct to me.

Wordman

Further Reading

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