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Message no. 1
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Graht)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 10:25:01 2002
At 01:28 AM 1/18/2002 +0000, Christian Casavant wrote:

>It is possible, however, everytime I re-read the rules, I become more
>entrenched in my supposition. For example, an aspected mage who cannot
>assense cannot cast while (s)he is blindfolded. The target could be right
>in front of you even touching you, but you wouldn't be able to cast since
>you cannot see the target. In contrast, a full mage in
>the same situation would assense and since he can see through cover, he
>would simply cast a physical spell at the physical target while perceiving
>in the astral plane. (NB. The +2 increase in target number while
>assensing only applies to "performing a completely mundane, non-magical
>task..." (Page. 172, Astral Interation, SR3) so you're not
>even penalized for casting on the physical while perceiving in the astral)

hmmm...

But, since the full mage is using astral site, and spells can't cross the
astral/physical barrier (can't cast from astral to physical and vice
versa), would the mage be able to use astral sight to target a physical
being (non astral) with a spell?

>I really do love these discussions.

You should have been around for the SR1/SR2 FAB debates :)

To Life,
-Graht
ShadowRN Assistant Fearless Leader II
--
Message no. 2
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Steven Ratkovich)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 10:35:01 2002
>>> Graht <davidb@****.imcprint.com> 01/18/02 10:27AM >>>
At 01:28 AM 1/18/2002 +0000, Christian Casavant wrote:

>It is possible, however, everytime I re-read the rules, I become more
>entrenched in my supposition. For example, an aspected mage who cannot
>assense cannot cast while (s)he is blindfolded. The target could be right
>in front of you even touching you, but you wouldn't be able to cast since
>you cannot see the target. In contrast, a full mage in
>the same situation would assense and since he can see through cover, he
>would simply cast a physical spell at the physical target while perceiving
>in the astral plane. (NB. The +2 increase in target number while
>assensing only applies to "performing a completely mundane, non-magical
>task..." (Page. 172, Astral Interation, SR3) so you're not
>even penalized for casting on the physical while perceiving in the astral)
<<<

Just anote, why would he be able to "See through the cover"? You cannot see
through things in astral space. A blindfold will still hinder simple astral sight.

Unless you're talking about Projecting out of your body (and away from the blindfold), in
which case you're actually an astral presense, as David was assuming you meant. In which
case, he's right. You can only cast Mana spells while projecting, and can only cast those
at a magically active target.

Bull
Message no. 3
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Graht)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 11:15:00 2002
At 10:37 AM 1/18/2002 -0500, Steven Ratkovich wrote:
> >>> Graht <davidb@****.imcprint.com> 01/18/02 10:27AM >>>
>At 01:28 AM 1/18/2002 +0000, Christian Casavant wrote:
>
> >It is possible, however, everytime I re-read the rules, I become more
> >entrenched in my supposition. For example, an aspected mage who cannot
> >assense cannot cast while (s)he is blindfolded. The target could be right
> >in front of you even touching you, but you wouldn't be able to cast since
> >you cannot see the target. In contrast, a full mage in
> >the same situation would assense and since he can see through cover, he
> >would simply cast a physical spell at the physical target while perceiving
> >in the astral plane. (NB. The +2 increase in target number while
> >assensing only applies to "performing a completely mundane, non-magical
> >task..." (Page. 172, Astral Interation, SR3) so you're not
> >even penalized for casting on the physical while perceiving in the astral)
><<<
>
>Just anote, why would he be able to "See through the cover"? You cannot
>see through things in astral space. A blindfold will still hinder simple
>astral sight.
>
>Unless you're talking about Projecting out of your body (and away from the
>blindfold), in which case you're actually an astral presense, as David was
>assuming you meant. In which case, he's right. You can only cast Mana
>spells while projecting, and can only cast those at a magically active target.

Actually Bull, I was asking whether or not it's possible to target a
physical non-astral target by using astral vision :)

Let's say a spell caster closes his eyes, and activates his astral vision
and uses that to "see". Can said spell caster use astral vision to target
a physical target?

To Life,
-Graht
ShadowRN Assistant Fearless Leader II
--
Message no. 4
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Steven Ratkovich)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 11:25:01 2002
>>> Graht <davidb@****.imcprint.com> 01/18/02 11:17AM >>>
Actually Bull, I was asking whether or not it's possible to target a
physical non-astral target by using astral vision :)

Let's say a spell caster closes his eyes, and activates his astral vision
and uses that to "see". Can said spell caster use astral vision to target
a physical target?
<<<

Good question. My "off the cuff" answer would be... Ummm...

hrmm.

I'd say yes, as long as he's not actually projecting. The problem with Casting while
Projecting is since you aren't rpesent in the physical, you can't cast in it. However
simply assensing, you're still in your body, and thus, still their physically. YOu would,
however, suffer the penalty for doing an action while mainting astral sight.

I'm confused wher ethe Blindfold came into play then, unless someone was just being Kinky
:]

Bull
Message no. 5
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Graht)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 11:35:00 2002
At 11:26 AM 1/18/2002 -0500, Steven Ratkovich wrote:
> >>> Graht <davidb@****.imcprint.com> 01/18/02 11:17AM >>>
>Actually Bull, I was asking whether or not it's possible to target a
>physical non-astral target by using astral vision :)
>
>Let's say a spell caster closes his eyes, and activates his astral vision
>and uses that to "see". Can said spell caster use astral vision to target
>a physical target?
><<<
>
>Good question. My "off the cuff" answer would be... Ummm...
>
>hrmm.
>
>I'd say yes, as long as he's not actually projecting. The problem with
>Casting while Projecting is since you aren't rpesent in the physical, you
>can't cast in it. However simply assensing, you're still in your body,
>and thus, still their physically. YOu would, however, suffer the penalty
>for doing an action while mainting astral sight.

Sure, take the easy pat answer ;)

I'm iffy on the question because when the spell caster is assensing he
becomes a dual natured being. While using astral sight to target would he
be trying to cast a spell from the astral plane?

>I'm confused wher ethe Blindfold came into play then, unless someone was
>just being Kinky :]

hmmmm... would assensing during sex, being dual natured, have any
significant effect on orgasm.... and for that matter what would your
partner look like.... >)

To Life,
-Graht
ShadowRN Assistant Fearless Leader II
--
Message no. 6
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Bira)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 11:35:03 2002
On Fri, 18 Jan 2002 09:17:35 -0700
Graht <davidb@****.imcprint.com> wrote:

> Actually Bull, I was asking whether or not it's possible to target a
> physical non-astral target by using astral vision :)
>
> Let's say a spell caster closes his eyes, and activates his astral vision
> and uses that to "see". Can said spell caster use astral vision to target
> a physical target?

Yup :). But if he projects, he can't do it anymore.

>

--
Bira -- SysOp da Shadowland.BR
http://www.shadowlandbr.hpg.com.br
Redator de Shadowrun da RPG em Revista
http://www.rpgemrevista.f2s.com
Message no. 7
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Meph)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 11:40:01 2002
>>> Graht <davidb@****.imcprint.com> 01/18/02 11:17AM >>>
>Actually Bull, I was asking whether or not it's possible to target a
>physical non-astral target by using astral vision :)
>
>Let's say a spell caster closes his eyes, and activates his astral vision
>and uses that to "see". Can said spell caster use astral vision to target
> physical target?
><<<
>
>Good question. My "off the cuff" answer would be... Ummm...
>I'd say yes, as long as he's not actually projecting.


According to SR3 rules via SC under the blind flaw...yes!

"Magically active characters...may still use astral perception as a form of
sight. Such characters receive a +2 modifier for visual tests based solely
in the physical world."

But the flaw only gives you 2 points if you can strally perceive!

Meph
Message no. 8
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Steven Ratkovich)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 11:50:00 2002
>>> Graht <davidb@****.imcprint.com> 01/18/02 11:38AM >>>
Sure, take the easy pat answer ;)

I'm iffy on the question because when the spell caster is assensing he
becomes a dual natured being. While using astral sight to target would he
be trying to cast a spell from the astral plane?
<<<

Think about this: A dual natured critter can use a spell-like critter power on the
physical and astral plane. But a Spirit can only use a power on the plane it's currently
in.

<shrug>

>>>
>I'm confused wher ethe Blindfold came into play then, unless someone was
>just being Kinky :]

hmmmm... would assensing during sex, being dual natured, have any
significant effect on orgasm.... and for that matter what would your
partner look like.... >)
<<<

You'd have a modifier to maintain an erection since you're now assensing, and Hot Pink.
(God, How is I postand it goes OT without me even trying??? :))

Bull
Message no. 9
From: shadowrn@*********.com (shadowrn@*********.com)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 17:35:00 2002
According to SR3 rules via SC under the blind flaw...yes!

"Magically active characters...may still use astral perception as a form of sight.
Such characters receive a +2 modifier for visual tests based solely in the physical
world."

In addition to the +2 you would get for doing a task while astrally percieving. So if you
are blind it is a +4 to TN to cast a spell while assensing.

John
Message no. 10
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Marc Renouf)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 17:40:01 2002
On Fri, 18 Jan 2002 Johnflang@***.com wrote:

> "Magically active characters...may still use astral perception as a
> form of sight. Such characters receive a +2 modifier for visual tests
> based solely in the physical world."
>
> In addition to the +2 you would get for doing a task while astrally
> percieving. So if you are blind it is a +4 to TN to cast a spell while
> assensing.

Um...no. The +2 modifier they talk about in the "Blind" flaw is
*the same modifier* as the +2 for attempting to do a task while astrally
perceiving. They don't stack, because they are the same modifier.

Marc
Message no. 11
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Jane VR)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 21:05:03 2002
>From: Johnflang@***.com

>According to SR3 rules via SC under the blind flaw...yes!
>
>"Magically active characters...may still use astral perception as a form of
>sight. Such characters receive a +2 modifier for visual tests based solely
>in the physical world."
>
>In addition to the +2 you would get for doing a task while astrally
>percieving. So if you are blind it is a +4 to TN to cast a spell while
>assensing.

I wouldn't call spellcasting "a visual test based solely in the physical
world".

The +2 for astrally perceiving is only for "completely mundane, non-magical
tasks" (SR3,p.172), not spellcasting.

Jane


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Message no. 12
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Jane VR)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Fri Jan 18 21:30:01 2002
>From: Graht <davidb@****.imcprint.com>
>
>Actually Bull, I was asking whether or not it's possible to target a
>physical non-astral target by using astral vision :)
>
>Let's say a spell caster closes his eyes, and activates his astral vision
>and uses that to "see". Can said spell caster use astral vision to target
>a physical target?

There is an example in the book about an assensing mage casting a spell at
an Invisible physical target, using his astral sight to target it. Unless
the Invivibility spell makes him astrally active?

Jane



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Message no. 13
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Bira)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Sat Jan 19 16:10:01 2002
On Sat, 19 Jan 2002 02:30:21 +0000
"Jane VR" <kadjari@*******.com> wrote:

>
>
>
> >From: Graht <davidb@****.imcprint.com>
> >
> >Actually Bull, I was asking whether or not it's possible to target a
> >physical non-astral target by using astral vision :)
> >
> >Let's say a spell caster closes his eyes, and activates his astral vision
> >and uses that to "see". Can said spell caster use astral vision to
target
> >a physical target?
>
> There is an example in the book about an assensing mage casting a spell at
> an Invisible physical target, using his astral sight to target it. Unless
> the Invivibility spell makes him astrally active?
>
> Jane

If the magician is only using astral _perception_ (assensing),
he can targer anything normally with his spells. The target only needs
to be astrally active if he's projecting.


--
Bira -- SysOp da Shadowland.BR
http://www.shadowlandbr.hpg.com.br
Redator de Shadowrun da RPG em Revista
http://www.rpgemrevista.f2s.com
Message no. 14
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Damion Milliken)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Mon Jan 21 05:35:01 2002
Graht writes:

> Let's say a spell caster closes his eyes, and activates his astral vision
> and uses that to "see". Can said spell caster use astral vision to target
> a physical target?
>
> I'm iffy on the question because when the spell caster is assensing he
> becomes a dual natured being. While using astral sight to target would he
> be trying to cast a spell from the astral plane?

If we use the "perceiving spellcaster using astral perception to cast a
spell at a mundane person under the effect of an invisibility spell" example
from the main book, then yes to the first, and no to the second. I
personally have some doubts about the internal logic of it, but that's how
the rules go ;-).

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong
Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: dam01@***.edu.au
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Message no. 15
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Damion Milliken)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Mon Jan 21 05:35:05 2002
Jane VR writes:

> There is an example in the book about an assensing mage casting a spell at
> an Invisible physical target, using his astral sight to target it. Unless
> the Invivibility spell makes him astrally active?

I think that in SR3, the spell isn't even active on the astral plane itself,
let alone the target of the spell. So, no, I'd be pretty sure that it didn't
make him astrally active.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong
Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: dam01@***.edu.au
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Message no. 16
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Gak The Great)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Mon Jan 21 15:20:00 2002
Sometime, somwhere down the timeline, Damion Milliken whispered:
> Jane VR writes:
>
> > There is an example in the book about an assensing mage casting a spell
at
> > an Invisible physical target, using his astral sight to target it.
Unless
> > the Invivibility spell makes him astrally active?
>
> I think that in SR3, the spell isn't even active on the astral plane
itself,
> let alone the target of the spell. So, no, I'd be pretty sure that it
didn't
> make him astrally active.
>
HUH?!? Check, check... hmm.. couldn't find anything in SR3. Shocking!! A
spell has a mana component (+ physical one, if it's a physical one), doesn't
it? That's why a mana spell can go through transparent matter, but a
physical can't. Or is this another ruling from SR2 that our group never
abandoned? (We all _should_ read SR3 completly:(

Also, doesn't a magician have to check the aura of his target (even if
target is the magician) and so have to create a connection to the astral
plane?

-- GAK THE GREAT

"Ein Ring, sie zu knechten, sie alle zu finden,
Ins Dunkel zu treiben und ewig zu binden,
Im Lande Mordor, wo die Schatten drohn."
Sauron aus "Herr der Ringe von J.R.R. Tolkien
Message no. 17
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Jonathan)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Mon Jan 21 15:40:02 2002
> HUH?!? Check, check... hmm.. couldn't find anything in SR3. Shocking!! A
> spell has a mana component (+ physical one, if it's a physical one),
doesn't
> it? That's why a mana spell can go through transparent matter, but a
> physical can't. Or is this another ruling from SR2 that our group never
> abandoned? (We all _should_ read SR3 completly:(
>

I think components were pretty much ruled out after SR2...Don't quote me on
that don't have the books handy but when I played an aspect magician I can't
recall having used any components for anything.

> Also, doesn't a magician have to check the aura of his target (even if
> target is the magician) and so have to create a connection to the astral
> plane?

Auras in SR3? Nope no checking for auras here.

See target. Make sorcery test. Smuck target. Do drain resist...next...
Message no. 18
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Damion Milliken)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Tue Jan 22 03:50:02 2002
Gak The Great writes:

> > I think that in SR3, the spell isn't even active on the astral plane
> > itself, let alone the target of the spell. So, no, I'd be pretty sure
> > that it didn't make him astrally active.
>
> HUH?!? Check, check... hmm.. couldn't find anything in SR3. Shocking!! A
> spell has a mana component (+ physical one, if it's a physical one),
> doesn't it? That's why a mana spell can go through transparent matter, but
> a physical can't. Or is this another ruling from SR2 that our group never
> abandoned? (We all _should_ read SR3 completly:(

In SR3, a spell no longer forms at the caster and flies through astral space
to the target. The caster looks at the target, attunes them into the forming
of the spell, and magical energies come out of nowhere to affect the target.

In order to Dispell a spell affecting a physical target (regardless of
whether the spell is a Mana or Physical spell), the dispeller needs to be
phsyically present. Thus, it is impossible to Dispell a spell that is on a
physical target while you are astrally projecting. Likewise, a spell cast on
an astral target requires an astrally present dispeller in order to Dispell
the spell. Thus, it seems to me that a spell cast on a physical target must
have no astral presence whatsoever, otherwise Dispelling it would be
possible.

> Also, doesn't a magician have to check the aura of his target (even if
> target is the magician) and so have to create a connection to the astral
> plane?

That was the old SR2 (actually Grimoire 2) rule. The new SR3 rules is, well,
nonexistant as far as I can determine. The answer is "maybe", but "probably
not" as far as I can tell :-).

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong
Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: dam01@***.edu.au
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Message no. 19
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Damion Milliken)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Tue Jan 22 04:00:01 2002
Jonathan writes:

> I think components were pretty much ruled out after SR2...Don't quote me on
> that don't have the books handy but when I played an aspect magician I
> can't recall having used any components for anything.

I think that he meant "components" as in "astral" and
"physical" parts of a
spell. Not as in D&D style "spell casting components" like I assume you
mean. Fetishes and Expendable Spell Foci are still available in SR3,
although the only D&D "component" style ones are the Expendable Spell Foci,
as Fetishes are reusable.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong
Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: dam01@***.edu.au
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Message no. 20
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Gak The Great)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Tue Jan 22 09:05:03 2002
Sometime, somwhere down the timeline, Jonathan whispered:
<snip>
> I think components were pretty much ruled out after SR2...Don't quote me
on
> that don't have the books handy but when I played an aspect magician I
can't
> recall having used any components for anything.
>
> > Also, doesn't a magician have to check the aura of his target (even if
> > target is the magician) and so have to create a connection to the astral
> > plane?
>
> Auras in SR3? Nope no checking for auras here.
>
> See target. Make sorcery test. Smuck target. Do drain resist...next...
>
Sorry, was a bit diffuse here. What I meant was that the spelltosser has to
get his aura (or a part of it) in sync with that of his target to cast the
spell. Hence he has to check the aura (not actively, at least not in the
rules, but on the subconcious level)

-- GAK THE GREAT

"Ein Ring, sie zu knechten, sie alle zu finden,
Ins Dunkel zu treiben und ewig zu binden,
Im Lande Mordor, wo die Schatten drohn."
Sauron aus "Herr der Ringe von J.R.R. Tolkien
Message no. 21
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Jonathan)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Tue Jan 22 09:20:01 2002
> I think that he meant "components" as in "astral" and
"physical" parts of
a
> spell. Not as in D&D style "spell casting components" like I assume you
> mean. Fetishes and Expendable Spell Foci are still available in SR3,
> although the only D&D "component" style ones are the Expendable Spell
Foci,
> as Fetishes are reusable.
>

Ah ok my bad, I was intro'd to SR3 and have only light hintings at
somethings in SR2 so wasn't sure he meant components as in what D&D
considers components or otherwise, thanks for clearing :-)
Message no. 22
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Jonathan)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Tue Jan 22 09:25:01 2002
> Sorry, was a bit diffuse here. What I meant was that the spelltosser has
to
> get his aura (or a part of it) in sync with that of his target to cast the
> spell. Hence he has to check the aura (not actively, at least not in the
> rules, but on the subconcious level)
>

Nope if it's subconscious it was basically left out of both SR3 and MitS.
Basically it's summed up as I related (order being slightly off, drain
usually comes before the smucking part)...there's no real mention of any
aura alignment to cast spells. As long as you can physically see a target
without using imaging enhancing equipment or vision enhancing spells (i.e.
clairvoyance) you can target someone with a spell.

If aura syncing is in there...it's so mundane a thing it's not even worth
putting a jot note in 3rd edition rules ;)
Message no. 23
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Gak The Great)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Tue Jan 22 09:30:01 2002
Sometime, somwhere down the timeline, Damion Milliken whispered:
<snip>
>
> In SR3, a spell no longer forms at the caster and flies through astral
space
> to the target. The caster looks at the target, attunes them into the
forming
> of the spell, and magical energies come out of nowhere to affect the
target.
>
> In order to Dispell a spell affecting a physical target (regardless of
> whether the spell is a Mana or Physical spell), the dispeller needs to be
> phsyically present. Thus, it is impossible to Dispell a spell that is on a
> physical target while you are astrally projecting. Likewise, a spell cast
on
> an astral target requires an astrally present dispeller in order to
Dispell
> the spell. Thus, it seems to me that a spell cast on a physical target
must
> have no astral presence whatsoever, otherwise Dispelling it would be
> possible.
>
> > Also, doesn't a magician have to check the aura of his target (even if
> > target is the magician) and so have to create a connection to the astral
> > plane?
>
> That was the old SR2 (actually Grimoire 2) rule. The new SR3 rules is,
well,
> nonexistant as far as I can determine. The answer is "maybe", but
"probably
> not" as far as I can tell :-).
>
Aaahhh!! My whole magic theory skill is useless!! This sound's like attuning
it to a more D&D style magic: You do you thing (say your words, look at the
target) and it just works :( But you're right, I couldn't find it anywhere.
I just always assumed that it was still that way. (I never read 2nd ed SR.
All my knowlegde on it is from the guy who taught me SR.)

OK, obviously spells are inactive in themselves. Which makes them too
powerfull by far IMHO, and astral sight in any form to weak.

-- GAK THE GREAT

"Ein Ring, sie zu knechten, sie alle zu finden,
Ins Dunkel zu treiben und ewig zu binden,
Im Lande Mordor, wo die Schatten drohn."
Sauron aus "Herr der Ringe von J.R.R. Tolkien
Message no. 24
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Damion Milliken)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Tue Jan 22 09:50:01 2002
Gak The Great writes:

> OK, obviously spells are inactive in themselves. Which makes them too
> powerfull by far IMHO, and astral sight in any form to weak.

I'm not sure. Like removing grounding, it made astral projection a bit less
powerful, as now you couldn't attack a sustained spell to destroy it. But
astral projection was rather powerful in SRII. It's a bit more reasonable
now. However, it does make sustained spells a lot more attractive in SR3 -
the odds are against your opponents getting rid of them.

Also, removing the "synchronisation of auras" bit probably helped to
simplify the whole SR magic system a lot. OTOH, I can see no other way, even
in SR3, for spells to function within the context of the game universe. So I
still figure that spellcasters need to synchronise the spell with the target
in order to cast it. It just isn't mentioned explicitly in the rules... ;-)

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong
Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: dam01@***.edu.au
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Message no. 25
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Jane VR)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Tue Jan 22 16:40:01 2002
>From: "Gak The Great" <andypfister@***.net>

>Sorry, was a bit diffuse here. What I meant was that the spelltosser has to
>get his aura (or a part of it) in sync with that of his target to cast the
>spell. Hence he has to check the aura (not actively, at least not in the
>rules, but on the subconcious level)
>

Does this mean a mage can't cast a spell at someone who has Masked their
aura, because they can't synchronise with it?

Jane


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Message no. 26
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Damion Milliken)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Wed Jan 23 08:10:00 2002
Jane VR writes:

> Does this mean a mage can't cast a spell at someone who has Masked their
> aura, because they can't synchronise with it?

Well, it could be argued that the magician synchronised the spell with the
"fake" aura, which is intrinsically intertwined with the real masking
magician's aura, and so the spell just channels through. Or it could be
argued the other way, too ;-). I think that it was for reasons such as this
that the "aura synchronisation" bit was left out of SR3.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong
Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: dam01@***.edu.au
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Message no. 27
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Ice Heart)
Subject: Astral sight and spell targeting
Date: Wed Jan 23 15:45:01 2002
>From: Damion Milliken <dam01@***.edu.au>

> > Jane VR writes:

> > Does this mean a mage can't cast a spell at someone who has Masked > >
>their aura, because they can't synchronise with it?

>Well, it could be argued that the magician synchronised the spell
>with the "fake" aura, which is intrinsically intertwined with the
>real masking magician's aura, and so the spell just channels through.
>Or it could be argued the other way, too ;-). I think that it was for
>reasons such as this that the "aura synchronisation" bit was left out
>of SR3.

A masked aura is still there, just disguised (IIRC). I would think that an
assensing mage might be able to Mask to hide his dual nature, requiring a
projecting mage to make a perception test (pierce the Masking) to realize
the mage was assensing and hit him with a spell from the astral. I know
that active foci can be hidden in this fashion, so I don't see why not. A
mage targeting a Masked mage on the physical plane would have no problems,
IMO. Except the surprise when an apparent mundane shrugs off that manabolt,
thanks to those spell defense dice. ;)


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