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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Michael Garoni <Michael_Garoni@****.INTERSOLV.COM>
Subject: Astral Vision
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 09:25:00 LCL
Here is an interesting question posed by our mage last game. Does a window
block Astral line of site. Also, does a mirror reflect in astral space.

I know that this sounds like a very simple question, and we basically just said
that as inanimates, they block line of site, but you can stick your head through
etc.

However, he did bring up one interesting point. If they block astral line of
site, how can you target spells through them ?

-Obi Wan
Message no. 2
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Astral Vision
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 22:28:32 -0600
>Here is an interesting question posed by our mage last game. Does a window
>block Astral line of site. Also, does a mirror reflect in astral space.

Normal Windows don't block spell LOS (and hence astral LOS) but tinted windows
do. Many economists credit the Awakening with an incredible spike in window
tinting that has yet to fall.


J Roberson
Message no. 3
From: "Jason Carter, Nightstalker" <CARTER@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: Astral Vision
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 20:26:31 -0800
>>Here is an interesting question posed by our mage last game. Does a window
>>block Astral line of site. Also, does a mirror reflect in astral space.

If you can see through it in the real world, you can see through it in astral
space.

===============================================================================
See Ya in Shadows, "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer."
Jason J Carter -- Deep Throat, The X-Files
The Nightstalker Carter@***.EDU
Message no. 4
From: Dave Sherohman <esper@*****.IMA.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Astral Vision
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 07:55:11 -0600
>Here is an interesting question posed by our mage last game. Does a window
>block Astral line of site. Also, does a mirror reflect in astral space.

The FASA party line is that (for some unexplained reason) astral energies
pass through glass and are reflected by mirrors just like light. I don't
buy it.

>I know that this sounds like a very simple question, and we basically just said
>that as inanimates, they block line of site, but you can stick your head throug
h
>etc.

This is how I run it.

>However, he did bring up one interesting point. If they block astral line of
>site, how can you target spells through them ?

If you take my position that astral energy is blocked by solidity rather
than opacity, you can't. Can't cast through binoculars, telescopes, or
fibre-optic cables either, and it cleans up the odd effects of mirrored
windows. (Let's see - non-spell astral energy can only pass from the mirrored
side to the "clear" side (since you can assense through mirrorglass just like
you can see through it), but spells can only pass through in the other
direction (since once you can see 'em, you can throw spells at 'em)... Now
_that_ makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? :p )

FASA opted for simplicity. I prefer reasonability.

esper@***.umn.edu
Message no. 5
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Astral Vision
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 11:54:09 -0600
>The FASA party line is that (for some unexplained reason) astral energies
>pass through glass and are reflected by mirrors just like light. I don't
>buy it.

Right on the first count, wrong on the second (partially). Spells do
*not* bounce off of mirrors; the mage sees the target in the mirror,
the target's aura is assensed, and the spell flies in a direct line (through
walls and such but not magical wards) to the target. The exception to this
rule is damaging manipulations, which manifest in the physical world and
will indeed fly straight towards the mirror and break it.

So, in a way you were right: the aura is reflected. But spells travel
the shortest distance.

J Roberson
Message no. 6
From: The Powerhouse <P.C.Steele@*********.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Astral Vision
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 17:36:02 +0000
In reply to Dave Sherohman .....

> The FASA party line is that (for some unexplained reason) astral energies
> pass through glass and are reflected by mirrors just like light. I don't
> buy it.

Their reasoning stems from the fact that light is living, it is part of the
natural gaia <for want of a better phrase>. By that deduction if the light
exists in a certain place on the physical plane then it is visible in astral
space.

Phill.
--
Phillip Steele - Email address P.C.Steele@***.ac.uk | Fighting against
Department Of Electrical & Electronic Engineering | Political Correctness !
University Of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England |
Land of the mad Geordies | The Powerhouse

Further Reading

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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!