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Message no. 1
From: Dennis Steinmeijer dv8@********.nl
Subject: Background count (was: Improved Reflexes, Adepts, and truly inane questions.)
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 11:27:19 +0200
<El Snipperrino Physical Barier Question>
>
<El Sniperrino Hardening Answer>
>
> Try this one - next time he casts the spell and more or less makes
> himself invulnerable (because the other side has no magic), tell him
> that he's actually casting it in an area with a background count
> (temporary or otherwise - maybe someone was murdered in that alley just
> a few hours ago or something). Chances are good that he'll knock
> himself out - or even just harsh himself severely. He'll probably learn
> quickly that such a powerful spell isn't always a good thing to use.

What's up with this background count? Does it have something to do with a
disruption of the astral realm like the rift that was created at the
assassination of Dunkelzahn? I know that when something is knifed in an
alley it's not that serious...but I can't think of anything else you would
mean by "background count". Are there rules for it?

Dennis

"Abashed the Devil stood,...and felt how awful Goodness is..."
Message no. 2
From: Wolfchild nathan.olsen@*******.msus.edu
Subject: Background count (was: Improved Reflexes, Adepts, and truly inane questions.)
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 07:07:38 -0500 (CDT)
On Tue, 3 Aug 1999, Dennis Steinmeijer wrote:

> What's up with this background count? Does it have something to do with a
> disruption of the astral realm like the rift that was created at the
> assassination of Dunkelzahn? I know that when something is knifed in an
> alley it's not that serious...but I can't think of anything else you would
> mean by "background count". Are there rules for it?

I may not be the best to explain what a background count is since I've
never owned any of the grimoire/awakenings/MitS books, but as I understand
it a background count is essentially a region of astral space that
"ripples" due to some kind of extreme emotion that occured in the area at
some point. Most background counts fade over a relatively short period of
time (a few days), but if the emotion was extreme enough like in any death
camp, it can last for decades or even longer. Also, a background count can
manifest from either positive or negative emotions. A brutal murder may
leave a background count but so will a passionate lovemaking session
between two long lost lovers.

Think of it this way. You know when you walk into a room where there has
just been an arguement and the air seems unusually "thick"? That's
represented as a background count in SR. You can find more information in
MitS and possibly Awakenings or Grimoire.


Wolfchild - "Discinctaque in otia natus."
--
,-'~/ In October of 1994, three student filmmakers ____|____
/' | /(_ disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, \|/
/ / \,_/ .\ Maryland while shooting a documentary. X
| | /, ,-' A year later their footage was found. / \
| | ,-, \ \,?| "Quin tu istanc orationem hinc veterem atque / \
| ,|/ / ,_\,_/_ antiquam amoves?" -Plautus, Miles Gloriosus ___|___
|/ | __, _) There are nights when the wolves ___|___ \|/
| `;-~_.--~ are silent, and only the moon howls. \|/ X
`.`--,, Wolfchild <nathan.olsen@*******.msus.edu> X / \
(`~`)___/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\___ / \ / \
Message no. 3
From: Dennis Steinmeijer dv8@********.nl
Subject: Background count (was: Improved Reflexes, Adepts, and truly inane questions.)
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 14:19:37 +0200
Wolfchild wrote in his immortal wisdom:
> I may not be the best to explain what a background count is since I've
> never owned any of the grimoire/awakenings/MitS books, but as I understand
> it a background count is essentially a region of astral space that
> "ripples" due to some kind of extreme emotion that occured in the area at
> some point. Most background counts fade over a relatively short period of
> time (a few days), but if the emotion was extreme enough like in any death
> camp, it can last for decades or even longer. Also, a background count can
> manifest from either positive or negative emotions. A brutal murder may
> leave a background count but so will a passionate lovemaking session
> between two long lost lovers.
>
> Think of it this way. You know when you walk into a room where there has
> just been an arguement and the air seems unusually "thick"? That's
> represented as a background count in SR. You can find more information in
> MitS and possibly Awakenings or Grimoire.

Okay,...so far so good. This is what I guessed it would be. What kind of
game effects would it have? I mean, would it be more difficult to channel
mana from the astral realm to form spells because of the
disturbance,...would it be "rough terrain" for any astrally projecting
mages? And if so, what kind of penalties (or perhaps even bonussess due to a
favorable ripple) would they get?

Dennis

"Abashed the Devil stood,...and felt how awful Goodness is..."
Message no. 4
From: Arcady arcady@***.net
Subject: Background count (was: Improved Reflexes, Adepts, and truly inane questions.)
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 11:35:26 +700
>> I may not be the best to explain what a background count is since I've
>> never owned any of the grimoire/awakenings/MitS books, but as I understand

>
>Okay,...so far so good. This is what I guessed it would be. What kind of
>game effects would it have? I mean, would it be more difficult to channel

At this point I would say to hold off using them until you buy Magic in The
Shadows.
Message no. 5
From: Mike & Linda Frankl mlfrankl@***.com
Subject: Background count (was: Improved Reflexes, Adepts, and truly inane questions.)
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 19:28:20 -0400
Dennis asketh:
> Okay,...so far so good. This is what I guessed it would be. What kind of
> game effects would it have? I mean, would it be more difficult to channel
> mana from the astral realm to form spells because of the
> disturbance,...would it be "rough terrain" for any astrally projecting
> mages? And if so, what kind of penalties (or perhaps even
> bonussess due to a
> favorable ripple) would they get?

IIRC, background count serves as a positive or negative psuedo-magic pool.
In good areas (positive background count) you get more magic pool dice as
long as you're in the area. If you are in a negative background count area
you lose dice from your combat pool. There can also be imposed effects by
the GM too. I tend to make anything conjured in a toxic area toxic, even if
the mage or shaman is normal (it is usually hostile too).

;)

Smilin' Jack

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