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Message no. 1
From: Tim Kerby <drekhead@***.NET>
Subject: Cantrips (was Re: Egyptian Magic)
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 17:30:17 -0400
On 2 Sep 98, at 14:15, Erik Jameson wrote:

> Little things that have no real game effect aside from a bit of RP and
> drama, sure, why not? Just make it clear what they are and that they
> aren't viable during combat or when their life is in jeopardy.

This is exactly how I play it. We feel that all spell chuckers should
be able to do "parlor tricks".

--

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- Tim Kerby - drekhead@***.net - ICQ-UIN 2883757 -
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"Reality is the only obstacle to happiness." - Unknown
Message no. 2
From: Nexx <nexx@********.NET>
Subject: Re: Cantrips (was Re: Egyptian Magic)
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 16:33:54 -0500
----------
> From: Tim Kerby <drekhead@***.NET>
> > Little things that have no real game effect aside from a bit of RP and
> > drama, sure, why not? Just make it clear what they are and that they
> > aren't viable during combat or when their life is in jeopardy.
>
> This is exactly how I play it. We feel that all spell chuckers should
> be able to do "parlor tricks".

How? Do you make them roll, or do they just flip up their thumb to light
a small flame?
Message no. 3
From: Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Cantrips (was Re: Egyptian Magic)
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 18:43:47 -0400
At 04:33 PM 9/2/98 -0500, you wrote:

>> This is exactly how I play it. We feel that all spell chuckers should
>> be able to do "parlor tricks".
>
>How? Do you make them roll, or do they just flip up their thumb to light
>a small flame?

I don't make them roll. They simply say, as they are role-playing, "I snap
my fingers and a small flame appears above my thumb; I light my cigarrette
with it and it goes out." Rolling dice would just slow that down as far as
I'm concerned. It's really so inconsequential in that case that it doesn't
really matter how many or how few successes they had.

If I'm feeling more evil than normal, I'll mess about with them and tell
them the flame isn't going out or it lights somewhere else (like their
other hand or in front of their nose or something), or the flame doens't
*want* to light the cigarrette since those are bad for your health.
Basically a chance for me to instigate some RP and some laughs. Not even
any real connection with magical theory, just some goofiness.

I seem to have a vague memory, and don't dare quote me on this, of talking
with Steve Kenson about this same thing many moons ago. I also seem to
recall that he said he didn't see any problems with the general concept.
But like I said, it might be a rumor of a story of an alleged focus group
where a quote taken out of context indicates you're not becoming a
weasel...er, that it might be okay.

But rolling dice would just bog things down methinks.

Erik J.

Who takes orders only from Saint Dogbert himself...

Further Reading

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