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Message no. 1
From: Guido Treissl mit Kettensaege! <treissl@****.STUDENT.UNI-KL.DE>
Subject: Control Action Spell too powerful?
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 1995 13:00:28 +0100
Hi ya, out there!

I'd like to get some opinionms on whether the Spell "control action" is
too powerful or no.
I think it is, cos if you confront a foe with low willpower, then you can
easily command the victim to commit suicide on the spot.
Thats much more effective than all combat or damaging manipulation spells,
cos neither armor nor body or any pool (besides magic shielding) can be
used and usually suicide is final :), but the other agressive spells
usually do not have the capability to kill on first strike.

My group of players likes to interpret the spell in the way, that it
cannot be used for combat- or suicide actions that totally contradict the
controlled beings will and concepts.

So what do you think?

Ciao,
Guido
Message no. 2
From: Sean Sheridan <sean@**.WISC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Control Action Spell too powerful?
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 1995 05:07:49 -0600
Hmmm, more drain than the ever popular manabolt that can kill someone with
a low willpower. Seems fair to me. Magic is POWERFUL. Make no doubt
about it. A seriuos or deadly drain can allow a mage to do just about
anthing. I mean it. Anything.
Sean
Message no. 3
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Control Action Spell too powerful?
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 1995 23:44:01 +1100
Guido Treissl mit Kettensaege! writes:

> I'd like to get some opinionms on whether the Spell "control action" is
> too powerful or no.
> I think it is, cos if you confront a foe with low willpower, then you can
> easily command the victim to commit suicide on the spot.
>
> My group of players likes to interpret the spell in the way, that it
> cannot be used for combat- or suicide actions that totally contradict the
> controlled beings will and concepts.

Sean writes:

> Hmmm, more drain than the ever popular manabolt that can kill someone with
> a low willpower. Seems fair to me. Magic is POWERFUL. Make no doubt
> about it. A seriuos or deadly drain can allow a mage to do just about
> anthing. I mean it. Anything.

Hmm, after looking through the control series of spells, I've decided that
Guido might be right. Control Actions is the only control spell which does
not allow the victim a test of some kind to avaoid doing things like
murdering his loved ones, or committing suicide. Even Control Thoughts, with
its higher drain code, has a chance for the victim to break free in such
circumstances. If you only use the spell to get people to commit suicide,
then Control Actions is infinitely superior. I actually think the desigers
did not intend this purpose for the spell, they probably had uses such as
controlling NPC's to allow runners to, for example, sneak by security
guards, or be issued release permits from prison, or something else with a
more role-playing trend to it; rather than as a direct combat spell. If it
is taken this way, the higher drain codes and side effects (like +4 to all
target numbers while under a Control Actions spell), even out nicely.

But, as Sean puts it, "Magic is POWERFUL". If an NPC (or a PC for that
matter) has a relatively low Willpower, and no magical backup, then he or
she can expect to get creamed by enemy mages. This is just a different route
of ending up dead (rather than a manabolt - the usual method). I think the
rather higher drain code cancels out the superior effects somewhat, after
all, if an enemy has a low Willpower, and no magical backup, then a manabolt
will screw him or her just as badly as a control actions spell, and usually
quicker and with less drain to the caster too. It's probably not all that
bad as it is, I would have to be cautious about changing it myself, but if
it suits your game then by all means go for it. If I were to change it, I'd
proabbly add in a test similar to the Control Thoughts spell for the victim
- this allows them a last ditch chance to escape the spell before they blow
their brains out.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a18 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 4
From: Gareth Owen <glowen1@*****.NHS.GOV.UK>
Subject: Re: Control Action Spell too powerful?
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 1995 16:51:12 +0000
>
> Hi ya, out there!

Hi,

> My group of players likes to interpret the spell in the way, that it
> cannot be used for combat- or suicide actions that totally contradict the
> controlled beings will and concepts.

Hmmm. I'd ban the spell before placing that limitation on it, as I see it as
taking over the persons muscles directly, he no longer has any control at all
over his actions, hence the +4 target number penalty for the controlee.

Perhaps allowing a chance to break free if a suicidal action is attempted
would be fair. But controlled people are clumsy (using control actions at
any rate), so automatic suicidal actions could fail, maybe.

>
> Ciao,
> Guido
>

GLO

--
Gareth Owen | Mail: glowen1@*****.nhs.gov.uk
Sytems Administrator | Phone: (UK) 0495 765021
Gwent Health Authority | "Reboot it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure"

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