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Message no. 1
From: The Digital Mage <mn3rge@****.AC.UK>
Subject: Detect Enemies (was Re: Area Effect...)
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 15:01:13 +0000
On Tue, 28 Jan 1997, Brett Borger wrote:

> This brings up a question....what is "harm" as defined by Detect Enemies?
> If I know this mage is there, and know he has Detect Enemies up, can I
> "decide" to just avoid him, and run if I see him, so that I don't set his
> spell off, even if I'm in the area of effect?
I'd say the Detect Enemies spell works off the unconscious feelings teh
person has to the subject of the spell rather than the conscious intent.
I.e. you can't think "he's my friend" and get away with it when really
deep down you've always held a grudge against him and would just love to
see him get his come-uppence.

The Digital Mage : mn3rge@****.ac.uk
"So that which I imagine, is that which I believe" -Rush
Shadowrun Web Site http://www.bath.ac.uk/~mn3rge/Shadowrun.html
Message no. 2
From: Mike Buckalew <mike_buckalew@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Detect Enemies (was Re: Area Effect...)
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 12:57:04 -0800
>I'd say the Detect Enemies spell works off the unconscious feelings teh
>person has to the subject of the spell rather than the conscious intent.
>I.e. you can't think "he's my friend" and get away with it when really
>deep down you've always held a grudge against him and would just love to
>see him get his come-uppence.

I play it even more restricted than this. My take is that an individual
must have the intention of doing immediate harm to the caster for it to
trigger. To have it more general takes away a lot of the fun of the game
if a mage with Detect Enemies immediately knows who he can trust and who
he can't.

Picture a meet with Mr. Johnson where the runners are being set up for an
eventual fall. That's a common scenario and would be moot without
putting some limits on this spell. It is still a useful tool for
avoiding ambushes and immediate double crosses however.


Buck
(Mike Buckalew)
Test Manager
FileMaker Pro
buck@******.com

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Message no. 3
From: Denzil Kruse <dkruse@***.AZ05.BULL.COM>
Subject: Re: Detect Enemies (was Re: Area Effect...)
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1997 10:59:00 MST
>>I'd say the Detect Enemies spell works off the unconscious feelings teh
>>person has to the subject of the spell rather than the conscious intent.
>>I.e. you can't think "he's my friend" and get away with it when really
>>deep down you've always held a grudge against him and would just love to
>>see him get his come-uppence.
>
>I play it even more restricted than this. My take is that an individual
>must have the intention of doing immediate harm to the caster for it to
>trigger. To have it more general takes away a lot of the fun of the game
>if a mage with Detect Enemies immediately knows who he can trust and who
>he can't.

I restrict it a bit, but the harm doesn't have to be immediately immediate.
If somebody is planning on geeking the mage, but for tonight is just
scoping him out, it wouldn't show up on the spell.

If a sniper is aiming at a mage and will shoot him as soon as he gets the
word, the spell will alert the mage.

>Picture a meet with Mr. Johnson where the runners are being set up for an
>eventual fall. That's a common scenario and would be moot without
>putting some limits on this spell. It is still a useful tool for
>avoiding ambushes and immediate double crosses however.

If the Mr. Johnson is planning to geek the runners no matter what, then he
would show up. The spell does have a bit of a range, but if the Johnson
expects it, he will position his muscle so that by the time the mage figures
it out, they are already surrounded. And he doesn't have to let his muscle
know the certainty of death or harm.

If the Mr. Johnson wants to see if they have the paydata before he geeks
them, he won't trigger the spell until he knows one way or the other.

Also, the spell isn't foolproof. Like the example of a sniper firing into a
crowd. A security guard could be hiding around the corner with the
intention of shooting the first thing that comes around the corner. He
won't show up on the spell until he picks the mage, or realized that the
mage is the first person to come around the corner.

Plus, an assassin might be waiting for the mage, but doesn't recognize him
for a few minitues.

And, a guard within a ward, or perhaps with spell defense dice on him, may
not be detected (out of sight = TN 6(?) + ward rating + defense dice).

Personally, I usually go with detect life, but that has it pros and cons as
well.

Denzil Kruse
d.kruse@****.com

Further Reading

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