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Message no. 1
From: Edward Paul <doyle@******.EDU>
Subject: elemental bullets?
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 1996 08:21:40 -1000
Would granite tipped bullets, if possible, count as an elemental
attack against critters and bugs with immunity to normal weapons power?

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Edward Paul University of Hawaii at Manoa
E-Mail: doyle@******.edu
World Wide Web: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~doyle
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Message no. 2
From: Sight Unseen <toabo@****.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Re: elemental bullets?
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 1996 17:38:19 -0500
At 08:21 AM 10/27/96 -1000, you wrote:
> Would granite tipped bullets, if possible, count as an elemental
>attack against critters and bugs with immunity to normal weapons power?

I doubt it. First, it probably isn't possible. Even if it were,
I'm not sure that the stone could withstand the force of being fired from a
gun, or if such a bullet would spin normally.
Putting that aside, I don't think a granite tipped bullet, while
unusual, would qualify as an "elemental effect" per se. Basically, a
granite tipped bullet is just a fast pebble. So if a fast pebble counts,
why not a slower (but heavier) rock? I think it unlikely that an animal
would be immune to a samurai blazing away with a minigun but not to a couple
of kids chunking rocks. <g>
Message no. 3
From: "Steven A. Tinner" <bluewizard@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: elemental bullets?
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 1996 23:01:55 -0800
> Would granite tipped bullets, if possible, count as an elemental
> attack against critters and bugs with immunity to normal weapons power?

I don't know.
Maybe we should slice up GRANITE and see! :-)))) <grin>

Steven A. Tinner
"Choppppaaaaaa!"
Message no. 4
From: Edward Paul <doyle@******.EDU>
Subject: Re: elemental bullets?
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 09:08:24 -1000
On Sun, 27 Oct 1996, Sight Unseen wrote:

> At 08:21 AM 10/27/96 -1000, you wrote:
> > Would granite tipped bullets, if possible, count as an elemental
> >attack against critters and bugs with immunity to normal weapons power?
>
> I doubt it. First, it probably isn't possible. Even if it were,
> I'm not sure that the stone could withstand the force of being fired from a
> gun, or if such a bullet would spin normally.

I never said it had to be a perfect bullet, but I am sure some of
the harder stones out there could remain intact after being fired from a
firearm.

> Putting that aside, I don't think a granite tipped bullet, while
> unusual, would qualify as an "elemental effect" per se. Basically, a
> granite tipped bullet is just a fast pebble. So if a fast pebble counts,
> why not a slower (but heavier) rock?

What's wrong with a slower, but heavier, rock doing damage? Isn't
an avalanche a series of those kinds of rocks and dirt? Aren't Avalanches
elemental attacks?

> I think it unlikely that an animal
> would be immune to a samurai blazing away with a minigun but not to a couple
> of kids chunking rocks. <g>

Two unrelated examples. The question I'm asking is making
attacks without the use of willpower. Most spirits can potentially be
damaged by kids throwing anything, even rocks, because of their will
power empowering that object. Most other ranged attacks are almost
negated by the armor provided by the immunity to normal weapons powers.

Although, elemental attacks can reduce the immunity to half
strength. That's why flamethrowers are more effective on bug spirits than
regular firearms. A water cannon and a high air pressure cleaner would
have a similar advantage. I was just wondering how an elemental attack
might be translated into a non-Willpower using weapon...

>

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Edward Paul University of Hawaii at Manoa
E-Mail: doyle@******.edu
World Wide Web: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~doyle
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Message no. 5
From: Scam <scam@******.MUR.CSU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: elemental bullets?
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 13:00:13 +1100
On Mon, 28 Oct 1996, Edward Paul wrote:

[snip]

> Two unrelated examples. The question I'm asking is making
> attacks without the use of willpower. Most spirits can potentially be
> damaged by kids throwing anything, even rocks, because of their will
> power empowering that object. Most other ranged attacks are almost
> negated by the armor provided by the immunity to normal weapons powers.

AFAIK the Immunity to Normal Weapons bit is caused from the lack
of direct channelling of your will in attacking the target ( or
something), so while spirits of all stripes get rather impressive bonuses
when they are getting shot at, they get, what is it: Force as armour
instead of Force*2??, in melee combat or when some one is using a bow of
some type. I'd say slings and such would come under that category too
although I'm not sure how much damage a kid firing a rock from a sling
would do to an elemental.

>
> Although, elemental attacks can reduce the immunity to half
> strength. That's why flamethrowers are more effective on bug spirits than
> regular firearms. A water cannon and a high air pressure cleaner would
> have a similar advantage. I was just wondering how an elemental attack
> might be translated into a non-Willpower using weapon...

I could be wrong but I don't think so.I don't think so. Unless you're
totting a weapon focus you are stuck with rolling willpower instead of your
combat skill (which is why all the samurai in my group have willpowers of 6).
The elemental would get hammered if you were exposing them to their
vulnerability of course, and if you managed to get a solid hit on an
(true form) insect spirit with a flame thrower as GM i'd let the thing burn
(until it stepped off the physical plane of course).

I think you mentioned an avalanche? Good idea and something which I'd
never thought of. It would work in bug hives to, true form insect spirits
are immune to explosions from grenades but if you dropped the roof on top
of them, splat. Same principle as FAT bacteria and "living" walls.



*******************************************************************
VAMPIRE: I am of the Kindred. I am child of both Night and Pain....
MAGE: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now you're a soap bubble.
VAMPIRE: Pop!
*******************************************************************
* scam@**********.mur.csu.edu.au *
* http://itclub.mur.csu.edu.au/~scam *
*******************************************************************

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