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Message no. 1
From: Malcolm Shaw malhms@*********.com.au
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 19:59:28 +1000
If a mage or shaman is carrying a foci or item to which a spell has been
anchored can these be detected by nay mage or shaman?

For instance if a mage is carrying a level 2 foci around their neck,
underneath shirt etc. and armoured jacket can its aura be detected by a
mage scanning the person briefly with astral perception? i.e. would the
aura of the foci extend beyond the clothing or be visible through the
clothing?

In regards to an anchored spell - if the spell was not active would
astral perception allow the item that the spell is attached to be
detected if it was under clothing? or even to be detectable if the spell
is inactive?

Malcolm
Message no. 2
From: Number Ten Ox number_10_ox@**********.com
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 06:02:56 -0700 (PDT)
---Malcolm Shaw <malhms@*********.com.au> wrote:

> For instance if a mage is carrying a level 2 foci around their neck,
> underneath shirt etc. and armoured jacket can its aura be detected by a
> mage scanning the person briefly with astral perception? i.e. would the
> aura of the foci extend beyond the clothing or be visible through the
> clothing?
Yes. Auras extend outside armor and such: this is the rationale for
why you can target a person even though they're in full security armor.
Now, in
game terms, I would say that it would require (7 - level of focus) successes
to notice the focus on a standard aura scan, because you're already trying
to assimilate so much information. If you're *looking* for foci, then 1
success would suffice.

> In regards to an anchored spell - if the spell was not active would
> astral perception allow the item that the spell is attached to be
> detected if it was under clothing? or even to be detectable if the spell
> is inactive?
I'd be tempted to apply the same rule, since to me an inactive
Anchored spell is still present in or near the target's aura.

> Malcolm

--Number 10.

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Message no. 3
From: Anders Swenson anders@**********.com
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 07:24:15 -0700
-----Original Message-----
From: Number Ten Ox <number_10_ox@**********.com>
To: shadowrn@*********.org <shadowrn@*********.org>
Date: Tuesday, April 20, 1999 6:20 AM
Subject: Re: Foci and visibility?


>---Malcolm Shaw <malhms@*********.com.au> wrote:
>
>> For instance if a mage is carrying a level 2 foci around their neck,
>> underneath shirt etc. and armoured jacket can its aura be detected by a
>> mage scanning the person briefly with astral perception? i.e. would the
>> aura of the foci extend beyond the clothing or be visible through the
>> clothing?

If he's carrying one foci, he's committing an oxymoron, and he's about to be
in deep drek. He should immediately shift to carrying one focus. --Anders
Message no. 4
From: Airwasp@***.com Airwasp@***.com
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 11:48:18 EDT
In a message dated 4/20/1999 4:59:57 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
malhms@*********.com.au writes:

> If a mage or shaman is carrying a foci or item to which a spell has been
> anchored can these be detected by nay mage or shaman?
>
> For instance if a mage is carrying a level 2 foci around their neck,
> underneath shirt etc. and armoured jacket can its aura be detected by a
> mage scanning the person briefly with astral perception? i.e. would the
> aura of the foci extend beyond the clothing or be visible through the
> clothing?

(IMO) Everything depends on whether the foci is active or not. If the foci
is active then the mage will know that there is a foci active and depending
on the number of successes also would inform the mage of what type the foci
is. If the foci is not active, a general assensing of an individual would
reveal that the object is a foci, but since it is not active at the moment, a
separate assensing of the foci would be required to get more information.

As for the aura extending beyond the person, it is possible, but I personally
state that some area of the person glows more than the rest of themselves.

> In regards to an anchored spell - if the spell was not active would
> astral perception allow the item that the spell is attached to be
> detected if it was under clothing? or even to be detectable if the spell
> is inactive?

An initial assensing of an inactive anchoring would reveal whether it is
holding a spell or not and with enough successes perhaps even a clue as to
the activation key. To tell what the stored spell is (on an inactive
anchoring), perhaps the assensor would need to achieve a threshold of
successes equal to the rating of the anchoring.

-Herc
Message no. 5
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 11:21:13 EDT
In a message dated 4/20/1999 8:19:52 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
number_10_ox@**********.com writes:

> Yes. Auras extend outside armor and such: this is the rationale for
> why you can target a person even though they're in full security armor.
> Now, in
> game terms, I would say that it would require (7 - level of focus)
successes
> to notice the focus on a standard aura scan, because you're already trying
> to assimilate so much information. If you're *looking* for foci, then 1
> success would suffice.

You know, this is interesting. I'm going to have to reread SR3 base magic,
but after the changes to SR3's magic about "synchronizing auras" or somesuch
nonsense...this may not actually be possible anymore...I don't know.

-K
Message no. 6
From: Kelson kelson13@***********.com
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 08:29:15 -0700
On Wed, 21 Apr 1999 11:21:13 Ereskanti wrote:

>You know, this is interesting. I'm going to have to reread SR3 base magic,
>but after the changes to SR3's magic about "synchronizing auras" or somesuch

>nonsense...this may not actually be possible anymore...I don't know.

Yeah, I just got done reading through the SR3 main book and noticed that there wasn't any
mention about HOW the spellcasting works on a magical level. No aura synchronization was
mentioned, etc. For that matter, I don't recall seeing how spells worked on the Astral
being mentioned either.

Hmm....many changes to magic in SR3.

>-K

Justin


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Message no. 7
From: Chris Maxfield cmaxfiel@****.org.au
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 13:23:30 +1000
At 11:21 21/04/99 -0400, Ereskanti@***.com wrote:
>You know, this is interesting. I'm going to have to reread SR3 base magic,
>but after the changes to SR3's magic about "synchronizing auras" or somesuch

>nonsense...this may not actually be possible anymore...I don't know.
>

For me, SR3 magic means that the foci are no longer always directly obvious but
can be completely hidden from astral or physical view; no extended auras and
such. However, the effects of the active foci should always be observable. For
example, an appropriate Aura Reading test may indicate that the Magic of the
target is being modified by a Power Focus. The spell from a sustaining focus
would be very obvious and a successful assensing test would indicate, to the
assenser, whether the spell is being sustained by a magician, a sustaining
focus or has been Quickened. Of course, Masking can hide these foci effects.






Chris Maxfield We are restless because of incessant
<cmaxfiel@****.org.au> change, but we would be frightened if
Canberra, Australia change were stopped.
Message no. 8
From: Kelson Kelson@****.net
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 07:22:45 -0500
> From: Chris Maxfield <cmaxfiel@****.org.au>
> Date: Wednesday, April 21, 1999 10:23 PM

> For me, SR3 magic means that the foci are no longer always directly
obvious but
> can be completely hidden from astral or physical view; no extended auras
and
> such. However, the effects of the active foci should always be
observable. For
> example, an appropriate Aura Reading test may indicate that the Magic of
the
> target is being modified by a Power Focus. The spell from a sustaining
focus
> would be very obvious and a successful assensing test would indicate, to
the
> assenser, whether the spell is being sustained by a magician, a
sustaining
> focus or has been Quickened. Of course, Masking can hide these foci
effects.

You know, it's funny. I actually see this as the exact opposite. ;) I
would say that foci are still visible in your aura when active. However,
when a spell is viewed (or spell signature) you would get the power of the
spell perhaps, but the fact that a foci was used wouldn't be discernable.
It's all just more power, after all. However, if you realized that the
spell you are viewing was VERY powerful (despite its force), you would
probably guess that either the caster is an Initiate of some level or some
sort of focus was used to enhance the spell. Or a mana surge, for that
matter (although you would probably be able to rule that out with some more
observation).

When you bond a focus, you tune it to yourself in a way. I would say this
helps make the energy match your astral signature. So the energy is still
seen as coming from you (not specifically a focus).

All IMO.

> Chris Maxfield

Justin
Message no. 9
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 16:50:20 EDT
In a message dated 4/22/1999 7:19:41 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
Kelson@****.net writes:

>
> When you bond a focus, you tune it to yourself in a way. I would say this
> helps make the energy match your astral signature. So the energy is still
> seen as coming from you (not specifically a focus).

Interesting point this brings up, except for possibly one consideration.
Foci Addiction. If the foci in question were attuned to the magician in
question and therefore made a part of the whole/overall magical attribute,
then to me at least, this would indicate that no matter what, the foci isn't
really part of the magician in the purist sense.

Additionally, assensing covers as one of it's potential information tidbits
whether or not a person is under the influence of another force/drug (ie;
manipulation magic, possession, btls/drugs, etc...). And again to me at
least, this includes foci. Additionally, with the foci present on the
person, there would be particularly "bright" areas on a person/individual
where the foci is present (activated foci would be brighter than inactive
ones), in much the same manner that cyberware/essence loss causes a "dimming"
of the aura.

-K
Message no. 10
From: Kelson kelson13@***********.com
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 14:07:55 -0700
On Thu, 22 Apr 1999 16:50:20 Ereskanti wrote:

>Interesting point this brings up, except for possibly one consideration.
>Foci Addiction. If the foci in question were attuned to the magician in
>question and therefore made a part of the whole/overall magical attribute,
>then to me at least, this would indicate that no matter what, the foci isn't
>really part of the magician in the purist sense.

True. Also, if it were truly made to be a part of you, it wouldn't be able to be bonded
to someone else, etc. I agree with you here. However, it would seem that some attunement
occurs (this is why it's called "bonding").

>Additionally, assensing covers as one of it's potential information tidbits
>whether or not a person is under the influence of another force/drug (ie;
>manipulation magic, possession, btls/drugs, etc...). And again to me at
>least, this includes foci. Additionally, with the foci present on the
>person, there would be particularly "bright" areas on a person/individual
>where the foci is present (activated foci would be brighter than inactive
>ones), in much the same manner that cyberware/essence loss causes a
"dimming"
>of the aura.

Actually, I wouldn't include foci in this, unless the focus was active. It's not
something that alters your state of health or has any influence on you (unless you're
addicted). It's just a resovoir of power that you can tap into when active. Active foci
are pretty easy to spot in an aura (IMO). Inactive ones wouldn't be (they would either
not show up at all or would require a fairly difficult perception test). Again, that's
just IMO. Focus addiction could be detected, though. It might be difficult to find out
what the magician is addicted to, and a drug or chip might be the first presumption, but
it would be possible to figure out with a good enough roll. ;)

>-K

Justin


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Message no. 11
From: Angel Ramos T. angelramos@*****.net
Subject: Foci and visibility?
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 21:15:30 -0400
Chris and Justin wrote the following:

Chris:
> > For me, SR3 magic means that the foci are no longer always directly
> obvious but
> > can be completely hidden from astral or physical view; no extended auras
> and
> > such. However, the effects of the active foci should always be
> observable.

Justin:
> I would say that foci are still visible in your aura when active.
However,
> when a spell is viewed (or spell signature) you would get the power of the
> spell perhaps, but the fact that a foci was used wouldn't be discernable.
> It's all just more power, after all. However, if you realized that the
> spell you are viewing was VERY powerful (despite its force), you would
> probably guess that either the caster is an Initiate of some level or some
> sort of focus was used to enhance the spell.
> When you bond a focus, you tune it to yourself in a way. I would say this
> helps make the energy match your astral signature. So the energy is still
> seen as coming from you (not specifically a focus).

The way I see it is that in view of the fact you are bonding the focus to
you, the extra energy it provides is somehow "in tune" with your aura but
since it is not actually your astral body it could be seen as what it really
is, a focus. You could assense an aura and realize that it has some
"quality" and if you have trained your senses to it that could lead you to
think that this "quality" is a focus.

This is my little contribution to the little box ;)

See ya

Angel

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