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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Dave Sherohman <esper@*****.IMA.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Frying bugs
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1993 06:35:00 -0500
Sure, insect spirits all have willpowers of 1 or 2 (except the queens, that
is...), so they die as soon as you hit 'em with a mana spell. The problem is
how you hit them in the first place. Most of the true forms are likely to
stay astral - not only does this allow them to act as a reserve force able to
strike anywhere damn-near instantly, it also allows them to protect the rest
of their kind from spells. If a spell is cast from the physical, they can
intercept it (either treat it as a normal melee or just do a Force vs Force
resisted test) before it reaches its target. If the spell is cast from the
astral, it can't be intercepted, but the true forms will be able to mob the
caster without having to expose themselves to mundane attacks, plus any
nearby bug shamans will be able to ground spells into the opposing caster.

So, no, the low willpower doesn't mean that you can frag a hive with 2 or 3
well-placed manaballs; you still have to do it the hard way...

esper@***.umn.edu
Message no. 2
From: Hobbes Patrol Headquarters <TYGER@****.WINONA.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re : Frying bugs
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1993 20:10:29 -0500
>Sure, insect spirits all have willpowers of 1 or 2 (except the queens, that
>is...), so they die as soon as you hit 'em with a mana spell. The problem is
>how you hit them in the first place. Most of the true forms are likely to
>stay astral - not only does this allow them to act as a reserve force able to
>strike anywhere damn-near instantly, it also allows them to protect the rest
>of their kind from spells. If a spell is cast from the physical, they can
>intercept it (either treat it as a normal melee or just do a Force vs Force
>resisted test) before it reaches its target. If the spell is cast from the
>astral, it can't be intercepted, but the true forms will be able to mob the
>caster without having to expose themselves to mundane attacks, plus any
>nearby bug shamans will be able to ground spells into the opposing caster.

Wait, so I can have a bug pop physical from ASTRAL SPACE?

(Or am I reading that wrong?)

-Tyger

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"It's not like talking with people. With people, anything can be said and
nothing matters. Words and words and words. You go to a party... people
sit around and say things. Anything. Just to talk. Put forth views and
debate them. Sometimes you get a new idea. Sometimes something changes"
-Luicifer
From "Virtual Realities"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Message no. 3
From: Dave Sherohman <esper@*****.IMA.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Frying bugs
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1993 06:41:23 -0500
>Wait, so I can have a bug pop physical from ASTRAL SPACE?
>
>(Or am I reading that wrong?)
>
>-Tyger

You got it, chummer. True forms are just like normal spirits - astral forms
capable of manifesting physically. Only the flesh forms ar locked in the
physical. Of course, if you waste a bug (true or flesh form) it takes a few
days to summon a replacement, but then the shaman doesn't have to pay for any
ritual materials other than a living human body...

Thoughts to keep you warm at night...

esper@***.umn.edu
Message no. 4
From: Hobbes Patrol Headquarters <TYGER@****.WINONA.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Frying bugs
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1993 13:33:38 -0500
>>Wait, so I can have a bug pop physical from ASTRAL SPACE?
>>
>>(Or am I reading that wrong?)
>>
>>-Tyger

>You got it, chummer. True forms are just like normal spirits - astral forms
>capable of manifesting physically. Only the flesh forms ar locked in the
>physical. Of course, if you waste a bug (true or flesh form) it takes a few
>days to summon a replacement, but then the shaman doesn't have to pay for any
>ritual materials other than a living human body...

I'm not much up on the magic, so I still am wondering about this. Now, as
I see this, a bug-form, which is astral, can manifest in the physical, and
beat the carp outta the sammie in the bunch?

And if we kill it, they make more. Sheesh. (Worse that Doritos, or bad TV
programs!) Why don't I feel too god about this?

>Thoughts to keep you warm at night...

Anybody spare a fur coat?

-Tyger

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"It's not like talking with people. With people, anything can be said and
nothing matters. Words and words and words. You go to a party... people
sit around and say things. Anything. Just to talk. Put forth views and
debate them. Sometimes you get a new idea. Sometimes something changes"
-Luicifer
From "Virtual Realities"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Message no. 5
From: Chris Siebenmann <cks@********.UTCS.TORONTO.EDU>
Subject: Re: Re : Frying bugs
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1993 11:50:47 -0400
| Wait, so I can have a bug pop physical from ASTRAL SPACE?

Sure can. You can do this to any dual-natured being.
As people have said, getting at insect spirits in astral space may
prove a challenge.

- cks
Message no. 6
From: Dave Sherohman <esper@*****.IMA.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Frying bugs
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1993 12:20:52 -0500
>I'm not much up on the magic, so I still am wondering about this. Now, as
>I see this, a bug-form, which is astral, can manifest in the physical, and
>beat the carp outta the sammie in the bunch?

Yep, just the same as a nature spirit (Forest, Storm, whatever) or elemental.
They just tend to be nastier after they _do_ appear...

>And if we kill it, they make more. Sheesh. (Worse that Doritos, or bad TV
>programs!) Why don't I feel too god about this?

Could be lot worse - nature spirits can have replacements conjured more-or-
less instantly and elementals just take a few hours; bugs take _days_. But
if this aspect bugs you (pun intended), think about toxics. Worse tempers
than bugs, about as tough (if not tougher - they do, after all, come with a
real willpower), same ability to just appear out of nowhere, and, if he's
standing in a toxic domain, their owner can summon a replacement in one
action when you drop 'em... Of course, you're not likely to run into 20
toxics all at once...

>Anybody spare a fur coat?
>
>-Tyger

And here I thought you grew your own... Sorry, can't lend you one. Too
busy with a funky process which, over the course of several years, turns
people into flesh form raoch spirits. One of the first symptoms is hair
loss...

esper@***.umn.edu

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These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.

Thwap!