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Message no. 1
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 07:04:33 -0700
First, magic is not my strong suit. So if this is a bogus question
be nice :)

Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
astral space (through a valid target of course)?

-David
--
"Fortune favors the brave." - Terence
--
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
Message no. 2
From: William Gallas <wgallas@*****.FR>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 15:26:15 +0100
>Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
>astral space (through a valid target of course)?

I would say yes but I don't think there's tha answer in BBB nor grimoire 2.
So, you have do decide according to your explanation of how a spell creates
its effect...


Cobra.

E-mail adress : wgallas@*****.fr
Quote : "Never trust an elf"
Message no. 3
From: "Boyd Stephen Smith, Jr." <gilmeth@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 09:37:27 -0600
-----Original Message-----
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>

>Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
>astral space (through a valid target of course)?


Surely, but why? I always thought that "grounding" a spell was not only
harder (gotta destroy the "lightining rod" before the spell takes any
effect) but had limited spell and target choices. Hell, I guess he might
WANT to kill the "lightning rod" (what he's grounding through.. get it) and
that would be a very definate yes.

The Twinkmeister
gilmeth@*********.com
SBN: 531896
ICQ UIN: 514984
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Pines/3759/
Message no. 4
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 09:12:38 -0700
Boyd Stephen Smith, Jr. wrote:
/
/ -----Original Message-----
/ From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
/
/ >Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
/ >astral space (through a valid target of course)?
/
/ Surely, but why?

I gotta validate a story for Spike :)

-David
--
"Courage is grace under pressure."
- Earnest Hemingway
--
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
Message no. 5
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 17:24:50 +0000
And verily, did David Buehrer hastily scribble thusly...
|
|First, magic is not my strong suit. So if this is a bogus question
|be nice :)
|
|Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
|astral space (through a valid target of course)?

Hmmmm....
Why would he want to? (As if I didn't know the answer to that one).
Well... He's astrally active, so I suppose so....

Oh, and isn't "Healthy Glow" a permanent health spell?
(Can't be quickened)
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
|Andrew Halliwell | operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
|Principal Subjects in:- |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
|Comp Sci & Electronics | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
Message no. 6
From: Damon Harper <nomad74@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 09:36:24 PST
>>Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell
from
>>astral space (through a valid target of course)?


Through a valid target? If you mean another duel natured creature
or a creature with an astral presence, yes. If you mean a mundane
living being, no.


-Vagabond <nomad74@*******.com><ICQ 4297972>
___________________________________________________________
¹vag·a·bond \va-ge-bänd\ adj. 1: wandering, homeless
2: of, characteristic of, or leading the life of a vagrant
or tramp 3: leading an unsettled or irresponsible life

²vagabond n: one leading a vagabond life; esp : tramp
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Message no. 7
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 20:14:24 +0100
Boyd Stephen Smith, Jr. said on 9:37/26 Jan 98...

> >Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
> >astral space (through a valid target of course)?
>
> Surely, but why? I always thought that "grounding" a spell was not only
> harder (gotta destroy the "lightining rod" before the spell takes any
> effect) but had limited spell and target choices. Hell, I guess he might
> WANT to kill the "lightning rod" (what he's grounding through.. get it) and
> that would be a very definate yes.

One reason is to take out that focus the enemy magician is using. Remember
that for grounding a spell through a focus, you roll an opposed test:
spell's Force vs. focus' rating, and the one that gets more successes
destroys the other. You could toss a high-Force, low-Drain spell onto a
focus this way -- for example, try grounding a Force 6 Mana Dart, or
even Mask, through a power focus: 3L drain for what will likely result in
an unbonded power focus.

You could even design a spell especially for this, trying to get the Drain
as low as possible. Something like:

Combat spell DT DL
Light damage L
Stun damage -1
Restricted target: Foci -1
Total: [(F/2)-2]L

Learn it at Force 10, and you're still resisting 3L Drain (okay, so it's
physical -- I'd like to see the magician who can't resist 3L...) for what
will likely kill most foci dead.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
People who live in glass houses ...
... should turn out the lights before they undress.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 8
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 20:14:24 +0100
David Buehrer said on 7:04/26 Jan 98...

> Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
> astral space (through a valid target of course)?

IMHO yes. As long as the target of the spell is something that can be
ground through, like an active focus or a dual-natured creature (incl.
astrally-perceiving magicians), I'd say the spell will ground out when
cast at said target (if the target doesn't completely resist it, of
course).

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
People who live in glass houses ...
... should turn out the lights before they undress.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 9
From: "Boyd Stephen Smith, Jr." <gilmeth@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 13:52:32 -0600
-----Original Message-----
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>

>You could even design a spell especially for this, trying to get the >Drain
>as low as possible. Something like:

>Combat spell DT DL
>Light damage L
>Stun damage -1
>Restricted target: Foci -1
>Total: [(F/2)-2]L

>Learn it at Force 10, and you're still resisting 3L Drain (okay, so it's
>physical -- I'd like to see the magician who can't resist 3L...) for what
>will likely kill most foci dead.


You used to be a really good munchkin weren't you.... ;)
Message no. 10
From: Lehlan Decker <decker@****.FSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 14:58:42 -0500
On Mon, Jan 26, 1998 at 01:52:32PM -0600, Boyd Stephen Smith, Jr. wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
>
> >You could even design a spell especially for this, trying to get the >Drain
> >as low as possible. Something like:
>
> >Combat spell DT DL
> >Light damage L
> >Stun damage -1
> >Restricted target: Foci -1
> >Total: [(F/2)-2]L
>
> >Learn it at Force 10, and you're still resisting 3L Drain (okay, so it's
> >physical -- I'd like to see the magician who can't resist 3L...) for what
> >will likely kill most foci dead.
>
>
> You used to be a really good munchkin weren't you.... ;)

Heh..its not just him. I've had several players realize this.
(Particulary after the G2 came out).
It some ways it is good, it keeps the number of active foci
in check. (My players are only a big paranoid :))
But it does so through a rules loophole more then anything else.
(I prefer it to be kept in check by availibility, price, foci
addiction etc).
Still designing a force 10 spell, isn't necesarrily easy.

--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehlan Decker 644-4534 Systems Development
decker@****.fsu.edu http://www.scri.fsu.edu/~decker
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Some people are alive, only because its illegal to kill them.
Message no. 11
From: Justin Pinnow <vanyel@*******.NET>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 18:15:32 -0500
> From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
> Date: Monday, January 26, 1998 9:04 AM

> First, magic is not my strong suit. So if this is a bogus question
> be nice :)

Ah, shucks. ;)

> Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
> astral space (through a valid target of course)?

Why not? If you are astrally active, then you can do pretty much anything
you would normally be able to do in the astral besides projecting. The
whole astral stats thing is up for debate, but as far as what/how you can
cast spells there is no reason to limit what you can do.

> -David

Justin :)
Message no. 12
From: westln@***.EDU
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 20:44:22 -0500
>Boyd Stephen Smith, Jr. said on 9:37/26 Jan 98...
>
>> >Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
>> >astral space (through a valid target of course)?
>>
>> Surely, but why? I always thought that "grounding" a spell was not only
>> harder (gotta destroy the "lightining rod" before the spell takes any
>> effect) but had limited spell and target choices. Hell, I guess he might
>> WANT to kill the "lightning rod" (what he's grounding through.. get it)
and
>> that would be a very definate yes.
>
>One reason is to take out that focus the enemy magician is using. Remember
>that for grounding a spell through a focus, you roll an opposed test:
>spell's Force vs. focus' rating, and the one that gets more successes
>destroys the other.

Does the mage not get to add either spell defense, shielding, or his magic
pool to assist in the focus defense?

>You could toss a high-Force, low-Drain spell onto a
>focus this way -- for example, try grounding a Force 6 Mana Dart, or
>even Mask, through a power focus: 3L drain for what will likely result in
>an unbonded power focus.
>
>You could even design a spell especially for this, trying to get the Drain
>as low as possible. Something like:....
>Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
>
Message no. 13
From: Robert Watkins <robert.watkins@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 12:11:17 +1000
westln writes:
>Does the mage not get to add either spell defence, shielding, or his magic
>pool to assist in the focus defence?


A magician only gets to use spell defence if they know that the spell is
incoming (ie, they have declared that they are allocating dice to spell
defence). They also have to declare what they are going to protect. If you
want to be really picky, you could say that allocating spell defence dice to
the magician does not protect any foci or equipment on the magician.

So yes, IF the magician suspects that they are about to be magically
assaulted, and have raised their magical shields so to speak, then the foci
will get the benefit of spell defence or shielding.

(Mind you, masking's probably a better technique for this, anyway).

--
.sig deleted to conserve electrons.
Message no. 14
From: Ereskanti <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 22:02:41 EST
In a message dated 98-01-26 09:04:55 EST, dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG writes:

>
> Can an astrally perceiving character (dual natured) ground a spell from
> astral space (through a valid target of course)?
>
Blunt, Direct Answer-

Yes.

-K
Message no. 15
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 12:00:59 +0100
westln@***.EDU said on 20:44/26 Jan 98...

> >One reason is to take out that focus the enemy magician is using. Remember
> >that for grounding a spell through a focus, you roll an opposed test:
> >spell's Force vs. focus' rating, and the one that gets more successes
> >destroys the other.
>
> Does the mage not get to add either spell defense, shielding, or his magic
> pool to assist in the focus defense?

It doesn't say that in SRII (Attacking Through A Focus, p. 139), although
I'd most likely allow it if the player asks about whether that's possible.

Of course, the magician must have allocated spell defense dice and know
the spell is coming.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
People who live in glass houses ...
... should turn out the lights before they undress.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 16
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Grounding question
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 12:00:58 +0100
Boyd Stephen Smith, Jr. said on 13:52/26 Jan 98...

[snip anti-focus spell]
> You used to be a really good munchkin weren't you.... ;)

Not really, but this one is so obvious... One thing I thought of later is
that it may not be 100% allowed to do Stun damage to a focus, so then it'd
just be a [(F/2)-1]L spell -- still a piece of cake to resist, though.

Although my favorite method for destroying foci is still what Stainless
Steel Rat posted ages ago: Fashion or Makeover spells :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
People who live in glass houses ...
... should turn out the lights before they undress.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

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