Message no. 1

From:	EthanHerne@***.com EthanHerne@***.com
Subject:	Hermetic Libraries [was Re: Watchers]
Date:	Tue, 13 Apr 1999 14:02:45 EDT

>>>I basically figure a magic library must be writtne by somebody, and that
somebody must have a magic background skill equal to the library rating-
though that does lead to circular logic, because how did they GET that
knowledge?<<<

Lots and lots of experimentation, trial and error. True, hermetic libraries
were created by someone in the first place but, for those of you who get
players saying "well why can't I just write my own library?" consider a
single engineer trying to write the "Rubber Manual" and all the other
standard manuals of engineering (PACKED with highly technical data) entirely
from scratch. It just ain't that easy.

I figure the very first hermetic libraries were based on existing work by
pre-Awakening mages like Waite, Crowley, Fortune, Carroll, etc. Probably
Rating 2-3 at best, and filled with misconceptions and mistakes (some
deliberate obfuscation, others simple errors). Over the past 50 years,
magical researchers and scholars have built up a body of knowledge allowing
for higher rated hermetic libraries. The absolute maximum library rating
achieved is pretty much up to the GM, but I don't go much past 15 or so in my
own games. Your milage may vary. ("Summon a Force 18 spirit? Well,
theoretically it's POSSIBLE, but we simply don't have the technology yet.")

Note that this research can become the seed of a shadowrun: "This project of
Manadyne's may push sorcery technology to the next level, IF they get to
copyright it first. We want to make sure that doesn't happen..."

Steve

Kenson's Cranial Collection
http://members.aol.com/talonmail