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Message no. 1
From: Luke Kendall <luke@********.CANON.OZ.AU>
Subject: How to be a safe mage and look a complete dork
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 13:33:48 +1100
A mage could carry a one-way mirror plastic film stretched
over a wire frame cage, and stand inside it. Then (because
of the FASA you-can-astrally-see-through-transparent-objects
rule), he could see out to cast his spells, but no-one else
could see in to target him directly. They'd have to use
area-effect type spells.

A less dorky alternative would be to carry an ultra-light
one-way mirror `shield'. You might even be able to turn fast
enough to match even a hyper-velocity astral mage - especially
with that Increase Reaction +4 spell locked on.

I _really_ wish they'd scrap that rule.

luke
Message no. 2
From: The GREAT Cornholio <mruane@***.UUG.ARIZONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: How to be a safe mage and look a complete dork
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 1994 19:44:28 -0700
On Mon, 14 Nov 1994, Luke Kendall wrote:

> A mage could carry a one-way mirror plastic film stretched
> over a wire frame cage, and stand inside it. Then (because
> of the FASA you-can-astrally-see-through-transparent-objects
> rule), he could see out to cast his spells, but no-one else
> could see in to target him directly. They'd have to use
> area-effect type spells.
Of course, the mirror cage would attract attention.

Ganger 1: Check out the dork in the mirror cage.

Ganger 2: yeah, he's too stupid to live. Waste him! *enter SMG fire
here*

So much for the mirror cage.

And I don't wnat to hear anything about dikoting the damnable cage! :-)
>
> A less dorky alternative would be to carry an ultra-light
> one-way mirror `shield'. You might even be able to turn fast
> enough to match even a hyper-velocity astral mage - especially
> with that Increase Reaction +4 spell locked on.
The aura would extend around the mirror. Plus, mages in the astral move
rediculously fast and could fire around the mirror easily. Plus, where
there's a mage, there are usually samurai or phys adepts.

>
> I _really_ wish they'd scrap that rule.
>
> luke
>
Mike aka Spellslinger
Message no. 3
From: Luke Kendall <luke@********.CANON.OZ.AU>
Subject: Re: How to be a safe mage and look a complete dork
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:19:40 +1100
The GREAT Cornholio wrote:

luke> A mage could carry a one-way mirror plastic film stretched
luke> over a wire frame cage, and stand inside it.


> Of course, the mirror cage would attract attention.

Absolutely; though it probably folds up.

> Ganger 1: Check out the dork in the mirror cage.
>

> Ganger 2: yeah, he's too stupid to live. Waste him! *enter SMG fire
> here*

Ganger 1: Wait, what's that crackling barrier of energy around him?
Look's like he's got a Physical Barrier spell locked on him.

luke> A less dorky alternative would be to carry an ultra-light
luke> one-way mirror `shield'.

> The aura would extend around the mirror.

I suspect the aura extends only 15cm (6 inches) or so. And this is a
big shield, for a big dork that isn't ashamed of his dorkiness.

> Plus, mages in the astral move
> rediculously fast and could fire around the mirror easily.

Maybe so, maybe no. Astral mages can't do complex manoeuvres when
they're in high speed mode. That N-thousand kph stuff is for pretty
head-straight-for-target stuff, not for doing slaloms.

And have you thought how much faster you can turn than someone can
run? It's simple angular velocity stuff: r theta / t.

> Plus, where there's a mage, there are usually samurai or phys adepts.

Exactly. Worried yet?

luke
Message no. 4
From: Damion Milliken <u9467882@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: How to be a safe mage and look a complete dork
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 16:28:20 +1100
luke writes:

> A mage could carry a one-way mirror plastic film stretched
> over a wire frame cage, and stand inside it. Then (because
> of the FASA you-can-astrally-see-through-transparent-objects
> rule), he could see out to cast his spells, but no-one else
> could see in to target him directly. They'd have to use
> area-effect type spells.

Better yet, drive around in a car, and have the windows tinted. Plus, the
added bonus that you can armour a car, so those gangers (Mike :-)) and their
SMGs wouldn't be so effective neither. But the area effect type spell bit is
wrong. Unless it was a damaging manipulation (in which case area effect
doesn't really matter - a mage could still point it in your direction), then
the attacking mage still needs line of sight to you to get you.

> A less dorky alternative would be to carry an ultra-light
> one-way mirror `shield'. You might even be able to turn fast
> enough to match even a hyper-velocity astral mage - especially
> with that Increase Reaction +4 spell locked on.

Hmm, an interesting thought. How does one resolve delayed actions between
the physical and the mundane? Say I am on the mundane world, and have a
delayed action, and am astrally perceiving. Now, say Mr Big Bad astral mage
sitting over in the corner of the room decodes he's going to blast me with a
spell. Can I execute my delayed action before he gets his spell off? That's
what one would normally think, but on page 79 it says "all astral actions
first, then all decking..." which leads one to believe that the astral mage
still gets his spell off anyhow.

Mike writes:

> The aura would extend around the mirror.

Not really. The aura only extends a few centimeters, so if you held the
mirror more than 20 or so cm away from your body, you'd be perfectly safe.

> Plus, where there's a mage, there are usually samurai or phys adepts.

But not when the mage is in astral space like that one was. The target (you)
on the physical might have buddys, but a lot of good they'll be doing you
when you're the only astrally present person.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong e-mail: u9467882@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+(d) H s++:-- !g p? !au a18 w+ v(?) C+(++) US++ P? L !3 E?
N K- W+ M@ !V po@ Y(+) t+ !5 !j R+(++) G(+)('') !tv(--)@ b++ D+
B? e+ u@ h* f(+) !r n--(----) !y+
Message no. 5
From: Darth Vader <j07c@***.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject: Re: How to be a safe mage and look a complete dork
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 1994 13:21:36 +0100
± I suspect the aura extends only 15cm (6 inches) or so. And this is a
± big shield, for a big dork that isn't ashamed of his dorkiness.

The aura extends to up to 2 m from the target (check out the death
spell).

± Maybe so, maybe no. Astral mages can't do complex manoeuvres when
± they're in high speed mode. That N-thousand kph stuff is for pretty
± head-straight-for-target stuff, not for doing slaloms.

Natural laws do not apply to astral space. I'd expect a mage in
astral form to be able to move with 0 inertia.
Message no. 6
From: Damion Milliken <u9467882@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: How to be a safe mage and look a complete dork
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 1994 12:01:25 +1100
Someone writes:

> The aura extends to up to 2 m from the target (check out the death
> spell).

The what spell?

> Natural laws do not apply to astral space. I'd expect a mage in
> astral form to be able to move with 0 inertia.

Even though I can't really say that is entirely correct (inertia doesn't
quite exist on the astral for starters), I agree with the effects of your
reasoning. A person still attached to their meat body can't move as fast as
a mage who is astral only. Even if they delay an action, and wait for the
mage to do something, "...all astral actions first..." page 79 SR II, so the
astral mage still goes first.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong e-mail: u9467882@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+(d) H s++:-- !g p? !au a18 w+ v(?) C+(++) US++ P? L !3 E?
N K- W+ M@ !V po@ Y(+) t+ !5 !j R+(++) G(+)('') !tv(--)@ b++ D+
B? e+ u@ h* f(+) !r n--(----) !y+
Message no. 7
From: Darth Vader <j07c@***.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject: Re: How to be a safe mage and look a complete dork
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 1994 17:26:42 +0100
± Someone writes:
± > The aura extends to up to 2 m from the target (check out the death
± > spell).
± The what spell?

Yep I cant quite recall what is its exact name, but it does Deadly damage
requires touch, is out of the Grimoire and its name contains the word death (?)
The spell desc explains what 'touch' means. Spells the require 'touch'
actually require contact with the victims aura, not physical touch. If I am
not grossly mistaken the spell goes on to explain the the aura can extend
up to 2 m from the person.

--
"Believe in Angels." -- The Crow

GCS d>- H s+: !g p? !au a- w+ v-(?) C+++ UA++VS++L>++++ P-- (aren't we all?)
L+>+++ 3 E--- N++ K W(+)(---) M-- !V(--) -po+(---) Y+ t++ 5+ !j(-) R+++(--)
!G tv(++) b+++ D++ B- e+ u++(-) h*(+) f+ r- n!(----) y?
Message no. 8
From: Damion Milliken <u9467882@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: How to be a safe mage and look a complete dork
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 1994 12:34:33 +1100
Darth Vader writes:

> Yep I cant quite recall what is its exact name, but it does Deadly damage
> requires touch, is out of the Grimoire and its name contains the word death
> (?)
> The spell desc explains what 'touch' means. Spells the require 'touch'
> actually require contact with the victims aura, not physical touch. If I am
> not grossly mistaken the spell goes on to explain the the aura can extend up
> to 2 m from the person.

Yep, I know the one, Death Touch I think. I don't remember the 2m aura in
the description though, anyone got their Grimything closer then 450km to
check?

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong e-mail: u9467882@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+(d) H s++:-- !g p? !au a18 w+ v(?) C+(++) US++ P? L !3 E?
N K- W+ M@ !V po@ Y(+) t+ !5 !j R+(++) G(+)('') !tv(--)@ b++ D+
B? e+ u@ h* f(+) !r n--(----) !y+

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