Message no. 1

From:	steven mancini <mancinis@******.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Subject:	Jacking Out of Matrix for New Topic
Date:	Sat, 10 Jul 1993 18:36:20 EST

An idea that crashed into my skull a few nights ago. It may
be too much. (Most likely a flashback to my Munchkin, Hermetic
Banshee Rocker days.) Anyway, may some folks out there who are
less restrictive of this sort of stuff may gain some benefit from
it. I would guess this is powerful enough to warrant catagorizing
it as a meta magic power, but I think there are enough of those
already. As usual, this is defined in SR I terms since I still
reject Shadowrun II.
-M-

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Spell Weaving
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First off, I was told this term was/is used in D&D, if so I
apologize, I have not played that game for over a decade....

Theory:
Using Magic theory, a magician can redesign a spell in their
repetoire for a 'one shot' casting. This 'redesigning' is nothing
more than altering the effects of the spell in accordance with
drain code adjustments:
- Turning an AOE spell sing/ target
- Adding/Removing the Voluntary Subject
- Adding/Removing Touch requirements
- Adding/Removing the Caster Only
- Toggling between Mana/Physical catagory

These are just a few examples.

Mechanics:
- The Magician declares he/she wishes to spell weave and begins
to cast the spell from a Astrally Perceptive position so that
he/she can manipulate the mana, in ways very similar to that
of the metamagic skill, Centering. This requires one simple
action (not including the simple to goes dual).
- The magician declares at what force the 'altered' spell
shall be cast (No higher than what force the spell is
originally learned at.) This is important because it shall
take him/her 1 Turn per Point of force allocated to the new
spell (ie, A force 5 redesign spell will take 5 turns to
design.)
- The GM/magician calculates the new drain for the 'redesigned'
spell.
- Using Magic Theory, the magician resists the drain of the new
spell. For every box *not* resisted the magician adds +2 to
all target numbers for casting the spell. Initiates may add
their Grade; Mages can enlist the aid of elementals; and
Shamans add their totemic bonus.
- The magicians finishes casting the spell (1 simple action).
- The redesigned spell is either cast or lost; no storing of
spells.
- Each 'redesign' is linked to its environment with even the
slightest change rendering it useless. (ie Each time a magician
wants to do this they go through the above procedure. Just
because they have redesigned their Manaball to a physical spell
once does not negate the need to do it each time.)

Example:
Whisper, one of Seattle's favorite Raccoon shamans (yeah right)
is out at the Big Rhino with some friends. Being a dwarf, his presence
is not exactly welcome; which becomes apparent when another of the
Rhino's patrons insults our timid shamanic hero.
To get even, Whisper decides to teach our Ork friend a lesson.
Whisper decides to reweave one of his preferred spells, Makeover,
into a non-voluntary spell.
From his booth, he begins, first shifting dual.
As his shamanic mask emerges in full bloom, he begins to cast the
spell.
He then decides to take Makeover and cast is at force 5. As he begins
to work the mana, another magically active patron who catches Whisper's
astral actions out of the corner of his eye quickly gets up and leaves.
Whisper takes his Makeover L1 and redesigns the spell:

Non-voluntary..............................+1 Drain Code

After 5 Turns, Whisper picks up his modest Magic Theory (5),
and adds 2 dice because Raccoon favors such magicks. Rolling 7 dice,
Whisper must resist (force)<new drain>, or 5M1. Our friend must be too
excited, he gets only 1 success, incurring a +2 penalty.
Walking over to the ork, Whisper feigns defeat and offers the ork
his hand as a gesture of good faith. The ork pats our shamanic friend
on the head and shakes hands. Whisper releases the spell, and rolls
the Force 5 Non-voluntary Makeover plus whatever dice from his magic
pool he wishes. His target numbers are at +2, as is his drain.
As Whisper walks away grinning, the Ork has no clue what his
friends, as well as most of the bar are laughing at. He won't realize it
until he looks in the mirror at the black, racoon-like, rings which
surround his eyes.


Well, it's only an idea.... Comments? Suggestions?

Wearing His Carp-Proof Helmet,

Da Minotaur