From: | Christopher Higgins <as812@*******.CARLETON.CA> |
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Subject: | Mages |
Date: | Thu, 2 Jun 1994 11:03:35 -0400 |
feel the need to simultaneously agree and disagree. Shadowrun magic is not
powerful, its strength lies in the fact that mundanes don't expect it. I
co-GM a group with 2-4 mages; I, when not GM'ing, play a Tir Na Nog
Follower-Bard. I was surprised when people first began talking about the
Shapechange spell and how its Drain was laughable, later, we had
discussions about magical LAW's, orichalcum spurs and Hellblasts as if you
guys are used to this stuff. Well I suppose I should expect incoming soon
but I'd love to see your characters. I learned quickly that in Shadowrun,
a wound causes a snowball effect so they are to be avoided at all costs.
I really had to think twice about taking Stun Missile for my Bard because
the Moderate Drain would more often than not leave me with a Light stun. A
stun which would begin the penalty snowball. As far as Shapechange is
concerned, Serious stun is NOT laughable. You would need a rhino's stats
to counteract the drain penalties and the +2 penalty for sustaining the
spell. My group does not have stats over racial maximums because if a 6 in
Strength represents Arnold Schwarzeneggar or a 6 in Intelligence
represents Stephen Hawking, then an elf with an 8 in Charisma is more
Charismatic than Hitler and a Troll on average is more powerful than three
or four bodybuilders combined!! No offense but I think that I'm beginning
to see some of the D&D syndrome taking effect here (eg. everyone has an
18/00 Str so my guy should have a 22).
Forget Hellblast! Some of you guys cast it in the Astral plane! Call
me a rules lawyer but casting a Deadly drain spell while Astral means that
you're either desperate, dead, or your Willpower is too high (sorry, but I
can't think of a real-life person with a 6 Will but in Marvel Comics a 6
would be comparable with Charles Xavier)
Sorry to get all excited but I think some of you have so many rules
modifications because you forgot so many rules.
Til Next Time,
Christopher Higgins.