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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Ereskanti <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Magic and the Church (was Re: Fwd: Into Africa I Go a
Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 18:00:42 EDT
In a message dated 4/25/98 1:13:20 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
nexx@********.NET writes:

> Does anyone think that some people might actually become, for lack
of
> a
> better term, Shamen for Jehovah? As in they understand their magic as a
> gift from God, but also understand it as magic (rather than the one guy
> used as an example in Awakening)? What sort of totem modifiers would he
> carry? +2 dice to Healing, +2 to summon spirits of Man?
>
This is going to sound lame to some I know, but "Shaman's of Jehovah" in our
games get no bonuses of any kind, nor do they get any major negatives. They
are treated as "Coyote" sort of, except for their beliefs structure, which is
different. This way we didn't offend anyone if they were encountered.

That and the "Church" in it's various forms is an active force in our games
(we -do- have the Ark of the Covenant after all....)

-K
Message no. 2
From: Mark Ellis <mark@******.IDISCOVER.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Magic and the Church (was Re: Fwd: Into Africa I Go a
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 09:43:48 +0100
-----Original Message-----
From: Nexx <nexx@********.NET>
To: SHADOWRN@********.ITRIBE.NET <SHADOWRN@********.ITRIBE.NET>
Date: 25 April 1998 19:09
Subject: Magic and the Church (was Re: Fwd: Into Africa I Go a Praying...


>----------
>> From: Mark Ellis <mark@******.IDISCOVER.CO.UK>
>
>> I put this one down to ethics. If spirits really are independent,
>sentient
>> creatures, imposing your will on them simply isn't a very nice thing to
>do
>> under most circumstances.
>
> However, if you act like a shaman to the spirits you summon (asking
them
>to please do what you ask) rather than as a mage (commanding the elemental
>to obey your bidding), then its not an ethical question, is it? If you
>ask and they do it, it wouldn't be an ethical violation.
>


I agree this is how most people view the differences between a mage and a
shamam, but I think it's a bit of a generalisation. A shaman doesnt need to
be toxic to be a control freak.

> Does anyone think that some people might actually become, for lack
of a
>better term, Shamen for Jehovah? As in they understand their magic as a
>gift from God, but also understand it as magic (rather than the one guy
>used as an example in Awakening)? What sort of totem modifiers would he
>carry? +2 dice to Healing, +2 to summon spirits of Man?
>

Depending on how generous you're feeling, they'd get no bonuses or bonuses
for everything. Remember Jehovah is meant to be the God of everything, and
he is/was (??) as willing to smite his enemies as heal the faithful, at
least in the Old Testament.

Mark

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Thwap!