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Message no. 1
From: Chris Maxfield <cmaxfiel@****.ORG.AU>
Subject: Re: Magic in Space
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 1997 21:48:31 +1000
At 13:42 17/09/97 GMT, Mark Steedman wrote:
>> there is any sort of 'mana' stuff that gets used up by magic. Rather I
>> would vary the strength of the astral field depending on how large and
>> dense the living ecology is and use that to determine how difficult it is
>> to use magic. Some sort of rating system for ships/space stations?
>>
>Ok. Start by reading Target UCASand keep an eye open for hints. The
>vital ones include the void levels table (listed for Chicago) and the
>comments made about the fact GM's ight consider using it for magic in
>the Foave in Atzlan etc. I think they even mention space there.

Will do so. I haven't read my copy yet as I had to return the first copy I
bought to my games shop after I discovered it was a bad print with several
blank pages. I've only just picked up my second copy.

>I have for now set 'space' as a void level 10, sure you can cast
>spells even in a void level 10, but given a manabolt now has an
>effective drain code over ((F/2)+12)D [see book for accuate chart and
>extrapolate] and the warnings about potential madness at void levels
>around 2-3, well i wouldn't advise magic in space!

Sounds about right.

>> What ever rules are written, they have to work for physads & enchanters as
>> well, not just sorcery and conjuring. :-)
>Which the prsent guidelines don't cover though with all the stuff
>i've discussed here in the past plus target UCAS and some thinking
>rules 'good enough for my camapin' should not be difficult to come
>by, sure FASA might eventually release thier own which contradict but
>the day they do that the players can go to the games store and find
>out before they try it just how silly it is :)

Exactly. That's the way we always tend to do it isn't it. :-)

>> I'd prefer to use the rating of a station/ships life in several ways. I'd
>> probably apply a (10 - rating) penalty to all sorcery and conjuring success
>> tests - and their drain tests.
>well the mage : rating zero , but i'd use the void rules Target UCAS,
>level 10 void, bye :)

The way I was using the above station/ship rating system was where high is
magic rich and good for the magician; low was magic difficult and bad for
the magician. I certainly must read that blasted source book as soon as
possible.

>I set Mars at void level 5, it's a planet, has an Atmosphere and in
>SR certainly has had life. [proof might need spoilers so accept if
>you haven't seen the FASA proof]

Difficult but not impossible, huh? I probably would consider it a bit more
difficult than that as the planet seems pretty barren now - probably around
7 or 8.

>like background count you will get a TN penalty to conjouring, and
>using the void table i suppose you could slap on those penalties to
>conjouring drain same as spellcasting, physads, drains probably best,
>choose a base drain (say ((F/2)-2)nothing ) and apply void level mods,
>noting that the reason you don't take drain as a physad normally is
>beacuse you need a void level 3 for that nothing code to actually be
>drain.

Yes, something like that would work though I might rule that the physads
only need to resist drain if they use a power whose cost in magic points is
equal to or less than (10 - void level)/2.

>I don't like absolute maximium at the numbers you propose because
>spells and spirits above force 10 are well possible in SR which give
>you a space/not space discontinuity. FASA seem to now be going for
>more a sliding scale.

Point taken and agreed. :-)

Chris

_______________________________________________________________
Chris Maxfield Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart: "You
<cmaxfiel@****.org.au> know, just once I'd like to meet an alien
Canberra, Australia menace that wasn't immune to bullets."
Message no. 2
From: Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Magic in Space
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 1997 13:37:40 GMT
Chris Maxfield writes

gets out strimmer :)

> >Ok. Start by reading Target UCASand keep an eye open for hints. The
>
> Will do so.
The principal bit for 'rules' is about 2 pages in the back, easy
enough to find as it includes the void levels table which is in the
Chicago rules section.

> >by, sure FASA might eventually release thier own which contradict but
>
> Exactly. That's the way we always tend to do it isn't it. :-)
and why not :)

> >> I'd prefer to use the rating of a station/ships life in several ways. I'd
> >> probably apply a (10 - rating) penalty to all sorcery and conjuring success
> >> tests - and their drain tests.
> >well the mage : rating zero , but i'd use the void rules Target UCAS,
> >level 10 void, bye :)
>
> The way I was using the above station/ship rating system was where high is
> magic rich and good for the magician; low was magic difficult and bad for
> the magician. I certainly must read that blasted source book as soon as
> possible.
Only the rules bit a few very scattered hints, which have been posted
here anyway are applicable, but yes.

> >I set Mars at void level 5, it's a planet, has an Atmosphere and in
> >SR certainly has had life. [proof might need spoilers so accept if
> >you haven't seen the FASA proof]
>
> Difficult but not impossible, huh? I probably would consider it a bit more
> difficult than that as the planet seems pretty barren now - probably around
> 7 or 8.
>
Fine, but not to high, it is a planet, which must count for something
and with the Dunks will photos folks will believe magic on Mars.

> Yes, something like that would work though I might rule that the physads
> only need to resist drain if they use a power whose cost in magic points is
> equal to or less than (10 - void level)/2.
whatever cutoff works to explain things, the problem here is 10-0
divided by 2 is 5 and increase reflexes plus 3D6 is 6 points, oops
:), though using my formula the dain is nothing anyway.

> >I don't like absolute maximium at the numbers you propose because
> >spells and spirits above force 10 are well possible in SR which give
> >you a space/not space discontinuity. FASA seem to now be going for
> >more a sliding scale.
>
> Point taken and agreed. :-)
>
No problem, i have when i have had the time had quite a serious go at
hunting through SR for hints on various topics, mostly magical to do
with big spells, cybermancy, horrors, space etc, so have found most
stuff and keep my eyes peeled for new hints, owning and having read
nearly all the system helps :) [a few still missing but mostly
adventures and there not much point owning them if i'm not going to
use them]

Mark

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