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Message no. 1
From: Craig Rickel <crickel@***.EDU>
Subject: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 03:25:07 -0600
Given: Ram is a combat spell.
Given: Ram affects inanimate objects.
Postulate: Combat spells can affect and target inanimate objects.
Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?
What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?
What if it's a screen door? Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball
the door?

SR2 specifically states that physical combat spells cast vs. a vehicle
has a TN 8 because it is complex tech and electronics. That seems to say
that I can...

Spider Murphy
Message no. 2
From: William Gallas <wgallas@*****.FR>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 11:01:08 +0100
>Given: Ram is a combat spell.
>Given: Ram affects inanimate objects.
>Postulate: Combat spells can affect and target inanimate objects.

All true.

>Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?

:) You can powerball a door. The only way the door goes away is by having
an blast elemental effect.

>What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?

Apply the elemental effect only.

>What if it's a screen door? Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball
>the door?

What is a screen door ? I guess it's a door that you can see through...
If you can see, you can cast. So yes, you can powerball the guy.
For the door, it's an interesting question. Can you target a mirror ?

>SR2 specifically states that physical combat spells cast vs. a vehicle
>has a TN 8 because it is complex tech and electronics. That seems to say
>that I can...

Yep. You use a TN depending on the technology of the item. That always
bothered me because it's easier to break a rock than a computer...


Cobra.

E-mail adress : wgallas@*****.fr
Quote : "Never trust an elf"
Message no. 3
From: HAUPT ULRICH FB08 <sandman@****.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 11:00:14 MEZ-1MESZ
On Thu, 29 Jan 1998 03:25:07 -0600 Craig Rickel wrote:

> Given: Ram is a combat spell.
> Given: Ram affects inanimate objects.
> Postulate: Combat spells can affect and target inanimate objects.
> Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?

Yes - Spells affecting barriers are the rules to be used.

> What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?

If you can't see through the door, nothing will happen to the person
because he/she is not in LOS!

> What if it's a screen door?
Visibility modifiers apply.

> Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball
> the door?
As above or do you mean anything else ???

> SR2 specifically states that physical combat spells cast vs. a vehicle
> has a TN 8 because it is complex tech and electronics. That seems to say
> that I can...
I would rule a door with a man behind as a barrier (only the door
not the man ;-) ). A car is IMHO an object so a door would have a TN
of 5 (worked material) or higher if it is plastic. Decission is up to
the game master.

> Spider Murphy

Sandman
Message no. 4
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 11:13:33 +0100
Craig Rickel said on 3:25/29 Jan 98...

> Given: Ram is a combat spell.
> Given: Ram affects inanimate objects.
> Postulate: Combat spells can affect and target inanimate objects.
> Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?

Yep. This simply follows the rules for breaking down a barrier on page 98
of SRII: look at the Barrier Effect Table on that page, substitute the
word "Force" for "Power", and keep in mind that the "adjusted
Barrier
Rating" equals double the normal Barrier Rating.

> What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?

Nothing. The magician can't see this person, so the spell won't hit him or
her.

> What if it's a screen door?

Then the magician _can_ see the person, and can target him/her (at a + to
the TN, because the screen door reduces visibility).

> Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball the door?

If it's a screen door, "yes" to both; else, you can only powerball the
door. Assuming both the person and the door are within the area of effect
of the spell, both would be affected by a powerball spell.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
People who live in glass houses ...
... should turn out the lights before they undress.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 5
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 10:14:34 +0000
And verily, did Craig Rickel hastily scribble thusly...
|
|Given: Ram is a combat spell.

True.

|Given: Ram affects inanimate objects.

True...

|Postulate: Combat spells can affect and target inanimate objects.

PHYSICAL combat spells can target inanimate objects.
The target number to attack an inanimate object is based solley on the
material it's made from. e.g. Wood is natural, so its target number is 3 or
4.

|Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?

Maybe not go away, but it will damage it.

|What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?

Unless the door is transparent, sod all.

|What if it's a screen door?

The door will be more processed, so the target number would be higher.

Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball
|the door?
|
Of course. If you can see him, you can target him....
Simple....

|SR2 specifically states that physical combat spells cast vs. a vehicle
|has a TN 8 because it is complex tech and electronics. That seems to say
|that I can...

Exactly.

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
|Andrew Halliwell | operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
|Principal Subjects in:- |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
|Comp Sci & Electronics | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
Message no. 6
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 10:16:54 +0000
And verily, did William Gallas hastily scribble thusly...
|
|>Given: Ram is a combat spell.
|>Given: Ram affects inanimate objects.
|>Postulate: Combat spells can affect and target inanimate objects.
|
|All true.
|
|>Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?
|
|:) You can powerball a door. The only way the door goes away is by having
|an blast elemental effect.

Why?

|>What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?
|
|Apply the elemental effect only.

Why? A standard powerbolt can damage a door.

|>What if it's a screen door? Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball
|>the door?
|
|What is a screen door ? I guess it's a door that you can see through...
|If you can see, you can cast. So yes, you can powerball the guy.
|For the door, it's an interesting question. Can you target a mirror ?

No. But you could target visible mountings or imperfections in the
mirror.... (such as scratches)

|>SR2 specifically states that physical combat spells cast vs. a vehicle
|>has a TN 8 because it is complex tech and electronics. That seems to say
|>that I can...
|
|Yep. You use a TN depending on the technology of the item. That always
|bothered me because it's easier to break a rock than a computer...

Using combat spells, it makes perfect sense....
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
|Andrew Halliwell | operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
|Principal Subjects in:- |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
|Comp Sci & Electronics | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
Message no. 7
From: William Gallas <wgallas@*****.FR>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 11:41:21 +0100
>|>Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?
>|
>|:) You can powerball a door. The only way the door goes away is by having
>|an blast elemental effect.
>
>Why?

Otherwise, the door will stay at its place. The elemental effect is for the
*go away*.

>|>What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?
>|
>|Apply the elemental effect only.
>
>Why? A standard powerbolt can damage a door.

If you can't see through the door, you can assume that the elemental
effects still apply to the target behind but this is a GM opinion.
My answer was about the guy standing behing the door that did *go away*
(the precedent question). I assume the speed etc... of the door is figured
by the blast elemental effect.

>|>What if it's a screen door? Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball
>|>the door?
>|
>|What is a screen door ? I guess it's a door that you can see through...
>|If you can see, you can cast. So yes, you can powerball the guy.
>|For the door, it's an interesting question. Can you target a mirror ?
>
>No. But you could target visible mountings or imperfections in the
>mirror.... (such as scratches)

Won't you affect the mountings ? :)

>|>SR2 specifically states that physical combat spells cast vs. a vehicle
>|>has a TN 8 because it is complex tech and electronics. That seems to say
>|>that I can...
>|
>|Yep. You use a TN depending on the technology of the item. That always
>|bothered me because it's easier to break a rock than a computer...
>
>Using combat spells, it makes perfect sense....

Yep but that's still bothering. I don't say I don't understand, only that
it's bothering me (as game mecanics).


Cobra.

E-mail adress : wgallas@*****.fr
Quote : "Never trust an elf"
Message no. 8
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 11:03:06 +0000
And verily, did William Gallas hastily scribble thusly...
|>No. But you could target visible mountings or imperfections in the
|>mirror.... (such as scratches)
|
|Won't you affect the mountings ? :)

If they're not hidden behind the mirror, (on the edge of the mirror), yes.
Otherwise you'd have to target the scratches or whatever....
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
|Andrew Halliwell | operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
|Principal Subjects in:- |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
|Comp Sci & Electronics | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
Message no. 9
From: Ashlocke <woneal@*******.NET>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 08:36:47 -0005
On 29 Jan 98 at 3:25, Craig Rickel wrote:

> Given: Ram is a combat spell.
> Given: Ram affects inanimate objects.
> Postulate: Combat spells can affect and target inanimate objects.

Yes, they can if they are physical, mana combat spells cannot.

> Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?

You can certainly damage the door. One of two ways to handle this.
Option one (and more or less by the book) the door has a barrier rating.
If the combat spell can reduce the barrier rating to 0 (cf. Barriers, p98
BBB) the door would be completely destroyed. Other effects of reducing
its barrier rating, but not to 0, are up to the GM to interpret (part of
the GM's job). Option two, and simpler to do, but also purely a house
rule, give the door a condition monitor and a "Body" rating equal to it's
barrier rating, then treat damage normally. Deadly damage indicates the
door is destroyed.

> What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?

Probably nothing. In your example of an area effect, if the caster could
not see the person on the other side of the door, then the person remains
unaffected. You must have valid LOS to the target or the target is
unaffected, regardless of AOE.

> What if it's a screen door? Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball
> the door?

In this case you can see through the screen so you now have valid LOS to
the target, so yes, you can powerball the hapless victim.... er target ; )
Since you can also see the screen door, it too is a valid target.

>
> SR2 specifically states that physical combat spells cast vs. a vehicle
> has a TN 8 because it is complex tech and electronics. That seems to say
> that I can...

Correct.
--

Ashlocke

"... for this man can say it happened, cause this child has been
condemned. And I'm the only witness to the nature of my crime.
Don't damn me." -- G'N'R
Message no. 10
From: "Boyd Stephen Smith, Jr." <gilmeth@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 08:01:08 -0600
-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Rickel <crickel@***.EDU>


>Given: Ram is a combat spell.
>Given: Ram affects inanimate objects.
>Postulate: Combat spells can affect and target inanimate objects.


Yes, almost any spell can affect inanimate objects (unless it is mana of
course) baring any unusuall circumstances. Also, remember: inanimate objects
are NEVER willing targets.

>Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?


Sure, as I understand it.

>What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?


Depends, since it is a combat spell, it will NEVER affect anything not LOS.
So, If you can't see through the door, then he's not affected (although he
may be still in the sphere of affect) now if HE is a friend that is standing
too near the door when you cast the spell (within the sphere) AND you can se
him, he is also affect whether you WANT to or not.

>What if it's a screen door? Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball

>the door?

A screen door is still an object (although you can see through it) so it can
be targeted. If you can see the guy you can hit him (depending on how much
you can see your GM might rule T# mods are in order) AND, if they are close
together and you can see them both, it will do damage to both of them no
matter which one you target. >


Yes, this does mean that missplaced powerballs in weak buildings, or just
POWERFUL powerballs in a stong building WILL indeed collapse the wall (or at
least make a hole) but will not throw chunks of massonry or splinters
arounnd (there's no physical force to the spell it tears it's targetrs up
from the inside.) this is often overlooked by GMs (at least me) but, is
always a bad side affect of area affect "weapons."

>SR2 specifically states that physical combat spells cast vs. a vehicle
>has a TN 8 because it is complex tech and electronics. That seems to say
>that I can...


Oh yes, for a T# of a combat spell against an inanimate object use the ORT
(Object Resistance Table), target against "the guy" wound be body (for
powerball, different for something else). Successes should be tallied
individually against each target but the success test should only be rolled
once.
Message no. 11
From: Mon goose <landsquid@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 10:59:27 PST
>>>> Can you target a mirror ?
>
>No. But you could target visible mountings or imperfections in the
>mirror.... (such as scratches)
>

Depends on your intrpretation of "see" the mirrior. I'd say you could
target it. So it reflects an image- so what. Everything you see is
composed of reflected light. Mirrors just reflect things more neatly.
Why would the "scratches" make any difference?

Also, how does that mirror work in astral space? Can yousee a reflected
image in a-space? Glass is still transparent....

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Message no. 12
From: Robert Watkins <robert.watkins@******.COM>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 08:50:02 +1000
William Gallas writes:
>>Given: Ram is a combat spell.
>>Given: Ram affects inanimate objects.
>>Postulate: Combat spells can affect and target inanimate objects.
>
>All true.
>
>>Query: Can you powerball a door and make the door go away?
>
>:) You can powerball a door. The only way the door goes away is by having
>an blast elemental effect.


Hmmm... I'd have to disagree. Ram would break the door down. Sure, it
wouldn't be thrown across the room, but I would rule that the door would be
sufficently damaged to allow access through it (hinges shattered, lock
busted, etc). Mind you, you'd have to overcome the Barrier rating for that,
of course.

>>What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?
>
>Apply the elemental effect only.


Yep... secondary effects only on OOS targets.

>>What if it's a screen door? Can you powerball the guy? Can you powerball
>>the door?
>
>What is a screen door ? I guess it's a door that you can see through...
>If you can see, you can cast. So yes, you can powerball the guy.
>For the door, it's an interesting question. Can you target a mirror ?


Oh, you betcha... just DON'T use a powerball. If your reflection would be in
the AOE, you're toast. (Try staging a run in a Hall of Mirrors sometime...
;) )

>>SR2 specifically states that physical combat spells cast vs. a vehicle
>>has a TN 8 because it is complex tech and electronics. That seems to say
>>that I can...
>
>Yep. You use a TN depending on the technology of the item. That always
>bothered me because it's easier to break a rock than a computer...


With magic... high-tech/processed items don't have enough of an aura left to
target. The TN of the rock would be lower (indicating the more natural state
of the item), but the barrier rating would be higher, indicating the greater
durability.

--
.sig deleted to conserve electrons.
Message no. 13
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 12:22:52 +0100
William Gallas said on 11:41/29 Jan 98...

> >|:) You can powerball a door. The only way the door goes away is by having
> >|an blast elemental effect.
> >
> >Why?
>
> Otherwise, the door will stay at its place. The elemental effect is for the
> *go away*.

Casting physical combat spells at objects damages them per the Breaking
Through Barriers rules, regardless of whether the spell has an elemental
effect. Sure, a spell with Blast effect would more likely blow open the
door than a Power Bolt would, but you don't _need_ the elemental effect.

> >|>What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?
> >|
> >|Apply the elemental effect only.
> >
> >Why? A standard powerbolt can damage a door.
>
> If you can't see through the door, you can assume that the elemental
> effects still apply to the target behind but this is a GM opinion.

IMHO it's a question of whether combat spells can target things the caster
can't see. The answer to that is "no", else a Fireball spell would also be
useful against targets out of LOS -- it wouldn't do damage directly, but
it would have a chance of starting fires out of LOS. Since that doesn't
happen, neither will the situation with the door take place.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
People who live in glass houses ...
... should turn out the lights before they undress.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 14
From: William Gallas <wgallas@*****.FR>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 12:55:58 +0100
>> >|:) You can powerball a door. The only way the door goes away is by having
>> >|an blast elemental effect.
>> >
>> >Why?
>>
>> Otherwise, the door will stay at its place. The elemental effect is for the
>> *go away*.
>
>Casting physical combat spells at objects damages them per the Breaking
>Through Barriers rules, regardless of whether the spell has an elemental
>effect. Sure, a spell with Blast effect would more likely blow open the
>door than a Power Bolt would, but you don't _need_ the elemental effect.

IMO, the powerball attacks the structure of the door from the inside. You
will destroy the door but you won't be able to blow open it.

>> >|>What happens to the person standing on the other side of the door?
>> >|
>> >|Apply the elemental effect only.
>> >
>> >Why? A standard powerbolt can damage a door.
>>
>> If you can't see through the door, you can assume that the elemental
>> effects still apply to the target behind but this is a GM opinion.
>
>IMHO it's a question of whether combat spells can target things the caster
>can't see. The answer to that is "no", else a Fireball spell would also be
>useful against targets out of LOS -- it wouldn't do damage directly, but
>it would have a chance of starting fires out of LOS. Since that doesn't
>happen, neither will the situation with the door take place.

I tend to agree with you but I'm not quite sure that the elemental effect
isn't a manifestation of the spell taking effect. With such a POV, flames
(or acid or anything else) should be handle as manipulation energies. You
would need a visible target to launch your spell but could affect others
with your elemental effect (only).


Cobra.

E-mail adress : wgallas@*****.fr
Quote : "Never trust an elf"
Message no. 15
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 12:52:28 +0000
And verily, did William Gallas hastily scribble thusly...
|>Casting physical combat spells at objects damages them per the Breaking
|>Through Barriers rules, regardless of whether the spell has an elemental
|>effect. Sure, a spell with Blast effect would more likely blow open the
|>door than a Power Bolt would, but you don't _need_ the elemental effect.
|
|IMO, the powerball attacks the structure of the door from the inside. You
|will destroy the door but you won't be able to blow open it.

Maybe not, but it could cause the door to crumble into a pile of dust....
(If it scrambled the molecular structure enough by reducing its barrier
rating to zero...)

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
|Andrew Halliwell | operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
|Principal Subjects in:- |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
|Comp Sci & Electronics | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
Message no. 16
From: Les Ward <lward@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 10:42:09 -0500
Cobra wrote:
> Yep. You use a TN depending on the technology of the item. That always
> bothered me because it's easier to break a rock than a computer...

Actually this makes a lot of sence because of the way auras work. You are
thinking about it in terms of "if I take a hammer, I sure as hell can bust
up a computer faster than a rock"; however, this is not the way magic works.

Rocks are easier to effect by magic because their aura (and they do have
one, just not a very "bright" one) is in its natural state. A rock is a
rock and its aura says "I'm a rock". A computer, on the other hand is made
of materials that have been processed far beyond their natural state. Take
a present day silicon computer chip, for example. The natural state of the
guts of it is sand. This sand has been heated, prurified, fused, doped
(with gallium or whatever they use), coated, etched with acid and god knows
what else. In the end, sand is not sand. Sand is a computer chip. Its aura
says "well... I used to be sand, but now, I guess, I'm sort of something
else". The point being, a computer's aura is pretty far gone from being
anything natural. Magic works much better on natural objects, including
rocks.

Wordman
Message no. 17
From: William Gallas <wgallas@*****.FR>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 17:19:00 +0100
>Rocks are easier to effect by magic because their aura (and they do have
>one, just not a very "bright" one) is in its natural state. A rock is a
>rock and its aura says "I'm a rock". A computer, on the other hand is made
>of materials that have been processed far beyond their natural state. Take
>a present day silicon computer chip, for example. The natural state of the
>guts of it is sand. This sand has been heated, prurified, fused, doped
>(with gallium or whatever they use), coated, etched with acid and god knows
>what else. In the end, sand is not sand. Sand is a computer chip. Its aura
>says "well... I used to be sand, but now, I guess, I'm sort of something
>else". The point being, a computer's aura is pretty far gone from being
>anything natural. Magic works much better on natural objects, including
>rocks.

Okay, so a shaman is easier to target than a decker... :)


Cobra.

E-mail adress : wgallas@*****.fr
Quote : "Never trust an elf"
Message no. 18
From: Tony Rabiola <rabiola@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 11:37:44 -0600
On 01/30/98 17:19:00 you wrote:
>
>>Rocks are easier to effect by magic because their aura (and they do have
>>one, just not a very "bright" one) is in its natural state. A rock is a
>>rock and its aura says "I'm a rock". A computer, on the other hand is
made
>>of materials that have been processed far beyond their natural state. Take
>>a present day silicon computer chip, for example. The natural state of the
>>guts of it is sand. This sand has been heated, prurified, fused, doped
>>(with gallium or whatever they use), coated, etched with acid and god knows
>>what else. In the end, sand is not sand. Sand is a computer chip. Its aura
>>says "well... I used to be sand, but now, I guess, I'm sort of something
>>else". The point being, a computer's aura is pretty far gone from being
>>anything natural. Magic works much better on natural objects, including
>>rocks.
>
>Okay, so a shaman is easier to target than a decker... :)
>
>
Well, at least as far as Health spells are concerned, probably so...

Argent

Rabiola@**.netcom.com
Argent - Elven Fixer Extrodinaire
It was hot, the night we burned Chrome...
Message no. 19
From: Mon goose <landsquid@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 12:26:47 PST
>>Rocks are easier to effect by magic because their aura (and they do
have one, just not a very "bright" one) is in its natural state. A rock
is a rock and its aura says "I'm a rock". A computer, on the other hand
is made of materials that have been processed far beyond their natural
state.

>Okay, so a shaman is easier to target than a decker... :)

With certain health spells, quite likely, yes. Other spells would
depend on attributes and magical defense used.

I think the reason magic works well on simple natural material is that
affacting something with magic requires that you "understand" it. That
is the meaning of a "sympathetic link", which is what I believe is
established when a mage "synchronizes his aura" with the target.
This gets into "real world magic", but it makes a lotof sense that the
easiest way to channel magic into an effect is through the mage- his
aura is already "active" in astral space. The easiest way for the mage
to guide that magic is for him to "model" the targets aura within his
mind. Harder to do with complex synthetic objects than simple natural
ones.

Magical defense, high attributes, etc, create a sitiation that is more
difficult to "model" in the mages mind, as does an objects technological
complexity.

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Message no. 20
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 23:16:28 +0000
And verily, did Les Ward hastily scribble thusly...
|rock and its aura says "I'm a rock". A computer, on the other hand is made
|of materials that have been processed far beyond their natural state. Take
|a present day silicon computer chip, for example. The natural state of the
|guts of it is sand. This sand has been heated, prurified, fused, doped
|(with gallium or whatever they use),

Phosperous or Aluminium.

Gallium Arsenide is a semiconductor as well, as is Germanium.
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
|Andrew Halliwell | operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
|Principal Subjects in:- |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
|Comp Sci & Electronics | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
Message no. 21
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 12:03:15 +0100
Spike said on 12:52/30 Jan 98...

> |IMO, the powerball attacks the structure of the door from the inside. You
> |will destroy the door but you won't be able to blow open it.
>
> Maybe not, but it could cause the door to crumble into a pile of dust....
> (If it scrambled the molecular structure enough by reducing its barrier
> rating to zero...)

Doors only need their Barrier Rating reduced by half before they can be
opened. If a spell does this, though, I don't think the door actually
blows open in most cases (except if the spell has certain elemental
effects that could do that). However once the BR's been reduced by half
you can kick it open quite easily.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
People who live in glass houses ...
... should turn out the lights before they undress.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 22
From: westln@***.EDU
Subject: Re: More Magic Questions
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 14:28:35 -0500
>Spike said on 12:52/30 Jan 98...
>
>> |IMO, the powerball attacks the structure of the door from the inside. You
>> |will destroy the door but you won't be able to blow open it.
>>
>> Maybe not, but it could cause the door to crumble into a pile of dust....
>> (If it scrambled the molecular structure enough by reducing its barrier
>> rating to zero...)
>
>Doors only need their Barrier Rating reduced by half before they can be
>opened. If a spell does this, though, I don't think the door actually
>blows open in most cases (except if the spell has certain elemental
>effects that could do that). However once the BR's been reduced by half
>you can kick it open quite easily.

For any normal door thats true, For a security door it must be reduced to
zero. (BBBpg98)
>
>--
>Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
> People who live in glass houses ...
> ... should turn out the lights before they undress.
> -> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
>-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
>-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-
>
>-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
>Version 3.1:
>GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+ PE
>Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
>------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

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