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Message no. 1
From: Luke Kendall <luke@********.CANON.OZ.AU>
Subject: Multiple foci
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 1995 09:59:07 +1000
Damion asks:

> Hmm, quick question: Can a magician have several foci of the same type
> bonded at the same time? Like two level 3 Power Foci simultaneously bonded?
> I'd always said you could, but is this the case?

Sure. But it would only give you +3, not +6. The only advantage is
that it would take two actions for someone to steal both from you.
It seems pretty pointless, to me.

luke
Message no. 2
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Multiple foci
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 1995 21:39:10 +1000
Luke Kendall writes:

> > Hmm, quick question: Can a magician have several foci of the same type
> > bonded at the same time? Like two level 3 Power Foci simultaneously bonded?
> > I'd always said you could, but is this the case?
>
> Sure. But it would only give you +3, not +6. The only advantage is
> that it would take two actions for someone to steal both from you.
> It seems pretty pointless, to me.

Looking in the rules, it says that Power foci add their Rating to the
magicians Magic Attribute, and add their Rating to his Magic Pool. I can't
really see why having a Rating 2 and a Rating 3 Power Focus wouldn't add 2
and then 3 to both the Attribute and Pool. And it costs the same karma to
bond them as a Rating 5 one would. But then again, you can do it in steps
and get the bonuses earlier, but I suppose this is counterbalanced by the
fact the it is easier for two low level foci to be destroyed than one high
level focus.

--
Damion Milliken Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a19 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+$ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 3
From: Menard Steve <menars@***.UMONTREAL.CA>
Subject: Re: Multiple foci
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 1995 12:35:58 -0400
On Fri, 7 Apr 1995, Luke Kendall wrote:

> Damion asks:
>
> > Hmm, quick question: Can a magician have several foci of the same type
> > bonded at the same time? Like two level 3 Power Foci simultaneously bon=
ded?
> > I'd always said you could, but is this the case?
>
> Sure. But it would only give you +3, not +6. The only advantage is
> that it would take two actions for someone to steal both from you.
> It seems pretty pointless, to me.
>
> luke
>
What you're saying is that power foci do not add their ratings,
right? I am sorry but I never read anything along those lines.
Furthermore that would mean someone with a power foci could not use
specific purpose and specific spell foci, which are only specialized
versions of the power focus. So I have to disagree. If someone can lay
his/her hands on two rating three power focus, he get a +6 magic and +6
magic pool.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
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--- |\_/| Still The One and Only Wolfbane! --=
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--- |o o| " Hey! Why ya lookin' at me so weird? Ain't ya 'ver seen a --=
-
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---
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Message no. 4
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 15:24:55 +1000
Menard Steve writes:

> What you're saying is that power foci do not add their ratings, right? I
> am sorry but I never read anything along those lines. Furthermore that
> would mean someone with a power foci could not use specific purpose and
> specific spell foci, which are only specialized versions of the power focus.
> So I have to disagree. If someone can lay his/her hands on two rating three
> power focus, he get a +6 magic and +6 magic pool.

But all a +4 Willpower spell does is add 4 to your Willpower. What about if
I have 2 of those...?

--
Damion Milliken Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a19 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+$ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 5
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 12:43:27 +0200
>But all a +4 Willpower spell does is add 4 to your Willpower. What about if
>I have 2 of those...?

Then you're a munchkin.


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
he's not trying to catch your eye; he's just trying to get a life
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B? e+ u+@ h! f--(?) !r(--)(*) n---->!n y? Unofficial Shadowrun Guru :)
Message no. 6
From: P Ward <P.Ward@**.CF.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 12:00:12 BST
> >But all a +4 Willpower spell does is add 4 to your Willpower. What about if
> >I have 2 of those...?

> Then you're a munchkin.

Yeah, no way that works, the only benefit, is that if one gets grounded
through, you have the other to fall back on.

Phil (Runs-With-The-Pack)
Message no. 7
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 22:46:05 +1000
P Ward writes:

> > > But all a +4 Willpower spell does is add 4 to your Willpower. What about
> > > if I have 2 of those...?
>
> > Then you're a munchkin.
>
> Yeah, no way that works, the only benefit, is that if one gets grounded
> through, you have the other to fall back on.

So you say that if I had two level 4 Power foci then the only benfit would
be that I would have a back up if one were destroyed?

--
Damion Milliken Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a19 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+$ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 8
From: Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 01:36:25 +0930
Gurth wrote:
>
> >But all a +4 Willpower spell does is add 4 to your Willpower. What about if
> >I have 2 of those...?
>
> Then you're a munchkin.

More like a fool... they don't stack. (Hey, I thought I was the person who
yelled "Munchkin!")

Getting back to the topic... you can have multiple lots of similar foci
(ie, 2 power foci, or a power focus and a combat focus (when casting a
combat spell, etc). Is it a good idea? Yes and no. No Karma savings, but
it's easier to do (lower Target Numbers). The biggest problem is that you
start chewing your limit of active foci. The biggest advantage is that they
can't just wipe out all your foci in one hit.

--
Robert Watkins bob@**.ntu.edu.au
Real Programmers never work 9 to 5. If any real programmers
are around at 9 am, it's because they were up all night.
Finger me for my geek code
Message no. 9
From: NIGHTFOX <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 13:54:33 -0700
>Getting back to the topic... you can have multiple lots of similar foci
>(ie, 2 power foci, or a power focus and a combat focus (when casting a
>combat spell, etc). Is it a good idea? Yes and no. No Karma savings, but
>it's easier to do (lower Target Numbers). The biggest problem is that you
>start chewing your limit of active foci. The biggest advantage is that they
>can't just wipe out all your foci in one hit.

yeah - just you

:)

Nightfox
Message no. 10
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 09:54:17 +1000
Robert Watkins writes:

> Getting back to the topic... you can have multiple lots of similar foci
> (ie, 2 power foci, or a power focus and a combat focus (when casting a
> combat spell, etc). Is it a good idea? Yes and no. No Karma savings, but
> it's easier to do (lower Target Numbers). The biggest problem is that you
> start chewing your limit of active foci. The biggest advantage is that they
> can't just wipe out all your foci in one hit.

OTOH, one moderate level ward _can_ wipe them all out in a single foul
swipe... And, if you think about it, it would be cheaper karma wise, since a
magician can perform an Enchanting test to cheapen the karma cost, and the
Target Number is based on the Rating of the focus. But anyway, there are
equally enough downsides as upsides to it.

--
Damion Milliken Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a19 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+$ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 11
From: "St. Jean, Ricky" <stjeanr@*******.CANADOREC.ON.CA>
Subject: Re: Multiple foci
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 11:15:00 PDT
Wolfbane wrote:
> What you're saying is that power foci do not add their ratings,
>right? I am sorry but I never read anything along those lines.
>Furthermore that would mean someone with a power foci could not use
>specific purpose and specific spell foci, which are only specialized
>versions of the power focus. So I have to disagree. If someone can lay
>his/her hands on two rating three power focus, he get a +6 magic and +6
>magic pool.

I'm sorry wolfbane old chap but luke is right. If you check the SR2 rules
under focuses it says that only the higher of the two has any effect upon
the magic pool and ratings. I can't give you the page # because I forgot my
book, but the last time I created an hermetic adept this idea got shotdown
by the gm and the rules.

The tougher they are, he faster I run.
Ricky
Message no. 12
From: "St. Jean, Ricky" <stjeanr@*******.CANADOREC.ON.CA>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 11:15:00 PDT
Do they mention anything about having several weapon focuses?

What about having a sword that is a weapon focus 3 and have a gem that is a
power focus 3 in the hilt.

The tougher they are the faster I run.
Ricky
Message no. 13
From: Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 02:36:02 +0930
St. Jean, Ricky wrote:
>
> Do they mention anything about having several weapon focuses?
>
> What about having a sword that is a weapon focus 3 and have a gem that is a
> power focus 3 in the hilt.
>

That'd be a stacked weapon/power focus. The hilt counts as part of the
weapon, you know.

--
Robert Watkins bob@**.ntu.edu.au
Real Programmers never work 9 to 5. If any real programmers
are around at 9 am, it's because they were up all night.
Finger me for my geek code
Message no. 14
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Multiple foci
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 11:45:00 +1000
St. Jean, Ricky writes:

> I'm sorry wolfbane old chap but luke is right. If you check the SR2 rules
> under focuses it says that only the higher of the two has any effect upon
> the magic pool and ratings. I can't give you the page # because I forgot my
> book, but the last time I created an hermetic adept this idea got shotdown
> by the gm and the rules.

Could you point me in the direction of the quote? I loked but couldn't see
it in the SRII book.

--
Damion Milliken Unofficial Shadowrun Guru E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a19 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+$ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 15
From: Luc <rjwate01@********.SPD.LOUISVILLE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Multiple Foci
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 11:57:11 EDT
> But all a +4 Willpower spell does is add 4 to your Willpower. What about if
> I have 2 of those...?
SRII book in magic section specifically says that increased attribute spells
for one attribute can not be stacked which it does not say about foci...

Luc
Message no. 16
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Multiple foci
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 1995 17:33:44 +1000
Brian Spaugh SLIP writes:

> I wouldn't even think about letting one of my runners have multiple power
> foci. The idea is absurd even if it isn't specifically prohibited in the
> rules, and I can't believe it's not. A mage with a Magic Rating of 30+
> is a blaring example of Munchkinism at it's worst. I would rule that if
> a mage were stupid enough too want to have multiple foci grounded to his
> person, then only the highest rated foci would benefit the mage but the
> rest would continue to be "active" in the sense that they are
"bonded"
> to the mage. Maybe this is too tough but the other way is a long slippery
> slope down to Munchkinland.

Why do you say that? It still costs the same karma to bond two Rating 3
Power foci as it does to bond one Rating 6 Power focus. And you have the
additional problem that they are of a lower Rating, and so are more easily
destroyed, and that you are using up two of your limit of active foci rather
than one. The only advantage I could see is that you get a bonus of 3, then
later on get another bonus of 3, rather than having to wait the whole time
and getting a bonus of 6 at the end. Anyway, if you've got that many Rating
points of foci, you've got no hope of masking them all...

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a19 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+$ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+

Further Reading

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