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From:	Justin Pinnow <jpinnow@***.IM.MED.UMICH.EDU>
Subject:	Re: New Foci
Date:	Mon, 10 Jul 1995 10:36:29 -0400

Message no. 1 >>Has anyone given thought to creating an
>>* Armor Focus *

>Or how about a Power focus, that adds to your magic pool, but may be used
>*only* for spell defense/shielding ( or only casting, or only resisting drain)

Well, this is something I brought up with my GM as well...but it wasn't ideal
for his campaign, so we let it be. I think it is perfectly reasonable to have
some sort of focus that can be used only to resist drain or whatever. I guess
a spell defense focus would be possible as well. I think you could use these
for a lower cost (in NY and karma) than a power focus...they are very specific.
In the case of the drain resistance focus, that is something that is provided
with any focus, just in varying degrees. But, all those foci also provide
other nifty assets along with spell defense. I am sure that it would not be as
expensive as a power focus....perhaps a similar cost to a spell category focus
or something. Just an idea. :)

Justin :)

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From:	Nexx <nexx@********.NET>
Subject:	New Foci
Date:	Mon, 14 Sep 1998 15:24:23 -0500

Message no. 2 Just a couple ideas that bounced around in my head

Sorcery Focus: This focus provide a number of extra dice equal to its
rating for the Sorcery or Drain Resistance Test for any spell cast by
the character. Additionally, the dice may be used for spell defense
or dispelling on any spell.
Bonding cost: Force x 4

Conjuring Focus: A general spirit focus, useful for any conjuring
actions.
Bonding Cost: Force x 4

Spirit Type Focus: More general than a Spirit focus, this focus
applies its dice to any conjuring action relating to a class of
spirits (or a specific free spirit, who's true name must be known).
Types of spirits include Nature Spirits, Elementals, Watchers, Loa,
ancestors, etc.
Bonding cost: Force x 3

***************
Rev. Mark Hall, Bard to the Lady Mari
aka Pope Nexx Many-Scars
*
The place to improve the world is in one's own heart and head and
hands, and then work outward from there. Other people talk about how
to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to
fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting
value.
-Robert Pirsig, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"

From:	Mongoose <evamarie@**********.NET>
Subject:	Re: New Foci
Date:	Tue, 15 Sep 1998 11:47:45 -0700

Message no. 3 :Sorcery Focus: This focus provide a number of extra dice equal to its
:rating for the Sorcery or Drain Resistance Test for any spell cast by
:the character. Additionally, the dice may be used for spell defense
:or dispelling on any spell.
:Bonding cost: Force x 4
:
:Conjuring Focus: A general spirit focus, useful for any conjuring
:actions.
:Bonding Cost: Force x 4

I've wondered why there were not "sub power" foci like this (sr3 power
foci can directly help conjuring, unlike sr2)

:Spirit Type Focus: More general than a Spirit focus, this focus
:applies its dice to any conjuring action relating to a class of
:spirits (or a specific free spirit, who's true name must be known).
:Types of spirits include Nature Spirits, Elementals, Watchers, Loa,
:ancestors, etc.
:Bonding cost: Force x 3

That seesm to likely to be the "focus of choice" fo conjuring; you get
everything but watchers, basicaly. You could still get a normal spirit
focus for watchers. I think a normal spirit focus can alos be designed
for a specific free spirit.

What I'd really like to see is a DEFENSE focus. Magic mythology seems
rife with protective amulets and talismans, yet thier is no SR focus that
specifically aids spell defense more than offense. Wards and astral
barriers are, in fact, the only purely defensive magical measures. An
astral barrier sustaining focus might do the trick, but has problems, and
is not as cool as a "amulet VS. the evil eye".

Mongoose

From:	Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM>
Subject:	Re: New Foci
Date:	Tue, 15 Sep 1998 19:11:27 -0400

Message no. 4 At 11:47 AM 9/15/98 -0700, you wrote:

> What I'd really like to see is a DEFENSE focus. Magic mythology seems
>rife with protective amulets and talismans, yet thier is no SR focus that
>specifically aids spell defense more than offense. Wards and astral
>barriers are, in fact, the only purely defensive magical measures. An
>astral barrier sustaining focus might do the trick, but has problems, and
>is not as cool as a "amulet VS. the evil eye".

That would be interesting. A focus that add dice only to Spell Defense.
Would those dice also be available for the magician to allocate to other
people, or would they only be available to protect himself?

Seems to make sense, doesn't *appear* to be unbalancing, fits with myth and
legend.

Run it by Steve, Mongoose, see what he thinks (you still hanging around
Steve?)

Erik J.

http://www.fortunecity.com/rivendell/dungeon/480/index.html
The Reality Check for a Fictional World

From:	Nexx <nexx@********.NET>
Subject:	Re: New Foci
Date:	Tue, 15 Sep 1998 18:41:41 -0500

Message no. 5 ----------
> From: Mongoose <evamarie@**********.net>
>
> :Sorcery Focus: This focus provide a number of extra dice equal to its
> :rating for the Sorcery or Drain Resistance Test for any spell cast by
> :the character. Additionally, the dice may be used for spell defense
> :or dispelling on any spell.
> :Bonding cost: Force x 4
> :
> :Conjuring Focus: A general spirit focus, useful for any conjuring
> :actions.
> :Bonding Cost: Force x 4
>
> I've wondered why there were not "sub power" foci like this (sr3
power
> foci can directly help conjuring, unlike sr2)

Yeah, I noticed it and said "that's fucked up", so I added them.

> :Spirit Type Focus: More general than a Spirit focus, this focus
>
> That seesm to likely to be the "focus of choice" fo conjuring; you
get
> everything but watchers, basicaly. You could still get a normal spirit
> focus for watchers. I think a normal spirit focus can alos be designed
> for a specific free spirit.

Likely. I just pencil-whipped these, rather than thinking 'em through,
much.

> What I'd really like to see is a DEFENSE focus. Magic mythology
seems

Actually, you can use current spell foci for things like that... just
choose to allocate the dice to defense. Which raises an interesting
question in my mind: Could an Adept bond a spell focus and use it for
defense?

Nexx, the pot-stirrer

From:	"D. Ghost" <dghost@****.COM>
Subject:	Re: New Foci
Date:	Tue, 15 Sep 1998 20:41:17 -0500

Message no. 6 On Tue, 15 Sep 1998 11:47:45 -0700 Mongoose <evamarie@**********.net>
writes:
<SNIP>
> What I'd really like to see is a DEFENSE focus. Magic mythology
seems
>rife with protective amulets and talismans, yet thier is no SR focus
that
>specifically aids spell defense more than offense. Wards and astral
>barriers are, in fact, the only purely defensive magical measures. An
>astral barrier sustaining focus might do the trick, but has problems,
and
>is not as cool as a "amulet VS. the evil eye".

What about designing a spell, +x to atrribute, restriction: only applies
for spell resistance tests. Then quicken it or anchor it and use that as
a spell defense "focus"?

D. Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, RuPixel)
o/` I traded my Flesh for a Fantasy and now my truck broke down, my wife
left me, and my dog died o/` -- Billy Idol, Jr. Rock Country Singer

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