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Message no. 1
From: Nexx Many-Scars <Nexx3@***.COM>
Subject: PAD's and Sorcery
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 21:33:29 EDT
Could a PAD increase his Sorcery skill through his magic (perhaps at a cost of
.75 per die?), in order to better combat spirits? Would that help a physical
mage?
Message no. 2
From: K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: PAD's and Sorcery
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 21:58:56 EDT
In a message dated 7/10/98 8:34:34 PM US Eastern Standard Time, Nexx3@***.COM
writes:

> Could a PAD increase his Sorcery skill through his magic (perhaps at a cost
> of
> .75 per die?), in order to better combat spirits? Would that help a
> physical
> mage?
>
Hey now, watch those rule quirks there. Technically, yes, it could probably
be done if the GM allowed it (just don't attempt that anywhere near me). It
wouldn't be worth it IMO, because Magic Points have a greater end cost than a
skill does.

-K
Message no. 3
From: Alfredo B Alves <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: PAD's and Sorcery
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 21:36:30 -0500
On Fri, 10 Jul 1998 21:33:29 EDT Nexx Many-Scars <Nexx3@***.COM> writes:
>Could a PAD increase his Sorcery skill through his magic (perhaps at a
cost of
>.75 per die?), in order to better combat spirits?

I would say that at .5 or even .25 per die, a physad picking up a
Improved Astral Combat Ability is not unreasonable (Note that it ONLY
affects the specialization of sorcery.)

>Would that help a physical mage?


Yeah ... the PhysMage would fight astrally better ... :)

D.Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, and RuPixel)
"Let he who is without SIN cast the first stone"

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Message no. 4
From: Alfredo B Alves <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: PAD's and Sorcery
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 03:10:40 -0500
On Fri, 10 Jul 1998 21:58:56 EDT K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM>
writes:
>In a message dated 7/10/98 8:34:34 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
>Nexx3@***.COM
>writes:

>>Could a PAD increase his Sorcery skill through his magic (perhaps at a
cost
>>of .75 per die?), in order to better combat spirits? Would that help a
>>physical mage?

>Hey now, watch those rule quirks there. Technically, yes, it could
probably
>be done if the GM allowed it (just don't attempt that anywhere near me).
It
>wouldn't be worth it IMO, because Magic Points have a greater end cost
than a
>skill does.
>
>-K

How so? If you buy +6 dice to a rating 6 skill, is it more `spensive than
getting a rating 12 skill? (I'm not trying to number Munch--err--crunch
[freudian slip? ;], but just making sure you're evaluating it correctly
:)

D.Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, and RuPixel)
"Let he who is without SIN cast the first stone"

_____________________________________________________________________
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Message no. 5
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: PAD's and Sorcery
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 12:29:59 +0100
Nexx Many-Scars said on 21:33/10 Jul 98,...

> Could a PAD increase his Sorcery skill through his magic (perhaps at a cost of
> .75 per die?), in order to better combat spirits? Would that help a physical
> mage?

IMHO a physad can't improve Sorcery skill -- it's not a physical
skill (unlike Athletics, Unarmed Combat, and the others that can
be improved through physad powers) so I wouldn't allow it.

Also, you can use Unarmed Combat to pick fights on the astral
plane, so unless your Sorcery skill is greater than your Unarmed
Combat, I don't really see the point in a physad taking this power.

However, if you _do_ allow it, I don't see why it should only work
for astral combat (fighting spirits isn't done with Sorcery unless
you're astrally active, BTW). and not for casting spells.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
"That's IT, lunchbox!!! We'll go to Shermer, Illinois!"
-> NERPS Project Leader * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

GC3.1: 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?
Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998
Message no. 6
From: K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: PAD's and Sorcery
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 14:57:14 EDT
In a message dated 7/11/98 3:14:23 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
dghost@****.COM writes:

> How so? If you buy +6 dice to a rating 6 skill, is it more `spensive than
> getting a rating 12 skill? (I'm not trying to number Munch--err--crunch
> [freudian slip? ;], but just making sure you're evaluating it correctly
> :)
>
>
IF yo used your beginning magic points, then yes, you are right it would be
cheaper. HOWEVER, for initiation, it would not be. Also, do remember that IF
a Physical Magician is pursued, then +6 to Sorcery Combat is not possible in
this fashion, as at least one point of the magic remains reserved for "the
magician's side" of things.

-K
Message no. 7
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: PAD's and Sorcery
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 20:12:38 +0100
And verily, did Nexx Many-Scars hastily scribble thusly...
|
|Could a PAD increase his Sorcery skill through his magic (perhaps at a cost of
|.75 per die?), in order to better combat spirits? Would that help a physical
|mage?
|

Errrr....
No. He'd use Good KArma like anyone else.
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|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. 8
From: wafflemiester <evamarie@**********.NET>
Subject: Re: PAD's and Sorcery
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 15:22:53 -0500
> Re: PAD's and Sorcery (K is the Symbol , Fri 20:58)
>
> In a message dated 7/10/98 8:34:34 PM US Eastern Standard Time, Nexx3@***.COM
> writes:
>
> > Could a PAD increase his Sorcery skill through his magic (perhaps at a cost
> > of .75 per die?), in order to better combat spirits? Would that help a
> > physical mage?
> >

Theres no rule for it, but I'd certainly agree that such a thing should
be limited to astral combat ONLY. In any case, why would a physical
adept bother- thier normal combat skills can be used in astral combat,
and are cheap to increase. It might be worth it for a physical mage who
already had good sorcery, but isn't (usually) for an adept.

> Hey now, watch those rule quirks there. Technically, yes, it could probably
> be done if the GM allowed it (just don't attempt that anywhere near me). It
> wouldn't be worth it IMO, because Magic Points have a greater end cost than a
> skill does.

I have to disagree with that. In many cases, it does become cheaper
to get skill dice with magic than karma. Of course, you can't usually
loose skill dice like magic.

-Mongoose-
Message no. 9
From: Alfredo B Alves <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: PAD's and Sorcery
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 15:15:46 -0500
On Sat, 11 Jul 1998 12:29:59 +0100 Gurth <gurth@******.NL> writes:
>Nexx Many-Scars said on 21:33/10 Jul 98,...
>>Could a PAD increase his Sorcery skill through his magic (perhaps at a
cost
>>of .75 per die?), in order to better combat spirits? Would that help a

>>physical mage?

>IMHO a physad can't improve Sorcery skill -- it's not a physical
>skill (unlike Athletics, Unarmed Combat, and the others that can
>be improved through physad powers) so I wouldn't allow it.

I think the Astral Combat specialization of the Sorcery skill is just as
physically oriented as the PhysAd Astral Perception power ...

>Also, you can use Unarmed Combat to pick fights on the astral
>plane, so unless your Sorcery skill is greater than your Unarmed
>Combat, I don't really see the point in a physad taking this power.

I think making unarmed combat/other combat skills less of a "requirement"
for PhysAds is a good may to add diversity to a game ... (I know this
would be a frowned upon statement, but: "Gotta get those Combat skills so
I can make the most of my abilities ...")

>However, if you _do_ allow it, I don't see why it should only work
>for astral combat (fighting spirits isn't done with Sorcery unless
>you're astrally active, BTW). and not for casting spells.
>
>--
>Gurth@******.nl -
<SNIP Sig>

I agree with you and suggested that it only apply to the astral combat
specialization of sorcery ... but, IMO, .75 per die is a bit pricey for
something that only helps a specialization ... I don't think lowering the
price would make it unbalance ...

D.Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, and RuPixel)
"Let he who is without SIN cast the first stone"

_____________________________________________________________________
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Further Reading

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