Back to the main page

Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Marcel Emami <rab@****.INFORMATIK.UNI-MANNHEIM.DE>
Subject: psi
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 11:37:55 MSZ
What I'm missing are something like illusions. I my game the psionic has
the power of illusions (-does only work on sentient beeings, cause
Psi can only affect the mind) and he scares the hell out if me (I'm GM'ing)

For the Powers (=spells) I suggest something like they have in magic gurps
I like taht system (for mages) cause you only can learn a certain spell
if you have fullfieled the requirements.
e.g.
You can only learn a fire ball when you learned the spells (all of them)
a) create fire
b) enlarge fire
c) shape fire

that may sound a bit LEVELishness but it isn't cause you chosse what you want
and you know what you need. So it hasn't any thing in common with **&*.


RAB
GM/GO -d+(---) -P+(---) c+(+++) l u e+ m+ s /- n+ h+ f+ g++ w+ t-- r++ y++

rab@***.informatik.uni-mannheim.de
Message no. 2
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: psi
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 11:37:24 +0100
On Wed, 13 Jul 1994, Marcel Emami wrote:

> What I'm missing are something like illusions. I my game the psionic has
> the power of illusions (-does only work on sentient beeings, cause
> Psi can only affect the mind) and he scares the hell out if me (I'm GM'ing)

Mages have illusions too....

> For the Powers (=spells) I suggest something like they have in magic gurps
> I like taht system (for mages) cause you only can learn a certain spell
> if you have fullfieled the requirements.
> e.g.
> You can only learn a fire ball when you learned the spells (all of them)
> a) create fire
> b) enlarge fire
> c) shape fire

Actually, what you do is build into the drain code how tough the ability
is to use. Somethign simple might only be (Force)L, but something
devestating would be (Force)+2D.


____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> I do not necessarily speak for the
\/ Finger for PGP Public Key <=> City of Mankato or Blue Earth County
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)
Message no. 3
From: Phoebus Apollo <ECKELBED@*****.BITNET>
Subject: PSI
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 18:32:23 -0400
Okay, so I just subscribed to this list and, while I am an avid gamer
of Shadowrun at home and at tournaments, this conversation thread has
lost me entirely.

I am afraid that having just subscribed to the service doesn't help
much either.

Anyway, is FASA introducing psionics to the world of Shadowrun?
Whazzup?
Message no. 4
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: PSI
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 20:11:41 +0100
On Wed, 13 Jul 1994, Phoebus Apollo wrote:

> Anyway, is FASA introducing psionics to the world of Shadowrun?

No, FASA only likes to play with elves. We're doing it on this list and
to hell with official FASA stuff :-)

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> I do not necessarily speak for the
\/ Finger for PGP Public Key <=> City of Mankato or Blue Earth County
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)
Message no. 5
From: "S. Keith Graham" <vapspcx@***.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: PSI
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 1994 08:40:20 -0400
>From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>

>On Wed, 13 Jul 1994, S. Keith Graham wrote:

>> All psionics are therefore subject to square and cube of distance
>> laws. (i.e range is a pain.)

>It's also a hell of a pain to try to compute. I'd recommed for most
>things, using LOS, with ranges where applicable.

Specifically, I think LOS, using one of the weapon range mods would
be good. And its not reducable by using a telescope, as the
energy still has to travel the distance.

Reducing range penalties could be a function of Initiation.
(Possibly just centering against penalties, if we want to
use the existing game mechanic.)

Keith Graham
vapspcx@***.gatech.edu
Message no. 6
From: Undocumented Feature <JHURLEY1@******.BITNET>
Subject: {PSI}
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 1994 18:55:58 -0400
Something that I have been noticing in this list, and a lot of other places,
has been a misconception of what the Intelligence statistic is used for/defined
as in Shadowrun. Intelligence is a statistic that is BADLY misnamed. It is
"Overall quickness of mind, aptitude(?), and the ability to percieve
surroundings." Most of the ime I have seen this stat used, this test has been
called a PERCEPTION test. And it's major use in pools is that of PERCEPTION.
Having just been introduced to Earthdawn, I also noticed that the equivalent
stat is called PERCEPTION there.
In an analogy I make to new players to break them of the habit of thinging it
is IQ, or even similar to AD&D int, or GURPS IQ, I say "Sherlock holmes had a
huge INT, Albert Einstein did not necessarily."

ANyway, to the second part of my rather longwinded and rambling point. At
least a couple of suggestions on psi have included INT as part of their
mechanincs. Why? Instead, I propose that Charisma be used to a certain
extent. Perhaps as part of a PSI pool, or as the default stat for PSI-based
effects. Willpower is still necessary to resist drain, but why not include the
mental strength of the PSI in his/her abilities (Yes, charisma is also a
person's mental strength , in the offensive sense. Just as willpower is their
mental body (see astral projection for my basis.))



JHURLEY1@****.STEVENS-TECH.EDU
GCS d -p+ c++(+++) l(++) u(+) e+ m+(*) s/- !n h+(++) f+ !g w+++ t+ r+(++) y?

Life is complex, you know - part real, part imaginary.

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about PSI, you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.