Back to the main page

Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Ferri_Pagano_at_STRM__Amsterdam1@******.com
Subject: Re[2]: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 96 10:42:29 EST
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________


Rick Jones wrote:
|
|The mages in our group are (justifiably) paranoid, so one of the spells
|they tend to lock is Barrier or Mana Barrier. Now, I've ruled that
|when they lock the Barrier, the shape is set. Assume they put it into
|a dome around themselves.

%[snip: various questions about whether or not the barrier
%conforms to the surrounding environment as the mage
%moves]

%You forgot: what if Barrier is cast while the mage is
%standing in a ditch? Does the bottom of the Barrier
%retain the "V" shape, or does it flatten out when the mage
%leaves the ditch? What happens when the mage tries to
%step up to a curb, or step off?


what bottom? if it had a bottom/floor you couldn't walk!
If you mean the lowest part of the dome, the spell is
ball-shaped and the only possible form would be the
smallest ball [dome] that fits in the ditch, no V's and
nothing bigger than the ditch else the spell fails.


%This one came up about 9(?) months ago. And the
%discussion was lengthy. I think the end result was that
%it's up to each GM to decide whether the shape is fluid or
%fixed.

true, I'd choose fixed however, and I do believe it's
official, nowhere in the books says you can change the area
of effect of a sustained spell AFTER casting.

%As for the porta-poty question, I'll let someone else take
%that one (magic is *not* my strong suit, ask anyone who's
%been here for awhile :)

too true ;)

-David
-------------------------------
F.
Message no. 2
From: Ferri_Pagano_at_STRM__Amsterdam1@******.com
Subject: Re[2]: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Mon, 07 Oct 96 11:44:34 EST
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________



%The mages in our group are (justifiably) paranoid, so one of the
%spells they tend to lock is Barrier or Mana Barrier. Now, I've ruled
%that when they lock the Barrier, the shape is set. Assume they put it
%into a dome around themselves.

| = A wall
M = mage
* = Barrier

%Case 1: Mage is standing in a field, he activates the lock:

******
**** ****
** **
* M *
** **
**** ****
******


%Obviously, not a problem.

nope.

%Case 2: Mage is standing in an alley

| |
| |
| |
| M |
| |
| |
| |
| |

%Does the lock "hug" the wall, like so

|***|
|* *|
|* *|
|*M*|
|* *|
|* *|
|***|
| |





NO!, he CAN only cast is a ssuch:
| |
| |
| * |
|*M*|
| * |
| |
| |


always a DOME so round, if he cannot diminish the area of effect so that it fits
in the alley the spell fails!!

%And if he leaves the Alley, does it "balloon" out?

******
***** ******
|* *|
|*M*|
|* *|
|* *|
|***|
| |

nope. and if he tries to go in the alley with a barrier that doesn't
fit then you can't enter the alley!!

%And, what if it's a Mana Barrier, and he casts it in the Alley, does
%it automatically flow through the walls (even though it wouldn't go
%through a vehicle)?

******
***| |****
** | | **
* | M | *
** | | **
***| |****
******

hmmm I'd rule you are right here.

!!!on second thought!!! NOT, because of line of sight requirement for mana
spells. the practical area of effect would be: [note: this will be controversial
but as far as I can see true]
* *
|* *|
| |
| M |
| |
| |
| |
| |

if the mage is looking towards the north, the rest of the AOE is outside LOS and
thus ineffectual, just like a sleep spell against 4 targets whithin the area of
effect of which only 3 are in los. [LOS= Line of Sight]. This is only a
requirement for mana barriers, and NOT physical barriers such as the spell
barrier


%And what happens if there's someone on the other side of the wall?

the barrier works normally if it's a MANA barrier.

%Or, what if he moves out of the alley, and there's a person at the
%corner? Does it bound the person back?

jep AND it stops YOU!! [if centered on you]

%And (this one a player asked me today), what if he casts a mana
%barrier, walks past a porta-potty so that it's now inside the barrier,
%and the guy inside opens the door?

what's a porta-potty?

Ferri


--
Rick Jones "Kinda hard to tell the villains without a scorecard."
rick@******.com -Scully, X-Files, Red Museum
Meyrick@***.com
http://www-ece.rice.edu/~rickj/
Message no. 3
From: Ferri_Pagano_at_STRM__Amsterdam1@******.COM
Subject: Re[4]: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 09:12:03 EST
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________


On 7 Oct 96 at 10:54, Ferri_Pagano_at_STRM__Amsterd wrote:
> %If the barrier had to be cast in the area, I agree it would require
> %pulling successes to shrink it to fit, but this spell has been locked
> %into the dome shape.
>
> You HAVE to lock it at a certain size.
Saz who? The book doesn't... (same for your other mail)

Sascha
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The point is: the book N E V E R says you can. And it's illogical to assume you
can, changing area of effect is done by substracting dice at the moment of
casting. How else??
Ferri
Message no. 4
From: Sascha Pabst <Sascha.Pabst@**********.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE>
Subject: Re: Re[4]: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 09:53:28 +0000
On 11 Oct 96 at 9:12, Ferri_Pagano_at_STRM__Amsterd wrote:
[snip "You HAVE to lock it at a certain size."]
> Saz who? The book doesn't... (same for your other mail)
> Sascha

> The point is: the book N E V E R says you can. And it's illogical to assume you
> can, changing area of effect is done by substracting dice at the moment of
> casting. How else??
But this doesn't mean you have to determine the shape of the spell, does it? I
agree you can't withhold dice when activating a spell lock (unless you did so
when you cast the spell into the lock, then you have to), but why should the
shape be fixed?
Although it's not really the same, you may have different effects with (other)
spells that are resisted, Stink comes to mind. Or take chaos, where you direct
the spell at different targets each time you activate the lock (well, MAY do
so).

We agree on the size, but the shape doesn't need to be fixed for all I see.

Sascha
--
+---___---------+------------------------------------+------------------------+
| / / _______ | Jhary-a-Conel aka Sascha Pabst |Things that try to look |
| / /_/ ____/ |Sascha.Pabst@ | like things often do |
| \___ __/ | Informatik.Uni-Oldenburg.de | look more like things |
|==== \_/ ======|*Wearing hats is just a way of life*| than things. Well known|
|LOGOUT FASCISM!| - Me | fact. - E.Weatherwax |
+------------- http://www.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de/~jhary -----------------+
Message no. 5
From: Justin Pinnow <jpinnow@*****.EDU>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 08:25:12 -0400
Sascha Pabst wrote:

<Snip>

> We agree on the size, but the shape doesn't need to be fixed for all I see.

Actually, I see a perfectly reasonable explaination as to why you CAN'T
reshape a spell once cast....take Illusion spells as an example. You
can't change the illusion once cast. In order to do so, you would have
to recast the spell with the desired effect.

I would say that this could (and should) apply to barriers. If you
choose to cast a dome-shaped barrier, you're stuck with it....until you
erect a barrier of a different shape.
<Snip>



--
_____________________________________________________________________________
Justin Pinnow
jpinnow@*****.edu
Message no. 6
From: Sascha Pabst <Sascha.Pabst@**********.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 15:44:58 +0000
On 15 Oct 96 at 8:25, Justin Pinnow wrote:
> Sascha Pabst wrote:
> > We agree on the size, but the shape doesn't need to be fixed for all I see.
>
> Actually, I see a perfectly reasonable explaination as to why you CAN'T
> reshape a spell once cast....take Illusion spells as an example. You
> can't change the illusion once cast. In order to do so, you would have
> to recast the spell with the desired effect.
>
> I would say that this could (and should) apply to barriers. If you
> choose to cast a dome-shaped barrier, you're stuck with it....until you
> erect a barrier of a different shape.
Nononono... I didn't make myself clear, I see.
What I meant was you can choose the form each time you activate the spell lock
it is stored in. I agree you have to recast/reactivate a spell once it is
"running" to change it's size. (hm - I see the next problem - what's with
overlapping barriers? *sigh*)

Sascha
--
+---___---------+----------------------------------------+--------------------+
| / / _______ | Jhary-a-Conel aka Sascha Pabst |The one who does not|
| / /_/ ____/ |Sascha.Pabst@**********.Uni-Oldenburg.de| learn from history |
| \___ __/ | | is bound to live |
|==== \_/ ======| *Wearing hats is just a way of life* | through it again. |
|LOGOUT FASCISM!| - Me | G. Santayana |
+------------- http://www.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de/~jhary -----------------+
Message no. 7
From: Justin Pinnow <jpinnow@*****.EDU>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 10:23:57 -0400
Sascha Pabst wrote:

<Snip of situation>

> > I would say that this could (and should) apply to barriers. If you
> > choose to cast a dome-shaped barrier, you're stuck with it....until you
> > erect a barrier of a different shape.

> Nononono... I didn't make myself clear, I see.
> What I meant was you can choose the form each time you activate the spell lock
> it is stored in. I agree you have to recast/reactivate a spell once it is
> "running" to change it's size. (hm - I see the next problem - what's with
> overlapping barriers? *sigh*)

Actually, I don't think it would make sense to allow the form to be
chosen when you activate the spell lock. However, you can use whatever
house rules you like, because I don't think there is an official ruling
on this one. My reasoning is the spell isn't *recast*, so it can't be
reshaped. Yes, you could rule that the spell lock is recasting the
stored spell, but there is no way to input to the spell lock that you
want the barrier to be a particular shape...that information is only
given when the original casting of the spell (by the mage) takes place.

As far as overlapping barriers are concerned, the rules cover this,
though not specifically--you cast one barrier, then another, then
another, etc. Keep in mind that they can't occupy the exact same space,
so you will have to expand or reduce all but the first barrier in order
to have them all in a dome shape over the caster (for example). Also,
keep in mind that while erecting any barrier after the first, there is a
+2 sustained spell modifier for every barrier already erected...oh, and
finally, there is the issue of casting any barrier outside of a standard
barrier or mana or spell barrier....you would have to work from the
outside in, in these cases....

Obviously, this process is difficult, but not impossible.

--
_____________________________________________________________________________
Justin Pinnow
jpinnow@*****.edu
Message no. 8
From: The Digital Mage <mn3rge@****.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 17:20:17 +0100
On Tue, 15 Oct 1996, Justin Pinnow wrote:

> on this one. My reasoning is the spell isn't *recast*, so it can't be
> reshaped. Yes, you could rule that the spell lock is recasting the
> stored spell, but there is no way to input to the spell lock that you
> want the barrier to be a particular shape...that information is only
> given when the original casting of the spell (by the mage) takes place.

Using your reasoning though, if you spell lock a Physical Mask spell teh
illusion would remain stationary and you could only simulate teh raising
of an arm or some such by multiple recastings.

If a physical mask can alter after its been cast, is it so unreasonable to
say that physical spells _could_ do this.


The Digital Mage : mn3rge@****.ac.uk
"Life is a choice, Death....an obligation."-Me
Shadowrun WWW site at http://www.bath.ac.uk/~mn3rge/Shadowrun
Message no. 9
From: Sascha Pabst <Sascha.Pabst@**********.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 17:50:13 +0000
On 15 Oct 96 at 10:23, Justin Pinnow wrote:
[snip explanation]
> Obviously, this process is difficult, but not impossible.
Two barriers. One Dome-Shaped, one Wall shaped. Wall shaped cutting dome
shaped. Now what?

Sascha
--
+---___---------+----------------------------------------+--------------------+
| / / _______ | Jhary-a-Conel aka Sascha Pabst | 'If we had to buy |
| / /_/ ____/ |Sascha.Pabst@**********.Uni-Oldenburg.de|you, you wouldn't be|
| \___ __/ | | worth the price.' |
|==== \_/ ======| *Wearing hats is just a way of life* | - E. Weatherwax |
|LOGOUT FASCISM!| - Me | (T. Pratchett)|
+------------- http://www.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de/~jhary -----------------+
Message no. 10
From: Caric <caric@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Re[4]: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 10:37:13 -0700
> But this doesn't mean you have to determine the shape of the spell, does
it? I
> agree you can't withhold dice when activating a spell lock (unless you
did so
> when you cast the spell into the lock, then you have to), but why should
the
> shape be fixed?
> Although it's not really the same, you may have different effects with
(other)
> spells that are resisted, Stink comes to mind. Or take chaos, where you
direct
> the spell at different targets each time you activate the lock (well, MAY
do
> so).
>
> We agree on the size, but the shape doesn't need to be fixed for all I
see.
>
Well as far as we've always done it basically when you lock the spell the
attributes of it are always fixed. If the barrier was a dome it would stay
a dome, if it was a wall then it would still be a wall, but at the same
orientation and size as it was when first cast and subsequently locked.
Basically since the activating the spell lock isn't re-casting the spell
you can't change anything about it IMHO.

Caric
Message no. 11
From: Justin Pinnow <jpinnow@*****.EDU>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 14:48:13 -0400
Sascha Pabst wrote:
>
> On 15 Oct 96 at 10:23, Justin Pinnow wrote:
> [snip explanation]
> > Obviously, this process is difficult, but not impossible.
> Two barriers. One Dome-Shaped, one Wall shaped. Wall shaped cutting dome
> shaped. Now what?

You need more information. It depends on the type of each barrier.
Also, you would need to rule whether you can have two domes occupying
the same space or not...

Lots of rulings.
--
_____________________________________________________________________________
Justin Pinnow
jpinnow@*****.edu
Message no. 12
From: Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 04:48:46 +1000
> > Obviously, this process is difficult, but not impossible.
>
> Two barriers. One Dome-Shaped, one Wall shaped. Wall shaped cutting dome
> shaped. Now what?
>
Big explosion... bang!! The end of the world.
The GM kills all the characters, suspends the game world and picks up the
phone to call FASAMike. *grin*

I'd say it shouldn't matter unless the barriers are able to affect the
same things.... ie, a spell and physical barrier should be able to
intersect, but there may be problems with two bullet barriers intersecting.

I'd say that the stronger barrier wins if there is a conflict.... otherwise
you're going to get characters stacking barriers on themselves until they
have the same armour as a Stonewall MBT.

Bleach
Message no. 13
From: James Ojaste <jojaste@*****.CSCLUB.UWATERLOO.CA>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 15:47:02 -0400
Sasha said:
> On 15 Oct 96 at 10:23, Justin Pinnow wrote:
> [snip explanation]
> > Obviously, this process is difficult, but not impossible.
> Two barriers. One Dome-Shaped, one Wall shaped. Wall shaped cutting dome
> shaped. Now what?

Okay, they cross. Big deal. These are *magical* barriers - they might
as well have 0 thickness, so what's the problem with them intersecting?

James

--
As paranoia fills his mind, the champion of the night runs through
the shadows cast by the amber streetlights above and he wonders,
"Maybe I should get a life?"
jojaste@******.uwaterloo.ca, http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/u/jojaste
Message no. 14
From: James Ojaste <jojaste@*****.CSCLUB.UWATERLOO.CA>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 15:57:48 -0400
> > Two barriers. One Dome-Shaped, one Wall shaped. Wall shaped cutting dome
> > shaped. Now what?
[snip]
> I'd say that the stronger barrier wins if there is a conflict.... otherwise
> you're going to get characters stacking barriers on themselves until they
> have the same armour as a Stonewall MBT.

Why would that happen? Why not force the bullet to break down each barrier
in turn? A bullet will lose energy from each barrier, and so you'd need
a couple of bullets to get through (on the other hand, you couldn't shoot
through the MBT because of hardening). For each barrier, they're going
to need a focus or a quickening. If they want to take lots of foci, they
run into focus addiction and "astral target mode". If they take lots of
quickenings, they spend lots of karma, and hope a mage doesn't blow it up.

Then some troll fires an arrow at them...

It'll all balance in the end.

James

--
As paranoia fills his mind, the champion of the night runs through
the shadows cast by the amber streetlights above and he wonders,
"Maybe I should get a life?"
jojaste@******.uwaterloo.ca, http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/u/jojaste
Message no. 15
From: Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 09:11:48 +1000
> > I'd say that the stronger barrier wins if there is a conflict.... otherwise
> > you're going to get characters stacking barriers on themselves until they
> > have the same armour as a Stonewall MBT.
>
> Why would that happen? Why not force the bullet to break down each barrier
> in turn? A bullet will lose energy from each barrier, and so you'd need
> a couple of bullets to get through (on the other hand, you couldn't shoot
> through the MBT because of hardening). For each barrier, they're going
> to need a focus or a quickening. If they want to take lots of foci, they
> run into focus addiction and "astral target mode". If they take lots of
> quickenings, they spend lots of karma, and hope a mage doesn't blow it up.
>
Stonewal MBT's can't walk in the front gate of a compound posing as a
courier.

You can not dump astrally through a quickened spell... so spoke god
(FASAMike).
Message no. 16
From: Sascha Pabst <Sascha.Pabst@**********.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 08:21:02 +0000
On 15 Oct 96 at 15:57, James Ojaste wrote:
[snip good example]
> Then some troll fires an arrow at them...
>
> It'll all balance in the end.
Erm... just one problem now... *blush* I fear I have to call myself an idiot,
since all of a sudden I do _not_ believe a barrier of any kind is moveable...
Ooops.

The reasoning is quite simple. If a barrier would be centered on a magician
(you know, one of these weak-on-the-breast spellslingers), and it's either a
physical or a bullet barrier, and someone fires a bullet at that magician...
what would happen? Bullet hits barrier, barrier tries to channel the energy to
it's "holding point" - the magician. Magician topples over.Same with physical
barriers and vehicles, or mana barriers and people. It would be the person the
spell is cast upon who gets pushed around...
Which would leave the barrier useless.

Does that make sense?

Sascha
--
+---___---------+----------------------------------------+--------------------+
| / / _______ | Jhary-a-Conel aka Sascha Pabst | 'Hate is a force of|
| / /_/ ____/ |Sascha.Pabst@**********.Uni-Oldenburg.de| attraction. Hate is|
| \___ __/ | | just love with its|
|==== \_/ ======| *Wearing hats is just a way of life* |back turned' - Terry|
|LOGOUT FASCISM!| - Me |Pratchett-Masquerade|
+------------- http://www.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de/~jhary -----------------+
Message no. 17
From: Justin Pinnow <jpinnow@*****.EDU>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 08:01:00 -0400
Sascha Pabst wrote:
>
> On 15 Oct 96 at 15:57, James Ojaste wrote:
> [snip good example]
> > Then some troll fires an arrow at them...
> >
> > It'll all balance in the end.
> Erm... just one problem now... *blush* I fear I have to call myself an idiot,
> since all of a sudden I do _not_ believe a barrier of any kind is moveable...
> Ooops.
>
> The reasoning is quite simple. If a barrier would be centered on a magician
> (you know, one of these weak-on-the-breast spellslingers), and it's either a
> physical or a bullet barrier, and someone fires a bullet at that magician...
> what would happen? Bullet hits barrier, barrier tries to channel the energy to
> it's "holding point" - the magician. Magician topples over.Same with
physical
> barriers and vehicles, or mana barriers and people. It would be the person the
> spell is cast upon who gets pushed around...
> Which would leave the barrier useless.

> Does that make sense?

Sascha, I think you are trying to hard. ;) It's not necessary to go
through all that. There is no reason to say that a barrier tries to
send the energy it's resisting to the caster or any 'holding point'. It
simply tries to resist the bullet, spell, etc. from getting through.
It's magic, the energy being resisted doesn't need to be directed
anywhere. :)

--
_____________________________________________________________________________
Justin Pinnow
jpinnow@*****.edu
Message no. 18
From: Mike Elkins <MikeE@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f] -Reply
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 10:43:30 -0500
>Bullet hits barrier, barrier tries to channel the energy to it's "holding
point" - the
>magician. Magician topples over.

Not necessarily. Remember, the person firing the gun received just as much
momementum as the person on the receiving end of the bullet. Its all a matter of
spreading out the force. If the barrier is anchored to the magician's aura (aura's
are atomic (indivisible), remember), then an average bullet hitting the barrier
would have the force of a very mild shove. Even a .50 calliber machine gun bullet
doesn't actually knock you back (so sayeth an aquantance of mine who took one
in 'Nam)

Double-Domed Mike
Message no. 19
From: James Ojaste <jojaste@*****.CSCLUB.UWATERLOO.CA>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 12:46:53 -0400
> > > you're going to get characters stacking barriers on themselves until they
> > > have the same armour as a Stonewall MBT.
> >
> > to need a focus or a quickening. If they want to take lots of foci, they
> > run into focus addiction and "astral target mode". If they take lots
of
> > quickenings, they spend lots of karma, and hope a mage doesn't blow it up.
> >
> Stonewal MBT's can't walk in the front gate of a compound posing as a
> courier.

Neither can such a character, who will be shining like an astral lighthouse.

> You can not dump astrally through a quickened spell... so spoke god
> (FASAMike).

Yes - sorry. By "hope a mage doesn't blow it up" I meant, "hope a mage
doesn't pop into astral space and beat on your quickenings while you
sit there impervious to bullets, but otherwise helpless".

Here's an interesting question - what happens if somebody tries to pass
a loaded gun to the bullet-barriered char? IE what is defined as a bullet?

James

--
As paranoia fills his mind, the champion of the night runs through
the shadows cast by the amber streetlights above and he wonders,
"Maybe I should get a life?"
jojaste@******.uwaterloo.ca, http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/u/jojaste
Message no. 20
From: James Ojaste <jojaste@*****.CSCLUB.UWATERLOO.CA>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 13:09:57 -0400
Sascha wrote:
> On 15 Oct 96 at 15:57, James Ojaste wrote:
> [snip good example]
> > It'll all balance in the end.
> Erm... just one problem now... *blush* I fear I have to call myself an idiot,
> since all of a sudden I do _not_ believe a barrier of any kind is moveable...
> Ooops.

Err, OK... I disagree with you (the second part ;-), but...

> The reasoning is quite simple. If a barrier would be centered on a magician
> (you know, one of these weak-on-the-breast spellslingers), and it's either a
> physical or a bullet barrier, and someone fires a bullet at that magician...
> what would happen? Bullet hits barrier, barrier tries to channel the energy to
> it's "holding point" - the magician. Magician topples over.Same with
physical

Ah - you mean "physics". That is, the spell is physically attached to and
remains thee same distance from, a certain object. Therefore, you get a
sort of astral billiards effect.

So, if you cast a bullet barrier on a pebble, and shot the barrier, you
would get an even faster-moving pebble (due to its lower mass), and a
stationary (or at least slow-moving) bullet.

I guess I could live with that - as long as the force applies to the entire
anchoring object (ie spreading the impact over the mage's body).

> barriers and vehicles, or mana barriers and people. It would be the person the
> spell is cast upon who gets pushed around...
> Which would leave the barrier useless.

Here's where I disagree.

As long as all the force doesn't have to go to one bullet-sized point, it
seems perfectly legit *and* useful. As a house rule, you could have the
mage roll for knockback whether he took any damage or not.

> Does that make sense?

Everything except the "useless" thing. I think that with the impact
spreading it makes perfect sense to allow barriers to move. After all,
a personal bullet barrier is utterly useless if it doesn't move - it
won't stop you walking through it, so you could step in front of your
personal bullet barrier! Then somebody else could step into it!

Need I say, this would be BAD!?

James-the-Incredulous

--
As paranoia fills his mind, the champion of the night runs through
the shadows cast by the amber streetlights above and he wonders,
"Maybe I should get a life?"
jojaste@******.uwaterloo.ca, http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/u/jojaste
Message no. 21
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@****.ORG>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 11:17:58 -0600
<chuckle> I just got an evil idea. If you've got a mage
that is abusing the Physical Barrier spell (assuming you
allow Barriers to move) put a mine field in front of his
character some time. Chunky Salsa the sequal <grin>

-David

/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\ dbuehrer@****.org /^\/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\/^\
"His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking
alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free."
~~~http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm~~~~
Message no. 22
From: Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f]
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 08:18:19 +1000
> Here's an interesting question - what happens if somebody tries to pass
> a loaded gun to the bullet-barriered char? IE what is defined as a bullet?
>
Only if it's fired... I think that FASA kind of said somthing about that,
but I can't recall where.
Message no. 23
From: Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f] -Reply
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 08:25:23 +1000
> would have the force of a very mild shove. Even a .50 calliber machine gun bullet
> doesn't actually knock you back (so sayeth an aquantance of mine who took one
> in 'Nam)
>
Does he still have all his bits attached?? A 0.50 cal bullt would make a
right mess.
Message no. 24
From: Mike Elkins <MikeE@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f] -Reply -Reply
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 13:24:29 -0500
>> would have the force of a very mild shove. Even a .50 calliber machine gun
bullet
>> doesn't actually knock you back (so sayeth an aquantance of mine who took
one
>> in 'Nam)
>>
>Does he still have all his bits attached?? A 0.50 cal bullt would make a right
mess.

Actually he's fine (now). At the time it just made a .50 cal hole in his leg :). He
said "you just fall down, you aren't knocked back."

Double-Domed Mike
Message no. 25
From: Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: question about locked barriers[f] -Reply -Reply
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 09:11:46 +1000
> Actually he's fine (now). At the time it just made a .50 cal hole in his leg :). He
> said "you just fall down, you aren't knocked back."
>
He's lucky the thing wasn't tumbling and hadn't mushroomed. I'm impressed.

That's the best thing about RPG's; You don't have to see the mess that
your character is in after the run.

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about question about locked barriers[f], 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.

Thwap!