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Message no. 1
From: The Vagabond <nomad74@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Restoring Essence & Healing
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 15:50:50 PDT
> Does a healing spell make someone glow brightly on the astral?
This is
>not a continuing magical effect (like binding essence to a body that
can
>no longer support it), but rather like a healing spell: Once the hole
is
>healed, its healed. It doesn't need to be held closed after the ritual
is
>over.
>

Any spell- any magic casts- glows brightly on the astral.
As for restoring essence, if you allow that, then I can see the
countless munchkins out there try to develope "removeable" cyberware.
One minute I'm a rating 5 mage- the next I'm a cyberfiend from hell and
then *poof*- I'm a rating 5 mage again.
Some things you just aren't meant to get back. *shrug*



-Vagabond <nomad74@*******.com> <ICQ 4297972>
___________________________________________________________
"Sure, there's an order to the universe, but this time I
think the Big Guy forgot the pepperoni."
-Liam Bough


______________________________________________________
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Message no. 2
From: Nexx <nexx@********.NET>
Subject: Re: Restoring Essence & Healing
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 17:50:28 -0500
> Any spell- any magic casts- glows brightly on the astral.
Yes, but once a healing spell is finished healing (you've sustained it
for the entire time to make it permanent, and no longer have to to keep
the guy from bleeding on the floor), it doesn't glow anymore.

> As for restoring essence, if you allow that, then I can see the
> countless munchkins out there try to develope "removeable" cyberware.
> One minute I'm a rating 5 mage- the next I'm a cyberfiend from hell and
> then *poof*- I'm a rating 5 mage again.
> Some things you just aren't meant to get back. *shrug*
Do you have any idea how much Karma that would burn up?
Message no. 3
From: MC23 <mc23@**********.COM>
Subject: Re: Restoring Essence & Healing
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 19:57:17 -0400
Once upon a time, Nexx wrote;

>> As for restoring essence, if you allow that, then I can see the
>> countless munchkins out there try to develope "removeable" cyberware.
>> One minute I'm a rating 5 mage- the next I'm a cyberfiend from hell and
>> then *poof*- I'm a rating 5 mage again.
>> Some things you just aren't meant to get back. *shrug*

> Do you have any idea how much Karma that would burn up?

Pts or game nights worth? I run the stingiest games on this list
when it comes to Karma rewards but I'd be afraid of a game where Karma is
a lot free-er. This is another avenue that can be exploited. There is no
limits on Karma but there is on Essence. Thermodynamics and all that jazz
you know. B>]#

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed,
briefed, debriefed, or numbered "
-No. 6, The Prisoner

I am MC23
Message no. 4
From: Nexx <nexx@********.NET>
Subject: Re: Restoring Essence & Healing
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 19:13:43 -0500
> > Do you have any idea how much Karma that would burn up?
>
> Pts or game nights worth? I run the stingiest games on this list
> when it comes to Karma rewards but I'd be afraid of a game where Karma
is
> a lot free-er. This is another avenue that can be exploited. There is no
> limits on Karma but there is on Essence.
When you think about it, the only people who are going to bother with
this will be mages, who have enough demand on their karma as-is. Perhaps
the odd sam will do it to heal the additional damage (beyond what the
cyberware should do) done to his essence. As to whether we're talking
points or game-nights worth, that's an entirely different problem.
I don't see this as unbalancing, simply because its of only limited use.
It doesn't let you cram more cyberware into your body than you normally
can, and isn't necessary if you're planning on filling the hole in your
essence with more cyberware. Its simply a way for people to repair the
damage done to their essence. Perhaps I'll make some alterations, or add
some systems to change it from being automatic.

> Thermodynamics and all that jazz
> you know. B>]#
Not a clue. I avoid physics and mathematics like the plague.

***************
Rev. Mark Hall, Bardagh
aka Pope Nexx Many-Scars
************
Yet, I'm also a man who's constantly strivin' for a perfection I'll never
achieve... and probably wouldn't even recognize it if I did.
-Logan, in issue 124 of "Wolverine"
***********
Am Moireach Mor!
Message no. 5
From: MC23 <mc23@**********.COM>
Subject: Re: Restoring Essence & Healing
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 20:44:29 -0400
Once upon a time, Nexx wrote;
> I don't see this as unbalancing, simply because its of only
>limited use.
>It doesn't let you cram more cyberware into your body than you normally
>can, and isn't necessary if you're planning on filling the hole in your
>essence with more cyberware. Its simply a way for people to repair the
>damage done to their essence. Perhaps I'll make some alterations, or add
>some systems to change it from being automatic.

Well, how about changing the ways magicians are potentially played.
A combat or burnt out mage player (the most likely to do this) makes the
character during CharGen to take advantage of a little extra cyberware
with the full knowledge that it can be later compensated with a ritual
that could easily cost less than Initiation. Hell for that matter there
is a breaking point where removing cyberware and preforming the ritual is
cheaper than Initiating! When you put this to the farthest limits then
all Magicians would eventually do this as it becomes a reasonable
alternative. It becomes a path of magical redemption! Well, if that isn't
180 degrees of the magical paths in Shadowrun.
No, if it was to be allowed then the source for this restoration
would have to be something that was that valuable and Essence is alone in
its worth. A Free Spirit's own force rating (and free Spirit only) might
be considered but since some people (especially munchkins) don't see them
as other living entities I would discourage it just so it won't be abused.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"CYNIC, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are,
not as they ought to be."
-The Devil's Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce

I am MC23
Message no. 6
From: Nexx <nexx@********.NET>
Subject: Re: Restoring Essence & Healing
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 19:49:58 -0500
> Well, how about changing the ways magicians are potentially played.
<snip examples>
How does this unbalance, however, as they no longer gain the benefits of
any cyberware they once had?... Strike that, I now see the connection.
Basically, what you're arguing is that beginning characters would see this
as a way to get quick power from cyberware for a bit, build up enough
karma and grades, until he had enough power to really kick butt once the
cyberware was out. Seeing that connection, I agree, that as I have it
now, it is terribly munchkin. However, I still like the idea, so perhaps
I'll work on tweaking it a bit.
Message no. 7
From: The Vagabond <nomad74@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Restoring Essence & Healing
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 04:18:20 PDT
>> Any spell- any magic casts- glows brightly on the astral.
> Yes, but once a healing spell is finished healing (you've
sustained it
>for the entire time to make it permanent, and no longer have to to keep
>the guy from bleeding on the floor), it doesn't glow anymore.

Agreed.

>
>> As for restoring essence, if you allow that, then I can see the
>> countless munchkins out there try to develope "removeable" cyberware.
>> One minute I'm a rating 5 mage- the next I'm a cyberfiend from hell
and
>> then *poof*- I'm a rating 5 mage again.
>> Some things you just aren't meant to get back. *shrug*

> Do you have any idea how much Karma that would burn up?

I think you missed my point. I said removeable. Like a plug in. I
plug it in, I have no essence. I remove it and poof- I have essence
again.
If you are reffering it costing karma to restore essence- then yes,
it would be costly. But I can see it happening. One constant about
munchkins: You give 'em an inch, and they'll take a mile.



-Vagabond <nomad74@*******.com> <ICQ 4297972>
___________________________________________________________
"Sure, there's an order to the universe, but this time I
think the Big Guy forgot the pepperoni."
-Liam Bough


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Message no. 8
From: Ogre <ogre@***.CYBNET.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Restoring Essence & Healing
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 13:38:20 +0100
<snip pevious as it takes up too much space.....>

I thinkk that the Sprit in Nosferatu who 'cured' the Troll Bear Shamen
(cool P.C. idea) mealted the cyberware out of him- could this be a power
of a REALLY powerful spirit as the one in the book appeared to be?

Re-reading the scene it seems more of a 'throw-away' redemption thing
thathan a seriously possible power, but if we run with it, then the idea
isf not really a good one. I mean the point has been made about Mages
suddenly becoming Cybermen when they wanted to- a sort of Transformers
thing (good idea for a range of toys though).

Much as anything else I see Essence loss as a loss ofsoul as loss of
peronality (IMO). I supose it could be compared to Sarah Conne in
Terminator. In one shes seen as a confused bod caught up in it all. In
the second she become colder, harder, more of a Terminator herself. A
part of her has died. When she goes to killl Miles Dyson- is she any
differant to a Terminator then? No. I see cyberware like that a removal
of certain humanising things. Your 0.1 essence Sam to me will be a cold
killing machine, detacted from Humanity and the people he kills.

The loss of essence detacts the meat from the Astral and the 'real'
world. That person is permantly detacted. Those living parts of them that
are removed are that removed. Taken from body and soul. Thus no ritual,
unless performed by say a DRagon(good luck getting that done) will
restore lost essence. Not in any game I run anyway.

Ogre
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/2815

-Help. I want to get off planet before my phone bill arrvies....-
Message no. 9
From: Nexx <nexx@********.NET>
Subject: Re: Restoring Essence & Healing
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 11:35:39 -0500
> If you are reffering it costing karma to restore essence- then yes,
> it would be costly. But I can see it happening. One constant about
> munchkins: You give 'em an inch, and they'll take a mile.
That's what I was referring to. Also, I'm definitely going to have the
ritual take some time, and be pretty difficult to do.

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