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Message no. 1
From: Gurth gurth@******.nl
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 11:45:48 +0200
According to Phil Smith, at 18:27 on 12 Jun 00, the word on the street
was...

> If detect (enemys) is possible, is slaughter (enemys) or a specific target
> manaball for enemys applying the Restricted Target modifier from MITS?

Yes. There is a Slay (Race/Species) spell on page 140 of MITS that'
exactly that: you learn it as Slay Elf, Slay Rat, and so on.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Here come the golden oldies. Here come the Hezbollah.
-> NAGEE Editor * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
->The Plastic Warriors Page: http://shadowrun.html.com/plasticwarriors/<-

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Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998
Message no. 2
From: Iridios iridios@********.net
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 07:19:40 -0400
Gurth wrote:
>
> According to Phil Smith, at 18:27 on 12 Jun 00, the word on the street
> was...
>
> > If detect (enemys) is possible, is slaughter (enemys) or a specific target
> > manaball for enemys applying the Restricted Target modifier from MITS?
>
> Yes. There is a Slay (Race/Species) spell on page 140 of MITS that'
> exactly that: you learn it as Slay Elf, Slay Rat, and so on.

But that targets a specific race or species. Phil is wondering if
there could be a Slay(Enemies) version of the spell that would only
affect those persons with hostile intent against the spellcaster.
Useful in crowd situations.

--
Iridios
--
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7:13:08 AM/60:00:00 (1) [no thud]
Message no. 3
From: Simon and Fiona sfuller@******.com.au
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 21:52:09 +1000
-----Original Message-----
From: Iridios <iridios@********.net>
To: shadowrn@*********.com <shadowrn@*********.com>
Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 9:13 PM
Subject: Re: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)


>But that targets a specific race or species. Phil is wondering if
>there could be a Slay(Enemies) version of the spell that would only
>affect those persons with hostile intent against the spellcaster.
>Useful in crowd situations.
>
Theoretically it would work. Detect Enemies works, so an area effect Slay
Enemies would too. Could be touchy though. Just imagine, Joe Mage
accidentally steals someone's parking spot. They swear and feel a moment of
anger toward Joe, then their brain explodes because of Joe Mage's quickened
Slay Enemy spell.
Anyway, it would severely disrupt game balance for such a spell to exist, so
possible, likely and useful as it is, I wouldn't personally allow it.
Message no. 4
From: NeoJudas neojudas@******************.com
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 07:52:36 -0500
From: "Simon and Fiona" <sfuller@******.com.au>
Subject: Re: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)


> From: Iridios <iridios@********.net>
> >But that targets a specific race or species. Phil is wondering if
> >there could be a Slay(Enemies) version of the spell that would only
> >affect those persons with hostile intent against the spellcaster.
> >Useful in crowd situations.
> >
> Theoretically it would work. Detect Enemies works, so an area effect Slay
> Enemies would too. Could be touchy though. Just imagine, Joe Mage
> accidentally steals someone's parking spot. They swear and feel a moment
of
> anger toward Joe, then their brain explodes because of Joe Mage's
quickened
> Slay Enemy spell.
> Anyway, it would severely disrupt game balance for such a spell to exist,
so
> possible, likely and useful as it is, I wouldn't personally allow it.


I think this spell concept would be the one that even I start to calmly
reiterate an old statement/ruling. "Anything you can have, they could have
it too." I might give the mage-character who designed such a thing however
extra points for imagination/common sense, and possibly karma awards based
on how they played the spell's existence out.

For instance, lets say PCMage comes up with this spell. Maybe during a time
or two, it even gets used. But s/he quickly realizes just how devastating
it can be, and then begins to question what it's there for. And then, just
to be an a$$ about it, the GM sets up a situation, or perhaps it is already
in existence ... where one day the spell for some reason tags one of the
team mates. Someone that it didn't effect the day/week/job before. The
mage begins to wonder why.

The reason could be that the mage may be questioning the loyalty of the
person enough to warrant "conspiracy thinking" on their part. Or perhaps
the person who got tagged has been secretly selling out the party, and the
encounter in question was actually something that character had set up. OR,
the old "last night, the two of them had a lovers quarrel, and some bad
feelings are still lingering".

I might allow it, but I would also be monitoring its usage very closely. I
see a lot of potential in the role-playing of this kind of thing, but I also
realize that not every player out there might.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
NeoJudas ("K" to Friends)
"Children of the Kernel: Reborn"
(neojudas@******************.com)
Hoosier Hacker House (http://www.hoosierhackerhouse.com/)
Message no. 5
From: Simon and Fiona sfuller@******.com.au
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 23:26:37 +1000
>> Theoretically it would work. Detect Enemies works, so an area effect Slay
>> Enemies would too. Could be touchy though. Just imagine, Joe Mage
>> accidentally steals someone's parking spot. They swear and feel a moment
>of
>> anger toward Joe, then their brain explodes because of Joe Mage's
>quickened
>> Slay Enemy spell.


I thought of an even more devastating effect of this spell (if it were
quickened). Joe Mage is on a crowded street, and a pickpocket sidles up to
the mage with his 4 friends nearby. Bang! pickpocket's brain explodes. The
friends see this, put two and two together, and Bang! they explode. People
start to notice, someone shouts "That mage just killed them!" Bang! his head
pops. suddenly people realise this mage is killing people, they either run
away or try to restrain him, Bang! Bang! BangBang! Heads start popping left,
right and centre as people have increasingly negative thoughts toward Joe.
Pretty soon there's this one guy ankle deep in grey matter and the howl of
the SWAT team's approaching GMC Banshee.
Of course, this would only be if it were quickened, but then, what if Joe
Mage instead sneakily quickened the spell onto somebody he had a grudge
against? (from a good distance, one would assume).
Message no. 6
From: NeoJudas neojudas@******************.com
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 08:28:00 -0500
From: "Simon and Fiona" <sfuller@******.com.au>
Subject: Re: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)


> I thought of an even more devastating effect of this spell (if it were
> quickened). Joe Mage is on a crowded street, and a pickpocket sidles up to
> the mage with his 4 friends nearby. Bang! pickpocket's brain explodes. The
> friends see this, put two and two together, and Bang! they explode. People
> start to notice, someone shouts "That mage just killed them!" Bang! his
head
> pops. suddenly people realise this mage is killing people, they either run
> away or try to restrain him, Bang! Bang! BangBang! Heads start popping
left,
> right and centre as people have increasingly negative thoughts toward Joe.
> Pretty soon there's this one guy ankle deep in grey matter and the howl of
> the SWAT team's approaching GMC Banshee.
> Of course, this would only be if it were quickened, but then, what if Joe
> Mage instead sneakily quickened the spell onto somebody he had a grudge
> against? (from a good distance, one would assume).


Lovely idea with one very severe problem. Once released, an instantaneous
spell wouldn't work like this. It would have to be requickened again. And
I'm still not sure you can quicken this. *ANCHORING* this thing might work
however using that method you mention, but again, once expended, it would
have to be reapplied.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
NeoJudas ("K" to Friends)
"Children of the Kernel: Reborn"
(neojudas@******************.com)
Hoosier Hacker House (http://www.hoosierhackerhouse.com/)
Message no. 7
From: Alfredo B Alves dghost@****.com
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 13:14:47 -0500
On Tue, 13 Jun 2000 23:26:37 +1000 "Simon and Fiona"
<sfuller@******.com.au> writes:
<SNIP>
> I thought of an even more devastating effect of this spell (if it
> were
> quickened). Joe Mage is on a crowded street, and a pickpocket sidles
> up to
> the mage with his 4 friends nearby. Bang! pickpocket's brain
> explodes.
<SNIP>
> Heads start
> popping left,
> right and centre as people have increasingly negative thoughts
> toward Joe.
> Pretty soon there's this one guy ankle deep in grey matter and the
> howl of
> the SWAT team's approaching GMC Banshee.
> Of course, this would only be if it were quickened, but then, what
> if Joe
> Mage instead sneakily quickened the spell onto somebody he had a
> grudge
> against? (from a good distance, one would assume).

As K pointed out, this won't work ... but maybe any area effect TK crush
(enemies) spell? What happens when the caster (or the target) starts
having negative thoughts? ..."You are your own worst enemy." whoops. :)

--
D. Ghost
Profanity is the one language all programmers know best
- Troutman's 6th programming postulate.

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Message no. 8
From: Gurth gurth@******.nl
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 20:00:44 +0200
According to Iridios, at 7:19 on 13 Jun 00, the word on the street was...

> But that targets a specific race or species. Phil is wondering if
> there could be a Slay(Enemies) version of the spell that would only
> affect those persons with hostile intent against the spellcaster.
> Useful in crowd situations.

Quick reading can be a disadvantage :) Anyway, I don't see why not, since
Detect Enemies exists so spells can obviously make that distinction.
However, I'd say it suffers from the same problem as a Detect Enemies
spell anchored to your combat spell of choice (see MITS).

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Here come the golden oldies. Here come the Hezbollah.
-> NAGEE Editor * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
->The Plastic Warriors Page: http://shadowrun.html.com/plasticwarriors/<-

GC3.1: GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ UL 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. 9
From: Iridios iridios@********.net
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 21:03:10 -0400
paulcollins wrote:

> >But that targets a specific race or species. Phil is wondering if
> >there could be a Slay(Enemies) version of the spell that would only
> >affect those persons with hostile intent against the spellcaster.
> >Useful in crowd situations.
> >
>
> See the little Shaman, casting brand new spell
> Kill all his enemy's, and then all will be well,
> Amid his little song and dance, he steps on someones foot,
> Oh dear, nasty thought, innocent, kaput.
>
> Remember, the GM defines who is an Enemy at the moment the spell is cast.
> <VBEG>
> Annachie.
>
> paulcollins@*******.com
> paulcollins@*******.com
>

Mr. Collins accidently sent this to me instead of ShadowRN, or at
least I believe he meant to send it to the group. :)

--
Iridios
--
If you are reading this,
you are too close to your monitor.

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8:58:19 PM/225:00:01 (1) [no thud]
Message no. 10
From: Phil Smith phil_urbanhell@*******.com
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:03:18 GMT
>From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
> > If detect (enemys) is possible, is slaughter (enemys) or a specific
>target
> > manaball for enemys applying the Restricted Target modifier from MITS?
>
>Yes. There is a Slay (Race/Species) spell on page 140 of MITS that'
>exactly that: you learn it as Slay Elf, Slay Rat, and so on.

I know that; what I want is a slaughter (enemys) spell, or rather I want to
know if one is possible so that I can ban it :)>

Phil

...Unfortunatly one of them spotted our hidden microphone and followed the
extension cable back to the police station.
Milton Jones

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Message no. 11
From: Phil Smith phil_urbanhell@*******.com
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:18:47 GMT
>From: "NeoJudas" <neojudas@******************.com>
>I might allow it, but I would also be monitoring its usage very closely. I
>see a lot of potential in the role-playing of this kind of thing, but I
>also
>realize that not every player out there might.

Okay then; here's how it would theoretically work but I just want everyone
to know that this is a little too munchy for my tastes.

Slaughter Enemys
Type Target Duration Range Drain
M W(R) S LOS(A) (Damage level)
This spell causes the chosen damage level to anyone who with hostile
intentions to the spell's caster who walks within (magic rating) meters of
the spell's caster (and who enters line of sight).

Phil

...Unfortunatly one of them spotted our hidden microphone and followed the
extension cable back to the police station.
Milton Jones

________________________________________________________________________
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Message no. 12
From: Alfredo B Alves dghost@****.com
Subject: Specific spells (was Re: Buildings, doors, maglocks, and magic)
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 14:08:55 -0500
On Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:18:47 GMT "Phil Smith"
<phil_urbanhell@*******.com> writes:
<SNIP>
> Slaughter Enemys
> Type Target Duration Range Drain
> M W(R) S LOS(A) (Damage level)
> This spell causes the chosen damage level to anyone who with hostile
> intentions to the spell's caster who walks within (magic rating)
> meters of
> the spell's caster (and who enters line of sight).

Wouldn't that be a Drain level of -1(Damage+1)? In order to get the -1DL
for Very Restricted Target (and thus cancel out the +1 DL for AoE), you
need to specify a specific indvidual. Ie, Slay (Phil Smith) or Slay (Don
Toe). Slay (ShadowRN Member) would only be a Restricted Target spell.
Even if you got more specifc (Slay (Gridsec), for example :)), there
would be no further bonus until you got to a specific individual.

So let's see:
Slaughter (Enemies)
Drain Target Drain Level
Base Drain - (Damage Level)
Type: M - -
Target: W(R) - -
Duration: S +1 -
Range: LOS - -
Area of Effect - (Damage Level+1)
Restricted Target -1 -
----------------------------------------------
Final Drain: (Damage Level+1)
Ayup. Not that big a deal (game balance-wise)

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