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Message no. 1
From: S O'Neill callahan421@*******.com
Subject: Spell idea - Hold Breath
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 17:07:03 EDT
Trolling for feedback/advice:

Because of a recent encounter with some unfriendly gas, one of my characters
wants a useful solution for avoiding the inhalation of airborne gas in short
term situations without having to resort to technology (i.e. a filter or an
air tank).

Based conceptually on Nutrition, Hold Breath alters the body’s ability to
process oxygen, enabling one lungful of air to be used for a much longer
time by stretching it out with mana – kind of like mixing bread in with
hamburger when making meatloaf! :-) Essentially, the spell allows the body
to operate for (force + successes) x 12 minutes without requiring a new
breath. The subject can take that breath and hold it anytime within the time
period and hold it to the end of the time period. (i.e. after rolling 3
successes on a F2 spell, could then wait 10 mins and then still hold breath
for (40 more minutes). Speaking is not allowed while holding breath like
this. Also, a blow to the body/diaphragm could force an involuntary full
exhalation and inhalation, which while not affecting the spell itself, may
subject the target to airborne toxins, etc. I've made this version Personal
because I want it to be easy and fast to learn because it's a quick'n'dirty
spell.

Personal Hold Breath
Category: Health
Type: Physical
Range: Touch
Target: 4
Duration: Permanent ((Force + successes) x 12 minutes), maintain 10 turns.
Force: 1
Restrictions: Self Only
Drain: +1L
Force + successes x 12 minutes

Target number for creation: 3
Base creation time: 6 days


Before anyone tells me, _yes_ I know that Oxygenate has a similar effect in
that it would give me additional dice to resist gas. But that's not the
effect I want.

SO, to the list:
Thoughts/feedback/criticisms of this spell? Too limited? Too powerful?


Regards,
Callahan



Helen Tasker: Have you ever killed anyone?
Harry Tasker: Yeah, but they were all bad.
--- Schwarzenegger, True Lies (1994)

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Message no. 2
From: NeoJudas neojudas@******************.com
Subject: Spell idea - Hold Breath
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 16:48:36 -0500
From: "S O'Neill" <callahan421@*******.com>
Subject: Spell idea - Hold Breath


> Trolling for feedback/advice:

Smirk....

> Because of a recent encounter with some unfriendly gas, one of my
characters
> wants a useful solution for avoiding the inhalation of airborne gas in
short
> term situations without having to resort to technology (i.e. a filter or
an
> air tank).

As long as the gas is purely airborne, and isn't absorbed through the skin
as well, your ideas going to have potential.

> Based conceptually on Nutrition, Hold Breath alters the body's ability to
> process oxygen, enabling one lungful of air to be used for a much longer
> time by stretching it out with mana - kind of like mixing bread in with
> hamburger when making meatloaf! :-) Essentially, the spell allows the body
> to operate for (force + successes) x 12 minutes without requiring a new
> breath. The subject can take that breath and hold it anytime within the
time
> period and hold it to the end of the time period. (i.e. after rolling 3
> successes on a F2 spell, could then wait 10 mins and then still hold
breath
> for (40 more minutes). Speaking is not allowed while holding breath like
> this. Also, a blow to the body/diaphragm could force an involuntary full
> exhalation and inhalation, which while not affecting the spell itself, may
> subject the target to airborne toxins, etc. I've made this version
Personal
> because I want it to be easy and fast to learn because it's a
quick'n'dirty
> spell.

Interesting idea, how would you rule up/out the "involuntary exhalation" due
to combat?

> Personal Hold Breath
> Category: Health
> Type: Physical
> Range: Touch
> Target: 4
> Duration: Permanent ((Force + successes) x 12 minutes), maintain 10 turns.
> Force: 1
> Restrictions: Self Only
> Drain: +1L
> Force + successes x 12 minutes
>
> Target number for creation: 3
> Base creation time: 6 days

Where did you come up with the "12 minutes" multiplier? Another thought I
would have is have you considered the effects of Oxyrush from the Man &
Machine book? It has quickly become *THE* toy of usage by the group here,
and it has allowed me to look at Space Suits from an entirely new angle.

It may give you a direct twist as well with regards to this spell idea of
yours, because quite frankly if you *REALLY* base the spell on the concept
of Nutrition (being that it provides food/water for the person for an amount
of time), the spell could be significantly revammped (and damn am I glad
none of my players have come up with this one before).

> Before anyone tells me, _yes_ I know that Oxygenate has a similar effect
in
> that it would give me additional dice to resist gas. But that's not the
> effect I want.
>
> SO, to the list:
> Thoughts/feedback/criticisms of this spell? Too limited? Too powerful?

Actually, for what you have it seems playable at least to me. Of course,
without actually trying it out in the game, who knows. But the ideas that
it has given me ... hmmm....

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
NeoJudas ("K" to Friends)
"Children of the Kernel: Reborn"
(neojudas@******************.com)
Hoosier Hacker House (http://www.hoosierhackerhouse.com/)
Message no. 3
From: S O'Neill callahan421@*******.com
Subject: Spell idea - Hold Breath
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 10:08:34 EDT
Response to response posted by "NeoJudas" Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 16:48:36
-0500


Thanks for the feedback, NeoJ. Responses to responses below. :)


>Trolling for feedback/advice:
>Smirk....

What . . .????



>As long as the gas is purely airborne, and isn't absorbed through the >
>skin as well, your ideas going to have potential.

Yup. I realize that cyanide and other gases can also be aborbed through the
skin. But there are a lot of things that won't hurt you if you don't breathe
'em in.


<Snip explanation of spell concept>

>Interesting idea, how would you rule up/out the "involuntary exhalation"
>due to combat?

I was thinking that that would be at the GM's discretion. Likely a WIL roll
against a TN based on the type of hit. A kick in the shin might not be too
bad, but a sucker punch to the diaphragm would be hard to resist.

>Personal Hold Breath
>Category: Health
>Type: Physical
>Range: Touch
>Target: 4
>Duration: Permanent ((Force + successes) x 12 minutes), maintain 10 turns.
>Force: 1
>Restrictions: Self Only
>Drain: +1L
>Force + successes x 12 minutes


>Where did you come up with the "12 minutes" multiplier?
<snip comments about Oxyrush >

Good, old fashioned guesstimation. 12 minutes sounded reasonable to me for a
spell of this type... useful, but not grossly overpowered. Based on the fact
that the human body can go a lot longer without food than it can without
air, I needed a time unit a lot smaller for Hold Breath. I also rationalized
that if Nutrition has a drawback (it doesn't remove feelings of hunger, just
the actual bodily need for nutrients) then Hold Breath needed a drawback,
too.


Regards,
Callahan


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Message no. 4
From: Brian Johnson expatrie@*******.net
Subject: Spell idea - Hold Breath
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 14:43:04 -0500
S O'Neill wrote:

> Response to response posted by "NeoJudas" Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 16:48:36
> -0500
>
> Thanks for the feedback, NeoJ. Responses to responses below. :)
>
> >Trolling for feedback/advice:
> >Smirk....
>
> What . . .????
>
> >As long as the gas is purely airborne, and isn't absorbed through the >
> >skin as well, your ideas going to have potential.
>
> Yup. I realize that cyanide and other gases can also be aborbed through the
> skin. But there are a lot of things that won't hurt you if you don't breathe
> 'em in.
>
> <Snip explanation of spell concept>
>
> >Interesting idea, how would you rule up/out the "involuntary
exhalation"
> >due to combat?
>
> I was thinking that that would be at the GM's discretion. Likely a WIL roll
> against a TN based on the type of hit. A kick in the shin might not be too
> bad, but a sucker punch to the diaphragm would be hard to resist.
>
> >Personal Hold Breath
> >Category: Health
> >Type: Physical
> >Range: Touch
> >Target: 4
> >Duration: Permanent ((Force + successes) x 12 minutes), maintain 10 turns.
> >Force: 1
> >Restrictions: Self Only
> >Drain: +1L
> >Force + successes x 12 minutes
>

First: I'd change the duration to sustained. Second, what was wrong with
oxygenate?




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Message no. 5
From: S O'Neill callahan421@*******.com
Subject: Spell idea - Hold Breath
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 15:44:15 EDT
Brian Johnson wrote:

> >Personal Hold Breath
> >Category: Health
> >Type: Physical
> >Range: Touch
> >Target: 4
> >Duration: Permanent ((Force + successes) x 12 minutes), maintain 10
>turns.
> >Force: 1
> >Restrictions: Self Only
> >Drain: +1L
> >Force + successes x 12 minutes
>

>First: I'd change the duration to sustained. Second, what was wrong with
>oxygenate?

To respond:
Duration --> I leaned towards Permanent because I saw this as a physical
effect that faded with time rather than a constantly sustained magical
effect. Also, I generally play mages with less-than-optimal ability, so
trying to sustain one spell while casting others is something to be avoided.

Oxygenate --> Nothing's _wrong_ with this spell; however it's got a coupla
drawbacks with regard to fulfilling the purpose I'm looking at here. First,
as mentioned above, it's sustained. Second, it only provides additional dice
to resist airborne gases... and extra dice against high TNs don't mean squat
to me. I'm looking for an all-or-nothing solution. You can hold your breath
and not be affected by inhaled gases using the rules for holding your breath
(in Cyberpirates, I think . . .). With Oxygenate you'd still be drawing the
bad air into your lungs.

Cheers,

Callahan

"It's not that I'm addicted to Shadowrun... it's just like my mind developed
this massive cyberpunk deficiency." [W.Gibson, misquoted]


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Message no. 6
From: Brian Johnson expatrie@*******.net
Subject: Spell idea - Hold Breath
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 18:35:29 -0500
S O'Neill wrote:

> Brian Johnson wrote:
>
>
> >First: I'd change the duration to sustained. Second, what was wrong with
> >oxygenate?
>
> To respond:
> Duration --> I leaned towards Permanent because I saw this as a physical
> effect that faded with time rather than a constantly sustained magical
> effect. Also, I generally play mages with less-than-optimal ability, so
> trying to sustain one spell while casting others is something to be avoided.
>

Point taken, it's permanent like nutrition, etc. not permanent like healing. Ok.
Basically spell ends when you open your mouth? breathe normally. I just feel
sustained is more in-line with SR/etc. spells. Permanent spells return from
abnormal states (injury, etc.)...

> Oxygenate --> Nothing's _wrong_ with this spell; however it's got a coupla
> drawbacks with regard to fulfilling the purpose I'm looking at here. First,
> as mentioned above, it's sustained. Second, it only provides additional dice
> to resist airborne gases... and extra dice against high TNs don't mean squat
> to me. I'm looking for an all-or-nothing solution. You can hold your breath
> and not be affected by inhaled gases using the rules for holding your breath
> (in Cyberpirates, I think . . .). With Oxygenate you'd still be drawing the
> bad air into your lungs.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Callahan
>
>

Switch to - tn mechanic, doesn't that exist in the MITS rules? I'm still G2/AWA
so I wouldn't know.

"It's not like I'm using [Shadowrun]... it's just like my mind developed this
massive cyberpunk deficiency." [W.Gibson, misquoted]




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