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From:	shadowrn@*********.com (Nivek Sregor)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Fri Aug 9 13:25:01 2002

Message no. 1 On the subject of Earthdawn, somebody mentioned Spell matrices being introduced into
Shadowrun from Earthdawn. I've never played Erthdawn and I was wondering ifsomeone could
explain to me some of Earthdawn's magic such as spell matrices so I can know what to
expect. Who knows, I may even buy Earthdawn. Thank you.
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From:	shadowrn@*******.com (shadowrn@*******.com)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Fri Aug 9 15:50:01 2002

Message no. 2 In a message dated 8/9/2002 10:30:40 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
thedarkmessiah@*******.com writes:

>On the subject of Earthdawn, somebody mentioned Spell matrices being >
introduced into Shadowrun from Earthdawn. I've never played Erthdawn and I
was >wondering ifsomeone could explain to me some of Earthdawn's magic such
as >spell matrices so I can know what to expect. Who knows, I may even buy >
Earthdawn. Thank you.

In Earthdawn all spells were based on Magical threads. Due to the high damage
to Astral Space caused by the Horrors it was dangerous to weave magical
threads unprotected. Magic users had to come up with the Spell Matrix in
order to buffer themselves from the harmful effects of weaving magic. If I
remember correctly, spell casters didn't suffer drain in ED either because of
the Spell Matrix.

-NewShadow

From:	shadowrn@*********.com (Gurth)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Sat Aug 10 06:25:38 2002

Message no. 3 According to Nivek Sregor, on Fri, 09 Aug 2002 the word on the street was...

> On the subject of Earthdawn, somebody mentioned Spell matrices being
> introduced into Shadowrun from Earthdawn. I've never played Erthdawn and
> I was wondering ifsomeone could explain to me some of Earthdawn's magic
> such as spell matrices so I can know what to expect.

In Earthdawn, you can cast spells in two ways. One is to just cast it from
memory, like in SR (you've got a limited selection of spells that you must
learn, as in SR; it doesn't use the (A)D&D "cast and forget" system) but
this subjects you to damage (drain in SR terms) because of the pollution of
astral space that is caused by the Horrors. It also is like firing off an
astral flare gun, which puts you at risk of detection by any Horrors nearby
-- which is _bad_.

A spell matrix is best described as a magical sieve that only exists in
astral space. You put a spell into the matrix, and when you cast the spell,
the matrix sieves out the pollution to let you cast the spell safely and
without drain.

> Who knows, I may even buy Earthdawn.

http://www.lrgames.com :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Huh?
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Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998

From:	shadowrn@*********.com (Max Noel)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Sat Aug 10 06:40:01 2002

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At 12:26 10/08/2002 +0200, Gurth wrote:
>A spell matrix is best described as a magical sieve that only exists in
>astral space. You put a spell into the matrix, and when you cast the spell,
>the matrix sieves out the pollution to let you cast the spell safely and
>without drain.

Might be interesting to see the effects of spell matrices in SR.
IIRC in Earthdawn casting spells cia a spell matrix requires to "weave mana
threads", or something like that, and it takes time (like 1 turn/thread),
doesn't it?
So in SR (where I suppose combat is far more quick and lethal than
in ED -- I haven't played it, am I correct?) you would now have the choice
between taking drain and taking lead. Lots of it depending on the spell's
complexity -- I assume 1 complex action (maybe an exclusive one?) per
thread and 1 thread per force point of the spell, maybe slightly modified
by the spell's drain code (perhaps -1 if L, +0 for M, +1 for S, +2 for D,
+3 for LN, etc.).

Gives a whole new meaning to the GTMF (Geek The Mage First)
directive, don't you think?

-- Wild_Cat

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From:	shadowrn@*********.com (Gurth)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Sat Aug 10 13:25:00 2002

Message no. 5 According to Max Noel, on Sat, 10 Aug 2002 the word on the street was...

> Might be interesting to see the effects of spell matrices in SR.
> IIRC in Earthdawn casting spells cia a spell matrix requires to "weave
> mana threads", or something like that, and it takes time (like 1
> turn/thread), doesn't it?

The basic time is one action per thread, but because everyone gets one
action per turn there is no real difference :) You can also choose to weave
more than one thread at a time, but this makes the test more difficult;
also, if you roll well enough, you can weave an additional thread -- for
free, as it were.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Huh?
-> Probably NAGEE Editor * ShadowRN GridSec * Triangle Virtuoso <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://plastic.dumpshock.com <-

GC3.12: GAT/! d- 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

From:	shadowrn@*********.com (Nivek Sregor)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Sat Aug 10 19:25:01 2002

Message no. 6 Does Earthdawn have anything similiar to metamagic and the metaplanes?
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From:	shadowrn@*******.com (shadowrn@*******.com)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Sun Aug 11 09:35:01 2002

Message no. 7 On Sat, 10 Aug 2002, Nivek Sregor wrote:

> Does Earthdawn have anything similiar to metamagic and the metaplanes?
>

the metaplanes, certinaly; they are called the Netherworlds, as to
metamagic, well, it could be argued that since all the charecters in ED
are adepts, then anything past 1st circle represents a level of
inititation, and hence, any second circle talents onwards are metamagic.
I personally think that the talents are just normal adept abilities, and
its the worldview of the adept (ie his Discipline) that limit when he
can learn them. Talent Knacks, on the other hand, mesh very will with SR
metemagic. These are abilities that the charecter *can* pick up when he
advances to particular levels, but doesnt have to. Some of them (like
anchoring) seem very similar to SR ones...

--
john@*****.net http://www.kript.net/shadowrun
SRGC SR1+ SR3++ !SR2 h b++ B--- UB IE+ RN+ !W ma+++ gm M-- P-
"He's an oversexed shark-wrestling wage mage haunted by an iconic dead American
confidante. She's a bloodthirsty Bolivian Valkyrie with her own daytime radio
talk show. They're Shadowrunners!"

From:	shadowrn@*********.com (Nivek Sregor)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Sun Aug 11 17:05:03 2002

Message no. 8 >well, it could be argued that since all the charecters in ED
>are adepts

Are you saying that all Earthdawn characters are magically active?
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From:	shadowrn@*********.com (Max Noel)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Sun Aug 11 17:10:01 2002

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At 16:09 11/08/2002 -0500, you wrote:

>Are you saying that all Earthdawn characters are magically active?

Yes, they are.

-- Wild_Cat

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From:	shadowrn@*********.com (Bryan Pow)
Subject:	spell matrix
Date:	Sun Aug 11 20:50:01 2002

Message no. 10 > >well, it could be argued that since all the charecters in ED
> >are adepts
>
>Are you saying that all Earthdawn characters are magically active?

They are all either Magicians or adepts. There are, however, many more types
of adepts that are very specialized. Swordmasters, Weaponsmiths, Scouts,
Archers, Beastmen, Troubadors, all of which have magical talents that are
specific to their craft. Some of them are very nifty, such as the ability of
some to glide a few inches of the ground so as to move faster.

--
"No grand idea was ever born in a conference, but alot of foolish ideas have
died there."
F. Scott Fitzgerald

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