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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: William Monroe Ashe <wma6617@*******.tamu.edu>
Subject: Re: Spirit Attack and a typo
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 23:22:40 -0500 (CDT)
Dear Glenn
I don't mean to make this sound harsh. If you read the rules a bit more
clearly. You will see that mages can only summon elementals. Which ALL
have well defined modes of physical attack. I know because my character
just got womped by a fire elemental who according to SR-II its attacks
are like ranged weapons. Nature spirits do not have the power of direct
attack EXECPT for lake,river, and mist spirits.
Also note there is a typo in SR-II (wow what a concept) In the
critters section it says that the above spirits do NOT have these powers,
but in the summary section it says that they do! Or is that the other
way around. Either way its there
Just though I'd pick a nit or two

regards
Bill
Message no. 2
From: GLENN.ROBERTSON@***.Edu
Subject: Re: Spirit Attack and a typo
Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 07:24:44 -0700 (MST)
> Dear Glenn
> I don't mean to make this sound harsh. If you read the rules a bit more
> clearly. You will see that mages can only summon elementals.
Yes, forgive me for trying to be brief in an example. :)

> Nature spirits do not have the power of direct
> attack EXECPT for lake,river, and mist spirits.

So where do toxic spirits fit in? If they don't have the power of direct
attack, how can they be so tough? It seems odd that you can summon
several elementals and have them on beck and call for services, yet you
can only have one spirit per domain. Especially more unbalancing is the
fact then that elementals can do direct attack, yet spirits cannot? This
seems way out of balance. Any thoughts or clarifications, anyone?


Glenn
Message no. 3
From: Tom Pendergrast <pendergr@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: Spirit Attack and a typo
Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 10:48:21 -0700 (PDT)
> > Dear Glenn
> > I don't mean to make this sound harsh. If you read the rules a bit more
> > clearly. You will see that mages can only summon elementals.
> Yes, forgive me for trying to be brief in an example. :)
>
> > Nature spirits do not have the power of direct
> > attack EXECPT for lake,river, and mist spirits.
>
> So where do toxic spirits fit in? If they don't have the power of direct
> attack, how can they be so tough? It seems odd that you can summon
> several elementals and have them on beck and call for services, yet you
> can only have one spirit per domain. Especially more unbalancing is the
> fact then that elementals can do direct attack, yet spirits cannot? This
> seems way out of balance. Any thoughts or clarifications, anyone?

(AFAIK)- Remember a couple of things. Spirits can be summoned like
*snpa* that. You just do it. Elementals are a pain, they take a long
time, require other materials... Spirits have hordes of spiffy powers
(Concealment, Accident, etc...) Elementals can attack. C'est la
difference, mes amis :)


---Tom---
Message no. 4
From: brett@***.orst.edu (Brett Barksdale)
Subject: Re: Spirit Attack and a typo
Date: Fri, 31 May 96 10:52:40 PDT
>So where do toxic spirits fit in? If they don't have the power of direct
>attack, how can they be so tough? It seems odd that you can summon
>several elementals and have them on beck and call for services, yet you
>can only have one spirit per domain. Especially more unbalancing is the
>fact then that elementals can do direct attack, yet spirits cannot? This
>seems way out of balance. Any thoughts or clarifications, anyone?

Mages require 1000 nuyen/force of elemental they plan on summoning
in materials. They also must spend (something like) 1 hour/forcelevel
creating a magic circle with which to summon the elemental. Shamans
can summon spirits for free with no (very little) preparation.

If that isn't sufficient balance for you, you can always let spirits
manifest and attack as has been written on this list. You can also
decide to make the cost of summoning elementals more expensive if
you wish - or make some heinous modifiers for summoning each elemental
beyond the first (like +2 on the TN for each elemental already "on
retainer").

If you don't like it as it is, it's pretty easy to tweak.

- Brett

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Thwap!