| From: | Neal A Porter <nap@*****.PHYSICS.SWIN.OZ.AU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | re : Swords and Allies |
| Date: | Wed, 9 Feb 1994 15:00:12 +1100 |
> Combat spells alone. The ally I have in mind would not be
> tossing combat spells anyway. Also, though I have not read the
> full statistics on her, there is a female magician in Elven
> fire who is blind and who uses Clairvoyance (Zero range) to
> cast spells.
Whoo, replay that, are you sure that the mage used Clairvoyance, and
not just astral perception. If it was Clairvoyance then it would need
to be some spell other than the one described in SR2 as it states that no
spells can be cast through it.
>] I agree you can't hide allies. It provides a wonderful way to
>] ground spells onto the mage.
>
> Um... grounding is a real vague concept in this game. But let's
> take it one step at a time.
>
>] Grounding Spells into the Mage:
>
> Last time I read allies, they are not a grounding source TO the
> mage, but merely pose the same problem that any dual-natured
> creature does.
>
>] The ally can't block them:
>
> Why not? Astral combat is astral combat and a spell being grounded
> through it is an astral "creature" that is vulnerable to assault
> like any other astral entity. That was in the grimoire....
True the allie should be able to fight the spell, but then again so do
all foci. They get to roll their force against the force of the spell. If
the foci wins then the spell is toast. If the spell wins then it grounds
into the foci. Here comes the fun part. With the spell grounding if its
within the mages astral aura then it grounds into the mage. So if the foci
is held, or carried by the mage then the spell will ground into him.
It should also be noted that if the spell is physical then it can
actualy destroy the foci if it does enough damage. Now with an ally in the
sword, the ally would be vulerable not just to the physical spells but
mana one as well. If you have a Ally/foci/sword you do get the benifits
from all of then, but you also get all of their weaknesses. Heh the chain
is only as strong as its weakest link.
>
>] When he is providing spell defense he can't do anything else like aide
>] sorcery.
>
> Why can't the ally do anything else? A magician can perform other
> actions while allocating spell defense? Also, I do not think
> allies can aide sorcery anyway...
>
> But they can, IMHO (until someone provides a citation to the
> contrary), provide spell defense *and* act as the Power foci
> for their summoner at the same time. Or provide spell defense,
> sustain a spell it cast previously cast. and act as a foci
> all at the same time. Or possibly fight and provide spell
> defense simultaneously (like a magician can).
Back up a sec, your saying that the ally/sword can use its power
for two things at once. It can allocate all of its magic to defence, and
all of its magic again to cast it new one? I don't think so. I believe you
should treat the ally as a mage itself. If it alocates its die to defence
then it doesn't have them to cast spells. It could, as you have stated,
sustain a spell, or fight, but once it has allocated dice they are not
available for other allocations. Otherwise you will have mages allocating
the die from their power foci to defence, and still useing them for
casting of your spells.
>
>] Love to see this sword enter a circle, ward, etc since it
>] is always partially active. Dropping those warns the opposition.
>]
> Once again... this will happen REGARDLESS OF THE ALLY'S FORM.
> Any astrally active ally, which is basically ALL allies, will
> do this...
Just a question here, its related to this. If you enter a warded area
can you then call in you spirts/elementals (ie if they weren't on astral).
Because dont wards just block astral space and not the meta planes that
the spirts come from. In this case all a mage needs to do to get his/her
ally around a ward is to tell them to go into a meta plane, and then come
to the mage when he/she next calls (from the other side of the ward).
Secondly if a foci is 'off' ie inactive can it pass through a ward.
Remembering that foci can be switched off and on.
>] You could not teach it to be a dancing sword since you are not a sword and
>] this is closer to unarmed combat than armed combat, but that is not right
>] either.
>
> I disagree completely. You can teach an ally any skill you have.
> I know how to use a sword to inflict damage. I think the focus
> is on the object doing the damage- the sword. I think the sword
> could consciously be taught how to wield itself to attack. I would
> remind you of the spell *Use (Skill)* which allows a magician to
> attack with a sword at a distance, using his/her armed skill. I
> realize this is a telekinetic manipulation spell but I think
> the theory is the same.
With regards to this, are you sure that you have to have the skill
for the ally to learn it. I though that all you had to do was pay the
karma and the ally picked up the skill (yes, i know this has a flaw in
that how could the ally know what to do, but honestly do you think you
could teach a sword how to fight).
> - It is illegal to carry a sword anytime, so how do those samurai
> get away with it?
Remember the 11 commandment 'Thou shalt not get caught'
And secondly you can get permits (or good forgerys of) to carry
large bladed weapons.
And thirdly do you honestly think the Mr John Citizen would walk
up to one of those Cyborg killing machines and say
"You realise sir that that sword is illegal!!"
Most of the time the responce would be.
"No I didn't, but then again this is illegal too. (HACK!!)"
>
> If you do not like the idea of it being a sword, I guess you
> would have really hated my original idea of making it the
> screaming silver ball from my favorite movie, "Phantasm" ? :)
>
> Da Minotaur
Actually the idea of the ball sounds damn good to me.
A'Deus
