| From: | wafflemiester <evamarie@**********.NET> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re; Unobtrusive Spells (new sorcery ideas at end) |
| Date: | Thu, 11 Jun 1998 01:51:19 -0500 |
>
> Normally, maintaining a spell incurs a +2 target numbers to all
> activities, but that seems, in certain cases, contrary to the nature of
> the spell. (for example, casting Personal Combat Sense to assist your
> combat abilities then having a +2 target number penalty in addition to
> any unsoaked drain ...) So here is a possible solution:
>
> Any spell may be learned as unobtrusive, which is the opposite of
> exclusive. An exclusive spell allows the spell to be cast as if it were
> 2 points highr. An unobtrusive spell must be cast as if it was 2 points
> lower (ie you pay for Force 6 spell and get a Force 4). The benefit is
> that Sustaining one unobtrusive spell incurs no target number penalty,
> and each additional unobtrusive spell maintained incurs a +1 to all
> target numbers.
>
> What do you think? too powerful? or just right?
Both to powerful, and uneeded. There are other ways to sustain spells-
most have other drawbacks, but thats the whole POINT- you don't get
something for nothing. The above "unobtrusive spells" would encrouch
strongly on adept powers, especially the attribute boost power.
Current sustaining options:
a)spell locks. Nuff said.
b)elementals, preferably "bound" to the spell as its last service, to
get DAYS of spell sustaining. Sure, it takes some little planning, but
this works really well for some characters, non-fire elemental adepts in
particular. If you let people HIRE elementals / cojurers for this, it
works even better.
c)ritual sorcery- after casting the spell on yourself (not hard to do),
you can alocate ritual dice to sustaining time (magic rating hours per
die). Also, since you are astrally active (dual natured) when doing a
ritual sorcery, even sorcery adepts can use this sort of "perception"
for
d)Metamagical quickening and anchoring
None is perfect of course, or as versatile as your proposal. Minor
tweaks, and using the above in COMBINATIONS, can add a lot (the spell
can be "handed off" from technique to technique,ormultiples can serve as
"belt and suspenders").
houserule Tweeks for ritual sorcery I'd suggest;
Renewing rituals- a "ritual casting" could be "re-freshed", like a
ward. The second ritual, being less worried about effect, should have
more pool left for sustaining.
Ritual sustainings that can be "turned on and off", much like an
anchor. In fact, you might allow some metamagical anchoring options
(duration andsome link forms) to be used with ritual sorcery, the link
(required in this case) and active ritual site serving asthe "anchor".
For regular sorcery, a metamagical technique similar to the ritual
sutaining might be reasonable. I can't see the catgorie- maybe a
quickening varient, a "half quikening". I'd say as a complex magical
action (like casting an exclusive spell), the intiate could put some
magic pool asside for sustaing the spell, which would then sustain
itself for a number of combat turns equal to those dice. (note, this
could NOT be done for exclusive spells, as its a use of magic pool).
This would allow shamans (and mages) to "act like an elemental", in that
elementals can be used for short term sustaining or for bonus magic pool
dice.
-Mongoose
