Logs for ShadowRN and Associated Mailing Lists

From:	Chris Siebenmann <cks@********.UTCS.TORONTO.EDU>
Subject:	Whys and more details of my changes
Date:	Mon, 3 May 1993 13:46:39 -0400

Message no. 1 Historical magic has no instant spells ('instant' here we will take to
be usable in a combat round, regardless of how long that combat round
nominally takes in the game system of your choice). Historical magic,
especially shamanistic, is based around rituals and spirits. (I
welcome corrections on this, but please cite sources)

The 'background' for this reduction is historical accuracy. Clearly you
have to ditch or modify FASA's backgrounds; I don't care about that,
because I do that anyways. Magic, if you buy into my modifications, was
always that way after the Awakening. I don't think there are particularly
huge changes in FASA's background needed; all the significant magical
influences in the history have been ritual magic.

Of course ritual magic is not particularly useful on, say, security
guards. That's why mages have spirits and elementals. 'Combat' mages
will use those heavily; ritual magic is more less showy uses of power.
'Fast' rituals require props and require minutes instead of hours, not
seconds; they are (deliberately) not particularly usable in combat.
The specific fast ritual usage I was thinking of was healing; for game
balance purposes, it's probably a good idea to let mages at least
stabilize people in the field.

Improvised elemental summoning is similar to fast rituals; a speedy
version that takes minutes instead of hours. I'm not certain how to
balance it gamewise; I think summoning higher-level elementals via
this way should be horrifically difficult. Perhaps it requires a
spirit quest (ala summoning greater forms) against Force^2 of the
elemental you're trying to summon.

Both fast rituals and improvised elemental summoning are an attempt
to make mages more useful during long adventures away from their bases,
and when things happen. If you don't think they need this, feel free
to delete them, or reserve them for GM's option roleplaying.

'Gifts' are mainly intended for Shamans, so that they can still
exercise some of their more interesting totemistic abilities (for
example, a Racoon Shaman with a Gift of TK). Some things feel right
for the ability to do inherently, and I wanted to preserve that
as an option. I thought it was fairly explicit that only mages could
buy gifts; in any case, this is the intent. Mundane characters are
and remain un-gifted magically.

The overall effect of my changes is intended to make mages a much
more quiet and non-combat oriented type of character. They're still
very useful, even in combat (more so hermetic mages than shamans),
but their major use is out of combat, with carefully thought out
ritual magics. No longer will mages be necessary magical heavy
artillery; I think this is a good thing.

- cks

From:	Troy <T.Hoskison@********.AC.UK>
Subject:	Re: Whys and more details of my changes
Date:	Mon, 3 May 1993 22:35:38 +0100

Message no. 2 I hate to be the one to point this out ,but SR is a Roleplay and is not
real life. Magic doesn't exist (not in the way you understand it).

Saying that the magic system in SR holds a lot of truths. I would say that
the Astral plan is the most accurate thing about it. Most "Magic" of the
C20 is mind power. There are people around who can create matter out of
thin air.

The next nearest thing we have in history to magic is as you say rituals
preformed by the Native American Indians. No these rituals took alot to do
an actived very little. Now what SR is say is that magic always existed
but it was very weak until the awakening. After the awakening the magic
was powerful enough for "Instant spells" to be cast.

I must agree that I prefer mages to be less combat orientated. That is of
course my personal preferance and I do not impose it on my players I
suggest it, but lets face it it is their character. My main Shaman only
has one combat spell(actually it's spark which is a Dam. Mal. spell). Just
because combat spells are there doesn't mean they have to be used. If there
is a mage in the party who starts using spells every second to kill every
on, then simply make him the first one you shoot. Mages aren't very
resistant to bullets.

P.s. as a warning to you all KEEP AWAY FROM CROWLEY he is a very nasty Guy.
As I said before a sort of magic does exist, but not as you understand
magic. Please don't ignor this warning. They are many people out there who
agree with me.

_____ (!) Constipation means never having to give a SH*T
_ooO/_0 0_\Ooo__
|____|(_)_|____| If the world had piles they'd be in Wales.
|__|____|____|_|
|____|____|____| Troy Hoskion (t.hoskison@********.ac.uk)
|__|____|____|_| or (92230282@********.ac.uk)
Wot No bog roll

From:	Matt Vanek <aa2239@*******.LORAIN.OBERLIN.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Whys and more details of my changes
Date:	Mon, 3 May 1993 19:28:01 -0400

Message no. 3 wait, i tthink we are missing one major point here...ritual magic
is historically practiced over the years because, think about
it, everyone knows spells are not possible now.....but by putting
a lot of effort into the spells, one gets a sence of needing reward for
time spent...when have you ever done anything really complex (to our minds)
that came quickly...not all that often, right? so, peoples tried more and more
deeper rituals. The way i look at it, when magic came back, it altered the
minds of mages and shamans to deal with the complexity, and mase non-
ritual magic possible.
later,
Iron Claw

--
See the constellation ride across the sky
No cigar, no lady on his arm
Just a guy made of dots and lines -TMBG
Huh? Nevermind. I donno, I just got here.

From:	Troy <T.Hoskison@********.AC.UK>
Subject:	Re: Whys and more details of my changes
Date:	Tue, 4 May 1993 02:09:04 +0100

Message no. 4 On 3 May 1993, The Mage of the Realms wrote:

> What kinds of magics does he come up with and why are we advised to stay away
> from him???
>
> Just curious...
> Atticus

I knew someone would ask. Oh well in for a penny in for a pound (an old
English saying).

I'll tell you a story about a friend who had a lucky escape with Crowley's
work. Andrew was an old friend of mine and we go back sometime. We live in
different parts of the country now, but we still keep in touch. Now he has
very simular interests as me, especially in the area of the unknown. He
was as nieve as I was at the time of the works of Crowley. When he looked
in the local library for books on magic he came across Crowley's book,as
is easily done(*1). Wishing to learn more he gets the book out.

He takes the book home to read, as you'd expect. That night he starts
reading the book and so realises that the book if bad news. So he puts it
down and the next day take the book back. Unfortunately some damage had
already been done. Now so as I don't end up boring you it if enough to say
that time started turning for the worst in his house. Nasty thing all
started happening to all the occupants of the house.

Now these happening went on for quite a while. It wasn't until me and my
dad went to visit them that we discovered what was the problem. Now my dad
does a lot of energies (natural/pyschic energies as in ley line and the likes,
not as in physical powers like electricity). He is very sensitive to what
you know as the astral plane. No what had happened was that a evil spirit
had manifestid it's self in the house. My dad was able to banish it, and
thing started to look up after then.

Now this is a true story, it may seem unbelievable to you, but every word
is true. Now I'm not saying that this will definately happen to you if you
read to book, but it could. My presonal thoery is that it chose them
because they were all slight psychically active, and didn't have a defence
of total disbeliefe.

Well that's my story and please heed my warning.

(*1 As a side story it was interesting to find that in my local library in
Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Uk. That all the books on magic were all except
for one kept in storage. One was kept in the library on the shelve. This
one book was by Crowley. Makes you think don't it?)

_____ (!) Constipation means never having to give a SH*T
_ooO/_0 0_\Ooo__
|____|(_)_|____| If the world had piles they'd be in Wales.
|__|____|____|_|
|____|____|____| Troy Hoskion (t.hoskison@********.ac.uk)
|__|____|____|_| or (92230282@********.ac.uk)
Wot No bog roll

Mailing List Logs for

Further Reading

Disclaimer